Chapter 41 / Family
May 3rd, 2012 / Time Unknown
Yasogami High School Gymnasium?
KANA'S POINT OF VIEW
Time had passed for a while before I had finally recovered my composure. Even though my tears had stopped, I still felt like something was wrong about the whole situation. I mean, that part was obvious but there was something else that just didn't feel right to me. Yukiko had stayed at my side the whole time as I had vented my frustrations the only way I seemed to know how. "I'm sorry," I spoke somewhat uneasily and looking over at the raven haired girl.
She shook her head, "No its alright. I've been so frustrated by this whole ordeal that I'm surprised I haven't broken down and cried myself."
"What is this place? And how could that Shadow influence what we were saying?" I knew that the powers of Shadows were vast and held dominion over a wide variety of aspects, but one to deceive so openly was new. Yet it wasn't complete as the whole body language of the individual didn't seem to be able to be controlled.
"Hmm, if its a Shadow then this makes a bit more sense," Yukiko nodded to herself. "You see this place in the past has taken form for whoever was put into the TV. It becomes reality for that person, and usually takes a form that best shows that individuals more closely guarded secrets."
"So it creates a place that best conveys their secrets?" I asked for clarity and Yukiko nodded. So was all of this created by Labrys? I had a lot more questions rushing to my mind but I needed to focus on one thing at a time. I took a deep breath and thought it over. Still there was a lot of missing gaps in the overall picture. The culprit that had taken Labrys with knowledge beforehand about this place. A place capable of manifesting an individuals secrets as a physical place. "But this place is a school right? I don't think Labrys has ever been to a school..."
"Yes this is supposed to be Yasogami High School, though I don't know why. So far its been pretty accurate to the real thing and...wait Labrys? What are you talking about?" Yukiko had overheard me. I really need to get better at not thinking out loud.
"Labrys is the one I'm trying to find. You see she was taken and..."
"Thrown into the TV?" Yukiko finished.
I nodded, "It's pretty complicated though because she's not exactly...um..." Was it okay to tell her? I mean I would probably get in a lot of trouble if I wasn't but at the same time this girl had the power of Persona, so maybe she'll be more understanding about the whole situation. "You see, Labrys actually isn't human. I guess on that point...I'm not either."
Yukiko's eyes widened for a moment then shook her head, "You look plenty human to me."
"I'm actually a Shadow...or was a Shadow. Not sure what I really am now..." I really didn't. I wasn't really a Shadow anymore. If I was then I would still be able to change my form or something on some level, but I couldn't do anything like that. This was who I was now...whatever that meant.
"Oh so you're just like Teddie," Yukiko said it so easily but it threw me off. She gave me a smile. "You see one of my friends was a Shadow too. And he likes to keep his old bear suit but he's got a human body now himself. Still its surprising to meet someone else who started as a Shadow. So is Labrys a Shadow too?"
I shook my head. I was having a problem wrapping my head around how quickly she accepted me, and the fact that she knew another person that had started as a Shadow. Hamuko had said it before. That there was a strong possibility of the world being much more diverse and fights against Shadows could possibly be more frequent than we could ever know. I think I could finally start to understand what she meant by that. "No Labrys isn't a Shadow. She was the result of a project meant to develop machines that could fight Shadows."
Yukiko's eyes widened for a moment, "She's a robot?"
"One that could possibly use a Persona. Maybe. We don't really know, there wasn't much information on her and..." I stopped realizing I was probably divulging too much information about her. Well there wasn't much to tell because we just didn't know. Any record as to why she was sealed up to begin with was vague. We knew she was ordered to destroy her sister units. We knew nothing beyond that. And I knew less than the others.
"So if she can use a Persona then, she must have a heart," Yukiko looked around a bit. "But why would it take the image of our school? Maybe the one who took her influenced it? A lot of this isn't adding up."
Thinking about it didn't seem like it was going to get us anywhere. And I had my own questions beyond this, "So you're friends with Kayane-san?"
She looked at me realizing I was switching the conversation and nodded, "Yes. Kayane-senpai is a close friend of mine. He's another reason that I'm here along with my friends."
My heart tensed at those words, "Is he in trouble?"
She shook her head, "I don't know. Both Rise and him are gone since last night. I had talked to them both but they were just no where to be found this morning. We went to his house but neither of them were home, and his front door wasn't locked properly. Not only that but you saw that video right? That video played at midnight last night on what we call the Midnight Channel. It plays at midnight when it rains. And when the picture is that clear it had always been an indicator in the past that someone was inside the TV. But everything about this is weird. And Rise and Kayane weren't the only of my friends missing, but also Teddie and Kanji. So we came here to investigate."
"So he could be here? Is it true then? That Kayane-san has a Persona?" I felt as if my heart was in a vice.
"He does. I'm guessing you were hoping he didn't," Yukiko said softly.
