Author's Note: In this chapter, the Runa and the others enter the Aquarius Temple and met an unexpected enemy.

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

Chapter 20 - Aquarius

After a quick trip to the Velvet Room, the group traveled to Maya's apartment to check on her roommate Ulala, to see if she was safe. Eikichi was considering getting a visual band together of himself, Tatsuya and Jun. Everyone, but Jun and Maya were in a state of constant ignore towards Runa. Not that she minded, but it wasn't the best atmosphere. Runa could put good money on the only reason Jun and Maya talked to her because they were absurdly nice people to everyone.

There was papers scattered across the floor, CD cases near an ancient looking stereo, the desk of unorganised and it could barely be seen underneath the mess upon it.

It was undoubtably Maya's room. Tatsuya's and Jun's eyes were open wide at the sight. It was almost comical their reaction.

"Th… This… is Big Maya's room…? You must be joking…" Jun stammered in disbelief.

"…" Tatsuya paled at the sight the room. He composed himself quickly however while Jun stood with a blank look on his face. Tatsuya asked himself underneath his breath and shook his head at the room. "How does she live like this…? It's ten times worst my room."

"Was the shock too much for Jun? His image of Big Maya just got smashed to smithereens. The gap between image and reality was too big," Eikichi commented sympathetically.

"It is really messy in here," Lisa remarked.

"Everyone's ganging up on me… Look, I'll clean it when this is all over. Cut me some slack!" Maya placed a hand to her forehead and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Oh, wait, Runa-chan… You don't think my room's that messy do you?"

"I'm trying to avoid lying, right now, Maya-san… So, no comment," Runa promptly replied.

Maya cringed inwardly and asked Ulala if she was alright given all the crazy things that have been happening. Ulala assured her that she was and thanked Maya for letting her hang out in Maya's room, then she noticed Jun. Ulala immediately changed the topic. "Hey, is that boy with the flower new? He's cute… How do you do it, Ma-ya?"

"It's not like that…" Maya attempted to explain but Ulala cut her off.

"But you know… I think I could go for a younger guy too. maybe I'll find a cute one and keep him while I can," Ulala pondered the possibility.

"…" Maya sighed and told the others. "Well, she's fine let's get some supplies."

"Hey, I'm going to to Double Slash to see how Mami and Miho are," Lisa announced.

"I'll come with you," Tatsuya decided after a brief glare at Runa.

This wasn't working out, very well… maybe if I came with them, we could work things out? Runa thought to herself. Runa gulped and suggested aloud. "Why don't we spilt up into two groups then? Lisa-senpai, Tatsuya and I could go to Double Slash to check on Mami and Miho. While there we could contact Baofu's rumour site. Then we could go to the Silverman manor to check on Lisa-senpai's dad and perhaps a few other places. Then the other group can gather supplies and such for the Aquarius Temple. That's the best temple to start off at, after all."

"No, I rather you didn't come," Tatsuya disagreed.

"I agree with Tatsuya. Big Maya can come with us. You go with the guys," Lisa suggested to her.

"Um… Okay," Runa nodded. Not exactly what I had in mind to help us get along or at least make it so we can communicate.

"Good luck with supplies, boys!" Maya smiled and waved but then suddenly paused and added in a less enthusiastic tone. "Oh… And I guess… you as well, Runa-chan."

Maya, Tatsuya and Lisa hurried off. Runa shifted awkwardly as she watched them leave. Eikichi demanded. "So, you're the apparent expert… Where to?"

"We should spread rumours at Kuzonaha, gather supplies at a few shops and get something to eat… I'll pay for it all, after all I can summon money from thin air in this world," Runa answered.

"Wait… Summon what!?" Eikichi exclaimed.

"1,000 yen," Runa held her hand out to Eikichi and Jun. Soon a 1,000 yen materialised in her palm.

"Huh?" Eikichi and scratch his head. "Was that always there or…?"

"No, I don't recall seeing it beforehand. I think she's telling the truth," Jun shook his head.

"Right…" Eikichi nodded patly to himself then directed his attention to Runa. "So that's why you volunteered to the handle the money we collected. You didn't want us to find out about this. Great, another lie."

"That's… completely true," Runa confessed when she realised she couldn't deny the accusation.

Eikichi scoffed and stormed off towards Double Slash. "Tch, typical… I'll tell the others to met you out the front of temple."

