Author's Notes: Wow. This started as a pet project to do on the side. I wasn't expecting such a strong turnout. But since I got one, I guess that means you'd all like me to build on what I've started? Well, that was kinda the idea in the first place, but now I know I'm not the only one who wants to see something like this grow. So grow it shall.
To all my beautiful readers, new and familiar, thank you for the support and reviews. It makes a big difference, knowing that people like what I put out. Secondly, and this is not new information for some, I have a Persona 4 fic called Continuance featuring Souji and Yukiko. If that interests you, by all means, take a look and see if you like it.
There. Shameless advertising aside, hope you all enjoy this chapter. So let's get to it, shall we?
Chapter 2 – Advance
"So why use a saber?" Junpei asked the next day as they were walking back from school. "It's kind of an odd choice when there were so many other weapons to choose from."
"Not really," Minato replied, stretching his arms above his head and not missing a stride. "Katanas are good weapons, but we're also using Evokers. I'd rather not mix up my hands and waste time when I'm in a hurry. Besides, if the blade's sharp and used properly, you don't have to swing that hard to get the job done."
"Still, you don't seem like the fencing type. Dancing around in a straightjacket with a fishnet on your face… Yeah, I can't see it."
Minato concealed a smile, looking toward to road. If only he knew. "Sabers aren't just used for competitions. They're pretty versatile as far as swords go. But since you raised the topic, we'll have to keep count if we end up fighting Shadows again."
Junpei perked up at that, looking like a dog that had heard the dinner bell. "Really? What would you bet?"
He got a chuckle in response. "Well, we'll have to see who wins first. Don't raise the stakes until you know what you're up against, right?"
"We'll see, we'll see," was Junpei's response, accompanying a wide grin. A number of students joined them at the next intersection, so their discussion shifted to less incriminating topics, and swords and bets and Shadows and shooting themselves in the head weren't mentioned the rest of the way back to the dorm. There was a familiar figure waiting for them when they arrived however, standing out even against the foyer's usual soft lights.
"Hey, Akihiko-senpai," Junpei called as they entered. "What's goin' on?"
The silver-haired teen was sitting on a couch with his school books spread before him on the table. Despite Ikutsuki's assurances to the new team members that he still wasn't in fighting condition, he looked as calm and capable as ever. No discomfort, no winces or complaints, so it was hard to even know where he'd been hurt. Of course, Minato hadn't known him very well before his injuries, so perhaps this was him being wounded and he was normally more chipper and effervescent. Still, he just looked at the two kouhai and tilted his head to the side, beckoning them over. "We'll be going to Tartarus tonight," he told them simply when they got closer. "It's time to see what you three can do. Make sure you're rested and ready to go at 11."
Junpei blinked for a few moments, caught off guard, then scratched the back of his head. "Huh? Uh, cool, but should we be expecting anything serious? I mean, more serious than usual? Because you make it sound like a pretty big deal."
Their senpai closed his eyes and shook his head. "There's no such thing as an easy fight when it comes to these things, Junpei. Shadows are dangerous, no matter how much practice you get. So I'd expect you to take them seriously."
"I think he was just surprised, Senpai," Minato replied, coming to his classmate's defence. "It's a little abrupt, that's all. Especially after the last few days we've had. But if that's the plan, then we'll be ready."
"Good. I already told Takeba. And since Mitsuru's going to be staying here tonight, you'll be leading the team when we get there."
That caught them both off guard. "Me?" Minato replied, tilting his head to the side. "Why me? Wouldn't Yukari-san be a better choice if you won't be fighting with us? She's been here longer than me or Junpei."
"Mitsuru's orders. She's interested in how you perform in the field. Fighting, leadership, that sort of thing. Also, your Persona's probably stabilized from its first summoning, but it's still an unusual case. She wants to know how you deal with a few live scenarios. And I'll be there to assist if things go wrong."
"And evaluate, I'm sure. No pressure dude," Junpei tossed in with a wink to the transfer student. "They're just throwing you into the deep end without a rope."
Minato gave them a smirk. "Then I'll have to get a perfect 10 in the diving competition. I'll make sure I'm ready, Senpai."
Akihiko nodded and went back to his reading. Junpei looked at his cell phone for the time, then between them with a questioning gaze. "So, what now?"
"Well, they say that the first step is in choosing the right gear," Minato offered. "So I'm going to check on my sword. Care to join me?"
Junpei shrugged. "Sure. Might learn something useful, right?"
The two dropped off their school bags and proceeded to the weapons room. Mitsuru had given them the keys necessary to enter the room after each swore to be careful with the weapons inside. It made sense – having stands of high-grade armour and an arsenal of weapons in a student residence would raise questions from even the most lenient dorm executive. Yukari had looked uneasy when they were perusing the selection the night before, but Minato found the room's atmosphere to be comforting. It had to closed-in feeling that gave a sense of privacy that the foyer and lobby lacked. From the low lighting and the dark oak cabinets and chests and chests of drawers, to the smell of metal polish, steel, and leather, to the hushed feeling that grew as he moved deeper into the room, cutting him off from the sounds of the outside. It all felt welcoming to him. Like an inner sanctum where the part of him that knew how to use the weapons at his disposal was accepted and let loose to explore.
"So, what do you know about looking after swords?" Junpei asked, standing next to him and looking at the sword racks.
The content look that the room's environment brought to his face remained even through the interruption. "Oh, a thing or two." And he strode over to where his sword rested, set aside from the others and leaning against the rack. He picked it up and went over to one of the nearby tables, while Junpei sat across from him and watched curiously.
Minato drew his saber, carefully checking the weight and edge. It wasn't as long as a cavalry saber, and narrowed to a wicked-looking tip. The basket guard around the hilt would take some getting used to, but it was nothing he couldn't adapt to. And the balance wasn't bad, but it had been a while since anyone had used the sword as a weapon if the dull edge was any indication. That wouldn't do. Recalling his lessons and after-school club activities, he got up and rifled through the various drawers and cupboards until he found a set of sharpening stones, a bottle of blade grease and some rags, and sat down to give the weapon a much-needed sharpening. First a series of swipes with the coarsest stone. Then oil and a cleaning. Then a finer stone, and more oil and another cleaning. Another stone, finer yet, and another cleaning. And on and on until the blade gleamed like sunlight on running water and was so sharp that he risked being cut just by looking at it. As he worked, Junpei followed his lead, albeit with less polished results. The two worked in an easy silence, with one focusing on his task and minding the blade, and the other watching and trying to copy his teammate. Minato was carefully wiping the oil off his sword, looking for any missed metal shavings, when Junpei gave a disgusted sigh next to him. "I'd never pass up the chance to kick a Shadow's ass," he muttered, sheathing his sword and testing the sword belt, "but these late nights are going to be murder if we push them too long."
"Then we'll be smart about it," was all Minato said, giving a final swipe of the cloth before setting it to the side and sheathing his sword in a single smooth motion. "And look on the bright side – you were wondering why I chose the saber. Now you'll get a chance for a live demonstration."
Junpei looked up at his comrade's bright eyes, distinct and out of place on features that were normally stoic and detached, and groused "You're enjoying this too much."
Minato gave him a sideways glance and a smirk. "Just remember – the tally starts with the first fight, and I'll be keeping score."
