CHAPTER 29 / Motivation
March 1st, 2010
Dear Yukari,
I'm still writing today. I managed to find a second wind of sorts so I'm going to keep pressing forward with the journal. I don't think I have much time left. I know that I need to make it to graduation…but I'm unsure how much my strength will last. You've already noticed that I've become so tired lately and you've even expressed concerned for it. I half expect you to drag me to the hospital at some point as it gets worse. How I wish I was brave enough to tell you about all of this.
But this is how it should be…and as much as I may regret the things I won't be able to see or do…I am proud and happy for things to be as they are right now. I know that everything will be okay in the end. Even if that end isn't for years, decades, generations or even eons away from now. I mean after everything that has happened…there has to be an afterlife. I will patiently wait for the day we are reunited once again.
As we marched towards that last battle…I was fighting so many thoughts in my mind…and I don't think anything made sense to me until the very end. I saw the truth…and I finally understood. That moment of complete clarity and understanding is one I will probably never achieve again…and it's hard to describe how it felt. But I knew the answer. I had found the third option…the other path where the world would not end. The world will continue on…and I will watch over it as the Great Seal. So when you look up into the sky…know that I'm there, looking down at you…to protect you always from Nyx and 'The Fall'.
Love Always,
Arisato Minato
March 17th, 2011 / Late Afternoon
Hamuko shifted slightly in her seat and looked over at the sleeping Kokoro who was nestled in the baby seat next to her. They were traveling in a limousine to Iwatodai and Tatsumi Port Island. The rest of SEES and them were heading to a hotel in which they would stay until the promised time to face Yoshimitsu. March 19th…the night of the Full Moon…and on the Moonlight Bridge. Her twin brother's body had been taken…for some purpose. One that she wasn't sure she could figure out before the confrontation. Her brother was brain dead…his body kept alive only by machines. Yukari had apologized for not telling her about it for a simple reason. Her twin would never come back to life. Being brain dead was different than being in a coma. While it is possible that people in a coma may never wake up…they are also capable of regaining consciousness at any time. However…when an individual is brain dead…there is no coming back. The brain was no longer sending out signals for the body to keep alive…all of it was being done artificially.
Still she had talked with her brother through dreams…and the power of the Pseudo Dark Hour. There was a lot she didn't understand but after hearing the abilities of Shadows and Persona users she had a few ideas. For one…Shadows had a power over time and space. Now they theorized that Persona users had a similar capacity because of the place that the members of SEES called 'The Abyss of Time'. While they hadn't been detailed of the events that occurred there, she got a general idea. They had revisited important time periods in all their lives…specifically moments when they awakened to their potential as Persona users. It was there that they had learned about Minato's fate. That he had sacrificed himself to save the world.
If he had not done what he did…she would have never learned about him. She would have never met her sister-in-law and niece. She would not be sitting in a limousine either.
On her other side was the girl named, Kana. She was a Shadow. Well maybe not anymore. Hamuko had been a test subject in a Kirijo lab when she was a child. But then one night there was chaos among the lab and Kana came to her rescue. She allowed for Hamuko to escape by assuming Hamuko's form and the only distinction between the two of them was their eyes. Hamuko's were a deep crimson…and Kana's were almost a glowing gold. After all that time, they were finally reunited in the very lab where Hamuko had been experimented on. Kana had been all alone over the years. Over ten long years of solitude. Right now the Shadow girl was looking out the window as buildings passed by them. She was very curious about the world…which Hamuko could only smile about. Kana was an existence that was never supposed to be…and yet here she was, experiencing life. A shadow…who had wanted to protect Hamuko so much that she pretended to be her just so Hamuko could get away. Then when they were reunited…Kana awakened to her own Persona to protect her. The Persona Eurydice.
The symbolism of Kana's Persona was not lost on Hamuko. Hamuko awoke initially to the Persona Orpheus. The most renowned story of Orpheus was his journey into the underworld to rescues his lover, Eurydice. Hades and Persephone heard Orpheus music and as a result Persephone managed to convince Hades to let Eurydice return to him. The condition that was set by Hades was that Orpheus must walk in front of Eurydice and cannot look back at her until they were both back to the land of the living. The end of the tale differs depending on the source. But the main point was that Orpheus did look back and Eurydice disappeared from him forever. Maybe the way things had happened back then is why Kana's Persona was who it was. The way Kana had stayed behind was similar enough to the tale.