I knew my heart was beating fast now. Hamuko should be here so that she could know about this. "After everything he has gone through in his life, I was hoping that maybe he had been spared from this side of reality. As a Shadow, and the kindness he showed me, I wanted his life to be a peaceful one. I guess he had already been through an ordeal before I had even met him."
"You seem to be well informed," Yukiko was now understandably cautious of me. "How much do you know about him?"
I wasn't sure how to answer that, "Probably more than I should. It's more than just what he had to experience as a kid, but also about his parents."
"His parents died in a accident when he was young right?" Yukiko was now easing up but now she seemed worried about what I knew. I would be too, because I hated knowing and not being able to tell him. But if he was a Persona user then I could, I could tell him the complete truth about his parents, what his Father did and the existence of his sister if he didn't know.
"Yes but..." I stopped, would it be alright to tell her? She was his friend, and if they had gone through an ordeal together then it was logical they would be close. Still... "Look if I tell you, you have to promise you won't tell him. That you'll let me be the one to tell him."
She was definitely alarmed by my proposition. I would be too. "If its that important, it worries me. But it sounds like you have reasons for wanting to tell him yourself. Maybe you could tell me why?"
I nodded, "It's because Hamuko, who is like family to me is actually his cousin."
Yukiko's eyes widened at that, "You mean, actual family? Kayane-senpai has family?"
I hung my head at that response, "So he really doesn't know then. That isn't the only family he has. You see, his parents died in a car crash...there were two survivors at the time. Ikakure Kayane who was 3 years old and Ikakure Setsuko who was 6 years old. His older sister."
"What!? How? How could he not know he has a sister? And how did you find out?" Yukiko was absolutely floored and couldn't tell what question she wanted answered first.
"The reason I know is somewhat complicated," I nervously played with my hands. "What I can tell you is that there was a custody battle to decide where the siblings would go. The only remaining relative on Kayane's side was his Uncle. But it was deemed he was unable to take care of both children, so he was given custody of Kayane but his sister Setsuko was put up for adoption. Her name was changed to her new family, Kasamatsu Setsuko."
"They were so young, its no wonder that Kayane-senpai doesn't know. And his memories would be overshadowed by what he had to endure from his Uncle and what happened to his friend Miyuki-san," Yukiko looked at me after a brief moment of looking away. "That's why you want to tell him. Because its more complicated than that, right? Because there is more you aren't sure you can tell me."
"I think once this whole mess is over I can tell everyone. But right now I don't really know if I have the authority to do so," I found myself admitting.
Yukiko sighed, "Well I'm going to trust you on this. Beside I can't leave here anyway. That fake Teddie said only the winner can move forward so its up to you. Just promise me that you won't give up, okay? I'll be rooting with you, and I know all my friends will support you too."
I looked to the exit and then back to Yukiko, "Is that the rules of this world?"
"Probably, but we can try to leave together," Yukiko moved with me to the door of the gymnasium and I easily slipped through but Yukiko stopped and her hands were up as if pressed against something. "Some sort of invisible wall. Looks like I really am stuck here. Go on Takahashi-san. Go find Labrys and Kayane-senpai."
Well it wasn't like Yukiko was defenseless. She was damn skilled and her Persona ability was definitely nothing to shirk at either. So I nodded, "Alright but please call me Kana."
Yukiko smiled, "Good luck, Kana-chan. And feel free to call me Yukiko too."
"Thank you, Yukiko-san," I quickly bowed then turned and headed down the hall in a jog. I wasn't sure exactly where I would be heading next but I knew that I just needed to keep moving. Still if we were being forced to fight then there would be no reason to meet up with the others at the moment. Still it would be nice to be able to communicate with them in some fashion.
The halls were like any high school. But there was also wires and cords going in different directions, with cameras and TV's as if we were on the set of some TV show that was being filmed. Why would that be? An easy answer was that there were just so many people here that the only way to effectively watch all of them would be through a centralized location. That made sense, but a Shadow wouldn't necessarily need that as it should be able to simply sense where everyone was within their domain. That was how it had worked for me when I had been a Shadow. While my domain had only consisted of the room where Hamuko had been held at that Kirijo Group facility...I had always known when someone approached or entered it. And I always knew exactly where they were when they were in my domain. I didn't have that ability anymore. No my powers as a Shadow left the moment I awakened to my new power. My Persona Eurydice.
That had to be an indication of how much I had changed. I was no longer a Shadow. Yukiko had said that about her friend as well. She didn't talk about Teddie as if he was a Shadow. She specifically used the word was when talking about it. So it had to be the same with me. I wasn't a Shadow, I was something different now. But I wanted to be someone that could protect Hamuko, protect Kayane...protect everyone that meant something to me. So I had to get stronger, and that meant stepping up to do just that now.
My main goal was to find Labrys. After that I would find Kayane. Determined, I pressed on.
May 3rd, 2012 / Time Unknown
Yasogami High School 2nd Floor?
