FUUUUUSION-HA!
November 22nd, 2009.
Dark Hour.
Her body becomes heavy and lifeless in his arms, her soft lips pressed into a gentle smile as her hand drops from his cheek. Junpei shakes and shakes her body, eyes wide with desperation and his voice a quivering mess, and all the other members can do is watch as he cradles the woman he loved in his arms, tears threatening to spill from his eyes.
"Oi, you can't be serious.." One of his hands, coated in his own blood, reaches for her cheeks. "Chidori! Wake up! Answer me!"
She never responds back, and the realisation of what exactly is going on seems to hit him like a bus, and his voice becomes a loud and desperate screech.
"Chidori!"
Nobody moves from where they all stood, Yukari and Mitsuru still holding their weapons in a dangerous attacking position, Kotone helping Akihiko up after the brutal mental attack that the male members of Strega had induced, Minato standing with his eyes never leaving the sight of his sobbing friend. Takaya steps forward from Tartarus' steps, holding his hands out like a preacher as he speaks with his usual tone– dead and monotonous, with little vocal pity for what's going on around him.
"What a pity.. Such a meaningless death.."
Junpei struggles to control his anger as these words are spoken, as he bites his lower lip hard enough to pierce the skin. "Meaningless..!?"
Placing his school blazer down like a blanket, he drags himself up off the ground, gently setting the lifeless girl down on top of his jacket before he completely stands up. His hat is pulled down over his eyes, to conceal the tears that stain his cheeks from his enemy, and he reaches for Chidori's Evoker. The black metal shines in his hands, as without a second thought, he lifts it to his temple and pulls the trigger, screaming at the top of his lungs.
Hermes arrives in his usual shroud of blue, but what surprises everyone watching was how all the sudden, the Persona shifted and moved in the light, making way for another figure to appear. The one they were just fighting– Medea. The two dance in tandem, elegantly and gracefully, shifting shades of mystical shimmers, until the two began to fuse into one.
The appearance vastly resembled Hermes, though it carried the shade of red that the girl's Persona had. An extra pair of wings sprouted from it's back, the helmet shape that it's head took became more prominent, with sharp feather shaped blades protruding out of it.
The resolution in his heart.
The fusion with Medea.
They result in the birth of a new Persona..
"Trismegistos!" The Persona responds by breaking the light it had been surrounded with, and flames begin to rise from the ground around it's summoner. "Burn in hell!"
The fires explode in an almost rhythmical way, surrounding the members of Strega with each devastating hit from the inferno. The two men desperately try to shield themselves from the attack with their Personas, though they're only burnt straight through with the raging flames of anger. Despite the destruction that he causes, Junpei refuses to give in, continuing his onslaught even though he knows it'll get him killed.
"You'll pay for this!"
Like a hawk, a predatory bird, Trismegistos swoops down with it's wings coated in it's own blaze, slamming Takaya into the walls of Tartarus behind him. The thin man collapses to the ground, and Jin hisses out in anger as he quickly summons his own Persona.
Like a spinning top, it zooms around on the ground, kicking up dust and dirt as hit tries to dodge the attacks of the newly formed Trismegistos. It's single arm, like that of a toy robot, begins to light up and glow with an ominous light, the precursor to a powerful attack. Just as it's about to fire it's charged up beam, it gets slammed into by Aigis' Palladion, grinding it against the concrete with enough force to create large ravines in the ground.
"I won't let you!" She cries.
Jin grinds his teeth together, and quickly pulls the pins out of several of his grenades, throwing them at the SEES members, and Chidori's lifeless body. "You piece of shit!"
The blonde races forward on her metallic legs, firing rains of bullets onto the explosives until they activate mid air, sending powerful shock waves and vibrations to echo in the otherwise silent air. It's all anyone can hear, explosions and fighting. It's just a normal night, though tonight's battle is being continued by the sheer power of hatred and the need for revenge.
Her body is blown backwards, and the metal scrapes against the floor.
The top of his Persona begins to spin once more. "It's over!"
It drops down on the girl, only for Minato to get in the way, forcefully blocking the attack with Orpheus, finally making an appearance after having not seen the silvery musician in quite a bit of time. Both the Persona and summoner shake as they keep the attack from meeting with the intended target, and all Minato can hear in his head is Pharos' words.
'People can only live alone'.
He's wrong.
'It's better to avoid connecting with others'.
He's wrong.
"I'll mark all of you.. and blow you all to shreds!" Electricity begins to surround Jin's Persona, who quickly speeds backwards and away from the adversary group's leader, sparks flying as it charges up what he believes will be the finishing blow. He'll kill them all right here, right now.
