Chapter 33 / Truth
March 20th, 2012 / Daytime
Inside the TV - Yomotsu Hirasaka Path 9
"Congratulations for making it this far," Izanami greeted us as we approached.
"Well thank you very much, Ms. Root of All Evil!" Yosuke definitely seemed like he was in a state of irritated and sarcastic. Still Izanami was floating in the air, as if it was normal state of being for her. It was clear that she was no ordinary being. Perhaps she knew exactly how all of this would go down, or maybe she didn't. I only wondered is if she cared about the people she entangled in the powers she had bestowed. Or it had all simply been a validation to her point. Was there anything that had prevented her from just covering Inaba in fog, or did an individual like Adachi need to exist? Just what was the motivation to spreading chaos? Still maybe this was a moment we could get some kind of explanation for all of this.
"You granted certain individuals the power to enter the TVs. You created the Midnight Channel as well. And lastly, you started a rumor about the Midnight Channel to raise its public awareness. Is this correct?" Naoto had the same thought as me and didn't leave room for Izanami to skirt the issue. Surprisingly Izanami looked amused. Likely Izanami had never expected to be ultimately confronted.
"All save for one point," Izanami looked at all of us for a moment. "This 'Midnight Channel' you speak of. It is indeed a device to draw hearts into this world. But it was always your individual wills that would determine what appeared on it. Humans ache to expose their suppressed sides, while the prying eyes around them are curious to see them laid bare. The want to show, and the want to see. I simply granted a 'window' that catered to both. That is all."
That made a lot of sense to me. Taking what Marie had said before, ultimately Izanami wanted to grant the wishes of mankind. The Midnight Channel, while it had been a source of grief, it had done exactly as Izanami said. The actions of the individuals after they showed on the Midnight Channel was what caused the danger...not the Midnight Channel itself. In that regard, Izanami had only created something and then made people aware of its existence. She never dictated how it would be used or the influence it would have on the small town of Inaba. That power resided solely on the individuals that lived here, and witnessed the Midnight Channel.
"Everyone wished to know more about the people who became famous through the media," Naoto put it together quickly. "And the Midnight Channel was there to grant their wishes. Once the person they wanted to see entered the realm formed by human thought, they would appear even more clearly. I see, so that's how it worked."
"Are you saying, all you did was give that initial spark to Narukami-kun and the others, then simply watched things unfold? And the rumors spreading, things going wrong," Rise shook her head as the implications were hitting her. Yeah it was a tough thing to realize. "We're to blame for all that's happened!?"
That was more of a blanket statement, it wasn't any one individual's fault. It was the collective whole of Inaba that could be blamed, if you were the blaming type at any rate. However, it was just human nature to be curious about others that we learn about in the media, especially when they are local people. This was especially true considering Inaba is a small town and very likely you'll run into that person while out and about.
"People's curiosity was at fault?" Yukiko shook her head as well. The Midnight Channel had simply been a tool. But like any tool, it serves no purpose if it isn't used. And the only ones that determine what it is used for is the one that picks it up.
Izanami, to her credit, didn't take the moment to rub in that fact. Something most humans would have done, but humans could not create something like the Midnight Channel. Instead she took a moment to clarify it further. "Everything was for the sake of mankind, to create the world it wants. Man struggles to understand one another. You can only truly know a finite number of people within your lifetime. But humans disregard this fact, and try to know more people than is possible. Only by comparing yourself to others can you define yourselves. Thus your ever-present anxiety. Your anxiety causes you to see only what you want to see, and believe only what you want to believe. As I stated before. Mankind desires a world enshrouded in fog."
"That's a pretty big leap in logic, but you are mostly right," I said as I stepped forward. "Mankind is one that survived because of our ability to socialize and communicate so effectively. To be able to think and care about more than what any other creature that exists in this world. That is what makes us human. We can strive towards a goal, and fail but failure is never an end, regardless of how emotional and hard it might be."
"I must agree that the vast majority of people are exactly as you say," Naoto pushed up her glasses. "But that is a generalization of humankind as a whole."
"At the very least, we don't intend to live that way!" Chie was quick to add.
"If we were fine with the world you're making, we'd never have come this far, dammit," Kanji shook his fist up at Izanami.