The invisible walls were really starting to get on my nerves. If they were on the broadcast room then it was here on the 2nd floor. The problem was no matter how I tried to approach it I was blocked. So the one that had taken Rise had more control of the environment than I thought. Comparing it to the usual fare of when dungeons appeared in the TV World, this was inherently much different. Instead of a place with randomized floors and multiple floors it was a faithful recreation of Yasogami High School, albeit with a tone of camera's and televisions, like someone was doing some weird reality TV show. Or using it to keep tabs on all of the 'contestants' in their little fighting game.
"Pretty elaborate if you ask me," My Shadow was next to the wall and rapped his knuckles on it as if testing is validity. "Nobody goes to this much trouble without having a purpose or something to say. Still, if somebody was pushed into here, then why would that video include all of our friends?"
It was definitely a good thing to think about. As I ran my hand out in front of me along the invisible barrier I tried to find some method of getting around. "Normally those videos that were shown on the Midnight Channel show that individuals Shadow and a hint of what hidden truth about themselves that their Shadow wants to expose." I brought up my sickle and slammed it into the invisible wall with no noticeable difference. I looked up and then threw my sickle up into the lighting rig above. It spun around as I manage to hook the chain under its blade and give it a tug to secure it. Then I started to climb up the chain. It wasn't a difficult thing to do, as soon as I reached the top I grabbed onto the side of the lighting rig and had to struggle a bit to swing myself onto the top. I ensured my sickle was still firmly secured and then with the chain in hand I attempted to jump over what I hoped to be the top of the invisible barrier.
Unfortunately I only hit the invisible barrier and it sent me back down. I used my sickle and chain to swing down and land safely on the ground. With a quick flick I was able to loosen my weapon and pull it back down. I sighed as I shook my head at the obstacle that refused to move from my path. A lot of good this was doing me.
"Looks like they didn't make many oversights. I'm somewhat impressed," My Shadow chuckled before turning to me. "Time for us to give up and just follow the path. Who knows, maybe we can knock around another one of our friends."
I frowned, "I was trying to avoid doing that. Which you know because you are me."
He nodded, "But you are curious what it is like to face them head on. Don't deny it." And with that he was gone again.
I ignored him and turned back around as I tried to open any doors I could along the way, but the barrier seemed to block them all. I was forced back to the stairs and downwards, which led me to the entrance of the school. And then the TV there came to life.
"If it isn't my amazing Kayane," The fake Rise showed up on the TV. "Are you ready for your next opponent?"
"Don't waste my time. I know you aren't my Rise," I glared up at the screen. "She would never goad me into fighting my friends."
"Are you so sure about that?" the fake Rise suddenly challenged. There wasn't any time to retort as another individual moved into view opposite of me. Someone I had seen only a couple days ago. Naoto.
"Senpai, why are you here?" she shook her head. "Forget that, these individuals are capable of deceiving us..."
"And say things we don't mean?" I finished, to which she nodded. Still I don't think they would simply allow us to leave without fighting each other. And as I watched her I could see the change happen, almost the moment when the deception began.
"So tell me Senpai, why did you choose Rise-san?" Naoto's voice now had an edge to it that wasn't there before. This time I was caught off guard by the question.
"Choose her? I didn't make a choice...she just wouldn't go away," I found myself replying...and shocked by what I had said. That wasn't how I felt...was it? That it was just because she was the one that wouldn't leave me alone? Would it have been Naoto if she had tried to be the one there to comfort me? Or if Narukami had tried to push it that way? No that couldn't be right...why was I even allowing this thought to be entertained? All this was...was a way to get us to fight.
"So your saying it could have been anyone, but she was just the most persistent? What a mean thing to say, Senpai," Once more, like it did with Kanji, it looked like her body language and words didn't match up. She pulled out her revolver and took aim at me. Even if we were going to fight, Naoto was still in control of how she fought, so I was more than confident she wouldn't aim directly at me. No, what she would be doing is attempting to control my position on the battle field.
I settled into a easy stance and brought up my sickles once again. Forced to fight another of my friends...I spun one of the sickles by its chain over my head. Only one of us was going to be allowed to keep moving forward from this fight. "Sorry Naoto-san...I have to get to Rise, and until I do, I can't allow myself to lose."
I threw my sickle towards her and immediately jumped forward at the same time. Naoto shot, deflecting my sickle harmlessly away, but I was right behind it and slid to the ground and spun around Naoto. Before she could respond I swept out her legs from under neath her then jumped back. Benzaiten appeared and landed a blast of Ice on top of her while I pulled my other sickle back to me with the chain. Naoto quickly recovered and got to a knee and fired and summoned Yamato Sumeragi with a quick cast of Garudyne to attempt to pushed me towards my right, towards the path of the gun shot, or so I though, but instead it caused me to slide to my left, away from where she fired. Naoto, she was worried about how lethal this fight could easily turn out to be if either of us made a mistake.
