Minato was finding it real hard to control his urges and slasher smiles these days. He would start grinning and scowling for no reason at all. Heck, Junpei and the rest of the males heard him growling even in the shower and that scared the crap outta them.
"Calm the heck down!"
"Sorry," Minato rubbed the back of his neck and glanced away from Hamuko who went back to buttering the toast. Like always, she yelled at him and Minato went back to his docile self.
Hamuko passed him the toast and Minato thanked her before eating.
"The full moon is days away," Hamuko noted.
"Is your back healed?"
Hamuko nodded cheerfully. "I had a check-up yesterday and-"
"Why didn't you tell me!?" Minato scowled. "Dammit, I told you to inform me before going out of the dorm!"
Hamuko sweat dropped as Minato stood up and started kicking the chairs.
"Which asshole or bitch went with you!?" he yelled. "Which one was it!?"
"Minato," Hamuko sighed. Minato was so overprotective ever since she got released from the hospital that it wasn't even funny. Minato actually stalked her from the shadows when she hung around her female friends.
"Calm the heck down!" Hamuko yelled again.
"Sorry," Minato bowed his head and went back to eating his toast.
"I can fight again," the redhead smiled. "We have just two full moons left and then-" Hamuko stopped and cringed.
"Yeah, that bastard…" Minato spat, remembering the chairman of the school. "I don't believe what he said, at all."
"Oh come on, think positive," Hamuko smiled again. "What's the worst that could happen? I'm hoping for the best, maybe the Dark Hour will go away?"
Minato's eye twitched, there was no way he going to live till the final full moon, no way at all. "Hey, Hamuko?"
"Yes?"
"Do you know how to use a sword?"
Hamuko blinked. "Not really. You know I use a naginata, right?"
Minato stood up and projected a sword into his grip. "A sword is more useful and starting from today, I'll teach you how to use a sword, okay?"
"Okay but you know I can always ask Mitsuru-senpai, right?"
"Don't you dare," Minato yelled at her. "That cold blooded bitch might end up cutting you. I won't give a scratch in return and you damn well know that!"
Hamuko giggled and shook her head. "Okay emo, we'll do what you say."
Minato gave her the sword and told her to follow him. Hamuko followed him into the basement where they sparred. Minato came out with several bruises while Hamuko was scratch free.
…
"Something will change," Pharos spoke, hanging from the ceiling fan in Minato's room. Minato himself was a little spooked from the way Pharos was acting. He didn't know what got into the kid.
"And that is?" Minato asked, not looking at the fan. He was sure that Pharos looked like a demon hanging from the fan.
Pharos disappeared and reappeared in front of Minato's bed. "A bond."
"Thank you so much," Minato spat. "I am deep in thought, will try to interpret the damn thing and write a book about it."
Pharos frowned and Minato started to sweat.
"I trust that you will act wisely, farewell brother," Pharos disappeared, taking away the deathly aura that lingering in Minato's room.
Minato fell back on his bed. "I need to set up an appointment with a therapist for him…" he sniffed. "They grow up so fast…."
…
The full moon was finally upon them and Minato was pissed as usual. "What the hell!?" the leader scowled, looking at the two empty spots on the couch. "I mean, they're weak as shit and all but where the hell are they!?"
Shinjiro and Ken were missing and Fuuka couldn't locate them. Minato was a little pissed about the team members missing important operations, he needed more meat shields for Hamuko and meat shields not showing up angered him.
"Calm down," Mitsuru advised, turning to Akihiko. "Has Shinjiro told you anything?"
"Nothing, he hasn't talked at all since morning," the boxer replied. "Dammit Shinji, where are you?"
"Whatever," Minato groaned. "Shinjiro is pretty tough so he'll be back. That brat…. He's probably eating sugary shit; he'll be back as well."
"I agree, we need to move on," Mitsuru agreed. "Let's head on!"
…
SEES found themselves facing off against two shadows and both of them looked weird as fuck, according to Minato. "Wow, who comes up with these things?"
Hamuko bit her lip as she stared down the two shadows. Something was raging around her heart, she couldn't put the feeling to word but fear had something to do with it.
"Yo, darling, you okay?" Minato blinked.
"I'm fine," Hamuko laughed nervously. "But a little nervous, that's all…" she gulped.
"Robo-bitch, protect her at all costs," Minato began to issue orders.
"Dammit, Shinji," Akihiko cursed, the two still didn't show up and it was starting to make him worry.
