Uploading this a week before my final major exam. I'm such a nice guy, right? right? RIGHT? No...? Okay... :T :T :T
Anyway, brutally cruel up ahead and this will be sad. Also, about Minato getting bullied... well, you'll see in this chapter.
Ryoji Mochizuki : Thanks. Bdw, you are going to kick ass.
Guest : A wild ride here, huh? But yeah, a lot of changed and I like to think the story got better. Thank you!
Passingby : HAHAHAH! I didn't that FAR when I was writing the arc but you gave me an idea, thanks for that. :P Cheers!
Onto the blood and horrors.
Minato's insides churned when another corpse passed right beside him on a stretcher. He bit his lip and glanced back at the crowd of people screaming over the numerous dead bodies that littered the streets.
"Disgusting…" the blunet spat. The previous night ended peacefully, or so he thought. After the brief scuffle with Ryoji and a skirmish with the shadows, the team went back and slept soundly but the moment the Dark Hour came to an end, panic and terror erupted in the streets which were drenched in blood and entrails.
"Who could have done this?" Hamuko asked, standing beside him. "Fuuka couldn't sense another shadow…"
"I think this has to be a serial killer or something," Yukari gulped. "Shadows have never done this. They are not this brutal."
"I don't think even serial killers aren't this brutal," Minato added. "We were just here; there was not a single corpse. Whoever did this, he's more than a serial killer."
"I couldn't sense anyone," Fuuka hiccuped. She was sobbing nonstop ever since they found out, partially blaming herself for the mess. "It doesn't make any sense…"
Hamuko looked back and saw Ryoji stepping down from the stairs. She narrowed her eyes. The only person she knew who operated in the Dark Hour was Ryoji so…
"No, can't be," the redhead shook her head. He was rude but that was pushing it.
Oddly enough, Ryoji looked happier than last night, not a bit bothered by the hell before him.
"Hello, Minato!" he waved at the blunet from afar.
Minato turned around, questioning his attitude. "Hey…" he then looked towards the side to see Mitsuru talking with the teachers and the manager. "Dammit, I want to get the hell away from this place…"
Hamuko kept her stare on Ryoji. She was still quiet about him and when Minato went to meet up with him and Ryoji gave him a quick hug, she bit her lip. "No…" the last thing that she wanted was to start a war. Ryoji was a douche but he was still a good friend to Minato. In the end, she sighed and looked away.
"Minato, you're pale," Ryoji noted. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just…"
"Are you afraid?"
Minato shook his head. "I'm disgusted…" he spat out.
Ryoji fell silent and gave a curt nod.
….
After what seemed like an eternity, the team came back to Iwatodai with the carnage forever burned into their psyches. No one was able to sleep peacefully that night as they were still haunted by what they saw.
Who could be that demented?
A blue haired psycho with a maniacal smile popped up in Minato's head.
"…."
Minato punched himself on the stomach wounds to distract himself.
He did it again.
And again…
Until he passed out…
"He was not me…"
…
The next day, Hamuko found Minato bleeding on his bed and quickly took him to a hospital. Minato never told her why the wounds opened up and thankfully she never pressed him to answer. They got to the hospital and the nurse took him to the doctor to stitch his wounds.
Hamuko followed him and sat at the far end while the doctor started sewing his wounds, starting with the ones on his chest and stomach, then arms and shoulder and finally his face.
"Oh man…" the redhead cringed. No matter how many times she saw it, she never got used to the condition of his body. It was so badly damaged and marred with nasty bruises that she wondered how on earth Minato was able to walk properly.
"Ow…" Minato winced.
"Just a bit more…." the doctor assured, closing up the wound on his cheek, real close to his eye.
Hamuko glanced at his body again and thought back to a few months ago, or rather, the first time she saw him without his shirt on and squealed but now, his frame and physique had changed as well. Minato used to carry a lot of lean muscle but nearly all of that was gone now. His shoulders were deflated, his arms were flabby and his overall body structure was way different, with almost no muscle, just badly damaged flesh.
It made total sense since Minato had stopped training for weeks. He used to train and work out like a gym junkie before but ever since….
"Makoto…." Hamuko growled.
The doctor finally stopped his work and looked at the clock. "Wow…. Took me 3 hours and that's the most ever…"
Minato carefully pulled on his jacket and thanked the man.
"I praise you for handling the pain," the adult said.
Minato gave a bitter laugh. "I'm used to it…"
Hamuko stood up and sighed. He was able to hide his arms and body but there were nearly a dozen sutures on his face, clearly visible from far away.
Minato looked horrible. Beyond horrible, actually…
Hamuko guided him out and unfortunately, as soon as he stepped out of the room, Minato saw his reflection in the mirror. He walked closer and took a better look, eyes downcast and his head low.
"Y-You look hot!" Hamuko said from behind him, trying to cheer him up.