She likely had her own reasons to be the one to more forward. I wasn't about to put her own interests over my own. And likely she understood more about the situation than I did. But I couldn't back down. Benzaiten was at my side as I launched an Agidyne on the ground in front of Naoto. I used it as cover and ran forward, but I knew she wouldn't fall for than and quickly changed my position. Even if it was a gamble, it was one I had to take to make sure this fight ended faster. Naoto fired her revolver again and it skimmed by me as I went to a slide again. The fire disappeared but I was on her before she could do anything else.
I tackled her to the ground, saddled her pinning her legs with my own feel and each arm with my hands and looked at her in the face. But I couldn't solidify my hold, she freed her hand and got enough momentum to flip us over so she was on top. She put the revolver to my temple but I quickly kicked her up and over me, I quickly scrambled around and grabbed hold of her by the neck, wrapping an arm around her throat. My left hand grabbed her revolver and forced her to let go. Naoto didn't have the strength to fight against me as I adjusted into a more proper sleeper hold. After a few moments, she stopped struggling and I relinquished my hold on her. I double checked her vitals and made sure she was breathing fine.
After hearing her heart going strong I sat back and let out a huge sigh.
"Winner is Ikakure Kayane. Two for two, going strong Mr. Composer of Desolation," the Fake Teddie appeared on the TV. "See you at the next round, lots more of your friends to beat down." He laughed and then disappeared.
"Right...I can hardly contain my excitement," I mutter as I look over to Naoto.
"What a way to rumble, getting all close and personal like that," My Shadow commented as he appeared to be kneeling over Naoto and looking at her face. He glanced to me, his yellow piercing eyes matched with a sinister smile. "Do you think she's enjoy us getting a bit rougher with her? Hey what if Rise is being forced to watch us from where she is...what do you think her reaction would be to us taking advantage of Naoto?"
I ignored my Shadow and he disappeared as Naoto started to stir back to consciousness. She groaned and grabbed her head as she sat back up. "I never thought you'd do something like that. A sleeper hold?"
"Technically its called a blood choke. If its not done right it can kill you, but doing it correctly will render someone unconscious in only a few seconds," I looked her over. "I guess the sensory confusion doesn't matter anymore after we've fought."
Naoto nodded, "Indeed. Somehow they are able to manipulate this world enough to force their own rules. I wonder if it has a purpose or just being used for stalling."
"How did you end up here anyway?" I asked, as it had been on my mind since I saw her appear. "Shouldn't you be out on a job?"
"I am still. That job just ended up here. I was working for the police to act as an observer over the Kirijo Group as they were transporting cargo. Did you hear about the plane hi-jacking?" Naoto was surprisingly quick to offer me details.
"Yeah, some terrorist threat. But I'm guessing that isn't what it was," I speculated as she nodded to confirm.
"As it were, the ones involved were a simple distraction from the real goal. The men don't remember anything after they were rendered unconscious and taken into custody. Most of them missing days at a time. None with previous history our noteworthy associations that could explain their actions. They were tools to be on the main stage while the real culprit stole a piece of important cargo from the Kirijo Group, and right underneath their security as well. I manage to tag the getaway truck with a tracer. After the incident had calmed down I was promptly kicked off the job but I couldn't do that. Especially when I figured out that my tracer had come back to Inaba," Naoto looked over at me and shook her head. "Turns out the head of the Kirijo Group, Kirijo Mitsuru is also the leader of a new government branch known as the Shadow Operatives. And all of them are capable Persona users."
"So whatever it was that was stolen was thrown in here?" I asked.
"More than likely, but I don't know much of the details, unfortunately. I followed them back and saw a group of four, headed by Kirijo Mitsuru enter the TV and I followed. I had to fight with Chie-san to get here, so everyone must be here at this point. I'm not sure how all of this is related though. What about you, Senpai? Why are you here?" It was Naoto's turn to get some answers.
"I'm here, because Rise was taken," I said simply. "I had left the kitchen for only a moment and it was all the time needed for Rise to be taken. I gave chase and saw Rise get thrown in. I jumped in after her, but something was weird about it when I went in. Either way I think I was out for a number of hours. I'm pretty sure Teddie was taken in some capacity as well. I suspect that the way we're tricked to fight wouldn't work if Rise or Teddie was around."
"That makes sense. Rise is able to connect us directly so it would bypass that power completely. Teddie isn't as effect as Rise in that regard but he would still be a hindrance in tricking us," Naoto quickly finished the thought I had been leading her to. "Well if Rise was taken then its a good thing you won. She could probably use you coming to her rescue."
I chose not to reply to that and switched the subject once again, "So there is four other people other than our friends running around in here? As well as our would be culprit and the fake Teddie and fake Rise...assuming that isn't just them using some trick on the TV's."
"Yes, though I can say the Shadow Operatives are likely are allies. I wasn't able to learn what the cargo was but based on their actions they are well experienced in using their Persona. The police wanted me to find some form of shady practices from them but from what I can tell, their aspirations are more noble," Naoto seemed to have additional thoughts on the subject. "They are a organization that was just created, and they are essentially on a trial period and many want to see them fail."