"We won't stop. We'll keep searching for truth and figuring out who we are, as we go on with our lives. Just accepting things as they are or looking for the easy way out isn't something that we will ever choose to do!" Yosuke added his own defiance to what Izanami was saying.
"We made this decision together. And we aren't going to let anyone take that choice away from us," Rise threw in her weight as well.
"We aren't going to just accept what the rest of the world wants. I might have wanted it earlier in my life, but I know that isn't what I want now. It won't be easy, but I'm okay with that. I know that what I want out of life is more than worth the trouble. And now I have the courage and know that I'll have to face it head on," I decided to say my real thoughts as well. It didn't matter if the world felt a certain way, those were always initial thoughts, when things were hard. Sometimes people would have those thoughts of suicide but that didn't mean it stuck around. Humanity needed weakness, needed to have the moments of vulnerability. After all, making mistakes, learning from them, and striving forward in the face of adversity were things that were unique to humankind. It was what defined us as a species. Even if things were simpler, easier to be shrouded in fog, it was at the expense of losing all the beauty of being human. Free will, the ability to choose our own path. Our beliefs, our struggles, and most of all, what defined us was just like what Izanami had said. Our relationship with others, is defined by how we compare ourselves to others. And as she said, we try to know so many people. But this isn't a bad thing, its just who we are. We're a social society, we seek to understand and know things we don't know, that includes the people besides us. Its because of this that we connect with others and are able to become friends, take a chance and even fall in love.
"Yeah! This is our lives! So no more butting into our business!" Teddie added.
"We will continue to live in our world with everyone else. And we'll decide how we'll live each day," Yukiko pulled out her fan, as everyone else pulled out their weapons, me included.
Yu stepped forward looking to Izanami, "You have spoken this whole time as if the world enshrouded by fog is a united wish around the world, as if there is no alternative. But if that was true, then none of us would be standing here, searching for the truth of the Midnight Channel. Even if it means fighting against the will of the world. I will show you just how our potential is different, and that we don't desire an easy way out!"
"I see, your resolves truly are something to be impressed by," Izanami laughed and floated higher into the air, and a denser fog started surrounding her. "However, Knowledge of the truth is not everything. Let me show you the power of mankind that seeks to be taken by the fog of blissful ignorance." We had to look away, or the view of her was too obscured to be clearly seen anymore. After a few moments it cleared, and now Izanami was massive. We could no longer see her face, as she looked to be covered in bandages and what could be compared to a straight jacket. Her whole being massive, with a cloth that waved out like wings around her waist, and a large red X that connected in the front. Her hair also spread out and moved in a ethereal fashion. She was covered, head to toe, and constrained. Like she was hiding...hiding who she truly was. Was this supposed to be a representation of what mankind wanted? Constrained and incapable of interacting with the world around them? Was this what she thought mankind wanted for themselves? "You all have become drunk with truth and exceeded your role, and became too involved. Now learn for yourselves whose wrath you have brought down!"
There was a lot of room, but we had decided to stick with our usual team of four fighting with the others switching in and out. But with our emotions running high I don't think that was the best option. And I don't think any of them were going to back down. The thing about this place, is that while the area was huge. Izanami, herself, was equally as big. This would likely be a fight of attrition. Izanami didn't wait, she attacked. Launching a massive ice attack, in seemingly all directions, caused me to jump in front of Rise and use Benzaiten to shatter the incoming ice. "I'll protect Rise for now so she can focus on support," I called out to the others as they were all recovering from the attack. The first ones to recover were Chie, Teddie, and Yu.
"No time. Chie, you buff, I'll set her up to attack her," Yu quickly called out. In this fight, formality would go out the window. Yu summoned his Persona, "Trumpeter! Debilitate!" A aura surrounded Izanami, but she hardly reacted to it.
"Haraedo-no-Okami! Dragon Hustle!" Chie exclaimed as the appearance of a gold dragon appeared around all of us and boosting all of our abilities. Everyone could feel the strength, but this was an ability we knew that Chie couldn't keep using. That mean Yu wanted to hit Izanami hard and fast, since he had also used his own spell to weaken her.