Minato parted his hair to see another one. "Don't lie…" his face was full of them, as if he was some kind of ugly, handmade doll. "I have one eye, you know? And I don't like what I'm seeing…"
"…"
"I'm disgusted…" he retched, running his fingers over the stitching. "I was already one of the ugliest guys in the school…"
"Now, pretty sure I'm the most ugliest," he breathed out.
"That's not it…" Hamuko shook her head.
"Nobody will be able to look at me without puking," he said. "I look filthy, like a stupid doll. Filthy, ugly, disgusting doll…"
"Stop it," Hamuko went up beside. "Who are you looking to impress anyway?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"It's just not fair," Minato lamented. He looked away from the mirror and then glanced up at the ceiling. "Life sucks…"
"Don't go there Minato," Hamuko warned. "Don't scare me."
"But it does, this isn't fair," Minato gritted his teeth. "When I had my health, I didn't have my senses. Now that I got my senses back, I lost my health…"
Minato turned around and looked at himself in the mirror again, nearly throwing up a little inside his mouth. "Nothing has changed really…"
"I thought I was an embarrassment to you before," he looked down. "And I still think I am, to someone like you…"
"Shut your mouth," Hamuko finally shouted, fuming at Minato with her eyes narrowed. "Don't talk about yourself like that! Who the hell cares about the wounds!? I don't give a shit if you get ten more. Do you really doubt this!? After all we went through?!"
"Sorry," Minato began to choke back on tears, his lip quivering. "I know you love me and but I-I need to get this out…"
"I can't find stability in my life. I have you and for that I'm grateful because I don't think I deserve you," he kept talking, not giving Hamuko a chance to cut in. "Apart from that. I got nothing. I can't find happiness. I finally got out from that….. Phase and came out with nothing!"
A few moments passed in silence but he kept on talking. "W-When I was crushing on you, I kept thinking about a hypothetical world where I wasn't such a bastard…. I had so many dreams and plans but I don't ever see them coming true now…"
"Take a few nights ago for example," he recalled when they spent the whole night together just a few nights ago. Hamuko heated up and blushed but Minato didn't.
"That night is supposed to be special. It ends with kisses, cuddles and hugs," he said, still not blushing or showing any embracement. He placed a hand on his side and growled. "But no, I nearly died that night because I couldn't get my breath out!"
Hamuko recalled the scare and hung her head low. There was nothing cute or embarrassing about his broken ribs.
"So, next time…. You're in the mood…. I'm sorry," Minato apologized beforehand. "I dreamed of those moments every time I went to sleep but no, for some reason, despite everything I went through, despite the miles of crap I had to crawl my way through, I still don't get happiness!"
"Minato…" Hamuko reached out to comfort him but he pulled back.
"Don't hug me," Minato said. "I'm hurting pretty bad right now…"
Hamuko went silent and took a step back. She couldn't even touch Minato now without hurting him.
"Like I said before, I'm like a dead weight to you," Minato continued. "I thank you for sticking by me."
"Will you stop that?" Hamuko spat. "You're talking like I dated you for your looks. I fell for you years ago, you idiot!"
"I know you did!" Minato retorted. "But dammit, I can't handle people talking about you. They called you stupid, they called you easy, they call you pathetic for dating someone like me and…. I-I can't handle it!"
Hamuko wanted to yell but she couldn't argue with that. People were indeed talking about her and while she didn't care, she could understand why Minato was feeling bad about it.
"I want to yell and silence them but my stupid heart just isn't the same anymore!" Minato banged his head on the wall, startling Hamuko who shot forward, only to get stopped as Minato held out his hand. "I can't handle rumors, I can't handle gossips, I can't handle any sort of confrontation anymore. I'm…. worthless…"
"Stop it," Hamuko spoke up, putting a finger on his lips. "Don't talk anymore. That's enough."
Minato swallowed the lump in his throat and bit back on the sobs. "S-Sorry, I needed to get that one out. I lost everything, Hamuko….. Makoto took away everything…."
Hamuko grabbed his hand and started leading him out of the hospital and soon as he stepped out, the nearby folks laughed out loud at the sight of him and most of them were the students of Gekkoukan.
"Frankenstein!"
"You ugly freak!"
Minato covered his face with the scarf and pulled Hamuko away who was about to yell at them. "Please don't, just let it go…"
Begrudgingly, Hamuko swallowed the scathing words and followed Minato who was walking fast, trying not to show his face and ruin someone's day.
Hamuko slammed the door open and stepped in. Minato nervously followed her inside the dorm, slowly taking off the scarf. "H-Hey…"
"Hey Minato!" Yukari grinned.
"Good morning, Minato!" Mitsuru smiled at him.
"Sup dude?" Junpei said.
"Thank God, you're finally here!" Sho exhaled. "I was getting sick without you."