It was an odd feeling, now that he thought about. Well, that was an understatement. 'Odd' was the class rep's dog running through the halls during lunch hour after being covered with several gallons of rainbow-coloured paint. But the shift from real time to the Dark Hour was so obvious that he'd never know how he missed it during his first night in Tatsumi Port Island. And it was becoming more palpable each time it happened. The shift that rippled through the world around him like a thin wall of water, the way the sound of traffic on the roads nearby was cut off and everything else became muffled, and how it always smelled like decay and stagnating water. Even the ambient lighting was strange, brighter in places that were nowhere near the street lights, and darker directly beneath them, even though the lights themselves were off.
But what threw him the most was the change in temperature. It was warm during the normal daytime hours, which was nothing new for the beginning of May. But when the Dark Hour hit, the temperature dropped a good ten degrees. It wasn't enough to require more than his usual jacket, but it was an immediate change, no matter how warm or brisk it had been at 11:59. Perhaps even more unusual, and he still wasn't used to it, was how the wind cut off when the shift happened. It only reinforced how wrong the Dark Hour was.
And yet the shift felt familiar. As disturbing as the changes were, jarring and blatant distortions of the normal world, there was a part of him that recognized the sensations. It wasn't obvious, but it was there in his heart, and it guided his steps through the Dark Hour with ease. He hadn't noticed it until Junpei had started asking questions, but it bolstered his decision to fight – he wanted some answers, and it seemed like this was where they were hiding.
"Did you catch all that, Arisato-kun?"
He pulled his eyes down in a flash. He'd been so busy looking at the ceiling of the bottom floor of Tartarus that he hadn't noticed that the others were done talking. Yukari was looking at him curiously, still looking like the girl he'd met on his first night despite the longbow she held in her hands and the quiver of arrows she had belted to her waist. Her Evoker was strapped to her hip, readily at hand, but he noticed that she kept her hands away from it when she could.
His inattention had made him the centre of attention. But he responded with a shrug. "More or less. Tartarus is a construct that's unique to the Dark Hour, and it was where the Shadow that attacked us the other night came from, so that's why we're exploring it, right?"
Akihiko nodded, holding his jacket over his shoulder like he'd stopped by on his usual route to school. "More or less. We explored it before, but had to stop due to a conflict of interest. Now we have you guys, so we're seeing what's in here. This floor's safe, and everything between us and the top is a nest for the Shadows."
"Is there a chance they'll try to escape into the city?" Yukari asked. "Or was last time a freak accident?"
Akihiko shook his head. "We're not sure. Most of the time they stay here, but if that were always the case then The Lost would only be in this area. They aren't, so it makes sense that the Shadows are out in the city when the Dark Hour hits. Or there's more to Apathy Syndrome than we know. But this is where most of the Shadows are, so this place gets priority."
Junpei chuckled and adjusted his baseball cap. "Then this place makes for a good training ring, doesn't it? We won't have to go looking for them, and we'll be ready if one of those big ones comes out."
Their senpai nodded. "That's the idea. Get used to fighting and using your Personas, because that's your best bet for staying alive in this place. There's another thing – pay attention to the feel of your Evokers, and also start thinking about ways to improve them. Is it too heavy or too light, wide enough, thin enough, whatever. It's going to be yours after tonight, and you're going to want it to be a perfect fit, so keep that in mind as we go."
The others were quiet, so Minato spoke up. "So these are going to become our own Evokers? We won't be switching them or grabbing whichever ones are available?"
Akihiko nodded, looking at each of them intently. "Evokers might be something we all use, but they're not interchangeable. The balance, the grip, the weight and feel, it's not something you want to be throwing you off-centre when you're in a bind. We'll lock them up when we're not using them, but we don't trade them unless it's necessary."
"Do they have to look like guns though?" Junpei asked, scratching the back of his neck. "Why couldn't it be something else?"
Akihiko gave him a hard stare, then pulled his Evoker free from the holster, tilted it back, and held it to his temple, just above the right eye, without flinching. "Tartarus won't go easy on you. If you can't pull the trigger when it doesn't matter, then you probably won't do much good when it does. And if that's the case, you should forget everything you've seen here and go back home."
"It's not like that," Junpei protested immediately. "It's just… I don't need a reminder of how crazy all this shit is. I mean, does it get any easier?"
Akihiko shrugged and gestured with his weapon. "It did for me. When you're fighting for your life and on the edge, how you die doesn't matter as much. A Shadow or a bullet to the brain, it'll get the job done. Just that if your Evoker were loaded, it would probably be faster."
"That's pretty morbid," Yukari murmured, checking her bow and quiver and looking up the stairs.
Minato spun his own Evoker around his forefinger, testing the weight and balance like his senpai had said. The action came easily, smoothly, and felt right. "It's a good mindset to have though," he noted. "It's not like we'll get a second chance if we choke." He looked up as Akihiko-senpai slid his weapon back into his belt, and frowned when something caught his eye. "Senpai, is that writing?"
"Hm?" He pulled the gun back out and looked at the slide, then gave a small smile. "Ah, that. It's something Ikutsuki put on. I have no idea where he got the idea or where he sends them for the engraving, but it never takes very long." He twisted the weapon and showed them. As Minato had seen, there were letters, but not English or Japanese, carved into each side of the otherwise clean and polished slide. "He says it's a way of personalizing them. I have no idea where he gets the quotes or ideas for them, but they're fitting. Or at least they are for me and Mitsuru."
Minato took a closer look, and tried making sense of the script, but all he knew was that the letters looked Greek. And the letters on one side were different from those on the other. "What does it mean?"
"The whole quote covers both sides," he explained as Yukari and Junpei leaned in for a closer look. "But it translates into something Archimedes apparently said: Give me somewhere to stand, and I will move the Earth."
The three were silent for a moment. He'd sounded proud but modest when speaking the words, and it showed in his expression. Minato couldn't help but be impressed, and Junpei chuckled with a grin, his concerns forgotten as he looked at the silver-haired teen with open admiration. "That's pretty deep. And awesome. And I can totally see that suiting you, Senpai. Born to rock in the ring and never taking second place, no matter where you are, y'know?"
"There's more to it than that, Junpei," Akihiko-senpai replied, holstering the weapon for the last time. "But we're not here for a history lesson. We'll see what Ikutsuki gives you, and maybe you'll understand more."
Minato frowned thoughtfully. He remembered the night he'd arrived at the dorm, and the weapon that'd been pointed at him, but couldn't recall seeing any markings on that Evoker. But then, he'd had other things on his mind, like contemplating a ventilated skull, so maybe he'd forgotten. "Do you have those markings on yours, Yukari-san?" he inquired.
She shook her head. "I haven't had much luck summoning my Persona until now, so it's never come up. I'm not sure what I'd want on it, anyway."
"You'll get them in time," Akihiko-senpai assured them crisply, rolling his shoulders. "Now, time to see what you can do. Let's take it one floor at a time. You guys are setting the pace, and you're going to be doing the fighting, so work out how you're going to operate."
"Will you be fighting with us, Senpai?" Yukari asked.
Akihiko-senpai gave a small, tight smirk. It might have looked stoic to the others, but to Minato it looked like a mix between a rueful laugh and a pained grimace. "There's nothing I'd like more, but Mitsuru and the doctors want me to take it easy for now. I feel fine, but it's not worth catching hell over. I'll back you up with my Persona if you get in a bind. The front lines are yours."
Junpei looked crestfallen, frowning before turning and adjusting his hat – evidently he'd been looking forward to fighting beside his senpai. Much as Minato would have liked the same, he also saw the logic behind the decision. "That makes sense," Minato told him, catching the group's attention. "There's no point in risking a permanent injury if you don't need to."