"Bufudyne!" Teddie launched his attack against Izanami, and it slammed into her hard, but she barely reacted to it.
"Agidyne!" Yukiko came charging in with her own attack to follow up Teddie, but behind her were the others.
"Takehaya Susano-o! Garudyne!" Yosuke came moving in from Yukiko's left to add his own attack. The onslaught continued from all the members of the Investigation Team. Naoto adding her own attack from her Persona Yamato Sumeragi and hitting Izanami with Tempest Slash. Kanji behind Naoto and summoned Takeji Zaiten using Primal Force. Both of them adding physical attacks to the barrage of magic that the others had started.
Izanami wasn't phased by our assault in the slightest. And now with her wrapped up as she was, there was no way to tell how she felt about it. But maybe that was the point. Her standing there with little to no reaction to the onslaught we had unleashed on her. It was daunting, and I could only assume she was meant to be. I couldn't believe that there was anything that was impossible to defeat. The problem was finding the correct way to fight them. This was a part that had split from Marie...or had Marie split from her?
These powers we held had to come from some higher power right? What if Izanami was the real Goddess? If that was the case then maybe we were more than out of our league. But how did the powers of a Goddess work? It seemed like it was human desires and wishes that motivated most of these beings. Ameno-sagiri had said as much. Maybe that was just how they kept existing? Because humanity gave them a purpose? There was so many questions that the mere existence of Izanami made me think about them as a result.
"What came first, the Shadow or the Goddess?" My Shadow laughed. "I mean there was no need for a Goddess without humanity, right? So her existence is dependent on humans. Seems more like a parasitic relationship to me. Or I should say, to us."
That was along the lines I was thinking. My Shadow seemed amused by my personal dilemma, likely because meanwhile all my friends were continuing their attack against Izanami, but still didn't seem to do anything to her. Even after the fight that Yu had with Margaret...it was crazy to see this.
"What a waste of power. Using all that for what she believes to be the wish of mankind? That sounds utterly pointless. As if humanity is worth helping," My Shadow sounded disgusted by it, but when I turned to look at him he was already gone. I had enough things to worry about, but Izanami was our priority right now.
"What's the matter?" Izanami taunted, but with her face covered it made it sound as if her voice came at us from all directions. "Did you intend to defeat me with such feeble strength? Let me show you a portion of my power! Megidolaon!"
A massive white light gathered above us. We had seen this spell before, but this had something behind it that all other versions we had seen paled in comparison. The sound of its power gathering was over whelming. I summoned Benzaiten as the light charged towards the ground. The blast hit the ground, causing a blinding light all around us as the blast spread out, threatening to consume us. I could feel it, despite Benzaiten's best to shield me and Rise I felt a searing pain against me. It only lasted for a moment but it felt like it lasted way too long. After a moment my vision cleared and everyone was definitely feeling that blast.
"Salvation!" Yukiko summoned Sumeo-Okami and a healing wave covered all of us, instantly stopping any residual pain that was left over. I had to change this somehow, or the battle would continue like it is. Would Symphonic Discord do anything? I suppose there was only one way to find out.
"Rise, I'm going to try something," I looked back at her, she had Kouzeon out but she lifted the visor to look at me. "Will you be okay?"
"I'll be fine, Kouzeon can handle shielding me from attacks. What about you? Will you be okay?" Rise looked like she was definitely concerned about whatever I was thinking.
"I'm going to try Symphonic Discord. I don't think it will work, but it would be best to make sure either way," I knew it was a long shot, out of the ones that had come before, they were bound but something less concrete than Izanami...their power was nothing like hers. So what could I do to her, when even Yu couldn't put a dent in her?
No, none of that really mattered. What was important was putting everything I had into this. After everything I had gained because of the events that had happened. Just how much had I changed since then? I had been content to never move forward. What was my original plan for after High School? It had been to just get a simple job that paid enough to be able to move out from the house. In that way I could no longer be a bother to Mom, and I could simply disappear from everyone. That had been my plan before I had been kidnapped. A simple, meaningless existence that only planned to live for the sake of not making my Mother cry. Everything only done half-ass and just good enough. Never any true effort. That was the real goal I had set for myself.
