UPDATE 7/25: First I want to apologize for not having a new chapter up. The reason for this is due to personal work load and that I was sick for a long number days and was unable to get any writing done. To the point that I have nothing substantial to post at this time. But I'm working on getting back on track. I made a couple of edits here. Thank you Knight Gallade for letting me know of my spelling errors. Things tend to slip by on occasion. I'm pretty sure there is some grammar issues here and I've cleaned up some of it that leaped out at me when I went over it again.

I will be getting back onto my normal schedule. Which means I will unlikely have a new chapter this week but will on August 5th. I'm sorry about the extra delay, but me being sick really hurt my schedule. I also have my volunteer work, as well as my job that has delayed this as well. I apologize again and hope to have something to give you when I have scheduled it.

Chapter 38 / Fake

April 30th, 2012 / Daytime
Hamuko/Kana/Yukari's House

HAMUKO'S POINT OF VIEW

Mitsuru was smiling as she watched the video that Kana had taken of Kokoro taking her first steps. Though I was quick to believe that the young Kokoro had figured it out a bit ago but had not done so in front of anyone else. And then when Kokoro saw her Mom become so distraught last night over her thoughts, she went to her to comfort her. And offered the one thing that Kokoro made her feel better...to play. It was simple yet very impressive at the same time. It showed that despite everything the young toddler was already developing an understanding of the emotions of not just herself but others. And naturally her Mother was one of the most important to understand.

Even now I could hardly imagine the troubles that Yukari had in her senior year of high school. After all there was something that people couldn't understand. How important this child would be to her. And another all too real thought left her with little in the way of choice. She would never again have an opportunity to have a child with Minato, her lover. The pain of losing him still fresh on her mind when she found out. She found out she was pregnant only a week or two after the incident with the Abyss of Time. A place that had been created by the former members of SEES and their lingering regrets over the death of Arisato Minato. All of that had refreshed it in her mind. And because of that her resolve to give birth to that child was strengthened more. Yukari's main support in that time had been the other members of SEES. Primarily being Kirijo Mitsuru.

Mitsuru paid for all treatments and needs of Yukari for her child. Why? It actually made sense not from a personal stand point but a business one. The Arisato's, Minato and I's birth parents, were killed because of the Kirijo Group experiment and the escape of the Shadow of Death. Aigis, who is a Mechanical Maiden created by the Kirijo Group, was responsible for sealing that Shadow within Minato. All factors that led to the death of Arisato Minato. So that was how Mitsuru had explained it to Yukari. That never would she allow Yukari or Kokoro need for anything because as far as she was concerned, his death and potential support of the child was the fault of the Kirijo Group. That also went with the death of Yukari's Father, Takeba Eiichiro. Mitsuru was determined to make up for the mistakes of the past, and also to compensate those that were directly affected by the actions of the twisted ambitions of Kirijo Kouetsu.

It was also why Mitsuru paid and provided tutors for Kana, and also had offered to put me through college. She was trying to make it up to us that were most affected by those experiments as she continued to press forward with her vision of reforming the company to deal with the aftermath of the years her Grandfather had the company. She was taking a massive undertaking, and not to mention the many in the company that disagreed with it, as it undercut profits of the Kirijo Group. However, so far, she had been quick to silence or cut those individuals that did not agree with the vision she had.

Yukari had been resistant to Mitsuru's full support for a while. At least from how she told it. She was conflicted about all of it for a few reasons. For one she had gone to Mitsuru to help ensure she would be able to keep her child after she was born. The second was she was the only one she felt able to completely confide in besides Yamagishi Fuuka and Aigis. And Mitsuru and her had bonded and became close even more so after the events of the Abyss of Time. Mitsuru was first to know about her pregnancy, then the others of SEES. All of them were immediately supportive of her and encouraged her to go through with it. The next she told was her Mother and her boyfriend when she met up with them. She thought her Mother would be angry but actually her Mom smiled.

"I thought that might be the case," was what her Mom had said to her then.

Naturally, Yukari's Mother had met Minato, and responsible for them repairing their relationship to begin with. Her pregnancy hadn't surprised her Mother or angered her. Instead her Mother was instantly supportive. "That boy...no that young man did more for you than I had for you in several years in such a short amount of time. If it wasn't for him maybe we wouldn't be here talking right now. Some may say you aren't ready, or blame him for leaving you behind with such a burden. But I know you and how he was. I'm guessing you had to coax him into it to begin with."

