Paradox Arc:
Chapter 66: Poison of Anima
"When Animus and Anima meet, the animus draws his sword of power and the anima ejects her poison of illusion and seduction. The outcome need not always be negative, since the two are equally likely to fall in love."
-Carl Gustav Jung
Minato Arisato
?/12/2009 - Velvet Room
"Thinking back, your sister did mention to me about this years ago in my world," Minato perked his eyes at Theodore, "I have always been ignorant of little stuff. It just doesn't matter to me."
He took a seat at last in front of them as he continued, slowly recovering his breath.
"And I was so wrong. she had a small fragment of that lost memories, but I didn't think much of it. I can't remember anything until I went through that door."
Igor and Theodore watched him on the chair with inquisitive eyes. They remained still like a statue, but their expression was satisfactory.
"If she did, then perhaps she sealed away those too," Igor commented, "But let us not delay our purpose." The long-nosed man tangled his fingers together, "How was the journey?"
"A moment," Minato raised a finger at him before taking another deep breath. A few minutes ago, he would have believed his lung will burst. How did this happen to him?
"Your mind is trying to compress the memories into your mind. You are not out of breath, Minato-sama," Theodore answered, as if understanding his confusion, "You are simply receiving the backlash from the long journey. Nothing to worry about."
"And how long was I in there?"
"A few days."
"Did Ryoji...?"
"Not yet, but sooner than you thought."
"Darn it..." Minato found his heartrate decreasing, properly uprighted his position on the chair, "I did it."
Igor and Theodore raised their head in expectation.
"I found out everything I can from the lost memories," Minato glanced at the empty space behind him, where the blue door that sent him here was, "Do you want the long version or short one?"
"We have time," Igor said.
"Yeah. Time. It's always has been about time," Minato began his narration, "Nobody believed Fuuka when she said she saw a spider at Tartarus that night. But it was pretty weird. I was visiting the Velvet Room alone, and before I realized it, I wasn't alone with Elizabeth. Everyone was there. The elevator began to crash, and suddenly, we were in a place foreign to us, completely out of time..."
The rift between time - Yasoinaba High
"It's a cultural festival," Akihiko said after returning from his survey, "Every food, every activity, every object here is real."
"But the students..." Mitsuru began, "They're not. They won't give any responses, no reaction to us despite our different uniform."
"Shouldn't we eat first?" Junpei said, "I mean, those are real foods. I want to try everything."
"Watch your intake. We can't be sure these foods are clean," Shinjiro disagreed.
"Is there any Shadow?" Ken asked.
"Fuuka?" Yukari turned to the scanner.
"The students are not hostile," Fuuka shook her head. That earned a few sighs of relief. However, she wasn't done, "Though, there is one spot where I sensed a huge reading."
"Where?" For the first time, Minato from the memories, with the appearance of Hamuko, spoke for the first time at the center of the hallway.
The real Minato was watching 'her' from afar by the window, once in a while glancing at the clocktower at the courtyard.
When SEES ascended to the second floor, Fuuka guided them to the exhibition hall. It was majestic from the front, but even 'Hamuko' knew the aura emitted from the entrance.
"You can't go in there!"
The team turned to the team and encountered two mysterious presences.
Velvet Room
"And that's when you meet with...?" Theodore spoke.
"Zen and Rei..." Minato muttered those names, "Zen made me jumpy at first, but it was Rei that caught my attention. Now hold on," He raised his finger. "Before I continue, I have a question. Can your master Philemon appear as anyone?"
"He does have all the mask," Igor answered proudly.
Minato paused and reached for his mp3 player, only to realize he had given those to Hamuko before beginning his journey. He dropped his hand and continued, "Can she?"
Igor and Theodore remained silent. Minato pressed further.
"You know who I'm talking about, Igor."
"Yes," Igor admitted, "Mistress Elpis possess such power."
'Mistress?' Minato narrowed his eyes at the longed nose man as he thought. "Anyway, her face, Rei's face," Minato poked his temple with his index finger to jog his memory, "Why did Elpis copy Rei's face?"
"To make you remember," Igor answered, "By appearing as someone from the lost memories, it will assist in recovering your memories."
"At least try to appear older next time..." Minato complained.
"The story, Minato-sama," Igor warned.
"I know, I'm getting there," Minato leaned on the chair's cushion, trying to ignore Igor's impatience, "So, the place we first entered called You In Wonderland. How convenient. We did get lost a few times, but we still reached the end of the dungeon. There's a chest at the end of it, but the guardian was too much. That's when we first met them..."
Depth of You In Wonderland
The SEES still observed the new team carefully, awkwardly greeting the newcomer. The leader, which noted as Yu, stood amidst the fallen guardian of the dungeon alongside 'Hamuko'. They were not rookie for sure, and they all had great potential.
"You okay?" Yu lent out his hand towards 'Hamuko'.
"Yeah," She accepted the hand, "You're..."
"We heard about what happened," Naoto approached them, "Rest assured. We're allies, persona users like you."
"We never thought we see a whole team," Mitsuru said, "We're called SEES, a school curriculum by day, operating against Shadow by night."
"We're the Investigation Team," Yosuke, who was always closed to Yu, replied, "Normal students at Yasoinaba High, but hunting a killer outside the school."
"Lame..." Chie criticized.
"Give us a better introduction next time!" Rise, the pigtail-haired girl included herself in the conversation.
"Guys, I know we're all excited, but I don't think this place is safe enough for conversation," Kanji, the largest man from the other team, suggested.
"Well, hurry up," Shinjiro turned to Zen and Rei, "Go, open the box."
Rei hesitated at first, but Zen was determined.
