"No, that can't be it," Minato mumbled and shook his head. "I can't be in love, right?" he said to himself.
"Besides…" He said, fixing his gaze on the floor. "She deserves way better than a monster like me…" Minato's eyes began to sting, and it greatly surprised him.
"What's happening to me?" Minato said, rubbing his eyes to get rid of the stinging behind his eyes, "I can't be crying, right?" That couldn't be possible, could it?
Shrugging off the thoughts, Minato walked out of the baths and met up with his team.
Minato blushed as he looked at Hamuko just once and he tried to cover up his blush. All four of the teens looked around awkwardly.
"So…" Junpei started, "You two were really kissing?"
"C-Cut it," Minato stammered. "We didn't know. The Shadow was doing it all," Minato said before his shy attitude exploded into his usual cold one. "Reminds me, where the fuck is that Shadow? I'll tear that bastard to a million pieces!" Minato snarled. "Fuuka! Where the hell is that thing?"
"It's on the third floor in the same room where you fought the last Shadow, but, something seem strange. The door is locked due to some seal," Fuuka informed the team.
"I'll break the seal along with that Shadow!" Hamuko shouted.
"I got it!" Fuuka cut in, "The mirrors, they are the seal."
"How? You mean the mirror I saw on the third floor?" Yukari asked.
"Yes, mirrors that don't show your reflection. They are the seals. Please find them and break them. Only then can the seal be lifted," Fuuka said, disconnecting the link.
"Alright, let's go Minnie-kun." Hamuko said, grasping his hand but Minato pulled back, blushing furiously. The kiss was still on his mind and he couldn't even look Hamuko in the eyes without getting a blush.
"I-I'll take Junpei. You go with Yukari," Minato stammered, grabbing Junpei by the collar and dragging him away.
"Cute…" Hamuko giggled and it didn't go unnoticed by Yukari.
"Say, what's up with the two of you?" Yukari asked stiffly.
"I dunno," Hamuko said shyly. "Maybe he likes me?"
"He likes you? Come on. Minato is like the biggest jerk I've ever seen in my life," Yukari spat, "He wouldn't care if all of us died."
"Why are you so hung over that?" Hamuko asked, "Don't tell me that you liked him, even with all of the things you said just now."
"N-No! I don't like him. Jerk," Yukari exclaimed. Hamuko carefully studied Yukari's expression.
"Alright…" Hamuko replied, "Let's go and break the mirrors."
After breaking the two mirrors, Minato and the team met up on the third floor. Minato kicked the door open and yelled, "Alright you asshole! I'll mutilate you for screwing with us!" Minato glared at the floating heart that was the Lovers Shadow.
"So this is the punk, I'll teach you not to mess with a girl's heart!" Yukari growled as he readied her bow.
"I'll kill you!" Junpei swore.
"I hope you're ready for an ass kicking!" Hamuko yelled at the Shadow. The Shadow screeched and released a torrent of hell fire towards the teens.
"Dodge," Minato commanded. He bolted towards Hamuko and threw her to the side and switched to Pyro Jack in the last minute, nullifying the flames.
"Tch, Takeba, heal when needed. Asshat, go attack him full force," Minato commanded, drawing his sword out.
"Got it!" Yukari nodded.
"It's all me!" Junpei yelled, aiming a slash but the Shadow just flew to the side. Junpei enraged, summoned Hermes and launched a fireball at the Shadow which had no effect.
"It nulls fire," Fuuka cut in, "Please be careful."
"Rhadamanthus!" Hamuko shot herself with the evoker, summoning the judge who launched an Aquadyne at the shadow.
The shadow was hit right on, causing Hamuko to cheer, "Water beats fire!"
"Good one!" Minato complimented as he jumped up, driving his sword right into the heart-shaped belly of the Shadow which caused it to release a screech.