Then I had been kidnapped. Years of repressed memories were brought to the surface. The death of Miyuki and my feelings of guilt and helplessness came rushing back to me in that place. Cold, lifeless and everywhere resembled that place of my childhood that I feel like my mind could never escape from. Years and years I tried to shove it deep down and forget about it ever existing. I had been kidnapped, and shoved into a TV, forced to remember all the things I had spent so long trying to forget. Unresolved feelings for Miyuki, due to her death, and me feeling responsible for it, almost as if I had been the one to kill her myself. Those were feelings I had hid from everyone, including myself.
Everything after that was more than I thought I ever deserved. Rise, Yu and all the members of the Investigation Team. They were friends, true friends. People I could trust more than I ever thought I could. Because I had never allowed myself to trust anyone before. Yet now, I could say, I treasured all of them, and I would give my life to protect what they had given me. Even if our time together was brief, I finally realized that life was worth living for, and there were things that even I wanted to protect. My life was changed, different. It was better. I had to protect the future. Because I wanted to know if life could be better than even this.
I charged forward towards Izanami. It might be a long shot, but it was worth trying. As I came forward I noticed the others had started another attack on Izanami. I rushed between Yu and Yukiko just as the two had released their own spells. I felt my Persona Benzaiten at my side, supporting my resolve. Izanami didn't even react at my approach. Using the strength of my Persona I leaped into the air and the tarot card appeared in front of me, "Symphonic Discord!" I shattered the card as I struck the front of Izanami. She didn't even react to the force of the hit and I found myself kicking off of her and spiraling away from her and ended up doing a back flip on my way to the ground.
"Your power may be dangerous to others, but only those that have doubt. I think you'll find that I am of one mind and purpose and so your power has no hold over me," Izanami said, and even though her body didn't move, I could still feel as if her eyes were on me. "Can none of you understand? It is impossible to defeat me. Why must you all continue to be such ignorant mortals?"
Ignorant mortals? Was this an indication to her true being?
"Everyone get back!" Yu called out as I quickly moved back towards Rise. "I'm going to show you the truth! And dispel the lies that you cover yourself with!" Yu then pulled out something that glowed...an orb? Yet once more a blinding light covered the area...but unlike before this light was warm, it felt comforting. After a moment the light started to dim.
"Well then. Allow me to show you my full splendor," Izanami came into focus, and what was shown was horrifying. Gone was the bandages and revealed a red rotting skeleton and even the environment around us took a darker red tone. "I am a God. I'll teach you the truth of your minuscule existences. You cannot defeat me with strength alone. Soon, you will all come to understand this."
I stumbled back.
"Kouzeon!" Rise's voice tore through my thoughts as I felt myself become focused. "Don't let her get to you. Don't stop moving forward."
"Debilitate!" Yu debuffed the new form of Izanami. Everyone quickly followed his lead and moved back into attack position. Soon we were back on the offensive. After using a item, Chie re-used Dragon Hustle on the group as we all moved into a full out assault. However, as we did Izanami began her counter attack.
Something opened in the sky, and suddenly we were assaulted by a storm of lightning. A bolt hit me directly, causing severe pain to course through me and I took a knee to recover for a moment. But as soon as that lightning subsided...Izanami herself charged forward with what seemed an endless amount of arms and hands and attacked every member of the Investigation Team at once. I was on the ground and couldn't react and received the full force of the blow, sending me back onto the ground. I could taste blood in my mouth as I slid to a stop from the momentum of the hit. There had been no recover time...no time to prepare for the hit, to block or dodge. I moved to my side to try and push myself up, and my muscles screamed in protest.
"Salvation!" Yukiko summoned her power of healing to the group once more. As it washed over me I felt rejuvenated and left only with the taste of blood in my mouth, but my injuries were gone. I finally got to my feet and saw that everyone else was also struggling, but Yu stood defiantly.
"I had hoped you would see the folly of your endeavor. However, the stage is already set for your demise. I'll end your lives here," Izanami's words were alarming. She held one of her hands out towards Yu. Suddenly something dark and red appeared from underneath him, and what seemed like hundreds of hands reached up to grab him.
"No!" Yukiko moved, shoved Yu out from the area as those hands latched on to Yukiko.
