04/17 Shadow world
I looked down upon a down'd Saki with my hand extended out to help her up. Lion shadows are one thing I suppose, bit nothing in contrast with the less threatening appearing ones further in. While I don't mind her having a bit of a crisis right now we really don't have time for this that's for sure.
"Come on Konishi," I said with my hand before her. "We need to keep going?"
"How can I," she shook her head.
"Because if you don't more than Yosuke's life will end today." I dropped down to a knee before the girl. She refused to look up to me despite getting a bit closer to her. "Your life will end," I pointed to her. "My life will end." I pointed to myself. "And the lives of this town will change forever. So grit your teeth, stand on your feet, and push through your crisis so we can get back home. Especially since there's a long walk between here and the way out," I reminded her. "The fight out is harder than the fight in. Trust me I know."
I stood back up to my feet once I saw the realization cross her eyes. "I'm trapped," she muttered.
"Yes," I responded. "You can push through with me or return without me," I have her the best ultimatum I could provide. "Either way it's your choice." I rested my hand on my sword. "So which is it? Will you wallow on the ground until something comes and kills you, return to the entrance through the maze and face the shadows alone, or push on with me to see if we can save Yosuke. What's your answer Konishi?" I looked down at her with my arms crossed over my chest. I can't afford to be anything other than blunt right now in the middle of shadow territory. Even now I can hear the whispers through my head phones from the shadows surrounding us. The formless ones gathering energy to gain a form so to devour us. I'm not sure if that's why they attack us and I don't plan on finding out.
"So you'd leave me," Saki looked up to me and I frowned at her. I looked around for a moment once I remembered the safe rooms on each floor where the mist is at its thinnest. It should be around her somewhere and I'm sure I'd find it here somewhere.
"I'd leave you in a safe room," I muttered as I tried to pinpoint the room on this floor. I rose my glasses up and see where the mist was thinner in this tent and found it to my right than anywhere else. The room is that way then. Navigating these floors aren't too difficult once you remove the glasses. You can see clearer once you place them on, but consequently you become blind to the signs of the world. It's like when I have my earphones on. With them off I hear silence and the moans of shadows. I know where they're coming from and when. With them on I can hear their voices. Depending on what they say can determine what they drop at their obliteration. By what they say I know whether or not I can speak to them as well to possibly gain a persona from them. Angel was gained from conversation, understanding, and empathy. It was that simple. I'm curious of what other shadows can become with just a few words used right.
Though that's a work in progress for now. I pulled my glassed back down and the small pressure from trying to see through the fog faded away once everything became clear. "There are rooms where the mist is thin to the point of being nonexistent on each floor," I started to explain. I believe they're spawned from need, but I'm not sure. I pushed this thought away though to say, "You'd be safe there from the shadows for a time. During thatI'll push forward and whether or not Yosuke is alive, well… You'd find out in time." I finished in a dull tone. This place would probably deteriorate with Yosuke's death overtime much like the Living Nightmare that belonged to that Announcer Mrs. Yamano.
"What would happened if Yosuke dies here?"
"This place would collapse in time," I told her. "The shadows would grow more feral as well." In a world that's about to end why not go crazy right. It's only human when your own death is at hands to lose all sanity and let go of morals. The shadows in Yamano's Living Nightmare screamed bloody murder at me then pleaded once their home began to fall. It would be sad if I felt bad for the things that tried to kill me. I don't.
Saki shook her head. "So I'm screwed if I do and screwed if I don't," she concluded.
"Sure," I shrugged. "But it's up to you to decide which path will result with the higher probability of survival for you."
With that Saki glared up to me. "You know what "decision' I have that will result in my surviving this Narukami," she said in anger not that I could blame her. "You've been giving me ultimatums this whole time knowing that if I don't go with you I'll more likely die than not!" She grit her teeth and looked down to the ground with her arms wrapped around her chest and gripping her sides. "You said it yourself that you needed help to make it through and without that you will more than likely die. Then Hana-chan will die. Then I'll die…" She snort and took a couple breaths. "I'll die full of regret because I know I could've made a difference," Saki whispered with her chin down.
"Very true," I said bluntly and let my arms fall down to my sides. Saki isn't an idiot and I've been reminding myself of this for a minute now. She's not like the girls I'm used to that need you to hold their hands through life. She knows where she stands and what she needs to do without much of a push from me. At most a reminder of her alternatives. "So your choice?" I asked her.
Saki glared up to me and clicked her tongue. I nodded at her with my hand out for her to take. Saki reached up and took my hand firmly. I pulled her up from the ground back to her feet. She glared hard up to me but it was met with impassivity from me. I reached up to my earphones and fixed them then picked up my music player. I played the first track on shuffle. The first song is one of the overhead songs from the old Sonic the Hedgehog game from like before I was born. It's a remix to make it sound more modernized and not so 16 bit but still it's an interesting way to kick this off. My music blocked out the whispers masterfully.
"You seem to always play music," Saki muttered. It's interesting that I can hear human voices just fine when I have my music player going but only when the music stops do I hear the shadows.
"It helps keep me calm and focused. It helps to fight to a beat the keeps up my spirits as well," I said with a glance her way. "If I was fighting with just silence I'd have lost my mind a long time ago in these places. The music keeps the mind off… well the fact I'm a high school kid fighting off monsters and beasts in a world behind a television where I could die with my body ending up strung up in on a television antenna." With that I placed my music player back into my pocket.
"I guess that makes sense," Saki muttered. "Drown out the noise and the groaning. Especially the whispers," she shivered from that confession. So she can hear them as well. In my headphones I can hear words coherent enough to understand, but Saki here just hears the groans, moans, and screams without a filter. That must be unsettling.
"I'll get you a Bluetooth or get Kuma to fashion you some earmuffs or earphones for this world. They help drown out the noise."
"That'd be nice."
I nodded and with that started to walk away. Saki hesitated a bit but followed after me. "Saki," I called her. "You need to use your persona," I told her. She irked a bit at the mention of her persona for some reason. I can think of a couple but the dominant one cycles back to her arcana that's been inverted and shifted. I'm sure before I was the fool I was something completely different and they insinuated that great calamity and stress can change who you are as a person. Who you are today won't be the same as tomorrow and all that. If her arcana shifted I can only imagine what's happened to Lady Kitsurobo. Maybes her persona has shifted on top of this as well.