Minato was blasted backwards, courtesy of a fireball from the shadow. Minato gritted his teeth and rolled on the ground, before standing back on his feet. "Tch, at least it did some damage," he mused, looking at the torn body of the Shadow.
"It's weakening." Fuuka informed, "Keep it up everyone!"
Minato dashed towards the Shadow, Evoker in hand. He pressed the cold metal of the barrel towards his temple and pulled the trigger. "Yamata Orochi!" Minato shouted as he summoned the multi headed serpent who gave out a roar, towering over the rest.
"Wow…" was all that Junpei could say.
"Tear him to pieces!" Minato commanded as the snake reared back and shot all of his heads towards the Shadow. Holding the Shadow in a firm grip with his teeth, Orochi flung the shadow across the room, smashing it against the wall which visibly suffered a crack.
"Right on, we're nearly there!" Hamuko cheered, clutching her naginata.
The Shadow flew back up and released another screech. Minato shouted as multiple arrows materialized out of nowhere, aiming right for the teens.
"Watch out!" Minato barely dodged the arrows. Yukari managed to hide behind the couch. However, Junpei was not lucky, an arrow lodged into his arm, making the capped teen scream in pain.
Hamuko collapsed to the ground as hit her right on her leg.
"Hamuko!" Minato yelled but received no response.
Minato ran over to Hamuko, praying that she would be okay. "Hamuko?" Minato said, slightly tugging on her sleeve, "You okay?"
There was no response, Hamuko didn't even move and it greatly worried Minato. What on earth happened to her?
Before Minato could say anything else, Hamuko slapped him right across the face so hard that Minato actually fell onto the ground, rubbing his sore cheek. "Hamuko? What happened?" Minato asked.
This time, he got an answer, it was a snicker.
"What's wrong with you?" Minato choked out. He couldn't believe that Hamuko slapped him.
"Nothing," Hamuko said in a singsong voice as she turned around to face him, her pretty face had a look of insanity and her scarlet red eyes looked ready to kill.
Minato could only stare in shock but Hamuko acted swiftly. She grabbed Minato by his hair and lifted him off the ground, embedding her fist onto Minato's stomach. Even though she was a girl, her punch hurt like hell.
"Hamuko-chan is charmed!" Fuuka cried, "Give her a Dis-charm!"
"Got it!" Junpei tried to pull one out of the bag of supplies but the next second, he threw the bag to the side, as the Shadow burned it along with the supplies with a timed fireball.
"What are we gonna do-AHHH!" Yukari cried, as the shadow bolted towards her, smashing her against the wall.
Hamuko decked Minato right on the face, not one but twice. She actually giggled during it.
Minato gritted his teeth and his anger flared. Minato dodged a punch and grabbed her wrist with one of his hand, curling the other into a fist. He was about to smash his knuckle against her face… It was mere inches away, and he knew he could surely knock her down with a few strikes.
But… He found himself rooted just as he was about to thwack her, his own body disobeyed as his eyes registered that the person he was about to hit was Hamuko.
…Maybe, the girl he fell in love with.
He couldn't do it. Minato found all the force in his arm left him, just as his fist was inches shy from Hamuko's face.
"I can't…" Minato choked out, remembering all the warm hugs that Hamuko gave him; she actually treated him like as a best friend, even though he had his violent tendencies and generally rude attitude.
"I can't do it…" Minato whispered, dropping his fist to his side. "I can't hit her, because… I love her," Minato admitted as Hamuko freed herself from his grip and kneed him in the stomach.
"Tch, spineless," Hamuko taunted, grabbing him by the back of his head and smashing his face onto the ground. Minato didn't retaliate, even though he was feeling immense pain.
The next second, Minato's body jolted as he felt Hamuko stomp on his head, driving his face onto the ground. "Wake up Hamuko," Minato nearly pleaded but the Charmed Hamuko didn't listen.
Minato looked from the corner of his eye at Junpei and Yukari. The brunette was injured and they were out of supplies, while Junpei was burning up his SP by firing countless fireballs, which had no effect on the shadow.