She had learned so much over the last few days that she almost couldn't believe all that had happened. Persona…her fighting Shadows and meeting Kana again. All because she had some stupid idea of checking out a rumor about the abandoned hospital and dragged Sayane and Akira along as well. She had awakened to her Persona and then they were rescued by SEES. After that she met Takeba Yukari, who had been in love with someone she didn't know…her twin brother. Yet the mysteries of her life started to be answered. About why her parents…who turned out to not be her real ones, abandoned her…and even the mysterious dreams she had about a boy with blue hair. There had been little room for doubt…it was none other than her twin brother. She was skeptical about that being possible but…if the power of Persona was involved…then it wasn't as far-fetched as it first seemed. The real question that couldn't really be answered is what exactly was possible with the power of Persona.
According to her brother's journal, when Ryoji was sealed within him…he speculated that his potential had been sealed as well. If that was so, then it was also probably that his abilities expanded as a result of it. It would be akin to shaking an unopened soda pop bottle. The pressure must have been immense…and when that power was released…it was an explosion of power. They had also said that it wasn't uncommon for Persona users to be more powerful on their first summoning because of a similar reason. What if…that same power that was bottled up had allowed her and her brother to meet in their dreams? Even though it had been sealed…that power was still being used somehow…as a means of stabilizing itself. It made sense but there would never be a way to know for sure.
Her brother…whom she never knew in life, everything she learned about him…only seemed to amaze her. Could someone be this proud for a sibling they never knew? Either way, she was. There wasn't much left of the journal…not much more left of his journal that hasn't been told to her. And knowing all of that she would face down her Uncle…someone whose motives were still a mystery to all of them. To return Minato to life? That seemed unlikely. The suggestion that Yoshimitsu was after reviving his Brother…that seemed more likely but there was just no way of knowing until they faced him.
"It will be a few hours before we arrive. It would have been faster to fly but…I don't think there is much reason to rush," Mitsuru spoke up. All of SEES was in the limo, and there was more than enough room to sit everyone comfortably. Mitsuru was on the far end from Hamuko, on the other side of Yukari who was sitting next to her. With Kokoro gently sleeping between Yukari and Hamuko.
"If we have time, I can keep reading then," Yukari said opening the blue leather journal in her lap.
"Are you sure you won't get carsick?" Fuuka asked, concerned.
"I'll be fine," Yukari assured her.
Hamuko wasn't sure if she believed that…out of everyone Yukari had taken a lot of it the hardest…for several reasons. And why shouldn't she? She had loved him more than Hamuko could realistically understand. Hamuko had never been in love before or ever felt much of a connection to anyone. Sure she was good friends with Sayane and even Akira. Like she had told Sayane…not once had she ever looked at Akira as anything other than a friend. And she had gone through her whole life with ever really feeling connected to anyone. If anything her days with SEES made her feel more connected with them than anyone else in her life. She felt more connected with her twin brother…whom she had only met in dreams and through a mirror than people in her life. What did that really say about her?
Kana looked over to Hamuko as the Limo briefly paused at an intersection. Kana's honest expressions of curiosity and genuine enjoyment caught her off guard. Out of everyone…she felt the most connected to Kana. Maybe it was because of their past together, but being next to her felt…right. She wasn't sure she could describe it any other way. If she had to make a comparison…it was like she had found a long lost sister that she was once very close to. That may be the most apt parallel of their past. Her brother…she wondered what his past had been like before…how had he grown up…had he been happy? Hamuko remembered his brief explanation of one of his foster parents…and how he had been taken out on a lake every day for one summer as his foster father fished. It seemed like an important memory for him.
All of that though…must have been far from his mind when he was with Yukari in those last few months. During that time, before he had that moment and knew what to do to save the world…there had to have been that thought that Yukari…and everything he loved would die. It was a thought that all of SEES had to share…but how did it affect her brother? How did it influence his decision? That was probably one of the reasons he started writing the journal…not only to remind SEES of the events that occurred and the struggles that they faced in those last months but also…why he made that choice…why Minato…someone who at the beginning had no reason to care for any of them…became a savior. Someone who died…so that all that he loved…and even those he would never know…could live.
December 10th, 2009 / Evening
It shouldn't have really mattered to Minato. A week had passed since Ryoji had informed SEES about 'The Fall' and that it could not be avoided. That information was not something that could be easily coped with. That was something he could relate to. When he had woken up in the hospital so many years ago, he couldn't remember exactly what had happened or why he had been there…something that adults would expect for a six year old that had lost both of his parents. How does a six year old cope with an inescapable fact that his parents were dead? Not well.