…
Hamuko struggled and hesitated against the shadows, pulling back from openings and shivering when the shadows came close to her. Of course Minato came to protect her but he found it odd. Hamuko was fearless in her battle against Theo and yet, she was afraid from two measly shadows?
Eventually, Minato and Aigis finished off the shadows and Hamuko clutched her forehead as a headache creeped inside. "Ugh…" change was coming.
…
A yellow full moon... the stench of rusted iron emanating from the pools made from the blood that trickled down the wall in the deserted alleyway, which would be much less eerie in a pitch black moonless night than in a green hued one. The air was even harder to breathe: as if the air in the lungs of each human aware and awake in such dreadful time was afraid of facing the death that lurked in every nook and cranny of the places where previously the only reasonable objects to be feared were meaningless, weak willed humans with rotten intentions. An oppressive reality indeed, that Dark Hour.
And the bringer of far too many horrid memories for Ken Amada.
How he wished he had not been chosen as a bearer of the Potential... so that he could have been spared from the terrible sight of his bleeding mother. So that he could believe the lies the police made when faced by such outlandish tale told by the 'terrified little child', as they called him far more times than he could tolerate.
So he could be free from the undying spite he felt for the one who took the life of his beloved mother even to that day.
Two years, it had been. Two years too long was his wait for vengeance.
But all of that would come to an end at that day.
Slow, calm footsteps rang throughout the alley. Amada needed not to turn around to know whose they were.
"You came..." he asked as the grip around his spear tightened subconsciously.
Shinjiro stood and quietly stared at the back of the kid's head. His breathing could be heard, making a small dent in the previously immaculate silence.
"I'm surprised you abandoned the operation," Ken continued. A shrug and a deep breath later, he turned around with his eyes cast low. "Do you know why I asked you to meet me here?"
Silence was Aragaki's response.
"Two years ago today... October 4th. That was the day my mom died here." Amada looked to the side, still with looking to the ground. "They called it an accident, but it wasn't. I saw the whole thing..." he unknowingly raised his voice as he raised his head and stared into Shinjiro's face.
"You murdered her!" His shout was intentional, that time. The hand wrapped around the pole of his spear was now bloodless white. "Since then, it's been one bad thing after another... and all I get from people is sympathy, no matter where I go. What's the point in living?" He said, looking to the side while clutching at his right arm's elbow with his free hand. "I even thought about killing myself, but mom wouldn't have wanted that... that's why I decided to find her killer: You," he yelled as he raised his head again.
Silence was Aragaki's response, once again. He was staring into the distance... almost like he was not paying attention.
How dared he?!
"You said you wanted to forget what you did that day, but I'll make you remember! I'll make you pay with your blood for what you did to her!"
Still no response. Shinjiro was now squinting into the distance. It looked like he was paying no mind to him.
Ken trembled in anger and grit his teeth. "Are you even listening?!" He screamed at the top of his lungs and raised his spear to Aragaki's neck. His weapon still trembled due to his fury.
The tall young man raised his chin lest he was pierced by the cross spear, but he still did not look at the boy. He stopped breathing and focused...
Before he quickly grabbed the pole of Ken's spear with both hands and yanked it out of the boy's grip with all of his might, leading him to falter forward before throwing the spear with his full strength into the shadows cast over the other end of the alleyway.
The spear lodged itself into the wall, but none of the two could see it.
... not a scream, not a yell... he missed. The bastard was quick.
"Stand back, kid," Shinjiro told Ken.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Amada raised his voice once more, frustration and confusion by his throat's fuel.
Aragaki simply jerked his head towards the direction which he had thrown the spear.
The two stared into the shadows...
A laugh came from the darkness. "Oh, please... do not mind me." A boot stepped forth. "I was not planning on intervening on the little boy's revenge," the familiar voice continued.
The one person whose face Shinjiro would despise seeing that day...
Takaya.
"Please... continue," he said as he left the shadows.
Aragaki looked with disdain at the hooded monster in front of himself.
His gun was still on his holster and ragged bell bottoms were still there as they were before he began his... transformation, but what little could be seen of his face and hair was different from before. The left side of his face was purple, and the locks that escaped from the hood into the open were brightly golden, instead of the usual pale, opaque blond. The red bandanna hanging from his back pocket was replaced by a golden piece of cloth, as well...