Yukari had told me how Minato had been against them sleeping together. The truth was far more complex. The two of them had been terrified, not knowing what would happen with the last fight against the being known as Nyx. Yukari didn't want any lingering doubts, she wanted to give herself a reminder, and a clear goal as to why she had to succeed and live through the battle. Because loving Minato, and the thought of waking up next to him every morning was a thought she had come to desire over everything else. What had been a means to inspire herself and Minato ended up being the single most important gift that Minato would leave her. Their beautiful baby girl that would be named Kokoro. Named such because of a conversation that Minato and Yukari had before the two had even began to officially date. Minato died just over a month before she found out about her pregnancy. And then she would be born on September 17th, 2010. Yukari would suffer constant insults not only against her but Minato as a result of her going through with it. Mostly from ignorant individuals that took the facts at face value. Officially Minato's reason for death was not released, only that he had slipped into a coma and been pronounced brain dead, only his body being kept alive by machines after that point.

I was often reminded of all these details whenever I saw a scene like this, with Mitsuru smiling as she watched footage of Kokoro's first steps, while also holding the young girl in her lap and Kana next to them and eager to show off the video. Happy and yet there was always a reminder of what was missing. My twin brother, Yukari's new husband as she would be submitting the official papers today, and most of all the Father of a young girl that would never meet him. the one I would never meet in the flesh. Only meeting him because of the powers of Persona and Shadows. I couldn't forget it, and I don't think I would ever be capable of letting go of it.

"Mitsuru-sama, we should move on to the purpose of our visit. We have little time," Mitsuru's maid Kikuno softly reminded her master. "Allow me to look over the young Kokoro while you discuss the details."

Mitsuru frowned with a sigh, "Yes, you're right." Kikuno leaned over and took Kokoro, who didn't resist as she was brought over to the living room with her blocks and other toys while we all sat around the dinner table. Mitsuru eyed a few folders in front of her. "I suppose we all expected to learn of something horrible in our investigations. I still feel I wasn't ready for the truth."

"Heh, way to preface our conversation," I said it jokingly but we all did expect to learn something we didn't like.

"Yes, well, we discovered that it was the origin location of the Mechanical Maiden experiments, where the first two generations were created. And the details are not good," Mitsuru opened the folder, showing pictures of the gruesome scene the others had witnessed. "As it turns out the first generation was simply using mechanical soldiers as a means to fight. Robots that could not be influenced by the power of Shadows was what they had thought. Naturally they learned that it was pointless as they could do no damage to Shadows without the potential. While it was a failure, it was not responsible for the result we witnessed. The second generation of Anti-Shadow weapons however is a different story."

Mitsuru shifted another folder and opened it, showing pictures of the empty Shadow containers that Aigis and I had found. My thoughts moved to a specific conclusion.

"Don't tell me..." I mutter but Mitsuru nodded.

"The second generation tried to use Shadows as a means to fuel them. They thought that they could control them somehow, but they were more than wrong. Over forty employee's were killed when their prototype units went on a rampage. They were barely able to stop them before they escaped the facility," Mitsuru commented softly as we all shifted uncomfortably.

"Damned fools that thought they control something they had no understanding of," A new voice entered. It was Arisato Isako, my aunt and new head scientist and researcher of The Kirijo Group and advisor to the Shadow Operatives. "I found some more relevant reports after figuring out the individuals that had been at that facility. Specifically they moved to Yakushima for the third generation onward after deciding that it would be a waste to forgo their research. However they lacked resources because of the loss of their personnel to the incident. So Kirijo Kouetsu reached out to the Nanjo Group and offered to share results of the research if they could provide someone to lead the experiment in the interim while they hired more staff. So the Nanjo Group sent one of their lead scientists. Ikakure Renji and..."

"Wait, Ikakure?" Kana spoke up faster than I had made the connections. "Could it be Kayane's Dad?"

Isako's eyes looked to Kana, "Ikakure Kayane? Do you know him, Kana?"

"Yes, both Hamuko and I met him when we were at one of my photo shoots," Kana nodded.

"I see," Isako noted. "Well Nanase has always tried to encourage him to use his talents, so I'm not that surprised. I should probably tell you this now. Ikakure Kayane is your cousin."

"Wait what?" I felt my heart pounding. "Isn't this something you should have said before if I had other family?"

"Well it isn't that simple," Isako sighed slightly. "Your Father, Arisato Kayane was actually childhood friends with Ikakure Renji. They were both brilliant minds, but whereas Kayane was hired by Kirijo, Renji joined the Nanjo Group. But before that, Renji ended up married to your Father's sister, Arisa. So he is legitimately your cousin."

"That doesn't explain how you know about him though," I eyed her curiously.

"Oh thats because Tsukio Nanase, who is his adopted Mother is my sister," Isako clarified.

"You're just adding even more questions! Your telling me that his Father was a researcher for another group? And you know about him this whole time and didn't say any..."

