As he worried , since it's the dark hour , and full moon. He's not surprise that the shadow are lurking here. For him shadow is not a big deal , he defeated countless of them last year. But what he's worry is the situation.
Minato's in this condition , Ryoji who still in pain , and...Nanako. Who's not protected by the coffin. The easiest prey to the shadow.
And then Yu realise , that is this the dark hour , which have the same function as the TV world. It's mean he will be able to fight them.
"Dammit...It must be drawn here by Minato's life essence." Ryoji bit his lip.
"Ryoji...I'll leave Nanako in your care" Yu suddenly place Nanako in Ryoji's arm , and rush to his room. He Know that Dojima hanve't do anything to his room , so it must still be there!
"Ryoji-niichan , I'm scared , Where's Onii-chan go" Nanako shaking with fear. Ryoji can't leave her behind , plus Minato's lying on the floor , defenceless.
"It's OK , Nanako-chan. I won't let anything happen to you , I promise" He let out a smile to cheer her up. Nanako still confuse.
And Ryoji still feel dizzy , but he can sense the shadow approaching from the front door. He hug the girl tighly in his arm. He don't want to scared her with his Thanatos's form , but if the battle emerging , he have no choice. But fighting while protecting 2 people won't be easy. And he can notice something's not right inside him by now.
Then the front door's broke. The shadow that look like gigantic colorfull balls fly inside the house. Nanako scream and grab Ryoji's clothes. He turn his back toward the shadow to protect both young girl and his other half.
"Nanako!"
The familiar voice, the shadow had been cut in half. Nanako turn to face the owner of the voice. Her brother , holding a katana in his hand.
Yu jump down from the stair , and stand firmly between Ryoji, Nanako , Minato and the Shadows.
"I can't fight while worry about Nanako , please take care of her Ryoji"
"Well , I have to protect Minato to…"Ryoji let out a sigh. He know that fighting the shadow in the house isn't a good idea.
Yu drove off the shadow to outside in , but some of them approach from the backyard.
The Death in the form of young boy hold the girl with one arm , and summon his Thanatos's sword , swing it to make a distance between him and shadows. And something's not right , it's really not right.
"Dammit!" Ryoji bit his lip , now he have to choice. "Nanako-chan , can you promise not to let go of me? , we will get away from them" Ryoji spoke to her kindly and hug her tight.
"Eh? eh….OK" She seems worry.
"It'll be ok , I will protect you" Ryoji carry Minato with his left arm , and Nanako cling to his neck. While the black wind surround his body , he turn into the small version of Thanatos with his face expose from the mask. He close the helmet , prepared to make his flight.
Nanako hugigng Ryoji as tight as she can. Ryoji grab his sword and fly through the back door. The group of shadow still follow him. Ryoji fly in various way , try to shake them off.
Is it because of the full moon that drove these shadows mad? They seems to be very aggressive , faster , and stronger.
"It's follow Minato's scent , dammit!" If this keep going , he won't be able to protect 2 people in the same time , and Nanako won't be save with him anymore" Yu! I can't shake them of!"
Suddenly , the shadow change their target , they let go of Yu , and now charging at Ryoji with full speed.
"What!?" Yu surprised. and he dash toward the group of Shadow that go after Minato's scent.
Ryoji grin his teeth , Nanako bury her face in his chest , he know if this keep up she won't last long. At least , if he can reach Yu.
"Ryoji!" Yu scream , and reach out his hand. He try to catch up with Ryoji's speed.
"I'm sorry but you have to take care of Nanako-chan yourself!" Ryoji shout before changing his direction and fly straight to Yu , close enough to delivered the young girl. Yu catch his dear sister. While Ryoji make a drop to lure the shadow away as far as he can.
Yu don't want to let go of Nanako , But now Ryoji and Minato seems to be in a big trouble. But fighting while protecting someone isn't easy at all.
"Yu!"
"Senpai!"
He heard someone calling him from behind.
The whole investigation team is heading his way.
Yu's surprise.
"Yu , what happen , what is this creepy things ,It's cofin everywhere , and why the shadow lurking outside of the TV world!?" Yosuke pelt at him with various question.
"I'll explain later , please take care of Nanako!" Yu still holding her in his arm.
"Nanako-chan!?" Chie speak in surprise.
