For the first time in a decade, Minato was at complete and utter peace. The pain of his bruised up body was gone, the pressure around his chest and neck was no longer there and the ever present layers of rage and hate were replaced by calmness.
Despite all that, Minato was still deathly afraid of what was going on. "…" the blue haired teen rubbed his eyes furiously, hoping to God that this was a hallucination.
Minato was standing right next to a bed, his own bed to be more precise. And on the bed was his mangled up body. "Is that me…" the dead body was staring up at the ceiling, eyes lifeless and body motionless. It wasn't moving at all and it had the exact same wounds that Minato had moments ago.
Blood was dripping from the mouth of Minato's body and there was no movement, none at all, not even a breath. "I'm dead…?"
On top of his body was the horrendous creature that Minato last saw. An involuntary shivered passed over his spine and the seizing fear came rushing back into his body. "Ugh…" what on earth was this creature? That couldn't be Pharos. The kid was scary at times but this…. Thing was something else in terms of fear and dread.
Minato backed away as Death growled and started choking out the dead blunet further. "What the fuck…" Minato had seen a lot in 17 years but the dread he was going through had no peer. Minato had faced monster, shadows and even the shadow of Death in the tower but this was on another planet in terms of dread.
Minato kept his eyes fixed on the dead body and the creature on top of him. It did resemble Pharos a little but it was a lot larger than the child. He had quarter of a mind to touch his other self but he wasn't going to do that with Death sitting on top of his body.
"This feels nice…" he muttered. He was still freaked out and horrified by what was going on but the peace and tranquillity was very welcomed right now.
Death kept squeezing the throat of his dead body, making the blunet cringe in pain. He still couldn't wrap his head around the entity. There was no word in his language to explain the appearance or the vibe of the thing. But despite that, Minato felt a connection with the entity on top of his body.
"I'm dead…." Minato exhaled, looking up at the ceiling and then back at his body. It was still lifeless, blank eyes looking up at the ceiling.
Minato sighed in peace as he simply floated up. It happened on its own; it was like he was being pulled away by force. He looked over his shoulder and glanced at his dead once again, maybe this was it. Maybe this was the end of his life. He always wanted it but right now, something felt a miss. He felt a little empty.
Minato felt total love; there was no judgement, no negativity. He had never experienced such a blissful feeling in his life. The only thing that was comparable to this was when he hugged Hamuko.
Minato's lip quivered at the thought of the redhead. The blunet gazed up and saw some sort of tunnel forming in mid-air. It was dark inside but Minato stretched out his hand as his soul simply levitated towards the tunnel.
"This is it…" Minato whispered as he looked back at his broken body. Guess this was good-bye.
His surroundings started to distort in a ripple effect and he came closer and closer to the dark tunnel. His surroundings started to darken this time, simply melting away as Minato came inches away from the tunnel.
With a deep breath, Minato jumped inside and found himself in an endless void of darkness. "Where am I…" he questioned, looking around once more. He could barely see but despite that, he felt at peace.
Minato looked ahead and saw a little glimmer of light at the far end of the tunnel. His mind clicked. "That must be the exit…" he mused, slowly walking forward, hoping he wouldn't trip over something.
Minato took a few steps and the darkness lifted up a little and his surroundings began to change. "Huh…." Minato stopped walking as he felt another ripple in the darkness which slowly began to dissipate and Minato found himself standing in the dorm lounge.
"What the heck am I doing here…." he wondered.
"Don't give me that shit! You have a fucking sword in your hand!"
Minato's head snapped towards the voice. It was him. Minato widened his eyes, he remembered this. This was his first night in the dorm. The same night where he nearly killed Akihiko until Mitsuru stepped in.
"We're sorry…" Mitsuru apologized.
Minato gazed deep into the eyes of his other-self and found a staggering amount of hatred and rage. He could feel it; his earlier self was seconds away from blowing up and killing everyone.