"Because he has dealt with enough in his life. Consider him lucky to not be involved with Shadows and Persona's. Because both Renji and Arisa died in a car accident after they left Yakushima. The only ones that survived was 3 year old Ikakure Kayane and 6 year old Ikakure Setsuko," Isako frowned and finally took a seat at the table. "Plus, Hamuko-chan, you are still dealing with what you do know. And it was a silent agreement that we wouldn't draw those children back into those world if we could avoid it. It was something that I and Yoshimitsu and your parents had agreed to."

"You mean...all of that happened that long ago?" I shook my head. Just how long had people suffered by the ambitions of one man? "That would have been fifteen years ago, right?"

"Yes, so its also why I didn't adopt them. Kayane went to his Uncle while Setsuko was put up for adoption outside of the family. We all considered it to be better in the long run," Isako let out a sigh. "But what Kayane went through because of that no good ass of an Uncle was probably worse. I hadn't realized that my Sister lived next door until I got called from her after her daughter was killed by her husband. So I did help in the case and ensure that my Sister could afford the treatments for Kayane, but I had no right to enter his life and tell him I was part of the reason he had been sent to that awful place."

Still, to suffer so much, and not even knowing of the tragedy behind the fate of your parents...it was similar to myself. I had not known the truth for so long because Kana thought she was doing what was best for me. I could hardly blame her. I likely would have thought the same way in her position. But she had family now, living family. And if Kayane was her cousin then...wait, hold on. Something about this seemed wrong. "You said the deaths of Ikakure Renji and Arisa were because of a car accident? And it happened after leaving Yakushima?"

Mitsuru's head jolted up, "Please, don't tell me that my Grandfather..."

Isako hung her head and then put a folder on the table and slid it to Mitsuru. "Unfortunately, I don't think there is any mistake. Your Grandfather arranged for the 'accident' to occur, in order to prevent the Nanjo Group from actually gaining their part of the deal. While the correspondence I found doesn't outright state it...it can't be interpreted any other way."

Mitsuru slammed her fist onto the table, "Why? Is there no end to the victims of my Grandfather's madness? The more we dig the more horrible acts we discover. He killed so many people for his ambitions. Takahashi, and Arisato, I owe the two of you and your family and your extended family so much and I..."

"Mitsuru," I shook my head. "You don't bare the responsibility of your Grandfathers guilt. I understand you want to make it up as the head of the Kirijo Group, which bares your namesake. But there is nothing that you yourself owe us." Still, to think that we would meet him by coincidence. Maybe it was just fate trying to bring him back to what his parents were a part of. Nothing ever felt like coincidence when it came to Shadows and Persona's.

"We were also a part of that research, and realized too late the impact and truth of what it was leading to. All of us that are left behind are victims. You included, Mitsuru-sama," Isako added. "We should get back to the subject at hand though. We discovered that Ikakure Renji's departure was not a coincidence. He was asked to leave shortly after the creation of the 5th Generation Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapons. He disagreed with how they planned to use them, as it was the first generation to be created using a Plume of Dusk."

"Plume of Dusk?" Kana asked.

"It's what gives them the ability to have a Persona. A short answer would be its an artificial soul. All units from the 5th generation have one.," Isako put the last folder on the table. "So far we've known for Aigis to be the only surviving Anti-Shadow Weapon. The others were lost due to incidents around the creation of the Dark Hour. And even Aigis herself has nearly been lost a few times since then. But it turns out we were all wrong." Flipping the folder opened it revealed a photo of a robot. "This is Labrys. She is the prototype and last surviving Anti-Shadow Weapon, from the 5th Generation. She was the first to successfully have a Plume of Dusk implemented and was designed and created by Ikakure Renji."

"So that is why you were bringing him up," I muttered. "He was against them fighting each other...but what was his reasoning?"

"I found a collection of notices and correspondence that indicate that he was concerned about their psyche and the ramifications it could have to have them fight their own kind. While the other scientists saw her and the rest of the 5th Generation as merely weapons, it seems that Renji saw them all as individuals. After all he had used the basis of a young girl to create their personalities. And as we all know, in order to have a Persona means having intelligence. Aigis obviously has a personality of her own, so he had been keeping that in mind. Instead they rejected his caution and instead they had gotten a lead to take over from the Kirijo Group. And so they moved to discontinue their agreement with the Nanjo Group. And ensure that Renji's knowledge never could be used by the Nanjo Group in turn."

"So they used him until they found no more use of his skills, when he disagreed with their methods," Mitsuru seemed to regain some of her composure. "But this Labrys, she's still intact?"

Isako nodded, "Yes, deep within the facility on Yakushima. She has been kept powered down and in storage when they deemed her unsafe to keep in operation. After they had forced her to destroy all the other units of her Generation."