"Yukiko!" Yu was scrambling up to his feet so he could get to her.
"I love you," it was the last thing I heard as the hands pulled her into the dark red pool beneath her. Yu, looked horrified. I could feel it too, an intense sudden pain in my chest at the thought that Yukiko was gone. But, we didn't have time to think about it, as once more Izanami summoned the same move, and once more on Yu.
"No, not you!" Yosuke rushed and once again Yu was shoved clear of the attack. Those hands grabbing him. "I know you can beat her, partner. I'm leaving it to you."
"YOSUKE!" Chie screamed from the other side. I could see her sprinting towards where Yosuke was. But she was too far away.
"Yosuke! No!" Yu was going into a panic as another close friend was taken from him.
Chie crumbled to the ground staring at the space where he had been.
I get it though, why Yukiko and Yosuke had done that to protect Yu. And they were right. Yu was the one who had the chance to stop this, and I think everyone else was figuring this out as well. Izanami wasn't going to stop this onslaught, and we already knew now that our conventional attacks didn't phase her. Yu needed to stay alive. Without him the whole world would fall to the fog...covered in lies and deceit. No one would truly live anymore, they would cease to be human, they would become Shadows. I started running towards Yu as Izanami sent her attack towards him. This time, before Yu realized it I had cleared him of the attack. "Don't you dare, Yu! You're the only one that can beat her, so you better!" I felt the hands claw onto me. Then I felt someone grab my wrist. I turned, and it was Rise.
"No, Kayane. You can't! Don't leave me all alone, please," She pulled on my arm. No, what was she thinking.
"Get away, Rise! You'll just be dragged in with me! I'm not important here...Yu is the one that..."
"Don't give me that shit! You're important to me! I love you, and I need you here!" Rise was pulling with all her might, but then the arms turned and grabbed her as well. I tried to push her away, but she had a death grip on my arm.
"No...Rise...why?" I found tears in my eyes. I was okay with me dying but not her. Not us together.
"Kayane! Rise!" Yu was moving to us.
"Stay back! All of you...you know he has to be the one!" I yelled out and in my last moments instead of pushing Rise away, I pulled her to me. Pressing her body against mine. "I love you, Rise. I'm sorry."
She shook her head, "No, this was our choice. No regrets." She pressed her lips against me and we kissed one final time as we were pulled into the depths of darkness.
Date Unknown / Time Unknown
Place Unknown
RISE'S POINT OF VIEW
The last thing I could recall was kissing Kayane. That darkness had covered us, and I had felt, emptiness. And soon after that I didn't feel anything, not even Kayane. I don't know what happened, but suddenly Kayane wasn't there. Then something changed. I smelled something distinctive so I opened my eyes, not even realizing that they had been closed. I was looking up into a cloud covered night sky, through the branches of a big tree. I found that I was laying down at the base of that tree, so I slowly got up.
"Welcome to the Velvet Room, Rise-chan," I knew this voice to be Miyuki. I turned to see her with a slight smile on her face as I finally got to my feet.
"Miyuki-san?" My head felt hazy. What exactly was going on?
"Relax, you aren't dead. And neither is Kay-chan," Miyuki approached me and grabbed me as I took an initial uneasy step. I felt dizzy. "Give yourself a moment. It's probably my fault, it was hard to pull your consciousness here with Izanami's power in the way."
"I thought we were dead? How can we not be? I mean..." I started but Miyuki put a finger to my lips for a moment and as I looked to her she smiled and then let me stand on my own and take a few steps away.
"This fight is for Narukami-san," Miyuki stopped only a couple paces away and looked up. The clouds seemed to be clearing, revealing a full moon. "I told you before we'd have time to talk about recent events. So let's talk. About Kayane."
I blinked for a moment, thinking about that fight with Izanami. Was Yu fighting her on his own? Would he be okay? Still, I really did want to talk to Miyuki about what was going on with Kayane. I felt something, I turned around to see Yu, laying on the ground, surrounded in fog. I reached out but Miyuki was back at my side.
"He's not actually here...but he might be able to hear you. Go on," Miyuki encouraged at my side.