"Oh, were you finished? Did you give up on avenging your mother's death, child? There is no reason for you feel regret, so why do you not carry out the deed?" Takaya asked.
"Shut up! Don't tell me what to do!" Ken yelled as he got up.
"Relax, kid. We can deal with that after I'm through with this freak," Shinjiro said as he clenched his jaw and pushed Amada back.
"Oh, well... I presume your objective would be accomplished sooner rather than later. Would you not rather see this young man dead? Say, Aragaki, you have been taking those pills for quite some time and refused to use the Plumes, have you not? I'm afraid you don't have a lot of time in your hands," the mutated man stated, earning a scowl from Shinjiro and surprise from Ken.
"What's he talking about?" Amada asked.
"... That's bullshit!" Aragaki rebutted.
"Don't lie. Listen to your body. You know it to be true."
What?! "You mean he's gonna die? No matter what I do?! That's not fair! All this time... I've been waiting for this!"
"The cause of death is not of importance." Takaya answered with a straight face. "Besides... the breath of life is faint in you, as well. After killing him... you were planning on joining him, were you not," he asked as his lips began to slowly curve upwards into the ghost of a smile.
Shinjiro raised an eyebrow and looked at Ken, who remained silent.
"Since you are both destined to perish..." the hooded man raised his arm as it began to glow faintly inside of the sleeve of his coat. "Allow me to do the honors," he said as a blue ring appeared under him, and a burst light surged from it. When it disappeared, the figure of a kneeling red giant wielding a huge flaming sword appeared, only his left biceps was blackened and withered.
"Stay out of this one. I can handle him by myself." Shinjiro said as he cracked his knuckles. "Just get the Hell out of here."
"Surt..." Takaya whispered. "Agidyne," he commanded and thrust his hand forward. The persona obeyed and sent a ball of hell fire hurling towards the two. Aragaki pushed Ken out of the way and sidestepped, himself. He then dug his Evoker from his pocket and aimed it to his own head.
"Fatal End!" he commanded as he pressed the trigger. Castor appeared and lunged with his horse towards Takaya.
"Pitiful," he said, before he waited until the right moment to will his persona's sword into his hand to deal a heavy slash aimed at the ghost horse's snout. As hardly as he could wield the thing, he still managed to swing the blade.
And the persona disappeared into blue mist, with a loud shattering sound.
"It is useless. You cannot change your fate."
Meanwhile, Shinjiro was doing his best to ignore the headache cause by the strike to his persona and making a mad dash towards the entrance of the club by the right side of the alleyway, after climbing the three steps. He grabbed a hold of a metal bar and held it like he would his ax, before he tried to jump over the steps' railings and charge at Takaya.
After shattering Aragaki's persona, he felt quite the bit of pain in his right arm as he dismissed the sword. It was not that easy and painless to use the parts of his personae, and it seemed that coming in contact with another persona with them only intensified the strain. He'd have to look out for that.
But he'd worry about that later, as he had to meet the young man's charge.
Shinjiro swung the metal bar horizontally aiming at the freak's head, but Takaya ducked under the strike and slashed his abdomen using a quickly conjured razor of wind.
He staggered back as the wind blade cut through his coat and grazed his skin. Blood began trickling from the wound.
Takaya then raised his right hand and pointed his palm towards his foe's face. "Megidola," he said calmly, and a sphere of almighty energy flowed from his arm and shot forward.
Aragaki quickly stepped to the side and swung his metal bar once more, now aiming for the mutant's ribs. And he made contact, a gratifying loud sound followed the impact that made the man forcefully expel the air from his lungs. He then followed with a strong stomp kick to his face, which sent the monster to the ground.
...
Ken was baffled and motionless. He didn't understand: he just said that he was going to kill Shinjiro, yet he was there, defending him.
What to do? What to think?
Help him to repay him for his bravery? Attack him to finish his own duty before Takaya could end his life?
Regardless, he had to do something.
...
Shinjiro tried to impale Takaya's face using his metal bar, but his weapon was held by the downed freak, who showed quite the strength and resistance. He kept applying force, regardless, but the leader of Strega had his wits above him.
He infused the metal bar with an Agidyne. The bar heat up quickly and strongly. Soon enough, Shinjiro couldn't take the absurd temperature and let go of it on instinct.
"Not good enough," Takaya said as he quickly stood up. He took his revolver out of its holster and aimed it at his opponent's head. "Farewell."