Minato for the longest time didn't understand what 'death' was. Sure the concept was there, but he didn't particularly know what it meant. Exactly what did it mean for someone to be 'gone'? To him…he had viewed it as if his parents had simply gone somewhere far away, beyond what he could get too. That was why…for many years, Minato never properly dealt with the 'death' of his parents. Then one day…he understood. It took the death of his very kind foster father in order to finally understand what it meant when someone died. It had been like the breaking of a dam. Years of suppressed and unknown emotions came spilling up and affected him for several months. He became reckless and stupid.
Everyone makes stupid mistakes…Minato had made too many to bother keeping count. Aragaki Shinjiro, Kirijo Takeharu and even Yoshino Chidori…their deaths were also made possible because of mistakes he had made. Of all of them…Chidori's death was definitely on his hands. He had the chance to kill Jin and that bastard Takaya. He didn't…and because of that they managed to live and recover. He was sure if he ever spoke these thoughts out loud that he would be chastised that he had no blame to be had for the things that happened. However, he would always be inclined to disagree to that.
If he had trusted himself more…had followed his instincts more closely, he might have been able to change the outcome of what occurred. There was no point on dwelling on it…but he wasn't going to allow himself to forget it either. To learn from his mistakes it meant he needed to remember…constantly remind himself of what happens when he doesn't act on his instincts. Still…none of this should have really mattered to Minato. Igor's answers had told him a lot.
Even if he had never returned…he would have encountered the Dark Hour…he would have awoken to Persona…and he would have been hunted down by the Shadows. Looking at it a certain way…with Death sealed inside of him, he felt like his fate had been 'fixed' in a fashion. That was actually not the case. His decisions were not influenced by those past events because he didn't remember it. He wasn't guided back to Iwatodai and Tatsumi Port Island by some stupid thing called destiny. He had made a choice and moved forward with it. His options had been plenty…he could have gone to school in Tokyo or closer to Shinjuku. He had several choices but the reputation and possible opportunities he would have from going to Gekkoukan High School. Not to mention dormitories and he would have a reasonable amount of money for expenditures and all things he needed were within walking distance.
It was a decision that he had spent several weeks considering. There wasn't someone pushing him to go there…or anything of the sort. It had been entirely…his own choice.
'I chooseth this fate of my own free will.' That was the contract he had signed. And as Elizabeth and Igor continue to remind him…they will stand by and assist him regardless of what choice he makes. Sometimes that was all he needed…a reminder that the choices he was making was truly his own.
"Hey Minato, are you even paying attention?" Yukari poked Minato's arm.
Minato looked over at her for a moment and then the rest of SEES. He was sitting on the couch in the dorm's lounge and everyone had gathered. He had been so absorbed in his own thoughts that he had filtered out their conversation to just mere background noise. "Sorry, I wasn't really paying attention," Minato admitted.
"Geesh, I swear you are like a zombie when you zone out like that," Junpei commented.
"Just a lot on my mind, just like everyone else here," Minato shrugged.
"Arisato, I think you already stated before but what is your decision?" Mitsuru asked and essentially steering him into the conversation.
"I'm going to fight, Nyx," Minato didn't even have to think about it. There had never been a doubt on whether or not he would.
"Even though she's supposedly unbeatable?" Akihiko asked.
Minato nodded, "Look ignorance may be bliss for some but I've never ran away from my reality. Even if there is no way to succeed…then I'll find out first hand. And if I fail…it would produce the same result as if I did nothing anyway. And even if Nyx can't be killed, it doesn't mean Nyx can't be defeated."
"That doesn't make much sense," Fuuka said.
Minato shrugged not planning to elaborate on his reasoning, "You guys asked the question, I just answered it."
"Honestly, this is the first time I've contemplated my own death…" Mitsuru admitted, picking up the conversation. "It's quite a sobering thought. I don't want to suffer…and I don't want to kill Ryoji. But from what he says…either way, we still die. So, there is no simple answer…not for me."
"Then do we all agree that we don't want to hurt, Ryoji-kun?" Fuuka spoke up.
"Is that how you feel?" Akihiko asked in response.
"Ryoji isn't human. Regardless of what action we take, he will disappear anyway. He never truly existed in a normal sense anyway," Minato was quick to point out.
"But…" Fuuka started.
"I'm just telling you that Ryoji's death won't really mean anything for him. For one…he can't die. Well at least not in a strict definition of the word," Minato scratched the back of his head and looked over to Fuuka. "Actually if you think of it logically it makes sense. If Ryoji is a part of Nyx…this maternal being that bestowed 'death' to our planet to begin with…then yeah obviously they can't die."
"What makes you think that?" Yukari asked Minato.
