Blackeclipse: Alright everyone! Here comes the next chapter soooooooooooooo give it UP! YAAY FOR CHAPTER TWO~~~~!
Oh, and the one that Yukari said, the quotes here before the chapter? I was the one who made it up alright? So don't go looking for it in the real Persona, and also,
About what Akihiko said? It's the real thing to what he said at the last scene of the Female Protagonist's version, is when they were on the roof, he would come in panting, if you picked him. A question like "This voice is…" you have to be familiar with his Japanese name characters, it only happens when you maxed him as Lovers, and talked to him before the graduation ceremony.
Disclaimer: Alright, how many times I have to say this in all of my fanfics and chapters? I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING!...ah..welll…..I don't own anything created by the GENIUS…SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI-SAMA….or even Atlus or anything created by them….!
Chapter Two: "Bonds of Our Love Ones." I
"I remember everything…about the Fall….about the fight….about Tartarus…and me…The me…who fell in love with our Leader…!...I'm so ashamed….at myself…it was bad of me to even forget this…. ….Everyone remembered, you know?…"
-Akihiko Sanada. (Last Day/Minako)
"I just couldn't forget the times we've spent….Ever since this morning, things happen troubling, as if something doesn't seem right….like it doesn't fit…..But when Mitsuru-sempai told her speech about her father…that was when I remembered everything,…..when I remembered about her father, then my father…the most painful times, I found myself that I still believed in him…And the one who helped me, who made me realize that…..Was a blue haired class mate of mine, our leader of SEES…..and also the one…I couldn't live, without…"
-Yukari Takeba. (Last Day/Minato)
Mitsuru stopped in her tracks as she tried to regain her composure, "….What do you mean, sir?"
Theodore moved his golden eyes to her, and back at Shinjiro, he gave him a grin as he placed his hand on his hand and pulled it out from gripping onto his shirt.
"I'm sorry, but this suit is especially made by my master, I rather for you not to tear it up…" Theodore smiled as Shinjiro wanted to have another run so he can beat that ridiculous smile off of his face.
"Like what Mitsuru said," Akihiko began to ask as he stood up, "What do you mean!"
Theodore looked at all of them, his gentle expression turning serious, "Just as I thought, …" he sighed, "Minako-sama and Minato-sama didn't come back to the Great Seal….that is one thing, I can reassure you."
"R—Really…!" Fuuka and Yukari both exclaimed, feeling relief from their chests,
"But hey!—w—where did they go!" Junpei asked, puzzled.
"They've returned to your world….." Theodore simply said, "….They would be different persons there, but their features won't change, like what you would see here….And their life stories doesn't change, but…"
"But what?" Shinjiro asked, impatiently, "Just spit it out!"
"But they could be anywhere in the world by now…" Theodore continued as he sighed while looking at Shinjiro. Then his eyes shifted back to them,
"Y—You mean….they can be anywhere by now?" Junpei gasped, "The hell—How the hell can we find them!"
"You can't…" Theodore shook his head, "…the world is too big…" but before anyone said anything in protest, his gloved hand showed his pointing finger. "Please…allow me to finish…"
"…" and they did.
"My master has predicted this would happen, their souls have went to the one like them…." Theodore began, "Someone with the same power as they do…and someone who is also related to them."
Mitsuru's eyes widened, "Someone…..with the same power….?"
"Yes," he nodded, "….There have been people, who too had the same power as them…..like the boy named Tatsuya, Hiro…and other passed persona users who holds the same power…" then he pointed to the Great Seal, "However,…..it seems like these particular users had gained such an enormous power….greater than the ones before them, and the ones after them…" then he made his finger wave, "No other users, who has the same card as them, can ever do….At first, all users of the same Fool Arcana, only had Fool,…and all of them were males,…..But for a female to appear…..after the Original Fool Arcana, had done his turn,…..they have come together to make an enormous result." Then he added, "…Of course, Aegis-sama was one of them….but Aegis-sama, does not have a gender…"
"You mean," Mitsuru began to say, "….When Minato first came to us, Minako wasn't suppose to exist?"
"She never was to exist at all…." Theodore corrected.
Akihiko shook his fist, "Do you expect us to believe that!"
"Yes," Theodore said strongly but firmly on his answer.
"For there is no other explanation, in why Minato-sama had predicted every event that would happen next…."
