A/N: Another bonus chapter.

Chapter 56

Playing Around in Tartarus

SEES came to Tartarus tonight.

Today, some members were running around in Tartarus on the lower floors. No, they're not fighting Shadows. They were… running, around, literally.

Akihiko led Junpei and Ken to the first floor of Tartarus. They kept running and jumping over weak Shadows. At first, Junpei and Ken protested, but when they saw all those money suitcases, they grinned from ear to ear. Junpei wanted to buy all mangas of course, and Ken wanted to drown himself in figurines. And Akihiko now realized why Shinjiro had so much money.

At the Tartarus Lobby, Minato and Koromaru clashed their knives together. They backed away from each other, stopped to catch their breath, and charged at each other again.

Yukari, Mitsuru, Fuuka, and Aigis were watching their spar. The girls didn't understand why Minato didn't hold his second knife in his left hand but in his mouth.

And soon they got it. Minato leaned backward to dodge an attack from the dog. His left hand touched the ground and he pushed himself back up. Koromaru landed on his four feet and they jumped at each other.

"Takeba, concentrate. Prepare your Evoker in case they get an injury," Mitsuru said.

Yukari nodded. "Got it, Senpai."

Minato's kick aimed for the dog's leg, but he forgot that a dog is a dog, and dogs are agile in general. Koromaru jumped, avoiding the attack and trying to slash Minato's cheek.

Minato intercepted the knife with his own, the one in his mouth. His free hand touched the floor so he could balance himself. Koromaru backflipped and landed with four feet.

It kept repeating the similar situation, of blocking and dodging and backing away. The girls realized they didn't try to hurt each other. They were sparing in speed.

Akihiko and the rest appeared in the Lobby. They glanced at their leader. Junpei and Ken were about to sit when Akihiko turned to the device and chose the fifth floor. The trio disappeared in the green light again. Aigis waved them goodbye.

"Akihiko-senpai is energetic..." Fuuka said in awe.

Mitsuru shook her head. "One of his flaws is not knowing when to stop."

"That sounds like charming and not a flaw," Yukari said. "Believing in actions. I like that."

"You don't get it, Takeba," Mitsuru said. "Back when SEES was just us… He was a fighting machine, and the one that couldn't think for himself at that. Truly a one track mind person with no long term plans."

"Uhh I guess it was hard," Yukari said.

The knives clashed each other in high pitches.

Koromaru used Minato's left shoulder as a step and slashed Minato's forehead. Minato aimed for the dog's leg. Koromaru bent down blocked it with his knife. As soon as his hind legs touched the ground he launched at the boy.

"Koro-chan is really agile…" Yukari said. "Minato-kun is having a hard time but I know he'll be okay."

"And they are both kind, so I don't think they will injure each other that much," Fuuka said.

Koromaru panted and Minato was catching his breath. The effect of the Dark Hour was coming right at them. A green light appeared. Ken and Junpei threw the suitcases onto the lobby floor and fell on the floor. They also challenged the effect of the Dark Hour.

"Two members down!" Fuuka said.

Akihiko stretched and rolled his shoulder. "I guess it's a draw."

Minato threw the knife in his hand to Aigis. The android caught it between her index and middle finger. Maybe he should have thrown a coin.

"Yeah. A draw," Minato said with the knife still between his teeth. "I might've lost, actually. Koromaru is faster."

"Arf!" Koromaru barked, dropping the knife on the ground.

"And how's your phobia of knives?" Junpei asked.

"It's not a phobia…" Minato said. He opened his mouth and let the knife dropped on the ground. "I still don't like the idea of using a knife."

"You really hate it, huh?" Yukari asked.

"Very."

"Why?"

Minato shrugged. "Reasons."

"Hey, Minato can already use anything else," Junpei said. "So let's not actually make him able to use everything, alright?"

"Minato-san is capable of using every weapon, including knives," Aigis said. "It is merely a preference."

"Ack, I know, Aigis," Junpei said. "Let me enjoy that thought for a while."

"Can you use a spear too?" Ken asked.

"Probably." Minato took Ken's spear and wielded it over his head. He thrust the spear, like how Ken did when he practiced in his room. Minato straightened up and handed it back. "Yeah. I can."

"He helped me with using my bow," Yukari said.

"And a double handed sword," Junpei said. "And how to punch."

"I am the one who taught you, Ju-Ju-Junpei," Aigis said.

"I punched Minato though," Akihiko said.

Mitsuru glanced at him. "Is that a revenge, or…?"

Akihiko raised his left fist. "Left punches are cool."

"We've never used a gun," Fuuka said. "I would like to try using a bazooka."

"Obtaining a bazooka is out of my ability," Mitsuru said.

"We know, senpai," Yukari said. "Butv it would be cool if we can use guns!"

"No thanks," Minato said.

"Eh it would be cool," Junpei said."Imagine using submachine guns on Shadows? That would be sick."

"Using guns wouldn't be smart," Ken said. "Someone like Akihiko-senpai would accidentally shoot himself with a real gun."

"Hey, you!" Akihiko snapped. "I wouldn't use a gun anyway. Don't like them. They feel wrong in my hand."