That is until Hamuko placed a hand on his shoulder from behind and Minato's breath hitched. "…" he looked away from the redhead.
"We're truly sorry…" Hamuko whispered with a soft voice.
"…. It's okay," Minato replied, seemingly calmed down.
Minato blinked and the darkness filled his vision once more as the flashback disappeared and the fool found himself standing in the void once more.
Shaking his head, Minato trudged forward. "That damn woman…" he cursed, thinking back to the beating that she gave him just a few moments ago. It was highly likely that she was responsible for his death.
But deep down, Minato felt something stirring in his heart when he thought of her. He kept thinking about the vision from earlier, simply walking forward with his head down that is until the darkness began to clear up again.
Minato stopped walking and looked around as his surroundings became visible. "Not again…" he murmured, trying to close his eye but the curiously was too much and deep down, he was sort of looking forward to seeing Hamuko again.
"Grrr," the blunet shook his head, trying to get rid of the thoughts.
Minato took one step and found himself on the rooftop under the full moon. "This was the first battle against the shadow…" for some reason, Minato had a hard time remembering the whole ordeal.
At the far end of the roof, Minato saw his older-self struggling to get up. There were numerous gashes over his body and all looked pretty deep. "Why is he getting up…?" Minato wondered until he heard a shriek.
Minato looked over his shoulder and saw Hamuko on her knees, literally waiting for death as the shadow came closer and closer.
Minato's head began to throb and his older-self stood up despite the wounds. His face was panicked and Minato wondered why.
"I have to…"
"Why…" Minato winced. He was starting to remember what happened. Minato himself saved Hamuko.
Minato looked away from the scene but the sound of blood splattering made his snap wide open.
"Minato!" Hamuko shouted out in horror.
"Shit!" Minato shouted, causing the void to return once again and replace the vision. "Why is this happening…?" panting slightly, Minato started to hasten his steps, hoping he wouldn't run into another vision.
"Why the hell is this happening…" he questioned. Was this sort of cruel joke? "I don't want to see that bitch ever again!"
"…"
Minato kept walking; hand on chest, hoping to God that nothing of the sort would happen again. "Oh God no…" the void started to twist again. This was a sick game or something, he was sure of it.
"Quit it!" the blunet yelled out in anger but nothing happened and the scene kept playing out like it did before.
This time, it was the monorail. Hamuko was lying on the ground, holding her stomach and Minato was beating the crap out of Junpei for putting her in danger.
Minato looked at Hamuko on the ground and winced. "N-No. Don't give a shit…"
"If anything happens to Hamuko again, I will kill you!" Minato said as he gave one final punch to Junpei and dropped him to the ground before running towards the injured redhead.
"Stop doing that shit!" Minato demanded, punching and shattering the monorail window but his older-self didn't seem to hear it. Actually, nobody heard it and Minato was still busy attending to Hamuko with worry and concern all over his face.
Hamuko slowly turned her head and gazed deep into Minato's eyes, making the blunet freeze on the spot. She could see him. Minato opened his mouth to talk but it all went away.
The vision vanished once again, making Minato growl. Just before he was getting somewhere….
He could still see the light at the end of tunnel but now, he was a little hesitant on walking forward due to the recurring visions. But he had no choice; he wasn't going to stand there for the rest of his life. With another annoyed sigh, Minato kept walking forward.
"I can't believe it…" he muttered. "Even in the fucking afterlife, she can't stop annoying me…"
"…" the blunet paused. "Annoy me…" he shook his head, that wasn't the word for it. Slowly and slowly, something was returning to him. Something that he lost in the previous full moon.
Minato rubbed his eyes and ended up standing in the showers. A hated blush spread across his face, he damn well remembered this. This was the blasted full moon operation where the shadow manipulated the team and….
"Hamuko, I…" Minato whispered his voice barely even.
