Hour:10
The two of us continued walking until we reached our destination.
"We're here." The masked person turns around, facing me.
I can't tell what this person is thinking but that doesn't matter, I need to win this.
"Before we begin, take this," M.G. (Masked guy) threw a katana sword at me.
"I already have a sword, why are you giving me this?"
"You'll need it."
"Don't act so cocky!"
"I'm simply trying to give you a fair chance."
"A fair chance!"
Is this guy underestimating me and if so then I need to show him what I'm made of! I take both of the swords from the sheaths and I take a stance.
"If it's okay with you, can I put a condition on this fight?" M.G. requested.
"Just as long it isn't unreasonable, otherwise go ahead."
"We both can't use our Personas."
"Are you for real!"
"Is this a problem?"
"No, not at all."
"Good, are you ready?"
"Yeah, I'm ready to go whenever you are."
The two of us stand in silence for what seems like an eternity. I would think this person is stalling, but no, he's giving me a bit of time to prepare.
"Begin!"
I run towards M.G. but he's not moving an inch. My swords clash with his.
"Tch, bring it!"
I started an onslaught of slash attacks but none of them went through. He keeps blocking all of my attacks like it's nothing.
"Very interesting, your sword, it's not normal," M.G. observed my black sword.
"What do you mean!?"
"I mean there's something off about it."
"What is it then!?"
"I don't know, but I do know one thing."
Almost in an instant, M.G. was behind me.
"Wha-"
"...You are merely a child with a pair of scissors."
"You bastard!"
As I try to slash him across the chest, he disappears again. When I turn around his fist connects to my stomach.
"Ugh!"
How is he doing that!?
"If you didn't have a Persona or if it didn't fully manifest, that would've hurt far more than imaginable."
"Tch, that was nothing!"
I charge right back at him, hoping at least one attack would go through. M.G. jumps above me to only land on my head and to kick right off of it.
"Damn it, fight me for real!"
"And why should I?"
"Because you shouldn't underestimate me!"
As I'm about to strike at him I feel a sharp sensation on my cheek. I start to swing both the swords in one direction, desperately trying to get a hit off on him, but nothing is working.
"How are you this strong!?"
He didn't enlighten me on how he was. Screw this, time to get creative. I slash from both sides; he dodges by ducking down, I do an overhead kick to his head. He blocks it with ease. He pushes my leg up in the air just a tad bit but enough to give him time to sweep my leg. I stab one of the swords into the ground and I hit him with the back of my sneaker. He moves out of the way of the attack.
"You have potential but as of now you're just fodder."
"What do you mean? You know what, that doesn't matter, time to end this."
"Yes, I believe we are running out of time."
I back up for a last-ditch effort.
"Before, you asked me to take you seriously."
"Yeah, I did!"
"I won't go full-on, but I will show you a fraction of it."
Just like before, we both stand in silence, waiting for the other to prepare for the final clash. I leap forward towards M.G. with all the energy in my body.
"TAKE IT!"
Right next to me, in the blink of an eye.
"This battle is over..."
After he said that, my whole body stung. I then realized why.
"AAAAAAAA"
Blood is coming out of my body in every single direction. I feel fresh wounds all over my entire body. My body aching all over. The pain was indescribable.
"Don't worry, I didn't hit anything significant. The Dark Hour began for them, so you'll be fine."
"What...are you...talking about."
"You'll see soon. Also..."
M.G. walks over to my sword and picks it up.
"That doesn't...belong to you!"
"You're right, but you are just an amateur with a powerful weapon."
"Give it back!"
"Then get stronger."
Something so simple, something so straightforward as "get stronger" caught me off guard. M.G. dropped something right next to me. After that, he used some sort of crystal, then a few seconds later, he disappeared.
"Damn...it!"
I lay down on my back to relax my self. I didn't dare to move at all.
"Damn, everything hurts so badly."
My vision is beginning to wane, I'm sure that I am about to pass out from all the damage I sustained. I hear footsteps coming from the staircase area...
"KAZUKI-KUN!"
"Fuu...ka...?"
I see her rushing over to me. She was saying something but I couldn't hear quite well. I want to answer her but I can't speak; it hurts to try... Everything started to fade out. I don't know what will happen next, but someone better get her out of here soon.
Hour: 11
I feel something drop on my chest, something warm yet wet. I hear Fuuka crying; did I made her cry again. I'm so lame. I put my hand on the back of her head, so I can pull her to my chest.
"Kazuki-kun!?"
"Hey, senpai, he's awake! Kazu is actually alive!"
Looks like Junpei found us, thank goodness.
"Really, Kazuki, can you hear us?"