Jun looked between Runa and Eikichi with a nervous expression.

"Go on, follow him. I should get used to being alone anyhow. I can't stand in this world. There's no place for me, not anymore…" Runa told him and she walked towards the nearest shop.

"Wait up. I can't leave you on your own when the city's like this," Jun caught up to her.

Runa looked down, she knew he only did it out of pity, but she had hoped that he would despite the fact she did nothing to warrant his pity.

Outside the Aquarius Temple, Jun and Runa had met with the others before going in. Runa told them about the supplies she got and that Yukino had safely made contact with some of her old friends. These old friends were working to help protect the city. Maya then told them about the rumours they found out and that Lisa's dad was fine.

"So, how were Mami and Miho are they…?" Runa begun to ask, but Lisa stopped her.

"Oh, like you actually care, Runa-chan… They aren't fine by the way, and it's your fault!" Lisa shouted at Runa. Runa flinched in response. Lisa saw that and was about to yell at her again when Maya intervened.

"Hey, let's go get that crystal skull, shall we?" Maya quickly said eager not to waste time arguing.

Lisa scowled at Runa and then sighed. She agreed with Maya and the group entered the temple.

Why did I open my big mouth? Runa lamented as she followed the others through the temple.

The green-blue was normally would have a calming effect, but the cold stares she occasionally received countered the effect. It wasn't long and they reached the first relief hall. On the entrance to the hall there were double doors with four large gems on each door, ranging from ruby, sapphire, topaz and emerald. The group turned to Runa.

She jumped slightly before she asked. "What is it?"

"Who or what are behind these doors?" Tatsuya questioned.

"I think, if memory serves… I-I haven't played any of the temple dungeons, but ac-according to the research, and the walkthroughs I studied about this part…There'll be Last Battalion and Masked Circle members fighting each other. Th-The Masked Circle members win this battle and we'll need to defeat them. Since they are Aquarius Mask's they'll be weak to earth spells but can nullify wind," Runa gave them all the information she knew off the top of her. At that moment, she wished she had a smart phone with internet access.

The others switched their Personas accordingly and they pushed opened the doors. Inside several Last Battalion soldiers were falling to their knees after their throats were cut by the Aquarius Mask's staffs.

The soldiers bodies lingered more than the Masked Circle members they had encountered previously, but the soldiers once dead their bodies entered a state of rapid decay. By the time they have defeated the Aquarius Masks the soldiers would nothing more than dust. Like if the world knew the soldiers should of died many years ago.

The sight sicken Runa and casted her eyes to the walls to avoid the scene. The seven green cloaked cultist pulled the six of them into a battle realm.

Eikichi, Lisa and Tatsuya combined their power in a Fusion Spell. "Landspark!"

The ground of the realm trembled and cracks formed underneath the cultists. Before the enemy could strike back Maya and Jun attacked together with. "Boulder Smash!"

Gigantic magical rocks slammed into the cultists who cried out in pain. A half human sound that was tainted with the demonic. It horrible. Runa squeezed her eyes shut.

When Runa opened her eyes she found they had returned to the hall. The battle was over. The soldiers bodies were only bones at this time with scarps of flesh that bursted in flames and became an unpleasant smoke that drifted into nothingness. Thankfully from previous experience Runa knew Masked Circle members that were dead on the floor would simply disappear after a few minutes. She guessed that the demonic qualities transferred to member via their masks were what caused the bodies to disappear, but their bodies stuck around for long enough to make Runa feel a tinge of guilt if she stared too long. She turned to see Tatsuya and Maya staring at the relief.

"This relief… It's showing the four temples, right? But what is it? Order? Balance…?" Maya questioned as she stood next to Tatsuya.

"This inscription… Earth is slashed by wind, but cultivates water

Water flows along the earth, but quenches fire

Fire is calmed by water, but creates wind

Wind in born from fire, but levels the earth," Tatsuya carefully recited the inscription. He narrowed his eyes and added. "I already knew all that from battles. That was pointless."

"It's okay a clue or warning about the order to do the temples in. We should do the Scorpio Temple next, I don't think it's affected by us entering this one," Runa explained.

Tatsuya ignored her while Maya simply nodded with a troubled look on her face.