Minato noted the shakiness and concern. His older-self was shaking at the thought of Hamuko not talking to him. "I remember the feeling…" he took a step forward. "It was like everything would end…"
"Sshhh.." Hamuko placed a finger on his lips and smiled at him. "I didn't mind that…. At all." with a wink, she left Minato standing alone in the showers.
"Is this love…" Minato questioned.
Minato walked forward, thinking about that day. "I guess it was…"
Upon hearing that, his other-self whipped around to face him. "It is…"
Minato ran backwards, crashing into the wall. "Shit…" that honestly scared the living crap outta him for some reason. "Is that really me…"
The vision started to dissipate but Minato kept his eyes fixed on the lookalike. "I feel so pathetic next to him…" it felt like his older-self had something that he currently lacked. Minato knew what it was but he didn't want to admit it.
Minato closed his eyes and the void came back and this time, Minato felt a little alone. "Huh…" rubbing his eyes, Minato kept walking forward through the tunnel. The light was coming closer.
"Come again…" he whispered, deliberately slowing down his steps.
And the memories came rushing back into this mind, the memories that were supressed due to the hatred. "What happened to me…" he thought back to the previous full moon, where he seemingly lost his of Hamuko.
"I get why this is happening…." Minato mused.
This time, Minato took a step forward and stood on the beach. He glanced at his side and smiled slightly at the two sand castles. "Heh…"
"You're an idiot…"
Minato winced and looked towards the two standing near the sea.
"It's coming…." Minato said through gritted teeth. "That b-b-bit-" the words dissolved inside of his throat when he glanced at the red haired girl.
"I prefer an asshole and sadist over idiot…"
Minato winced when Hamuko slapped his lookalike hard across the face. He had replayed the damn scene over and over in his head in the past few weeks. She slapped him of all people and gave him a mark. He had grown sick of the memory but….
"You're an idiot!" Hamuko said, pulling Minato close and kissing his cheek, real close to his lips.
Minato clutched his head, more memories rushing into his psyche. This wasn't a false vision, she did Hamuko. Hamuko did hug and kiss him after slapping him on the face.
"W-Why didn't I remember that…" Minato's voice cracked. His mind was so focused on the slap for some reason that he didn't bother thinking of what came next…
"The happiest moment of my life…." Minato walked closer, looking softly at the two hugging each other. Despite getting slapped on the face, his lookalike was smiling brightly.
"Heh…" a single stray tear escaped his eyes. "Guess I am an idiot…."
"I always was…"
"But this time…." he thought back to the spats from the past few weeks. He started them for no reason. "…. Is there any forgiveness?"
Minato shut his eyes and ran forward, unable to look at the scene any longer. The beach disappeared and Minato started running towards the light again.
"Dammit," he cursed. "What the hell got into me!?"
"I forgot everything…." he choked. "I forgot everything we shared…"
His legs were starting to burn but Minato kept running because it felt as if the oxygen was cut off suddenly. He was finding it hard to breathe.
"You fucking idiot," Minato shut his eyes again and kept running towards his salvation. He couldn't handle the memories anymore. "What did you do!?"
The light was closer than before, no doubt. He needed that. He couldn't live with the fact that he had done this to Hamuko.
"I get why this is happening…." Minato ran through hundreds of visions, all of them related to the warm moments he shared with Hamuko.
"I've been an empty husk all my life…" another ripple washed away the visions and brought back more moments that Minato simply ran through.
"She's the only thing I've ever had in my life," another tear ran down his cheeks and more slowly started to follow. "I've dedicated everything I had to her."
"But yet…. I fucked up again," Minato's voice cracked again. "I fucked up again. Pushed away the only thing I had."
Eventually, his legs gave way and the fool tripped to the ground, landing face first onto the dorm's floor. "Ow…." Rubbing his forehead, Minato looked up and bit his lip.
Hamuko and his old self were hugging again, this in the middle of chaos. Takaya and his team was on one side of the dorm while SEES was lying all over the place but in the middle, Minato and Hamuko were hugging.