Akihiko gave him a level stare and a low grunt. "Whose side are you on?" he muttered.
"It's not like there'll be a shortage of Shadows to kill, right?"
Their senpai just shook his head and sighed. "Come on. Let's go. Remember: the Shadows will be trying to kill you, so don't let your guard down. We'll go as far as we can, then call it a night." And he led them up the stairs and through the distorted halls, teaching them as they went. Checking the corners, proper formations and space, signals between Junpei and Minato, whose weapons risked injury to the other, and so on. The first few fights were over before they really began. Minato got used to handling a saber again, Junpei's signals were easy to read, and Yukari's support worked well with their formation. He was about to comment on how well they were progressing when Akihiko gave the signal to stop. "Those were stragglers," he told them calmly, ignoring the silence he got in response. "It's pretty common. Since the Shadows are attuned to this place, we can expect them to try harder and in larger groups next."
"Try harder?" Junpei repeated, rolling his shoulder and flexing his hands on his sword. "You make it sound like they're smart enough to trick us or use ambushes."
"It doesn't happen all the time. But they're not just stupid animals operating on instinct. They're smart, crafty sometimes, and dangerous no matter what. So don't let your guard down."
"It looks like there's a staircase over there," Minato informed them, nodding down the next corridor. "At least we have a place to go if they attack us."
"Think they'll use the stairs?" Junpei asked, adjusting his grip on his sword.
"The one the other night climbed up the wall," Yukari noted, looking around and setting an arrow to her bowstring. "It was like it was herding us."
Akihiko-senpai let the shared commentary settle for a moment before walking toward the stairs. "We'll see what they try here. I've never seen them scale Tartarus, so maybe the rules are different here."
Minato followed without question, the other two joining him shortly after. The next floor was cramped and dark, even more so than before. Minato took the lead, checking the corners and only catching glimpses of something scurrying on the edge of his vision, so faint that he wasn't sure he was seeing anything. And the way the Dark Hour muffled sounds made his hearing useless. He looked around again, catching the silent, scurrying movements. But off in the distance. Was it running from them? Then why was it going sideways and not away? And it wasn't getting any closer. But then, why move like that at all? What was it doing?
Unless–
"Look out!"
–the movement was a distraction. Shadows rushed them from the corners they hadn't checked, and they were too close to dodge or run from.
Everything cleared. His vision crystallized. The gloom in the corners brightened, his centre of gravity anchored, and his hesitation fled. His body heated up. Momentum from his racing heart flooded his veins, seeped into his muscles, and drove him forward. Yes. He knew this feeling, and he welcomed it with a smile. He drew his sword in a flash and flowed forward, meeting the strikes with his own. Slashes were answered with a parry and riposte. He dodged around thrusts and severed the limb once it was in reach. His muscles pulled and tensed, remembering the hours of lessons. Each strike hit home, and each cut covered the walls with Shadow 'blood'. Dodge, slice. An arm melted into the ground. Parry, slash. A body fell without its head. Always in motion, always in balance, and he moved like water. His momentum couldn't be stopped no matter how hard they tried.
Two more cuts. His blade, sharp as it was, cut them down without slowing or catching. Another Shadow died, and he spun to meet the two that took its place. He barely saw the attacks, but his body reacted in a second. Two parries, one slash, and only one enemy left. He dodged and spun with an upward slice, bringing down the bird before his left hand connected with his Evoker. Out it came. Around it went.
Once. Twice. Thrice.
He barely felt it at his temple when he pulled the trigger, and the last Shadows near him died in a blast of fire. The adrenaline was still pumping as he turned, but the others had finished their targets. What a shame. He'd just started breathing hard. Akihiko-senpai watched them from the back, surrounded by a smoking pile of Shadow goo with a calm look on his face. The others looked up at the transfer student, clearly surprised by how fast he'd moved.
"Wh…where'd you learn t… to fight like that?" Junpei huffed next to him, shaking off a hit he'd taken.
"I used to be part of the kendo club back in jr. high," Minato replied, holstering his Evoker and running his thumb and forefinger down the blade to clean off the muck from their foes. "Learned a lot from them. It didn't last though – they ended up asking me not to participate after a while."
"That doesn't make sense," Yukari protested, collecting her arrows and wiping the sweat from her brow. "Why would they ask a skilled student to leave? I'm sure there were competitions you could have helped them win if you were that good. And how does kendo make you a good fencer?"
Minato smirked as he turned to her, shrugging exaggeratedly. "There were some sore losers on the team who felt that my participation took away from the training of the others. And there was the other detail that, whether it was the poor sports or the team captain, they all kept losing. So I ponied up for some lessons and took up fencing last year to expand my horizons. I'm not as good as when I was practicing kendo, but some of the principles are the same. And this style suits me more."
"Y…you're serious?" Junpei asked incredulously. Even Akihiko-senpai looked over at the transfer student curiously. "You were the best fighter on the kendo team?" Minato's smirk stayed as it was, and Junpei caught himself, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "Wait a sec. Are you serious?"
Minato didn't sound the least bit convincing when he replied "Who knows?" Just to top it off, he winked at his team mates. "If you're ever up for sparring, maybe you'll find out."
"Hm. Maybe I will," Junpei replied warily, then grinned at the others. "It would make for a pretty awesome fight though. You against me, last man standing. Who can turn down a guy with a Japanese sword, right Yuka-tan?"
Yukari rolled her eyes and pretended not to notice him. Minato chuckled and shook his head. Subtle as a train wreck, that one. His heart was in the right place, there was no denying that, but his approach needed work. "By the way Junpei, that puts me up to eight for this floor."
"Hm?"
Minato tapped his saber and the gunk that still clung to the blade, cocking an eyebrow meaningfully. "I said I'd be keeping tally. I'm at eight. What about you?"
Junpei was silent, and Yukari cocked her head and looked from one to the other, confused. "You're keeping count of the Shadows we've fought? Why?"
"No reason," Junpei told her before Minato could respond or Akihiko-senpai could ask further. "But that's enough of a rest, right? If the Shadows know when each other dies, then we should get going." He shouldered his sword, both weapon and wielder coated in the tacky slime left behind by the Shadows, and walked toward the end of the corridor.
Neither Yukari nor Akihiko-senpai saw it, but he gave a hard stare to Minato as he passed. And got a quirk of the lips, almost a smile, in response. When the others looked at him for answers, he just shrugged and turned to follow his companion.
Despite Akihiko-senpai's warnings and the chance for another ambush, the rest of the floor was quiet. The staircase presented itself, and they ascended to the next floor without incident. They passed through the door and found another empty room, but Akihiko-senpai stopped them with a "Hold up" when they were about to explore further. The three kouhai turned around, seeing him nod to where they'd just come from. "Here. Look at this." He pointed to an odd green sphere lodged in the frame, and closed his hand around it until it glowed. There was an odd vibration in the door, and when he reopened it, the view that greeted them as the platform at the bottom of Tartarus instead of more dark hallways.
"That's creepy," Junpei noted, staying back from the door.
"But convenient," Minato noted calmly, pushing his hand through the open door, testing for a barrier or a trap. Nothing. "It beats having to walk all the way back down."
"Let's call it a night," Akihiko told them. "This place takes more out of you than normal time does, and it takes getting used to. No point in pushing it too hard on the first try."