"If they have the ability to summon Personae then they must have dealt with something in their past," I guess it only made sense as to why they would be a part of it. Whatever had happened made them want to pursue Shadows in other areas of Japan. And doing so in secret was not an easy thing to hide. Especially if the damage from Shadows started affecting major areas. "They needed the authority to act on threats without having to look over their shoulder and face possible legal action against them."
Naoto was in agreement with this and nodded, "Acting on an isolated incident in the area you are in is one thing, but to be able to act on Shadow activity in other areas of the country would be noticeable, especially when its the head of the Kirijo Group. I only got to meet them briefly but I felt as if they all held a heavy burden with them...like something horrible happened to them."
"To be honest it would be weird if there hadn't been anything. Protective organizations like that usually come after the fact. And there is always a heavy price that was paid that people feel they should have prevented," I shook my head. "Maybe not but it feels like most agencies like that are always a reactionary to a specific event."
"You are probably correct, but it doesn't make it easier to think about," Naoto moved against one of the walls and relaxed against it. "You should get moving. The faster you can get to Rise-chan, the better. Then maybe we can start to find out why all of this is happening."
"We certainly aren't hurting for questions to ask," I muttered as I got back up to my feet. "Once I have Rise I'm sure she'll connect us all and we can figure this all out." I turned to leave but then looked back. "Oh before I forget. Kanji was worried about you."
She blinked, "Worried...about me? But why...as far as he was concerned I was out of town."
"You did leave without saying anything to him," I quickly pointed out. "You have been avoiding him."
She hung her head, "Yes I have. I will have to apologize to him when I can." She then asked another question. "Was he angry?"
"You know him," I replied simply.
"Yes...so of course he was," she muttered to herself. "Sorry, you should go, Senpai. I shouldn't hold you up like this."
"Yeah, but don't dwell on that too much. You should just realize that he is thinking about you," I said before I turned back towards the stairs. Up was where I needed to go. The only thing I could do was hope that by doing this that things had changed. I guess there was only one way to find out.
Recorded Date and Time Not Found
Classified Location
NO PERSONAL DESIGNATION - PLAYBACK STARTING
"Hmm, she should be waking up," a voice was speaking. My vision was currently only showing darkness. I could not appear to correct this. "Let me run diagnostics." The voice continued and I heard the sound of clicks and clacks a second later. "Here is the problem. For some reason your startup sequence skipped booting up your optics. And there we go."
ASSW OS ver.1 were words that flashed in front of my vision. After a moment I was bombarded by light. I turned my head to see the visage of a man with black hair and blue eyes. He was looking at me with a smile. His image puzzled me.
"Why don't we start with what you know? What is your name?" he asked me.
"Name?" I spoke. I wasn't sure how I knew to do so but I did so none the less. I was also concerned about how I was able to comprehend this man, or how I knew that he was a man. "I do not understand your inquiry."
He still had a smile and shifted in his seat, "I thought this could occur. My name is Ikakure Renji. You're name is Labrys."
"Labrys?" his words only confused me further.
"Ah, a name is what people call you buy. Such as my name. Most call me Ikakure. My family calls me Renji. Well my wife calls me Renji. My little girl, Setsuko, calls me Papa, and Kayane is...well he doesn't like to talk much," the man named Renji chuckled a bit. However, he continued to use terms that I didn't understand.
"What is family?" I asked.
"That is a pretty complex answer," he said as he was pushing his fingers on some sort of device in front of him. He stopped. "Let's start with the basics. We'll work slowly on expanding your knowledge base. Then once we've mastered all that, I'll talk to you about my family and what it means to be in one."
I was intrigued by his words and it seemed this was some sort of promise or reward he was promising me. I nodded an affirmation.
Recorded Date and Time Unclear Due to Data Corruption
Classified Island Facility
LABRYS - PLAYBACK STARTING
I looked curiously at what Renji was presenting me. "What is it?"
He laughed, "It's a book."
"A book? But I'm a machine, wouldn't it be prudent to just insert the data into..." I stopped as he was shaking his head.
"Not unless you actually want to learn the information contained inside it. Look Labrys, I've explained to you before that you are no simple machine. I can't just download something into you and you actually know it. That isn't how you work. You are much more special than that." Renji said a word he had said a few times since my activation.
"Special? How am I special?" I asked him.
"That! The very fact you ask that question is what makes you special! Being inquisitive, asking about what you don't know, trying to understand the world around you. That is something that a machine doesn't do. You very much remind me of my daughter," the man mused with his usual smile on his face.
It seemed more like a defect that I was unable to simply download new processes. I was a machine after all. Renji was bringing up his family again, it was a reoccurring topic with him. I studied him for a long moment before I spoke again, "Why do you speak of your family so often?"