"I really love you…"
"I love you too…" the two said in unison.
Minato stood up and wiped his eyes clean. "You're the only one I ever had…. Course I love you…" curling him hand into a fist, Minato smashed it against his own head. "But despite that, I fucked up…"
The scene began to dissipate again and Minato started to sob. "I-I don't know why I did that…" he bit his lip. "Why the hell did I even get angry at her?"
The blue haired fool started running again, tears flowing down freely. "I know I'm a prick…"
"I know hell is waiting for me at the end…" he sucked in a deep breath. "But I didn't deserve this!"
"Nobody deserves this!"
He was so close to the light which was giving off warmth. That was the end of the line. He just had to reach that and everything would end but now, his resolve started to deter. The last memory he had of Hamuko was her beating his face in and running off crying to God knows where.
"All the time I saved her…." he thought back to all the times he had taken shots and saved her from shadows and enemies. "She was the one saving me…."
He stopped at the Mall, looking at the two hugging again. This time, it pained her. He wanted to hug her again.
"You are my greatest weapon…."
"And without her…" Minato turned around and saw Sho standing over his battered frame. "I'm useless…"
Sho was without a scratch while his lookalike was busted up and near death. Sho was going to kill him.
"I would have died a long time ago…."
"Minato!" Hamuko's shout made the scarred male stop the slash.
Minato winced. She saved him again and after that….
"I'm sorry!" Minato shouted on top of his lungs and started running again. "I'm fucking sorry!"
Minato tripped and fell face first. "I'm sorry…" he sobbed and stood up again. "Hamuko! I'm sorry!"
"Shit, shit, shit!" Minato wiped his eyes as he came really close to the door of light. "Hope the fates punish me for being the bastard I always was…"
"Dammit," Minato cursed. "Hamuko…. What did I do to you…" he couldn't wrap his head around the whole ordeal. What on earth possessed him to do all that? Everything was so perfect before, why did it all happen?
"It's my entire fault…" Minato said. "Everything is my fault…"
"I'm just… a failure…" he finally reached the door and let out another sob. "Why am I like this…." he wondered. "Why did I have to be like this…."
"This isn't fair…." Minato whispered. "Why me…"
Slowly, he took a step forward and gritted his teeth. This was the end. He was going away but a large part of him wanted to head back to his world, drop to his knees and beg Hamuko to forgive him.
"Tch…. What a shitty ending…" he lamented. "But I deserve it for having a shitty life…"
Minato finally stepped through the door and was blinded by a brilliant flash of light that made him shut his eyes tightly.
Eventually, the light lessened and Minato opened his eyes again and now, he stood in an endless white void. "Where am I…" he wondered, looking around the place. It was completely deserted.
Where was he?
"You are lost." He heard a voice reply. But he didn't even open his mouth to speak...
"You need not to. We are inside of you. I speak from your conscience." The deep voice echoed throughout the whole space where he seemed to be, even though he couldn't make out a lot of his surroundings.
"Who are you?" Minato asked.
Right after asking that, two spheres of the clearest blue crystal appeared before him. A face began to form around them, turning the two spheres into eyes. The face it formed was Minato's own, and along with it, his whole body appeared, forming a perfect copy of himself. The eyes also reflected Minato's face, although it seemed as if his image was trapped inside of those globes.
"I am the Mirror. Guide and reaper of consciences." The being spoke. "I am here to present you a choice."
"A choice…" Minato cringed. What could it possibly be?
"My presence here means that you have lost yourself. You have gone astray, and touched the Absence within you. You have cast your mind aside, and let your body and emotions take heed of your actions. As such, you let go of the reins of your destiny and relinquished your control over it. Should you continue to do so, your fate is inevitable."
Was that true...? Did Minato really let himself go like that...?