"They broke her psyche," Kana breathed in. "The others must have been her friends and then they..."

"Yes, it appears so," Isako nodded as she was also clearly not happy with this news either. "Ikakure Renji had the best understanding of their development and had been pushed aside, and this was their result. However, they stubbornly stuck to their methods to ensure that the units had as little personality as possible so they would follow orders without question."

"Now that you mention it, Aigis spoke and seemed much more robotic when we first met her. It was only after she needed to be repaired that she seemed to be more...human," Mitsuru said casually.

"I couldn't begin to speculate why that would be but if they are based off Ikakure Renji's initial design then it might simply be that after being damaged, the restrictions to her personality might have been less restrictive than before," Isako clarified.

"So by that information, then it would be likely that although Labrys is an older model she may act more human than even Aigis?" I asked.

Isako nodded, "Yes, I would have little doubts about that. While she would be forced by programming to obey commands given to her, her consciousness could still disagree or reject it. And led to her being classified as broken."

"So what do we plan to do with her?" I looked to Mitsuru this time.

She sighed, "As much as I hate it, we will have to temporarily hand her over to the police for inspection before we do anything else under our new agreement."

"Hand her over? Shouldn't we be waking her up and taking care of her?" Kana was the one to jump in.

"Yes, you're right and I agree. But she is a creation of the Kirijo Group and is thus subject to the agreement. And there was a police observer present in the investigation of the facility on Yakushima." Mitsuru looked to Isako. "I assume that is the main reason you are bringing it up."

"Yes, I have concerns over it being transported. We'll have to use a helicopter to take it to the mainland. From there we planned to take most by plane, but I believe we should consider other avenues for our more sensitive of materials. And Labrys is no mere object," Isako clarified.

"Indeed," Mitsuru nodded. "We'll figure the details soon. I might need to ask for your help, Hamuko-san and Kana-san."

"Of course. Whatever makes this go smoothly," Hamuko nodded.

There was too much information and no time to digest it all. Things were moving quickly and all of this was to help create the solid foundation of the Shadow Operatives as a trusted organization to the Japanese Government.

I had learned that Ikakure Kayane, a guy who I had met by chance, and had been pleasant company was actually my cousin. That my cousin's Father had been responsible for the success of the Mechanical Maiden projects that eventually led to the creation of Aigis. And it happened before my biological parents had died. Their decision to keep him separated from the business of Persona and Shadows. So the question that now lingered in my head...do I tell him about us? About our connection as family? Or do I respect the wishes of my parents and leave him in the dark?


May 1st, 2012 / Daytime
Junes Food Court

"Shouldn't you be in school right now, Shirogane?" I eyed her as she sat down across from me. Naturally we were sitting at the table that had been dubbed the 'Secret Headquarters' when we still had been the Investigation Team.

"Normally yes, but I'm about to head to Tokyo for a job," Naoto said simple enough. "It's likely I'll be gone for a week or so."

"Oh, so you won't be here for the time that Yu is in town then," I commented realizing why she was here. "This must be an important job."

"I couldn't say either way. Only that my services are being asked for by the prefecture in Tokyo," Naoto sighed. "I thought at the very least I could tell you in person. I won't have time to tell the others in person but I will send a text to them later."

"Won't be the first time you've left town for work in the last month. Something feel off about this job?" I was wondering on why she felt inclined to meet with someone before she left. This felt a little different than how she usually was. So she had to have something on her mind that was causing her to falter.

"Perhaps its their secrecy of not giving any details until the meeting that has me on edge. So I'm not sure how long I will be gone as a result," Naoto looked to me for a moment. "Senpai, you said before that we should really think about our relations to our fellow Investigation Team members. Well I suppose we aren't that anymore."

"Well yeah, and that was before I really got to know you guys. A lot has changed since then," I said wondering what she was thinking about.

"Yes, I would agree on that point. For all of us. The trials and tribulations that we faced in that place changed our lives. For me I had simply wanted to solve it, and prove myself. Thinking that every case I solved that it would lend me more credence and eventual respect when the truth of my gender got out," Naoto was being more candid than usual. Was there something wrong or did she really just want someone to talk to? I was going to speak but stopped when I noticed that Naoto was going to speak again. "I was so single minded that it took such an incident for me to realize how isolated I was and felt."

"And now?" I encouraged her to keep going.

"Now I realize that I don't really care about any of that. All I wanted is for people to accept who I am but now there has been an advent among us..and people are dating," Naoto was looking away now and blushing. "I certainly had never considered the possibility of romance in my life."

"But its hard to not think about it when all your friends have been, right?" I elaborated for her. "Especially if Chie and Yosuke can date, right?"