"I'll try, okay," she answered harshly.
"Do is better," I responded swiftly. I don't have time for her to try or afford to give it to her. "I know that you feel… different and that you're true self might have shifted but…"
"What!?" She rose her voice, and I bit my teeth. I didn't mean to let that out but it seems it's much too later. "What do you… how do you…?"
"I can sense things now," I lied calmly. "It cycles back to how I can tell how you're feeling Saki. Exposure to this world has benefited for me in a number of ways. That fact that you've changed inside and out is one of them. It's okay but remain calm please." I heard a scream once the music stopped and turned my attention to a red aura to my left. I gripped my sword and took in the scent of the shadows. I calmed down once I realized that they're low of level. They're just small fry attracted to Saki's distress and will be a good gauge of her skill and persona.
"That sounds sort of amazing." She took in what I've told her. "Could I…"
"I doubt it," I shot that down into pieces. "How're you by the way," I asked her before she could speak out against my interruption. "You got pounced by that beast," I reminded her and turned my sight to her chest.
"Oh," she looked down to her Battle Kimono. "I'm fine?" She said a bit astonished from the fact that a potentially 180 kilo lion just pounced and landed on top of her with it's weight baring down on her. Normally a man, especially a woman, would've had their rips shattered, lungs collapsed, and innards crushed from what she suffered. But here she is walking it off as if nothing happened. "But how?" She questioned me.
"This world is different from ours. What's fake in our world can become real here. That armor as well is special. I can tell it protected you but don't let your guard down." I stopped and stepped back behind her. She looked at me a bit puzzled of what I was doing until she head the shadows approaching. She stepped back but I rose my sword up and butt the back against the small of her back. "Now get in there and try again Saki. These are weaker than the last and with your great power I know you won't have trouble." I gave her some positive reinforcement. I can't be all negative all the time, and I want her to become that wonderful True Lady she was before that destroyed shadows with grace so savage it made a few flee in terror. But I need a nail on the head. I smiled at her and said, "I believed on you, so you ready," I asked her I think for the third or fourth time today.
"Probably not," she admitted dully but smiled a bit. "But I think I got this."
"You'll be fine," I pat her across the shoulder. "Use your persona and if not you're physical skills. You're fast and able to work at 100 percent here without losing your breath. You kick hard as well. Just believe in yourself like I do you Saki. You can do this," I cheered her on with my fist up but my voice or tone has yet to shift.
"O-Okay," she nodded her head and faced the coming shadows. She took a couple calming breaths as I stepped back to spectate. Once she gets back in the mix we can really push forward and finish this Nightmare. The shadows arrived in moments in an inky black mess before gaining form. A cube and a table. These are good enemies for her to fight. These kinds are always near the beginning but the shadow's grow the more animalistic or creative the closer we get to the goal. Saki pulled her foot back as she faced the shadows and bent her knees as if moments from sprinting off towards them. She's not going to use her persona then. Well that's her choice.
The table shot a blast of fire towards Saki and she rose her arms. That's not good because last I checked she's not immune to fire or even resistant. That might hurt. Last I checked that table is weak against Ice attacks. To my shock the Agilao it used to hit her swirled around her for a moment before seemingly being syphoned by her. She can absorb fire? That's new. I distinctly remember her taking a fire attack once and being shot back into the ground by it. Maybe it's meshed along with her shift as well.
Saki looked back at me and smiled. Yellow began to cover her meaning she's growing confident within herself. She must've seen something she liked because her color shifted into pink next. She's excited now. I take what I can get I suppose. Saki leaned forward and shot out towards the table and jumped up. She landed savage kick to the wood forcing it back. She twisted around into a vertical spin kick. I could imagine a soccer ball coming her way above and her jumping and kicking it into a goal for the win. This could be a close second because after this kick and table shot back down to the floor. I guess if I just realized if their attacks can't harm is as well I'd be somewhat ecstatic as well.
Saki faced and cube with her back leaned forward at the ready to sprint once more. This cube or rather dice shadow if memory serves is weak to light and dark damage. The cube didn't hesitate to attack though despite its fellow being downed in such a way. Saki waited as it charged with an ethereal sword of sorts appearing above it. Saki dodged with a slight side leap left but the blast from this attack blasted her back. She landed gently and shot at the cube. She twirled around the back flipped. This time she had a literal floating ball above her and kicked it accordingly forcing it back away from her straight into the table. She shot her hands out and caught herself to the ground and rolled back to her feet with a soft pant.
"Not bad," I admitted softly.
Saki faced the shadows and took a breath. She stood there and looked troubled for some reason. I rose an eyebrow.
"Aren't you going to use your persona," I called out to her more out of the loss of patience I had. I've waited to see this play out, but I wish to see this end knowing all her changes, persona included. Saki glanced back at me seemingly afraid of something but I waved her off. I noticed a familiar buildup of soul power building around her. "Finally," I muttered.
"P-Persona," she stammered for some reason. I soon saw why when her persona appeared before us both. I blinked as I took in the being before me. This wasn't Lady Kiritsubo. This was an entirely different being with her eyes open at that. It was… different.
The complexion is close to the same same with the kimono in a way but that's sort of where the similarities shifted. It word a mask over its face made of some metal that's reminiscent to that of a spider with eight holes in it. Behind its back coming out of a purplish webbing silk sheened kimono with a yellow obi came out six legs sort of like the sort you'd see on a spider. Her black lustrous hair was tied up into an Icho-gaeshi.
Behind her was an actual thorax of sorts with a red triangle on top reminiscent to the red circle you'd see on a black widow. Speaking of which this person was black in thorax, mask, and hair but her human top was the same pale sheen as Lady Kiritsubo. Her kimono barely hung off her human half. It fell past her shoulders with her breast keeping it from falling same completely down to her yellow obi separating her human half from her spider half. One set of arms went through the sleeves with long sharp nails that could almost be mistaken from claws. The second set came out from under her kimono and in her hand happened to be a flaming nagimata. Now that I'm seeing it this woman was like a fire spider. I was having flash backs of Quelana from this alone especially with the way the persona rubbed her spider half almost lovingly. Its like she's proud of the form she took.