A smile finally formed on his face. Nobody batted an eye at his hideous condition and simply greeted him with smiling faces. "I'm better now…." he said, limping towards the steps. He gulped and looked at them for some assistance.
Sho got up and nodded. "I'll help you…" he went over and picked Minato up before dashing up the steps at full speed, straight to the final floor.
"H-Hey, second floor!" Minato said, looking down.
"Let me do a few laps. I'll get you there," Sho assured.
"You look sad," Yukari asked as Hamuko made her way towards the couch and sat down. "What happened?"
"Minato was… Well, saying the same thing again. This time it was only more heart-breaking," Hamuko sighed, hugging her knees. "I wanted to shout at him but he looked so broken…"
"His personas are weakening, day by day," Mitsuru said. "I am amazed he can still walk…"
"After what he went through, I'm not surprised," Junpei said. "His confidence is completely gone. He doesn't even joke around anymore…."
"Some idiots from school called him Frankenstein," Hamuko hissed, catching Mitsuru's attention.
"They said what!?" the heiress clenched her fist.
"You heard me, senpai," Hamuko said, not wanting to repeat again. "I swear he died a little on the inside after hearing that."
"Those idiots," Yukari slapped her forehead. "I swear, if this was the old Minato-" she trailed off and coughed. "Oh. Um, I'm sorry…"
Hamuko fell back on the couch with another sad sigh. "I dearly miss my psychotic Minato. I really do. His mad obsession made me feel like I was a princess. His psycho stares were really sexy…"
"Can't believe I'm saying this but I miss him too," Yukari agreed. "I mean, he's sweet and all but I wish he gets his confidence and health back."
"Yeah, I need to see him kick some asses," Junpei said and then turned towards Hamuko. "But yo, Hamu-tan, you better not break my boy's heart, you got that?"
Hamuko chucked the cushion for his face and Junpei fell off the sofa. "Watch it! Minato is still Minato. I just want him to get up and whoop ass. He's made for kicking ass but…." her eye started twitching when a certain shadow came into her thoughts.
"That Makoto…. He ruined Minato," Hamuko remembered Minato being crucified against the wall of Tartarus and cursed the damn shadow. "If I wasn't so pathetic…. I could have prevented this…"
Mitsuru, who was silent up till now spoke up, barging in to stop Hamuko going any further. "No student in the school is going to insult Minato like that. Not on my watch," she looked at Hamuko. "Tomorrow, I'll be walking him to school." she stood up and left for her room.
Hamuko pouted. "I miss my adorable psycho…. I need to see that smirk before I die. I just need to."
"Okay, you're scaring us, Hamu-tan," Junpei gulped.
"What?" Hamuko cried. "That was hot and you know it!" she turned to the brunette. "Right?!"
"Uh…" Yukari turned away.
"Right, right, right!?" Hamuko kept asking. "Huh, huh, huh!?"
"…"
"Hahaha, I-I'll be going to my room," Hamuko said and then quickly ran off in embarrassment.
"What happened to her?" Yukari blinked.
"I don't care," Junpei laughed. "That was funny!"
…
Mitsuru's limo stopped outside the school gates and the nearby students straightened up for the arrival of the one and only, Mitsuru Kirijo. As always, the driver got up from the front seat, opened the door for Mitsuru as the guys looked on. The Queen was coming.
Mitsuru stepped out but instead of simply walking ahead without stopping, she smiled and whispered, looking back at the rear seat. "Let me help you." she turned back and reached into the limo and to the dismay of almost everyone present; she helped Minato out of the vehicle, drawing out surprised gasps.
Minato gulped and quickly hid behind Mitsuru because he was getting a number of nasty glares. The gossips started up immediately and Mitsuru's smile dissolved into a cold stare.
"Do you any of you want to say something to my friend?" Mitsuru spat coldly, silencing the whispers. The student paled and looked away, shivering due to the wrath of the Ice Queen.
"Oh, so this is why…" Minato nodded to himself. For once he actually felt special. "Thank you for this…"
Mitsuru hushed him. She gestured over to her guard who picked up Minato's bag and followed the two into the campus.
For once, Minato felt relaxed as he walked into school, completely at peace because everything was quiet. A glare from Yukari or Hamuko or Akihiko was enough to silence a few students but this time nobody spoke a single word as Mitsuru walked beside him.
"Please," Mitsuru said a little too loudly, talking to the nearby students. "I implore you, say something regarding Minato." she dared, using his first name.
"Does any of you have the gall!?" she spat but nobody spoke. "Anyone who teases or insults Minato will get executed, mark my words!"
"Morons!"
"Idiots!"
"Fools!"
"Wow," Minato sniggered, poking Mitsuru to draw her attention. "I should call you mom for now on."
Mitsuru chuckled. "In fact, just Mitsuru will do…"
Minato widened his eyes but nodded. "You got it, Mitsuru."