"Senpai, thank you, for everything you've done for me. I'm really glad that I came to Inaba. It's thanks to you that I was able to move forward and decide to go back to the industry. But I suspect you're also the reason Kayane eventually opened up to me," I took a deep breath. "Don't give up. I know you can do this. So please, stand up."
The image of Yu faded after a moment and I turned to Miyuki.
"You went through a lot before you met Kayane," Miyuki said with a soft smile.
"I had some growing up to do before I met him. I think I was better prepared for meeting him because of it," I found myself saying and noticing the swing set not far from us. "Wait, isn't this the place that Kayane said was his Velvet Room? Why am I here?"
"This is a place prepared for both of you, because your fates are tied together. No two Velvet Rooms are the same. I believe Margaret was the one that said it. The Velvet Room is determined based on its purpose and number of guests," Miyuki explained as I moved towards the swing set. "So I think a more prudent question is to why your Velvet Room has taken this form."
A swing set and a large tree. I could see my own connection to a place like this. "Before I was an Idol, I often came to a park near my home. It wasn't like I enjoyed it I just felt better there."
"What city did you live in at the time?" Miyuki asked.
"I believe we were in..." A realization crossed my mind. "Wait, you can't possibly be implying that..."
"That an unlikely moment you met Kayane before you came to Inaba? Before you were even an Idol?" Miyuki still only had a smile on her face. "Let me ask you a different question. Do you believe in fate?"
I paused for a moment, my mind racing at the thought that I might have met Kayane once when I was so young. It wasn't like it would change anything but did it mean something because of where we were now? Fate though? "No, not really."
Miyuki giggled a bit, "Of course, you would know better than anyone that hard work and choices you make are important. That is something that is unique to humanity, the ability to stand up, work hard and change your situation. However, there is still the influence of fate. Think of it instead as fated encounters. You were fated to meet Kayane, one way or another. The choices of others would only have changed when and where that meeting would take place. If Kayane had not been kidnapped then likely you would have met him when you were an Idol again along the lines of the music industry. What happened between the two of you and how it evolved would still always be left to the two of you. And possible you two would have never been as close as you are now."
"But what does that have to do with us meeting as kids?" I asked as Miyuki was somewhat dancing around the subject.
"Your souls are linked together. Though you were young, and meeting him was not something you would really remember. Kayane was in town because he was requested to be analyzed for psychiatric treatment," Miyuki turned away from me this time, her voice becoming somber. "It was also the town where he had once lived before. And the place he hated more than anywhere else. He walked off on his own before our Mom ever noticed. But there was only one place he would have come to. One place his mind still saw as a place of refuge."
I gasped as I realized the connection, "The park I went to, it was the same one that you and Kayane would go to and..."
"Guess who he would find sleeping under the tree that day? You," Miyuki turned back, tears in her eyes. How much did she know? She must have suffered so much knowing what Kayane had gone through, after everything she had tried to do to protect him and make his life better. I know I would find it impossible to move on like that. "For a moment he was confused as to who would be there in my place. But I think he gathered it wasn't me when he saw you were younger than him."
I had been sleeping under the tree when he saw me? However, I remembered a painful fact about Kayane when he was younger. I took a moment before I spoke, "But it isn't something that he would remember either. In that time he wasn't really living, he was just going through the motions."
"Yeah, you aren't wrong. He was mostly numb to everything. That's what Kayane thinks anyway, but there were always things that he couldn't help but be influenced by and feel. He stuffed those memories and emotions down, locked them in a cage and then put it in the darkest and hardest to find location in his heart. But returning to the city, he found himself drawn back to the place that had been a location of comfort to him in the past. It's something we all do. I guess I find it funny that the Velvet Room is modeled after that place. A place that somehow connects us all together, even though I am gone."
"This place..." I looked around, the clouds were almost gone, leaving a pristine and clear night sky covered in stars and a full moon. The field around us were of un-bloomed flowers of all types, as if they were waiting for the sun to rise before opening. The giant tree stood, gently swaying in the evening wind. The swings also ever so slightly moved in the wind. It was beautiful, but this was a place, frozen in time. As if something prevented it from moving beyond this single moment. Perhaps that in itself was the message this Velvet Room was showing. "Kayane, I can understand how this place brought you peace." I said looking up to the moon.