Her human half is slouched down as if exhausted and her chin is touching her chest. Despite this I saw almost tribal-esque necklaces around her neck. The one that was like a choker was made from teeth maybe from this widow's victims, the middle was green with spiked rubies falling down it and a single blue crystal hanging from it. The last was black in cord with a rectangular obsidian black crystal or maybe diamond at the bottom bordered by reddened squared crystals on both flanks. Her arms as well are decorated by bracelets of the most precious of shiniest of metals a man could get.
I've read lore about this sort of being. I believe it's called…
"Jorōgumo," Saki said seemingly ashamed of this sudden change. One she probably knew about once she ran. A True Lady doesn't run and she did. Now that I think of it Lady Kiritsubo explained everything we needed to know about how a true lady should be and Saki turned away from that. I can't blame her, but it's happened regardless. Her persona suddenly looked back at me with a savage look upon me. While this was a very shocking change I still found a chaotic beauty within this being. I smiled a bit at her and the persona nodded at me. It seems to appreciate the support from me which hasn't changed one bit. It's a shock, but welcome this shift. Lady Kiritsubo was beautiful and striking in her own right but this being is on a whole new level. It's much weaker than Lady Kiritsubo though. Not a bad thing I suppose. I survived this place with fiercely underpowered persona so gaining experience in battle can counterbalance the flow of the battle. Some training in can easily remedy the power displacement.
"Alright, finish them," I called out to Saki. She looked back at me and I waved for her to do this. Her and her spider woman persona. I guess becoming a black widow like Jorōgumo was the only way for her to survive the stress. Makes a bit of sense as well. From a snake to a spider.
"Okay," she said with a trembling voice and faced the shadows that began to stand. The card appeared before Saki. Instead of taking it in hand to snap into pieces she let it fall within the palms of her hands. Jorōgumo rose her top arms mirroring Saki and used the bottom ones to lift up that flaming nagimata it has. In one fluid motion Saki closed her hands, intertwined her fingers, and brought them up in front of her face. He end state was like that of a woman praying for her man to return from war. Well it can be seen as anything but that's what I saw especially with Jorōgumo behind her. Jorōgumo mirrored this with the spear up. "Heat wave," Saki commanded and Jorōgumo swung her weapon. A blast of heat fired towards the shadows. It was so hot that it was burning the air to the point that I could see it. That Heat wave nearly disintegrated the two shadows in an instant ending the battle.
"Not bad," I said again. I've physical skills that are much more forceful than that. After that skill came to an end Jorōgumo faded away in her prayer gesture and left the both of us away. Jorōgumo is much more vicious and imposing in figure than Saki's last persona. Well, that's a good thing, Jorōgumo could scare many of these beings away.
Saki let out a breath as I walked up to her. "Nice work," I told her. "Now let's keep moving," I said and walked off.
"Narukami," Saki called me and I stopped. I refused to turn around though. I could practically taste the emotion coming off of her. "Aren't you going to say something?"
"Do you wish me to," I returned her question. I'd rather not dwell on the changes growing girls go through. Her persona is different meaning that her inner self is in conflict to find its identity. Whatever is happening to her from within isn't any of my business and up to her to settle. When Saki didn't respond I continued. "Let's get going Saki. You're more than strong enough to fight with me same with your persona." I told her firmly. "So let's go." With that I continued walking and Saki quietly followed me.
Teaching Saki a bit on how the world here worked soaked up a fair bit of time. I have to show her the safe rooms I mentioned before and told her about the many shadows we met with. She didn't question my knowledge and instead just silently took it all in. I appreciated that she listened instead of generically asked questions throughout my lessons. I told of her the different weakness of different shadows to include those weak to different attacks. Some happened to be weak against her bludgeoning kicks and others the slacks of my sword or piercing attack from my trust.
I watched Saki use her persona and helped her develop the system that I created to help extend out our effectiveness for deeper into the Living Nightmare. I noticed her beginning to revert back to when she used all skills like Fire mostly and told her that it's bad to expend all of your energy on small fire. It's best to ration out your soul power for as long as we could. I've more than her that much is apparent so she needs to work harder on keeping her skills on lockdown than myself.
We didn't talk about her shifting persona and just kept moving, which I preferred over needless banter. Throughout and many fights I watched Saki carefully as she fought them. I told her to follow my lead and she did. Together she used a fire skill and I an electric skill to down four shadows at once until they were in a pile then destroyed them in a combined attack. She accepted to listening to my commands and orders during since I know more about this than her. She listened to everything I told her and seemed to be learning quickly what weaknesses and strengths many of these shadow hold.
Once Saki and I began to take some blows and damage she nearly panicked overusing her skill attacks until I rose my voice at her to calm down. She's not used to being close to the point of falling over like I am. I kept my composure and got through the fight to the third level of five for the Circus of Values. I took that time to show her how the food and drinks can work and help once she complained about it. Food, drink, medicine, and drugs gave additive effects here and it showed when I ate some custard bread and the scratches on my cheek steamed and closed as if nothing happened. She ate and drank from my stores and reveled in the effect it had on our bodies. I made sure not to give her too much and only enough to heal. I don't need her becoming addicted to food or drugs here.
"Son," I heard over head as we entered the fourth level of this place and frowned. Here we go again.
"Yes dad," I heard the voice of Yosuke overhead once more.
"Hana-chan?" Saki looked around for him. I placed my hand on her shoulder and shook my head once she glanced back at me. She closed her mouth and waited to hear more of what "Hana-chan" had to say same with this father's voice.
"What do you think you're doing," his father roared at him and I sighed. I don't want to hear this anymore. Yosuke's mentally abusive father, his unhelpful mother, the whispers of negative back chat from the many residents of Inaba, and so much more. I felt pity for Yosuke in the first three levels from what I heard overhead.
"W-what do you mean dad."
"Don't call me that!" He dad yelled at him. "A waste of potential and space like you! I asked for one thing and it's to get a top 50 on your regionals and you can't even do that! Worthless!"