"She's correct. The four constellations of the Grand Cross are each associated with one of the elements of earth, water, fire and wind. These four elements maintain the balance of the world, and each has strengths and weaknesses. It's a brand of mysticism Father told me about. Xibalba is, in other words, a model for the new world… So it would make sense for the balance of the temples symbolising the world to be important," Jun verified Runa's claims.

"Thank you, Jun-kun," Maya told him while Tatsuya nodded.

Everything I say cannot be trusted in their eyes. I understand it and all, but geez… Do they really need do that? Runa rubbed her arm uncomfortable with the atmosphere.

Runa saw out of the corner of her eye, Lisa and Eikichi talking to each other. She watched from afar and listened in. If she cannot be in actual conversation, at least she could watch them.

"Joker died at the Caracol… It was everyone's rumours that gave Joker the power to grant dreams… And Xibalba took flight because of rumours too, right? Philemon said, 'someone,' is making rumours come true… But did he mean Jun's father?" Lisa asked Eikichi.

He shrugged in response. "Don't know, probably. But, the reason the people of this city clung to Jun was because they wanted a cheap, easy way to achieve their dreams… Not everyone think it's a good thing. But once they know the option is out there, it's too tempting to pass up… Man's karma really is deep-rooted…"

"Yeah, I suppose," Lisa frowned.

The next relief hall was reached after several fights with demons. Inside the hall were seven Last Battalion soldiers and three Aquarius Masks. Several shots went off and the Masked Circle cultists fell dead. A battle realm quickly summoned Jun, Tatsuya, Maya, Runa, Eikichi and Lisa into it. There Runa called forth her Persona, but the others had already organised themselves. Eikichi boosted their critical hit rate, Tatsuya, Lisa and Maya casted a Fusion Spell and Jun finished the enemies off with Sonic Bullet using Durga, the Persona he received from Yukino.

They returned back to the Relief Hall before Runa could do a thing. Talk about feeling useless.

"Aquarius… It's associated with the element of wind, symbolising upheaval and destruction, as well as evolution and philanthropy…" Jun reflected mournfully gazing at zodiac's symbol on a wall.

"…" Runa grimaced. Aquarius was her Zodiac as well. It was suiting for me, the destruction part, but Jun wasn't like that. He had only wanted to grant people their dreams, he simply got lost along the way… It wasn't his fault.

"But those are only words… In reality, I symbolise an arrogant fool. There's no way I can lead people to their ideals," Jun added and lamented.

"That's not true, Jun-kun!" Maya disagreed with Jun and reminded him. "You said when you were little that you wanted to be a teacher, didn't you? Well, what's a teacher's job but to lead his students to their ideals? You should make your lessons about the importance of dreams!"

Jun smiled weakly but then sighed heavily with a glum expression of his face.

"There you go again. moping like that has been a bad habit of yours ever since you were a kin, Jun. C'mon, Houhou! See, you gotta cheer up! Houhou! Houhu!" Lisa attempted to cheer Jun up.

"Ahahah… If it's a 'Hou,' you want, watch and learn from the grey Michel!" Eikichi declared. He struck a pose and shouted. "H-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-U-U-U!"

"Never do that again," Tatsuya scolded after he cringed at action while Lisa and Maya shook their heads. Eikcihi groaned with disappointed and complained. Jun smirked despite his melancholic mood at his friends antics. Runa could tell Eikichi was cheering Jun up in his own unique way and half-smiled. Then she remembered she wasn't welcome to their group, why was she smiling? Runa let her half-smile fall and keep her face neutral as she could.

Outside the Aquarius Room, symbols of the air aligned water bearer member of zodiac covered the pale turquoise floors and walls. Inside upon a platform two Longinus mech stood waiting with spears. The mechs blocked the path to the Wind Crystal Skull, which's green smoky aura glowed as it sat on it's pedestal. The the two mech's eye lasers detected the six as they entered.

The mech with the number 7 on it's chest commented. "Pathetic… The marionette that danced in ignorance has arrived."

Lower down on the stairs that lead to platform hovered a third Longinus mech with the number 5 on it's chest. The mech questioned. "Flowers inevitably wilt… Can something so transient be compared to the stars?"

"A flower it may be, but's still a very precious blossom… Time for you to give back the wind crystal skull!" Jun retorted with his weapon, a flower at the ready. Everyone else also held themselves peppered to fight in a moment's notice.