"That has been influencing my thoughts as well. Still I wanted to ask you, because it feels like Rise and you got involved incredibly quickly," Naoto was making an observation, and she certainly isn't wrong about that.

"I think, it was a combination of different things. Things had to be just right, I would say," I shrugged a bit. "I was trying hard to not revert to my usual self. Plus Yu did his part to push us together after he had learned more about me. I think I understand why. It wasn't just concern for myself but also Rise as well."

"Hmm, why is that?" Naoto leaned in, showing her interest in this topic.

"Maybe you don't know, but Rise confessed to Yu a while ago. Before you or I joined the Investigation Team. At the time, Rise felt she had fallen in love with Yu, because of the help he had given her but she only learned that Yu had been dating Yukiko for a while and the two had been keeping it a secret. As you can imagine, Rise was hurt by it only because she felt if she had known her feelings wouldn't have developed that way," I shrugged slightly and shook my head. That was a ridiculous notion but I could understand how someone would feel that way. "To be honest, I know it was when you all traversed my dungeon that she focused on me. And its because she knows that if she had made different choices she might have been just as isolated as I had been in my life."

"You mean if she had chosen not to be an idol as a kid and follow her Uncle?" Naoto asked.

I nodded, "She wanted to belong, to be noticed by her peers. Her choice to take that leap of faith made her who she is now. She felt for a while that she might have lost sight of it. That was what she faced in her own dungeon in the TV world. the fact that she no longer knew who the person she wanted to be was. She believed that the person on stage was a fake and wasn't her. So that after all her hard work to be accepted...that the individual they had accepted was not really her. And I was the opposite of her. I didn't care to be accepted. I never wanted the attention or the help. And at the time, I didn't want to be rescued when you all came for me."

Naoto blinked, "I see...at the time you would have been fine with dying. Even when people had made the journey to save you."

"I didn't know any of you. To be fair, I can't say I really knew anyone," I shrugged once more. "That incident in the TV world made me believe that I had to change. That maybe there was something about me worth saving. That the effort you all made to save me meant that I could mean something. Rise knew it...maybe inherently that there was something going on deeper than what was alluded to in my dungeon. Really it showed the core of my issues but nowhere near all of them. Likely she was encouraged by Yu as well to get closer to me. Us performing in the culture festival was ultimately what brought us closest. Did you know she stayed at my place while we were practicing for the culture festival? There was a bad thunder storm that night."

"Oh right, I think I remember that storm," Naoto nodded.

"Rise told me everything that had led to you guys figuring out who I was. That all of you knew how rough it might be because of what you had learned about my history. And she has admitted that it was also why she felt she had to save me," I looked off to see other people walking through the food court. "To her, our experiences and problems were massively different, but she knew how I felt at a more base, emotional level. That feeling of isolation. I think that it is something that all of us share. Rise couldn't ignore me, because of her own feelings and even admits it to being selfish on her part. I mean, all relationships are."

"Yes...relationships in practice are meant to be a give and take. You want to get certain needs from it while also giving back in return. Either it being emotional or physical in nature," Naoto said it simply but after a moment started to turn red after realizing what she was implying. "I only meant that there are lots to gain from a relationship."

"That was the point I was getting to...and the most likely reason that Rise and I began dating in such a short span of time. I am new to this aspect of life. Us talking like this is not something I would have ever done before. What I needed, and still need is emotional and physical support. Someone I could become close to and be comfortable with both emotionally and physically. And while my issues with physical contact can make it difficult, she has had the patience since the beginning to be that. I latched onto her, and I know some of us becoming involved may have come at high emotional times. Actually, probably about as emotional as you can get. Rise, vowed to marry me when I was in that coma. Because at the time she wanted to save me. Regardless of the cost," I looked back to her and she nodded.

"I see, it rings true with what I know from a psychological standpoint. Times of unusual stress can cause increased attachment and...hold on, Senpai. You aren't implying that your relationship is the cause of..."

I shook my head and chuckled at her rapid conclusion, "Of course not. However, it would be stupid not to factor it in. Under normal circumstances we might not have ever come to this point or even started dating. For instance, if we take out Shadows and Persona's then all of our lives start to look a lot different. And one big factor changes this."

"Because, we wouldn't know each others biggest secrets...we would still deny it out loud and let our individual charades continue," Naoto's voice fell to a whisper. "Meaning some of us would have never been prompted to change, or be better than we were before."

"If I had met Rise normally, I would have still been the same. I would have never opened up to her, and I would still be in my house right now, hiding from the world. Only more so after graduating high school," I gave a slight shrug. "That is why I said what I did at the Amagi Inn so long ago. You could spend the rest of your life hoping to meet with someone that will accept you for who you are. Maybe you could, but there is always that lingering doubt in your head when you tell someone your most guarded secret, right? It's only natural. I mean, we all denied our Shadows even though we knew for a fact that they were telling the truth."