"D-dad I tried," Yosuke begged his father. "Dad! Don't leave me in…." I heard the sound of a door slamming such and closed my eyes. "In the dark," Yosuke sobbed.
"Maybe some time alone will help you," his father's muffled voice resounded behind the door. The last we heard was the fading sounds of a boyish Yosuke, maybe 13 years old, crying alone in the dark.
"W-what was that," Saki shivered and I wrapped my arms around her to help her calm down. These thoughts and emotions she's emitting will bring even more powerful shadows.
"As I got closer to Yosuke his darkest memories that caused him to spawn this place of fun began to play around me," I confessed to her. "I heard so much from his past and present. Moments as a child and the further I got in the older he became and the more fucked up it got." I rested my chin on top of Saki's head. "Calm down Saki. We need to push through this."
"His dad left him in a dark room alone?" Saki whispered.
"I… for hours close to an entire day. Without food or water," I finished with my eyes closed.
"That's terrible."
'It gets worse,' I thought to myself as I released her. "Let's keep moving. The Shadows will be more relentless this floor and on." Speaking of which I heard screeching to my side and turned towards it. I drew my sword and cut down a fire spell with my sword. I shot towards a shadow in the form of a prison guard and stabbed him in the chest forcing it back. I kicked it in the chest dislodging my sword and held my hand up. "Yakshini…" I said and crushed my Empress card. My persona appeared and slashed downward twice upon the shadow forcing it further back but very much unaffected. It glared at me and I took a stance.
"Narukami!" Saki ran towards me and took her stance next to me. "Need some help?"
"Yes," I put simply. These shadows are much stronger, and we still have a floor to go. I took a breath but stepped behind Saki to her right. She glanced back and I gestured to the shadow. "I'll follow your lead," I said hoping she wouldn't argue. I'm starting to feel my fatigue right now. From showing her the ropes and taking a couple hits for her here and there I've used a fair amount of soul power to keep us going. I've gotten far and we just need to push bit further. Though I need her to take the lead now instead.
"Right," she nodded. I think she knew where I'm coming when I said this and faced the shadow ready to charge. The prison guard rose it's key and swirled it around with it's arm. I shot in front of Saki with my sword up and took the attack it through at me. An ice skill fired at me and I stopped it cold with ease. I felt Konishi manifest her persona and blast the shadow back with a fire skill. "Let's go," she said firmly. I rushed with her right behind me and we overwhelmed the shadow with ease after an All-Out attack.
I took a breath once the shadow was gone. "Konishi, for this floor I'm going to follow your lead."
"My lead? Why?"
"Just encase I fall in battle I need you to know how to push forward without me," I reasoned easily. But that wasn't everything. I'm having troubling thinking clearly. With ever step closer to Yosuke the cries get louder and bolder. Saki can't hear them like I can, and I'm not taking off my headphones. These have helped me navigate these floors despite the groans and moans I suffer to listen to. They have an effect on my psyche that's for sure. I need to be careful that I don't lose my mind and so far taking the lead in conflict, training Saki in battle, and showing her methods to navigate through the labyrinth is taking it's toll on my mental fortitude. I'm having trouble thinking clearly so she needs to take the head. I need a moment to just act instead of think.
Keen to my wishes Saki led me with me following close behind her. It took a couple moments for her to get her rhythm going but once she did I didn't have any worries after. I attacked when she directed me to and used my persona according to the element she desired. Electric, Ice, or a physical skill, it didn't matter to me and I followed through mindless. Saki listened to my lessons every step of the way and it showed. I would heal us with Dia where we needed it or items. I had a limited supply since that bad cop got in the way of making any form of a resupply run.
"Narukami, can you use electric on that one," Saki pointed at a hand shadow which I did with ease. Saki jumped up landing a spinning kick to that same shadow. "Attack the salt!" I moved in and stabbed a giant grain of salt in the mask. I noticed it stagger and moved into a smooth combo finishing in a hawk stroke. Just like the shadow I shocked it was down. The shadow Saki kicked faded away and, on her command, attacked the rest of the shadows before us.
She took the initiative in a fight well and got a bit creative during as well. I think she's gotten accustomed to the shift of authority rather well. "Come on Narukami you're falling behind!" Saki waved at me once we reached the door and I sighed. She's full of faux energy so that's all that matters. She likes bossing me around it seems. No surprise there though. I've been doing the same since we first met. She's not stupid enough to fall for all of my tricks. That makes it more fun though.
I smiled a bit and picked up the pace.
"You're worthless!" I heard a male voice and cringed as memories shook my head.
I'm not meaning to slow down on her but I'm literally suffering from much more than the fragments of Yosuke's nightmares. Saki can hear the voice like I can, but for some reason my power goes a step further. I can see through his eyes like some kind of cognition. The colors blind me at first but when they clear I see what he saw. I'm thankful I don't feel what he feels. The colors come from Calliope. She forces me to see Yosuke's story. The shadows on this floor aren't difficult to defeat. It's just that these visions became more numerous to the point that I couldn't function right. I was hit with a bad physical skill down to the ground and the shadow repeated cutting into yesterday. I couldn't go in alone because I was a hazard.
I looked up and I saw Yosuke's father's face. A father that's tanned with black hair instead of brown like him. His mother's hair is brown as well. The hatred and veal I see in his eyes was staggering. It's worse than the look I've suffered from angry boyfriends when I took their girls; on accident of course. I watched as I was called a waste of space and an embarrassment to the Hanamura name. No matter what I did it wasn't enough to make him happy.
"Dad I'm…" I tried to say but a hand brushed across my face forcing me to fall to the ground. The pain… you'd think I'd be used to it after years of this but… I want dad to love me. I want dad to appreciate me. I became a worker at his store just to help him but he doesn't care. I try my best but it's never good enough!
"Don't call me that," my dad spat at me. He turned away from me and stomped out my room. "You better fix this Yosuke!" With that he closed the door behind him forcing me into the dark again.
I shook my head and took a breath. The visions are getting worse now. Before I couldn't feel his hand on me. I couldn't experience the pain for the first three floors but this one is forcing me to. The closer I get the more real it seems to get for me. I violent father that wanted too much from you. I don't understand that because my family loves and cherishes me.
I saw the colors again and another vision followed.