He chuckled lightly, if amused by my question, "Family is the most important thing in this world. Much more so than anything else. Men will constantly be tempted by money, power and the many vices that populate out everyday life. But our lives start with family, and you hope that at the end it will end with family." Renji pointed to a large screen in the corner of the room. "From today on we will start by learning about life. What is precious and what is important to protect. After that we will discuss your purpose and the reason why you were created. More than that, I will show you your family."
May 3rd, 2012 / Time Unknown
Yasogami High School?
KANA'S POINT OF VIEW
I slid to a stop as I saw something at the end of the hall. A girl with silver hair and in a high school uniform. Yasogami's High School uniform to be exact. She wasn't one of the people that was showed off in that video from before. Now that I thought about it, we didn't know what Labrys looked like. Still would someone be able to activate her inside the TV world? Did anyone even have the knowledge to do something like that? It wasn't like activating Labrys would be like flipping on a light switch.
No, Isako-san had explained that there were a number of things in order to bring her back on, and that process might be a bit different because Labrys was unique to even the other Mechanical Maidens of her generation. The ones she was forced to fight and destroy. Unlike the others Labrys was never pre-programmed with functionality or fighting ability. She learned it by watching and doing. She learned everything the same way as any normal human would. While models like Aigis was more than capable of doing so...it was something that had happened to her overtime as she developed her power as a Persona user.
None of that was the same for Labrys. Just what kind of person did she turn out to be. More than that, how did she handle destroying her sister units? And most important of all, was she able to handle the death of her creator?
"LABRYS!" I called out but the distance was too great. She likely couldn't hear me, or it was not Labrys at all. Still, she looked so human, so it wasn't likely to be her. Still what they had talked about before was in my mind. That Labrys was likely more human like than Aigis was. The girl with silver hair stopped and turned around, not towards me but someone else. I tried to move towards her but found myself hitting an invisible wall almost immediately. "Hey! Down here!" I yelled again.
Appearing next to the silver haired girl was a...well I don't know what it was. No, wait! It was like that guy on the TV. Teddie was his name. But he wasn't in the cap and hat so...was he the real Teddie? Yukiko indicated that he had a human form but still wore his original outfit. As a Shadow, I think I could understand that. But what prompted him to change? Why was he now more than just a Shadow? Just like me.
The two were gone and disappeared through a door. Yelling didn't seem to have a point right now. Still there was obviously more about this situation that I didn't know. Rushing it was likely not the best option for me. All I could do was follow the invisible barriers to where they were leading me. I didn't like the fact that I had to follow the path that the one responsible for this whole situation. I came to a door and entered it. This was...a classroom. I stood inside and looked at the collection of seats.
I wonder what it would be like to go to school. Everyone sitting in their chairs as the teacher started class. Everyone was in the classroom for their own reasons. Whether it was for education, because they were forced to by their parents, or because it was a place they loved to be at. Everyone's reason might have been similar but still markedly different. I guess that was an experience I would never have. Much like how Hamuko would never truly meet her own twin brother.
But there were things I could prevent. I could make it so that Kayane can meet his sister. Learn the truth about his family. I couldn't make everything better, but I could at least correct something. Kayane deserved to know he had family.
I looked out the window of the classroom. There wasn't much beyond this school. This was all this world needed for whatever the purpose of it was. Just the grounds of Yasogami High School. But there had to be a deeper meaning as to why it was here. Then again maybe it wasn't the location that was important, but the act?
The door to the room on the other side opened. A young man with brown hair. That's right his name from that video was Hanamura Yosuke. "Oh hey, someone is here," he was holding a pair of kunai in his hands. I guess that was the weapon he used for fighting.
"You're another friend of Kayane-san," I said simply. I knew what was going to happen next. Just like what had occurred before against Yukiko. "They're going to make us fight each other."
Yosuke scratched his head, "Yeah, I know. I figured out last time that there isn't much you can do about it. Even if they try to goad us into doing so, we get sealed in here by those invisible barriers until somebody wins."
"Hey, hey! That's how these things are supposed to go. After all, how will you know who is the best of the best if you don't duke it out?" the one called General Teddie was on the TV in the corner of the classroom.
"Drop the act, I know you aren't Teddie. If you were really were him, you wouldn't put something like this on inside the TV world," Yosuke seemed like he wasn't having any of it. "I live with the damn bear, so I think I would know if you were really him or not."
"I think you're just better that you almost lost your last match," General Teddie. "Still if you want to see who I really am, you two better hurry up."
"Alright its time for the next round of the P-1 Grand Prix! Lets get going you two! It's time to let go of those inhibitions and go all out!" It was the Fake Rise that came onto the screen. I turned to Yosuke. Any moment now the air around Yosuke would be a Shadows power, changing his words and expressions. To taunt me and get us to fight.
"Oh come now, Kana, it isn't like it matters if you succeed. It isn't like a Shadow like you could really do anything. You saved one life, don't you think that is about the limit of your ability?" The words coming from Yosuke were no longer his. But those words were an amalgamation of my own doubt. "You think you are able to save Labrys or Kayane with just mere knowledge? What a naive little Shadow you are."