Velvet Room
"A stuffed rabbit was inside that chest. It was Rei's toy," Minato said, "By the time I saw that thing, something suddenly clicked in me. Rei is the reason behind the existence of that dungeon."
"To protect, or prevent her from something," Igor nodded.
"So I began to keep a close eye on her, especially when we went into the next dungeon, a Group Date Cafe," Minato continued, "Meanwhile, we got a lot of time to get to know the other team. Yu Narukami's a Wild Card, but I supposed I already know from my world..."
Group Date Cafe
'Hamuko' and Yu watched a huge portrait in front of them with a blank face. It was an image of a groom carrying the bride bridal style. Yu's face was badly pasted on the groom's head, while 'Hamuko's face was the same on the bride's head. They had nothing to say but allowing the awkwardness to fill in the air.
"I supposed we're getting married," Yu laughed.
"I guess..." 'Hamuko' said, shrugging her shoulder, "A Wild Card with a Wild Card, agree?"
"Every Wild Card user has a purpose," Yu began leaving the portrait and continued forward, "That's why we signed the contract."
"And as a fellow leader," 'Hamuko' answered with a smile, "If anything happened to me, please take care of my team."
"Let's not get too pessimistic," Yu replied.
"I'm serious," 'Hamuko's face turned stern, "For some reason, you're the kind of guy I could trust."
"Our little Social Link."
"Exactly. Oh? Is that it?"
They entered a large church as the real Minato watched from behind.
Velvet Room
"I don't know if this is relevant or anything, but when I saw them that moment, I always feel as though we form an invisible bond. There's no Arcana that could represent us, but I feel that connection."
"The attraction between two Wild Card," Igor commented, "Proceed."
"So we reached the end of the second dungeon, where there's another chest after defeating the guardian: A wedding ring, not the real one," Minato said, "Another Rei's belonging. Rei once told me she dreamt of becoming a bride, which happened to be Zen. But when Rei saw that ring, she became terrified, despite Zen's insistence. Zen seemed to recover some part of his memories, but Rei remained who she was."
"Was Zen the cause behind Rei's lost memories?" Theodore interrupted.
"Well, I'm more than sure at that moment, but the old me didn't, nor everyone traveling the dungeon. Oh, yeah," Something clicked in his head, "It's not a dungeon. More like a labyrinth, if I must say. We got lost at least more than thrice each. The third one was no different..."
Evil Spirit Club
"Zen, I can't see anything!"
"Hold on! I come and save you!" Zen prepared his crossbow, but 'Hamuko' and Yu paused him. After being separated from the rest of the team, Only four of them, including Rei and Zen, could unlock the door that trapped the rest of them. For a tactical reason, Rei was the only one who could traverse the pitch blackness of the other room where the switch was.
"Calm down, Zen. We'll save her if anything happened," Yu said.
"I-I know, but..." Anxiety filled Zen's face, "I need to protect her. If anything happens to her-"
"She will be fine," 'Hamuko' reassured, "Humans cannot grow by staying in one place forever."
"Human..." Zen muttered, "I supposed I lacked understanding of you people. Very well. Rei! Can you hear me?"
"Y-Yes!" Rei's voice was heard from another room.
"Don't stop! We'll guide you!" Yu shouted.
Velvet Room
"Zen wasn't human," Minato said, "He came from the Sea of Soul, like you."
"A similar birthplace," Igor answered, "But doesn't necessary for the same purpose."
"Did you find what you need at the end of the third dungeon?" Theodore asked.
"No," Minato shook his head. Theodore dropped his head in disappointment. Minato ignored him, "What we found in the third chest was a lock of hair, to someone named Niko. At this point, my suspicion became certain. My instinct told me so."
"Interesting..." Igor smiled sinisterly.
Minato took a deep breath and relaxed, "I think I found what you're looking for in the supposedly last dungeon."
Theodore beamed.
"But first," Minato held out a finger, "Let's repeat what you want me to find there. Igor?"
"Absolutely, Minato-sama," Igor untangled his fingers and bore his eyes into him, "A power that can defeat the pale horseman resides within the lost memories."
"Or a trail leading to the power," Minato corrected him, "That's what you said. That's what Elpis said the night before I entered the memories."
"A power that can defeat the pale rider is in there somewhere," Theodore said, "A power you unconsciously possessed, but oblivious to."
"Really now?" Minato said, "I don't know what power you want me to find there, because I think I found someone who, coincidentally, knows more about the memories than I thought. Not the power itself, but someone who knows."
The two residents of the Velvet room watched him intensely. Minato recalled the event that happened at the end of the Inaba Pride Exhibit.
"Chronos."
Inaba Pride Exhibit
"I remembered everything now," Zen said, still clutching the death note found inside the chest of the dungeon. Rei was so terrified, she couldn't look at the man she placed her trust with.
"Rei, I am Chronos, the god of time and death. I have come to take you away."
"What? What's going on?" Yukari asked.
"You come to take her away? To where?" Chie said.
"I'm going to unlock all your memories," Zen reached out his hand towards Rei's forehead, where a small light shone briefly before it faded, "Do you remember now?"
"No..." Rei clenched her head in pain, "Zen, stop..."
"You wanted to be with them..." Zen turned to SEES and Investigation Team, "...Because you want to go back with them. But the truth is, you can't. You're not like them."
"Why?" 'Hamuko' asked. Zen paused for a while.
"Because Rei... is dead."
Velvet Room
For the first time, the room was so still, he could almost hear his own heartbeat.
"I remembered vividly now," Minato said, "When Rei escaped the last dungeon, she ran all the way to the mysterious clock tower at the courtyard. She was taken by a Captor Spider at the top of the tower. The god himself confessed everything."
"The god of time," Theodore said. Paleness enveloped him, "Impossible..."