"I did…" Minato whispered, looking at his copy with a painful expression. "I destroyed everything I dedicated my life," he breathed out. "Ever since I came back to the city, I kept her in my mind whenever I did something… but then…" another deep breath. "Something happened and everything went to hell. I sent everything crashing straight to hell."
"I stopped thinking…." Minato said. "Everything after the full moon was led by my own anger and hate…"
"I turned back into the bastard that I always was and I pushed her away…" Minato choked. "All due to my hate….. I didn't think of anything but that…."
"I felt empty. Empty of everything but the rage and hate…." Minato came to a conclusion which made his chest tighten. "I was so stupid…"
Was that the Absence that the being was talking about?
"Yes, you comprehend it." The Mirror spoke again. "I give you two alternatives. To relieve you of the suffering your impending fate will bring you, or to whichever other ends you find convenient, you can surrender your conscience to me once and for all. You will not be present for the events to come, and will become another within the Halls of the Fallen, as you will Fall, yourself.
"However, I can also guide your conscience back into your mind. You may be able to find your path again, but you will also have to suffer the full burden of every event to come. The power to control your destiny will be once more within your hands, and it will be upon you to do with it as you see fit."
"A second chance…" Minato widened his eyes. "I-I can go back…" he asked and received a nod from the mirror. Going back to his broken and near death body, going back to the world he had grown to despise, going back to the life and death battles but most importantly, going back to Hamuko….
Minato shivered at the thought of reuniting with her again. He really wanted to hug her again but then he remembered all that happened in the past few weeks. All the spats that culminated in Hamuko finally beating him to within an inch of his life, would she ever forgive him?
But Minato had to try. The last thing he saw was a horrific entity and not Hamuko.
"I need to see her again…." Minato looked ahead and saw flames surging just a few yards in front of him, signifying that hell was waiting for him. "I can deal with the flames…" the hell-flames began rise up, turning reddish black in colour right before his eyes.
Minato kept staring at the flames. "But I can't deal with the fact that she hates me…" that was far more painful than the flames that ultimately waited for him at the end.
"I'm going to die tonight…." Minato looked up and smiled slightly. "But I'm going to rest in peace after setting everything right…"
"I'm going back to MY reason…." Minato made up his mind, gritting his teeth. He didn't give a crap about his body. He was focused on living for a few more minutes. He had to.
"Have you reached a conclusion?" The Mirror asked.
"Yes. I'm not giving up. If I still have the power to change things and set them right, I'll do so. No matter what it takes. I won't run, anymore," Minato replied. "I'm going back, no matter what."
As he said those words, The Mirror nodded and produced a stone from his Minato's pocket. It was a crystal similar to the ones in its eyes. It then handed the crystal to Minato, but he didn't even need to reach out for it to know that it was with him.
"Do not deviate from your path." It said, before its image began to vanish, and Minato's vision began to blur. "Emotions, reactions, preconceptions, are part of being a human, but remember...
"You are but a thought." The Mirror disappeared, just as his vision fully blacked out.
The feeling of love and calmness was slowly leaving him and Minato felt the familiar pain returning to his body, the pain of his damaged body. "Ugh…." and he started slipping back into the realm of the living.
"I'm coming back…." Minato shut his eyes completely and felt a pressure on his chest. The void started breaking away, leaving behind nothingness. "Shit, hold on, Hamuko…"
…
Pharos returned to his normal body and let go of Minato's neck when he felt the fool breathing once again. Minato sucked in a breath violently and his heart started to beat painfully.
The child cringed. He couldn't believe that he had done that to his vessel.
"…" Minato's eye slowly opened and he saw Pharos sitting next to him. Minato shut his eyes after observing his surroundings. The pain was at an all-time high but the first word that left Minato's mouth was something else. "Hamuko…."
Pharos smiled slightly, not believing that he was smiling at the reunion of two mortals but somehow, it warmed his heart.