"And I have to help him first!" Yu jump on Izanagi's shoulder and fly straight to Ryoji who still fighting the shadow.
"Let's go everyone!" Naoto shout , Then Yosuke , Yukiko Kanji and Chie follow Yu
"Just leave Nanako to me!"Teddie stand by on ground with Rise who summon her persona to analys the situation.
With the aid of investigation team , they can defeated the shadow with ease.
Ryoji carry Minato back to the ground , and then the clock seems to work again. All the disgusting greenish , and gigantic creepy fullmoon are everything come back to normal.
Everyone still have many question in mind. But their priority is Yu , Nanako and Minato.
Nanako seems to be OK , but she's scared and confused by the situation. Yu is exhausted , and Minato just wake up from his sleep.
"What happen?" Minato just let out the ridiculous question ever.
"You...Don't remember anything?" Yu asked
"I just….remember the full moon , the dark hour….that's all"
"Don't remember carried by Ryoji and fly around the town?"
"Nope…"
Yu let out a big sigh. and he realise that the eyes of investigation team's member are looking on him , Ryoji and Minato.
"Well….let's get inside , I will explained it now…"
He know that his is very late , since it's pass the Dark Hour , but He also know that everyone want the answer. So he made the meeting just after they get back into the house.
After what happen , Yu decide to let Nanako stay with him , while he talk about the situation with the other , since Nanako also active and have an experience on the dark hours. The girl realy sleepy , so she fall asleep on her brother's lap just a few minute after the meeting begin.
"Umm , so the dark hour appear here in Inaba , and the midnight channel some how come back with the brand new program?" Yosuke scratch his head and messed his hair. It's sound so difficult.
"So , Dojima-san's case really have something to do with the shadow. Now what we can say for sure is , There another phenomenon about shadow happend again in Inaba, this time it's cause people to fall in something like "ethernal sleep" and their dream seems to be screen on the midnight channel , even without the now on the full moon night. And the dark hour happend to be here in Inaba as well." Naoto's thinking.
"But we haven't been in any thing like this before , even we are the persona user lke Minato-san. It's just happen tonight" Rise said
"It might happend after the seal is release" Yukiko speak out her mind
"But we can't say for sure...Let's be caution and take a look at the rainy night , other night's midnight , and next fullmoon night…and Minato-san seems to go back to the seal in the full moon night...we have to stay alert"
"Sorry that I haven't help so much…."Minato look down on the table.
Even he's the veteran here , but totally useless during the most dangerious hour , and even become the burden to other people.
"It's can't be help , at least you can act as a decoy" Kanji try to cheer him up
"But still...I want to ask something...Ryoji-san...Or Death" Naoto look at Ryoji , who look kinda exhausted.
"Yeah , I will answer as much as I know"
"You said that during the dark hour , someone's calling you right?"
"Yes"
"And they claim to be your brother?"
"Yup"
"And , he strong enough , or equally to you to speak directly into your mind?"
"Umm"
"And , he talk about "Realm of Dream" , am I correct?"
"Indeed…"
Naoto give it some time to think.
"I don't really know about this , but I feel like I know that guy...somehow , some where...But I don't exactly know who he is...sorry" Ryoji look so down.
"I think I have an idea of who he is…"Naoto speak out , everyone looking at her.
"If your persona self called "Thanatos" , then your "Brother" who can controll the "realm of dream" and put people into the ethernal slumber...he must be "Hypnos""
"Hypnos" Ryoji repeat the name , with some though in his mind. "Hypnos…"
"This is just the theory I come up with , we can't be sure , but it has high possibility."
"I can't think of the other to."Minato make a deep though. "Anyway, you guys seem not surprise about this guy…" he point at Ryoji
"Um , well. We did have a shadow in our team too"
"Hm?" Minato raise his look at the clock. "Well , I think it's all I can tell you by now...It's about time"
"We can talk about this more tomorrow" Yu nodd. " Anyway , can you guy go home by your self?" Yu asked with worry.
"Don't worry , we will go and send the girl back home first" Kanji grin
"Good night . senpai" Rise smile for Yu.
Yu know everyone already tired of tonight , there's manything happend after all.
After send everyone off and take Nanako back to her bed , Yu come back to prepare the place for Minato and Ryoji to stay.