"Imagine if 'death' suddenly didn't exist on our world. Think of just how different life would be," Minato quickly pointed out. "As much pain as death causes to us…humanity needs to be able to die. If there was no death…there would be no jobs. Why work when you can't die anyway? So you wouldn't need anything. People wouldn't educate themselves either…so school would disappear. Why bother learning anything since you don't need to learn how to survive…you can't die. My point is…if this maternal being gave humanity 'death' then Nyx is pretty much death itself. If you believe in balance…then while we lead mortal lives…the one that gave us this gift would be cursed with an immortal life."
"I understand what you're saying," Mitsuru said looking like she was thinking about what Minato had just said. "But if that is true then Nyx really can't be defeated."
"Not in a traditional sense, no," Minato sighed. "You see why Ryoji said what he did then."
"So why are you going to fight it?" Ken asked him.
"It doesn't matter to me if Nyx can't die. That just means I'll have to figure something else out," Minato shrugged once more.
"What the hell, man?! You think this is a joke?" Junpei was suddenly yelling and on his feet across from Minato. "We're all going to die and all of you need to wake up! This is death we are talking about here!"
Mitsuru was quick to try and diffuse the situation, "Then, what do you want to do? Do you want to kill him?"
Junpei looked away for a moment, "Doesn't matter, there's nothing that I can do. Minato is the only one who can kill him." His eyes locked with Minato for a moment. And Minato saw the change in thought cross Junpei's eyes. "Come to think of it, it's all your fault…"
"Excuse me?" Minato said getting on to his feet as well.
"You had that thing inside you and didn't even know it…You raised it, dammit! This is all your fault! So you should do something about it! You're supposed to be 'special', right?" Junpei was angry and directing it all towards Minato. Of course Minato knew that but couldn't help but feel angry at Junpei for pushing it this way.
"What you think I have some special power than can just 'fix' all of this shit? You think I haven't thought about the fact that this entire time I was carrying an entity that would bring about the end of the world? Of course I fucking have!" Minato yelled back so loudly and fiercely that it shrunk everyone back where they were sitting. "You don't think I haven't thought that it was a mistake for me to come to this town? That by coming here I doomed the whole fucking planet? I don't even know how to think about this. That's why I'm going to fight! Blame me all you fucking want because there isn't anyone here that blames me more than I do!"
Yukari's arms wrapped around him and just in that action he felt himself settle down. Minato still averted his eyes and refused to look at anyone. That outburst hadn't exactly been needed. Yukari was the one to speak, "Junpei-kun, he isn't to blame for this. No one is…all of us here didn't choose for this to happen. We all did what we thought was right."
"I know, dammit," Junpei muttered. "Look, I've never really talked about it before but…My old man was an alcoholic. He started drinking after he was tricked into investing his life savings into some telemarketing scam. He would drink until he passed out so he didn't have to face reality. And I hated him for it. Now I think I understand how he felt. Everything…just seems so hopeless. I'm so scared!"
"I know how you feel, Junpei-kun. I'm scared too." Fuuka reached out to comfort him.
"Yeah, we're all scared," Akihiko said.
"Yes…I…I can't stop shaking," Mitsuru admitted. Minato had figured that she had been trying to retain her composure…but as the topic continued…it was hard to keep up.
"Me either," Yukari said as well. And she really was, Minato had noticed her hands trembling as she had grabbed him…but now Minato was the one comforting her.
"No one has forgotten what we are dealing with. We need to be mindful of each other. This is not an easy thing for any of us. And it isn't going to get easier. But we can't keep pretending like it isn't happening. We're going to Tartarus tomorrow," Minato announced to SEES. In a small way…he was sure getting back into routine would help SEES figure out their feelings on the matter.
"Alright," Mitsuru nodded. "I don't think we're all prepared to make a decision just yet, but we have time until New Year's Eve. So everyone take time to think about it. So until then…we should continue our lives as normally as possible. And that includes going to Tartarus."
Then for what seemed like had been far too long…all of SEES was in agreement. Minato counted it as a small victory…but a victory nonetheless. He had faith that his friends would find their will to fight along the way before New Year's Eve. But that didn't mean he wouldn't try to help in any way he could. He would need all of them in the coming days…he was sure of it.
December 20th, 2009 / Daytime
Minato was sure there had to be a crime against conveniently placed exams. As a result, SEES hadn't gone to Tartarus in a while and Yukari had been focused on her studies which left Minato in a very lonely state. And gave him entirely too much time to think about nothing. His time with Misturu yesterday had helped him with his mood. And Yukari had been smiling again lately. It was easy to see why. Yukari had made her decision on what she was going to do. He had no doubts that she would fight.