"God of Time and death..." Minato added, "Born of humanity's desire of higher power, the desire of guidance to their afterlife."
"When mankind put an ideal image of someone to guide them to the afterlife, Chronos came to existence," Theodore said, "Wait, I think I have heard of it before from Margaret, but where?"
"Chronos," Igor said, "Whom also known as Father Time."
...
Morning - 17/11/2012(Saturday) - Velvet Room, Original World
"About the time limit and a safe place, that will be the last mission for you, Minato Arisato," Father Time smiled again, this time it's creepier. Minato raised his brows, waiting for his task.
"You must maximize your Archetype again, the same way you formed your bond with your friends."
Everyone looked rather confused, even for the member of the Velvet Room. Father Time smirked as if waiting for this moment from the time Minato entered the room. He reached for something behind his suit and took out something familiar to him.
"…A student ID?" Minato said, although it was already obvious that it was Gekkoukan High School's student ID.
"Your 'alternate' ID. You will once again repeat your second year in another world."
...
"...Father Time was the one who sent me off," Minato recalled the conversation, "You were both there when he gave me the mission."
"Indeed," Igor agreed, but for the first time, the master of the room began to think.
Minato continued, "What the hell is going on, Igor? You told me to find the power, then shouldn't Father Time, I mean Chronos, knew about it? More importantly..." Minato glared at them, "Is Father Time, wearing the face of that guy I saw in Sumaru City... What was his name?"
"Jun Kashihara," Theodore answered him.
"Is Jun's persona and Zen the same guy?"
"We are only a guide," Igor retaliated, "Chronos knew more than we believe he does. The same goes for my Master and even Mistress Elpis. But the gods born of the Sea of Soul are Archetypes within the highest plane of collective unconsciousness. There can be no two Chronos."
"I thought Archetype is an aspect figure, like Erebus?"
"Archetype is much more than that, Minato-sama. Can you proceed?"
"Archetype..." Minato pondered, "Because it just doesn't make sense. We ran to save Rei from the Captor Spider. But another being showed up, calling himself the Clockwork God, pure manifestation of Chronos's power..."
Top of Clock Tower
Gear of Time has been defeated. The Clockwork God laid weakened on the floating, spinning gear beneath him, waiting for Zen. The dark-skinned man reached for the mask and removed it, revealing the same face.
"Return to the Sea of Soul," Zen reached out his arm towards the fallen god, "I will be with you shortly."
And the Clockwork God disappeared. Rei, upon wakening, sobbed for the things she never meant to do, and shouldn't be held responsible for.
"I'm ready, Zen," Rei smiled, still withholding the tears streaming her cheeks, "You can take me now."
Zen smiled, and both SEES and Investigation Team shared temporary happiness. as they were being escorted to the Velvet Room for the last time in this world.
Only when they gathered there that they realized their memories should be erased, along with the world and the event transpired. Rise and Fuuka shared a tearful parting, while the rest of them insisted on one last moment with the festival.
After playing all the activities, eating all the foods, they returned to the room, where Rei allowed herself to be guided to the Sea of Soul by Zen, now mortal in flesh. Two doors present before them, each to their original timeline. All tears had been wept, all regrets and grudges erased among them, SEES and Investigation Team part away.
With the exception of the Velvet attendants, Yu and 'Hamuko' were the last to leave. They shared one last handshake.
"You're pretty strong," 'Hamuko' said.
"We'll meet again, someday," Yu nodded.
"And... that's it," Minato concluded his story, "Zen became mortal to be with the girl and departed to the Sea of Soul. That is the part I can't wrap my head about. Is there a part of Clockwork God remaining that returned as Father Time? Or is he still Zen?"
Igor and Theodore seemed to have deep thoughts.
"Thank you for the information, Minato-sama," Theodore finally said with a bow, "Not exactly what we hoped for, but it will suffice."
"Too bad," Minato apologized, but Igor insisted otherwise.
"Your assistance is most remarkable, Minato-sama. Thank you."
All of a sudden, the elevator made multiple consecutive brakes and sent Minato's chair flying backward. Igor and Theodore stagged only for a moment but soon recovered their stance.
"What happened?" Minato asked.
"The illusion we placed on this world is breaking," Igor answered, "But there is no point in reprogramming it. Hamuko Arisato must know. Theodore, please lead him."
"Oh?" Minato widened his eyes at Igor's gesture, "Is it the time?"
"Yes," Theodore nodded, "Hamuko Arisato should be heading for the river Styx by now."
"Alright," Minato left his seat and began to walk to a new door, where Theodore stood waiting next to it. Suddenly, the blue-haired boy stopped his track. Fear began to clog his heart.
"Minato-sama," He lifted his head and saw the male attendant's guilty expression, "Should I be the one..."
"No," Minato shook his head, "I must be the one to tell her the truth."
Hamuko Arisato
Evening - - 25/12/2009 - Naganaki Shrine, Tatsumi Port Island
"If you're tired, come back to the dorm. Get some rest."
Mitsuru's message certainly didn't sate her shock fever that came unexpectedly earlier today as she sat on the swing of the small playground near the Shrine.
There's no need for a leave from school today despite the small fever, but she needed the space. Makoto's face was so vivid, she felt as though she could touch him by reaching out her hand. Where did he go? Did something happen with her that affected him? The immense pain she felt last night returned to her. Something must have happened.
'Alone on Christmas Day...' Hamuko thought to herself and chuckled sarcastically. She already expected an extraordinary date on this special day with the man she loves, but now mystery just piling up in front of her. There's no way he could have disappeared without a trace. The ring, the blue mp3 player, all signs of his presence for the past few months.
