We did it, even thought homework was basically killing both of us for the last few days. Anyway enjoy, as for the replies. Oh and cookies to Gin and Mega for getting it right

Sniper : Glad, now please excuse me *pulls out popcorn* Woah, dude that is some of the best own age I have seen but seriously, I don't like getting down to cussing but with a reply like that along with Chuck Norris jokes, Ugh. Anyway thanks alot! Have a nice day.

Frenchie : Alright, I'm just gonna consider the first two lines because what you said after that is complete bullshit! Toilet jokes doesn't make you cool and it certainly does NOT makes us 'Bros'

No that 1000 year old dead man is irrelevant to this. Stay on the topic.

Next time, think twice before writing a reply, no author would ignore a review like that even if it was intended for the lulz.

Peace out.

Faust : Close, but its kinda like a never ending stockpile of enduring souls but that does not make him invincible and it always won't happen. If Minato gets beheaded or bombed into pieces, then he won't get revived. You get a cookie as well.

Mega: Exactly! And glad you enjoyed it, I wanted to start the Death link with a bang.

Minato nearly cursed when Hamuko broke the hug. It was too warm to be stopped. He mentally smacked himself for that thought, not really believing that he just thought that, of all things.

Hamuko frantically unbuttoned his blood-stained shirt, making Minato blush profusely. There was only one thing on his mind right now: "Hamuko, what are you doing?"

Once she had unbuttoned his shirt she glanced at his chest, where she was pretty sure the bullet had been shot. His chest may still have been caked with blood, but the hole had just disappeared.

"What happened to the wound?" Hamuko asked. She was still relieved by the fact that Minato was still alive, but she still didn't know what just happened. By all things that were normal, no-one could possibly be alive if they were shot right in the chest. In the heart, no less.

"Uh…" Minato was quite lost himself. He didn't know what happened. All that he knew was that he felt this searing and sharp pain right in his heart, but not before his vital signs returned.

"Baka!" Hamuko shouted. "You had me worried sick!" She lightly slapped him on the head. Normally, even if Minato was severely injured, he still would have brutalised the person who had slapped him, but this time he just hung his head.

"Sorry for worrying you…" Minato mumbled. Needless to say, Yukari and Junpei were surprised to see his attitude take a 180 there.

"The wound disappeared completely," Mitsuru added. "That is certainly a miracle."

"But how?" Yukari asked. She was in a way, glad that Minato didn't die.

Minato attempted to get up, but soon collapsed again. He winced as his injured arm and leg simply protested to move. "Dammit, guess everything else didn't," he muttered. He tried to get up again, but like before he fell onto the ground.

"Arisato, stop it. Takeba and Iori will help you," Mitsuru ordered.

"I don't need any help," Minato snapped as he stood still, however still feeling intense pain in his leg and arm.

"This is an order!" Mitsuru shouted.

"I take orders from no-one!" he replied. Clearly the thought of someone ordering him, of all people around was seriously starting to piss him off.

"This is madne—" Mitsuru started before she was cut off by a soft voice.

"I'll help you, Minato-kun," Hamuko placed Minato's arm around her shoulder and supported him to stand.

"But you're injured yourself,"Minato said worriedly, and Hamuko sighed.

"Not as badly as you…" Hamuko pointed at his almost non-existent leg which was torn apart by an earlier bullet. "My wounds are nothing compared to that."

Hamuko dragged Minato away as carefully as she could while Yukari and Junpei walked behind. Each of them were tired as all heck from the trek, which was truly the worst yet.

Minato sighed in relief as he arrived at the ground floor. "This place feels just like a fucking home now," he muttered.

Hamuko laughed, "Sure it does! Considering what happened up there."

"Don't remind me… I thought I was dead," Yukari shuddered as she remembered what just happened again.

"Wusses," Minato spat.

Hamuko didn't approve of the way he said that. But there was one thing she had to admit: It was almost a catch phrase. Well… along with every other cuss word. Hamuko sighed, but smiled.

She couldn't really be angry though. He did save her three times… At that thought, she felt a dull ache in her heart.