"It's a place we all share," Miyuki said. "Haven't you ever wondered why you always felt more at ease when you go to a park?"
I stopped for a moment and looked to Miyuki. I mean it was true but it wasn't anything I had ever said, "I don't know why, but some places like that always calm me down. Even more so since it became impossible to do that when I became an Idol. I guess that's why I enjoyed it so much here, and Kayane always takes me up to the park." Wait, had he realized it? "Kayane, can be pretty observant."
"He always was," Miyuki commented with a sigh. "With this position as a Velvet Room attendant, I was given a lot of knowledge of both you and Kayane. About what you have both gone through in your lives. Its so I can be here and give you the best help that you need when the time comes."
"Help us? Our trial? Is it coming soon?" I asked.
"I wish I could tell you more, however I will tell you to be wary of Kayane's Shadow," Miyuki addressed my main concern about Kayane. The conversation had gone around in different directions that I had nearly forgotten.
"How is it possible that only he can see him? But what's worse is that I can sense the Shadow there...and it scares me. I don't know what to do. I feel like I should tell the others but at the same time, I'm worried that telling them is exactly the thing I shouldn't do. I trust them but at the same time I don't want to make them worry about something. I don't want Kayane's life to be in danger anymore I just..." I found tears coming but Miyuki was next to me and pulled me into her arms. A new yet somehow familiar and comforting warmth surrounded me.
"I know. All that I can tell you is that right now his life isn't in danger. Just support him the best you can for the moment, and don't let him give in to his Shadow," Miyuki said softly.
I felt it, something was calling me back, pulling me away from Miyuki. "Wait I still have questions."
Miyuki relinquished her grip on me and stepped back, "Save your questions, Rise-chan. The next time we meet will be in a more official capacity. Then you can ask my Master directly. Just never give up on Kayane, and I will see you again."
"No! Hold on, Miyuki-chan!" I reached for her but before I knew it a blinding light surround me.
March 20th, 2012 / Daytime
Inside the TV
"Rise? Hey, Rise, are you okay?" I shook her and her eyes eventually fluttered open. I was still groggy myself considering what we had gone through.
"Miyu...huh?" She looked confused for a moment but then sat up and threw her arms around me. What was she going to say? Had she seen Miyuki? That wasn't important right now. I was just so glad to have her awake and feel her close to me so I embraced her back. "Kayane! Oh, it's really you and...wait, where are we?"
Yeah I was pretty confused too. "Right where we were before."
I turned slightly so that both she and I could see the form of Izanami as she was now slumping to the ground. Yu had beaten her, only moments later all of us had suddenly been back here, and it had been a bit jarring to say the least. And I was sure I had spoken to Yu while I had been wherever I had been at in that time. What was strange to me was how Rise and I had been kissing and yet somehow we had been separated and I can't really pinpoint when or how that had happened. Something felt really off about that whole thing. And I don't think we died, had Izanami only made it appear that way? And for what reason? To motivate Yu and give him the strength he needed to overcome her? If that was true, maybe she also desired for the world to not want for lies and deceit? Maybe deep down a part of her wanted us to win. Wanted Yu to prove her wrong.
"This can't be. How could I be defeated? How am I the one to disappear?" Izanami's voice was definitely surprised but it didn't sound antagonistic or disappointed, merely surprised. "Instead of the endless struggle, wouldn't it be easier to wrap oneself in lies and live in blissful ignorance? Isn't that true peace for humans?"
"A peace like that is only a false one. There is much more to gain by enduring that struggle and fighting all the way through to the end," Yu was the one to speak up.
"Yeah! How many times do we have to tell you!? The hell with that shit!" Kanji exclaimed.
"Stop assuming you know us!" Chie added.
Izanami chuckled, amused by the answers she got back. No, if anything she sounded satisfied that we responded that way. Was she happy about this outcome? That she had been proven wrong? A strange smile was on her now eroding face, "Very well. Then try and live your way. Power enough to erase my existence. You have already exceeded what I thought humanity to be capable of. You have lifted the fog in this world, as well as the fog in your own. And whether that will lead to happiness or not...rests upon your shoulders." Izanami's body began to break apart, turning into red lights and drifting away. "Children of man...Well done!" Then slowly Izanami completely turned into the red glowing light and then she was gone.