"Mom!" I cried to my mother. A woman with black hair like my dad and most of my fiscal features at on her but not all of them. My father… I don't look at all like him. She sad woman looked at me in regret and shame. It never changed and I'd always but on the best smile I could make for her. I know my mom loves me but how far it goes I'm not sure.
"Yo-chan," she smiled at me and walked up to me. I smiled at she and hugged her with ease. "How was your day at school," she asked seeing that I'm starting my last year in middle school today and I've had so much fun talking to people and being ignored every step of the way. Why can't I make friends and if I do it's never that easy? Still though I put on the best smile I could to show her that I can.
"Have you spoken to your father yet?" She asked me, and then I frowned. I just buried my face into the apron my mom wore and took in her warmth.
"Dad wouldn't care," I said blankly.
"That's not…" I shook my head at my mom and she stopped. She squat down until her knees touched the floor then looked up to me. "I'm… I'm so sorry Yosuke-chan," she snort with her eyes glistening from sorrow. "I'm sorry." She cried and repeated this mantra again and again to me. Each sadder than the last.
"Momma," I felt my eyes water as well and held her as well. I felt a sick dark emotion in the pit of my stomach. My eyes started to sting as well. My vision got hazy and I felt something fall from them. Like my mother… I started to cry.
"Narukami!" I blinked and saw red of the floor before me and green tent cavass around me. "Yū," I heard a woman cry. I felt something on my shoulders and someone shake me violently. "Can you hear me!"
I blinked again with my vision beginning to swim. "Calm down," I heard and felt something on my chest. I saw a hand on top of my chest and looked around until I felt a hand on my cheek I felt pain on my cheek but that pain faded when my eyes met chocolate brown
"Calm down," I heard again. I focused on these eyes that seemed to be full of genuine worry. Eyes that didn't judge me like the rest did. Eyes softer than cotton. "Calm down," I heard a heavenly sweet voice in my ears. It overshadowed the drums in my ears. It beat down on me but slowly the drums began to cease. I realized that these drums happened to be my heartbeat. "Naru-kun," she said and gently.
"Saki," I panted and she nodded.
I blinked a couple more times. I focused on her eyes that are a different color than Yosuke's mother's or father's. I realized that I was on the floor and my knees. I'm hyperventilating as well. That dark feeling in my stomach shifted and faded like a wound being stitched closed. It's still there and will scar but it's no longer life threatening.
You must understand…
I glared past her Saki to the eyes of that woman behind her. Calliope. I grit my teeth at the Holder of Color before me. How is this understanding helping me? How is seeing and feeling any of this knocking me down like this. I took a breath with my eyes focused on her.
"I'm fine," I growled as I stood to my feet.
"Are you sure," Saki asked worriedly. In her eyes I could see the disbelief and suspicion on top of this.
"No," I responded earnestly. "But we need to hurry." These visions are getting worse the closer we get and I don't think it's because of me closing in though distance. I made it a good distance yesterday without it being this bad. I touched my cheek even and felt it sting. I felt something wet on it as well. I refuse to be controlled in this way by someone's life outside of my own. I don't care about understanding any of this.
You have no choice my Holder of the Wild card…
Calliope bowed before fading away from me. I clenched the tsuka of my sword hard as I kept moving forward. I noticed a shadow appear in front of me a moment later. It was summoned by me. I rose my hand and Archangel set it aflame forcing it against the wall before it could take form. I used it two more times completely incinerating the shadow.
"Damn shadows," I growled as I continued to the tent flap towards the chair. "I'm pissed off now."
"Narukami," Saki called out to me.
"Yeah," I snarled and glanced back at her. She stepped back a bit then averted her eyes. I sighed before taking a deep breath. "Sorry Konishi. I'm a bit… stressed right now," I said weakly.
"I understand," she responded weakly. She doesn't understand but how I can tell her what I'm feeling? What I'm being forced to suffer.
I remembered the words of Margret and Igor. She said I may or may not regret accepting this powerful form of the Temperance Arcana. Even Igor said this might be "reflective" and this is very reflective. Almost too reflective if you ask me. I think that they knew this would happen to me as well. They knew and never told me just like they knew about Persona and never told me until I demanded answers. I didn't ask, and they didn't answer. They only told me the bare minimum which is exactly what I've done for year, now that I think of it.
"Saki," I groaned harshly. "I'll tell you a bit more later, but for right now just take lead. If I fall back I need you to defend me."
"You hear what I hear right?" Saki muttered.
"I… yes," I answered loosely.
"Do you do more than hear those voices Narukami?" I shivered as the memory took hold of me for a moment. One that took place in before his mother crying like that. "Your eyes have been going glossy when the voices come," Saki muttered. "And you started to mutter things as well," she continued.
I stopped once we got to the top of the stairs for the fifth and final floor. "And what do I say sometimes?"
"You say what Hana-chan does," she told me without hesitation. "Do you… see?"
I remained silent at that question. "Let's keep moving," I said facetiously with my stoic tone. "I don't wish to talk more than act right now. Okay?"
"Uh, yeah." Saki nodded her head. "Sure Naru-kun."
I looked back at her sad and slightly hurt appearance. I smiled at her. "I am starting see how Yosuke fell in love with you though."
"What do you mean?" She asked but I shook my head. I kept walking on to the next door. The BBM on the fourth floor was blasted into cinders by me before it could form meaning I've lost the money from it and body parts I can acquire from them. I've found these shadows dropping materials and body parts that I've started collecting since they're left over. I'm not sure what I could do with it but I know some metal I've found here could come in hand at the forge. This blade of mine is made from a metal I found here. A red iron of sorts. I wasn't in the mood for another lengthy battle to get to the next floor and it showed.
As I approached the tent flap I stopped once I reached for it. I looked down to my hand and saw it shivering. I rolled my eyes and clenched my fist hard. The shivering ceased in moments. I'm not letting my body control me like this. I was raised better than that. I touched the tent flap and it swung open with ease. I rose my music player to change the song to something different. I found the song Fukai Mori and selected it.
"Let's finish this," Saki sighed as she past me.