She was useless again, just like every other time. And the thoughts continued coming, threatening to make her cry again.

Minato winced in pain but rubbed his sides to lessen it. "I need to sleep," he glanced at Mitsuru.

"I won't be going to school tomorrow," he said bluntly, almost ordering her.

"Agreed," Mitsuru nodded. "After an expedition like that, you all deserve a day off."

SEES was seated in the near empty train. Minato was so tired and drained that he dropped his head right onto Hamuko's shoulder before realising what was happening. He quickly pulled himself up and blushed a little.

"Uh, sorry," he muttered. Hamuko only shook her head at that.

"It's alright," she replied before gently lowering his head and allowing it to fall on her shoulder.
Minato was about to pull back again, but he just couldn't. The fatigue he was feeling was simply overwhelming at this point. "I've never been this tired," he mumbled as he finally relaxed his body and rested his head.

"No wonder," Hamuko winced. "You were put straight through hell… and it was because of me…"

Minato had to control himself, not to say something really cheesy, but the words just forced their ways through. "I'll go there again… for you," he said, giving a broken smile.

Hamuko blushed. "Don't you dare," she clasped his hand. "Next time, I'll go through hell for you."

"Hell for me?" Minato chuckled. "Why would anybody go through hell for someone like me? You have a life which you can spend normally, peacefully," he looked towards the floor. "I don't."

"What do you mean?: Hamuko nearly tearing up as she asked.

Minato glanced at her. "It's like I said back there. I'm already dead," he said quietly as he buried his face onto her shoulder. "Frankly, I'm just waiting for this life to end… It probably won't be a big blow to anyone."

"You fucking idiot!" Hamuko cursed, shocking the hell out of Minato who just gaped at her.

"You're cursing?" Minato asked with an incredulous tone.

"Didn't you think for even a goddamn second about how I'll feel when you…" she gulped. "Die?"

Minato stared at the ground. "Sorry… I haven't felt like this before. Just drop it," he sighed.

Hamuko wanted to yell at him that she did care for him, but looking into his silver eyes, full of sadness she couldn't. "…Alright Minato-kun."

Meanwhile, Junpei was smiling slightly at them, along with Mitsuru. Arisato may have been quite difficult to work with, but he nearly killed himself for Marie. She smiled as Minato brushed Hamuko's hand away who was about to pet him, like usual.

However, Yukari wasn't smiling. She was seething with jealousy. She couldn't understand what was so special about Hamuko. However she then remembered how Minato also saved her, giving up the venomous scowl on her face and blushed instead.

Minato laid on his bed, his hand grasping a photo which he found in his closet. It was a photo of before the accident. Minato nearly puked at seeing himself, being surrounded by friends and having that goofy grin on his face.

"Geez, I was like that?" he snorted, even though he felt sad just by looking at it, even if he would never admit it out loud or show it at all.

"It's better than living this way I suppose," Minato winced. For sure, he himself could see what sort of a 'shameless, ruthless bastard' he was, as some had called him before.

"Fuck them," Minato spat. "I don't care!"

He stood up and winced again. "Damn… the pain…" While the intense healing session with Mitsuru and Yukari did heal his leg, his shoulder was still hurting.

"What was that thing?" Minato pondered. "Hamuko summoned her Persona just around the same time and then something nearly split my head open." He made a mental note, "I gotta ask Hamuko." Just as he finished that sentence, his door was slammed open to reveal Hamuko.

"Ahoy Minato-kun!" she saluted with a smile. Minato smiled back when he saw her. He was happy to see her energetic and smiling like always.

"What's that?" Hamuko asked, pointing at the picture Minato was holding. The blue haired devil quickly hid it behind his back when she did.

"Uh, nothing," Minato stammered.

"Oh come on!" Hamuko pouted as she tried to reach behind his back, "Show me!" she demanded.

"Nope," Minato swiftly moved his arm away.

"One last chance! Show me," she almost yelled.

"No," Minato answered. He was sure that she would give up at this point but the exact opposite happened. Hamuko tackled him onto the bed, making him stumble back and crash onto it.