Minato slowly rolled over and collapsed to the ground. "Dammit…" he sobbed, punching the floor as hard as he could. "Hamuko…. Dammit…"
"There is still time to change," Pharos said, sitting on the edge of his bed. "Brother…" he winced upon hearing the sobs and sniffs coming from the older male.
"What happened to me…." Minato cried. "I'm starting to grow scared of myself…. What the hell am I?"
"I'm sorry…." Pharos hung his head. "It is all my fault…"
"Ugh…" Minato clutched his chest, the pain rushing back once again. "W-Where is she? Where is Hamuko…" Minato crawled towards the drawer, pulling out the pills.
"She is getting chased by her demons…" Pharos replied, leading to Minato shoving the entire bottle of pills down his throat. He needed every single pill to live a little longer. "She won't last much longer…."
"Hamuko is in danger…" Minato spat out a blob of blood, slowly standing up and stumbling towards his desk. "Shit…." he collapsed head first into the desk but stood up again, grabbing his sword and evoker.
"Dammit…" his body was barely functioning and yet he was heading into another battle. He had a choice to lie down and hang himself for somewhat of an easy release but he couldn't forget the reason he came back. "Where is she?"
"A nearby forest, a few minutes away from this place," Pharos replied.
Minato spat out blood and opened the window. He looked to the side and saw himself in the mirror and his face was an absolute mess. Cringe-worthy gashes and bruises all over his face. His eyes were half open and he was barely able to keep them like that. Just one punch and all the wounds would open up again.
"Brother," Pharos said from behind, his voice cracking. "You will die in battle…"
"…" Minato looked back and shook his head. "You're wrong. I'm going to die after begging for forgiveness."
"You should call the others to help," the younger male suggested.
Minato shook his head again. "No, if anyone of them dies then…" he bit his lip. "I'm not dragging someone else into that mess…"
"I caused all this," Minato placed his hands on the window. "I'll set this right…. Somehow…"
Minato jumped out of the window and barely landed on his legs. "Ugh…" his body reacted badly to the jump. He took a few steps and collapsed to his knees.
The memories started slashing his psyche again, all the spats and the beating that Hamuko gave him. Minato gritted his teeth. "I didn't come back for nothing…."
"Go forward," Pharos said in his psyche.
Minato hopped a few times and ran, ignoring the pain surging all over his body.
…
Hamuko clutched her arm and rested her back against the tree. She ended up running into the forest on the outskirts of the city, hoping Theo would lose her but that didn't happen. The former attendant was relentless this time and burned down everything that came between him and Hamuko.
"Ugh…" she had taken so much damage. Theo had punched, kicked and rag-dolled her during the majority of the fight. She was able to hit him a few times but couldn't carry the momentum without her persona and weapon.
Theo snickered and walked forward as Hamuko slid down against the tree, her eyes barely open. "Such a shitty ending…" Hamuko lamented, holding her broken arm. She didn't have the energy or will to fight anymore. Everything in the past week was an utter nightmare and Hamuko just wanted all of it to go away now.
"Well, Hamuko-sama," Theo got closer. "I've had my fun now…."
"…" Hamuko gritted her teeth.
"You can't even scream anymore," Theo lamented. "It has been a long ride but alas, it must come to an end."
"Go on, do it," Hamuko dared him. "Kill me you bastard."
Theo chuckled at her response. "I loved the way you used to quiver but that has changed as well…" he said. "You've grown from the weakling I knew before…" he rubbed the welt on his cheek.
"Say good-bye," Theo curled his hand into a fist. "This is for corrupting me."
"I didn't do it," Hamuko spat. "Death had a hand but screw that. Quit talking and end this already!" she spat. "I've had it with this fucking world."
Theo chuckled again, enveloping his fist with Agidyne. "Any last words, Hamuko-sama…"
"I hope this world rots and everyone dies like I did," Hamuko spat with venom.
"Farewell-"
"Get off her!" both persona users heard the shout and Hamuko widened her eyes in surprise. What on earth….