The new song, ~Light the Fire up in the Night~, almost ended. She wondered where did the boy download the soundtrack? Another song began to play in her headphone.
"...Hamuko, if you're listening to this right now, it means that I've probably vanished from everyone's mind..."
She hurriedly observed the song and saw that it was titled 'Message'. There was no mistaking it. It was a recording of Makoto's voice.
"First of all, I'm sorry for leaving so suddenly. I know it was supposed to be our one and only Christmas, but it had to be now. I will be back before you give Ryoji your answer, and everybody will forget I'm even gone. But until then, you will have to endure without me."
"What do you mean?" Hamuko said, even though she knew there will be no reply, "What is going on?! Where did you go?! How did everyone just..."
"Hamuko, the moment before I came to meet you at Paulownia Mall, someone told me something, something so painful, that I'm sure you felt it yourself. I know you're feeling confused, lost, and hurt. But... I don't know how I'm supposed to tell you. I have a secret, and now there's a secret even I don't know about us, about myself, about... everything. It's all so stupid. I thought I was lying to you, but now I realized I was being lied to.
"Before I accepted your confession, that person asked me: 'Are your feelings real?' I thought I knew what I felt. But when she told me about us, about our connection, I just don't know anymore. I feel like I'm going mad, like finding out I've been drugged and manipulated this whole time by someone I trust more than anything.
"Hamuko, our moment together that night, is it real to you? I want you to think about it for a while. Once I return, I promise you, I will tell you everything about me, about us, about who you really are. Promise me you wait on the other side of the river Styx..."
The recording ended. Hamuko still tried to comprehend everything she just heard. The river wasn't just her dream. Are her feelings real? What could he possibly mean?
"Endure without you?" Hamuko clenched her fist hardly.
She had everyone. SEES was her new family after becoming an orphan. She would die for them and will do everything in her power to ensure they won't suffer Shinjiro's fate. She was their leader, and without them, she would be nothing. All her friends were currently at the dorm, waiting for her. There was no need to feel abandoned.
And yet... a day without Makoto is a curse. He had no right to leave her, after being the only place she could be her true self.
"No. No, Makoto. I need you," Hamuko clenched the mp3 player in her palm and held it close to her heart, "I need you now more than ever."
Lunchbreak - 26/8/2009 - Rooftop, Gekkoukan High
"Good, it seems your fever has gone down," Removing her hand from her forehead, Yuko of the track team sighed in relief. The dark-skinned girl sat on her right side as the three of them shared the bench on the rooftop. Rio, who was on Hamuko's left, nodded as well.
"When Takeba said you were absent from school yesterday, my heart just dropped," Rio said, "I thought you got dumped, but you never mentioned your boyfriend if you had one."
"Because I had none," Hamuko sternly replied with a hint of annoyance, forcing both of them away from her for a while before they stuck to her again, "I'm fine, you don't have to eat with me. And I'm not jealous."
"Come on, we're sorry," Yuko said, "If Kazushi didn't ask me out, I would have accepted your invitation!"
"And to think Kenji would actually go out with me!" Rio said gleefully, "We're just eating ramen, but I talked to him for hours! Oh, sorry, Hamuko. I'm sure you get to spend another romantic Christmas next year."
Hamuko rolled her eyes at their bragging and continued her homemade bento. Hoping for another Christmas would take miracles strong enough to beat the goddess of night.
It was then they heard the sound of the door being shut close behind them. Yukari Takeba was well known enough to startle both of her friends on her side. The famous archer seldom on the rooftop.
"I need to talk to her for a while," Yukari said, almost too blunt.
Rio and Yuko bid her farewell and walked past Yukari. The brunette approached Hamuko with firm determination, but trouble seemed to fill her expression.
"Makoto Yuki," Yukari blunt out the name as she sat next to Hamuko, "I know you told Fuuka and me to forget that name, but... that wasn't just your nightmare, isn't it?"
Hamuko remained silent. She did tell them to forget everything, after literally trying to barge into an unoccupied room. It seemed her excuse was weak.
"Ever since then, I almost feel like someone was living in that room with us as well," Yukari confessed, "Was the guy a persona user like us?"
"I thought you didn't believe me," Hamuko commented.
"Well, I guess I'm kinda scared. Because I don't want to believe ghost lives there, so I choose to believe your 'Makoto' instead. How did he look?"
Hamuko let out as much information as she could, and it seemed strains on Yukari's face became weaker.
"He shared your background?" Yukari asked, "You seemed too close for that. Your brother perhaps, lost from birth?"
"No, he's not," Hamuko corrected her, "He had his own parents. I saw him..."
...Did she though? Didn't Makoto tell her to leave the graveyard first?
Hamuko ignored Yukari's voice calling her name as she pondered. Should she check the place again?
Afterschool - 27/12/2009 - Graveyard
"Excuse me, sir," Hamuko approached the old graveyard sweeper who happened to be nearby, "Did you cleaned the flowers from that grave?"
"Well, if the flowers withered, I will have to clean it up," The old sweeper said, "The flowers at that grave were recent, though."
Hamuko asked, "Can you describe this person who brought it?"
"From his uniform, I think he goes to the same school as yours," The old sweeper said, "He came by a few days ago. The boy's hair was blue, and he wore the same thing as that thing around your neck."
Hamuko ended the conversation as she returned to her parents' grave, where one bouquet of flowers was left in front of it. It was carnation flowers, the same flowers she brought for her parents. Something was cracking inside her.
Makoto was visiting her parents' grave. No matter how close, there is no way he will do so simply as friends, or lovers. Perhaps someone else did, or Makoto simply sent his regards to her parents, but her instinct told her otherwise.
