Chapter 6: Velvet Tears

Aigis

Early Morning – 07/11/2012 – Iwatodai New Dorm, Tatsumi Port Island

Yukari woke herself up when she heard a sound of door opened next to her room. When she slightly opened her door and peeked outside, she saw Aigis wearing a black dress and went down stair to exit the dorm.

'Aigis?'Yukari thought to herself. She quickly took a minute bath and random shirt before she went outside to tail after her.

Cloudy - Morning – Graveyard, Tatsumi Port Island

Yukari continued to tail Aigis until she took a turn to the entrance of the graveyard. Feeling slightly confused, she slowly walked behind Aigis as she entered the yard. She finally understood everything when she saw Aigis stood in front of a single grave. Not wanting to make a noise, Yukari tiptoed towards Aigis to surprise her.

"Miss him, huh?" Yukari whispered to her ear, quickly surprising her. Aigis was shocked to see her as she turn her head.

"Y-Yukari?" She said, feeling guilty for making Yukari followed her and making her worried. "I'm sorry if I wake you up this early, I just want to pay a visit to him."

Yukari lifted her arm around Aigis's neck, "It is okay, I'm misses him too." She said as she looks at the name engraved on it:

Minato Arisato
1993 – 2010

"We all miss him, Aigis." Yukari tried to comfort Aigis, "No wonder you went outside in early morning since few days ago, so you have been coming to his grave. Surely he doesn't like it if he knows that you miss him too much from 'up there', right?" Aigis was at lost at word, what Yukari said was true. Since the day she gave Elizabeth the Evoker, she had been visiting Minato's grave every morning, hoping that he will come back to see her.

"Anyway, it's getting cold with this weather. Let's head back to the dorm, Mitsuru ask you to investigate more about the explosion. So don't go around and skip her work." Yukari said as she began to walk away with Aigis on her trail.

But as they both walking, Aigis suddenly stood still, stopping Yukari from continuing her footstep. She turned to see Aigis blank face, "Aigis, what's wrong?"

"Yukari, if one day…I mean, one day… you open your eyes in your bed and see Minato is there smiling besides you, what would you say to him?" Yukari was shocked to hear Aigis sudden question, "What if, one day you wake up to see Minato is perfectly alive and can live with us again?" A tear suddenly fell from her eye and Yukari quickly ran to her side and hold her shoulder.

"Aigis, what are you saying?! Why did you ask something like that?" Yukari pulled Aigis' head to her shoulder, but unable to truly calmed her pouring tears. "…If I were to see him again…I'll probably hug him so tight so that he can never go away." Yukari voiced her feeling to answer Aigis, "If I know he can live with us again, I'll spend my entire life to be with him. Because I… I love him…"

When Aigis look at Yukari's face, she can see a tear has already rolling down her cheeks. Aigis quickly released the hug and gave her a handkerchief to wipe her tears. "Yukari, I'm sorry. I shouldn't bring this up on you." Aigis said with even more guilty face, "I know you love him, I'm sorry…" As she wiped her own tears after Yukari, she changed her attention to the grave of Minato and thought deeply. 'Elizabeth, where are you?'

Yu Narukami

Cloudy – Early Morning – 07/11/2012 – Hospital, Inaba

"Yu…save me…I'm trapped here…it's so dark…"

"Marie!" Yu screamed. When he looked around, then he realized that he's just sleeping on his chair besides his uncle. It was just a dream, yet Marie's voice sounded too realistic. When he looked downward, Nanako was sleeping on his laps and she slowly opened her eyes to face Yu.

"Big bro, I have a nightmare. I'm afraid to sleep alone." Nanako said, "Do you have nightmare too?" Yu's heart melted when he heard his cousin's innocent word.

"Yeah, I have a nightmare too, Nanako." He slowly lifted Nanako's head and carried her to the empty bed besides his uncle. "Just go to sleep for now, Nanako. I'll wake you up for your breakfast until then." Nanako closed back her eyes and sleep.

"…Where… where am I?" Yu quickly turned to his back to see his uncle. Dojima, after a few days of coma, finally half opened his eye, staring at Yu.