Mitsuru sighed. "Unpleasant past doesn't need to be brought up, Akihiko." Everyone looked at him.

"Oh it's nothing, really," Akihiko said. "We held one once, not like we killed someone with it."

"Ehh senpai, what do you mean?" Yukari asked.

"You know, I'm from an orphanage, like Shinji. And that place is kinda like a slum." Akihiko shrugged. "Gun and crime and stuff like that, they ain't new."

"And you've tried using a gun?" Fuuka asked.

"No. I just had a chance to hold it. Nothing important. I never committed a crime, anyway." Akihiko paused. "Wait, I did steal once."

"Steal?" Junpei asked.

"A doll." Akihiko rubbed his cheek. "I got my punishment for that one, twice, so let's forget it."

Mitsuru shook her head. "As expect of you, Akihiko."

"Don't look at me like that. I was young."

"Is that so?" Mitsuru smiled. "You're still the same, then."

"You mean my looks?" Akihiko smirked. "I'm cute, aren't I?"

Mitsuru screeched motorcycle noise.

"Akihiko-senpai is more daring, isn't he?" Fuuka giggled. "Since the full moon was near, he didn't recieve any punishment. Good for him."

Minato still felt like fighting, so he chose Aigis, Junpei, and Yukari to ascend the tower. They were on lower floors of the block.

"Orpheus!"

Oh, the basic. A robot-like Persona used his silver lyre to smash the weak Shadows.

Junpei looked at the Persona. "This guy, he never gets old."

"Yeah…" Yukari shivered. She could remember what happened at the rooftop and she didn't like it. Now that she thought about it, she didn't see him use that scary black Persona excepted for the full moon. "Yeah, I guess."

"It is a simple Persona," Aigis said.

"But simple is all we can be," Yukari said. "We can't switch Persona!"

"Orpheus's still cool," Junpei said. "Also has the kind of legs like you, Aigis."

"Really?" Yukari asked. "Oh, another Shadow!"

Minato used the Evoker again. Orpheus played his lyre and the enemies burst in flames.

"See that?" Junpei asked. "He has that thing like a headphone on top of his head."

"And robot legs without feet," Yukari said. "A red cloth around his neck..."

Junpei and Yukari looked at each other, then at Aigis adjusting her red ribbons, then finally at Minato. Minato and Aigis exchanged glances.

The Shadows ran away from them. It was like walking in a mall and not in Tartarus.

"By the way," Minato said. "If you can choose a battle song for yourself, what would it be?"

"Dream of butterfly, or is life a dream?" Aigis sang, and least she tried in her robotic voice. "Don't wanna wake up, 'course I'm happy here."

"No J-pop or cheery songs in battle themes," Minato said. "Only rap and metal."

"I was kidding," Aigis said. "A battle is when one confronts an enemy, so I would choose a song with 'confrontation' in mind."

"Tesso!" Fuuka shouted.

"Dunno what that is or that you are listening, Fuuka, but okay." Yukari thought for a moment. "Something nice, I guess. Like 'time'?"

"I bet it's not a song for battle at all," Minato said. "It's not for me."

"... 'Iwatodai dorm'?"

"Tell me you're kidding," Minato said.

"I don't know anything!" Yukari said. "Well, something that tells you it's a danger zone? That would do."

"I'd choose something Chidori would sing!" Junpei said. "I've never felt like-"

"Duh-dud dun dun dunnn," Aigis said.

"Not exactly that one, Aigis." Junpei smiled to himself. "There are lyrics and she sang it, yesss…"

"He's gone," Yukari said.

"I would imagine Chidori with an unavoidable feeling," Aigis said.

"Anyway, Minato, what's yours?" Yukari asked

"I want a song that burns," Minato said. "Either it's noises or emptiness, even joy and dread itself."

"You did burn the rooftop. On the first full moon, remember?" Yukari shivered again. "Ugh, I shouldn't have brought that up."

Minato shrugged. "Guess I did. And deep breath, Yukari. Deep breath."

"I suddenly thought of the monorail!" Yukari clutched her head. "It's worse, worse worse!"

"She's gone," Junpei said.

"Setting the rooftop on fire with an Agi spell, it would be a mass destruction," Aigis said. "Oh yeah, duh-dud dun dun, duh-dud-dun dun dunn. Baby baby… If you don't want me to sing, I can stop."

"Aw Aigis," Yukari said.

"Shadows are crawling away from us!" Junpei jumped around. He had already done that with Akihiko. "Easy money. It's like we're masters of Tartarus."

"You made me thought of that table we've just defeated a few days ago!" Yukari touched her forehead. "Ughh how many bad memories could be dug up today? Those golden carpets… Ekk."

"It's not too bad," Junpei said.

"Yeahh you Magician," Yukari said. "You don't get that feeling of being switched out of the team so that you can replace me!"

"Not my fault?" Junpei grinned. "And you replaced Koromaru anyway."

"We had damaged the property," Aigis said. "It didn't act like a table."

"Stop it, stop." Yukari sighed. "I want to go home."

SEES went back to the dorm.