Lunchbreak - 28/12/2009 - Teacher's Office
"There is no record as such," Ms. Toriumi answered Hamuko's question, "There is no one with the same background as yours."
"There must be something," Hamuko insisted, "What about the rumors Junpei Iori spread about me having a twin?"
"Was there?" The teacher tried to remember but failed, her attention was instead focused on Hamuko, "Arisato, are you alright? Do you need to see the nursery? You looked pale."
Afterschool - 29/12/2009 - Tatsumi Hospital
"It is all in there," The nurse in charge said and lent to her the file she collected from the archive records. Hamuko, who was sitting in the waiting room, received the files with gratitude and began devouring the content of the book. The file was everything ever recorded of the accident that claimed her parents' lives ten years ago.
The Arisato family was involved in the accident on the Moonlight Bridge. That part was true. One survivor, a six years old child, escaped the crashed vehicle with minor injuries. Again, true. However, there lacked much of the details regarding how it happened. Kirijo's involvement was certain, but the gender of the child...
The more she delved into the mystery, the harder she found herself thinking. Her head began to throb every possible moment. Sometimes, she wanted to be away and recollected everything again. But she must find out the truth.
Night - 29/12/2009 - Fourth floor, Iwatodai Dorm
"I understand if you want to, but why now?" Mitsuru asked curiously as she crossed her arms together in front of her, locking her gaze at Hamuko, "Is this about what happened a few days ago with Takeba and Yamagishi?"
"It's nothing," Hamuko shook her head, "I just need true details about what truly happened to my parents that night. I need it for my resolve, my decision."
"...I see," Mitsuru said, "I will give you the report as soon as possible. Aigis should be here by tomorrow's evening as well. Although... Arisato, you must realize we were worried about you. Akihiko especially expressed concern because you neglected your time with everyone. We know pushing this decision to you is tough, but we're counting on you to make the final decision."
"I'm sorry," Hamuko bowed slightly in embarrassment. True, she did neglect her time with all her friends, but it wasn't because of the big decision she had to make, "Please help me, Mitsuru-san."
Evening - 30/12/2009 - Lounge, Iwatodai Dorm
Hamuko watched from as Aigis's persona, Palladion, evolved into Athena. The girl who constantly called herself a machine with no life was living a life she never knew she had. She was smiling proudly, ready to fight against the Fall, ready for anything.
And yet, however, a sense of discomfort gripped Hamuko, the same way she gripped the file that Mitsuru lent to her a while ago. Mitsuru herself never read the files, but she warned her to avoid reading too much in case of provoking old wounds. As the team dispersed and returned to their activities, Aigis approached her.
"Hamuko-san, can you come to my room?" Aigis pleaded, without anyone noticing, "There's something important I have to tell you."
Aigis's Room
"The truth is, there were two figures within my archives about Death I sealed ten years ago," Aigis revealed, "One of them was you, but the other one..."
"Was it... Makoto?" Hamuko spoke. It was an assumption at this point. But Aigis left her small mouth hang open, then looked perplexed.
"'Makoto?' Do you know this stranger? He beckoned my dreams often, but I have no recollection of him, yet he feels familiar."
Even Aigis didn't remember him... "Someone important to you. You saw him ten years ago?"
Aigis nodded, "That night, the one who should be at the bridge, was that boy. But for some reason, he 'became' you. I am unable to describe it with details. I never feel so... confused. Hmm? What is that?"
The android saw her carefully revealed the file behind her, "Kirijo's research about my past. I don't think Mitsuru read this though."
Aigis nodded, waiting for her. Hamuko took out and flipped open the file, reading the details inside.
"The young boy disappeared during an accident that claimed his parents' life on Moonlight Bridge. No trace had been found of him."
"Instead, one girl appeared alongside the accident. There was no record of her identity beforehand. She was sent to the orphanage shortly after, but disappeared after the third night."
She heard Aigis called her name when she dropped the file on the floor. Her head wanted to explode in agony.
"Hamuko-san? Are you alright?" Aigis grabbed both her shoulders, "What is wrong?" She hurriedly moved to Hamuko's side and peeked at the content. A glance was more than enough for her to read the whole page. The android gasped.
"There were two..." Aigis spoke, "Hamuko-san, is this the young boy-"
Aigis's voice was muffled with the sound of something echoing in her mind.
"The Arcana is the means by which all is revealed."
A vision, almost like a memory, enveloped her eyes. She saw an image in her mind. A giant door, at the depth of endless darkness.
A figure hanged in between. At first, she thought she saw herself. But it changed...
It became Makoto in a petrified state.
"Hamuko-san, are you alright?"
She snapped out of her vision and focused on the worried Aigis. That vision was vivid as if it was always been part of her. It was as if...
"Hamuko-san, we need to tell someone," Aigis considered, "Is there a possibility that the girl in the content refers to you?"
Chill ran down her spine. There was no mistaking it.
"No, Aigis. Don't tell a soul," Hamuko firmly said, "No one. Everything will be done soon."
"How are you so sure?" Aigis asked.
"I just know," Hamuko mustered a weak smile, "Sorry. I need a moment for myself. Rest, Aigis."
"I see..." Concern overwhelmed Aigis's face. To think such a thing was possible? "You need to sleep early tonight."
Hamuko dashed away from Aigis's room once she shut the door close. She rushed into her room before locking the door behind her. The file was thrown on the desk as she curled herself on the bed. The pain in her head became immerse.
"Who am I?" Hamuko mused. It felt as though she was becoming the Makoto Yuki himself.
The conclusion came so naturally, it terrified her. She glanced at her hands, her finger that wore Ryoji's ring, as held it high towards the ceiling bulb. The door, the giant door! It was holding something powerful, beyond words and logic. And she understood it like it was part of her she subconsciously resisted. She understood it was the choice of that person dear to her. She understood, but not the reason why. One thing she knew was Makoto was the answer, and always has been.