I stood defensively. Yeah, I might have been naive. Like what Hamuko had always told me. I might be able to learn quickly and make up for my lack of knowledge that others already had. But there was wisdom and experience that I didn't have. I could still remember those words that Hamuko had said.
"As you move forward you are going to make mistakes. Many will be small and inconsequential, but there will be times you'll make a big mistake. It's what you do after making a mistake that defines you. That defines all of us. Do we learn from what we do? Or do we stubbornly continue to be the same, even if its a mistake we'll repeat again? Nothing in life is as simple as what is right and what is wrong. The world is covered in gray. Someone may rob a convenience store, and for the average person its simply a thief that needs to be punished. Yet there is also another side to it, that thief may have lost his job, his loved ones and maybe turned down from good honest work. Nobody took a chance on that thief...and that was what led him to do something we know as wrong. Desperation and tragedy is something that can lead to acts that people have no choice but to do in order to survive. So think about it like this, Kana-chan. Don't be the thief. When you make a mistake, learn from it but never sacrifice your morals. That was how my brother was. Even when the world forsake him, he kept going forward."
I understood what Hamuko had meant. Her brother could have easily been someone who became a villain when he had arrived at Iwatodai and Tatsumi Port Island. He could have refused SEES and left them to their fate. Left the world to its fate. He was given the power of the wild card that he used to help the people around him. The world that had done nothing but take and take away from him. Yet he continued to be selfless and helped not only SEES but all the lives around him. That was why even now, his memory was the most treasured of those that knew him.
Hamuko wanted me to aspire to such motivations. I understood why, but even still I thought it was a good moral stance to aspire to. So the Shadow could taunt me all it wanted. It wasn't like I didn't know what it meant. However, I spent the majority of my existence standing still. Whether I could do something or not wasn't important. It was putting in that effort regardless of the chance of success.
And so, I will put everything that I am to saving Labrys. That meant defeating Yosuke right here and now.
I gripped the hilt of my chainsword from its place on my back and a swift motion I pulled the weapon free and let it hang as a chain whip along the ground as I looked to Yosuke. He was ready to fight, and I'm sure he the Shadow was still trying to taunt me, but none of that mattered now. He spun his kunai in hand. He was switching to an offense stance as his Persona appeared behind him.
"Alright, Hanamura-san. Show me if your resolve can beat mine!"
November 3rd, 1996 / Afternoon
Yakushima Beach
LABRYS - Playback Starting (High Importance)
The sun was beaming down and the water looked to be a pristine blue. I was in a white sun dress and had a straw hat that covered most of my robotic appearance. How long had it been since I was activated? And yet Renji took pains to keep the other scientists away from me. Insisting that my development was very specific and that no others were allowed to approach. Well, that is what he said, but I had more than overheard the loud arguments and murmurs from other departments.
"Labrys, I have some people I want you to meet," Renji had three others at his side. "This is my family. My wife, Arisa. And my daughter and son, Setsuko and Kayane." Arisa had dark auburn hair but emerald eyes. Setsuko and Kayane both shared black hair and crystal blue eyes like their father, but it seemed like most of their features between the two children were closer to their Mother.
"Oh dear, she's beautiful," Arisa moved towards me. "You know my husband doesn't stop talking about you. Although he really isn't supposed to. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." She bowed towards me.
"This is your family?" I had no idea how to act. All I had was a bunch of movies and other things that Renji had been having me watch to get a better understanding of human interaction.
"Labrys, do you know what those people say you are built for?" Renji stepped back towards me. By those people he meant the other scientists.
"That I'm a tool in order to fight the Shadows," I remembered the continued statement that was being said. And it was part of the reason that along with my education put forth by Renji, I was also learning combat arts and the use of weapons.
"Yes, that is what they want you to be, a weapon. But you are no weapon," Renji smiled. "You are a member of this family."
I blinked for a moment as the words ran through my head.
"Well yeah, I mean, Dad made you. So that makes you our sister," the young girl said. I looked at her seeing her holding the young boys hand. "Hey Daddy, can Labrys go in the water?"
"Of course she can," he nodded.
"Alright then! Kayane grab Imoutosan's hand we're going to go play!" Setsuko pushed her brother forward.
"Imoutosan?" I wasn't sure I understood.
Setsuko put her hands on her waist and nodded. "That's right I'm six years old and soon Otoutosan will be 3 and that means we're both older than you. So you can call me Oneesan. And you have to call Kayane, Oniisan okay? You aren't even a year old yet. Just because your a robot doesn't mean you can call us whatever you want. And as the oldest you have to do what I say, got it?"
Family? I was a part of the family? The two children didn't hesitate, didn't even think anything of what I was. They approached me, touched me but only because of curiosity of what their Father had told them about me. "You would call me sister?"
