9/6 Sun, strip mall, Hakekure, Morning
I was drinking from a cup full of tea. I was sitting inside of Hakekure with Fuuka, M.G., and Naoya...
"Ah, that was good!" "Hmm, Kei is there a secret menu," Naoya quietly asked. "Why yes, there is," I ordered two bowls of the secret menu item: The Hakekure bowl. "Time to-" "...Dig in!" The both of us went into the bowls of noodles and soup from the bowl until they were gone.
"Ahh, that was good..." "I know, right." "You two ate all that," M.G. cringed. "Yep!" "You could get a stomach ache." "She does have a point Kei. Oh, I didn't get your name by the way." "It took you this long to ask for it?" "Sorry." "No, it's alright. I'm Rin Shizuka." "Naoya Toudou."
The four of us were just watching the TV in the place...
"So, Naoya, what are you doing here, anyway," I asked while ordering another bowl. "Well, I was off for this week, so I thought I come and see how you doing." "That's expected from Naoya: the big bro." "Big bro..." For some reason, there was an awkward silence...
"Naoya-san, what do you do?" "Oh, I work with an old friend of mine down at a psychiatric." "Really?" "Yeah, it's down in Sumura." "Isn't that far from Mikage-cho," Fuuka questioned. "Not if you get up early and take a train." "Oh." "Wanna see the place, I took some pictures my first time there." "Sure."
While Naoya was showing Fuuka some pictures of his workplace, Shizuka switched her seat and sat next to me. She was writing something on a piece of paper. "We are being watched, but don't turn your head." "We're being watched!? "The woman who is sitting right behind us. She was writing something on a notepad while she was watching us." I took her pencil and I wrote what I had to say. "Are you serious!? Is it someone from your organization?" "Old!" "Mep!" "Anyway, I don't know, I'll just have to figure it out." "How?" "Guess."
Shizuka had this bothered look on her face... "Kei, Rin, what are you two writing," Naoya came over to us. "Nothing." Shizuka stuffed the paper into her pocket. "Well, I'm gonna go to the library, Shizuka-chan, can you come with me?" "Why?" "Umm." "Oh, right, hight." Shizuka and Fuuka went left the shop. "Naoya." "Yeah." "I'm sorry if Shizuka can off as a bit rude." "Nah, it's okay. She actually reminds of an old friend from high school." "Who?" "He was a bit of a punk..." "Like the Reiji guy you told me about." "Yeah, him..."
I slurped some of the noodles in my mouth. "But, that Rin girl seems like a good friend." "She's very helpful too." "I can see, she really does seem like the helpful type, but..." "But what?" "...Nothing. However, how do you feel, living here and all?" "I'm gonna be honest..." I drank the water that I ordered. "Ahh. I love it here... The people I met here so far are awesome people. And so far, living in the dorm is great, and the people living there are great..." "That's great. You deserve this..." "I think so too." Naoya pats me on the head.
"By the way." "Yep." "How did you meet Yamagishi?" "In school." "But how." "Oh, well..."
A few seconds later...
"You idiot!" "I'm sorry but I was lost and I didn't know where to go!" "Why didn't you watch where you were going!" "Sorry!" Naoya was pulling on my cheeks. "My cheeks!"
Port island station, evening
After we left the strip mall, we went to the station. Fu-chan and M.G. went to the flower shop for a moment. "Man, this city sure is different from Mikage-cho," Naoya stated. "I know, right..." The city was as lively as ever and Naoya seemed to be enjoying it.
"Kei, do you remember when I first met you?" "Of course I do. Though, I was a bit cold to you at first. I never did apologize to you for that." "No, it's alright, I understand why you were like that; it was to protect yourself." To protect myself... "But, you never deserved to be treated the way you were by others. Your mom would obviously agree." "Mom?" "I told you didn't I, she would kick their asses like it was nothing." "Are you sure?" "Yep, I heard from my mom she used to kick ass in high school." "Wow, she was so cool!" "Yeah, she was..."
Trains were passing by, people were on with there busy lives, and the sun was starting to set.
"Naoya...what if I tell you that I had secret that I was keeping from you" "Well, tell me then," Naoya openly asked. "Um, well..." I wanted to tell Naoya about the shadows, about Personas, and about what is inside of me...