"Works for me," Yukari put in, stepping through the door and down the steps. She looked back when she reached the bottom, evidently to convince herself that the door hadn't been a trick. The three males followed, Akihiko-senpai leading.
When they reached the ground floor, their senpai looked at each of them in turn. "Not bad for a first try. How're you holding up?"
"Tired," Yukari replied simply. She was swaying a little, holding her bow close.
"I coulda gone another floor or two," Junpei told him, shouldering his sword. "But I get it if this was just a test run." Then he looked to the last member of the group. "So how about you, Leader? You got any more to give?"
"I'm fine. On the topic of our Evokers – I'll take a left-handed grip on mine," Minato informed their senpai smoothly. Yukari and Junpei looked at him, puzzled, and he continued. "Switching my sword out each time is too much of a hassle. It's not like the Shadows are going to wait for me if I screw up."
Akihiko-senpai nodded. "Makes sense. Using your Evoker left-handed means you're never off guard. Anything else?"
"The balance is a bit off," Minato continued. "The weight needs to be centred more."
"That was one of my spares," Akihiko-senpai noted with a smirk, "so that only makes sense. I'll make sure the adjustments are made. By the way, Mitsuru fights the same way you do, so if you ever need any pointers, she'd be someone to talk to."
Junpei immediately perked up. "Ooooh, now that would be an awesome fight to see, don'tcha think, Yuka-tan? Mitsuru-senpai against the new guy, a no-holds-barred match. I don't think either of them would stop for a whistle either."
Yukari just shook her head with a long-suffering sigh. "If she uses a saber too, then they'd be fencing properly. That means padded gear, masks, a fighting ring, and swinging at each other with props like paperclips. They'd have to call hits and points too, so it wouldn't be like fighting here if that's what you're thinking. Besides, she doesn't seem like she'd get bent out of shape over a fight, so it probably wouldn't be that interesting."
Junpei's shoulders sank as he grumbled under his breath. Akihiko-senpai's eyes were closed and something Yukari said must have amused him, because he hid a low laugh behind one of his hands. "It's hard to say how she'd react," he told them lightly. "But let's go – the Dark Hour's about to end, and it'll be easier if we're outside before this place changes back."
They made their way out to the street, and were just outside the front gate when the world distorted. A low hum, darkened lights flickering, and then it was over. The street lamps above them cut through the darkness and the normality of everything around them took a few minutes to get used to. Junpei and Yukari talked to Akihiko-senpai about their Evokers, and Minato trailed behind them, making sure his sword wouldn't be visible to any passersby. It was strange; for just a moment when they headed back down the tower, he felt something. A breeze on his mind, or a phantom brush across his face. It was as familiar to him as being in the Dark Hour, the same sensation he felt when he saw the Shadow on the roof. But where had it come from? Was it another large Shadow, or was it something else?
"You alright, Arisato?" Akihiko-senpai asked him as them stopped at an intersection. He glanced up and realized how close they were to the dorm.
"I'm fine," he replied with a small smile. "Just thinking about the Shadow from before."
"I guess it's all sinking in, huh?"
"Something like that. I don't suppose you know anything else about Tartarus, do you?"
"Nothing I haven't told you already. Why?"
Minato shrugged, his face blank. "I'm just wondering what's at the top. It's tall, but it doesn't go on forever, right?"
Akihiko-senpai shrugged. "No one knows. There're plenty of theories, but nothing that's more true or less crazy from basic gossip. But if we keep exploring, then the odds are good that we'll find out eventually."
Junpei chuckled next to them. "Though, seriously, that's a lot of stairs to climb."
"You're always bragging about being the star of PE, aren't you?" Yukari pointed out without a sideways glance. "So it shouldn't be a problem for you."
Junpei protested. Akihiko-senpai hid a laugh behind his hand. And Minato glanced back toward the tower that was no longer there. What was at the top? Or who?
They sat and discussed Tartarus and the Shadows when they returned. Minato and the others were tired and bruised from their fights, but the answers were welcome. Still, Minato found his mind wandering, and it had nothing to do with fatigue.
He thought about the Dark Hour and the Shadows as they talked, and looked at his Evoker, still on his belt. He could feel them inside now, tickling him under his skin. Stirring. Whispering. Waiting. His Personas. Waiting for a fight and a pull of the trigger to come out and raise hell. But they offered no guidance. No answers about everything that'd happened since he'd come to Tatsumi Port Island, to why he had several where the others only had one. To why it felt like he'd seen that Shadow that attacked the dorm before, and how he knew what it was going to do before it even moved. But he couldn't say anything. Telling people who were dedicated to killing Shadows that he had a connection with them wasn't a healthy career move. So he kept his intuitions to himself, hard as it was. He didn't have anyone to talk to about this strange familiarity.
"That's not true."
He spun toward the door. His neck popped from how fast he moved. The foyer, the lobby desk, the chair behind it. Nothing. But he knew what he'd heard. And who had that voice. Of course, that was just one more question he didn't have an answer for – after all this time, where had Junior gone? And why could he hear him when no one else even knew he existed?
"You're really out of it tonight, dude," Junpei told him from across the table, pulling him back to the present. "You alright? Maybe we oughtta turn in if you're spacing out."
Minato shook his head, beginning to realize how tired he was. Get back in the game. "Nah. I'm fine. I just need a minute to let it sink in.
"Well, the meeting's over anyway," Akihiko-senpai told them from where he was leaning against the arm of the couch. "All of you did pretty good tonight, so get some rest. And leave your Evokers here – I'll send them to be tuned up."
The three nodded and did as he asked. Conversation was nonexistent as they trudged up the stairs, their momentum gone and the sheer inertia of the Dark Hour, fighting Shadows, and a full day of school and studying and activities bearing down on them. Even with the Dark Hour feeling familiar and his sword training still as sharp as ever, his arms felt like lead weights in a swimming pool. He'd barely managed his farewells to his comrades before stumbling into his room and collapsing on his bed. When he woke up, it was eleven hours later.
His morning routines hadn't changed, despite working more closely with Yukari and Junpei at school to 'promote team cohesion', as Ikutsuki had put it after an attempt at a joke that involved pigeons and acorn squash. And the attention he'd gotten from his classmates hadn't decreased very much either, though at least it hadn't gotten any worse. But his trigger finger was itching. Until their weapons came back, they weren't going to Tartarus, and holding in his Personas without an outlet was like an itch he couldn't scratch. He hoped that his Evoker would be returned to him soon, but he hadn't expected it come back within two days. Nor was he expecting Mitsuru-senpai herself to deliver it to him.
He'd been sharpening his sword and tending to his gear, something that was fast becoming a habit, when she opened the door and stepped through in her usual blouse and skirt and boots, carrying a dark wooden case at her side. He rose from his seat and bowed smoothly to her, and noted when she stopped across the table from him that she was wearing perfume. Or perhaps she'd just showered, since her hair looked as clean and vibrant as ever. But his nose tickled as she stood there, catching a scent like Valentines cinnamon hearts and peppermint and something else he couldn't place. Yet it didn't cloud his head or make his eyes water, like some of the girls at school. It was something spicy and a bit sweet, but understated. Subtle enough that he hadn't noticed it until now. He couldn't help but approve of her choice – it suited her.
"Here," she told him, placing the case on the table to show him its contents without wasting time on formalities. "This one's yours. Takeba and Iori already have theirs."
