For the guest questions.
Azure : Thanks alot glad to see I'm improving somewhat. Glad you enjoyed the story so far.
Michelle : A little buildup never hurts right? Thanks for the review.
"After a god damn eternity we're finally at Kyoto." Minato announced with disdain, frankly he hated train rides.
"We've heard it for the whole ride." Yukari groaned "Geez you're such a kid."
"Kid or not, why couldn't that fat ass principle arrange a flight?" Minato hissed "I hope Ryoji learned the lesson." Minato narrowed his eyes at the black haired transfer student who quickly shrank in fear, dumbly nodding.
"No I REPEAT NO strip poker. Especially with Yukari." Minato ordered and Ryoji saluted him "YES SIR"
"Good." Minato walked out with rest of the students. Minato managed to spot Mitsuru standing in the senior line, with her fanclub gawking at her. Passing her a smile, Minato walked ahead with his own grade.
"Woah nice place." Junpei complimented the area chosen by the school.
"Of course it is." Minato replied "And no that's not the hot springs Aigis." Minato answered beforehand "Just the courtyard."
"I comprehend." The android nodded at his words, before quickly glaring at Ryoji who had real shiner on his face.
"What? You want to punch me too?" Ryoji cried but then smiled "Love me but don't punch me." Minato cracked his knuckles and Ryoji immediately stopped.
"I hope senpai will be okay." Minato just couldn't stop worrying about her. He looked around for her but there was no trace.
"Tsk." Shaking his head, he walked towards his assigned room.
The next day was spent doing some sightseeing. Ryoji and Junpei were up to no good, flirting with every female passing by.
"At least Ryoji had some success." Minato muttered to himself as he kept walking reaching the seashore. Minato's eye widened as he watched Yukari and Mitsuru talking to each other. His heart exploded with hate as Yukari slapped Mitsuru right across the face.
"HEY!." Minato shouted, drawing the attention of both females. Stomping towards them, he shot Yukari a glare "That's not how you prove a point." Yukari opened her mouth to protest about but Minato cut her off "I'll handle this." He whispered into her ear and Yukari nodded, giving a small smile to Mitsuru she walked away.
"First slap and then smile." Minato sighed inside. Mitsuru was still standing there, looking emotionlessly at the sea in front of her.
"Sorry about that." Minato apologized on the behalf of Yukari.
"Takeba was correct." Mitsuru stated as she kept staring at the water "I have to snap out of this….but it's just so hard." She looked down "I fought for what I thought could protect my father, but it ended up worse. Ikutsuki backstabbed me and in the end I lost my father."
"Senpai." Minato muttered as he walked closer to her, standing right beside her marveling at the clear sea in front of them. Minato quietly grasped her hand, giving it a squeeze.
"I know its hard." Minato spoke "For anyone." He let out a chuckle "Hell I still over what happened to Hamuko." Mitsuru's head snapped back towards Minato who had a sad smile on his face.
"But you always seem so strong and calm." Mitsuru blushed as she complimented Minato.
"Heh I've thought about killing myself to finally meet her again." Mitsuru's throat went dry "Then how can you act so normal?" Minato smiled warmly at Mitsuru "I've got problems, tensions a lot more than the average human. Sakura is after me, Nyarlathotep wants to kill me and what not…It's just that I can manage them a bit better than most."
Minato grabbed a hold of her face and pulled her closer, brushing her bangs away from her face "I just do that so you guys can depend on me no matter what." Mitsuru's eye widened in surprise as she quietly buried her face into Minato jacket.
"You know I never thought I'd admire a man so much. I wish I could be like you." Minato stroked her hair, making her blush "You have to senpai. You're father doesn't want to see you like this. He wants you to be strong and as much of a badass he was." Mitsuru oddly chuckled at his words.
"He wants you to grab a rapier and tear the shadows apart like a one woman wrecking machine." Minato grabbed her head, forcing her to look at her "Fulfill his wish senpai. Grab a sword and murder the shadows and end the blasted hour for his sake."
"And don't worry about Sakura. That bitch isn't coming near you as long as I'm around." Minato assured her as Mitsuru's heart busted with warmth and realization.
"You're right. Father always trained me to be the one who had the situation under control. I can't be like this." Mitsuru declared as she broke away from the embrace "Fulfill his final wish." Mitsuru whispered.
"That's right. He can slap the ever loving crap out of Ikutsuki with pride up there." Minato pointed towards the sky "And he'll be happy that his daughter did what he always wished for." Mitsuru began to smile, something that pleased Minato a lot.
"And you don't have to do it alone. We all are here for you." Minato smiled "….Live for him senpai. It's the same thing I told Akihiko."
Mitsuru regained her smile "That's right." She looked towards the sky "I'll live for my father and in his stead. I will end the dark hour." She declared with determination.
"We have the Ice Queen back in business." Minato smiled brightly at Mitsuru.