"Well, what is it?" "It's...umm... I was thinking about marrying Fuuka!" "Oh, is that it?" "Yeah...it is." ...Damn it! I couldn't do it, I couldn't even tell him.
"Well, it's getting late, I should get back to my hotel." "Really?" "Yeah, plus, I'm getting kind of tired." "Oh." I frowned when I realized that it was late. "Hey, we could always hang tomorrow," Naoya cheeringly said while he put a hand on my shoulder. "Okay!" I smiled...
Port island station, evening
When the person following us entered the woman's restroom, I immediately grabbed their arm and I kicked the back of her leg, then, I pulled on it while I had my shoe. "Who are you, and don't you dare feed me lies; I'll snap the arm!" "..." "Won't answer, huh. Well then, I better make an example." I snapped her arm... "ARRGGGHH!" "Told you to answer me. Now, get talking!"
I gave her a cold stare. "Okay, I'll talk!" "Good, now tell me what the organization is planning." "How did you!?" "I had a feeling... Now, will you talk, or will the other arm go?"
After a moment of silence, she spoke up. "I was tasked to watch you and that is it." "Hm." "Kill me, go ahead, I do not fear death!" "I know you don't; I was apart of it, remember."
She tried to take something out of her pocket. A death pill. I kicked it out of her hand before she could put itp into her mouth. "You won't die until I am finished with you. And it just so happens that I have something for you to do." "W-what...?" "You're gonna play spy for me now..."
10/3 Sat, Tartarus, lobby, Dark Hour
I was breathing heavily, trying to catch my breath. "Can you go again Yamagishi?" "I-I don't think so. Can we take a break?" "Sure..." We sat down on the staircase to the entrance of the labyrinth.
"So, how do you feel now," Shizuka-san asked while taking a sip of water. "Well, I think I made some progress. ...But, I still feel like this isn't enough to really make a giant difference." "Hm, maybe you're right." "Oh..." "...Or maybe you're wrong. You won't know until you try to hone your abilities and put them to the test." Shizuka-san's words struck me. It made me think a bit more positively about my self.
"Hey, Shizuka-san, can I ask you something?" "Sure." "Why are you helping us? I mean...why are you?" Shizuka-san didn't say anything towards my question. Instead, taking a large gulp of her drink. "I fight because... Hm? Guess I don't know." "...But, I thought you wanted to end the Dark Hour?" "To be honest, I don't care if the Dark Hour continues to exist; it never came to me as a thought before; guess I'm just as irresponsible as Kazuki."
Shizuka-san looked up at the door to Tartarus... "Um, speaking of Kazuki-kun, do you think he has been acting strange lately?" "No, I haven't." "I see... Well, I guess you can't know every little detail," I apologetically said to her. "Yeah, that is asking a little too much from me..." "Yes."
I got up from the staircase and made my way to the exit. "I'll be going now." "I'll catch up later." "Okay..."
I walked out of Tartarus with a little bit more progress towards my abilities. But, I still have no idea what is up with Kazuki-kun. Maybe it's just my imagination.
"Hm? What the?" I felt a presence. It was faint but I felt something. What was it though...? But I can say one thing; I felt like I was being watched by someone...
10/4 sun, Iwatodai dormitory, Command room, Dark Hour
After we found the shadows for the night, that's right, two... For some reason, Shinjiro and Ken weren't here... And Minako said she wasn't feeling well.
"..." "Shizuka, are you okay?" "Yes, I'm fine." She puts a piece of paper in her pocket. "Hey, I'm not gonna be able to help you during the op." "Why not," I asked. "I have to check on something... It could take me a while, so I won't be there." "I see, okay. Just be careful." "Of course..."
When we both left the dorm we went different ways, to different destinations...
...
I busted right through the door that was leading to this supposed throne room. "HEY, BOSS, MASARU IS HERE! I WANT TO TALK TO YOU!" Nobody answered when I called out. "Masaru, you in a place that is not your domain! I suggest you turn back, now!" It was one of the Yatagarasus. "Well, I was just looking for our fearless leader, you see. And by the looks of it, he isn't here... Ain't that strange?" "Do not insult our leader!" "Bite me!" "I will do more than biting!" He summoned up a red mist to his side. "Fine then bring it!" He fired off some curse spells. I drew my Evoker and summoned Prometheus. My fire and his curse attack collided, ultimately, the two attacks canceled each other out. "Heup!" With a swift kick, I was able to kick his neck, sending him flying to the left part of this room.