The gun in the case, his Evoker, was now a polished grey instead of the same light blue that Yukari's was. The grip was grooved to accommodate a left hand instead of the usual right, as he'd requested, and it had a smoother, more streamlined frame than the one he'd sent away. There weren't any markings on the polished slide. No Greek letters or choice phrases. Ikutsuki must have still been working on one. Minato pulled it out of the case without a word and tested the weight and the balance. Both were perfect now. He looked down the iron sights – an obvious holdover from when it fired actual bullets – and felt his lips pull up into a small smile. Yes. This would do perfectly.
Mitsuru-senpai gave him a knowing smile when he looked up from the weapon. There was no condescension in her eyes, or resignation like he was getting used to seeing from Yukari when Junpei was talking. Instead it looked like she understood that his Evoker was more than just a tool, and that his focus on it was different from a male fascination with destructive metal objects. And he knew why. His Evoker was the gateway to his Persona, and that was something she could understand perfectly. Probably better than he could, considering how long she'd been doing this. "Make sure you get used to it," she told him simply, closing the case and stepping back with it. "And don't push yourself into exhaustion. We may need you for something that doesn't involve Tartarus, and you'll have to be in peak condition." She nodded once in parting, and turned toward the door.
"Thanks, Mitsuru-senpai," he murmured to her back as she left. She didn't respond or turn back, but he had a feeling that she heard him.
When she and her scent left the room, he looked at his Evoker again, then turned to his sword belt to check his holster. She'd taken the time to make the delivery, so the least he could do was make sure it was worth it. He'd be ready when she needed him.
They settled into the routine of going to Tartarus ever second or third night. Minato would have gone more, but Junpei had argued that going on no sleep for that long was crazy. Yukari had objected on grounds of still being students and needing to do well in their classes. In the end, Minato agreed with her, and took to practicing on his own when he wasn't studying.
It was a few weeks after their first night in Tartarus when Mitsuru-senpai had called them to the foyer as they were turning in. She was still wearing her uniform and looked the same as when she greeted them in the morning. Minato couldn't help but notice how much she contrasted with Junpei, who was yawning blearily, and Yukari, who had traces of toothpaste on the edge of her mouth. Their senpai wasn't yawning or rumpled, nor did she have circles under her eyes. Maybe she was a night owl.
"We've detected a Shadow outside Tartarus," she told them as an introduction. "It's at least as big as the one that attacked us here."
The others blinked, clearly not expecting the news. Minato felt his fatigue drain away and stretched in place. Well, so much for reading before calling it a night. "Do we have any details on it? Where is it?"
She nodded, gesturing to a map of the city on the table in front of her. "It's on a passenger train, here," she explained, pointing. "The lines are done running for the day, so it won't be moving too fast. I want you three to get ready and deal with it once the Dark Hour hits. I'll meet you at the train station and provide support."
"Will Akihiko-senpai be joining us?" Minato inquired, already forming a battle plan in his head.
"Not this time. He might get a bit enthusiastic and try to help you on the train. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but he's supposed to be healing. And you've been training long enough."
A trial by fire. "We'll get it done, Mitsuru-senpai," Minato told her. She nodded. The others had their questions, and she answered them easily. She left them in the foyer on account of "having other preparations to make," and the three made their way to the weapons room to arm up. They kept mostly to themselves, still shaking off their earlier plans and adjusting to the shift. And each had to prepare for the upcoming fight in their own way. They strapped on their weapons and armour and headed to the street without protest. This was what they'd been training for.
An hour later, just as the Dark Hour began, they were waiting outside the train station Mitsuru-senpai had pointed out. Junpei was resting on the stairs, looking sharp and alert after two energy drinks, while Yukari tapped the inside of her arm. "Where is she?" she grumbled.
Then they heard it.
There was a low, approaching growl. Not of a Shadow or a living beast, but rather of a mechanical steed, moving fast. Minato turned to see an approaching headlight that turned as it reached them, revealing a white and red Japanese motorcycle, complete with saddlebags and a metal case strapped to the back. The bike wasn't something that had been found and repaired or patched up until it ran – it was a quality machine that came at top dollar, a king of lions that purred as it idled, waiting for the command to run. Instead the rumbling died off as the ignition was cut, and his attention was caught by the person driving it. The rider snapped down the kickstand and dismounted, and for a moment Minato wasn't sure which of the two had finer curves. An expensive pair of boots ended while long, toned legs ran up to a shapely set of hips, all covered in dark riding leather. A zipped-up biking jacket, close fitting, and a dark helmet that looked both worn and cared for. Minato took a few seconds to look the rider over. He knew enough about bikes and the gear to go with them that while the rider's ensemble was of unmistakably good quality and probably cost more than a middle manager's mortgage, it showed signs of use. From the odd patch of thin material to the wear marks on the wrists and elbows and knees, the suit was both stylish and practical. Same as the helmet that was being unstrapped and pulled off as he completed his inspection.
The long red hair that announced the rider's identity as the helmet was removed didn't surprise him – he knew no one else in the dorm could have afforded an oil change for a bike like that, let alone the machine itself and the gear that came with it. But seeing Kirijo Mitsuru decked out in close-fitting leather hit a chord in him that held his feet in place and his mouth shut. He wasn't surprised – rather, he was in awe at the figure she cut.
"Holy shit," Junpei murmured next to him, and all he could do was nod.
Of course, such moments of worship and genuflection were not to last long. Yukari adjusted her quiver and stepped forward to address their senpai. "Do we know more about the Shadow now?"
And the spell was broken. Mitsuru-senpai nodded, uncaring of the attention she was getting and acting like she always did while she pulled the metal case off her bike. "It's on the train currently at the station here. As far as I can tell, it's at the front, and it's not moving."
"So… if the Dark Hour kills electronics, how does your bike work?" Junpei asked, still not completely over her, or her bike. Minato nodded – if he could get batteries like that, he'd never need to worry about his music cutting out again. And he wouldn't have to keep resetting the clock on his phone.
"It's special," she told them as she hung her helmet on the handlebars and shook her hair out. Minato couldn't help but follow its motion. She'd been riding a motorcycle with her helmet on, so it should have windblown or pressed close to her scalp. But it was neither. Instead she looked as fresh and in control as the first night he saw her.
He couldn't help where his mind went at her words. Special, eh? Not just the bike. Maybe it was inappropriate to think of his senpai like that, especially the daughter of the Kirijo chairman, a girl he'd known for less than a month, but he didn't care. The sight of her, leaning against her bike, confident and not a hair out of place, was burning into his mind. The white of her skin and red of her hair stood out like a pure, brilliant flame against the warped green cityscape and the glaring full moon above. An unshakable anchor of self-assurance that hit him even deeper than when he'd first seen her. More than Yukari's lively personality, or the girls he'd seen in the school drama club. None of them got to him like she did. When he thought about it, no one had ever gotten to him like that, girls or otherwise.
That should have scared the hell out of him. But all he could think was that he wanted to know more about her.
"I'll provide backup from here," she continued as she adjusted the case holding her scanning apparatus, evidently unaware of Minato's eyes following her. "I should be in range no matter what the Shadow does. It's probably too much to hope for that it will stay where it is, so be ready if the train starts moving."
"Can it do that without the engines?" Minato asked.
She nodded and knelt with her scanning equipment. He almost missed what she said next – he was too distracted with how the leather cupped her curves as she moved. "It wouldn't surprise me. There are a lot of rules that the Dark Hour bends, so be ready for anything." When she looked back at them, he nodded. And felt his cheeks heat up. Embarrassed? Well, that was another first.