"Damn it!" Minato yelled as he tried to power his way out of the mess but Hamuko had something else planned.

"Tickle, tickle," Hamuko giggled as she began tickling Minato all over.

Minato blushed and cried, "Hehe, dammit, hehehe, stop that!"

"Geez, you're giggling," Hamuko smiled as he continued her assault. Minato was actually laughing, and it was definitely something new and something that she hadn't really seen.

"Darn it, hamuko! Hehe, stop it, please!" Minato begged, but Hamuko didn't listen. Minato tried to jerk his body away, but it changed nothing.

Hamuko giggled as she tickled him. Minato dropped the photo that he was carrying, and she snatched it. However, she didn't pay as much attention as she did before and still just continued her work. Hearing Minato laugh for once was something really heart-warming.

"Hey, what are you doing?" The teens' attention was diverted to the source of the voice. Standing next to the door frame was Yukari. She had a face which was a mix of jealousy and frustration, with a tone to match.

"Oh!" Hamuko blushed as she realized the awkward position that she and Minato were in. She was on top of Minato, with her hands on his chest. Her face was considerably flushed, and by then she had hopped off of Minato who was busy trying to catch his breath.

"What were you doing?" Yukari asked bluntly.

"None of your business," Minato snapped. Why the hell would she even ask that?

Yukari merely gave them a dagger-like look an stormed off, leaving Hamuko very confused.

It was strange since she would normally tease Hamuko. She wasn't sure what got into Yukari, that was for sure. Another thought crept inside her mind and that was wondering whether Yukari actually liked Minato-kun. A small amount of anger was starting to rise up, but she discarded it as quickly as the feeling came. That couldn't possibly be true.

She smiled and looked at Minato. She triumphantly showed him the photo which she managed to grab from him."Ho ho, let's see what we have here!" she laughed.

What came next was something Minato would never have expected. Hamuko released a shrill screech which clearly resembled the ones that his fan girls used to give.

"Kya! That's so cute!" Hamuko exclaimed with her mouth agape.

"Alright, unexpected," Minato muttered before snatching the photo back. "That's personal!" he snapped.

"But you were so cute," Hamuko cooed. "Seriously, you could win the cuteness competition with ease!" she giggled.

Minato blushed at that comment before stammering, "Uh… thanks…"

"You're still cute you blue haired emo," Hamuko laughed.

"T-Thanks again," he fidgeted.. "Want to hang out?" he asked, at which Hamuko began smiling brightly.

"Seriously?" Hamuko asked. Minato never asked anyone out.

"Yeah, I'm bored and my leg is healed so let's go," he replied.

Hamuko smiled ever wider. "Suries! Let's go!" With that, she grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of the room and out of the dorm.

"By the way," Minato spoke while they were in the train. "Did you hear a voice before you summoned Orpheus for the last time?" he asked.

"…"

"…"

"I did," Hamuko answered after a lengthy silence. "It was something like 'use us.'" Minato's eye widened at that.

"That's the same thing I heard," Minato informed. "And the then the Persona just tore my head apart." Hamuko nodded in agreement.

"I felt a bit of pain too," she admitted.

Minato sighed, "This is weird." Hamuko grasped his hand. Normally he would be blushing like no tomorrow but he was getting used to her being clingy… Honestly, he didn't mind it at all.

"Don't worry about it," she smiled. "At least we're alive like you always say."

"Yeah," Minato smiled before snapping at a passenger, "The fuck are you looking at? I'll tear your eyes out." The teenager who was staring at the two flinched visible and shuffled away.

"Let's eat at Hagakure," Hamuko suggested with a smile.

"Alright. I'll pay for the both of us," Minaot added right in, not giving her a chance to speak. He didn't want her to work at the café again and overwork herself.

"Okay," Hamuko sighed.

The two entered and like always, they got into a competition which Minato easily won.
"Five bowls…" Hamuko muttered.

"Twenty-two bowls," Minaot grinned as they walked into the mall.

"How is that possible!?" she shouted.