"Kh…." Akihiko calmed down a bit as he casted his eyes down, "Kuso…." He cursed, (Kuso [with silent k and u] means: Dammit….}
"Minako-sama, was the other self of Minato-sama…..she appeared because of the wishes everyone made for him to return, such strong wishes that it had made 2 unpredictable results come alive…."
"And that was, for Minato-kun to come back…for a second chance…" Fuuka began to say.
"And for Minako-chan, to come and take his place…" Yukari continued, "So what your trying to say, that Minako-chan's purpose of her existence, was just a replacement! Is that what you're implying! ….I mean, yeah, it makes sense, for Minato to just enjoy the life he never had when he came here, someone had to take his place…..but what about Minako-chan then!" Yukari glared at him, "Doesn't she get a second chance!—What is she! Some kind of clone!"
"Y—Yuka-tan…" Junpei was freaked out by that voice.
"its true right!" Yukari said, "….I didn't see her come back! Unlike Minato who came back, saying that he wanted to changed everything but…..During the final battle, Minako-chan had to face it all by herself, just like how Minato faced DEATH before…..and she had the same end as him…!—But she didn't come back! She didn't get that second chance that Minato had! DOESN'T IT SEEM UNFAIR?"
"Yukari-chan….." Fuuka muttered as everyone looked down.
Theodore didn't, and sighed, "….I too….was not suppose to exist…"
Everyone snapped their eyes to him in attention.
"I appeared in the Velvet Room, because she came into existence…" Theodore said, "..For me to aid the other self of the original Fool Arcana…It was my only purpose, nothing more but an order for me to follow…"
"….." Shinjiro didn't know what to feel right now, and same went with the others that were at first filled with fury.
"But when I came in touch with her…that was when I realized, that…." He begins to smile as he looked down at the pocket watch, "….If it was to serve her….my life would be worth living for…."
Aegis, who has been in her position for that long, had heard this and her eyes widened, remembering that she too had said this to him before Yukari came in from the roof, he was the reason for her to live, and Minako as well, a friend she never had, closer than Yukari and the other members of SEES, they were both the only family that she had.
But for them to disappear,
She wanted to die, for death to take her,
For the promise she told,
Was back then, broken.
But now.
Theodore began to sigh, "….She was not alone, when she fought DEATH," he told them, "She heard your cheers, supporting to her as they gave her strength….and at the final moment, Minato-sama appeared to her and went within her as their personas fused together and was turned into their ultimate personas….then ….with it….a power that no persona could obtain…." He pointed once again to the Great Seal, its golden gates still locked shut as everyone looked at it. "….The Great Seal…was born…from your supports…..for her, or rather, for both of them…."
He placed his hand back at his book, that was tucked under his arm, "For that reason…even Minako-sama would agree…..that her life was worth living…and she had not regret a single thing in her life….nor she would even ask for a second chance." He said with a warm voice, "….Both of them,…never asked to have a second chance…Nor for them, to be forgiven by you all…"
"…." Akihiko's hands clenched hard, as the sound of his black rubber gloves squeaked, indicating that it would tear apart any second, he was right. He felt so angry at her, perhaps, as much as he loved her, anger over come him, about why she didn't give him that same power,
Yukari knew that feeling too, the feeling of him not giving her the same power, for him to look for Aegis, for him, for him to even be with Aegis at the roof in the first place,….she was jealous, angry, furious to him….. that was when she never knew the reason.
Everyone there was guilty of that, even with Shinjiro into why….
….
Everyone looked back at Theodore, who seemed so innocent of all sin, this sin of hatred to her.
"…Now," he began to go on, "…..Going back to the main point….My master had predicted this…..and what he said that they might have went to one of their relative's place…."
"Relatives?" Mitsuru asked, "But…"
"Their parents had brothers and sisters that go married, and one of their seeds, grows one strong plant…" Theodore began to say,
"IN other words?" Shinjiro asked, again, impatiently.
Theodore sighed, "….It means, that one of them, has developed the same Card as they do….the same power as they do…..and like them, he is also a leader of a group of persona users that had over come a great ordeal…."
"…..You mean…" Ken muttered.
"A successor of the cards? The one after Minako-chan, Minato-kun and Aegis-chan?" Fuuka asked.
Theodore nodded, "Precisely….and your roles….are to find them both…"
"Don't joke around, there's no way they'll believe us!" Akihiko said, "…We aren't like them anymore, they might think we're crazy adults….."
"You'll find a way…" Theodore said, "….You all have to be patient into finding that way…."
"…" Chidori began to have an idea, "….I have a question."