For some reason, she felt incredibly sleepy and laid her head on the soft pillow. Dreams returned to her.
A Rift?
"You're awake," She heard a familiar voice called her, "Open your eyes. It's okay."
She did as told and was stunned by the man standing over her, "Ryoji?"
"That's me," Ryoji's smile over his long scarf brought some comfort she never knew she needed.
Hamuko stood up from the concrete ground and dusted away the dirt. The ground was muddy but was not wet enough to soil her school uniform. She surveyed the boundless dark mist around them. It seemed like nighttime, but there was no moon to clear it. It was almost claustrophobic to be at the center of it.
"Where are we?" Hamuko asked, "Are you here for my answer?"
"No, I'm here to guide you to your answer," Ryoji said, guilt-filled his face, "You're in the boundary between reality and the edge of your world's existence."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not sure my explanation is good enough. Let's just say, not far from here, lies a river that separated the balance of your world. Should you cross that river, you will disappear and be carried off by the great stream."
River?
"There's no time to lose," Ryoji said, "The Velvet Room told me everything. Go straight from here until you find a bank river. Then follow the stream until you meet the one you're looking for."
Hamuko hesitated before glancing at her ring finger, "Ryoji, this ring..."
Ryoji smiled upon that sight, "So he did give it to you. Good, it brought me comfort. I hope it gives you too. Now hurry."
Ryoji pointed one finger at a direction before, almost in theatrical manners, the Appraiser faded into the thick mist out of her sight.
Hamuko didn't have the strength to scream, not with confusion filling her mind. She still however obeyed the direction and began to walk.
River Styx
The same river that she saw in her dream was right in front of her. It was more vivid than before despite still sleeping. Was she still sleeping in the real world, or was she hallucinating again?
She ran along the edge of the riverbank, similar to the river bank she witnessed in Kyoto. The water was calm, too calm as if a huge flood might sweep at any moment. The temperature was fortunately warm but grew chiller the closer she was to the waterbed.
From the corner of her eyes, she finally saw the shore of the other side of the river, where one figure was walking in the same direction as her. She recognized him instantly.
"Makoto!"
The blue-haired boy turned to her, and she sensed flickering joy before it receded to melancholy. They both weakened their pace before finally aligned themselves from across each other. Approaching the edge of the river, they pressed their shoes into the cold river and began walking.
"Stop," Makoto paused her when the water reached her knee. He didn't walk on the water, unlike the last time she dreamt of this place. Still, the boy was finally within her grasp.
Curiously, Makoto reached out his hands in front of him, as if reaching out to something. They were only a few feet away until-
The blue-haired boy stopped at something invisible. He reached out another hand and began to feel the invisible wall. Puzzlement gripped her as she walked towards the invisible wall. True enough, a thin but solid wall was erected between them.
"What's this?" Hamuko asked.
"I supposed this is our border," Makoto said, "Closest as we possibly could eye to eye. Meeting in the real world is the better option, but I decided to show you this place."
Hamuko looked around the shallow riverbed, "It reminds me of Kyoto."
"It was. You subconsciously illustrated the river Styx with Kyoto."
"I did?"
Makoto nodded. Hamuko found herself calm again.
"What is the river Styx?"
"When people die, everyone's soul travels to the collective unconsciousness. The Sea of Soul is the realm where all souls came, and return to. This river is the journey to such a place."
"But we're not dead, right?" Hamuko said, trying to observe the boy's face.
"Not me, only you," Makoto replied, "Have you listen to my audio?"
Hamuko nodded, "My feelings won't change."
"Is that so?" Makoto almost looked disappointed, "You have something else on your mind."
Hamuko opened her mouth, but there was no voice. The terror of the mystery still occupied her mind. But Makoto was in front of her. She needed to ask. She needed the truth.
"Makoto, who are you?"
Makoto smiled for the first time, just as a single tear flowed from his eyes.
"The reason why our feelings were so connected and linked together..." Makoto began, "...Is because we shared the same psyche."
She didn't know how to react at first. Makoto didn't even let her think.
"The one who Aigis sealed Death into ten years ago was me, not you. You don't even exist, along with this world."
Hamuko took a long look at him. The blue-haired boy had no reason to lie anymore. She spoke, pressing one of her palm on the invisible wall, "You're the real keeper of Death? Then, who am I?"
Makoto stared at her with nearly hollowed eyes placed his palm at the same spot Hamuko's hand was, aligning his fingers as well. The wall was so thin, she could almost felt his warmth.
"If only you truly exist," Makoto cried, "But you not, and it's on me. Because I created you long ago."
Shocked was not enough to describe her emotions at that moment. She released the hand from the 'wall' and took a step back.
"I couldn't believe it myself when I first heard it," Makoto said, "But the Universe Arcana came with a heavy price."
Cloudy - 24/12/2009 - Front hall, Paulownia Mall
"She doesn't... exist?"
Makoto spoke in response to the master of the room. Elpis, sitting next to him, never left her eyes from him.
"She never was. I know telling you of this would bring great discomfort to you," Igor explained, "But the greater reason behind our action is we know you would hold romantic interest with her. Naturally, she is the source of Universe Arcana."
Makoto blinked a few times in shock, but quickly receded it, "She is my Universe social link."
"More than that," Elpis interrupted, "She is the reason the Universe Arcana remained powerful and unbreakable. She is the one thing keeping the lost Arcana alive until today."
"I don't understand."
Igor approached him and began flipping his tarot deck from his hidden pocket.