"Hamuko, it's the Shadow," Hamuko giggled and lifted Minato up by his hair.
"It's just me… Kicking your ass," Hamuko said with a crazed expression. Minato shivered just by looking at her.
Minato managed to free himself from her grasp. He dodged the oncoming flurry of strikes, barely. "I can't hit you!" Minato cried, "Don't make me hit you."
"Hit me!" Hamuko shouted, kicking him right in the gut, Minato staggered back and dropped onto his knees. Grinning, Hamuko smashed her knee right onto Minato's temple, flooring him with one hit. Minato actually though he felt his skull crack.
"Who do you think you are?" Hamuko yelled at Minato, grabbing him by the collar. "I dare you! Hit me, hit me with all you've got, you sick bastard."
"I won't… because I…" Minato trailed off, feeling his eyes sting.
"Have a little crush, eh?" Hamuko mocked, "Well sorry to say, I never liked a scumbag like you."
And just like that Minato felt his world shatter.
"Hamuko, what are you doing?" Yukari cried out, staring wide eyed at the scene. Hamuko had Minato down and out.
Hamuko forcefully grabbed Minato's knife from his pocket and rammed it onto his forearm, opening a flood of blood. Minato cried out in pain, but he didn't push her off.
"Yes, scream some more!" Hamuko repeated the action on the other arm, effectively injuring both of them.
"Hamuko-chan! Snap out of this!" Fuuka cried but Hamuko didn't hear her. Her eyes still had the crazy gleam, like she wanted to torture Minato for eternity.
"I should be able to hit back…" Minato whispered to himself, enduring a vicious blow on his face, "But I can't… even my own limbs won't listen to me."
Hamuko repeatedly punched Minato right on the face. Minato thought of pushing her off and blast her with an attack… But he just couldn't.
Yukari fell onto the ground, unconscious as Junpei struggled to maintain his balance. He was out of SP, he couldn't even yell at Hamuko to snap out of her craze. "Guess this is the end, eh?"
"Minato!" Mitsuru's voice reached Minato who was barely conscious, "You have my permission to hit Marie, and we can sort her out later. We have shadows to deal with."
"Hit her?" Minato said as Hamuko stepped off of him, allowing him to stand on his feet, his face a bloody mess. "Impossible… I can't do that."
"I love her… I can't hit her…" Minato said to himself as Hamuko grabbed her naginata, giving a sick smile to Minato who just smirked in return.
"If I'll die by her hands… I hold no regrets," The sound of his pained cry echoed again as Hamuko dug the blade right into his gut, a pool of blood fell to the ground. Minato stared with wide eyes at the huge gash on his gut.
"Die!" Hamuko demanded, shoving Minato into a wall, her naginata still buried into his gut.
"Stop it!" Fuuka cried on the line but that didn't stop the redhead.
"Are you happy?" Minato said, despite the pain that was spreading all over his body. Before receiving an answer, Hamuko smashed his back head onto the wall.
"Of course I am, to think I actually gave a crap about you all this time," she replied venomously, grabbing a hold of his hair, twisting it painfully. "I'll kill you right now, enough of these games!" She grabbed the knife again, pointing it at Minato's throat.
Minato had his eyes barely opened. "Then go ahead. If you hate me, I've got no reason to live," he replied lifelessly. "Go ahead Hamuko, I'm already dead after you said that," Minato choked out.
"I've got no reason to live…" Hamuko trailed off, repeating the words in her head. Suddenly her crazed expression shifted into confusion. She groaned like she just woke up from a bad dream, her head was going to burst from the headache.
But that headache transformed into heartache as she completely opened her eyes, to be welcomed by a sight she never expected.
"M-M-Minato-kun?" Hamuko gasped and felt her heart clench painfully at the sight. Minato was still standing, but that was because he was leaning against the wall. Her eyes trailed down to see her naginata being embedded deep into Minato's abdomen; the blood had completely stained his clothes.