Even Senpai is here?
"Yeah, Aki, I can hear you loud and clear"
Aki let out a sigh of relief while Jun cheered the fact I'm alive.
"Kazuki..."
That left Fuu-chan, who hugged me as soon as I got up.
"Yeah..."
"Don't do this to me ever again."
"I promise."
"You have to mean it."
"I mean it."
I really am reckless, not only did I lose to an unknown opponent, but I worried everyone. That's just too humiliating
"All right, now we know that the both of you are okay. We can start heading back."
"You mean we can leave this place... Oh thank goodness, you hear that Kazuki-kun, we'll be able to leave now!"
I smiled the moment I heard that.
"Thank god."
I attempt to get up on my feet, but I just immediately fall to my knees
"Kazuki-kun!"
Before I could touch the ground, Junpei caught me.
"I gotcha ya."
I look at Junpei in a surprised manner. why is he helping me?
"Why are you helping me?"
"Whaddya mean why I'm helping you? We're pals, aren't we?"
"What about when I hit you, I thought you-"
"I was pissed at first. But when you disappeared, I got worried..."
"Junpei..."
"When she told us what you did to save her, I realized: I was acting like a dick... I'm sorry, dude."
"It's all right, but I am sorry about hitting you."
"It's like water under the bridge." Jun and me fist-bumped to make up. "But dude, did you really fight the Reaper?"
"The only thing I can say is: hell yeah I did!"
"You are a legend man!"
"I didn't do any damage. I say I did a love tap."
"That's more than what we ever did to it."
"Guys can we get a move on," Aki urged us.
"Sorry, senpai!"
We traveled to find a transporter while being cautious of shadows.
"Hey, Junpei, can you let me walk on my own?"
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
Junpei let me go. There's feeling in my leg again, I have enough energy to move forward, so that's good. I walk over to Fuuka, I grab her hand upon approach. She let out a gasp.
"I'm sorry, is this...okay?" I ask, a bit shy by the fact that I never held a girl's hand before.
"It's-It's okay."
When she gripped my hand, she squeezed it. I made her worry too much; I won't be doing that ever again. I looked at my wounds and most of them had bandages on them.
"How did you guys patch me up?"
"We found a bunch of stuff near ya."
"Really?"
"Yeah, someone musta' left it there for you."
"Yeah..."
It had to be M.G., it couldn't have been anyone else.
...
"Senpai, did you notice how big the moon is tonight," Jun asks as he observes the moon outside.
"Yeah, why?"
"No reason, it just reminded me of what Kazu thought it looked like."
As Jun went on about the joke I made about the moon looking like cheese It led me to think about it. The time after I got slashed across the chest, I was laying down on the ground and all I saw in the sky was a full moon. Then I thought back to the night of the shadow on the train, there was a full moon that night too.
"Wait a minute..."
It clicks, I get it now!
"You okay Kei?" Aki asks me.
If I'm thinking about this right, then that means!
"Akihiko, we need to get out of here, and then we need to have Mitsuru search for a shadow as quickly as possible!"
"What for?"
"Because if I'm right about this, then...!"
"Huh!?"
"What is it Fuuka," I asked her as she came to a full halt.
"I feel a weird presence, some of them feel human, but the others don't feel human!"
"Are they shadows!?"
"...I'm not sure?"
Damn it, I knew it!
"Senpai...!"
"I know, let's go!"
The lobby of Tartarus, Dark Hour
As we reach the lobby, we see the girls knocked out on the floor, and Makoto fighting by himself
"Orpheus!"
His Persona douses its harp in flames to find two weaknesses in one go.
"Damn nothing's working!"
Makoto is having a hard time finding the weakness, I gotta do something before it gets worse! I moved towards the shadows on my own.
"Kei, the hell are you doing!"
"I need to help Aki, I need to do something."
"Get back here, man!"
I continue walking until I trip over myself.
"Damn it"
"Kazuki-kun!"
I try to get up but everything was in pain, walking was a difficult task on its own. Damn it, am I really this pathetic!?
"What the hell is she doing here!?"
"Huh?"
I look in front of me, and to my surprise, it was Natsuki.
"The hell, does she have the potential!?"
"No, she doesn't...!"
"Then what the hell is going on!"
"Fuu...ka..."
"Moriyama!"
Fuuka runs over to her. I try to stand up but some of the wounds on my legs and arms are opening. Blood starts flowing down my legs and through my hoodie's sleeves
"Kazuki, you're badly hurt!" Aki pointed out.
"I know, but-"
The shadows turned towards me and then started doing an action I expected them to do.