Thud* "Hmph, I thought you guys were skilled when it came to fighting." "You want to see skill, fine!" He traveled towards me like a bullet. He thrust his hand towards me. *Stab* "Damn, I wasn't able to go deep enough." I had my foot on his chest, pushing him away from me and making sure the damage was minimal. "Do you believe that you deserve a gift such as Shadowmogrification?" "Sure do, and I'll prove it!" "Then prove it!"
We charged at each other, clashing fire and curse skills at each other...
I was watching this fight play itself out "This should be a good warm-up for Masaru before their grand fight..." I was laughing with amusement. "This whole thing will be fun! I better go and get Minako for this operation..."
I walked away from this fight to put the finishing touches on the most important matter at hand...
Port island station, Dark Hour
*Clang* "*Grunting*" I was struck by a fence from the enemy . Tonight was the full moon shadow and this time there were two of them. One was using physical attacks and that alone was trouble. The other one, however, was invisible, so we can't hit it. "Kazuki, watch out for that fence!" As Fuuka warned me, I summoned Skeith to kick the fence in from the side, and in doing that, the fence traveled around me. "This son of a bitch is tough," I said. The strength shadow waved its rose, creating a heat wave attack. "Mabufula!" A giant ice barrier formed in front of us when Mitsuru summoned. "Kazuki, what are your orders!?" "...Aigis: buffing, Akihiko: debuff them all the way to hell!" "Got it!" "Understood!"
By the time the shadow broke through the ice, I was already charging for the shadow. It used a slash attack to stop me, but I was able to see the pattern with the help of Shadow-mog my reaction time and my perception was faster than the norm. I dodged it flawlessly and I drew my sword on the shadow. I attacked the shadow, but it had the fence around it protect itself. *Clang* I had started slashing against the fence and the fence was attacked me in exchange. I was doing some of the moves Shizuka taught me, this thing wasn't even touching me. It was trying to do another physical on me, so I had Skeith destroy the shadows arm to disrupt it. The fence's spikes extended, aiming for my head. I summoned Skeith to block the attack by taking the hit. "ARGGHH!" It still hurt me but it was better than me actually getting hit by the thing. The fence tried to retract but I stabbed my sword into the ground, in between one of the many gaps the fence has. "Mitsuru, Makoto! Have at em!" I crouched down as Mitsuru was running over here. "Makoto: smash it!" "Orpheus!" Summoning his Persona, it smashed its lyre into the shadows face. After that, Mitsuru leap off from my back, making her go airborne. "HAA!" She stabbed the shadow in the head. "You ain't done, are you Mitsu-chan," I ask walking behind the shadow. "Not quite." She pointed her head. "I bid you adieu." *Bang* Mitsuru pulled out her sword, at the same time, her persona tapped the inside of the shadow, and then a giant ice block, resulting in the attack destroying the head altogether. She then jumped off from the shadow.
"That was brutal, senpai," I stated bluntly. "You're not too bad yourself." "Why thank you."
After killing the strength shadow, the other one became visible again. "Alright, time to this!" I summoned Skeith to finish off this weakly-looking shadow. But the shadow summoned something from the sky, and it was right above me. "Io!" I was hit by a gust of wind. "Ahhh!" I was blown away by the object that landed right where I was at. "That was close! Thanks, Yuka-chan!" "No problem."
I got up from the floor and looked at what the shadow summoned. "This a roulette board," Makoto pointed out. "Seems like it." The shadow jumped on the ornament in the middle of the thing, then the wheel started spinning. "What is going on," Mitsuru demanded an answer. "Do any of you consider yourselves a gambler?" It has been a while since I heard one of these things talk.
"Not really, but what can it hurt?" "Everything." "Kazuki, let me try, I have some Personas with high luck." "Thanks, but I got this." "I hope you know what you are doing..." Makoto stood back and I found myself standing in front of the roulette wheel by myself.