"Nobody is going to mock you on my watch," Mitsuru promised. "You've already suffered enough. This is the least I can do for you. Keep your head up Minato, you are better than everyone single one of them."
Minato blushed and looked down. "Thanks… I needed that." he felt a lot more secured with her around. He saw Hamuko grinning at him from the shoe lockers and he ended up chuckling. "Of course…"
…
"I appreciate you walking with me, Minato," Ryoji winced. "Even though I hurt you back in Kyoto…"
"Don't sweat it man," Minato said. "Just forget it. Let's talk about something else. I want to forget Kyoto ever happened."
Ryoji took a look at his stitched up face and frowned. "Aren't those uncomfortable?"
"Oh, you mean these?" Minato said, pointing at the sutures. "Yeah but at least I'm not bleeding all over the place," he laughed. "I look ugly but I can deal with it…"
"Ugly?" Ryoji deepened his frown. "Who called you ugly!?"
"Uh…."
Ryoji stopped walking and stopped Minato. He turned around to a group of girls and growled. "Is he ugly?"
"N-No, he's absolutely charming!" the girl squeaked.
Ryoji looked around and started. "Who here thinks my friend is ugly!?" he demanded to know and like Mitsuru, nobody spoke a word in front of the new transfer student. There was something about Ryoji that scared the crap outta everyone, all it took was one stare.
"If anyone ever calls you ugly, let me know," Ryoji said, cracking his knuckles. "These fucking dildos just don't get it."
"Man," Minato breathed out. "Here you are fighting my battles. I should be offended but eh…."
"I appreciate it," he said, patting the taller male on the shoulder. "I'm a little drained so thanks, Ryoji."
Ryoji's eyes softened and he looked back at Minato's bruised face. "No problem…." he said with a smile, swinging an arm around Minato's shoulders. "We're best friends, after all. How about we get something to eat? There is this is new album I wanted to show you."
Hamuko stopped talking to her friend and watched the two friends laughing and talking their way to the cafeteria. A small smile came to her lips. "Maybe, he isn't too bad…." Ryoji actually looked normal. He was smiling, laughing and even pouting during the walk and well, Minato looked pretty happy too. The two were just made to be friends.
"Eh, I was stupid," Hamuko cursed her own self for being paranoid and stupid. She was still a little pissed about Ryoji hurting Minato but he was making up for it. "He's rude but he's okay…" as long as Minato was happy with him…. That was all she cared about.
…
After school, Minato went to the Velvet Room again but this time, he wasn't alone. Hamuko went along with him, not able to stomach Minato going alone anywhere.
"Welcome…" Igor greeted the two wild cards as they spawned in the room.
"Hello!" Elizabeth waved at the two. "Welcome to the Velvet Room-" she glanced at Minato's face and quieted down, mulling over her words. "Not to sound rude but…. What is that on your face?"
"Glad we started on the right track," Minato sighed. He didn't take offense because Elizabeth was…. Well, Elizabeth.
"Igor, can you help us?" Hamuko asked. "Minato is hurting real bad. Can you please heal him?"
Igor leaned forward and frowned at Minato who took a step back. "Did you not listen to what I said to you before?"
"W-What?"
"You are a Wild Card," Igor said. "It seems you have forgotten that…."
"…"
"Your masks are weakening, Minato," Igor said. "You are saved. Stop pitying yourself."
"Igor," Hamuko sighed. "He does not need this right now…"
Oddly enough, Igor didn't argue and leaned back on his chair. "Very well… Elizabeth, what do you say?" she asked, turning to the attendant.
"You healed me before; can you please do it again?" Minato asked, almost pleading the silver haired female.
"Hmmm," Elizabeth walked over to him and pulled on his collar, peeking inside his shirt. Hamuko was clearly annoyed by that but she held the rage back.
Elizabeth stepped back. "Minato-sama, I love you-"
"What!?" Hamuko scowled. "What did you say?"
"…. Like a guest," Elizabeth continued with a sheepish smile. She was actually happy that Hamuko was being over protective like that since that was what she told her in their last meeting. "But… No…"
The balloon of hope inside Minato deflated and his shoulders slumped. "I see…" he chuckled bitterly.
"I could heal you before the injuries came from Theo," Elizabeth explained. "Even then, the problem was the buildup of negative magic which I corrected. This time, the wounds are severe and old. I cannot help even if I wanted to."
"Damn that bastard," Hamuko cursed out Makoto one more time.
"You need a miracle," Elizabeth said. "Otherwise, we are powerless…"
"Miracle," Igor spoke up again. "I know you are capable of miracles Minato. Never forget who you are…"
Minato gazed into his bloodshot eyes but flinched and looked away quickly. "I guess I'll be like this for the rest of my life…"
Igor clicked his tongue in annoyance. Minato bowed at the two of them and walked out with Hamuko.