"Yes? What is it?" Theodore asked openingly as everyone turned to Chidori,
"Chidori?" Junpei muttered,
"These persona users, how do they train?" She asked him.
Theodore grinned, "They go to the shadow's world…"
Fuuka gasped, "The Shadow World?"
Junpei too was surprised, "What the?—THAT sounds like a name you'll get from a video game!"
"The Shadow World is where Tartarus originated," Mitsuru began to explain to them, "From the time of the explosion…the order of time had been corrupted, a distortion between time and space, that led to the small leak from the Shadow World and ours, which was the Dark Hour….."
"Tartarus, has vanished from your world, but had been rebuild at it's world…" Theodore began to say as everyone's eyes widened, and their faces have gone pale.
"W—what did you say!—T—TARTAR—AH—TARTRUS IS BACK!" Junpei gasped, almost mispronouncing the name one again, never to have that that he would have to say it again.
"No way…!" Ken too was speechless.
"….Of course, it does no harm to your world…..that is, not yet…" Theodore said.
Shinjiro asked, "Whaddaya mean, 'not yet'?"
"Tartarus is towering, taller and taller…." He began to say, "as the tower grows, supernatural cases shall commence among the places that has the closest contact with it's location…..it does not matter if it is day or night, there, when the ordeal comes from a cause, time will stop…..no matter what place it is…."
Everyone paused.
What did he just say?
"You mean, it would be like the Dark Hour….except….!" Fuuka's voice trailed away.
"So it's like the tiny version of Dark Hour!" Junpei snapped, "So everytime something spooky pops out—that would happen! Then what happens to the people when we battle the thing!"
"If you are not going to take responsibilities of your actions…" Theodore continued, "Devastation consequences shall be your reward…."
"..No…" Mitsuru shook her head, "….Don't they get transmogrified?"
"They would…" Theodore nods, "…However, when this Hour comes in,….then all of you, including the cause of the problem, would be transported to the shadow world, to 'IT'S' own model of that place….take it as….like a replica of your world, to their world…..if one road exists in your world, then a road like that of your world, exists in the Shadow World as well…."
"That sort of thing….!" Yukari shook her head,
"Different places are in that shadow world, it is where the other persona users used to train themselves, has also changed, move stronger shadows would appear,…" Theodore explained, "Tartarus is for the meantime, unreachable, only when you have finished the strongest of those places, and not to mention finishing off one of the problems that is related to that place…when you accomplish everything, you are to go into the next step…and that is Tartarus…"
"Oh shit, oh shit dammit!" Junpei said, scared out of his mind, "This is even more troubling! I mean, we only had Tartarus, but now! We have to freakin kick butts a lot more!"
Akihiko though, didn't shook. "So you're saying, finish off the obstacles first before going to the main problem?"
"Akihiko….." Mitsuru and the rest turned to him.
Theodore nodded, "Yes," then he added, "…However, I cannot assist you in recruiting the other persona users…..but I can give you this," he began to smile fondly as he faced Ken, "That young man over there has met them already…"
"M—Me?" Ken pointed to himself, "B—but there's no way I … wait…you mean them!"
Shinjiro began to recall the times of the shrine, "….You mean the kids that had something to do with the murder cases in Yasoinaba?"
"Yasoinaba?" Yukari asked, "That's where Rise-chan! I was planning on spending a vacation there!"
Ken grinned, "I've met Kujikawa-san too!"
Akihiko added, "Not to mention, I too am there for a case…." He began to smile, "This is perfect, now we know who they are….all we have to worry about is on how to convince them that we are telling the truth….."
"Well, now you won't have to…" a voice came out from no where, and they turned around to see a girl.
A girl that looked like Minato, but she didn't have that long bangs, and she wore a police cap,
Akihiko knew her, "Shirogane, Naoto?"
"Oh, Mr. Sanada…." Naoto began to great, "We meet, it's a pleasure to meet everyone here…"
Everyone was going out of their minds,
"Wait, wait-wait-wait-wait-wait-WAAAIIIIT!~!" Junpei was already losing it, "What the?—what's going on here!"
Naoto smiled, "….I am one of the relatives….of the 2 most important persons you know so well…"
"You…!" Yukari gasped,
"Don't get me wrong, I, do not posses the same power…." Naoto shook her head as she placed her hand on her hips, "Our Leader has…."
"I don't get this…!" Ken was having a headache.