"Two years ago, you and I forged the Universe Arcana in the Velvet Room," A small luminous card appeared in front of him, but no image was present, "The power of all your bonds into one. Power to defeat Death itself. However, even that is not enough. You knew Erebus will always return. Thus you sacrificed your very soul, imbued with this power, and became the Great Seal."
He nodded.
"But what you failed to know is what truly happened to your subconscious during the seal. You are but human, attempting to hold the might of all of mankind. Over time, even the unbreakable bond will not hold Mother of all Shadow. Alone at the deepest part of Sea of Soul, your strength of will shall fade, sooner or later.
"The Universe Arcana provided an answer to that, an answer to sustain your will and ensure your resolve remained undisturbed, keeping the Great Seal firm and powerful. It made an object of desire.
"A figure, which represents everything that you chose to protect, materialized into a being. A crystallized form of your will began to shape the small world around it, which the sample must be taken from your memories. Thus, as long as this figure exists, your Universe Arcana and the seal will remain forever strong."
Chill ran down his spine.
"Are you saying that the figure is...!" Minato half-screamed. Igor nodded.
"Yes, this figure is none other than 'Hamuko' Arisato."
...Silence.
Nothing moved. His heartbeat skipped, his mouth left agape but no voice escaped. It was fortunate he was already sitting, otherwise, his legs would have given up.
Minato felt a sharp pain in his chest. He didn't need those words, not now. Hamuko was still waiting inside.
"What will happen to her if I complete her social link?" That was all he could ask.
"She will disappear," Elpis intercepted for the second time, "She will return not to Sea of Soul, but to you. She is in your mind, and only when she disappears will you gain full access to the power you need in your world."
"What does that have to do with me fallen for her?"
They both watched him in silence.
"Because, Minato Arisato, as Igor explained to you..." Elpis continued, "She is everything you wanted to protect. All you desire is culminating in her. How can you not fall in love with your own Anima?"
Minato's eyes perked up, "Anima?"
"An archetypal figure of an ideal feminine, guidance, or woman in men's psyche. Think of it as qualities that you want to see in a woman that shape you as a man, or as a person you are today.
"Now, as the leader of the SEES, you believe it was your desire to save the world. This desire formed an Anima, to let you perceive why preventing the Fall is important. That way, the world, and your friends became Anima, allowing you to unlocked the power of the Universe. At that moment, your Anima psyche 'seized' you, and the option to sacrifice yourself suddenly became a solid answer. This is Anima, 'soul'."
Minato asked, "Why is she appear as... she is?"
"She will appear only as someone whom your heart trust to lead you. The most common archetypal figure of Anima is naturally a maternal figure, let's say... your mother?"
"I feel like I have forgotten my parents' faces..."
He remembered Hamuko said it the night Aigis fought Ryoji. He too, without realizing it, shared Hamuko's opinion.
"You have heard before, about how people tend to attract to someone with qualities of either one of their parents."
His throat was dry, begging to vomit, "How... How do you explain her fallen for me?"
"If she is your Anima, then it will make sense if you became her Animus, the male image of her mind," Igor said.
Anima, Animus, Universe Arcana. None of it made sense anymore. He couldn't breathe. His chest hurt. He still needed one more answer.
"Why am I not told?"
Igor said nothing. Elpis was the one who broke the silence.
"Be honest with me, Minato Arisato," Elpis said, "Have you, even once, had a thought that you would rather sacrifice your original world to be with the girl?"
If he had a mirror and looked into it, he will probably see an ashen white face that made sick people appeared healthier than him. Such thoughts did cross him. Not frequent, but not once. Elpis nodded to herself, approving what she read on his expression.
"I thought so, but you truly have an iron will. The average person would go mad for his Anima. You owned the Velvet Room for such a contribution. Had they let you know, it won't be long before you abandoned everyone else for one girl. We called this Anima Possession; when the Anima psyche decided to throw away logic and reason and achieve the impossible to meet the 'being's standard."
"Don't refer to her in that way."
"She won't realize it, but you do," Elpis continued, "She can give negative aspect despite her significance, keeping you in the dark is the best course of action."
"She's not. I won't let her die!"
By the time those words left his mouth, Elpis's eyebrows furrowed slightly. Minato touched his lips, and fear seized him.
"It is almost midnight," Elpis said, at last, leaving the bench, "She should be sensing your anger and pain by now. Don't keep her waiting any longer."
River Styx
Hamuko had no word left to say but to let her gaze trailed away from the man in front of her. She was not versed enough, despite her academic, to know about Anima and Animus psychology. But persona and Shadow were in her blood at this point. The point that Makoto wanted to make stood true. Only the sound of the river flowing beneath them was heard.
...Was his name truly Makoto? He must have shared the same family name. When thoughts began processing her situation, negativity engulfed her mind.
"...What now?" Hamuko forced the word out, "So you're me from another world, and this world was made from you?"
Makoto nodded.
"Did you want to leave your world for me?"
He didn't nod this time.
"...I'm a danger that shouldn't exist? I corrupted you?" Finally, some strength returned to her, "We're... we're the same being. Oh!" She clutched her chest in pain. The same person! "What have I done? It's my fault that you abandoned your old world."
"I won't make that choice," Makoto said, but she sensed suppressed frustration within him. Only then did they both became aware of the whitish cracks the boy cause on it, "The border between our psyche is collapsing. Once the wall crumbled, I will return to your world like I'm never gone."
"The world that will fade..." Hamuko took a step backward, "The world that never meant to be..."
"There must be a way," Makoto said, "A way to save your world and mine-"
"You said so yourself," Hamuko intercepted, "I don't know what happened in your world, but you need me to disappear. But you can't do that if you save me instead."