"So that is what you meant," Naoto smiled but she seemed to be somewhat sad? No that didn't seem right to me. Maybe because I had only confirmed what she had been suspecting. "I have never been good at expressing myself. Instead reverting to cold logic to make decisions. So I didn't think much about what you had said then."

"Shirogane, what do you think of Kanji?" I decided to ask straight out. To her credit she didn't really react to my words.

"I knew you would ask that if I went through with this conversation," she hadn't even reacted to the question. Obviously she had been expecting it to leading to that at some point. "The others have been quick to put us together when we do activities. Like when we went skiing, for example. And I'm not so naive that I have noticed Kanji's behavior around me and I..." She looked down. "I won't deny I have an attraction to him. But being attracted to him and being in a relationship with him is two very different things."

"You're worried you are simply following the pattern that has happened, and that its not a legitimate crush. Yet you are also trying to justify your feelings based on what has been said previously," I knew that I was right, because of how Naoto was, she was logical to a fault. "Unfortunately you could argue reasons for and against this choice, but that's just it. What's more important to you? How you feel? Or is it something else? I am sure you know that not everything in a relationship can be explained by logic. A lot of it is your emotions which are not so easy to explain. That feeling of comfort and stability. When you look at them and you don't want to move away. There is a multitude of feelings that can't be quantified."

"I see," Naoto kept her face down. "I suppose that is why this is so hard for me. I keep looking for a answer that will make sense. Through my life I've been taught numerous ways how to deduct and find logical connections. Yet when it comes to the human element it always makes me come up short. It was why I started studying psychology but I guess no amount of studying can truly prepare you for what you experience."

"Learning from the past is a good thing, but, you should also remember you will never truly learn anything until you try it yourself," I said and gave her a smile as she finally looked up. "I finally took that chance, and so far, I say it has worked out pretty well for me."

"I see your point. Thank you, Senpai. I had considered broaching this subject with Narukami-san but I thought your perspective would...well to be honest I believed you wouldn't tease me by admitting my attraction to Tatsumi..." Naoto was still blushing but I understood. She wanted someone that wasn't going to poke fun at her, even if it was in good nature. Sometimes you wanted a serious answer. That made sense to me. "I will be giving it some thought while I am on this job."

"I only will add that you haven't gotten to the success in your career as a detective by always taking the safe route," I said with a chuckle.

She nodded and then looked at her phone. "It looks like it is time for me to depart. Thank you for meeting with me before I go." She got to her feet and I followed suit.

I stepped forward to her and she looked up at me curiously. "Shirogane, could you just hold still for a moment?"

"Um, yes?" She looked at me somewhat puzzled. I then took another stepped towards her and hugged her. "I, umm...Senpai?"

It was an odd sensation to me. The only time I instigated contact was with Rise. But this wasn't unpleasant. I stepped back, "Sorry. I just had an urge to do that before you left. And I wanted to say that I'm glad you felt you could talk to me about this. I think out of everyone I've probably become closest to Rise and you."

"Umm, yes, I...feel the same...Senpai," Naoto was nodding and still seemingly blushing from our previous conversation. "Thanks for listening to me."

She bowed and then quickly left. I watched her leave and scratched my head for a moment. "Looks like everyone is looking forward to the future and the choices they'll have to face."

"Oh are you not including us in that?" My Shadow said. I turned to see him casually sitting in the seat that Naoto had been in. "You know maybe what she truly feels is that she missed her chance to get close to us. what do you think? Maybe she's fantasized about us? Maybe her real regret is that she feels obligated to hold in her real feelings because of her friendship with Rise. Girls can be pretty ruthless you know, but they can also be realistic and give up when they know its no use. Especially when it comes to someone like Shirogane Naoto, who lives in keeping things realistic."

"Everyone does things like that. Even if she does feel that way, it hardly matters," I shrugged and started to head to the exit.

"Oh? And when Rise dumps you to the curb after you ruin her career, wouldn't she be a nice alternative to go to?" he laughed as I stopped and looked back. And just as fast as he appeared he was gone, leaving only the echo of his laugh in his wake.


May 1st, 2012 / Evening
Yakushima Port

KANA'S POINT OF VIEW

It felt like every time I closed my eyes I could only see that abysmal scene. Blood, dried blood and the lingering smell of death on the stale air. The reasons for it were far more shocking due to the ignorance of the scientist that were responsible for it. Using Shadows to power robots to fight other Shadows. They thought they could control it, instead it killed close to 40 Kirijo Group employee's. It was just more that was covered up, more lies and more atrocities that the man known as Kirijo Kouetsu was responsible for. Perhaps it had been for the best that Aigis had not been at that facility, although she had seen the pictures and read the details of that report.