"Allow me to explain," She said, "…..I have looked into some old records….that my parents were also distant cousins of our Leader….which is named Souji Seta…Souji-sempai's parents….happens to be the siblings of Minato-sempai and Minako-sempai's father….."
Alright.
Everyone just froze.
Let's all jus-
"WHAAAAAT?" Junpei snapped, having a even bigger head ache as Ken.
"I know this sounds unbelievable, but that young lady is telling the truth…." Theodore nodded, "You can see the connection…..Naoto Shirogane, is like the splitting image of Minato-sama…..and also, what happened to her parents are also the same…..and for her not to have the power, but just a persona, it would be none other than someone else….but one of her close relatives, which is Souji Seta,…..who is now being served by my elder sister, Margaret…"
"…Correct." Naoto nodded,
"You seem calm about this…" Mitsuru began to say, "…..Why is it?"
Naoto faced her, "….It is because, Souji-sempai had contacted me…..and told me that he'll be coming back…..of course he contacted Yukiko-sempai, Chie-sempai, Kanji-kun and Rise-chan as well,…When we talked over the phone, one of his parents interrupted and talked with me….only then to realize that his mother's voice sounded familiar, and her last name, was that of my father's name…." she continued with a gesture, "It turns out that my father's last name, and Souji's mother's last name were the same, and it ended up that they were actually cousins, my mother had no relation though…and so Souji's mother was my father's cousin, and Souji's father was the younger brother of the father of Minako-sempai and Minato-sempai…."
"This is all just surprising," Mitsuru was almost speechless.
Naoto chuckled, "Believe me, I almost doubted myself, until a mysterious door appeared, and there appear a elder young woman, she was clad in blue, and had blonde hair…." She pointed to Theodore, "I assume it was your elder sister Margaret, correct?"
Theodore nodded with a smile, "Just to be expected, by a Detective Sleuth…"
"Thank you," Naoto smiled, "As I was saying, when I've met her, that was when she explained to me about you guys….and everything that happened…..Long story short, there's no need for explanation of telling me who you are….When she disappeared, I merely thought of this as a figment of my imagination, or a dream of mine since I was terribly tired that they…Till I met and heard able Ken Amada, who was a transfer student…..then he Yosuke-sempai and Chie-sempai along with Yukiko-sempai had befriended him, I recall that I heard he was originally from Gekkoukan Highschool….."
Ken smiled, "I see….so I take it that this is when you start digging into the files?"
"Yes," Naoto nodded, "I too have noticed the sudden Chief of Police from Ayanagi City that came here to investigate on the case I was rudely restricted from…"
"Well, I did see you around there…." Akihiko grinned as she nodded.
"I was able to look through the profiles, and notice something odd…."
"Odd?" Mitsuru asked.
"Yes, odd…" Naoto followed, "The thing is that….you guys both have some background that didn't make sense, like the school you used to go to was by the Kirijo Group, which I took note, was a mysterious group under some investigation, however, could be touched by the police, and next. Was the back ground of Ayanagi, that had Reverse Cases and a syndrome related to an ailment that had once had in our place a year ago,….the Apathy Syndrome, and also ones affected it. Not only Ayanagi City, but Iwatodai Port Island as well, every time the Full Moon came closer, the series of the victims increased, then rapidly decreased when it had ended…Both unexplainable situations that we all can relate that sent the investigators baffled….And so I placed them all together,….and it all make sense…."
Naoto began to show a card in her pocket, that was similar to a persona card, which it was, "…..Persona….." she began to cover one eye with it, "You all had them too….am I correct?"
Everyone was in silent,
"….What's wrong?" Naoto asked.
"…..I did had them." Junpei said, "Well…you can say…."
"We can't bring ourselves to summon them once more," Mitsuru said honestly, "Our style of methods, is….is like suicide in a form."
"I see," Naoto shook her head, "However, that is not an excuse in why you can't try…."
"…Naoto-kun…" Fuuka muttered as they looked at her,
"It's been a year too since we've summon our personas," Naoto also said then her eyes were casted down, "Because we saw no purpose on summoning them….When I told the guys about this, they couldn't believe me….saying I missed 'Sensei' too much…"
"….." Shinjiro didn't answer to that.
But then Naoto shook her head, "We are now on the same boat….Whether it is your choice, I am willing to fight along side with you all…"
Everyone looked at each other, a bit troubled, but they grinned as they agreed and nodded,
"Why don't you all try to summon your personas here?" Theodore advice them to, "You've once fought the Human Malice didn't you?..."