Theo whipped around and saw a fist flying for his face. "Ugh…" he was cracked right in the middle of his face and the blow sent him reeling backwards.
Minato kneed him right in the gut, grabbed a hold of his head and sent the former attendant head first into a nearby tree. Theo crashed in headfirst against the tree and slowly slid down, holding his head.
Minato panted, wiping the blood off his lips. "H-Hamuko…" he whipped around and saw the redhead resting against the tree, bruised and bloodied. She looked ready to pass out due to the damage.
Minato got closer and was slapped right on the face that snapped his head to the side. "…. I deserve this…." his gash opened up again and he painfully turned his head back towards Hamuko, barely able to hold her gaze. He felt so ashamed, wishing that he could burrow into the ground to hide his face.
"Why did you come, huh!?" Hamuko shouted at him. "Want payback for the beating you sick bastard!?"
Minato cringed, slowly getting closer, only to get slapped again by the irate redhead. "Hamuko…" this time, he didn't look away. "Do it again…."
"Leave me the hell alone, I know what a twisted snob you are," the redhead yelled at him again. "I hate your goddamn guts. Go away!"
"Don't say that…." Minato begged and Hamuko pushed him away.
"Get lost," Hamuko yelled, ignoring the tears welling at the corner of his eyes. "I don't want to see your face again."
Minato winced, his damaged heart beating painfully fast. "I-I'm sorry, Hamuko…" Minato clasped his hands together.
"Are you now?" Hamuko gritted her teeth. "Did you conveniently forget the past few weeks? Where you pushed me away and called me a bitch for helping you?"
"I…." Minato stammered.
"Well!?" Hamuko spat.
"I-I didn't know what got into me," Minato sobbed, pulling on his hair. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…."
"Tch," Hamuko clicked her tongue and looked away, seemingly ignoring him.
"Don't do that!" Minato yelled at her, breaking down further. "Yell at me. Curse at me. Hit me. Punish me but don't pretend that I don't exist!"
Hamuko still didn't look at him.
"I can't live with that," Minato cried. "I know I fucked up Hamuko. I spat on everything we had. I don't deserve forgiveness but I'll be the selfish bastard I've always been and won't rest till you've forgiven me…"
"Theodore is my enemy…" Hamuko spoke. "He's like this because of me…. I need to handle him…. Go away."
"Your demons are mine," Minato replied.
Hamuko widened her eyes and looked back at him. "D-Demons…."
"You're right; I've never done anything for you…." Minato got closer to her face, wiping away the blood on her face with his thumb. "Give me your demons, I'll handle them. I promise…"
"Minato…" Hamuko touched his face, his words bringing back the blasted memory from ten years ago. The night everything changed for the two of them. Where Minato pushed her away and took the blasted entity instead of her.
"Give me everything," Minato pressed her forehead against her. "That's all I'm good for…"
From Death to Theo, Minato had handled everything that she was supposed to suffer. Hamuko cursed herself for forgetting that night where the two became linked forever. The night where everything changed and she became indebted to Minato forever.
"N-No…" Hamuko eyes began to sting. "Y-You've taken too much already…."
"Hamuko," Minato closed his eyes and hugged her tightly.
"Minato," Hamuko sobbed. "I-I'm sorry. " she hugged him back, pulling the injured blunet closer. She needed that, after all that happened, she sorely needed that. "I-I forgot who you were…"
"…" Minato cringed. He forgot as well….
"I forgot what you did for me…." Hamuko clutched him tighter, nearly knocking the breath out of his lungs but Minato didn't pull away. "I'm so sorry, Minato…"
Minato felt at peace but that soon went away as several vessels inside his body narrowed and Minato pulled away as something rushed up to his throat.
Hamuko watched on in horror as Minato vomited a massive amount of blood right next to her. "Shit…" Minato coughed out some more and punched himself on the chest to get his heart beating again.
"What's happening to you?" Hamuko dared ask.