"Don't worry , I have no need to sleep." Ryoji flash a smile
"It's OK , I will use the sofa." Minato smile , while Yu try to offer his futon to him but Minato denied it.
The room is kinda too small for 3 people. But they somehow managed it.
Yu lay down on his futon , but he still can't sleep. The full mon outside is really bother him. And Minato seems to know that.
"Can't sleep?"
"Kinda…"
"Me to…"
"It's always a big operation on full moon though…" Minato turn to face Yu "And before that this guy always show up in my room…" Minato laugh while looking at Ryoji.
"Ryoji did? , Argh It's kinda creepy to me"
"Well...He's ME anyway…"Minato looked down.
"Hey Ryoji…" Minato called out for his other half.
"Hm?"
"You don't have to look over me like this anymore , just take it easy."
"But…"He seems depress some how
"I'm fine...Aren't you always looking after me these pass 3 years? Why don't you take a break for a while?"
"OK , if you say so...good night" Ryoji flash a kind smile. And then disappear.
"Night.."
"Well , I still don't get it. He's someting like shadow? But He's kinda difference from our Teddie…" Yu make a thought.
Ryoji did pose the powerful potential , and yet vow himself to protect Minato. Just his existance are enough to stop those shadow in that dimension. But some how , he become weaker after called by his "brother". And he said that he is a persona.
"Well...If you can't sleep yet, I can tell you more...I just got enough sleep in this past 3 years…" Minato lean on the sofa and look out into the night sky.
"Well , if you say so…"
Minato shrug , He don't know how to put the story together , but he just let his memories flown , from the time that Ryoji was Pharos , then become a mysterious transfer student , and then his true identity and his part that he shared with Minato And finaly , about the choice Ryoji give him at that day .He speak out all of it.
"Wow...I...I can't find any word...It's just…" Yu speak with amazed.
"And yet...he's the one who asked me to killed him...just to prevent me , and my friend from derpair and painful fight…" Minato smile "He's too kind to be Death , Right?"
"Ah , I agree" Yu look at Minato who stilll gaze out of the window.
"It must been tough…" Yu can't imagine tha Minato had gone through the dreadful fight. He can't imagine something like that happend to him. and Yet Minato is wilingly to help him even after the countless fight. Even he deserve the rest after all of that.
And then , Yu just realise some thing.
"Minato…"
"Hmm?"
"You know...about the sacrificed I did to drag you out here…:
"Ahh…I know"
"They said that I will lost the bond I made , right?"
"Umm , I think so"
"But...Nanako , and all of my friend….they still remain the same...How…"
"Arent you already make the "Unbreakable Bond" with them before gaining "The World"?"
"Unbreakable Bond?"
"Yes...If you did...what ever happend , it won't change...it's "Unbreakable" after all" Minato smiled lightly
"..." Yu remain in silent , but Minato know how his fellow wild card's feeling right now.
"Thanks god….I'm so glad….I….I…" Yu's voice shaking from the happiness. Back then when he decide to sacrifice his World Arcana , along with the bond. He feel like his world is about to end. But now , he's really happy with it.
"That's great...you have such a good friend and family…"
"Yeah , they are wonderful. Nothing in the world can replace them"
"Ah...I know…"
"Minato…"
"Hmm?"
"You missed them too , arent you?"
"..." Now Minato is the one who keep silent.
"Well , It's OK to tell them that you still fine , arent you?"
"...maybe…"
"Why?"
"They might think that I'm a ghost...Yukari really hate ghost story…"
"Pff , what's that?"
Minato let out a sigh , he found no reason to hide his true feeling from Yu.
"I'm also wonder how they doing by now...But…" Minato bit his lip "If I have to go back to be the seal again...I don't want them to face the second time of saperation...I better let them believe that I've already gone…"
"..." Yu don't know what he should say
"But they wil be happy to see you back, right?" Yu finally come with some idea "And before that , we still can find some way to keep you in this world, You have me , and my friend here."
"..." Minato still remain silent , he turn his back to Yu "Let's sleep…"
Yu just don't know what to do , just scratching his head. "Night"
Sometime has pass , the Room's owner already sleep. But the guest still wake.
You are just a stranger to me , we just have met. But why I feel like we had know each other for so long?
You even offer your help to someone like me…
"Thank you...Narukami Yu…"