"He will lose his Wild Card at this rate," Igor lamented. "And his personas…"
…
Minato woke up after hearing a number of yells coming from the command room. Worried about what was going on, he threw on his jacket over his school uniform and limped his way out to the lounge.
"Junpei?" Minato asked as Junpei ran down, brushing past him without sparing a glance. "Dude! Are you okay?" he got no answer from the capped teen that ran out of the dorm during the Dark Hour.
"Minato?" he heard Akihiko call. The blunet turned around to see his team walking over to him, evokers in their hands. "What are you doing here?"
"What happened to Junpei?" Minato asked.
"Uh…" Yukari looked away.
"Tell me!"
"Chidori is out of the hospital," Mitsuru informed, widening his single eye. "I'm afraid the other two are behind this…"
Minato thought for a few seconds. "I'm coming along…." he said determinedly. "Take me with you."
"Minato, no!" Hamuko scowled. "Stay here. I'm not risking you out there with that bastard."
"I'm retired but that doesn't mean I'm not his friend anymore," Minato replied. "I'm going, no matter what you say."
"Come on then," Sho said, standing at the far end. "I have a score to settle with Takaya. You should watch the massacre from the sidelines."
Hamuko bit her lip. Another part of her was screaming at her to take Minato along. God forbid, if Jin attacked the dorm while they were gone…
"What do you say, leader?" Mitsuru asked.
"Alright, you're coming along," Hamuko decided. "Stay behind me at all times."
Minato nodded. "Thank you…"
…
The team quickly followed Junpei and ran for Tartarus. "There he is!" Yukari shouted, drawing their attention towards the gates where Junpei was trying to reason with Chidori.
"Why are you doing this!?" Junpei demanded and then gasped, dodging the swing of her axe. "Woah!"
"Tch," Chidori clicked her tongue at the missed attempt.
"Why are you doing this!?" Junpei asked. "Please, listen to me!"
"Junpei, back off!" Minato shouted.
Junpei caught the next swing and grabbed onto the chain, pulling the redhead towards him. Chidori drew her evoker and tried to summon but Junpei bolted, tackling her down to the ground.
"Ugh," Junpei held her down and threw the gun away. "Chidori. Calm down."
"Let go off me!" the redhead spat.
"I don't want to hurt you," Junpei pleaded. "Please! Why are you doing this?"
Minato took a step forward. "Go on. Tell him the truth…" he whispered.
A tense silence prevailed in the dead night. The members of SEES looked on, on guard in case anything happened. Hamuko and Sho were especially tensed, looking around for any sign of the pale bastard but to their dismay, he wasn't anywhere near which was a bad thing.
"What I fear most isn't death. What I fear most is... attachment. Once I become attacked to something, I fear that I will lose it. That's why we only live for the moment... But you... you brought me pain...Pain that I didn't want... Pain that I never asked for..."
"Another bond, huh?" Sho muttered, looking over at Minato who was smiling slightly.
Junpei blinked as a sudden warmth blossomed inside of his chest.
"When I'm with you, Junpei, I fear everything... I fear loss... I fear death... I fear that my time with you will end... That's why I..." she admitted painfully, still looking away from the capped teen. "That is why…"
"Pitiful…"
The cold voice surprised and sent everyone on the edge.
"I am disappointed…" Takaya's voice echoed off the halls of Tartarus as he walked towards the outside and he wasn't alone….
"Takaya…." Minato gritted his teeth, the annoyingly persistent male coming into his view, along with Jin. Takaya was clad in his usual, filthy hood with the cap off and it was obvious that he was missing one arm which was violently ripped off by Minato in the previous battle but despite that, the leader of Strega was smiling.
Takaya came to a stop just outside and Jin shut the gates to the tower. "It has been a while…" Takaya greeted, casting a glance over to the former leader of SEES. "Minato…"
Hamuko immediately ran forward, ending up in front of Minato. "Minato, stay behind me!"
"There you are, you son of bitches!" Akihiko spat.
"Bastards!" Ken growled.
Takaya paid no attention to the insults and looked over at Chidori, ignoring the murderous look on Junpei's face. "I see that is it too late…. You've been poisoned by them."
"What the hell does that mean you friggin ghost!?" Junpei spat.
Takaya focused his stare on Sho next. "You too…. I never thought I'd see you alongside Minato…"
"Hmph," Sho grunted in return.
"Speaking off," he turned one more time, looking over at Minato who was still behind Hamuko who was growling.
"Take your filthy eyes off Minato," Hamuko warned. "I'm warning you."
Takaya went over the condition and grinned at the numerous wounds over his face. His posture was terrible too meaning he was in quite a lot of pain even standing up. "Nice to see you again, Minato…" he gave another creepy grin.
"You still came out?" Minato asked. "When will you learn?"