"Well, are you a lucky man, or not..." "..." "...Well?" "Stop!" The wheel was starting to slow down after I commanded it to. And the needle landed on a blue tile. "What!" The tile had a large "pow" thing on it, so I'm guessing it's going for damage. The shadow knocked down to the ground. "That was a lucky one!" And once again, it was doing the roulette wheel all over again. "Heh, let's gamble then!"
On route to Iwatodai strip mall
This is bad! The info I received from my mole was shocking. I needed to get to the others before they are able to succeed with their plan!
"I gotta hurry, I need to hurry!" "Why the rush Shizuka!" "Huh!?" I turned to a random alleyway, only to find a blade slicing my cheek.
"Who's...there!" I saw a person who struck fear into my soul. "Why the hurry to somewhere you'll never reach." "Y-you...what are you doing here, Sadao?" "You should know why," he said while he summoned a physical attack. "ARGGH!" "Are you playing around here? That attack should have been easy to avoid." "I...won't allow you to go there, I won't let you touch either of them!" "Why do you care for total strangers? Well...it matters not why you do, I'll just have to eliminate you to complete my mission." My arms were shaking and my legs were trembling, but, I nonetheless, I grabbed my blade and I readied myself.
I need to do this; I need to protect him...!
Iwatodai strip mall, Dark Hour
"H-how!? This doesn't make sense!" "It's simple - I'm too lucky." "That's a lie, you are a cheater!" "Cheater, how so?" The shadow didn't respond to my question. "Well then, do it once more and if I win, you die." "FINE, BRING OUT THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE!" When the wheel was brought here, something was different about it. "This is cheating!" The blue area was linear while the red was a lot wider. "TRY TO WIN NOW!" "Okay." The wheel began to spin once. I wasn't gonna allow this to trip me up. "Stop!" The wheeling was once again slowing down now. The tile that decided the what would happen was... "NO, THIS INCONCEIVABLE! THIS NOT HUMANLY POSSIBLE!" It was blue. "Looks like this human won. So..." The shadow was hit by an unknown force, resulting in it being torn apart. "YOU CHEAT! THIS WAS UNFAIR!" "Yeah, well gambling in itself is unfair." The shadow tried to summon a wind spell but it was too weak to even be considered one. After a while, the shadow disappeared.
"Hew, that was something," I said, taking in a calming breath. "Kazuki-kun, that was amazing!" "Talk about a lucky streak, Kei," Yuka-chan complimented me. "Hey, Kazu, how did you get it every single time," Junpei asked. "You see, the magic to that is... Cheating!" "Really, how the hell did you manage that," Jun asked, putting his arm on my shoulder. "Well, I picked this little tactic up when I was playing roulette game on the internet the other day. Basically, it was all about the tile that the needle is on and the one that is diagonally on the right of it." "Hmm, the odds of that working were minimal at best,"Aigis stated. "I know, it was a gamble after all." "But it would've put Makoto-san in danger if your cheat didn't work." For some reason, Aigis was attached to Makoto like glue. It's kind of cute...in a way.
"By the way, Fu-chan did you find our missing trio," I asked. "No, not y-" Before she finished her sentence, multiple explosions. "What the hell was that!?" "I don't know!" Smoke was coming from two different areas. "You all go check that area, I'll go check the other!" "Kazuki, are you sure! If something goes wrong, and you're attacked...!" "I'll be fine." "...Still, we need someone to stay here with Yamagishi," Mitsuru told us. "I will stay," Aigis insisted with her hand raised. "It's settled, let's go!
We all went to our own destinations. I was starting to wonder why Shizuka wasn't here; because maybe she was apart of that explosion...
An alleyway near the dorm
I was running where Fuuka instructed me to go. So far she was able to find Shizuka, but something was off with her apparently; like she was in a fight! My nerves were starting to feel some sort of-
"Huh?" I saw something in the air. It was a person and the hair. "Shizuka!" I had Skeith catch her. She was all bloodied up with cuts and brushes. "Shizuka, are you okay, SHIZUKA!" She wasn't responding at all. She was heavily injured.
"Step aside." "Huh." A man with an all black robe was walking over to use. "W-who are you?" "I Shizuka is mine, step aside." "You did this to her, didn't!?" "Yes." "You bastard!"