"Uncle!" Yu tried to shout, but lowered back his voice not wanting to wake Nanako up. "Sorry, Nanako is asleep. Are you ok? Do you hurt anywhere? Wait here, I'll call the doctor."

"Where's…where's Nanako?" Dojima said with heavy breathing, Yu quickly responded. "She's sleeping next to your bed, don't worry about her. I'm going outside now." Yu rushed to the door.

A few minutes later, Yu came inside the room with a doctor and detective Kurosawa. "Hold on for a while, I'm going to check your blood pressure." The doctor said, and he finished his check with a positive look on his face and left the room.

"Thank goodness you okay, uncle." Yu sighed in relieve, "Do you remember anything about what happen back in the police station?"

Dojima kept silent, then he began to talk, "I remember there is an explosion, then I don't remember anything else." Kurosawa took out a pen and a paper while making his way to Dojima's bed.

"I'm detective Kurosawa, surely you remember me from a few month ago when I ask you about Adachi's report. The explosion that you have witness, happen three days ago at the police station, resulting in 10 casualties and 20 injuries including your nephew and his friend. Due to the explosion, 8 prisoners had escape including Adachi. Now if I may ask, do you have any suspect that could possibly put the bomb in the police station?"

Dojima closed his eye to recap all the memories before the explosion, and he opened his eye, "Yes, I remember someone."

Yu moved closer to hear, "Please explain to us, uncle." Yu pleaded to know the answer, and Dojima began to speak.

"About a day before you arrive here, Yu, there's a man wearing a black hood shirt came to the police station in the evening. He demanded the officer to let him meet Adachi, claiming that he's a distant friend of him who wished to see him. Of course, I was there as well, and I don't remember Adachi ever tell me that he had a distant friend. So I asked him to lift his hood and take off his shirt to check if he's bringing any weapon." Dojima continued.

"He has a long blond hair and a tattoo on both his arm. He wears nothing beneath the hooded shirt and didn't bring any wallet or even money along with him. We decided to let him see Adachi for only half an hour and told him to leave the police station immediately after. After I said that, he smirked mysteriously at me before he went to see him. In the meeting room, Adachi didn't bother to look at him at all, but then he started to pay attention to him as the man talk further. I didn't hear closely about what their discussion, but after the talk, I can see Adachi's wide smile forming on his face. After that, nothing weird happen until you knew the rest as to what happen the day after…"

Yu and detective Kurosawa listened patiently to Dojima's story, but more questions had been raised. "A long blond haired man wearing a black hooded shirt, very well, I will investigate further of this suspect." Kurosawa putted the paper in his pocket and bowed to Dojima, "Thank you very much for your cooperation, you may have your rest and leave everything to us." Kurosawa left the room leaving Yu and Dojima.

"Thank you, Yu, for taking care of Nanako while I'm in bed." Dojima gazed at Yu's worried face, "If it weren't for you, I don't know who else can take care of her." Yu smiled reassuringly at him.

"Don't say things like that, you going to be fine and take care of Nanako when you out of this hospital." Yu glanced at the sleeping form of Nanako, "Who else can take good care of her as a father other than you?" Dojima smiled upon hearing his word.

"You can take a rest while I wake Nanako later. I'll also call Naoto to tell her about this case." Yu said. But his word was interrupted when he heard a knock on his door.

"Hello? May I see a student named Yu Narukami?" An adult male voice was heard from the outside.

Tatsuya Suou

Early Morning – 07/11/2012 - Junes, Inaba

After his late arrival at Inaba last night, he had to sleep in small motel before beginning his search in the morning. Now fully awake, Tatsuya decide to go to Junes for breakfast.

"Welcome to Junes! What do you want for breakfast, sir?" The waiter that stood beside Tatsuya's table, Yosuke was taking his order.

"I'll take the first set and a coffee." Tatsuya choose his food. And Yosuke walked away to the kitchen. A few minutes later, Yosuke returned bringing scramble egg, sausage and toast along with coffee to be served. Just as Yosuke was about to walk away, Tatsuya quickly stopped him with question.

"Excuse me, but are you a student of Yasogami High?" Tatsuya directed the question to him. Yosuke smiled and nodded. "Yes, I am."