"Thank you for pulling me away from the grief…And for all the times you've spent with me…" Mitsuru didn't care that anyone would hear her "You're really important to me Minato. Thank you for everything." Minato bowed "Anything for the empress. Glad you to see you have that badass drive again." The two stared at each other for sometime, enjoying the comfortable silence.
"We have to since its past curfew." Minato smiled and began to walk off.
"Now or Never." Mitsuru whispered to herself. She quickly ran behind him "Uh Minato." Said blunette turned around and blushed at seeing Mitsuru's face so close to him.
"I'm sorry if this doesn't go well." Mitsuru said after what seemed an eternity.
"What are you tal—Mmmpf!." Before Minato could complete that Mitsuru cut him off with a kiss.
Mitsuru's soft lips crashed against Minato's own who was just too confused and shocked. He never expected her to kiss him, he barely returned the kiss but he eventually shook the surprise off. Grabbing a hold of her waist, he pulled her closer, returning the kiss that was full of passion.
Mitsuru eventually pulled back from the kiss almost making Minato groan. She was blushing but still gave a gentle smile.
"I…like you.." Mitsuru whispered into Minato's ear "More than a comrade or a friend." Minato smirked "I am not letting you go until you say it clearly."
Mitsuru sighed but smiled "I believe the correct words will be I love you." Minato walked closer "Me too.." With that he hugged Mitsuru tightly, he knew that Akihiko wanted her but the emotions were just too much. The two stood there before Minato yelled about curfew. The teens walked back with a much much happier Mitsuru.
…
"Hey Akihiko." Minato gulped as he approached Akihiko who immediately put his hands up "I saw Mitsuru she's finally happy."
"Yeah but we.." Minato trailed off and Akihiko gave him a knowing smile, placing a hand on his shoulder he spoke "Look I know you two like each other, as long as Mitsuru is happy I'm okay. Just keep her like the way she is." Akihiko replied without a hint of anger and jealousy.
"You aren't mad?" Minato asked hopefully and Akihiko laughed "Of course not, its not like you blackmailed her into this." Minato smiled at this "Glad too know that. How about we find some other hottie for as your girlfriend?"
"I am not Junpei or Ryoji." Akihiko sighed pointing to the left where Junpei and Ryoji were trying to peep into a room. Minato sighed "Idiots."
…
"Oh senpai." Yukari smiled warmly at Mitsuru who looked really happy. Yukari put her hands on her hip "I guess you're okay now?"
"I am thank you Takeba." Mitsuru smiled back "I need to thank you for all that you have done." Mitsuru extended her hand "Lets forget all that happened before us. I want to fulfill my father's wish but I can't do it alone. Will you stand with me Yukari?" Mitsuru asked using her first name.
Yukari took her hand "Of course Mitsuru-senpai." She smiled. Unknown to Yukari she just established the Empress social link.
…
"I can feel her watching over me." Mitsuru said to herself as she stepped into her room. Smirking she declared to herself "Come on my shadow. I won't dwell on the past anymore."
"She's laughing and I'm gonna shut her up permanently." Mitsuru folded her arms "I'm not alone anymore. I've got Minato with me." She blushed "I never thought I'd fall in love with anyone but I can see why every girl falls for him. Guess I'm a victim as well." She laughed lightly.
Minato was lying on the futon next to Junpei and Kenji, his mind was still wrapped around the kiss he shared with Mitsuru "Dammit I scored the most richest girl in the world."
"Guess my sympathy changed to love for her. I'm glad to see her happy again." Suddenly Kenji and everyone else turned into a coffin except Junpei who was snoring.
"Well great the dark hour is here." Minato sighed but then shrugged "Nothing worse can happen tha—"
"Oh Chidori." Junpei groaned in his sleep.
"Shit." Minato said swiftly. He was in quite a predicament here, the small room barely had space so they had to squeeze tighter. Any time now Junpei could hug him thinking he is Chidori. Like Minato had predicted Junpei did hug him like before.
"Fucking Yaoi fanboy." Minato cursed.
"Pucker up Chidori." Junpei said sleepily making the color drain from Minato's face.
"Sicko." Minato yelled, punching Junpei right across the face, rudely waking him up.
"Shit" Junpei woke up, he suddenly grabbed Minato by the throat "You cockblocker. I was about to go for a kiss." Minato was tempted to say who he was going to kiss but decided against it.
"I didn't want you to dirty the futon." Minato replied and Junpei mock laughed "Hahaha very funny."
"Well its like a coffin sale here." Junpei said looking around. He stood up, feeling all the sleep gone from his eyes. Stupidly he rested his hand on a coffin and while yawning tripped. His hand grabbed the coffin lid and opened it revealing none other than Kenji.
"Mommy" Kenji cried as he looked around. Junepi's blood froze while Minato's eye widened. Kenji was looking like a bat in hell.
"You idiot." Minato hissed as Kenji looked at him with horror.
"Minat-" Before he could speak anything, Minato dashed towards her bashing him right on the face, knocking him out cold in a strike.