"Yeah," was all I needed to say. I followed behind her with my power bolstering with a soft glow. We came across more shadows. Many of them are stronger but less in number. I blasted a few when I could but like before most of the fighting was done by her. Reason being is because I heard more and saw just as much at odd intervals. The visions got worse the older Yosuke got. Dear old dad decided to start hurting Yosuke under his clothes instead of over. His mother grew a bit distance as well. The older Yosuke grew the more the obvious the truth became to not only the parents but to him. I clenched my fists as the anger grew. Yosuke started to grow angry. It grew further once he arrived her at Inaba. Just when people dad knew began to see the truth as well.
Then he saw a light in the form of a girl. A girl that seemed to become his world for some reason. It seems like a trend if you ask me. First it was Megumi in elementary, the English mix by the name of Cindy in middle school, and Saki now in Highschool. He's moved around with his family and in every school he's looked for affection that dad and mom faintly gave him. He's gotten it a couple times but it's never gone through like it has with Saki. She seemingly let him in. With the visions growing clearer and bolder I'm beginning to see the similarities between him and Saki. They are so different and yet so very alike and Yosuke began to see that. He felt she was a kindred spirit he could relate to.
"H-hey, Saki-senpai heheh," Yosuke chuckled loosely. I aimed my spell at a shadow just as the colors began to shadow my sight. I closed my eyes as the vision took hold of me. I looked into the chocolate colored eyes of Saki with a grin on my face.
"Huh? Who are you," Saki asked a bit dismissively. I felt my smile wane a bit. I remember telling her who I was days ago. Suddenly she smiled sweetly at me. "I'm just kidding Hana-chan."
"Oh," I chuckled. This wasn't easy for me to do that's for sure. "Well uh, I'm wondering if you thought on what I said. You know about a job. I can talk to my dad."
"Oh," she looked up in thought. "Well, I guess I do need the money."
"Awesome!" I waved at her. "I'll talk to him and see if we can help you out." With that I ran away from me down the hallway. I dropped my smile in time into a slow trot. "Saki-senpai," I looked down with a shake of my head. I reached into my pocket with a letter in hand. One I found that she dropped to read over. "Satoshi is a lucky guy," I snorted as I opened the letter to read over again.
I blinked and shot back away on instinct. I drew my sword in one hand and swiped down from left to right upon a shadow of twins. I rose my card after the spell with Arch Angel blasting it away. "Narukami!" Saki was up in the air by the hand of shadow and I switched. My ice skill fired at this one from Yaksini frozen. Saki noticed this and summoned her persona next. In a blast of fire a Heat Wave skill shattered the shadow holding her and battered down on the shadow I downed a second ago. "Satoshi," I said between pants. So she does have a guy. An admirer that she's accepting and working towards. She's a snake and a spider it seems. Her persona is the reflection of her true inner self and it shows.
"Narukami," Saki ran up to me. "Are you… why are you looking at me like that?" She asked a bit taken back.
"It's nothing," for now. I don't have all the facts so I need to see more before I start making hard assumptions.
"What did you see?" She demanded.
"We'll find out together." I looked at her blankly. "We'll find out."
"I don't think I can do this…"
I was in front this Konishi girl in the split of a second. Yaksini made me much faster than she could fathom, and it shown just from the surprise in her eyes. "Don't… you fucking dare," I almost snarled at her. "I'm handling this," I tilted my head slightly. "I'm ending this. And so are you," I warned her. "Unless you want deal with me, because unlike Yosuke I don't run away."
Saki bit her lip at me. I think this is the first time I've cursed at her or threatened her. "What do you want from me?" She nearly yelled at me.
"I…" I stopped for a moment to collect my thoughts. "I wanted to save Yosuke at first," I confessed to her. I rose my hand and summoned Valkyrie with ease. I used a physical skill that was equal to a punch to the gut but ignored it. A shadow that appeared before us was stamped to the wall of the tent. A bufula froze it down. I drew my sword and threw it with the Strength she gave me into the mask of the shadow. "But now I want know who you are… and Yosuke knew more than you gave him credit for."
"I…"
"Save it," I stopped her there. I walked up to the shadow my persona kept stamped to the wall. It was a book of all things. I pulled my sword out and it faded away into nothingness. "And lets keep moving," I finished. "I want to see more."
And you must understand and accept…
"Narukami I'm not sure…" Saki shut her mouth when I looked back at her. She doesn't have any right to leave and abandon this mission now that I'm starting to understand where this might lead. Yosuke wasn't the idiot I first believed him to be and I'll save him if I can. I could see her coloration change from that of sympathy to fear.
"I won't question you Konishi, but don't try to back out on me. That's not fair to me or Yosuke. We deserve more."
"But what about what I deserve," she countered.
"What do you deserve?" I mused openly to silence greeting us after. "When you have an answer tell me. Until then we keep moving towards the truth." Hopefully before the end.
This time I took the lead. The shadows grew less frequent as I began to accept these visions of mine. I stopped in the middle of the hallway and watched through the eyes of Yosuke Hanamura. Yosuke's attention shifted from his father to that of Saki. He found some peace in the attention her got from Chie but it was more out of rivalry than it was friendship. They butt heads so much that it became a part of their lively hood. He won the tickets to take Saki out only afraid of what she might say. During this entire replay of his darkest and most emotional moments I finally began to see him for who he was.
I stopped at a door labeled "DO NOT ENTER" with spiked chains covering the entrance to his room. I placed my hand on it without any shadows around me. Saki was the one attracting any at all just from fear and anxiety. It was interesting when I grew further along as time went by. She remained quiet the closer I drew to this door. I've seen Yosuke and his parents fight. I've seen and heard the whispers of the people that didn't understand his plight. I've seen him try to get Saki to notice him and accept him like he did her. I watched him fail every step of the way though.
I started to see Saki in a different light as well. Her motivations for her family are true but not entirely complete. There's so much more to why she works like she did. Why she associated herself with a guy she didn't care about. Why she stung Yosuke along for so long to gain favor and two raises at her job. Why Yosuke willingly accepted taking the blunt of his father's pressure for her. That fool, he's nothing like me. I would've let Saki crash and burn like many others before me. I would've watched her drown like many others before me. I'm starting to see why my instincts told me to keep her at a distance like I have. I've given her compliments but like she desired I didn't touch her or push it. I'm beginning to see why.