"So...you're, Kazuki Kei, I expected you to be something extraordinary. But I don't see anything special about you."
"Yes, you do seem...pathetic."
Their insults were hitting home right now, but that's not what I'm focusing on right now. It's the fact that no one hears any of this. How is that even possible? They started walking towards Fuuka and Natsuki,
"All of you are an eyesore. So as the empress, the penalty for merely existing is... DEATH!"
"I also agree. A death penalty is a splendid idea."
Crap this is bad, I need to do something, and quick. While I was thinking about what to do, I saw Fuuka pull out an Evoker. "When did she-"
"That's not a weapon," Aki yelled out loud
"I know."
That voice... Was it, Fuuka?
As the empress's staff almost hit the two girls, it bounces right off. I look at Fuuka, I saw her persona. It has long blonde hair, with its eyes covered with a piece of cloth. The detail that caught my attention, was the dome-like area at the center of the Persona.
"I-I can see!"
"See what?"
"...See their weaknesses."
"Really, then tell us their weaknesses while we fight."
"Kazuki-kun, you're hurt, you need to rest."
"I can't, I need to-"
"Please, Kazuki-kun, not just for me, but for yourself."
"Damn it... You're right."
I slam my fist on the floor. I look at Makoto, Junpei, and Akihiko fighting the two shadows. Damn it, I feel so pathetic. If it wasn't for that masked guy...
I'm far weaker than him. And if I'm weaker than him, I won't be able to beat stronger enemies, and if I can't do that, then I won't be able to protect anybody. No, I can't accept that, not ever!
"Then stop complaining about how weak you are and start moving your ass already."
Who the hell!?
"...Get up and start kicking some ass already, before I lose it!"
"But I shouldn't."
"Why not, oh, because you promised the girly over there she wouldn't have to worry about you."
"I-"
"First: you let that masked loser kick your ass, then you're just sitting here looking pretty useless."
"Be quiet!"
"Now you're making excuses why you shouldn't fight, even though you want to! Tch, you're such a little bitch!"
"Be quiet"
I start to stand up one more time. The pain in my legs is incredible, but that didn't stop me.
"That's right, get up, destroy those knock-offs, like the dirt they are!"
"Shut up!"
"Huh?"
"I know I'm injured, I know I need to stay down, I damn well know I can't fight, but I don't care!"
I got up with both of my legs, wounds are opening up.
"Can't...give...in"
It was extremely painful, standing was a strenuous task.
"Kazuki-kun!"
"Fuuka, I'm still keeping my promise but I need to do this!"
"Kazuki-kun."
"Yeah?"
"Don't die, please."
I give her a thumbs-up before I went over to fight the shadows. I'm gonna keep my promise, no matter what.
"Ah, I see you decided to be the first to get executed."
"No, that's not what I want. I want to fight!"
"Inconceivable, you wish to fight us? How dare you, you little wretch!"
"Are we gonna insult me all night, or are we going to throw down."
The two shadows prep themselves. I ready myself as well
"Kazu, catch!"
Junpei threw a sword my way, I catch it. It looks like the other sword I used to fight the masked guy with. The shadows charge at us.
"Everyone: follow my lead! Fuuka: provide support, especially for Kazuki!"
"Okay!"
"Let's rock!"
The emperor tries to hit me with its sword.
"Skeith!"
"That's Kazuki's Persona?"
"Looks pretty cool!"
Skeith stopped the sword with a punch. My arm throbs as it intercepted the attack. I need to know the weakness.
"Fuuka: what's its weakness!?"
"It's electricity."
"Makoto and Akihiko!"
"Oberon!"
"Polydeuces!"
A combination of two lightning bolts hits the emperor shadow at full force.
"Hmm, I say, you peasants aren't even trying."
"What the-"
"Fuuka did something happen!?"
"It changed properties as Akihiko-senpai and Makoto-kun attacked it."
I see, but then that means.
"Fuuka, see what the weaknesses are for the empress this time!"
"Its weakness is physical attacks, nothing else will work!"
"Good, Skeith!"
Skeith starts punching fast enough to not let the empress change its properties. I always wanted to say this...
"ARGGGGHHH, you little pest!?"
I have Skeith lift me on top of it.
"Very well, finish me already."
"I have principles, I don't kick an enemy while it's down."
"How foolish, so you won't finish me."
"You're right, I won't finish you."
"Huh!?"
"Hermes!"
"Polydeuces!"
"...But they will."
I jump off the shadow before the two Personas came crashing into the empress shadow.
"ARGHH, my legs, why did I jump off!"
"Good job, Kazuki, now we only have one more to deal with," Makoto praise me.