"Sorry Kenji." Minato apologized as he shut the lid of the coffin. Sighing he looked to Junpei with a glare. Before he could yell at him a horrible screech echoed in the quiet night.
'Shit that was horrifying." Junpei covered his ears and Minato looked at him seriously "We have to go. I'm guessing it's a shadow."
"Is it mine?" Junpei asked as he stood up.
"Unless you scream like a girl" Minato replied and Junpei sighed "Drop it. Give me something." Minato nodded, summoning a longsword and handing it to Junpei "It's whoop ass time." Junpei yelled as she ran outside with Minato behind him.
Every member of SEES except Ken and Koromaru obviously reached the source of the racket. It was Mitsuru standing there, holding a rapier in her hand, smiling sweetly at her own shadow that was holding her battered arm.
"Bitch. The shadow cursed at Mitsuru who shook her head "Vulgar language will get you no where." The shadow Mitsuru gritted her teeth and charged at Mitsuru who dared her to attack "Come on." She swiftly blocked the shadow's sword with her own "You certainly talked quite a lot." Mitsuru smiled as she dug her heels into the shadow's stomach.
The shadow staggered back as Mitsuru pointed her rapier at her "We aren't finished just yet."
"Senpai's got the badassness back." Minato laughed "She'll make pastry out of the shadow."
"Popcorn?" Junpei held up an imaginary box up and Minato shook his head "Real funny asshole."
The shadow charged again and tried to slash Mitsuru but her attempt was blocked again "I told you I'm not the same woman you used to haunt." Mitsuru gritted her teeth "I own this to Minato" She summoned a rapier made up of ice, the shadow barely had time to react as Mitsuru dug the ice rapier right onto her chest. The shadow screamed out in pain and Mitsuru jerked the rapier which was still impaled onto her chest to the left, tearing her flesh apart.
"I am not alone. I must learn to trust in other, my father always told me that I was a fool not to realize it earlier." Mitsuru said grabbing a hold of her shadow's head "I am resolved." Minato grabbed her rapier and jammed it right onto the shadow's throat without mercy. The shadow screamed in agony but Mitsuru quickly silenced it by charging her hand with a Bufudyne and ripping through her stomach.
"Brûler en enfer." Mitsuru hissed as the shadow exploded into a burst of bright light. Penthesilea hovered above Mitsuru soaking all the bright light in. A new persona appeared in place of her, wearing something like seemed like a cross between a dress and armor. She also had a whip in her hand as opposed to the twin blades Penthesilea had and a mask that covered half her face.
"Artemisia." Mitsuru whispered as the persona's presence burned into her psyche. The light subsided and Mitsuru turned around to see everyone clapping at her.
"That was the pinnacle of badassery a woman can manage." Minato clapped and Mitsuru blushed "I thank all of you for helping me through my time of grief." Mitsuru uncharacteristically gave a small bow to the group.
"We're a team and we got all the shadows except for one." Minato smiled at his team mates.
"Oh don't worry that prick is gonna be joining them soon." Junpei said as he cracked his knuckles.
"Oh watch out we have a badass over here." Minato mocked and everyone laughed causing Junpei to pout. Eventually everyone began to leave into their rooms.
"Shall we empress?" Minato held up his hand towards Mitsuru who smiled "Of course." She took his hand and walked with him until Minato gave her a small kiss on the head and left for his room "I won't let anything touch you senpai. Don't worry a bit about Sakura."
"I know you will…" Mitsuru smiled. Depending on someone else was actually new to her but she liked it.
…
"Hahaha another one." Sakura laughed as a card floated in front of her "Arise King of Heroes." Sakura crushed the card "The finest.." She whispered as a shadow of someone wearing an armor appeared before her.
"The gates of Babylon shall open up and tear that fool apart." She gave a wolfish laugh.
….
"Hm? Something wrong Archer?" Minato asked in his psyche.
"Danger." Archer replied swiftly "Be careful master. Seems like the first king will be our enemy as well."
"No doubt the work of that bastard." Minato cursed as he remembered Sakura "I'm gonna pour her heart out."
"Before that." Minato sighed "I hope I can survive the night with this fool." He said as he laid beside Junpei "Na ah." With that he grabbed Kenji's swollen face and pushed him into his position. Junpei had his dream again as he hugged Kenji tightly who surprisingly returned it "Oh Rio."
"Hahahah gays." Minato laughed as turned around on the futon and slept.
Phew finally updated. Sorry for the late update because I got ran over by a stupid bike. Anyway this chapter had alot happening. Minato's stubbornness to get over Hamuko's death. A few quick laughs, Minato and Mitsuru getting together and finally the second last shadow being destroyed so yup Nyarly is gonna strike soon. The fic will end pretty soon now maybe 10 chapters at max anyway forget that stuff like always review and review (I'm looking at guests and non members too) See ya guys later. NEXT CHAPTER HOT SPRINGS!