The two mechs further up on the platform rose up into the air and landed either side of the group. Longinus #5 chuckled dismissively. "Hah-aha! Do you think your full memories have returned to you, marionette?"

"What do you mean by that!? I remember it all now! How I made everyone suffer… The hints I did…!" Jun questioned.

"Such rank foolishness… Wither and die alongside your precious flowers!" Longinus #5 scoffed and threw a earth spell at the group. Runa casted a spell to block it however so it didn't hit.

Jun called forth his Persona. "Lisa, Eikichi, let's try a Sonic Wave Fusion Spell."

"Okay!" "Sure thing!"

Jun called forth Hermes, "Garula…"

"Hades, try Malaques!" Eikichi shouted.

"Magarula!" Lisa called forth her Persona as well. The three attacks combined to make, Sonic Wave. A spinning vortex of white light whirled.

The mechs suffered damage, but launched a barrage of bullets. They all dodged and swerved out of the way but Runa could feel the heat in the air where the bullets rushed past her. They needed to end this quickly, Tatsuya leaped forward with sword to distract the enemies while Lisa switched Personas. Lisa added her strength to Maya's and they casted. "Heavy Rain."

A torrential down pour soaked the mechs and limited their vision. Jun and Eikichi took the opening and Eikcihi switched his Persona.

The enemies called forth lightning from above, but it was blocked by an opaque magic barrier. Runa nodded to the boys to launch their attack.

Jun and Eikichi hesitated and were almost hit by one of the mech spears. The two recovered from the near miss and conjured their Personas. "Wind Slash EX…"

Two of the mechs were destroyed by the quick succession of attacks and only one remained.

"Electra restore their SP…" Runa commanded and wave of tranquility washed over the group.

"It's time to finish this," Tatsuya determined as he held his sword. He rushed forward and slashed the mech. Eikichi and Maya followed up and shot at the remaining Longinus with their weapons.

Lisa conjured Venus. "Mamagnadyne!"

The Longinus mech fell into pieces and faded from existence. Jun's Persona suddenly rose up above him. Jun blinked and said. "It can change form now? What does that mean?"

"It's underwent a mutation. You can mutate it to your ultimate Persona in the Velvet Room," Runa answered the question.

Jun nodded once before they all returned back to the Aquarius Room.

Longinus #6 stood on the stairs in Aquarius Room and it announced to Jun. "Hoh hoh… You pitiful fool… You don't even know who was meant to be seated here…" The mech exploded after it had finished speaking.

Jun rushed forward confused by the statement but then his knees buckled and he clutched his head. "What…? Ngh…! U-ngh… Ma…ma…?"

Maya eyes widen and rushed to Jun, worried. "What's wrong? Jun-kun, are you okay!?"

Jun shook himself and regained his composure. He stood up and reassured Maya. "Y-Yes… I'm all right… I just need to hurry and get the skull…"

Huh? Is there something up with Queen Aquarius? She did seem odd at Caracol in the game, but what did it mean? Did she know Jun? Ugh… There's no use worrying Jun, until I figure it out. Whatever it all means, that is, Runa paused and pondered.

The skull spoke as Jun approached it. "I am the skull of howling winds… If my slumber is disturbed, earth will become conceited and fire will lose it's wrath."

Jun waited for a spilt second before he picked up the skull. He turned back to the everyone and decided. "Now let's hurry to the next temple!"

"We… We should go to the Velvet Room first to mutate your Per-Persona," Runa advised Jun after the others nodded.

Jun looked to the others who grumbled and started heading to the door. Maya offered Runa a sympathetic smile however and Jun sighed. Runa felt like doing the same, she just wanted to get out of the situation she had made for herself.

The sound of door to the room creaking open, attracted Runa's attention so she looked up. Her eyes met a familiar yet unexpected face.

She froze. "What… How? They never mentioned anything about…"

"Of course, they didn't. I guess it's a taste of your medicine. You must think it's surprisingly bitter, but surely you saw this coming?"

"…" Runa's eye were transfixed on the person before her. This person looked exactly like her in every way except her eyes were yellow. It was her Shadow…

"Ha, pathetic as usual. I even have yellow eyes because of that game you played."

"What do you want?" Runa asked.