Theo was up at that point but he was amused by the two hugging each other. He allowed Minato to get out his last few words.
"I-I lost my health long ago," Minato choked out, wiping the blood from his lips. "I knew I was going to die…"
Hamuko widened her eyes. "W-What…"
"Theo taught me how to fusion and it took away my health," Minato got closer to the mortified redhead and kissed her forehead. "B-But don't worry…"
Hamuko started to sob again. The fates really hated them for some reason. This was too much.
"I-I'll handle this…" Minato promised. "I'll do my best to remove one problem from your life," he coughed out some more blood. "One last demon…"
"Minato," Hamuko's eyes began to get heavy. Minato hugged her one more time and rested her against the tree and stood up. With a final smile, Minato turned around and stumbled his way towards Theo who was all smiles. "How could I forget…"
"You've handled my demons for so many years…" Hamuko whispered, looking at his back. Minato was barely able to walk, much less battle.
"Minato…." Hamuko closed her eyes as the fatigue and depression starting to take a toll. "You poor child…." she thought back to the kid that pushed her away and took the burden himself, his grief stricken face was the last thing she saw before she blackened out. "…" finally, Hamuko passed out against the tree.
Minato pulled out his sword and took a deep breath. His heart was barely functioning. "Ugh…"he swallowed the mouthful of blood and glared down Theo.
"Tonight you will die," Theo declared. "Either by my hands or due to the damage from fusions…"
"All your fault, you piece of shit," Minato snapped.
"Are you really looking to battle?" Theo asked. "You have one foot in the grave already."
"I'll kick your ass with the same foot," Minato spat, taking his stance. "I came back from the dead one last time for this and I won't go back with a failure…" he gritted his teeth.
"Touching," Theo mocked.
"Heh," Minato smirked and blood dripped down from the corner of his mouth. "Shut up and fight, I'm gonna exorcise you in the worst possible way…"
Theo took his stance as well.
From far away, Sho watched the entire scene with a frown. Minato was barely able to stand but yet he was going to fight. "He's fighting for her…." the redhead muttered, looking at the knocked out female. Sho clicked his tongue; he could feel something different from Minato this time. "Is he back….?" it was time to find out.
Minato's heart blocked up once again and the blunet collapsed to his knees, vomiting out blood once again. "D-Damn..." he could barely get his breath out.
Theo shook his head. Both of them were going to die for sure this night. "This is the end..."
Minato shivered but stood up again, clutching his heart. "For me... Not for her..."
When I first started writing this, i thought this was gonna be cheesy as hell but looking at it now, it worked out well, nothing too cheesy or corny, near death experience can't be corny, especially for a twisted guy like Minato. Pharos literally bitch-slapped him into an NDE. I haven't gone through a near death experience yet so I don't know what exactly happens but studies show this happens mostly. Going through life and getting a review and new knowledge. And since Hamuko was the only person Minato knew, he saw nothing but her.
This was the transition i was talking about. Both of them literally forgot. Minato forgot the memories and only focused on the bad ones while Hamuko forgot that Minato had Death and is literally a mental patient (who is bout to die) yep, never peace for these two fellas. Poor guys.
Hope the scene was nice, Minato finally got to see the whole thing and with the calmness that NDE brings, he finally pushed through the bad parts and remembered the whole thing. NDE changes lives literally and that was the most plausible thing I could think of. Minato is really changing and this was the next huge step.
Thank you so much for the 600 reviews. I have no words for that. The next chapter or two will the final in this arc and things will finally shift back to the strega conflict.
Did anyone of you really thought this was the end of the pairing? I couldn't end it even if I wanted to. Like Minako said, the two are linked pretty much and keep your eyes open for the word 'demons' that will play a huge part later on. I almost want to rename the fic but nah...
Review as always guys. Rate the NDE scene pliz. A huge thanks as usual, you guys are awesome.
Thanks for reading.