But she was dead serious when she rose to her full height to address them. "Akihiko feels that all of you are ready, and from what I've seen, I agree with his assessment. But this is still dangerous. Remember your training and work together."
"We'll be alright, Mitsuru-senpai," Junpei assured her with a grin. "We're good to give it 110%."
"And we've got a leader who won't do anything stupid or reckless," Yukari put in, testing her bowstring.
"Then it's in your hands," she told them, nodding with a small smile. "Good luck."
Minato nodded and raised a hand in a half salute before turning and heading up the steps, checking his breathing and resting his hand on his sword. He felt the others close ranks behind him, and the air went cold. The familiarity was there, and it was useful in a way. It gave him something to focus on besides Mitsuru-senpai and how she looked, wrapped in leather. Like the feeling of wrongness all around him and the enemy they had to fight.
Sometimes, it really was the simple things in life.
He let out a fortifying breath as they reached the train, and draw his saber. "Be ready for anything," he told them calmly. "And watch your targets – fighting on a train means less space to move around."
"Got it," Yukari replied, all business now. "And you two watch your swings."
"No worries," Junpei tossed back as he drew his sword. On an unspoken signal, they rushed onto the train through the open door, looking for Shadows. But they ended up staggering for balance when the train jerked beneath them. The doors shut, the lights flickered, and the train started moving.
"Great," Yukari muttered, staring out the window as they accelerated. "Should've expected that."
Minato shrugged, focused on what lay ahead. "Who didn't see that coming? Come on – let's find this thing before it starts playing with the speed or the tracks. There's only one place it could've gotten this thing moving, so this way we won't have to go looking for it."
Junpei looked over his shoulder at their leader, a ready gleam in his eyes. "Same stakes as before?"
"You're on," Minato agreed with a small smile.
Yukari sighed next to them. "Men."
"It'll be more interesting if you join in, Yukari-san," Minato offered.
"No, you guys have your fun. Let's just get this over with." He and Junpei nodded, and they moved forward, attacking the first group of Shadows that materialized before them.
Much as Junpei might have complained about the time their training at Tartarus ate up and the late nights and bruises they'd endured, it paid off in spades now. Yukari's shots never missed, and Minato and Junpei worked off each other's strikes to counter the Shadows in the cars. They worked as a well-oiled machine. However, there was something they'd overlooked. Cramped as Tartarus was, it was spacious compared to the confined spaces of a passenger train. And the Shadows bled every time they were cut or shot or burned or blown apart by lightning and wind gusts. The team's luck simply wasn't good enough to remain untouched by the muck, and soon they were ankle-deep in slime, their weapons and clothes spattered black.
"I think the drycleaners are going to love us this week," Junpei commented after another Shadow went down in a blast of fire, bubbling and hissing as it melted.
Minato was about to comment that he wasn't sure if Shadow muck was dangerous to people, considering what they did to The Lost. His sword still cut perfectly despite the extra weight, but he couldn't see his blade under the chunky coat of black and green. And it was getting a bit heavier on the swing every time he finished off his targets.
"I just hope we have shampoo for this!" Yukari snapped back. A few Shadows had tried to scurry past the two guys and bled on her when Minato cut them down from behind just as they reached her. She was unharmed, but her cardigan and hair now carried chunks of blood and dead Shadow, and her temper had shortened immediately after.
Minato decided to keep his questions to himself. Not much they could do about it, and what they didn't know probably wouldn't kill them. At least not right away. Hopefully.
Back and forth they went, and they made their way up the train steadily. Their progress went so well, in fact, that Mitsuru-senpai commented on it across their mental link. "Excellent. Two more cars and you should see it."
Their target thought they were doing well too – it rattled the entire train and kicked up the speed. The dim lights outside became a sickening blur and the Shadows rushed them aggressively. Their banter died off as they fought off the creatures, one after another, and every step was bought with determination and violence. Blades flashed and Personas blazed, and the heavy fights were taking their toll.
Enough so that Minato missed a leaping Shadow that rushed past him. Yukari blew it away, but the attack had been a cover for another Shadow, one that was too close for Minato to dodge. And Junpei was already busy.
He spun, trying to move out of range, but was too late – the Shadow whipped forward, around his saber, and crashed into his chest, sending him into the wall. His vision doubled and his arms were pinned. His breath blasted out of his lungs and his chest immediately twisted in pain. The Shadow glared without eyes, too close to dislodge. Its claws came up, glistening red–
And were cut off by Junpei, swinging from behind. It died without a sound, but Minato didn't move, trying to breathe through the pain. Trying to see past the spots bubbling across his vision. But he heard it. A low chattering, like someone talking just on the edge of hearing, but he couldn't make out the words. They weren't in a language he understood. Maybe they weren't words at all. But they were coming from the front of the train. He shook his head, but the words persisted. Low. Angry. Threatening. No, no time to lay down. The thing in the first car had to die first.
Junpei finished off the last Shadow, so Yukari held her hand out, standing above him. "That looked bad. Are you alright? You look like you're bleeding."
Minato winced as he rose, feeling his ribs creak. Breathing was hard, and standing up straight was a sharp agony like digging into his own chest with a whole drawer of forks and steak knives, but he found his footing and shook her off. Even though his shirt was staining red, the punctures were small. "I'll manage."
She kept an arm in front of him, stopping him when he tried to push forward. "You won't be able to do much with your chest like that. Let me heal you."
"Save yourself the headache," he replied with a grimace. Damn thing had gotten him good. "We're almost there. Patch me up if I'm in trouble, but not now. We need to stop this train."
She tried arguing with him more, but he pushed past her and got to the door at the end of the car. Junpei rolled his shoulder and glanced at him from under his ball cap. "So that makes us pretty close to even, right?"
He resisted the urge to laugh, and considering the pain in his chest, it wasn't hard. "So, what now? Winner takes all for the next one?"
A fierce grin. "Works for me. We'll talk about the prize later."
Yukari shook her head, an arrow ready at her bow. "You two are nuts."
They pushed forward and the door opened. He saw it. Hunched in the control room, glaring at them with glazed eyes. Pale, waxy skin concealing what looked like both fat and muscle. It radiated power, so strong it was like choking on chlorine fumes. Yukari and Junpei recoiled, preparing for the fight they knew was coming. But not him. He'd felt this before, and it hadn't gotten to him back then either. The malevolence rolled around him, didn't touch him, and he readied his sword.
His mind cleared. There was no concern. No pain. The questions fell away – this thing wouldn't give him what he was looking for. But it still had to die. He knew it. It knew it. And he knew how to make it happen. They just needed a signal.
Junpei summoned his Persona, and the Shadow lashed out to block it. The explosion fried the air and filled the cabin with the smell of burnt tar.
That would do.
His left hand flashed out, Evoker spinning in his fingers. Two spins on his forefinger. Two more on the middle. And back to the fore as he snapped his wrist back. Smooth as greased lightning, the grip slid into place against his palm. Fingers closed, arm cocked, and barrel against his head.
It's on.
And he pulled the trigger.
The fight was fierce, far worse than what they'd gone through in Tartarus. The cramped quarters meant that dodging or retreat were impossible, and their Personas clashed with the Shadow's attacks each time, sizzling in the space between them.
Back and forth they fought, and it was more like a brawl between boxers stuck in phone booths than a spaced out, well-coordinated attack. None of them could retreat, so the only way forward was through their enemy, and they fought to the sound of lightning bolts and gunshots.