He looked at his TV as the show Tanaka's Amazing Commodities ended. He didn't end up buying anything this time, but he watched mostly to see how Tanaka was doing. He hadn't seen the business man in quite some time. It was good to see how different he was now than before. He had taken his time to restructure his company in a more honest business model. The quality of his products he sold had also gone up as well…and because of that his business had actually grown as a result. He was a grown man that Minato could respect for many reasons. Tanaka had come from a poor family and had worked hard to become successful but along the way had lost what was important to him. Now, the business man was doing what he could to teach others, and giving to charity.
The man had also been one of his social links. Minato sighed as he sat back on his chair at his desk. He looked out the window and despite being in December…the sun was shining outside. Social links…he only had a handful that had not reached its maximum level. He wasn't even sure how he could effectively measure it, but he just knew when he had come to its end. He hated to think about it. How could a friendship be determined to be at a maximum level? However, he could not deny the benefit he gained from reaching that point. The Persona's that he had gained as a result…were powerful. Surt from the Magician Arcana…Scathach from the Priestess Arcana…Odin from the Emperor Arcana…Thor from the Chariot Arcana…Melchizedek from the Justice Arcana…He couldn't even hold all the Persona at once as a result of just the number of them he had. All Persona drew from different Mythologies around the world…even the name Nyx…the maternal being meant to come and destroy the world was from Greek Mythology.
Then again…the origin of most of the stories often had a reason for being. It was used to teach children between right and wrong. Or as a means to explain things about the world that people couldn't understand at that time. Gods and Goddesses was probably something that just made sense to them at the time. The reasoning was actually quite simple…if it was something they couldn't understand…then it stood to reason that someone or something of a much higher understanding and knowledge was the source of it. Yet Persona stood for a side of yourself…a facet of your personality. Perhaps it was just a representation of Minato himself. How he would adapt and change with the situation to what he best needed to be.
Just who was he? The individual named Arisato Minato…he had thoughts and feelings like everyone else…so why was he capable of holding so many Persona's? Was it because he held death within him for ten years? Minato shook his head and got up from his chair. He checked his mirror and looked over his outfit for anything out of place. He was in just dark blue casual clothes…nothing fancy but…still wanted to be presentable.
It didn't matter in the end who he believed he was. Minato only cared for the actions he made, after all…it was what he did that defined him, not anything else. With Social Links he was able to create some powerful Persona and many that were capable of taking out whole groups of Shadows in a single attack. But…what could he do against Nyx?
Minato left his room and made his way up to the third floor and to Yukari's room. He stopped for a moment in front of his girlfriend's room. Nyx was a being that couldn't be killed…supposedly. So how would they even fight it? Tartarus…probably had something to do with it as well. Maybe it was part of the solution.
"Oh by the way, I've made my decision," It was Yukari's voice…and coming from inside of her room. Was she talking with someone in there? She continued. "I want to fight to the end. It's better than doing nothing. That's why you're here isn't it, Senpai? To talk about our decision?"
"I…I guess it is," the other voice was Mitsuru.
Minato could hear Yukari giggle, "You're so easy to read." Yeah, Minato agreed with that. Mitsuru wasn't really that great when it came to hiding her thoughts. Something you think she would be able to do considering her upbringing. It would definitely need to be a skill she gained to deal with running the Kirijo Group.
"I've made my decision as well. The Kirijo Group is making great strides to turn itself around. After I graduate, I plan to assume leadership of the Group and continue where my Father left off. I cannot turn back now, even if I wanted to," Mitsuru gave her decision. Minato smiled, he had known all the while what they would decide. But Minato disagreed with Mitsuru's statement. Mitsuru was not the kind of individual that would ever want to turn her back…responsibility was an important aspect to her life.
"But, what if you die?" Yukari asked. Minato knew that was also a thought that they all had to consider going into the final fight. Nyx might have a power beyond what they knew of. That was why Minato had recently wanted to delve more and more into Tartarus…to prep himself and reach deeper levels of power with his Persona.
"If I die defeating Nyx, then the Kirijo Group will have to continue on without me. But I am confident they will fulfill my wishes," Mitsuru said.
Minato walked away from the door and towards the window at the end of the hall. Everyone was gaining more confidence about the fight with Nyx. But it wasn't simple…wasn't going to be a fight that someone could just rush into. There was also Strega still somewhere out there…planning for something. Was that all the enemies they had remaining ahead of them? No, there was always more…even if Nyx and Strega are defeated and the Dark Hour eliminated…Shadows will still exist in the world. It wasn't like they had just appeared out of nowhere. There would always be a fight with Persona users and Shadows that threatened the natural order of the world. Or maybe…Shadows were part of the natural order…as was Persona users. How long in history had this fight gone on? How many more people in the future would awaken to a power to fight?