Tatsuya took out a file with Yu's name and picture on it, "Then do you recognize this student?" He gave the file to Yosuke.

Yosuke quickly frowned in suspicion, "…Yes, I know him." The answer itself brought hope to Tatsuya, "You know him? Can you tell me where he lives?"

The suspicious feeling had filled Yosuke's heart even more. To him, Tatsuya looked more like a hired assassin trying to kill the person in his file. He slowly returned the file to him, "…Nope, wrong person, never heard of him." Yosuke quickly turned around to escape his vision. He felt like he can't trust this guy.

"Please, I know you know him." Tatsuya moved from his chair and chased after him, "I seen it in your eye, you recognize him far too well. I mean no harm. I'm a police officer and I just want to talk to him." When Yosuke looked at his face again, it was the look of desperation and urgency replacing his serious look. Yosuke became quiet, hesitating for a moment before answering him.

"What business do you have with him?" It was a direct question, and froze Tatsuya from saying another word.

"…It's something about the explosion at police station three days ago." Tatsuya find another reason to lie with the recent case that happen at Inaba. "You can say that I just want to interrogate him." Yosuke scratched his head, shifting his eye elsewhere not wanting to make eye contact with Tatsuya.

"…Yes, I really know him, he is my best friend and partner. I'm sorry I lied just now. It's just that I find it hard to trust someone from distant city. I'm just afraid that he done something wrong or he's in danger. And you look like some assassin with that suit." They shared a laugh after that.

"You don't have to apologize. I know how it feels to have a friend that makes you feel worried for him." Tatsuya smiled in friendly manner, "Can you tell me where I can find him?" Yosuke felt at ease to hear his word, he's like a totally different person now.

"He's at the hospital with his uncle, Mr. Dojima. His uncle was heavily injured by the explosion during the incident. I'll ask someone to escort you." Yosuke said, but Tatsuya shake his head, "No thank you, I can find my own way to the hospital." Tatsuya sat back on his chair and finished his breakfast before leaving for the hospital.

Morning – Hospital, Inaba

Tatsuya stop when he saw Kurosawa walk out from the door. The man simply walked past him, ignoring his presence as he moved to the front of the door. 'This is it.' Tatsuya prepared himself to meet another man of prophecy. He then knocked, "Hello? May I see a student named Yu Narukami?"

"Come in." A voice was heard inside, and Tatsuya opened the door. He saw Yu standing besides Dojima and Nanako still sleeping in the next bed. After he observed the room, he focused his attention to Yu. 'It's just like what Maya describe of him.' Tatsuya thought to himself.

"Are you Yu Narukami?" Tatsuya walked towards him, Yu turned his body to face him. "Yes, I'm Yu Narukami. Do you need anything?" Yu said as he walked closer to him while Dojima stare in confusion.

"Do you mind introducing yourself?" Dojima said, find it uneasy to have someone suddenly appeared and talked to his nephew. Tatsuya changed his attention to Dojima.

"My apologies, my name is Tatsuya Suou, a vice chief police officer from a distant city called Sumaru City. I have come to discuss something with your nephew." Tatsuya changed his attention to Yu, "And it's very personal."

Dojima fiercely glared at Yu who was still confused by the situation, "What did you do, Yu?" Yu became panic by his uncle word, but Tatsuya quickly calmed the situation.

"No, not THAT personal, don't misunderstand. Your nephew didn't do any crime or misbehaved. I just need his help about a few cases that need to be solved." Hearing his word has finally made Dojima calmed himself. "Narukami, can you please follow me outside? This is something important that no one else must bother." Yu nodded his head, and they both left the room.

As they went outside, Yu began to ask every question in his mind. Tatsuya leaned to the wall and prepared himself for any question that may come.

"What is it?"

"Let me finish this quick, I want to talk about your persona and the upcoming shadow."

Yu was shocked by that simple word, "You know about persona and shadow too?! Who are you?"

"I'm a persona user, like you."

"You are a persona user too? Wait, how did you know I was a persona user?"

"You were mention in the new prophecy as one of the four persona user to defeat the shadow that will destroy this world once and for all."