"It just is," Minato replied simply. Hamuko just sighed at that and gazed up at the sky. They were out for a while night. Eating and then watching a movie. She absolutely loved the time she spent with Minato. He always showed a completely different side of himself whenever it was just the two of them.

"Minato-kun? You can go back. I have to work at the café," Hamuko said. Minato's face lost the smile he had and glared at her.

"There's no way you're working there! The place is full of perverts and I told you, if you need weapons I'll buy them for you," Minato exclaimed. Hamuko just gave a bright smile.

"I know!" she patted him on the back. "But I did have a contract. Don't worry! Today will be the last and I'll never work again."

Minato sighed. She had a point. "Alright… just be careful when you're coming back."
Hamuko nodded at that. "Sure! See ya later you cute, blue haired emo," she laughed before skipping off.

"Geez," Minato had a small smile on his face as he watched Hamuko skip to the café. Just as Minato walked off, someone with a ridiculous appearance stepped out form Game Panic, his eyes glued to the café.

"…Hamuko," he whispered.

…

Minato stepped inside the dorm to see Mitsuru sitting on the couch. She greeted Minato like always with, "Welcome back."

"Yeah," he replied, actually returning the greeting this time.

"Everyone is out," Mitsuru added and Minato stopped walking up the stairs. This was probably his best chance now.

He walked back to Mitsuru declaring, "We'll be going to Tartarus." Mitsuru nearly dropped the book she was reading onto the floor and glared at him.

"You cannot be serious. You were severely injured the last time!" she scolded.

Minato shrugged, "So?"

"What do you mean so?" Mitsuru nearly shouted.

Minato fixed a cold glare on her form. He bared his fangs and spoke through clenched teeth, "Why do you care?" he spat.

Mitsuru stood up. "I do care! For the safety of SEES!" she shouted.

Minato shook his head with a sneer. "My ass! Why do you care in the first place!?" he shouted back.

"You manipulative bitch! You had my room pre-decided just because I had the fucking potential, Why the fuck are you so hung over this?" Minato cursed profusely at probably the richest woman in the world.

Honestly, he didn't give a shit. And for the first time, Mitsuru couldn't retaliate to his reply.

"Because…" Mitsuru stopped mid-sentence. She just couldn't finish it. However, Minato only continued his assault.

"Why the fuck do you care about this whole twenty fifth hour crap, huh?" Minato snarled as Mitsuru fell silent. "I dare you! Tell me right now! Shouldn't someone as rich as you be sitting in a spa and letting others deal with all this crap?"

"I…" Mitsuru stammered.

"Huh I bet you would sell us all out if you even had a chance to end this, given the insane amount of responsibility you developed over this," Minato laughed. "Shouldn't daddy be lining up your pocket while you, like I said, sit in home without a fucking care!? Because this isn't your fault… is it?" he smiled.

"You just search for someone who has this potential if we all die someday," Minato accused while Mitsuru bared her teeth in rage.

"How dare you!?" she shouted, but Minato wasn't intimidated.

"I do dare!" he shouted back, "Come on Empress! What would you enjoy? Fighting Shadows or sitting at home?"

"Pft. Are you just doing this because you want to be the 'heroic epic hero who saved the world'? Minato spat. "Just to add to the fact that you're not only rich, but also a hero?"

Mitsuru was becoming close to losing it from Minato's scathing words.

"Hmph. How high can you get?" Minato continued mocking, his eyes holding a piercing glare that seemed to peer right into Mitsuru's soul. "You. Don't. Care," Minato whispered, and it was at this point that Mitsuru finally shouted what he wanted to hear.

"I do! I do care to destroy this hour! I want to correct the mistakes that my grandfather made! I want to rid the world of the Dark Hour!" she shouted, bringing a satisfied smirk onto his face.

Mitsuru clasped her mouth as she realized what she just said. "Arisato…"

"So you did it huh?" Minato straightened up. "The Kirijo group caused it all?" He raised an eyebrow.

Mitsuru had finally realized what just happened. He was playing her, and manipulating Mitsuru the whole time.

Mitsuru was about to say all the things that were coming to mind right then, but Minato cut her off with something she had never expected. "So you're fighting to undo the mistakes that old bastard made huh? …I respect that,"

Minato announced as he walked up the stairs. "I got what I wanted! I finally know who started it!"