That was a future that was being threatened right now. If they couldn't stop Nyx…then there would be no future. And while it might be disheartening for some to know that there will always be a fight against Shadows…for Minato it just told him that there would always be people willing to fight for this world and the life on it. Even if there time was short…life was worth living and experiencing. All his time with Yukari…even with all he went through in his life…his moments of happiness with Yukari…he would go through anything to experience it again. To get to her…he would do anything. To protect her…he would willingly give his life. Love…love was a powerful emotion and an inspiration to be more than he was. To protect what he held dear…he would work harder…push harder than he ever had before.
He checked his phone for the time and then moved back to Yukari's door and knocked. "Yukari, it's time to go."
"Oh crap," Yukari muttered after a moment and the door opened, showing Yukari and Mitsuru. "Give me fifteen minutes, I'll go jump in the shower and change real quick." Yukari grabbed a stack of clothes and a towel and moved past him. He shook his head and smiled before looking over at Mitsuru.
"You two doing something today?" Mitsuru asked as she walked out of Yukari's room.
"We're going out to lunch with her Mother and her Mother's boyfriend," I explained with a shrug. "Oddly enough with everything that has happened she hasn't been as stressed about it as she normally would have been. Still I'm glad she's finally realized what she wants to do." I looked over at Mitsuru and looked into her eyes. "You have too."
"Yes, I have," Mitsuru looked unsure of what to say. "I feel like you knew what my decision was going to be."
"Everyone is going to decide to fight," I said simply. "The possibility of death has always been there from the beginning. However…an impossible enemy…certain death if we do nothing…death if we fight? Why wouldn't we fight it? Besides if Shadows exist…and the power of Persona…the means of fighting Shadows exist…then that means there is most certainly a way to stop Nyx. We just have to find that answer."
"I feel like I must apologize. I initially forced the position of leadership on you and even now you continue to do so. But you have the makings of being a truly great leader," Mitsuru complimented him.
"Things just worked out that way," Minato shrugged. "Besides, I'm only leader on the battlefield…you are the one in charge."
"I am still grateful for what you have done in SEES. Without you, we wouldn't be where we are today," Mitsuru smiled at Minato. He paused for a moment unsure of why he could ever be deserving of the words she was saying.
"I fight because of all of you. Beyond this dorm and this town…I literally have nothing else in this world. My sparse belongings, SEES, my friends and my love for Yukari is all I have. My parents are gone because of these Shadows and the Dark Hour. I was shifted around Japan from household to household as a result…but of all the places I have been…this place…here and now is the only place I would ever consider to be my home. I will protect it, no matter the cost," Minato crossed into Yukari's room and grabbed his girlfriend's jacket before leaving and closing her door behind him. He looked at Mitsuru for a moment. "I won't allow my memories or those things precious to me be for nothing."
"You won't be fighting alone. I, for one, won't allow it. And neither will Yukari," Mitsuru smiled.
"I know," Minato smiled. He began walking towards the stairs, "Oh just so you know, we're going to Tartarus tonight. With exams over its time to get back to training."
Mitsuru walked with him to the stairs, "Alright, well you have a good time with Yukari."
"Oh I will. Her Mom is pretty entertaining. Although Yukari spent a lot of time denying it…she is a lot like her Mother. Anyway, have a good day, Kirijo-san," Minato said and gave her a small wave as he went down the stairs.
"You too, Arisato," Mitsuru said as he made his way down into the lobby just as Yukari was coming out.
"Oh my jacket, thanks Minato," Yukari took it and slipped it on. "Okay phone, wallet…I think I got everything."
She was dressed in a pink dress, but one designed for winter as the fabric was lined with some kind of white fur along the top and had long sleeves. The only thing that bothered Minato was the fact that it only went down halfway on her thighs. Most of her legs were still exposed. I eyed her for a moment longer and looking at her legs. She quickly noticed and looked a bit concerned.
"What is it? I look okay, don't I?" Yukari asked.
"Huh?" Minato looked up at her. "You look great, but that isn't the point. Isn't that too short? You do realize it is pretty cold outside right?"
"Its fine, having cold legs doesn't bother me that much. Besides I like the way it looks," Yukari said.
"I do too, but I'm just worried about it being cold and…" Minato stopped for a moment and frowned. "And I don't like it when people are checking you out."
"I'll be fine, besides I'm not wearing it for them," Yukari moved towards him and quickly captured his lips for a kiss and then smiled big as she pulled back from him. "I wear it for you."