Yu closed his eye to recover his suspense. That was fast, TOO fast to be hearing all this. "This is too sudden for me, slow down and tell me detail by detail. What prophecy? What shadow are you talking about?"

"Look, we don't have much time. I need your help. Or rather, I need your power. Philemon has foresees that Nyarlathotep has bring a powerful shadow that can bring the end to this world. That day of prophecy will come before the end of this year."

Suddenly, Yu's face went blank, "…Wait WHAT?! Now who's Philemon? And who's Nyarlathotep?"

Just when Tatsuya thought things could get easier, Yu had no idea who Philemon is. Tatsuya slammed his head to the wall in defeated, "Oh god…I'm sorry Maya, I going to be late for home…" Tatsuya monologue to himself.

"Ok, how about Igor and Velvet room?" Tatsuya asked him again. This time, Yu changed his expression.

"Oh, I recognize him. He was the one who aid me to become a persona user." Tatsuya felt slightly relieve.

'Then I'll just take him to see Igor and he can explain everything.'Tatsuya thought. He grabbed Yu's shoulder and glared at him, "Sorry, but you have to come with me."

"Master Igor has temporary lock the Velvet Room. You can't enter even with the Velvet Key." They were both shock by the sudden voice, they turned to see Margaret besides them. To their surprise, Margaret's cloth was torn and there were blood stain on her lips.

"Margaret, what happen?!" Yu removed Tatsuya hand from his shoulder and grabbed Margaret hand to see her scar.

"Don't worry, this is nothing. I need your help, Tatsuya." Margaret said locking her gaze at Tatsuya. "Please have this."

Margaret took out a unique card from her compendium book and handed it to Tatsuya. "What is this?" Tatsuya curiously asked.

"This is the 'Contact' Card, a powerful card that allows you to directly communicate with your persona and seek his knowledge. It will also allow you to talk to any persona you have ever used in your lifetime. All you have to do is to just call your persona name while holding the card. Let me remind you that using this card will give your persona a temporary mind of its own, using it for too long will have a risk of losing control of it."

Margaret grabbed his hand, "Tatsuya, I beg you. Please talk to your persona, Apollo and ask him to find his son."

Tatsuya released her hand and observed the card, "You want me to talk to Apollo and ask where his son?! He's just a persona, how can he has a son?!" Tatsuya shouted, but Margaret continued.

"Every persona that existed takes the form of being in ancient mythology, and yes, Apollo has a son in his mythology. His song and art were passed down to his son, who inherited his legacy until his death." Tatsuya was stunned by Margaret's fact, he himself had never knew about Apollo.

"He has a son that inherited his legacy?" Tatsuya said to himself.

"That is all I want to say. I need to go now, to find somewhere safe to stay like the Velvet Room. May you both be safe on your journey to save the world." Margaret began to walk away, only to be stopped by Yu's hand that grabbed her wrist.

"Hold on, Margaret. If you need a place to stay, my house is better. My uncle won't be going home for a few days, leave only me and my cousin. It won't be a bother to me." Yu strengthened his grab, "But you need to tell me what happen to you, and the Velvet Room."

Margaret hesitated, but she finally spoke up, "Master Igor decided to temporary seal the room to ensure the safety of the room, so all the residence must leave and left him alone. I will tell you the rest, but not now." Tatsuya and Yu became confused by the news.

'Did Nyarlathotep already make a move?' Tatsuya thought.

"Stay with me for a while, you need to be treated for that injury. Maybe the doctor can help." Yu said.

"Hey wait! You need to come with me to my city and meet the others, we don't have much time. Hey!" Tatsuya said as he quickly caught up to the both of them who rushed through the corridor to find a doctor.

Without their notice, Margaret tears suddenly rolled down on her cheeks. 'Forgive me, Elizabeth.'Margaret wiped her tears as she replayed the memory of what happen inside the Velvet Room.

Evening – 30/10/2012(9 Days ago) – Velvet Room

"Then where's your sister, Elizabeth?" Igor asked the question after Tatsuya and Maya left the room.

"Wait, you don't mean-" Margaret gasped, Igor grinned widely.