"What happened to you?" She choked, realizing that one of her hand was grabbing a fistful of his blue hair, she pulled away, dropping the blade that was against his throat onto the ground.
"I didn't do this, right?" she asked frantically, looking at Minato's bloodied face and then staring down her own fists, which were covered in blood.
"Ugh," Minato groaned as he barely moved his injured arm towards the naginata. With a hiss of irritation and pain, Minato drew the blade from himself and threw it towards the ground, and after that, he slowly slid down.
Minato felt his vision blur from the crippling injuries and blood loss. He barely managed to register Hamuko sobbing.
"What have I done?" she choked out; staring at Minato's bloodied body.
"Don't blame yourself," Minato smiled at her, slowly closing his eyes. "It was the Shadow…" With that, Minato dropped onto the ground, unconscious.
"No…" Hamuko whispered as flashbacks of the brutal beat down replayed once again in her head, "How can I do that to him?" she sobbed, dropping to her knees.
"Wake up!" She shouted at Minato, trying to shake him awake. "I'm sorry! Please just wake up!" Minato didn't budge. Hamuko pulled her hair out in desperation.
She stood up and let out a shrill scream, it was so vicious and high pitched that the nearby mirror shattered. Junpei yelped and covered his ears, trying to block it out. Yukari woke up, gobsmacked.
"Hamuko?" Yukari stared at Hamuko who had her hands twisting her auburn hair, her expression seemed like she went through a million years of torture. Minato's lifeless body was leaning against the wall. If not for the shallow breaths, one would have mistaken that he was dead.
"I'll kill you!" Hamuko swore, glaring at the shadow. "I swear to God that I'll kill you!" she collapsed onto her knees, feeling something rush into her head, clouding her thoughts with blood lust and rage, "You bastard!"
"The hell is happening? Is she going crazy again?" Junpei panicked. Even the Shadow didn't move an inch. The whole place was shaking apart.
With another shrill scream, Hamuko stood up, her red eyes pitch black. She grabbed the Evoker and faced the Shadow with a murderous look. "You're dead!" Hamuko shot herself, nearly knocking herself to her knees again, but she held on as the glass shards collected behind her.
The Shadow actually cowered in fear as Hamuko's expression turned crazed, her pitch black eyes sending shivers down everyone's spines.
"How dare you make me do such a thing!?" Hamuko said in a haunting voice, "Come forth, Charon!" Just as Hamuko commanded, a Persona appeared behind her, instantly. The lifeless eyes with no pupils, a dull, wrinkled face and snow white hair instantly caused Yukari to drop to the ground, shaking.
"Rip that bastard into a million pieces!" Hamuko demanded as Charon held out his staff towards the shadow, moments later, a bright golden ball of energy formed and blasted the Shadow head on, resulting in a large explosion.
But it wasn't over yet, Hamuko grabbed Minato's sword and charged at the Shadow. Easily dodging a fireball, Hamuko rolled on the ground and clutched the Evoker to her temple again, "Answer my call, Ankou!" Hamuko called, summoning a gigantic humanoid with a scorpion torso right in front of her.
Ankou drilled the scythe right into the Lover's body, tearing it open.
"Multiple personae?" Junpei said in awe. "So she really is like Minato."
"Pathetic!" Hamuko berated the shadow, easily dodging another fireball. She cast a Sukukaja and jumped up. With a hateful battle cry, Hamuko dug her sword right onto the Shadow's mask, trailing it down all the way to its body. The glass tore her flesh apart but she was too pissed off to care.
The Shadow finally dropped to the ground as Hamuko stared at it with utter hatred. She ignored her bloodied arms and walked over to it. "You made me do that to Minato-kun."
Hamuko clutched the evoker to her temple again. "Orpheus!" The beautiful Persona once again remerged from her soul. Grasping the gigantic lyre, Orpheus smashed it right onto the shadow's mask, making its head explode into Ichor, finally killing off the pest.