When the Shadow was off-balance, as much as it could be, Junpei darted forward and aimed a cut for one of its arms, but over swung and was left open. The Shadow reared up and stared down, claws raised. It had been a feint.
Junpei was in its sights, about to be slashed. And there was no room to get back.
Minato made a decision in a second. It was a risk, but they were running out of track. This fight had to end now.
He spun and threw his sword, hoping for a windfall of timing. Yukari released her arrow when she saw him move, and the Shadow recoiled when the bladed tip struck it in the face. Its shriek of rage was cut off when Minato's saber slammed into its throat. And Junpei, seeing an opening, put all his weight behind an upward slash that cut its head from its shoulders.
They panted and stared at the Shadow, still burning with adrenaline, when its body wavered and hissed, spewing black blood and growling like a boiling pot. Louder. Sharper. And then it exploded, raw energy and heavy muck knocking them all backward. Minato turned to protect his face, feeling the passing energy tear at his clothes and armour. And before the team could recover, the train lurched forward. Faster than before. Their enemy had a final 'screw you' up its sleeve.
They all froze. The backlash from the Shadow's death had knocked Junpei square into the wall, stunning him. Yukari had been rocked from her feet when the train shuddered, and was trying to catch her balance against the momentum. She looked up, past him, and gave a strangled gasp. He didn't bother guessing at what she saw – she'd turned white as bone and was shakily trying to point at it. No one ever did that around birthday cake and puppies.
He glanced over his shoulder, confirming what her expression told him – they were headed for the last stop at top speed. The world passed by in a sickening black and green haze and the lights of the Dark Hour made it hard to see how much track there was left.
The answer was obvious. Not enough. Not enough rail, not enough time. Too fast to jump ship. He rushed to the control panel and tried to make out the buttons from under the sticky muck from their foe. While he wiped at the console, he glanced up and saw the outlines of the fast-approaching rail yard.
End of the line. He looked down, trying to make sense of the conductor's console.
"I-is that what I think it is!?" Junpei shouted, staring through the window.
Brakes. Brakes. Where were the brakes? Buttons, levers, dials, switches and lights, but no brakes. Oh, but there was a red button off to the side.
Yukari finally found her voice. "We have to stop this thing! Now!"
Red button or not? It was always the red button in the movies. But that was also with secret bases in volcanoes and glaciers, not on trains.
"Oh shit, it's too late!"
He glanced across the console. Where… wher– There.
"Arisato, do something!"
He covered the dial to the left with his palm and twisted hard, feeling the momentum start to bleed off. No electronics in the Dark Hour, so no engine to kill, but whatever was driving them forward was gone now. He slammed his other hand into the red button. A violent shudder as the rear emergency brakes set in with a metallic squeal that set his ears ringing.
Not enough. They were too close.
"Dammit!"
"We're almost–"
Minato crouched against the console, grabbed the one lever that stood out from the rest, and yanked back as hard as he could. Nothing. His breath caught, and he tried again, straining so hard that his ribs screamed and spots blinked before his eyes. And the lever gave a little. Then a bit more.
Almost. Almost…
And he was sent toward the floor when it finally gave, sliding down and locking in place… then was immediately flattened against the console as the secondary brakes kicked in. The screeching of the brakes rose to a deafening scream of metal on metal. Everything and everyone flew forward. Junpei hit the ground hard next to him, trying to hold steady and protect his head. Yukari tipped over and hit the deck, sliding into Minato hard. He grunted, his chest flashing with pain, but he wrapped an arm around her waist to hold her steady.
Metal screaming. The train shuddering. And no one could look over the console with their insides trying to escape their bodies. Yukari clutched at his jacket, and he tried to worked out the distance he'd seen through the window against how much they were decelerating.
How close were they? How much track did they have left? Had they slowed down enough?
Closer. Closer. Almost there.
Slower.
Slower.
Slower.
And the train shuddered one more time before grinding to a grudging halt. No one moved for a minute – all three were numb from their fight with the Shadow and the sharp deceleration, rattled like coins in a can on a paint mixer until everything hurt. And after so much noise, no one had the faculties to talk or hear anything. Still, he was the leader, and took it upon himself to get his bearings. They were still in the Dark Hour, and who knew what else was coming. He glanced around, checking the windows. Yep, they'd completely stopped. He pried Yukari's arms off him and pushed himself to his feet unsteadily and collected his saber, too much in shock to wince in pain, then pulled the emergency exit lever to crack open the door.
He had to get out, and resorted to prying it open with his sword and cursing the need to do so. His old teachers would've had his hide nailed to the wall if they ever caught him using his weapons like that. He stuck his head out and looked down the rail, then grimaced at just how close they'd come to ramming the other trains. There couldn't have been more than twenty feet between them and the next train on the track. But they'd stopped in time. They were alive.
Then there was a shiver in the air, a tactile shift that felt like a wall of water passing over him. He shook it off as it passed, and had to wince at the moon above him, now back to its normal silver. Lights above them flashed on and the sounds of traffic replaced the heavy, oppressive silence. The alien feeling faded and the temperature rose sharply, immediately making him sweat. The Dark Hour was over. And the smell of stagnation and decay was replaced with pollution and smoking metal. Still, he took a long, deep, agonizing breath, and for all the crap that went into his lungs when he did, it was probably the sweetest breath he'd taken in years.
He jumped down to the loose rocks between the tracks and looked around, seeing the nearby loading terminal for cargo and employees. Considering how close they were to the street, there had to be a way out close by. He turned back to the others, about to help them up–
When all the train's interior lights suddenly flashed on, and every door on every car slid open. The others snapped to attention, looking around frantically while he immediately grasped his sword. There shouldn't be anything after them with the Dark Hour over, but… Then he heard a chime from the inside of the cars. "Thank you for choosing Central Iwatodai Rails! We hope you have enjoyed your trip and will choose us again in the future! If would like to comment on any aspect of the ride, please call our main office or speak to the conductor at the front of the train. If you think of ways can improve our service or safety regulations, please contact…"
"Great service, no matter the hour," Minato muttered, letting out a tense breath and regaining his calm as he helped the others out of the train. First Yukari, who was filthy and still shaky on her feet, and Junpei, who'd shouldered his sword but was shading his eyes against the lights around them. He started off slowly, choosing the most level ground while hoping they wouldn't have to hoof it back to the dorm. The others followed him on unsteady legs. Yukari in particular was holding the middle of her stomach and looked a little green around the gills. Minato slowed down to watch them closely, ready to move if either needed it. By the time they made their way through the terminal and out the front doors, he was about to check his cell phone when the familiar sound of a motorcycle engine purred toward them. He turned in time to see Mitsuru-senpai on her bike, flanked by two black cars, waiting at the bottom of the steps leading out of the train yard.
Less than ten minutes since electronics could function, and she already had a ride home for them. He had to hand it to her – she ran a tight ship.
"Do you guys need a few minutes?" he asked his comrades as he turned back to them.
Junpei groaned and waved at him to go away. Whether it was the injury or the screaming brakes, it seemed his hearing was sensitive. Yukari, on the other hand, shot him a look that felt like vinegar and broken glass. "Does it look like we need it?"
He let her tone roll off him like oil on ice, and gave a small, anticipatory smile in return. He understood that she was tense and just blowing off steam, but it was far too easy when she left herself open like that. "Not at all. I just like talking to myself after all my near-death experiences. It lets me know I'm still alive."