"Indeed. The blue-haired boy that your sister mentioned is Minato himself." Igor took out a card and gave it to Margaret, "I suggest you keep this Contact Card and find your sister. You can search for her at the deepest part of Sea of Soul."

Margaret took the card and looked at Igor. "Don't worry, I will find her and make sure Minato can return safely." Margaret said, "But how Elizabeth supposes to 'save' him?"

Igor stared to the air in deep thought, and he spoke, "Yesterday…"

Elizabeth

Night – 29/10/2012(10 Days ago) – Velvet Room

"Are you sure this is your answer, Elizabeth?" Igor stared at Elizabeth alone at the room. Elizabeth nodded her head.

Yes, I choose this fate of my own free will. I'm willing to replace Minato." She said confidently, Igor refused to argue any further as he point to the exit door.

"Then you may go and reclaim the Wild Card from Aigis. And please, bring Thanatos with you." Elizabeth bowed before she left the room.

Morning - 31/10/2012(8 Days Ago) – Sea of Soul

"Why don't you tell her?" Ryoji asked, but Elizabeth shook her head.

"If Aigis know that I'll sacrifice my soul for him, she will definitely try to stop me. That's why I need you there, to bring him back to the world to meet with his friend." Elizabeth explained, and Ryoji remained silent by her word, "Any way, we're getting closer to the 'Gate', be on your guard."

After the long travel through the Sea of Soul, they finally reached the end of the endless realm. Stood in front of them, there's a huge golden gate decorated with living eye that searching the entire surrounding. There, in the middle of the door, hanged a statue of a boy with both his arm tangled with chain that connected to the side of the gate.

"All the preparation is ready." Elizabeth took out the Evoker and turned to Ryoji, "Let's bring Minato back."

"You really think it would be that easy?" A deep and horrifying voice was heard behind them and they quickly turned to their back. Not far from them, a very ugly creature with wings on his back was staring evilly at them.

Elizabeth changed to her fighting position, "You… who are you?" The creature gave an evil laugh.

"I am Nyarlathotep, and all the soul in this sea belongs to me." Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos himself stood there to confront them.

"So you are Nyarlathotep, the one who tried to destroy this world not long ago." Elizabeth opened her book, "What business do you have here?" Nyarlathotep flew closer to them.

"The gate… it has slowly losing its power. When the gate is open, the last rider will reborn to destroy human world…" Nyarlathotep raised both his arm, "And all there is to do is to break open the seal and rip that boy's soul apart!" All of the sudden, a loud roar was heard from behind him. From the deep darkness, a gigantic monster with two head and two horns on each head appeared and began to attack Elizabeth and Ryoji.

"Erebus!" Elizabeth shouted as she turned to Ryoji, "I won't let you touch Minato! Ryoji, let go!" In a blink of an eye, Ryoji transformed into his true form, and he began to assist her. "Let's see if you can withstand my wrath, Thanatos!"

Elizabeth VS Erebus & Nyarlathotep

Deathbound-Erebus viciously lifted his claw and swung it to Elizabeth. Without a second thought, Elizabeth commanded Thanatos to withstand the attack with his sword. The impact from the clash was so great that Elizabeth was pushed backward by the strong wave.

"He-he has become stronger!" Elizabeth frowned as she commanded Thanatos to return to her side.

"That was too weak, Thousand Hand!" Nyarlathotep shaped shifting himself to grow a long tentacle around his body and he extended his tentacle to rapidly swiped Thanatos. Anger by the attack, Thanatos roared and marched towards Nyarlathotep to cut him in half.

"Tempest Slash!"Elizabeth shouted, Thanatos began to extend his hand with his glowing dim-white sword and dashed closer to him. But Nyarlathotep was fast, before Thanatos sword could reach his throat, he dashed himself backward with his wing. Before Thanatos had any time to recover his stance, Erebus was already stood between two of them and launch another attack.

Almighty Attack-Erebus opened his giant mouth and released a dark blast upon Thanatos. Thanatos managed to dodge, and the blast flew past him and aimed for Elizabeth. Fast alerted by the blast, she jumped sideway allowing the blast to hit the side of the golden gate. Elizabeth gave a worried face as she watch the blast exploded and dissolved.