"For you to come out from the behind the veil of false hope and face reality. You are a liar to only them, but also to yourself. All wanting save this world business to atone for the past is just a joke. You don't want atonement, you simply don't to be alone. And to avoid the enviable fate you are willing to do anything. It'll never work, though. It's pointless in the end. They'll never accept you. Never forgive you… Just like your mother's family in your old life. No matter what you did it was never good enough."

"Tha-That's not true, I… I'm sure they… cared… un-underneath it all."

"Oh, don't kid yourself. Your mother's family hated you… They despised you so much, they sent to another continent! Hey, there's idea! Why don't I tell these fictional characters the reason for that?"

"No… Please…"

"Sorry! Eh! Request denied~!" Shadow Runa giggled and then added with a devious smirk upon it's face. "Announcement! Did you know that this girl is the one responsible for both her mother's and father's death! Wow, beat you didn't see that one comin'. That's why her mother's family hated her so much. After all, she got her mother killed. It's even better when take into account it wasn't even her real mother, it was her step mother. Ha!"

"I didn't mean to… I didn't want that to happen."

"Yet, it did. All because you couldn't play the role you given. Rais, He locked in a stone coffin for days or maybe it was hours. Either way he told you not to tell on him or you'll pay the price… AND WHAT DID YOU DO!"

Runa was shaking and she could barely breath. "I told on him… I was scared, I thought doing the right…"

"The right thing, huh… Well that turned out terrific. He burnt parents alive in… Front. Of. You. You kept doing the right thing. It never worked out. People kept dying. You were poison. Why should the other me, you, save a world that's not even yours?"

"There are good people here! They don't deserve to die!" Runa clenched her fists and yelled.

"Aww… Did you actually attached to bunch video game characters?" Shadow Runa placed a finger on it's lips, it's eyes curious as how it could inflict more suffering.

"…" Runa stepped back.

"I think that's yes, people! Oh joy! Now you can endure the pain, the constant pain…. of them leaving you. Just like that dream said. Everyone abandons you. No one wants you around, so why bother? You'll never have a family nor friends. Stop wishing for something that will never come true. Give up. Nothing good happens, and if it does it's just lie. Just something to get hopes up so when it falls apart, it hurts more. Why not just stand back and watch it happen? Why fight it?"

"I promised that I would try and help, though," Runa muttered.

"Great help you are. They don't need you. You try to be who others want you to be in a desperate attempt to delay the enviable moment where they reject you. In process, you lost all concept of who you really are beyond the reflections of how you think others desire you to be."

"Shut up! Stop! None of that's true! You're making it up… You're lying," Runa shook her head, tears running down her cheeks.

"Ironic, when you are liar here. You need others so you try to make them need you. I'm sick of all this talk! Let's fight! So that only one of us remains. You and your Persona come battle me!" Shadow Runa pulled them all into a battle realm.

Inside the battle realm, Runa gasped when she saw Maya, Jun, Lisa, Eikichi and Tatsuya had been dragged in with her. "What? What they doing here?"

"I want a fight, I want to enjoy this! Why not invite them too? Besides the best how to make you suffer is to hurt those around you… Didn't Rais teach you that properly?" Shadow Runa grinned.

"I won't let you hurt them! And don't you dare bring that monster into this!"

"Ooh, I struck nerve!" Shadow Runa gave a look of mock surprise and added cheerfully. "Bingo!"

"…" Runa swallowed a sob and pointed her naginata at her Shadow. "I don't care if they hate me. I still need to protect them."

"Liar! You'll protect them? Please, if anything, they'll have to protect you," Shadow Runa retorted and then called forth it's Persona. "Reverse Electra… I call you forth!"

"Allow me, the lost Pleaid, she who fled from destruction of Troy shall aid in your downfall! None shall defeat us in battle! All stars die, it's no use denying it," Reverse Electra claimed.

Electra arose behind Runa. "To put an end to this false me, will be a pleasure. I am lost the Pleaid, yet hear me now! I fled not from war, but pain. I won't let anyone hurt us! So I lend my strength!"

"I will fight. I won't give up that easily! You impostor!" Runa yelled at her Shadow.

"Impostor? Ooh the irony. Called an impostor by the dictionary's definition of one such thing… Now that's intriguing," Shadow Runa yellow eyes sparkled with wicked delight. It cocked it's head and asked an unexpected question. "So how about some music to set mood, eh?"

"Music…?"