Evidently their voices were too loud, since Junpei trudged past them to sit on the steps, his head still in his hands. Yukari just glared at blue-haired student. "Do you have to try and be funny? I mean, is this really the time?"
"I don't plan on almost dying again tonight, so I might not get another chance."
She shook her head and muttered "Never mind" under her breath as she passed him, slowly lowering herself to the concrete a few yards from Junpei and breathing deeply. Tempting as it was to needle her further, they all deserved a chance to rest. And he was in the best position to talk to Mitsuru-senpai on their behalf. Thus decided, he rested his hand on his saber hilt and silently made his way down the steps, nodding politely to her as he approached. She'd dismounted her bike and watched him as he approached, looking at the others with apparent relief.
He couldn't even guess what he looked like after all the Shadows he'd killed, but she seemed more curious than amused. Well, that was a start. "Things got a little tense in the last few minutes," he told her simply, looking to the side and indicating his team mates. "The Shadow hit the accelerator when it died. Having to find the brakes was unexpected and made things tricky. We got knocked around a bit in the process."
He got a nod and a pensive stare in return as she absorbed the information. "You performed well," she told him as they watched the pair rest on the steps. "I wasn't expecting the Shadow to be smart enough to direct the train the way it did. You stopped it at just the right time."
"We got lucky," he replied candidly. His ribs still protested with every breath he took, but he endured. He couldn't look like a wimp in front of his senpai. And the bleeding had stopped. "But it could have gone a lot worse. Yukari-san and Junpei did well considering how much we had to improvise, especially in quarters that cramped. Hopefully our next fight is somewhere more spacious."
She didn't respond, instead gracing him with a small smile.
After everything he'd been through, he should have been tired or terrified like his comrades. If not that, then bored and disconnected like usual. Instead, besides the pain, he just felt content, something she was becoming skilled at inspiring in him. Maybe it was her confidence and solid control, or the analytical mind he could see working even from where he stood, or the way the smell he'd noticed earlier was mixing with the scent of leather and easing his worries away. Regardless, she didn't have to try very hard to create that comfortable silence, and it felt wrong to disturb it. "Since this makes two Shadows of this size, I guess this means there will be others," he mentioned after several minutes, adjusting his weapons belt and breathing gingerly.
Her face became distant, and she looked to the now-normal moon. "I expect so. It don't know how many more there are, but it probably wasn't a coincidence that they appeared here. We have to make sure we're ready for them."
He didn't bother to think of whether it sounded like boasting or bravado – he just said it. "We will be. We won here, so we can only get better."
She give him a sidelong glance. "You're confident after your victory. That's not a bad thing, but be careful to not let it blind you." Her lips dropped into a line of sober contemplation, and she spoke before he could respond. "But that's to be expected after tonight, and you don't seem like you'd easily let your successes get the better of you. So, congratulations. You've earned it. Akihiko said you'd be solid under fire, and after tonight I very much agree. When the other Shadows come, we'll be relying on your skills to see us through."
He frowned. There was something in her tone he couldn't place, like finality or grim acceptance, but it felt like something more than that. "Why me? SEES started with you, so shouldn't you be at the helm when you return to battle?"
She let a small smile tip her lips up, but it settled soon after it appeared. "True, Akihiko and I have been doing this the longest, but you seem to have connected with Takeba and Iori. Or at least they listen to you. That's what a leader needs, as much as tactical experience. Akihiko and I will support you when his injuries heal, and if I am able to join the team again. So there's no reason to change things in the future if they work this well now."
It was strange. Usually he had a feel for people and what they were thinking or where they were coming from in a discussion. Junpei's bravado, Akihiko-senpai's blunt, direct instructions, he never had to wonder what they meant. But he couldn't read her. She was thinking about something, or someone, connected to the Shadows, but the any potential details slipped from his grasp. It was unusual, and more than that he wanted her to not think about the problems of their situation when they'd just come out ahead. "Then we've got something to work from, don't we? Tonight turned out well despite the hitches on the train, so I'd call it the start of a good trend. I mean, we're at two victories for two attempts. Pretty good odds so far, right?"
She stared at him, and he felt the full weight of her attention. He had to wonder what else she knew about the situation, to look so sober about the subject. But he smiled at her and nodded, hoping he came across as reassuring and trying to project the confidence he felt to her.
Perhaps it worked, or maybe she never needed it, but her face relaxed, and she closed her eyes as she smiled, the first real one he'd seen since the Dark Hour began. "You're right. We've faced challenges so far, but we've also prevailed in the face of them. That's as good a reason for celebrating as any."
He felt the tension ease out of his body, let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. At least her mood had improved. Yukari and Junpei nodded half-heartedly to them as they passed, heading toward the cars and the waiting attendants. Yukari looked a bit better, but Junpei was still cradling the side of his head. Minato watched them as they passed, and reminded himself to keep an eye of his comrades. It wouldn't do for lingering injuries to weaken them as a team. He glanced to the side and noted that Mitsuru-senpai was watching them closely as well, perhaps coming to the same conclusion. The way she twisted showed her figure in profile, but what caught his eye was the flash of polished silver strapped to her hip. And the sight of it pulled something to his mind, something he'd forgotten about until now. "Senpai?" he asked quietly.
She gave him a sideways glance, still turned toward the others. "Yes?"
"Akihiko-senpai was talking about his Evoker and the inscription he has on it. He said it was something he received when he officially became a member of SEES. Since you're the head of the group, I was wondering if yours has something on it too."
She turned to him and blinked a few times, then set her face into a calm, controlled mask. "It does, but my inscription came from my parents, not from Ikutsuki. The source material the words were taken from is different."
"Ah. I see. I understand if it's a personal topic."
"It is, but thank you for recognizing that."
He accepted her brushing him off with grace, but wasn't about to just let it die there. "Still, I hope you'll tell me someday. It seems like an interesting idea, those inscriptions, especially them being in Greek. After we've worked together longer, perhaps?"
She turned to look at him full on, a small smile turning her lips up and an eyebrow raised speculatively. "Maybe, someday." Then she turned toward her bike and spoke over her shoulder as she started walking. "Très bien. Good work, once again. Make sure you return to the dorm and get some rest. All three of you have earned it."
"Where are you going?"
"The past week has showed us many things we didn't know before. Things that should be considered in depth. I think best on my own, so that's what I plan to do."
"I see. Well, good night then."
She nodded and continued to her bike. He waited until she'd geared up and kicked her steed into motion, and watched as she disappeared down the street and around the corner. He waited until he couldn't hear her before looking skyward.
Maybe someday, huh? Well she hadn't said 'no', and it made him wonder what was written on her Evoker. She said it was something personal. Did that mean uplifting? Grim? Telling? It didn't seem like she was ashamed of it. Yet another mystery surrounding the redheaded leader of SEES. But that was alright – he always loved a good puzzle.
"I'm looking forward to it," he murmured to the night, then looked down the steps to the awaiting car, to the dorm that was finally feeling less like a boarding house and more like home. He tossed one more look and a smile at the road Mitsuru had gone down, and made his way down the steps. It had been a close shave, and things went from bad to worse in no time at all. But they'd managed. They'd pulled it off, and he was positive they could do it again. Even past the muck that still covered him and his ribs that he was sure were cracked, the brushes with death from the Shadow and the train, and the promise that it was just the beginning, it really could've been worse.