"Arisato. Please, do not tell this to anyone," Mitsuru almost pleaded, trying to keep any ounce of clarity her mind had.

Minato nodded. "I won't," he looked at her. "I still don't like you or anything but I do respect what you're doing."

"Is that so?" Mitsuru nearly smiled while Minato nodded.

"Yeah, good luck with that," he replied before walking off.

Hamuko panted as she hurriedly made her way from Paulownia Mall. She'd stayed late and it was the Dark Hour now.

She froze in her tracks as she heard a giggle. "Hamuko…" The voice was the sleazy kind, and she was beginning to become very afraid of the situation she was in now, and the voice.

Hamuko ran as quickly as she could, sure that something was following her every move. She started to sob as heavy breathing coupled with footsteps echoed in the dead night.

"Who are you?" she cried, but there was no answer. The silence was haunting, and she was beginning to feel faint.

"Who are you!?" she shouted. Hamuko started running again, but tripped and her face hit the hard ground. She immediately stood up and rubbed her bruised face.

"Run! Otherwise, you'll regret it," a voice came from the shadows. Hamuko sobbed and began her tracks like a bat out of hell.

"Save me!" she shouted, hoping that anyone else would hear her. "Minato, please save me—" she began, but stopped as she rammed right into someone. Already feeling scared, she twisted her hand and slapped the stranger across the face.

"Ouch!" The voice sounded familiar… Hamuko felt relief wash over her as she realized who it was.

The bluenette was annoyed at being slapped but stopped.

Hamuko was soaked with cold sweat and she was shaking violently, out of fear.

"What happened?" Minato asked worriedly, noticing tears streaming down her face.

"Someone's stalking me," she choked out and hugged him. "Please, save me… it's still here…"

Minato tightened a good grip around her, and hugged back. "Don't worry… No-one's going to hurt you."

Meanwhile from the darkness, that same voice from earlier laughed quietly, "Target locked… Minato Arisato."

Hoshi: Whoo! The chapter is out guys! I just finished a majority of my homework too so yeah... *repeatedly curses school*
Hope you guys like it though!

And now... Just a word to Little Frenchie. =l
Welp, glad you like the story at least. And I thought this was going to be an okay review until I saw the next few lines.
Firstly... Chuck Norris jokes are out of date and overused. Just... don't. Second, you're not going to get a cookie because what you said wasn't right anyways. Third, if you try ANYTHING of that nature, you clearly have a death wish. Fourth, wrestling has nothing to do with anything here. Fifth, nope! It's reverse Tower and Priestess.

Okay, if you say anything unseemly once again my more civil reply is going to turn into a rage. Thank you and have a nice day.

Bystander: I guess it does? I'm beginning to think that we show him with Hamuko too often now… =P
Is that right? Damn. I didn't really count. XD
Sugar… it's good in small amounts. But I fear this may be more sugar than one could be prepared for since there's more!
Thanks! And yeah, haha.

Richard: Nup! Guess again friend! =P

Gin: Mmhm, thank Nights for that. Well, there is even MORE stuff coming that is pretty special and is already foreshadowed in this chapter, so look forward to more?
Yup! It is, quite! Want that cookie? =D
Welp, it is always nice sometimes. Thanks!

Yami: Neither am I, I'm horrible at predicting things in fics. I would give you a hi-five for that if it isn't too awkward… =P
Thanks!

Cipher: Yup it was, but it wouldn't really be something they would know. More like something that players will remember and cringe at. Ah… *thinks* That would have been really, really smart. I don't know, honestly. Seems like something we should fix…
Because well... I believe Revival Beads and stuff like that only work on unconscious persons. If Minato DIED that one time, no-one would be able to bring him back with a Revival Bead or Recarm either. It's a kind of urgency…
Glad you think so! Interesting take. =)
Huh, we did? O_O
Of course! Ah, that is an interesting idea and I like it. Maybe.

Alright, anyways! Review as always! We appreciate it! Sayoonara~