"Zionga!" Ken screamed, summoning Nemesis.
A bolt of lightning rained down on him before he could press the trigger. It struck true, the pain quickly spread throughout is body, making even his tongue curl.
What seemed to be a mere second for him was time enough for Shinjiro to punch him in the gut before grabbing a hold of his head. He brought Takaya's nose to his knee and didn't hesitate to follow up with the strongest hay maker he could, power charge and all. The man was sent crashing back and dropped his revolver.
Meanwhile, Ken broke off into a run as soon as his persona disappeared. He quickly got the revolver off the ground and pointed it with both hands to the freak that was now laying on the ground.
Without thinking twice, he pulled the trigger of the Smith & Wesson hand cannon.
The bullet pierced a hole through Takaya's chest and the kickback made his arms shoot upwards. It was too strong for his right wrist, which broke almost instantly, but he bit back the scream of pain.
And even if he wanted to scream later, he couldn't. He just stepped back with disbelief at himself, as he let go of the revolver, took his unhurt hand to his open mouth and began to hyperventilate as Shinjiro slowly turned to face him.
He just killed a person...
He had been thinking of killing Aragaki since two years ago, but all of the thoughts he had associated to the crowning moment of his revenge had to do with making his mother happy up there and getting rid of him... not spilling... so much...
Blood...
He fainted.
"Ken!" Shinjiro yelled as he ran towards the boy and stopped him from hitting the ground. After he slowly laid him on the ground, he took a hold of the revolver. It was heavy... very heavy. He briefly wondered how Takaya even managed to handle that thing.
"Astounding!"
The tall young man turned around quickly. How in the Hell did he...
"Perhaps I misjudged your strength," Takaya said as he sat up on the ground and began to stand up.
Shinjiro couldn't help but stare wide eyed at the monster before him.
What the fuck?!
The first thing he thought about doing was aiming the revolver to shoot the undead fucker in the face, but he was fast. With a swipe of his hand, a strong gust of wind knocked the revolver out of his hold. He turned to the side and thought about making a run for the gun, but a bolt of lightning struck the ground in front of him before he could even take a step forward.
"The thing about Plumes... these," Takaya crossed both of his arms in front of his chest and began walking towards Shinjiro. His hood had come off, and his half purple face and golden hair were exposed. "Gave me the life I had lost by taking those blasted suppressing pills. Even should Hypnos choose to attack me, I can defend myself using my other personae. They are truly a gift of wonders... they made me immortal! I am above humanity's frail thread of life!" He rejoiced. When he opened his arms again, the hole in his chest was completely gone. "Norn!" He called.
Shinjiro halted for a brief moment.
The surge of blue light came from under Takaya once again, this time the golden cloth behind flickered wildly, as well. When it died down, three beings holding a cracked, bleeding clock appeared. It seemed like the number XII had been stolen...
"Garudyne," he commanded. Each humanoid being pointed a palm towards Shinjiro and sent a mighty gale in his direction. He was sent flying backwards and his back collided with the brick wall behind him.
He slid onto the ground and fell on his knees. The impact took all of the air from his lungs. He inhaled, coughed and hacked before pulling his Evoker from his pocket once more and shot his own head. The son of Leda heeded his call and appeared above him.
"God's Ha-"
"Executioner!" Takaya cut him off by ordering another persona, Thor, to attack. It appeared and smashed its mjolnir straight into Castor's face.
Aragaki's persona stood no chance against the attack and disappeared into blue mist before it could complete its own attack. That time, the pain was unbearable. He clutched his head and tried to bite back the screams, but it was no use. He couldn't even stand.
Takaya let his personae vanish before he walked towards the unconscious Ken and grabbed him by the head with one hand. "... I'll need you alive, child."
"Ken!" Shinjiro blared.
Footsteps could be heard in the distance, along with cries of 'Ken!' and 'Shinji!'.
SEES had finally been able to locate the two. They they were running and rounded the corner leading to the alley way.
While still holding Ken, Takaya called his revolver back with a weaker gust of wind. It came skidding along the ground and he stopped it with his foot before reaching down to pick it up.
"Ziodyne!"
"Penthesilea!"
Were the two screams that stood out the most in the crowd of teenagers. Soon, he witnessed his revolver and hand being encased in ice and another, stronger bolt of lightning rained down on him.
Having enough, he grit his teeth in annoyance as he spotted that damned blue haired child running past the group of hypocrites, soon to take lead.