"You made a mistake in our battle," Takaya said. "You should have killed me but you dragged my suffering and I survived…"
"And now, the finale is at hand," Takaya reached into his pocket. "I've stalked you Minato. You are finished. You are done. The deranged demon is no more, all I see is a pathetic weakling."
"Form a circle around Minato, now!" Hamuko ordered and the team did just that, quickly forming a circle around the wounded persona user. "Your persistence is annoying…" Hamuko said, still standing at the front.
Sho finally started moving.
"Sho," Takaya said. "Now is your chance. You can finish him in seconds. Attack him!"
Sho blew a raspberry, the scar on his face blowing blue as he lumbered his way over to Hamuko, standing beside her to protect Minato.
"You are still a jealous prick, huh?" Sho snorted. "You were jealous of Minato before and now you are jealous of me too, huh?"
"…"
"You were always jealous of Minato because despite being so similar, he got someone," Sho said, pointing over to Hamuko who was literally pressed against Minato, her back to his chest, determined to protect him with her life. "Minato had her… and that pissed you off to no end."
"And now, after so many years of crawling my through shit, I finally someone too," Sho declared. "He used to pity me before and now, I pity you but unlike me, you will never find someone else…."
Takaya widened his eyes.
"Because you are dying tonight…. Right here. Right now!"
Takaya pulled out his pistol but just then, Sho yelled on the top of his lungs, evoking a tornado of dark red mist that spiraled upwards, rotating around the scarred redhead who grinned, a thick cloak forming around his body.
"H-He's summoning?" Jin blinked. "H-How?"
Sho grinned sickly as the cloak around his exploded and his persona, the Lunar God, Tsukiyomi, spawned from the mist, just behind him, surprising Takaya.
"Come on!" Sho dared. "I may have lost Minazuki but I found another friend and you bastards aren't taking him away!"
"Sho…" Minato was surprised. He never expected such an emotional outburst but he liked it. Sho looked back at him with another cheeky grin, gesturing him to relax.
Hamuko smiled. "For once, I actually agree with you…" she looked over at Takaya. "Minato has beaten you way too many times. He doesn't need to waste his time on someone like you…."
A wave of dread erupted from within her soul and the God of Death roared out to the heavens, coming out of her psyche with another horrifying roar.
"Me on the other hand…." Hamuko widened her eyes, the demonic glint clearly visible. Thanatos hovered above her, growling and hissing at the pale persona user. "I need my turn. I never got to beat the shit out of you."
The others quickly pulled out their evokers, still around Minato who was so easy to kill and yet, Takaya couldn't move a muscle. "Tch…"
"You can't protect that weakling over ever," Jin spat. "Just one hit and he dies."
"I am going to finish this tonight," Takaya said. "You parasites will perish. All of you disgust me!"
Hamuko was ready to charge and attack but to her surprise, Junpei stood up. The capped teen walked ahead and stood in front of Chidori.
"I've had it with you," Junpei said. "I won't allow this to happen any longer. I'm going to protect Chidori with my life!"
Takaya got the opening for chaos and he took it. He held out his revolver towards Junpei and without warning, he fired a bullet.
"Junpei!" Yukari shouted after the bang. "Get away!"
Junpei couldn't move in time and the bullet sliced through his chest, hitting his heart. His gray eyes widened and he coughed out blood, looking down at his bloodied chest.
"No…" Minato widened his eye. "No…"
Hamuko and Sho got focus and their personas dissipated.
"Junpei!" Hamuko screamed on the top of his lungs as Junpei fell to the ground in a bloody heap, his friends yelling out in sorrow and horror, pleasing Takaya and Jin.
Takaya aimed the revolver for Minato who was shaking. He was still behind Hamuko who was staring blankly at Junpei's corpse.
"I am going to shoot her again, Minato," Takaya said. "I am going to hurt her again…"
"No…"
"I am going to put her in the hospital again," Takaya grinned.
Minato kept staring at Junpei who was still not moving, the wound on his chest gushing out blood onto the ground. "Junpei…" he had barely known him for a few days now and yet, he was dead, killed by Takaya. He couldn't get to know Junpei properly….
"But this time, I will finish my work and kill her…"
The horrible memory flashed before his eyes, pushing him off the edge. The painful night where Hamuko took the bullets in her back came back to haunt him and Minato threw up inside his mouth. Takaya's words had him cracking and this time…
He was nowhere near strong to protect her…
He was weak….
That was why Junpei was dead just a few feet away…
"Rest peacefully…"
Minato lost it and yelled on the top of his lungs, as hard as he could, amusing Takaya and Jin who laughed at the pathetic scream. It was nowhere near powerful and painful as the last one. It was weak and pathetic, barely a bother to them. Minato was a shell of his former self. He was nothing to them now….
But…
"Minato…"
The scream was powerful enough to awaken the apex predator that was lurking in the tower….