"Now you're just tempting me and that's not alright either," Minato muttered but couldn't help but smile regardless. "We have to get going now, or we are going to be late." He held out his hand to her. Yukari took it as the two of them headed to the front door of the Dormitory and then left.
The days towards New Year's Eve were happening more or less how he had expected it to. For a while…the others would be hesitant about moving forward…about fighting. But they would each find their reason to fight. He knew that better than most. Given enough time, he was sure anyone would find their will to live…and with it…the will to fight. They would be fighting against a fate that someone else had set forth for them. Something that had never sat well with Minato.
His life was filled with people making decisions for him. Telling him where he would live…where he would go to school. Even his inheritance from his parents was decided he couldn't' access until he had graduated High School. It didn't help that he didn't remember anything from when he was a kid. Or why he had even been at the Moonlight Bridge on that fateful night ten years ago. His parents died…and a Shadow that represented the Death of the world was sealed within him. Why had he even been on Tatsumi Port Island? Had he lived here when he was that young? He could hardly remember much of anything from before the incident. He could no longer recall the faces of his parents. Only smiles…and the visage of a friend he had…
They were meeting Yukari's Mother in front of the movie theatre on Tatsumi Port Island's train station. The two of them stepped off the train and down the stairs and saw Yukari's Mother, Takeba Ryouko. The man next to her had to be Takeshiro Hideo, her boyfriend.
This had to be one of the oddest encounters he had ever experienced. Who goes out on a double date with their girlfriends Mom and her boyfriend? That wasn't something that was typically seen as normal…right? Still it wasn't like Minato had much experience when it came to dating…and Yukari and her Mom's situation was rather unique. Maybe it wasn't unique of a Father dying and a family falling apart in the wake of that event, but the reasons he died…and the events that happened after that hadn't been good. Eiichiro, Yukari's Father, had been involved in a twisted experiment…involving powers that no one should ever mess with. As a result…many families…and individuals were affected.
"Were not late are we?" Yukari asked as they approached her Mother.
Ryouko shook her head, "No dear, we just got here early. Yukari, I want you to meet, Takeshiro Hideo my boyfriend."
He extended his arm out, "A pleasure to finally meet Ryouko's daughter. She talks about you all the time, you know."
Ryouko seemed embarrassed by the revelation, "You don't need to tell her that."
Yukari was hesitant but then took his hand, "It's nice to meet you. This is my boyfriend Arisato Minato."
Hideo extended his hand to Minato this time, "Hope you have been taking care of Ryouko's little girl."
Minato grinned and took the older gentleman's hand, "Only as much as she takes care of me, I assure you." The two of them shared a laugh which had both of the Takeba women give them a curious look. The two broke the handshake and Minato looked over at the movie theatre, "So what is the plan for today? Are we really going to see a movie?"
"Is there a problem with doing that?" Ryouko asked.
Minato sighed, "I just thought it would be better to go to a place where we can talk instead of just delaying it. Causes undue stress you know."
Hideo laughed, "He's right, we should go grab something to eat. I think conversation is what you two really want."
Minato couldn't help but smile as the two Takeba women were trying to hide their faces as both of them were flush. It wasn't easy to reconcile over the past…one that neither of you really wanted to remember. A past filled with regret…and the death of a loved one. It wasn't something that could be easily forgotten. "I know we just came from that direction but should we go to Hagakure? If you guys don't mind ramen."
There was a quick agreement to the change of venue and they all made their way to the train and would wait for the next to come in. It wouldn't take long…the station only had a couple stops on it, so the frequency of the train at the different stations was quite frequent. Ryouko and Yukari were talking on one side of the train while Hideo and Minato sat on the other.
"So what made you start dating the young Takeba?" Hideo asked.
Minato laughed a bit, "You aren't one for subtlety, are you?"
"I prefer honesty and not hiding behind traditionalist views," Hideo gave a bit of a grin.
It was easy to understand. Most of the time people wouldn't ask such bold and personal questions. Japan was a country that enjoyed its privacy…well that wasn't exactly the right way to say it. It was more like…if the revelation could possibly create disharmony within a group then it was best to say nothing at all. So someone like Hideo that asked straight out…was a refreshing change.
"How can I best describe it?" Minato mused for a moment. "Yukari and I…have been going back and forth for quite some time before we started dating. She was the first person I saw when I came to Iwatodai and Tatsumi Port Island. She showed me the way to the school and some of the places around town. Granted she was asked to do so by her Senpai. Still Yukari was nice and well she just continued to show up around me in my life here. We ended up in the same class, and she sits right in front of me. She did a lot to help me adjust to the way things changed from me moving here."