"Loki!" He called, as the purple side of his face burnt. The blond, purple skinned trickster god, clad only in an immaculately white tunic manifested himself above him.
"Megidola!" He commanded. The persona made three spheres of almighty energy collide in the air before exploding near the band of misfits. Kirijo and the silver haired rascal took the bigger hit as they were leading the group, and were blasted back, almost colliding with their team members. The blue devil simply stopped in his tracks to avoid the blast.
"Ugh," Hamuko groaned, her head was spinning ever since they finished the shadows and right no, the breaking and fear was at a breaking point. Something was separating from her soul and she couldn't handle it anymore.
"Takaya," Minato growled.
Takaya raised his wind infused hand to Ken's throat and called out to SEES. "Bring me the one with powers similar to Chidori's, if you wish to spare this child's life! You will know where to find me," he said as he pointed his revolver to Shinjiro and pulled the trigger...
A click was its response. It was still frozen.
Crooked redheaded wench!
"You're not getting outta here alive, you damn freak," the capped teenager from SEES ran past his teammates and lunged towards Takaya with his katana ready, but was halted by a wind razor grazing his cheek. It stung deeply and drew blood.
"Yes, I am," he replied as he stepped backwards into the shadows. "Farewell..." were his last words before he went away, leaving SEES to rush towards their downed friend.
"Shinji, you okay?!" Akihiko was the first to get to him. Yukari had already got to work, summoning Io and casting a Diarama.
Shinjiro coughed once on his fist before he felt the familiar warmness. Blood now stained his knuckles. And more was to come, as he punched the ground by his side with all of his might.
"That bastard!" He screamed at the top of his lungs as the Dark Hour ended.
Hamuko shut her eyes and yelled on the top of her lungs as the pain doubled inside of her soul. The blood in her veins went cold and her limbs turned numb. The pain was horrific; she had never experienced anything like it before.
Death was finally leaving her but every passing second; Hamuko began to feel more and more miserable, even though she wanted nothing more to free herself from the dammed thing.
Soon enough, the redhead passed out and collapsed to the ground, much to everyone's surprise.
"Hamuko!" Minato yelled and ran towards her.
"What happened to her?" Yukari gasped, following after her leader.
Minato clutched his evoker to his temple to summon and heal her but as he gazed at Hamuko's face, he stopped.
The blue haired devil blinked.
Usually, Hamuko's face made him smile like a goof because she always gave him warmth. Looking at her always gave him happiness.
But right now….. He felt empty…
Minato backed away and shook his head. He gazed back at her and still, he felt nothing. No happiness or the urge to hug or kiss her.
"Minato?" Junpei was surprised. Hamuko was knocked out and Minato was looking away from her.
"A-Attend to her," Minato ordered. He took another look and bit his lip, Hamuko looked…. Ordinary to him right now….
…
"Ugh," Hamuko groaned and slowly sat up, rubbing her forehead. Her teammates were around her and they looked worried.
"…" Hamuko was surprised, usually, she would wake up to find a head of blue hair in front of her but Minato wasn't anywhere near her this time.
Instead, he was far away, leaning against the door of the dorm while Hamuko was on the couch.
"Minato?" Hamuko whispered.
Minato lifted his head and for the first time ever, gave her a cold look. "…" there was a storm raging in his eyes.
Hamuko bit her lip.
Minato narrowed his eyes at her and walked off towards the steps.
The link between them was gone….
Told ya it was going to be brutal and hard to read. Sorry for the wait, spilled ice cold water on my laptop and the keys stopped working. I really didn't wanted to start from the beginning so I waited for the repair and finally, the big chapter is out.
A few notes.
1) Takaya is a big deal here so this was mostly focused on his personae ability and an ability similar to Minato, he is able to rise up from the dead as you read, how? Well, I got no idea.
2) The xover will be done but I dunno why ppl are looking forward to it, BL!Minato and Hamuko will get slaughtered by the one in Fallen Messiah. :P
3) Shinjiro lives but he will die pretty soon, otherwise the story will be jammed badly.
4) The link is gone and well, hell is to follow.
5) Ken is kidnapped and Minato doesn't give a shit at all.
Keep reviewing please. We need more.
Last but not the least, mad, mad props to Raidou. He helped, actually, wrote the entire battle himself. Couldn't have done it without him. Huge thanks to him..
Again, keep reviewing and keep reading. later!