Minato's blue eyes move from his Evoker to Yukari and Mitsuru, who help each other stand up straight. They speak soft, whispered words of reassurance, holding each other close as they continue to stand tall. His gaze washes over Ken, Koromaru and Fuuka, who desperately protect Chidori– who he'd believe was only peacefully sleeping if he didn't know what had just happened. Even Kotone and Akihiko, who stand by Junpei's side like they were his tamers, seem to be supporting each other despite the fact they were face to face with death; covered in wounds and without the ability to move properly.
'No matter how precious something is, once it's gone, there's nothing left of it'.
He's wrong.
'In which case, you'd rather have nothing from the start'.
He's wrong!
'You don't need anything'.
"That's not true!" His grip on his Evoker tightens until the metal presses into the slightly calloused skin of his hands, and he shoves the barrel to his head. He doesn't want to run away anymore. He can't run away anymore, not after the promises he's made. Not after the bonds that he's formed.
He's going to save everyone. They're going to live through this. "I'm not going to run away anymore!"
The trigger is pulled, and Thor forces it's way out, running forward towards the wall of lightning that came sparking down for his friends– no, his family– and blocks it without little trouble, holding Mjolnir tight as the rumbling electricity stores up in the mythical hammer. Swinging the hammer high above his head, the lightning redirects itself towards Jin and his own Persona, attacking the two with power thrice as strong as the attack he'd wanted to use on them.
That was what made Thor the best at counting electric-using Shadows. He upped the power of any electric moves that he used, so using him as a rod for the stuff and sending it back was practically what he was made for.
"It's all or nothing!" Aigis cries, and quickly summons her Persona once more. "Activating, Orgia Mode!"
Palladion speeds forward, it's spear piercing through the spinning top like manifestation, and without a missed beat, their rhythm perfectly in tune, Junpei uses this moment to send Trismegistos towards the two, his bladed wings like the sharpest knives as it sliced down the middle, destroying the blue haired man's Persona in a blaze of rage and glory.
"Damn it!" The man hisses, clutching his head with one hand.
Takaya forces himself to his feet, and grabs his team mate's shoulder. "This is enough for now, Jin."
"..." Clicking his tongue, the two begin to run. "Got it!"
SEES follows, but the second the pair enter Tartarus, Jin turns around and throws what appears to be another grenade. The group prepares themselves for the hit, but are surprised when only smoke comes exploding out. A diversion. They all stop their chase and instead collect themselves into a group.
Akihiko grumbles. "Damn it, we let them get away."
Junpei is the only one who doesn't listen. Despite the fact that, now that the battle was over, his body seemed to try collapsing from underneath him in exhaustion, he forced himself to follow the two men. In order to stop him, Yukari and Kotone quickly grab him by the arms and drag him back to the rest of them, his feet sliding against the ground as he fought against the two.
"Let go!" He yells, trying to shake the pair off. "I..!"
The boxer stomps forward, and his fist slams into the teen's jaw. "She entrusted you with this life! Don't waste it."
Finally, he stops fighting against everyone, his face falling and his eyes tearing up. Slowly, the two girls let go of him and step away, and he drags his feet over to the girl, who rests peacefully like a sleeping angel. He sits down beside her, and pulls her back into his arms.
"..Chidori.." His hands trace her cheeks. "Chidori, I.. I.. This is.. This is so hard.."
He swallows.
"But.. It's not just my life anymore.."
Yukari's eyebrows furrow in sorrow. "Junpei.."
They all stand there in the freshly quiet air, the cold stinging on damp cheeks and bloodied wounds exposed to the frosty winter air. After a little while, the baseball cap wearing teen finally stands up straight, and begins to walk home. They all follow. No one can find the right words to say to him as they return to the dorm in silence.
November 23rd, 2009.
Daytime.
Junpei hadn't left his room since they all returned last night. Kotone had left him some breakfast on the floor outside his door, having made Ken wrestle Koromaru away from the food so that way the dog didn't eat any of it, but she didn't actually get to see whether or not he'd ate any of it. After all, Yukari had practically dragged all the girls out for a 'date'. She went on and on as they walked to Paulownia Mall, excitedly chattering about how she really wanted all of them to have fun together. Perhaps this was just her way of distracting herself from how depressed their friend had been.
Well, this was probably the best use of their day off.
Giggling like a little girl, Yukari pulls a pale pink (and rather frilly) dress of the rack, and quickly runs over to their redheaded senior, who's face contorts in confusion as the brunette lifts the dress up to see how it would look on Mitsuru.