It certainly wasn't a lie…Yukari had been a pivotal piece in the changes in his life upon arriving here. He was sure if it wasn't for Yukari he wouldn't have continued on in SEES. She had saved him just as much as he had done the same for her. She had also served as an emotional anchor at times...even when he got out of control. Never mind the whirlwind of events that had forced them into situations that had brought about the unavoidable fact that they had been attracted to each other.
"So you two have been around each other often since you moved here?" Hideo nodded as if confirming something in his head. "Although Ryouko said she wasn't surprised by your relationship with her daughter just based on how you look at her. Even now you keep stealing glances at her."
Minato looked back to Hideo…just after he had been caught looking at Yukari, "This is important to Yukari. I just don't think she realized it until she met her Mother again. Humans are a curious creature…we can adjust to our situation if given enough time. So after the two of them being separated for so long…I don't think either would have ever approached the other unless pushed to do so. But the two of them were just in pain…and I think they can finally accept what happened and moved past it."
"Ryouko took a long time to find herself. I don't think she really understood the pain she inflicted on herself by how she dealt with her husband's death. When she finally came up for air…and looked around her, she realized that she was all alone. Except not only was her husband was gone…but so was her daughter. So she made an honest effort to turn her life around…but some things are hard…if not impossible to do on your own. She needed that extra push in order to find the bravery to reach out to her daughter, but she wasn't the only one," Hideo smiled.
"Yukari wanted to hate her Mother for how she had dealt with her Dad's death. But really, she couldn't. She loves her Mother but neither one of them knew how to deal with death of someone so important to them. So both of them ran away in their own way. And it took them both time to realize what they had done. But they are both strong…and they finally reached each other. In the end, that is all that matters," Minato turned to look out the window of the train. "It may take time, but I'm sure eventually she'll accept you as a part of her Mother's life. Her Father will probably always hold the largest part of her heart."
"Arisato, it isn't about replacing that part of their heart. That is a fool's errand. All you can do is hope to create your own space within their heart," Hideo said as the train pulled into the Iwatodai station. "Seeing what little I have of you, I already know that you have created your own space within that girl's heart. But I don't think you realize just how much bigger that space is than you can see."
Minato got to his feet and looked over at Yukari. Their eyes met for a moment and she gave him one of the most amazing smiles he had ever seen. She was happy, truly happy. She came over to him and took his hand as they left the train and walked down towards the street to cross and go to Hagakure.
"I love you," Yukari's words were filled with such warmth and happiness that Minato couldn't help but blink and look over at her. "You don't know just how happy I am…if it hadn't been for you then I may have never repaired my relationship with my Mother. I might have ignored her for the rest of my life. And it would have been a big mistake."
Minato said nothing for a long time as they walked. How could he have been so lucky? To find a girl that was capable of making him feel so wonderful just by being next to her? That seeing her, this happy, made him feel just the same as her? The world may be facing the possibility of 'The Fall' and may not exist into the spring. Yet Yukari could smile this big and be so happy and love him. How could he not fight with everything he had to prevent 'The Fall'? He had so much to protect. This…this feeling he had at this moment was what he wanted to experience. He loved her…more than anyone else in his entire life.
"I love you too, Yukari. More than I can ever truly express," he said next to her and kissed her cheek as they walked just a few paces behind Ryouko and Hideo. Minato and Yukari shared a long glance that held many emotions. This moment in time…was the happiest either of them had ever been. The future looked brighter now than ever before.
Minato knew that without a doubt, he would find a way to stop 'The Fall'. And there was no price too high in order to achieve it.
Author's Note:
This is probably some of the best times in Minato and Yukari's relationship despite the looming threat of Nyx in the background. Most of it comes from at this point both of them had already made their decision on what they were going to do. This actually gives them time to just focus on them while the rest of SEES is figuring out where they are. Most of it happens off screen in this because well...I only use Minato as a perspective in the past here and obviously he wasn't there to witness those. The present day is going to continue to take the back seat for a little bit while we cover the last chunk of the Persona 3 story line.
We get to see Yukari's Mother and her boyfriend here...I made him somewhat similar to Minato if only to make it a rather easy comparison for both Takeba women and the men they fall for. At least here anyway.
Next Chapter are a lot of important events. Aigis returns...and then the New Year's Eve and the decision is given.
There isn't much left to go over. There is literally only a couple of scenes and end of certain social links in January that I'll cover before jumping to the end confrontation. And this is all before we go back to the plot of present day and find out what Yoshimitsu's real goals are...and also...in case you've forgotten, what Minato and Ryoji were preparing for. So I hope you all look forward to it. Anyway, you know the deal, read, review and spread the word if you enjoy it. See you tomorrow with the next chapter.