"The others might not get it, but it's dreadfully boring to have a fight without music. You'll get it's reverence to your situation shortly," Shadow Runa assured her before it snapped it's fingers.

Music filled the battle realm. It was song that Runa knew. It 's by Avicii and it's called 'Liar Liar".

"Fitting, no?" Shadow Runa commented when it saw Runa's expression.

"Shut up already!" Runa growled and charge forward with her naginata. Shadow Runa swerved left and dodged the blow.

Shadow Runa wielded naginata too and brought up the blade at it's tip. Runa side stepped and and blocked the move. Shadow Runa shook her off forcing Runa back off.

They traded blows until Shadow Runa kicked Runa in the gut. Runa fell to the ground winded. Shadow Runa smirked and turned away from her. The Shadow approached the group who had their weapons ready. The Shadow summoned it's Persona. "Reverse Electra. Butterfly Tempest!"

A swarm of butterflies covered Shadow Runa. Maya and Eikichi shot at the swarm but the bullets hit butterflies and dissolve as if dipped into acid.

"What is the world…?" Runa whispered confused.

A naginata comes swinging out from within the butterflies and slashes Maya and Eikichi across their arms that involuntarily are raised in response to the sight of the weapon when it drew closer. Shadow Runa muttered from within and comes surging back towards Runa. Runa gasped as the blade neared her and brought up her weapon to defend against it before she attempted a counterattack. A hand merely grabs the naginata, yanking Runa forward. She face planted and she turned to see Shadow Runa about to deliver the final blow.

"Damn it! Why do you always make me do this?" Tatsuya complained as he held back the attack with his sword.

"Tatsuya…!" Runa shouted surprised.

Tatsuya fought against the Shadow, her Shadow until he stabbed her with his sword. It staggered and went to it's knees. Jun made a move to finish it off, throwing one of his flowers. Shadow Runa laughed however and caught the flower. She returned it back toward Jun, the flower cutting just above his eyebrow. A thin line of blood formed like a paper cut. Shadow Runa muttered and laughed. Tatsuya pulled out his sword and Shadow Runa healed herself before she struck Tatsuya tripping him. Tatsuya grunted as as cut formed on his leg. Shadow Runa muttered a curse as Lisa drew closer to it.

Lisa roared and threw a punch at the Shadow. The punch collided with the butterflies however and the acidic quality to it burnt Lisa's knuckles. Lisa screamed in pain and jumped backwards. Shadow Runa threw up a magical shield blocking Jun's Persona's attack, Wind Slash. The Shadow smirked as the blood flowing out from Jun's cut obscured his sight. Shadow Runa aimed the blunt end of her naginata against his head to increase the damage.

Runa summoned her Persona to heal the others. "Electra, heal them!"

It wasn't working though, some force held back her healing powers. Runa was dumbfounded and then she noticed everyone's bleeding was unnaturally fast. Shadow Runa was speeding up their blood flow so that they would bleed out. I can't heal them without killing them. All I can do is wait for them to black out and leave the battle realm.

Then only she would remain to stand alone. Thus Shadow Runa had really wanted to fight it's other self without the interference of others, but she had wanted Runa to suffer a little first.

"Guys knock yourselves out! You need to leave the battle realm to stop the bleeding before you all die!" Runa warned as she rushed at her Shadow with her naginata. The butterflies burnt her skin. She hissed and casted a her healing spell on herself.

She called forth Electra and instructed her. "Protect me, don't let me bleed. Butterfly Storm."

Perhaps she too could use it as an armour? Shadow Runa growled and struck the impenetrable protection it's other self had created. Runa peaked out from her butterflies to see everyone had left, they had. She let out a sigh of relief. The Shadow took advantage of this and scratched her with it's weapon.

Before the Shadow's twisted healing spell could hit her, Runa threw up a Makarakarn. This surprised the Shadow and while her Shadow was off guard, she healed herself. "No way! You're using that trick! I'll will defeat you at your own game!"

Runa casted several Tetrakarn in a row and an opaque walls appeared appeared around her Shadow. Separating the Shadow from it's butterflies. The butterflies hence disappeared, their power source disconnected. The Shadow thrashed his fists against it's prison. Runa waited until the Shadow broke free and launched itself at her. She stabbed it with her naginata and casted a healing spell, albeit she focused on speeding up the blood loss rather than healing. The Shadow panted as it frantically healed itself, but only hastened it's demise. Runa removed the naginata when she thought the enemy was defeated but Shadow Runa casted a revival spell on it's self and before it even left the battle realm within moments. Runa and her Shadow traded blows again.