"Ah ha! I was totally right!" She proudly exclaims, winking at their senpai. "This one would totally look good on you!"
"D-Don't you think that one's a little.. too c-cute for me?"
"What are you talking about, Mitsuru-senpai? This style totally suits you! The sort of sweet mix between mature and childish!" Snapping out of her thoughts, Kotone takes a quick look at the dress. She was right, it did suit the girl. It's colour– such a pastel pink that it could almost be white, looked good against the older teen's fair skin and maroon hair. She wouldn't call it winter wear, but for something during spring or summer, she thinks it would look really good.
"She's right, Kirijo-senpai!" She smiles sweetly. "It does suit you!"
Looking down at the dress, Kirijo's face turned brighter than a tomato. "W-Well.."
Fuuka smiles. "Just try it on, senpai."
The redhead frowns a little, her cheeks still stained with the colour of wine, but she quickly snatches the dress away and walks over to the dressing room. The other girls all sit outside awaiting her, and Kotone briefly considers telling them the secret she's been holding for quite a bit of time now. After all, in around a week, it would be a month..
Her lips quiver slightly, and finally, the words leave her lips. "Um, you guys.. I-I have to tell you all something.."
The two turn their curious eyes onto her, and she can see Mitsuru stop shifting around in behind the curtain. Well, there's no turning back from it now– she's already firmly trapped herself in the quicksand here..
"Um..." With the expectant gazes watching her every move, she can't help but feel her skin prickle and her cheeks flare up in embarrassment. "I'm.. uh, I-I'm.. dating someone."
She's surprised as Kirijo returns to pulling on the dress she'd been told to try on, but the reactions she got from Yukari and Fuuka almost scared her. The brunette practically choked on air, and Fuuka gasped so loudly she thought that they might've alerted the store clerks into thinking there was some sort of crime going on.
"You're kidding!" She quickly shakes her head, and the pink clad girl stares at her with disbelief. "Who are you dating!?"
Mitsuru pulls the curtain back at the same time as Kotone begins to speak. "Akihiko, isn't it?"
"It's.. um.. S-Sanada-senpai.." The two speak at the same time, and her red eyes turn to her senior. "Y-You knew!?"
"He asked me what he should do, and I told him to talk to you about it." She chuckles. "I had a feeling it was something like this."
"Why didn't you tell us, Kotone!?" Takeba asks, her voice almost ridiculously loud. "I mean.. how long!?"
"Um.. nearly.. nearly a month..?" Her fingers fiddle with her skirt. "And um.. I was just.. really embarrassed.."
Yamagishi leans forward, her short curls bouncing with her movements. "I had this feeling you had a crush on someone, Kotone-chan, but for you to already be dating them.."
A giggle leaves the shorter girl's lips.
"Congratulations."
"Yeah, yeah! Congrats, Kotone!" Yukari grins brightly, and Kotone can't help but smile back. They'd reacted about the way she expected them too; she never thought that they would act disapproving or upset. She'd only not told them because she hadn't felt like it was the right time.
But after what happened.. with Chidori and Junpei.. she felt like she had to come clean. Like the two of them had confessed how much they cared and loved each other to everyone, she felt like she had to tell them everything. Besides, she got this feeling like if she didn't say anything, then they'd probably either be found out by process of analysing their behaviours, or because of Minato.
She laughs. "Never mind about me and Sanada-senpai.. but, seriously, Kirijo-senpai! That dress looks good on you!"
The senior drags herself out from behind the curtain, and all three of the junior girls gasp in surprise as they look at her. She really, really did look good in that dress! It's gentle colouring, and the way it went down to her knees.. It gave off the air of a sweet, but mature woman. Even the frills that accessorised the waist area and the hem of the skirt suited their senpai.
"You look so good, Mitsuru-senpai!"
November 28th, 2009.
Evening.
The Career Experience week had ended about the same way as it began– boring, but overall as normal as their days normally went by. Thank goodness, nobody had noticed Junpei's absence thanks to it. Still, the week was pretty fascinating, in it's own way. Kotone had worked at a cafe, making cups of coffee and taking orders, an Minato had worked at Wild-Duck Burger, picking up trash and helping out behind the scenes.
..When they were really small, Minato had wanted to be like their mom. He wanted to be a doctor just like her, to help people heal and become better. At that age, he didn't quite understand what being a doctor entailed, but she remembered that their mother would always smile and tell him that he could do anything if he tried his hardest. And he always took her words to heart.