I was going to charge the son of a bitch, but something was tugging at my pants. "(Weakly) Please, don't fight him, he'll kill you!" "...I'm sorry..." I switched to Shadow-mog and I was already at his throat. "Who the fuck are you!?" "You are you aware that you left your support out in the open, right?" "No, we left her with a badass who'll kick any of your asses," I threatened. "The anti-shadow named Aigis? She is not a problem." "Whatever, you should be worried about yourself!" "Hmph."
This is bad, I don't know how many of these guys there are.
"Hmm, I see, you got the objective, good. I'll just wrap things up here..." "What objective!?" "Kazuki...they were after one of us," Shizuka mumbled. "It took us some time to find the moles Shizuka had place in our organization; she did well in avoiding suspicion for this long." "Shizuka, what is going on?" "Kazuki, did you leave Yamagishi alone?" "I left her with Aigis." "No, go back to her, leave me here!" "No way! We're both going to make it out of this!" I dashed back to her in an instant, but I was stopped when something went through my leg. *Stab* "ARGGGGHHHH!" "KAZUKI!" His sword extended in length, that in turn stabbed through my leg. "Now, Shizuka, we have unsettled business. He was approaching Shizuka with another sword in his hand. I put a hand on the blade in my leg, trying to take it out... The more I pulled, the more it hurt. "*Grunting* ARGHHHHHHH!" I was finally able to pull it out and I immediately dashed at him. "Kazuki, don't!" "Foolish!" He evaded my sword by ducking under it. A red mist was forming under him. "Tempest slash!" A skill that the strength shadow used earlier was now being used on me again, and it was much faster than the last one.
*Slash* *Slash* *Slash* "ARGGHHHHH!" "Foolish indeed..." I landed on my back, bleeding from all over my body.
"*Panting* *Panting* *Panting*" "Seems you are still alive. Well, it matters not..." In a last-ditch effort to protect Shizuka, I got back up from the ground without this guy knowing. "Hey." "Hmm?" *Thump* I hit him right in the gut to the solar plexus "UGH!" I sent him flying a couple meters back.
"*Pant* *Pant* *Pant*" "kazuki, are you okay?"
I went over to Shizuka. I picked her up and went towards the sidewalk. "Kazuki, you are hurt, badly!" "I know, but I'm willing to bet that attack won't keep him down for long, so..." All of a sudden, my legs began to give out. *Thud* "Kazuki, are you okay!?" Shizuka's voice was echoing and my vision was fading. "Kazuki, stay awake! Kazuki...!"
10/5 Mon, Tatsumi hospital, morning
*Beep* *Beep* I heard Machines beeping and some light hit me by the side of my side...
"*Groaning*" "Kei-kun!" When I opened my eyes I saw Yukari at my bedside. "Are you okay, I'm surprised you woke up this quickly." "...Yukari...what happened? Is Shizuka all right," I pleaded for an answer. "Shizuka...she's...*sigh* Can you move your leg?" I tried to move it... So far, they seem to be fine. "Yeah, I guess." "Then follow me..."
I got out of my bed and I followed Yukari to where she wanted us to go.
Tatsumi hospital, Rin Shizuka's room, morning
Yukari opened the door to Shizuka's room... "Shizuka...!? Shizuka!" I saw Shizuka hooked up to machines. she had bandages around her arms and probably in other places...
"We did the best we could to heal you guys, but her cuts were deep..." I looked at her intensely... I took her hand and I squeezed it...
"Kei...there's something else you need to know." "What," I growled out. "Umm...Fuuka... She's gone missing."
?,?
*Pant* *Pant* *Pant* I was all bloodied up and cut but it didn't matter, because in the end, I won!
"Masaru, you wanted to see me." I saw a guy with a black suit on. (With a nifty red tie.) He had this smirk that would make a man puke out his soul. "Yeah, I did." "...And let me guess-you want power, right?" "You know how to strike interest, yeah, I do." "Well, come right this way, my boy. I can help you with that."
I got up from the floor, I was staggering a bit but nothing I couldn't handle. I followed the guy (god) that would give me power; enough power to help me with my goal...!"
Well, that was...something. But, this is the start of something awesome, so if you want to see that awesomeness, please follow the story to know when I upload this. Also, do not forget to leave a review; that is an important part of this fic. And as always, ladies and gentlemen, until the next chap; see ya...
FYI: There is no romance shit going on between Ren and Kei... Just thought I get that clear...