"I can't fight here, or it will cause damage to the seal." Elizabeth monologue, "I need to find somewhere safe other than here." She opened her book, letting a bright blue light to escape from the inside, "Let me take you somewhere else!" Elizabeth shouted at the dark monster who continued to attack Thanatos. Slowly, a large portal appeared behind her, large enough to fit a crazy giant through it.

"Why? Try to run away?" Nyarlathotep smirked heavily as he teleported himself to Elizabeth's front side and squeeze her neck with his tentacle, "Hellish scream!" Nyarlathotep shaped shift his chest forming a big mouth filled with sharp fang and emitting an extremely loud scream that make Elizabeth losing half of her conscious, the portal that were created by her has disappear into thin air.

"I…I will not let you touch Minato!" Elizabeth opened the book again and hundreds of card began to burst out from the book and severe the tentacle that grabbed her, Nyarlathotep threw himself backward to escape the sharp edge of the flying cards.

Without a moment to hesitate, Elizabeth recalled Thanatos to her side as she arranged all the flying cards to form a vertically large circle facing toward Nyarlathotep and Erebus. "I guess I have no other choice but to defeat you here. I'll make sure you won't escape from my trump card!" She raised her hand and launched her ultimate skill.

"Ultimate Skill: Mega Megidolaon!"In the middle of the circle, an extremely large energy ball began to charge its power from Elizabeth card. She pointed the hand toward the two monsters and released the energy ball. But Nyarlathotep was indeed the Crawling Chaos, as the attack gave him no sign of dodging it.

"Moon Crusher!"Nyarlathotep shaped shift him-self to become a human like figure with green and yellow palate on his skin with an ancient writing printed all over his body. The large energy ball was easily paused by his hand as he mumbled some ancient language and the energy ball was automatically crushed into fragment and reflected it to Elizabeth and Thanatos.

Due to the counter attack, she finally lost all her power and unable to react when Nyarlathotep once again grabbed her neck with his hand.

"…What…what do you want from Minato?" Elizabeth said in weak voice, she feel like her power was draining slowly by Nyarlathotep's grab. "Why… do you want to break the seal?" As she said this, a sound of Thanatos groaning in pain was heard. She turned to his direction to see Thanatos has already fallen inside the fist of Erebus.

When she turned her view to Nyarlathotep, he continued to shape shift without stop and spoke, "My goal have never change, to gain 'One True Vessel' for them and bring destruction to human world using the God's power."

Nyarlathotep shape shifted himself for the last time and taking the appearance of a girl. Elizabeth widened her eyes in horror by the realization. "…It was you… you were there… at the tournament…" Elizabeth said as she slowly loose grip the book from her hand, "You were the one that-"

Nyalathotep tightened 'her' grab with 'her' hand and Elizabeth finally lost her conscious. As 'she' released the hand from Elizabeth's neck, 'she' casted a powerful skill that surrounded Elizabeth entire body until she was trapped inside a glass sphere.

"With this, I can finally fooled those human and gain the 'Vessel' for them." Nyarlathotep said with a soft yet eerie female voice as 'she' took the compendium book from Elizabeth. Thanatos was left unmoved as Erebus released him from his clawed fist. Once again, Nyarlathotep casted the skill and trapped Thanatos inside the glass sphere along with Elizabeth.

As 'she' turned to Erebus, a creepy death stare formed on 'her' face, "Don't waste your power, only Yog-Sothothknows how to open the gate without resurrecting the 'messiah'. Just kill anyone that tried to get near the gate while I find the 'Vessel' for him."

She slowly disappeared into the air, leaving Erebus alone in the realm to roar, echoing the entire space.

A/N: Wondering why I put 'New Dorm' for the Shadow Operative home place? Because the original dorm is already close in Persona 3 Fes, so I just make a new dorm for them to stay. Yes, Yu Narukami and the entire Investigation Team had never meet Philemon, which really make Tatsuya confuse because Philemon is an important figure in persona history. Apollo has a son? Well, he did, so follow my story if you want to know who Apollo son is.