Saki's persona matches her perfectly. She's a black widow. I've noticed her use her moves on me even, but I'm not stupid and charitable like Yosuke. I'm not one to fall for just looks like a love struck Satoshi. I'm a Narukami and we don't forgive or judge. We… recognize the fact and leave it alone. I touched this door to nothing. No colors or visions. I questioned why but thought back to my last vision. It was very recent. Like before I arrived. I was around those tickets of his.
"Narukami," Saki called me. The chains on the door broke into pieces and fell down to the ground before us at her word.
"Let's go Saki-senpai." I said as response. "Let's finish this."
"Wait before…" Ignoring her I pushed the door open.
"No need too. We're expected. Right Calliope," I asked as she spawned behind me.
Yes… we are.
The door opened before me fully without my intervention. Unlike the rest of the Circus of Values this didn't have any exits outside of the one Calliope, and I walked into. It was a giant stadium with a sand pit at the bottom. I saw a net above same with a balancing wire. The audience was full of shadows with spot lights above lighting up the center. Only thing this place is missing is a man with a whip and lions.
"Welcome!"
A spot light hit us both but didn't shield my eyes. I walked down the stairs as the screams and rants of the shadows around me filled my ears.
"Our final guests have arrived!" This voice came from above. I looked up to the balancing act above to a clown. Or maybe a guy dressed as a clown with green clothing and a red nose. He was on a unicycle gazing down upon us with golden eyes and a wide smile.
"Yosuke!" Saki screamed. She didn't direct this to the shadow above. She directed this the guy in a chains shackled to his wrists in the center of the sand pit. One that turned around and saw her.
"S-Saki-senpai!?" Yosuke in his uniform yelled obviously surprised to see her. His eyes fell to me next. "Narukami. Dude you're here too."
"Yes they are! Hahahah!"
I walked down to the pit and dropped down with ease. I kept my sword sheathed as I approached Yosuke. Finally. "Hey Yo-kun," I said to him and his eyes widened when I called him that. He prefers it when it comes from his mother there with the "chan" instead of "kun" like I used.
"Uh, hey. What are you doing here? Why did you bring Saki!" He demanded once he noticed her.
"So we can close the circle!" I looked up and on queue a clown above trapezed his way down to the ground floor. The shadow Yosuke grinned at me as I hopped up his entrapped self. "Is that right me?" He asked. "Even brought Saki," the clown shadow giggled profusely. "Good. That bitch should be here," the clown grinned savagely.
"What," Saki looked offended.
"Don't you call her that!" Yosuke roared at his shadow self.
"And why not," Shadow Yosuke laughed loudly. "This fucking cunt used us, and you know it!" I think this upbeat tone he used should be a snarl, but I felt this was more threatening than that. "You know it too don't you Narukami," he asked me next.
"What are you talking about," Yosuke asked as his eyes pulled towards me.
Saki remained silent as well.
"Yes," I said with my head turned away. I couldn't even look at either one of them. Not Yosuke or Saki. "But look," I rose my hand at him. "There's no need…"
"How can you listen to this guy bad mouth Saki?" Yosuke asked me.
"Yosuke… I saw everything."
"What are you…"
"The letter from Satoshi," I stated. Yosuke cringed at the mention of it. "The time you watched her go out. The moments you talked to your dad about her. I saw everything that shaped your desire to protect her Yosuke, but you can't," I kneed down in front of him. "Yosuke, don't lose yourself for her. She's…" I couldn't finish. Damn it, I'm not sure how to handle this. I've never gone as far for anyone like he has her. I've done everything for myself, and I can't begin to understand him. None of my persona can. Whatever he's aligned to I don't have a persona that can help me like the others.
"So you understand where I'm coming from Narukami. I knew you would. You always seem to be on top of your game. I knew it the moment I saw you." Shadow Yosuke complimented me, I think. He turned this attention back to Saki. "As for you, you bitch." This time the shadow did snarl. "You aren't controlling me anymore!" He stomped towards her. Saki stepped back with her teeth grit. "I'm not sacrificing my fun or my life to you anymore! Not you, my stupid mom, and especially my piece of shit dad!"
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Yosuke argued.
"Of course I do," Shadow Yosuke laughed. "I am you."
"That's b…"
I rose my hand and crushed my card. My persona came down and smashed down on the ground above me. "Ose," I said to this stronger form of the Fool Arcana above me. I walked around the shocked figures before me. "Yosuke, do us all a favor and accept what he says," I spat to that guy. I'm not in the mood to fight a shadow him. "Because he speaks the truth Yosuke. You don't need to do this in your like."
"Narukami," Shadow Yosuke frowned at me. I turned eyes to him. "Give us the room. The three of us," he asked and I rose an eyebrow at the shadow. "You can't help me dude. Trust me I know."
I hesitated when he said this but just about did leave.
"No Narukami we came her to save Hana-chan! Let's just beat this thing and…"
"Okay," I nodded my head and turned to leave. I do understand the situation enough to know I truly don't have a place in it.
"You can't be serious!" She yelled at me.
"How about you shut up!" Shadow Yosuke stepped in front of Saki. She stepped back in shock. "I'm tired of your condescending bullshit. I'm tired of sacrificing my time for you and getting nothing out of it." He stepped up closer to her. "I gave you everything I could to make your life easier. Gave up my life and forsook my values to shelter you."
"What are talking about?" Saki demanded. "What did you even sacrifice for me? You just want in my pants like the others anyway!"
Shadow Yosuke sniggered with a shake of his head. "Yeah," he laughed. "That's what I expected from a bitch like you," this time he snarled at her. That happy visage was gone and replaced by rage. "It's always about you. You, you, You. But what about me?" Shadow Yosuke walked up to his real self who was speechless. "What about us? What we want? What we deserve." Shadow Yosuke glared harshly at Saki. "What you deserve."
"Stop that!" Yosuke struggled against the links of his chain staring murder at Shadow Yosuke "Shut up!"