Minato's scream was followed by a painfully bang as a mass of darkness exploded in the back, shattering the golden gates to a number of pieces. The shockwave followed by the painful sound managed to rattle everyone, even Sho who gawked at the destruction of the sturdy gates. They simply exploded and Sho couldn't imagine the amount of force needed to shatter fucking gold and steel.
Dark mist flooded outside the tower, surprising the two members of Strega. "What is this-!?" the next moment, Takaya and Jin were lifted off their feet, an invisible force pulling them backwards. "UGH!"
"What is that!?" Yukari cried, shivering at the amount of dread. The feeling had her cracking. She had never felt anything like that. In fact, everyone was shivering, from Hamuko to Sho to Mitsuru, all of them quaking in their boots due the massive amount of dread that lingered in the air.
Everyone was afraid, except Minato who walked forward, not affected by the fear of Death. He was one with the fear for the past decade; he had no reason to fear it.
"What is that….?"
Takaya and Jin cried in pain as the mist pulled them back, breaking a number of their bones as they tried to resist but it was futile in the end as the hunter pulled them inside the tower, straight into the labyrinth. They disappeared upon reaching the clock, taken into the tower.
Minato saw Chidori crawling towards Junpei with a smile on her face. She placed her hands on his chest and widened her smile.
Minato looked back at the fading mist and wondered. "What on earth happened….?"
…
Still wrapped up in darkness and still under the control of something very powerful, Takaya and Jin screamed out in pain and fear, being repeatedly slammed into the roof and walls, again and again, over and over again with no restrain.
The two collided into each other and then were blown backwards again; with the hunter going back to smashing their bones against the walls and ground. Eventually, Takaya collided into the roof and came crashing down while Jin collided head first into the wall, falling down on his neck.
The mist collected at one spot and started rotating furiously as the two broken persona users looked on, seized by an unexplainable fear. The cyclone grew denser and denser, rocking the entire tower as the master of place started spawned in the cyclone.
"Fools…."
A familiar, black haired student stepped out from within the cyclone, frowning at the two bastards for even trying to hurt Minato. He eyed Takaya, the bastard who had pointed the revolver towards Minato. The bastard who made Minato scream, the bastard who hurt him….
"There is hell to pay…." Ryoji tilted his head to the side, giving a vacant stare to Takaya. "Hell…"
"W-Who are you!?" Takaya asked, still shaking despite the fact that the teenager looked perfectly normal but there was something far darker about him, something very violent and evil.
"Speak up kid!" Jin snapped. Ryoji turned to him. "Who are you?"
"Kid?" Ryoji repeated, holding out his hands and evoking an absolutely massive explosion of dark magic that rocked the entire tower once again, swaying it back and forth. More of the cold fear came out in waves, freezing Takaya and Jin, their questions dissolving inside of their throats.
The fear was maddening.
The fear was potent.
The fear was cracking them.
Ryoji roared on the top of his lungs, draining the color from their faces and to the surprise and horror of Takaya, all of his personas simply disappeared from psyche. He couldn't sense a single one present; it was like they were terrified of the ungodly power.
"What is he….?" Takaya wondered, cowering against the wall.
Jin flinched and did the stupidest thing ever, chucking a grenade for Ryoji which exploded against his face, blowing half of it to pieces but Ryoji never flinched and never a crap about his eye or half of his face missing. The smoke cleared up quickly and Ryoji was still standing with only half of his face, still breathing due to some insane reason.
Jin tried to chuck another grenade at him but Ryoji simply faded into the familiar mist, swirling around Jin who stood rooted to the spot, terrified beyond belief. His mouth was forced up and the mist went down his throat, expanding into his body, crushing through his vital organs.
First his lungs.
Then his kidneys.
Then his ribcage.
Finally his heart.
Jin cried out pain but was silenced the next second when a massive wound spawned from his throat to his torso, the dark mist exploding through his body and come out from the giant cavity on his body. The blunet's face was marred by a horrendously fearful expression and mouth was wide open in a muffled scream.
Ryoji exploded out of his body and the formed from the mist again, caked in blood and entrails. He looked back and Jin fell back with a thud, finally dead.
"Jin!" Takaya shouted. He was all alone now. All alone with a monster like….
What on earth was that thing?
That was no human.
That was no shadow.
That was no demon.
That thing…. Was a God. Nothing more and nothing less.
Ryoji took a step forward and leaned down towards the terrified Takaya. A malicious glint shone in his eyes and Takaya paled, not even trying to fight back when Ryoji grabbed a hold of his head, pulling him closer.
"I'll eat your damn heart," Ryoji said slowly, widening the eyes of the persona user. "I won't rest until I've bathed in your filthy blood."
Those words sounded so familiar to Takaya.
"I'll eat your damn heart," Minato swore. "I won't rest until I've bathed in your filthy blood."
