P3-Etertnal Punishment-
Sorry for the late update to the story
-Doorway to Truth 3-
...Kirijo Group Secret HQ/Temporary Base of Operations...
"So what's the plan?" Officer Kurosawa inquired.
"I dunno, the tower is screwing nature around so much that our techs can't get a clear bead on a proper course of action," Takeharu said as he lit a cigar.
"We should at least reclaim some of the areas closer to the exits," Souji Seta pointed out.
"Keep them in so they don't spread out..." Shinjiro mused, "nice plan if you know what you're doing."
"..." a young boy stared at the elder teen.
"Tch," Aragaki returned with a death glare.
"?" the bluenette stared at the new additions to the group, "how did you find him?"
"I killed a bunch of demons clustering around the park," the branch Kuzonoha explained, "he started ahead of me though."
"Amada, Aragaki," the Kirijou group's head called, "whatever happened in the past isn't important now."
"I know that," Ken clenched his fists.
"Got it," Shinji walked out for some food.
"I find it really hard to believe that this is the team that's supposed to fix this," Minato motioned to the group as a whole.
"There's no one else left," the silverette added, "however this ends, it ends with us."
The bluenette stormed off to get some air...
"He seems changed,"Kurosawa thought aloud.
"Up 'til now, the kid has been an exceptional asset in the battle against the Shadows," Takeharu rubbed his eye, "he isn't used to being in the disadvantage."
"It's more than that," Souji Seta replied "Gig said that we're gonna be up against forces even he would be reluctant to fight."
"!" the Kuzonoha's representative in Tatsumi Port Island shot up in awareness, "Power like his isn't easy to match..."
"Who is Gig?" Ken Amada asked, out of the loop.
"He's a Persona...we think," the silverette answered honestly.
"We have truly opened Pandora's box," the President despaired, "father, what more must our family suffer before we can escape your twisted ambitions?"
"Hmmm," the boy muttered to himself, "my revenge is so close."
Shinjiro Aragaki's POV...
Shinji sat alone at the cafeteria, the staff stared at him and the aura he exuded.
"Damn good burger," the gruff teen munched on another hamburger, "yo chef, another one!"
"..." Minato took a seat in front of Shinji.
"I ain't sharing," Aragaki said as he held his burger defensively.
"I know what you're planning to do," the field leader of SEES answered sleepily.
"And what would that be?" the gruff teen asked with a tired expression.
"Charge in all guns blazing, maybe knock Ikutsuki's head off," the blunette made elaborate gestures with his hands.
"So you gonna pull me out or try to talk me down?" Shinji looked pissed.
"Nope," Minato answered his senpai.
"What?" Aragaki looked shock.
"What you do once we're in is completely up to you, we just need you to help us get in," the bluenette explained, "this world is already done for, we're only going out in a blaze of glory."
"You must be pretty smart to have figured all of that out," Shinji muttered.
"No, I'm just a little crazy," Minato added, "what's coming is more than we have ever dealt with before."
"That what the other guy's telling you?" Aragaki scoffed, "Doesn't matter, we're gonna do what we set out to do so those 'powerful' Shadows in there can just kiss my ass."
"..." the bluenette stared at his senpai in silence.
Meanwhile...
"Amada, we know what you have in mind," Officer Kurosawa blocked Ken's path.
"I don't know what you're talking about officer," Ken said innocently.
"Look kid, we don't have time for this," the cousin of the Kuzonoha's rubbed his eyes, "I think we should tell you the truth of your mother's death."
"I already know what happened," the young lad began to cry, "that bastard Aragaki killed her with his Persona!"
"Not exactly," Takeharu Kirijo stated outright.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Amada burst.
"The autopsy run by the Kirijo group..." Kurosawa fixed his cap.
"Revealed a striking similarity to Shadow characteristics," the President of the Kirijo group continued.
"..." Ken couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Those without the potential," Takeharu explained, "start to change when they are exposed to the conditions of the Dark Hour."
"Aragaki's Persona," the officer added, "acted on instinct by attacking her before she could change completely."
"No way!" the boy teared up, "I don't believe you two!"
"Whether you believe or not, the truth is the truth," the elder Kirijo produced a set of files in front of the small boy.
At the Medical Center...
"I don't believe any of this!" a young doctor said excitedly, "None of the tests we ran produced any results at all!"
"Excuse me doctor, could you keep your curiosity a little quieter please?" the woman laying in the hospital bed requested.
"O-of course, I'm so sorry miss," the doctor allowed his patient some privacy.
As the medical professional left the room, a familiar silverette entered.
"How're you holding up?" Souji said as he sat at the girl's side.
"I'm fine, a little surprised though," Margaret suppressed a frown, "for humans to be able to injure conceptual beings."
"I know," the boy hid his face in failure, "I'm so sorry for bringing you into this."
"Don't be," the attendant of the Velvet Room held the youth's hand, "this world is due for change and you have a part to play in it."
"..." Souji looked up, expecting to see the woman in a foul mood after he had taken a short dip into despair.
*Smooch*
"I'm glad to have met you," Margaret whispered into the silverette's ear, "so please don't regret a thing."
"Likewise," Souji hugged the injured woman gently.
The night was long...
End Chapter...