This discovery was why we are here now. Aigis stood next to me as we watched them moving a bunch of cargo. Most of this was being cleared for disposal, while the more dangerous items were going to be transported to the Kirijo Group's main research facility that was now being run by Arisato Isako. From there she would determine proper disposal or containment protocols. However, part of this meant going through proper channels. This meant that the police would be inspecting all cargo going through. while they were sending along instructions it didn't mean they would follow it.

"So we just send it along and hope no one gets curious?" I asked as we watched the workers moving the cargo.

"Unfortunately, our hands are tied on this," Mitsuru sighed as she approached. "However, I want the two of you to head security for Labrys."

"Is there a reason we couldn't have evaluated her here?" Aigis asked. We all agreed we wanted to help the 5th Generation model, and was essentially Aigis' younger sister as she herself was a 7th Generation Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapon aka...a Mechanical Maiden.

"I know what you are worried about Aigis. That's why I arranged for me to take it directly to the facility as part of my cargo. I've gotten them to agree that they are able to ensure that the package is secured but is not allowed to open it. The main reason we can't keep it here is we no longer have the equipment necessary to properly treat her. Just like we now do maintenance for you at the the research facility outside of Kyoto. This is the best thing we can do for now. It would be too suspicious now if we started hauling equipment back to this island when we've been working to decommission and remove our facilities here. Especially with the government looking closely at our activities." Mitsuru had likely had to make some tough decisions in this regard.

"I understand. I just don't like that she is locked in that thing after what they did to her," Aigis expressed her honest feelings to Mitsuru.

"I know, Aigis. I'm not a fan of it either, but we still need to remain cautious of the possibility that there is something significantly wrong with her. Until we can confirm it one way or another we have to be careful," Mitsuru was definitely not without sympathy for her friend but also had responsibility to her duties as the leader of not only the Kirijo Group but the Shadow Operatives.

"What about Hamuko?" I asked.

"Well we're only transporting goods so I don't foresee anything too dangerous. Plus she'll be watching Kokoro since Yukari is working this next week in the North," Mitsuru sounded like she wasn't too concerned about it. "Plus Yukari isn't supposed to be a full time member of the Shadow Operatives. Only when we need all hands will she be needed."

That's right, Yukari was planning to split her time between the different things in her life, all of which she felt responsible for. One was Kokoro, naturally. She wanted to make sure that her daughter got the attention she deserved. However she also felt the need to do something more than that. She also wanted to be there to support Mitsuru and continue to fight Shadows when needed. After all, Minato had said as much in his journal...her would-be husband had stated that if there were more fights then she was likely to be a part of them in some way.

"Awakening to Persona means no longer being able to turn away from the truth." That was something Yukari had said before. I think I was beginning to understand why, even if I had once been a Shadow. A Persona was not only a manifestation of the psyche but essentially proof of resolve and a decision. I awakened to mine, Eurydice when I resolved more firmly that I would be protecting Hamuko. That hasn't changed. If anything it had only become stronger since then. I knew it would be some time until I wouldn't have to worry about her. The problem being, I wasn't sure what I could do to help or support Hamuko. I needed time, but also didn't want to take too much time either. Maybe that wasn't reasonable enough.

"It is astounding that the depth that Kirijo Kouetsu went in order to achieve what he wanted," Aigis noted.

"Powers of Shadows must have been quite alluring to him. Enough that he would use countless people to meet the lofty goals he had set for himself. I imagine part of the reason the Kirijo's left the Nanjo Group was for that very reason. To take that power for themselves. Except it is not that easy. Not all Shadows have potential to change like Kana-chan has," Mitsuru turned to look at me. "You are just as much a victim as anyone else."

I shook my head, "But my existence was only possible because of how I met Hamuko. There is a point where regret for the past can only get us to a certain point. After that, it does us no good."

"You're right," Mitsuru nodded. "I apologize. Although we can't change the past, I am consistently in a position where I feel I need to do what I can to correct it. For what it is worth. Even if we are all victims of the ambitions of my Grandfather, I have to do what I can to alleviate whom I am able. So that the future will look brighter. That's what my Father wanted, and that is what Minato sacrificed his life and future to protect. So I will continue to push forward and do all I can. If only for the people that are no longer with us, and for my friends that I want to see less burdened by the fight they were forced to inherent."

"The same applies to you," Aigis added.

Our attention shifted when a group of four were carrying a large oblong metal container and placed it down. Arisato Isako appeared not far behind them and was inspecting the container.

"How's it looking, Arisato-san?" Mitsuru asked as we approached.