The four of us walked towards the final shadow in this room. As I walk past the empress shadow, I see its hand twitch.
"You're mine!"
"SHIT!"
I draw my sword to defend against the attack and I summon Skeith to punch a hole in its chest
"ARGGGGHHH!"
I'm sent flying towards the staircase. My back hitting the stairs.
"ARGGGH!"
"Kazuki-kun!"
Getting back up, I see the emperor standing next to me.
"Are you ready to die, boy?"
"No, not really."
I look at everyone for a moment to say,
"This one is mine."
"Dude, that's crazy you shouldn't-"
Makoto stops him from interrupting us.
The Emperor starts swinging its sword at me. The sword was holding up as I use it to block the sword strikes. I dodge out of the way of the last attack.
"Kazuki-kun, block!"
I'm too late to react. At a moment's notice, the sword moved faster than I can react. The shadow's sword hits me in two different directions on both of my arms.
"ARGGGGH!"
"Kazuki-kun!"
Damn, that hurts
"Looks like you can't use your arms now, what will you do?"
"You're right, I can't use my arms, but..."
I crouch down to pick up the sword with my mouth.
"You can't be serious," Akihiko is dumbfounded by my action
"Man, that reminds me of an anime character," Junpei commented.
"Shut up, Jun. This the only way I can use it now!" I tell him as the sword muffled my voice.
"Okay, okay, I get it!"
"Kazuki-kun, can't you just have your Persona hold it for you?"
"You're supposed to be on my side Fu-chan!"
"I am, but still..."
"You know what, let's forget about this."
"Kazuki-kun, it's weak to slash attacks, hit it before it changes properties again."
"Got it!"
I run towards the shadow with all the strength I had left in my body, despite all the pain in my legs.
"DIE!"
We made our final attacks against each other. For an instant, it felt like I was fighting that Masked guy again. As the shadow started disappearing it said something to me. "Well played, young man. You'll go far in this world."
"I'm sorry, for what's it's worth, you were a worthy adversary."
The shadow melted into nothingness. I walk over to Fuuka, my body exhausted from the fighting
"Kazuki-kun, are you okay, you're bleeding everywhere!" I could see the horror on her face. There was a part of me that wanted to say sorry but I just smiled.
"I know, but you know what, I can get this healed up in no time at all."
"Are you...sure...?"
Fuuka fell to her knees. I caught her before she even touched the ground. "Fuuka," Natsuki cried.
"I got you Fuuka."
I was concerned for her, but yet I was also proud of her; her persona was an incredible means of support. A violent cough hit me.
"What the...?"
I spat out blood from my mouth. I got hurt way too much and I summoned my Persona considerably too much.
"Aki, what about the girls!?"
"They're just unconscious."
"That's good."
I look towards the exit.
"Guys, I'm gonna take Fuuka to the hospital now."
"All right, I'll get into contact with one of the doctors in the hospital."
"Got it."
Before I left, Natsuki stopped me.
"...Is Fuuka going to be alright!?"
One part of me was frustrated to see her face, but the genuine concern on it washed it away a bit.
"Yeah, she'll be fine, so don't worry."
"Are you sure!?."
"Yep, so just relax."
"You're welcome."
I wrapped Fuuka's arms around my neck and I begin to give her a piggyback to the hospital.
On route to Tatsumi hospital, Midnight
"Hey, Fuuka... I don't know if you can hear me, but if you can then please listen for a moment... I'm sorry that I did something that reckless and if you're mad at me for doing something like that, then I understand. But I need more strength, so I can protect you and everyone else in SEES. Oh, Speaking of SEES, if you decide to join I'll always try my best to protect you from anything. I'll protect you with my life, I promise. I also promise to be a good boyfriend to you. Though, you'll have to be patient with me since I have no idea how to."
She didn't return with a response. That's okay, I enjoy her presence either way. This is just me getting a load off my chest, nothing more.
"I know you will, Kazuki-kun."
I heard Fuuka say something. Did she really hear me? My face is growing a bit warm, but I'm glad she heard me.
"AAH!"
Damn, my whole body is back in tremendous pain. Fuuka nestles her head on my back.
"Your head feels nice... Is that weird? It probably is."
I'm getting her to that hospital, even if my body breaks down.
Tatsumi hospital, lobby, Midnight
"We're here Fuuka, we made it."
My vision begins to blur, my legs begin to give in. My body collapses to the floor; blood pouring out of me.
"Hey, those are the patients! One of them is bleeding out!"
Everything is getting more muffled. I couldn't hear them. The next thing I know, I start to fade out. I look at Fuuka one last time before passing out.
"I'll get stronger, for you."
Everything went dark soon after.