"That's the girl that I like," Minato said with a smirk, as he opened his eyes. Although his vision was still hazy, he still could see the ass kicking that Hamuko delivered.
Hamuko stood motionless.
"Hamuko, your arms…" Yukari trailed off, pointing towards her arms which had numerous glass shards sticking onto them.
"Nothing…" Hamuko muttered. "It was nothing to what I did to him," she sobbed, pointing at Minato.
"Don't worry," Minato muttered as he stood up, grasping the wall for support. "That was the Shadow."
"I know… But my hands are stained with your blood," Hamuko cried.
"Don't sweat it. I'm proud of you for kicking ass," Minato said as he painfully gave her a thumbs up. "Let's move out. We're done for the night," He said as he tried to walk but Hamuko bolted towards him in a heartbeat.
She supported Minato to stand, "I ain't letting you move on your own," she insisted, throwing his arm around her shoulder. "After all, I caused this," she sobbed.
With that, the teens, battered and exhausted, walked outside to be greeted by their seniors and Fuuka.
Mitsuru clapped, "You exceeded my expectations." She looked over at Minato, "Especially you. You fought of the control and endured unimaginable pain." Hamuko cringed at her words.
"Yeah." Minato barely nodded, "I'm tired. No school tomorrow."
"And," Mitsuru turned to Hamuko. "What happened to you, after you were free from the control?"
"I couldn't hold it." Hamuko muttered, "When I saw Minato on the ground, I just couldn't handle myself. Something inside me snapped."
"Well, now we know that you can summon multiple Personae too." Akihiko smiled.
"We can discuss this later. You deserve rest," Mitsuru clapped once again and walked off with Akihiko.
"We should head back too," Yukari laughed nervously. "I can't believe that we survived."
"So, you're the hero again, eh Minato?" Junpei spat.
"No, she's the hero," Minato pointed at Hamuko. "Are you gonna snap at her too? For stealing your spotlight which never existed in the first place? You second rate scumbag?" Minato spat, "Do you honestly believe that in life and death that there's a hero?"
Junpei gritted his teeth.
"Fuck your ideals, Junpei. I haven't seen a guy as dumb as you," Minato shook his head. "Pathetic really."
"Minato, let's go," Hamuko cut in, dragging Minato away.
Minato managed to drag himself to his room. The wound on his gut was magically healed and the cut was healed on its own, but that didn't stop the pain from the gigantic gash.
Minato groggily walked towards his bed and collapsed onto it. Just as he rest his head, he heard a familiar voice.
"Farewell, mortal," Minato whimpered as his soul shrieked. He was too tired to even scream. Just as the torture ended, Minato was still conscious, but his mind was reflecting on today.
I'm Minato Arisato, one of the most heartless and soulless individual to ever walk on the face of this earth. I despise people, everyone near me should die. I'm aware of the fact that I'm a complete and utter bastard. I've mocked, hurt and even killed countless people, and yet, I still go sleep with a smile on my face.
I can hear the door open along with tip toe of heels against the ground. Someone's here… But I'm just too tired to even look… It must be her, given the fact that my soul calmed down just by her mere presence.
I kept my eyes shut, my ears listening to every sound around me and it seemed like someone was tearing a pair of bandages and soaking a cloth with water.
When I came back to Iwatodai, all I wanted to do is just clear my high school year and leave this shithole for ever. Maybe relish someone's pained cries during it all.
Somewhere along the way, that took a backseat… And I met her. I fell in love with her…
The gash on my abdomen began to sting as someone cleared the blood stains with a wet cloth. I wanted to scream but, I couldn't even feel my own vocal cords. My shirt and jacket are unbuttoned, my chest is exposed…. I should be blushing right now since she's right in front of me, but I didn't.
Tch, falling in love, how weak and pathetic… At least that's what I always thought whenever I saw a couple. But now, I feel helpless. I love her yet, I don't want her to be near me.