"Ah, yes you're starting to see it huh partner," Shadow Yosuke smiled at his real self. "Good. If I'm going to dive into hell I might as well doing it knowing full well how it happened." Shadow Yosuke got into his real selves face. "Saki isn't the only pain in the ass we have. We got mom," he snickered. "That dumb bitch fucked up the moment she cheated on dad!"
"Shut up!" Yosuke shook his head.
"You can't shut me out! I had to be in the dark for days." Shadow Yosuke walked around himself. "Mom did nothing and I'm so freaking pathetic that I can't do anything on my own. I'm not independent or worth a damn. I'm joke ask everyone. Even Narukami though I was a joke when he saw me."' I shrugged my shoulder a bit at that. I'm not gonna lie, I did think of Yosuke a joke as a person and total waste of my time.
"Listen you son of a bitch," Saki stomped at Shadow Yosuke. "I don't care who you think you are. What gives you the right…" I gripped Saki's shoulder bringing her to halt. "Narukami!" I just shook my head at her and turned my sight back to clown and normal school Yosuke.
"That's what I mean. That's the nice girl that I broke my neck over and for what!" Shadow Yosuke threw his gloved hands up. "You're an damned fool with nothing going for you. Not good at fixing cars, studying for tests, getting friend, making dad love me, or even getting the girl. I… We are useless," Shadow Yosuke broke into a fit of laughter suddenly. Maniacal laughter that resounded around us.
"Shut up! You're not me!" Yosuke screamed at his shadow, but that scream was weak. Yosuke ended up on his hands and knees and shook his head in disbelief. "Saki did do this to me?"
"You're right." Shadow Yosuke nodded. "I did it to myself knowing what it'd do to me."
"I'm fine and you're full of shit!"
"Yeah… you are full of shit," Shadow Yosuke growled at himself. "Remember partner you are me. I am you. What I say comes from within you and you can't shut me out anymore." His shadow smirked at him. "Only way you can is if you I die you idiot."
"Then go ahead and die then!" Yosuke barked up to Shadow Yosuke.
"No," the shadow shook his head as a dark cloud covered his body. "You and you… will die," Shadow Yosuke swore to both Saki and Yosuke.
Yosuke rejected himself and causing his shadow to react. Another fight I didn't wish to make. You can't accept yourself that easily I guess. Not everyone is strong enough to and Yosuke isn't sadly.
'It never is,' Ose growled from within me. The shadow I spoke to on this floor made me understand that. He told me things about this Living Nightmare. He made me understand a bit more once he joined me.
The shadow's energy burst as it shape shifted and changed before us. I rose pointed my hand at the chain and they were hit by Ose. He slashed it into pieces releasing Yosuke from the shackles once it fade away.
"Hana-chan, move!" Without thinking twice, he moved behind after Saki said that. She stood next to me before the shadow that grew into something like a large toad. It had a human shape sticking out of the top with a cape of sorts around its neck. I drew my sword at the ready and frowned. I don't feel right about doing this. I know while wild this thing will attempt to kill us. I don't wish to fight Shadow Yosuke.
"Let's take him down," Saki frowned at the shadow.
"Yeah," I said but without the energy I had coming it. I rose my hand and let Lilim come alive.
"I am a shadow… Of your true inner self," Shadow Yosuke declared proudly before glowing once more.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
I rose my watch.
"Damn."
04/18: Midnight
I rose my hands to the light and the sand being kicked off from it. "I'll free myself from my shackles!" The spot lights from above barreled down upon us all.
"What the fuck!" Yosuke gasped.
I let my hand drop and before me that toad from before seemed to be different from before. It was larger than before and standing up on it's hind legs. It had armor, black as night, covering its body almost like a knight and a red sash around its neck still. It was long and held a strange aura. I was taller than every before with wind blasting around us at a wave of a hand. It's gauntlet clad arms happened to be clawed along the webbing.
Is this a trend? Shadow growing stronger at midnight? How did this happen? Time… it's not supposed to do this to us… Unless it runs normally this close to the creator of the Living Nightmares. I looked up and like before with Saki's shadow time I saw cameras and televisions above me. This must be going to be shown on the midnight channel I just know it.
Flanking the Shadow Yosuke were two large dogs. One is white and one is red.
"I will end this Nightmare here and now!" Shadow Yosuke made a raspy roar to the ceiling. "
I reached up to my glasses and pulled them off. The mist was gone like before when I faced Shadow Saki. I folded them in and took a breath. "Yeah, let's end this." I drew my sword and took a stance. Saki leaned forward at the ready to rush Shadow Yosuke and the dogs. "Power Charge," I closed my fist and felt power grow. I felt strong enough to lift up a car if I wanted to right now.
The demonic wolf dogs glared at me. Shadow Yosuke turned towards Saki and Yosuke. "Go my dogs of War and Death. Keep Narumaki out of this."
The dogs charged at me and I forward towards them as well. The red one barked and pounced. I jumped and rolled over it. "Saki, I got the dogs," I yelled back. I ran away with my sword at the ready. The dogs chased after me to the other side of the pit. "AHH," I cried and turned my sight towards my hand. My sword hand of all things. The wolf dog by the name of War had my mouth in its fangs. The other tackled me in the chest forcing me back. I rose my hand but Death chomped down on my other hand. "Damn it!" I cried. This hurts a lot. These things are worse than the shadows from before.
War gnawed on my hand and shred my arm when it shook its head left and right. I couldn't focus like this and reached for something to help me. I planted my feet and glared at Death. I wanted to wait to use this power charge for an attack, but I can use it to smack down a little. I clenched my muscles and lifted the dog up. I saw the shock in its eyes as it came up. I faced War and slammed Death into it. The dog yelp and shot down to the ground. "Ah," I had leave past my lips. Fire burst in that dog's mouth with hate radiating off of it. War climbed up and leapt back nearly taking me with it. Death followed in seconds. I leapt back and rose my sword… One that I can't feel.
I looked down to my hand and found my sword gone from my bloody hand that was black from the fire. I sighed and faced the two wolf dogs. War twirled around and my sword when flying away from it towards Saki and Yosuke. I clenched my fist. I felt my soul power wane and my black crispy flesh fade leaving healthy tanned skin.
"Well this isn't the first time I've fought bare handed." I faced the dogs and rose my fists up. "Let's get this over with."