She wanted to help people, too. Not like being a doctor, but rather.. she wanted to help children who were just like them and the other members of SEES. Children with no families, or with families who didn't treat them right. She wanted to provide them with a small slice of comfort, someone who they could trust and relate to. With that thought it mind, she had begun to research jobs like youth counsellors and social workers.
She was going to try her best, too.
But for now, she was just a 'normal' high school girl.
Everyone sat at the dining room table, simple meals of curry and rice on plates in front of them. They were all sitting in mostly silence, eating the food that had been painstakingly made for them. Her own face fell slightly when she saw how depressed Junpei looked.
Placing his fork down, Akihiko speaks up. "Cheer up, Junpei.."
"..Yeah.." He looked away. "So, whaddya want?"
He must've been asking why they were all sitting out together in the dining room, again. They were all more likely to enjoy eating where ever they wanted to, doing their own things, but they'd all been called to enjoy the cooking together. Mitsuru pushed her chair back and stood up, wandering over to one of the drawers and gingerly takes something off the top of it. She wanders back over, and placed the surprisingly thick book down on the table in front of the goateed teen.
"This came for you." She explains as he looks at the book in disbelief. "It's from the hospital."
"Is this... Chidori's sketchbook?" He asks.
"They were going through her items when they found that."
"Oh.. um.." He takes the book slowly, his fingers tracing down the cover. "..I know I have to snap outta this, but it's just so hard.."
"Cheer up, Junpei.." Kotone murmurs.
He takes a deep, shaky breath. "Yeah.."
Yukari leans over the table with curiosity in her eyes, holding her hands out expectantly. "Hey, Junpei, can I take a look?"
"You wouldn't be able to understand her drawings anyways..." He hands it over.
Slowly, slowly does she open the sketchbook, flickering through the pages of red and black until her eyes rested on the very first of what was practically a thousand. Soft lines of pencil, curves and hesitation marks cover the pages. Her practice was evident, as she lays eyes on multiple versions of the very same drawing, and she continued to flip through the book until her eyes laid on what was the final drawing.
Her Mona Lisa, in a way.
"Wait, is this..?"
Fuuka leans over, her eyes filled with awe. "Wow, it's really good.."
"This is amazing.. Who wouldn't be able to understand it?"
Curiosity practically killing them, the twins pulled themselves up from their seats to look over the shoulders of their friend at the drawing. Kotone gasps, and her face forms a sweet smile at what she sees, and Minato can't help but nod his head.
"It's lovely." He murmurs.
Junpei tilts his head in confusion, and quickly stands up to take a look. His eyes fall on the drawing in the girl's hands, and he can feel the tears begin to well up. In nothing but lead pencil, a portrait was drawn of him. It portrayed him almost way too well, so much so that he couldn't believe what he was looking at. But despite that, looking at the incredibly well cared for and detailed portrait.. he knew it was of him. He could feel the feelings in the picture.
Yukari quickly flips the pages back. "The pages before this one are all devoted to you, Junpei.."
He raised a hand up to wipe away his tears slowly, yet a smile was forming on his face at the picture he was looking at. He took a little bit of time, and everyone let him cry out a little bit at the sudden realisation.
"Junpei.." Almost as if responding to Sanada's words, Koromaru whines.
He takes a deep breath. "It's like she's telling me to stop moping around.."
"She must be looking out for you.." Koromaru barks his agreement to Yamagishi's soft words.
"I.. I know things ended up like this, but there's one thing I can say.." His voice a little hoarse due to his sobs, yet it was filled with a determination that was so different to how it was earlier in the year. "I'm glad I met Chidori.. And I'm glad.. I fell in love with her. That's why.."
Junpei turns towards Minato, eyes burning with a newfound strength.
"Minato.. I promise to fight to get rid of the Dark Hour. I'm usually just lookin' out for number one. So it's been hard for me to accept that you're our leader, but.. I'm sorry." He bows down deeply. "I want you to know.. I got nothin' but faith in your skills."
A smile forms on the blue haired teen's face. "I'm counting on you too."
"I'm glad to hear it." The baseball capped teen chuckles. "Let's keep on rocking together... Leader."
The two shake hands, and everyone is smiling with tears in their eyes. Their bond would never break under any circumstances, not with their leader's new resolution behind them. They all return to their seats, and their leader picks up his fork with a surprisingly kind smile on his face.
"Let's eat, everyone." He laughs. "Kotone worked hard, after all."
can y'all believe i spent three chapters on the chidori thing?
bc she deserved it.. i love my girl!
anyway i love u junpei my sweet sweet boy
grim- ah ur right! i guess that makes it a RACE!
winner gets bragging rights and major depression lol
well, i hope y'all enjoyed this chapter!
see y'all next one!