Makoto's eyes widened in horror. It took the girl a while to notice tears streaming down her cheeks.
"We need to stay away..." Hamuko gave up trying to wipe away her tears, "If you stay with me, your world will lose you. If you leave me, I'll be gone anyway."
Makoto Yuki
Crash...
Universe Arcana Social Link:
REVERSE
"Hamuko!"
He ignored the cracking sound in his head as its crashes synced with the collapse of the invisible wall. Hamuko was turning away to the other side when he broke through. The river suddenly turned to flood, and Hamuko became a distant figure.
Reverse Arcana. This is what Igor was trying to prevent from the beginning. A pair doomed from the start, Anima and Animus were likely to fall in love.
The flood eventually caught Hamuko before she could reach the riverbank. Hamuko's presence was lost in the water.
Including him. His- No, 'their' psyche was drowning them.
Hamuko Arisato
Past Midnight - 31/12/2009 - Iwatodai Dorm
"Ah!"
She jumped from her bed from the shock, catching her breath as she sat on her bed. She glanced at the clock and noticed it was past midnight, and she still hadn't changed her uniform.
There will be school tomorrow. She needed to wake up early. New Year will approach. She needed to pick a yukata. There were still things she needed to clear up with her friends. Right, Ryoji will be at the dorm, waiting for her answer. There's Nyx, too. What about Strega? What about Shinjiro? What about...
"...Stop..."
...Why did it matter anymore? She remembered the Great Seal, and she was the after-effect of the power. She never mattered.
Hamuko buried her face between her knees, begging for none to listen to her weep.
"I know now, I know what needs to be done. I know he had to do what he needed. I know it was meant to be, but..."
It's fake. All of it.
"...It hurt... It really hurt..."
Minato Arisato
Past Midnight - 31/12/2009 - Iwatodai Dorm
Igor wasn't speaking nonsense, after all. He truly wasn't prepared. Not for her tears, not for himself. He wished to cry, but the strength to do so felt empty.
"Damn it... Damn it all..."
He left the bed and reached for his desk. Gently, he took out the diary he wrote for months and began a new page.
There was nothing left on his mind. Nothing but her. Let the Anima possessed him for all he cared, as long as she lived.
He was mad.
"I am Minato Arisato no longer. I am Makoto Yuki."
Makoto Yuki
Makoto Yuki, 'resident' of this world, closed the book.
A/N: Let's get to the meat of this chapter, Hamuko Arisato (awfully the hardest part I've ever written in this story). If you don't understand Hamuko's true identity, well, the relationship between Hamuko and Minato can roughly be surmised below, as simple as I could. I'm not 100 percent guarantee my view about this subject is accurate, so forgive me if my definition is wrong (I'm not C.G. Jung).
According to Jungian Psychology, Anima and Animus are the two primary Archetypes of the unconscious mind that define masculine and feminine. Anima is basically the feminine side that exists within the male, while Animus is the masculine side that exists within the female. This doesn't specifically apply to gender, but more like the role that defines them. The most common Archetype of Anima and Animus are parental figures, but it does not limit to that alone.
Take Minato and Hamuko as an example: As a male, deep within Minato, there exist in his psyche an image of an 'ideal' feminine figure that can serve as his guide in the real world, which can unlock the full potential of his psyche as a male: something like a princess to make him a knight. That image can exist in all the females, even android like Aigis. In fact, Anima didn't have to be a person. When he unleashed the Great Seal, Minato viewed the entire world as his 'Anima', whom he needs to protect.
Now, imagine his Anima psyche had a form; Hamuko Arisato. This girl embodies everything that Minato saw as his feminine guide, but also the source for all desperation and protection. When he 'fell in love' with Hamuko Arisato, he was actually fell in love with the image of his ideal woman who 'seduce' him into giving everything he had to meet her standard. This projects itself in Hamuko's eventual demise as the Great Seal. The sense of protection to make her happy and save her from becoming the Great Seal is his own wish to fulfill his image of Anima within him, whom he reflected upon Hamuko.
The same goes for Hamuko Arisato, who view Minato Arisato as the ideal image of her Animus psyche. Now, imagine meeting a man who not only shared her background but her status as an orphan. Naturally, Hamuko would seek Minato because, in her eyes, she saw a man who she could reflect herself into. In a sense, Minato Arisato served as her guide whenever there's a conflict within her about her family (obviously because they are the same person). Thus, the moment Shinjiro Aragaki fell into a coma, her desperation directed itself towards Minato, who understand her the most. Minato essentially became her 'prince charming' or 'savior'. This event made her 'fell in love' with Minato.
The moment Minato Arisato, the manifestation of her Animus psyche, appeared in her life, she directs all the desperation towards him. She will even preserve that image in her friends. Remember when Hamuko made Minato the temporary leader against Arcana Shadow Hanged Man? That's because she needs SEES to see Minato the way she sees him, otherwise, she feared that she will lose that image herself.
Now, the river 'Styx' that Hamuko dreamt of. The river is actually the border between the Anima and Animus psyche. The moment Hamuko confessed her feelings, Makoto's image of Anima was shaken, making him unable to cross the river. He was not going to the other side, he came from the opposite side. Hamuko, on the other hand, always drown in the river, because she was insanely desperate to understand the male psyche of Minato Arisato that guide her. At the end of this chapter, the 'flood' is in reality their psyche crashing against each other, because they both finally realized they were of the same person.
In a way, they were literally 'made' for each other, because they are one and the same soul who holds both Anima and Animus psyche. The desperation led them to madly fall in love with each other. But is it really all positive? Find out in the next chapter.
That should be all for this chapter. If my estimation is correct, I should be able to close this Arc in 2 more chapters. Please wait for the slow update.