Goddammit, I'm fucked.
If only I was a better person that the monster I am today, maybe then, I wouldn't feel so horrible. She might have hugged me, but that might be because she's too nice.
God dammit, why are my eyes starting to leak? Is this a feeling of utter hopelessness?
Hamuko unbuttoned my jacket and threw it to the side, inspecting the arms that took multiple blade slashes. A few sobs and gasps were all I heard… That made me like her even more. She cares for me that much.
Probably as a friend, not as a lover… Which I want.
My arms are getting washed up and she's been here for more than an hour. After bandaging and fixing the gash, she's working on my battered arms now.
Shit, that kiss we shared earlier makes me want to cry and bash my head on the wall.
Why do I feel so devastated? Is that the only way that she would kiss me? Surely she wouldn't kiss a walking manifestation of everything bad in the world, right?
Please, Hamuko, don't look in my eyes, they might be welling up with tears. I don't want you to see me like this and only beat yourself even more.
Wetness all over my face, she's clearing the blood from my face now…. Caused by her continuous punches… Why couldn't I hit back? It felt like my limbs froze.
Ugh, I really hate water on my face, but I'm too lazy to even wipe it off.
…
…
Thankfully, the cleaning and fixing up session is done. Hamuko rose up and threw a blanket over me… At least I don't feel cold anymore.
Oh God, she's running her hand in my hair. Must. Control. Blush. Dammit!
Huh?
Did she just kiss me on my forehead? I bet she did. Isn't the first time she kissed me, that happened just an hour ago.
….
Pity, that was the last kiss ever and not by her own will.
What the hell? She's lying next to me now… She must think that I'm asleep. Now, she's sobbing while hugging my head.
Tch, she really likes doing that.
I can't complain.
I don't mind it either… I actually wish that she would hold onto me forever.
Why do I feel so drained? Is it because of the voice? What exactly was that?
Who cares? I'll just sleep for two days and then I'll be okay….
Alright, my eyes are too heavy… I'm gonna go to sleep now.
"Minato," Hamuko sobbed as she kept hugging Minato. "I'm so sorry…." she said before she kissed him on the head again.
Hamuko ignored the pain in her arms. She hastily removed the shards but didn't even patch herself up. How could she After all she put Minato through?
"Goddammit Minato, you stole my heart," Hamuko cried.
Hoshiro AN: Soooo, who liked this chapter!? *hand shoots up* Yeah, this chapter was quite something to edit. I'm amazed I didn't have to change that much actually! No detail adding for me apparently. Anyways, plz box us yo thoughts, Nights and I would appreciate it.
Imma see ya guys later.
Yoshikunitsu: Kind of, I guess, but it could've been worse.
Speed up they did, because this chapter was awesome and things have finally escalated. I couldn't believe how awesome this chapter was when I finished reading the unedited version.
Believe me, we will have fun! And of course, because this couple is awesome.
Gin: Y-Yeah, actually Nights' soul and mine kinda hurt while writing that. Not pleasant for us.
…that's been coming up a lot. I feel that we have neglected something now that people are mentioning it, but I have no idea anymore. I just edit.
Mwahaha, hope you liked this chapter then!
Raidou: Haha, well not really. He did resist, but… Hamuko is Hamuko.
Hope ya liked this chapter den.
Aniki120: Yyyyup! Proof this chapter has! *cough* Thanks! And yup! We will!
Nights : Thanks RG! I love writing that, seriously. Guess Minato is finally changing eh? Oh and about Korochan, I think he's cute but I'm sure he doesn't have the ability to sense death and violence. Since Ryoji was Death itself but he never really barked at him. Anyway, yes, Hamuko summoned multiple personae, to those who played p2, you know what I'm talking about. She isn't compatible with every arcana, only a select few, which will be revealed soon.
Thanks for the reviews ya'll are awesome. See you later.