"Looks to be undamaged. The container should have enough power to make it to the facility and have her prepped for activation once we arrive," Isako looked over to Aigis. "I know you don't like us treating her like cargo, but if we want to take care of her we can do it best at the other facility. That's why I requested you on this detail."

Aigis nodded, "I understand." Her voice coming out more robotic than usual. Isako shared a look with Mitsuru and then back to the container.

"At any rate, I took the liberty of hiring additional security for your travels after you make your visit to the police station. It might come off as a bit conspicuous to the public but its the visibility might deter some potential complications," Isako was trying to put Mitsuru at ease.

"Yes, thank you. This is important for us," Mitsuru put her hand on the container. "So she was part of the 5th generation...and the first to successfully integrate the plume of dusk which gave them the power of persona, and also gave them a heart. But to think that those scientists would disregard that and so callously make them fight. I can't imagine how hard it must have been. I know when we fought in the Abyss of Time it was hard. But we never intended to hurt each other, only to test our convictions. Labrys was forced to destroy her sister units."

"Which is why we have to be careful. It's a horrible burden that she carries, and likely it what caused her to be classified as unsafe and was sealed away. But I also wouldn't put it past that those scientists simply didn't like the fact that she had become more self-aware then they liked," Isako shook her head and looked back to the container one last time. "It looks fine. We'll be ready to move out as soon as you give the order, Mitsuru-sama."

"Kikuno," Mitsuru spoke softly but her head maid was at her side in a moment as if she had always been there.

"Yes, Mitsuru-sama?" She bowed ever so slightly to her.

"Ensure we have everything ready. Aigis, Kana and myself will be heading back shortly," Mitsuru said as she stepped away from the container.

"I'll see to it, Mitsuru-sama," and in the next moment Kikuno had left.

I felt a chill in the air as I looked at the container. Feeling something I turned and looked around the surrounding area. What had that been?

"Everything okay, Kana-chan?" Aigis asked.

I couldn't see anything around us...was I imagining it? I shook my head, "Seems like its nothing. I must be tired."

"Let's head back to the resort. The rest of the security detail can call us if they need us," Mitsuru said as she started to walk off.

Aigis gave me an assuring smile as we followed behind our leader. Hamuko would be at home watching Kokoro while I was helping Mitsuru. I hoped that nothing would happen in the interim. All I could do was hope nothing would go wrong in the transportation tomorrow. But lingering thoughts were in my mind, and the feeling of someone's eyes watching us never left me.


A/N:

A late release today for a few reasons. One is that I hadn't completely finished the chapter yet...and the other is that I'm super slow this morning, haha. Anyway a couple things to announce this time around. One, I will be moving Last Symphony to a Bi-weekly schedule for a couple reasons. This means the next release will be on the 22nd for those following along. Anyway, for one my time is super crunched right now. Working Full-time and Overtime...on top of which I have volunteer work makes it hard for me to ever find time to just get things out the door, much less have any time to write.

Another reason for this is I need time to work on additional projects. Some which really need attention and I just haven't had time to do. (My Chrono Trigger Fan Fiction is 2 months late on my release schedule and I feel absolutely horrible about) But it also gives me time to work on some personal things as well, which I need time to do. And so I'm not so stressed about getting things out. Last Symphony used to be a lot more ahead than I am at right now. But the story has expanded a lot since then. Originally I only intended to do up to the end of Persona 4, but then I had some ideas for Arena, and then after playing Dancing All Night, I knew that I couldn't end on anything less than after that story.

So yes, unfortunately releases will be more spread out, but its only a week more between chapters. Hopefully this will bring the quality of the chapters back up because I feel like it might have been slipping recently. But enough on that let's talk a little bit about the actual chapter.

So yeah, some big reveals at the beginning...one having to do with the fact that Kayane's Dad was a researcher/scientist, that worked with the Kirijo Group and is also responsible for the discovery of the Plume of Dusk and the real progress for the Mechanical Maiden Project...and also Kayane has a sister that he has no idea about. It's a lot of things to be thrown at you in a short amount of time, but it will be explored more as things happen and we move forward. So let me know what you think of it or where you think I'm going with it. I'm always interested in hearing theories on where people think the story is going.

As you can imagine with how things have gone this chapter that we will be finally jumping in to the story of Arena in the next Chapter. What will change and what stays the same is going to hopefully be surprising. We have different characters involved and the origin of the Shadow Operatives is going to be a bit different. If only because Mitsuru and Aigis are a bit different characters due to what I portrayed them as in Momento Umbrae and their introductions here in this story.

I hope you are all looking forward to what comes next. Thanks for your time and I'll see you all on the 22nd with the next chapter!