"Alright, we did it!" Kanji grinned.
"Thank goodness thats all over," Rise said but still hadn't let go of me. I was more than okay with that, her presence was more than welcome at the moment.
"Yeah, I can do without the near death experiences. I've had enough of those," I sighed heavily looking back at the others. Probably not the best choice of words as Rise shifted slightly against me.
"Yeah, it was terrifying. It was like I was in some abyss. It was cold...like there was never a way I could ever be warm again," Yukiko sighed.
"Yeah it was not something I care to ever experience again," Naoto added.
"We all got pulled into that shit," Kanji explained as I must have looked confused. "That Izanami chick tried her best to get Yu-senpai. But none of us let it happen."
"I feel like I should apologize...it wasn't until I thought I had lost all of you that I..." Yu bowed to all of us. "I'm sorry. I basically had to be given a rude awakening in order to realize the truth about the power I had found. But now, I'll never doubt it ever again."
"Ha, we all knew you'd pull through in the end," Yosuke laughed.
I pulled Rise to her feet, but something happened around us as I did. One moment we were standing at the end of Yomotsu Hirasaka, but the next moment the place we were was entirely different. We were now surrounded by fields and rolling hills, running water. Waterfalls? What was all this? It was like we were outside and, just how did we get here?
"The fog is all gone!" Teddie exclaimed and was running around us.
"Wow..." it was about the only thing Yosuke could manage. I didn't blame him, the scenery was breath taking.
"It's nice. It kinda feels, nostalgic," Chie was at Yosuke's side as we all looked around, almost finding it hard to believe what we were seeing.
"I know this place. This scenery. A long, long time ago, everywhere in this world used to look like this," Teddies words explained more than anything else. This was his home after all.
"So this is the world inside people's hearts..." Yukiko breathed as she snuggled against Yu. "Yu, I love you."
"I love you too," Yu said back without hesitation.
Was it really all over?
"Ha, maybe this used to look like this a long time ago. The world and the people that reside in it now...I seriously doubt that their hearts could make a place like this," My Shadow laughed from next to me but I ignored him for now. "Don't you worry, Kayane. You and I will show all of them the true colors of the real world. All in good time."
My Shadow disappeared leaving only a cold bellowing echo of his sinister laugh behind.
A/N:
Let me start off by saying I'm going to be taking a month off. What does that mean? It means that there won't be anything new from me until June 10th. It's a solid date so don't think I'm going to disappear on you. The thing is I have a lot of events coming up for me in the next few weeks so I won't even be near a computer on the days I typically post stuff. Other things is my schedule is too tight right now to keep this up as I have gotten behind my writing schedule as a result of extended hours at work and also my volunteer work that I do on the weekend. And as with most things those take priority over this story. But it doesn't mean I won't be working on it, as I'll also be taking the time to get back on track and so that I can continue to give this story the energy I want it to have.
I apologize for getting this chapter up later than usual. I would have normally had it up hours ago, but I had to finish editing the chapter and write this author's note. So I can explain why you won't be seeing Last Symphony for a few weeks. But I promise it'll be back.
We've finished the end of Persona 4. (Minus the Yu leaving town scene) But we'll be moving into Arena. There is going to be things happening before then as well. Kayane and Rise's first media appearance on a TV show and more about the band and probably a few other things happening while Yu has left. It'll be weird not having Yu around but that's also part of the fun.
Also lots of foreshadowing of the future in this chapter. Let me know what you think about it and where you believe the story is going to be heading. Maybe guessing what the deal is with Kayane's Shadow. There is time to speculate so let me know in a review! If you get close to it, I'll send you a message back to let you know.
I didn't want to go on a break but life has worked against me this time. I'm going to use this time to get back on track as well as deal with a lot of other stuff at the same time. So I hope you all understand and I will be back with the next chapter on June 10th. Thank you all for your time in reading my fanfiction in this small tiniest part of the fanbase, haha. See you all on June 10th with the next Chapter as we start into the next phase of Last Symphony!