They were evenly matched. They ended up throwing kicks at each other Runa used the butterfly armour as shield against the acidic qualities of her Shadow's version of it. The fight dragged on and on. It seemed as if would go on forever until Runa released something as the music stopped… She really couldn't win.

She dropped her weapon and casted Butterfly Storm upon herself again. There she waited, her Shadow struck the barrier until both it's and Runa's naginata broke. The Shadow then used it's fists and eventually it stopped exhausted. It cried out. "Why!? Why won't you attack me!?"

"I cannot win in this kind of fight against you. I'm not good at combat and neither are you. We both restored to cheap tricks, but neither of could defeat the other. Not fully. Thus, I give up."

"That makes no sense! Just fight me!"

"You were born out of rumours and I think given your eye colour a little bit from my subconscious expectations played a role. Thus we have at least some similarities. The people I care about are free to leave. They are safe outside the battle realm. I don't care what they think of me. I give up fighting, but I won't ever let you hurt them. So bye, Shadow."

"That won't make me go away… Moron…"

"It will eventually, just you wait… If my subconscious affected you, it would take into account neither would be able to win though combat. I am not warrior, neither are you. I hate conflict and that is way I tried to be who others want me to be like. I didn't want to be a weak. Yet by thinking brute strength is answer I made myself what I believe people thought I was. I will win, but not by defeating you in combat, that's not who I am. There are similarities between us, though you are not all there is to me. I can stay like this forever, I'll never fight you. Because I still have hope that I can start anew. You, my Shadow, have no such hope. Checkmate."

Runa let her spell dissipate as she noticed the battle realm had gone and she was back in the Aquarius Room. She smiled smugly at her Shadow.

"How did that happen!" The Shadow whined, crying tears of frustration.

"You are not what I want to be. No, that's wrong, you're not me. Not really."

"Said the person who doesn't even know who she is! The Yamamoto family never wanted you, and you can't go back to pretending you're Runa Suou… So who are you, huh!?"

"Exactly, if I don't who I am. Why should you? You are simply a reflection of how the people in both my lives saw me. Parts of what you said was true, but most of it was not true. I'm not sure who I am nor who I want to be. But I'm not you. You said I lived by life being who others determined me to be. I don't know who I am because I lost myself. I'm not any of the people I pretended to be. However I won't let anyone decide that for me, including you, my Shadow. I'll find my own path to who I am instead of relying on others, from now on. But I must thank you, I guess. Without you I… I would be still lost."

The Shadow stared at Runa with a sarcastic smirk as it started to fade from sight. "I'll be back when you falter. That cop-out won't work again."

"I'll be ready for you. Besides if I get this bad again, I'll deserve it. Bye, Shadow," Runa waved goodbye and added. "I told you so…"

The Shadow dissolved into nothingness. Runa felt immense relief, it was over. Then she recalled everyone else in the room. "Um… I'm guessing you saw and heard that bit before the fight and just now, huh? Oh god, how lame did I just sound…"

"Ha… Lame? I'm wondering how you defeated your Shadow," Eikichi laughed.

"Er… I did it through the power of self-discovery. Heh-eh," Runa answered embarrassed.

"Snrk…" Eikichi smothered a laugh.

"Runa-chan, was all that true?" Maya asked, her brow furrowed.

"Yes… I was orphaned at a young age. My parents' death occurred because I angered this older boy, Seth Rais. My step-mother's family was forced to take me in after my uncle, the other family I had, left me with them. I felt unwanted, my entire life, so when I came here… I just… I just wanted to pretend I could belong here. In order to kept the deception going, I lied. I so desperately want family and friends that I was willing to let you s-suffer. For that I am sorry. I put myself before others. Part of me knew it was wrong, yet I was so sick of doing right and getting nowhere. Please understand that I want to save this world, my reasons are selfish and I don't want to be alone. There's more to it, though. I don't really understand why to be honest, but I want to protect the people here. There is so many good people who don't deserved to die, I won't stand idly by," Runa answered the question posed to her.