Takaya had no time to dwell on that as Ryoji dug his bare hands into the middle of his stomach. He applied just a little bit of force and tore his entire stomach open, exposing his internals system.
Takaya began breathing his very last breaths.
Ryoji punched through his rib-cage and other organs, bathing himself in the blood of Takaya.
"Death…" Takaya whispered, his vision blackening slowly.
Ryoji reached for his heart and giggled which turned into full blown laughter moments later, demonic, sadistic and cold. The laughter was the attack which finally ended Takaya, the fear killing him, finally finishing him off good.
"HAHAHAHAHA!" Ryoji gave out another haunting laughs, relishing the gallons of blood that splattered on him. He didn't know who he was, who the fuck he was, why he was born, who he was born to, why he was even here but he never cared for the questions.
The only thing that mattered was his desire to abuse people so that he could satiate his uncontrollable bloodlust.
That was all that he wanted.
Ryoji released another haunting laugh and started to feast.
…
Minato was busy consoling the newly revived Junpei until he heard the laugh and stopped patting his back. He looked towards the tower and the laugh echoed outside.
"Makoto….?" Minato wondered, taking a step forward. Without warning, Minato broke free from Junpei and ran into the tower, not giving a crap about how injured he was and what awaited him.
"Minato, wait!" Hamuko shouted but the blunet didn't seem to listened. He disappeared into the tower and Hamuko cursed. "Fuck!"
Minato kept running as fast as his damaged legs could afford and strangely, there was not a single shadow in sight. "What is going on-" he sniffed, catching the iron like stench of blood and lots of it. He rounded the corner and followed the odor.
Finally, Minato stepped onto the scene and widened his eyes. "What the…." he blinked a couple of times and the scene didn't fade away like an illuision.
This was real.
The carnage was very real.
Jin was lying a few yards away, a massive hole on his body and Takaya…. Minato looked down to see Takaya's entrails scattered across the floor, gallons of his blood beneath his feet in a puddle.
But his heart….
Minato crouched down and his heart was half eaten and tossed to the side. Literally. Half of his heart was missing and Minato saw a number of bite marks, like someone had tried chewing and swallowing the organ.
Takaya was finally gone but he never expected him to go out this way. This was the most brutally cruel death he had ever witnessed. Even his old self hadn't done anything close to his level.
"Who is responsible for this…?" Minato wondered, still in a daze.
"Who are you!?" Minato shouted at the top of his lungs. First the punk in the dorm and now Takaya, who was this guy and why was he protecting Minato?
"Come out!" he demanded but got no answer. No one came out and Minato started to pant. Whoever this thing this was, it was not human nor a shadow, that was for sure.
"Minato- Oh shit!" Hamuko clasped her mouth shut to block the incoming nausea. "What the fuck is this!?"
"Fuck!" Sho widened his eyes. Even for him, the level of brutality was insane.
"That guy wasn't Takaya…. We know that now…" Minato gave one last look at the mangled male and walked off. "Let's go…" he gave one last look at the shadows and the three quickly ran out of the tower.
When they left, Ryoji stepped out from the darkness and grabbed the half eaten heart again. He looked up at the ceiling and teleported away in a blast of dark magic.
…
Ryoji appeared inside Minato's bedroom and saw the blunet sleeping on his bed, exhaustion all over his face. The black haired male sighed and walked over to the blunet, crouching down and smiling. He was alive and well. Ryoji was almost afraid of something happening to him when that bastard aimed the revolver for him.
He actually panicked and he had never panicked before.
"Friend…." Ryoji leaned down and pressed his ear against Minato's chest, chuckling when he heard his heart beating. "I was so worried…"
Ryoji pulled Minato forward and hugged him tightly but carefully, trying not to hurt or wake him up. "I'm so glad you're okay Minato…" honestly, just hugging Minato calmed him down. He was safe….
Minato was safe…
Minato was weak and pathetic. He was ugly and disgusting but he was still the only friend that Ryoji had.
"Pharos…" Minato muttered in his sleep.
"Sleep well, my friend," Ryoji broke away from the hug and threw the blanket over him. "Sweet dreams, Minato…" with that, he disappeared form the room, the weight finally off his shoulders.
"I won't let anything touch you…." Ryoji promised, giving one last glance towards Minato before his lips curved up into a smile.
"Brother…."
So, about the bullying. Like Minato said, he's mentally drained and well, Makoto took everything away from him. No surprise he's lacking confidence with a broken mind, broken body, no past and childhood and so much blood on his hands.
Again, do review. Favs and follows are cool but they aren't THAT cool, I greatly prefer reviews because well, they actually help me. :P
Next chapter, next month. Do send a prayer for my and my co-author's exam. Cheers!
Fixed a bunch of bad typos. I have no idea what the fuck is going on, the changes aren't saved on doc manager. get your shit together FF.