"Imoutosan! You can't just ignore the facts you know? Dad making you is the same as you being born, right?" Setsuko was a very obstinate girl it seems.
"Setsuko, I know you're excited but you can't just make demands of your Imouto," Arisa said but Setsuko just audibly pouted and then dismissed it.
"Yes, Okaasan," Setsuko then grabbed my left arm while Kayane grabbed my right.
"Imoutosan," Kayane finally spoke as he looked up at me. I looked over to Renji.
"You make your own goals and objectives. Because you can think and feel for yourself. This is your family. I want you to spend time with us, and then I'm sure eventually you'll see what your own goals and desires will be. Defeating Shadows is probably something that needs to be done, but not only because Shadows are dangerous. But its what it does to families just like ours. You included," Renji spoke something so somewhat complex as if it was something simple.
I was then dragged closer to the water by both Setsuko and Kayane. But I could hear the conversation by Arisa and Kayane behind us.
"I see what you mean, love. She's like an innocent girl, still learning about the world. But she's surrounded by so many that could twist her views," Arisa said softly.
"Yeah, I know, your brother warned me about this. He said there was a reason they went to the Nanjo Group to temporarily take over. But even if I am the Director its pretty much in name only. Arisa if something happens then..."
"Don't you dare suggest such a thing Renji," Arisa cut off Renji before he spoke. "Setsuko and Kayane both need you. Labrys is also your creation, and she doesn't belong to them. She is the same as our own children and..."
"Yeah so you understand that I'm also in need of their facility to properly take care of her. I'm not sure what would happen if I tried to take her and run to the Nanjo Group. Even if I went to Nanjo-sama, he doesn't want to openly oppose the Kirijo Group," Renji seemed resigned to the fact.
"So we do what we can here, to help Labrys. That's what you want? Don't forget about the rest of your family," Arisa spoke softly.
"Of course not," Renji said simply. "I'll figure it out, how I can get us out of here and protect Labrys. One way or another."
A/N:
The majority of Labrys' background is going to be completely re-done so I guess it might be a point of contention for some people but to be honest I was never really happy or felt like the game quite explained just how devastating or bad it was for Labrys' The scientists involved also seemed rather...stupid. And what I believe is that there was a fundamental misconception as to the power of Persona when it came to what involved gaining one. The scientists saw it as black and white. You either had the potential, or you didn't. No variations. They didn't consider mindset or emotional state as a factor in wielding that power.
Ikakure Renji comes from the Nanjo Group. A Group that anyone that has played the first 2 Persona games are aware of what happens when someone's psyche goes crazy. Well kinda. Still the main goal for Renji working for the Kirijo Group was likely the leader of the Nanjo Group trying to make sure that things weren't going awry with the group that had split off from the Nanjo Group. From what we see here, Labrys has not been active for too long. But its also obvious that Renji isn't going along the way that the Kirijo Group wants. But exactly how far we'll see later.
Renji's main lesson he is imparting to Labrys is the concept of family. Rather than just teaching her to kill Shadows or even develop her to get a Persona he focuses more on proper motivation. And by proper I mean a motivation that Renji feels is the best way for the Mechanical Maidens to operate. So he has a bit of knowledge about Persona users although maybe not too much more. The only thing that makes this rough is the first 2 Persona Games don't have a clear time it takes place at. (although the original Japanese release was in 1996 so if we follow the logic of the Persona series, in that the games are typically set in the future from when its released...which means by that the events of Persona 1 and 2 had not occurred yet) For Renji, he has knowledge in the area, and the discovery of the Plume of Dusk was probably a huge event. And more so that Renji is able to activate the first Mechanical Maiden with a working personality. But he doesn't document her design. So Labrys is definitely unique for a lot of reasons, but that will be covered in the future chapters.
So yes, Labrys meets young Kayane...and I mean two year old, nearly three year old Kayane. And I already mentioned when the accident occurs that claims his parents lives. Plus we also get a glimpse of Setsuko here. But how she is as a six year old doesn't account for all that she has gone through since that time either. At the current timeline, Setsuko is actually 21. We'll definitely see her eventually, but there is a lot more to go.
Expect a lot of Labrys' memories to be shown in the next chapter. As we're slowly marching towards the end of Arena. (Lots to cover between now and the end still so it won't be finishing that quickly) I won't give up much here, but just that family is important, and part of the base of what makes Labrys who she is when it comes to this story. Will she have her accent still? Yes, yes she will. I mean I already did have her appear with the accent right? Yes, yes I did. Anyway...major focus coming to Labrys in the next chapter because there is a lot we have to cover before we switch back to Kayane and Kana. And yeah, don't expect the Arena arc to end anything like how the game does.
I hope you've all enjoyed it so far...and don't dislike the changes I do to Labrys' backstory too much. Plus as a result she'll end up more human like than she was in the original story. Not to mention might change things beyond this story quite a bit.
As always Thanks for your time! Please, read and review and I'll see you in a couple weeks with the next chapter!