Maya's eyes widen in shock. Great, she hates me…

Just as Runa thought that she was surprised by Maya hugging her. Runa froze confused.

"I didn't know how much you were hurting… After I found out that you lied to us, I was so angry. I didn't even try to see it from your perspective. I'm sorry," Maya held her close and oddly enough she apologised to Runa.

"Huh!? Wh-Why are you sorry?" Runa asked worried.

"I just am. I didn't understand why you did what you did. But now I think I get it," Maya let go of her and explained with a warm smile.

"Maya-san…" Runa sniffed and wiped her eyes.

"Here," Eikichi said handing Runa an object. When she paused, he added. "It's handkerchief, my mum made it. So wash it and return it please."

"I will," Runa nodded and accepted the handkerchief. After she had stopped herself crying she lamented. "I still don't who I'm supposed to be. I said to my Shadow I'll figure it out for myself but… Am I Runa Yamamoto or Runa Suou? I don't see how I am meant to chose one or the other."

"I know you want to do this by yourself, but I could still give some advice, can't I?" Jun inquired of Runa.

"Um… I don't… Actually I shouldn't lied to myself… So yes, advice would be nice," Runa admitted.

"Think about that Velvet Room. It's a room between the cracks of consciousness and unconsciousness… I locked away my unbearable guilt and ran from it all… Or so I thought. But I understand now. The conscious and unconscious selves are both you. What matters is the courage to face yourself… I think that can apply to you as well, Runa-chan. The you of your past life and the unconscious Runa of this world are both you. It's important that you don't run away from that and gain the courage to face yourself," Jun advised her.

"That's good advice," Runa reflected. "You know you would be a good teacher, if you can give out advice like that."

"You don't have to say that," Jun told her and he asked her. "What will you do?"

"I'm understand now that it's not one or the other. I'm mixture of both. I'm not sure what that means. Although I'm willing to discover what it means," Runa determined. Suddenly Electra, her Persona was above her. The Persona shimmered and transmogrified into a new form.

The figure above her was an angelic one with gold bird like mask upon it's face. White and gold adorned one side of her and on the other-side the Persona was decorated black and silver. The Persona spoke. "I am Angelos, I am know as katachthonia, she of the underworld, but I am also of part of the upper-world. Thy who is akin to me, for we both are of two worlds. I shall aid Thee in your new journey of discovery. A new beginning awaits."

Runa's new Persona returned to her and she discovered something more than just her Persona's appearance had changed. Runa laughed to herself. "Ha-aha… A new beginning, huh? How suiting it's Arcana changed to Fool. Whoa… This proves I played Persona 3 & 4 too many times. Ha-aha!"

"Hey," A voice interrupted her laughter.

"Sorry. Although, you would laugh if you played the games," Runa replied.

"Who is Rais?" The owner of the voice, Tatsuya asked.

"…" Runa paled.

"The other Runa, the one I grew up with had nightmares about him. Are you saying those nightmares were in at least in part real?"

"Y-Yes…"

"Maybe you're not so different from her after all, she also insisted there was a part of herself that was missing… Hm…" Tatsuya said with a solemn expression and added. "Well, Runa, You're certainly enough of an Otaku to be like my sister."

"Tatsuya, you… Wait… did you just call me an Otaku!? That's not okay!" Runa complained.

Tatsuya smirked and shrugged. Runa pouted for a second, but soon smiled. Tatsuya noted this and told her. "You're not the sister I knew. I know you're not her, and I don't want you to be. But I want to get know this version of you. I don't know if I'll consider you a sister again, but I think I was a bit of a jerk to you. You didn't mean to come to this world and change things. It's about time I've learnt to deal with it without lashing out at you."

"Thanks, Tatsuya," Runa replied warmly. Tatsuya shrugged and played with his lighter.

"This doesn't change anything, I still hate you, Runa-chan. But I will tolerate you now. Got it?" Lisa stubbornly decided.

"I wouldn't expect anything else, Lisa-senpai. After how I betrayed your trust, your tolerance is unbelievable," Runa nodded and almost smiled. They started barraging her wit questions about how their game selves were like and it all worked. They were talking to her because they wanted to. Huh… Maybe doing the right thing wasn't so bad after all?

Okay, that was a little corny at end, but this fanfic needs to lighten up a little. So the next few chapters are going to be a bit more up beat compared to the last few chapters.