"He has a point there…" Yukari began to smile, "Alright! I won't run away this time!"
"Yes," a voice came out as they turned to see Aegis, finally pulling herself together, then she got herself ready, "For this purpose….I will do it!" then she began a summon as blue smoke surrounded her, "ATHENA!" she extended her arms as her head looked up, a sound of glass breaking echoed as light emanated from her.
At first they thought nothing was coming, but then, the began to see the end of a skirt appearing, and soon, Athena had appeared before them, her shield rotating till the circular part appear infront with her, and the spear preparing, it looked like it was about to charge, but it had disappeared.
"It came out!" Fuuka and Junpei cheered at the same time,
Then they saw Aegis dropped to her knees,
"AEGIS!" Yukari screamed, but she saw her getting back up before she ran to her.
Aegis panted as she tried to stand straight, "…I'm alright" she said a smile.
Akihiko too got his gun, as Naoto wondered what he was going to do.
"Alright…" Akihiko began to say as blue smoke surrounded him, and to Naoto's surprise,….. "My turn…!" Akihiko said strongly as he pointed the gun to his fore head.
"Wait!" Naoto called out.
"CAESAR!" Akihiko cried out as he pulled the trigger, his feet screeched the invisible surface as he stood there, and there that came about above him, was a silver knight, with a globe being held with it's left hand, and a long sword to his right.
It began to pull it's sword up as it took one step to attack, but soon disappeared.
"Gh…!" Akihiko gasped as he dropped to one knee, before anyone went near him, he stood back right up, "Phew…..It just felt like I got worn out from an 100 round boxing match…" he joked as he grinned as well. "I'm alright." He added.
Everyone looked at each other, and nodded,
Yukari held up her evoker to her fore head and panted heavily, "…." Damn, this feels like the time I was up at the roof then…! "….I—Isis!" and then she pulled the trigger, as an Egyptian deity appeared and the big red oval gem began to glow as it's wings flapped and soon disappeared, Yukari limped as she held her fore head, "Phew….!"
Everyone turned their heads to see who was next, it was Fuuka now,
"A—Alright then…!" Fuuka began to nod as she placed the Evoker at the side of her head. "I—Iona!" she called out as she pulled the trigger and the blue smoke whooshed as a beautiful persona appeared above her, and she was inside a protective area that represented the skirt of it's crimson red dress, and the wings at it's back was a peacock design. And soon. It had disappeared as it extended it's arms and looked up.
She panted as the gun fell from her hand, and smiled wryly, "….That was tiring…~" Yukari patted her back as she came to her side, also panting as they both begin to feel normal once again.
Next, it was Mitsuru, she held out her evoker and placed it at the side of her head.
"Artemisia!" she summoned at once as her persona came out just like the rest, extending the chain it wielded as it disappeared, "Kh…!" Mitsuru held her shoulder as she fell to one shoulder, only to be helped by Naoto and the other two girls and including Aegis.
"Alright!" Junpei began to feel pumped up, "Looks like it's my turn!" he got his evoker up, looking way too jolly, "It's on!" he grinned, "Come on out!-Trismegistus!"
Then Junpei's persona too came out, as the resulted of Chidori's and Junpei's Persona fusion.
Chidori smiled as she looked at the result of the fusion of their personas, "….."
Sooner or later, Junpei's persona also vanishes, making him completely dizzy, "Ooo—Oooh booy…~!" he gasped as his head spun, and fell flat to the ground.
"J—Junpei!" Chidori gasped as she knelt beside him, but Junpei just chuckled.
"Hey, hey I'm alright Chidorita!" Junpei gave a wry thumbs up to her, "Phew, your right…dammit, I feel so exhausted!"
Ken smiled, "In that case, watch this…!" He began to point to his fore head and bent down, "Kala-Nemi!" glass shattering sound echoed as Ken's persona too came out, and just like everyone else, it disappeared, leaving Ken panting. "W—woah…..~"
Then everyone faced the one who was the last to go,
"What?" Shinjiro glared at all of them, then he grunted, taking the evoker from the hostler he had hidden in his jacket, "Alright, alright…." He sighed, then a smirk came out from his face, "You ready for this…?" then he held his head high and pointed the gun to his head. "CASTOR….!"
The twin of Polydeuces came out with a horse, and gave out a loud roar, something didn't look right, it still wasn't coming back in.
"K—kh….!" Shinjiro gasped as he held his head, "Da—dammit!—Shit!-EVERYONE GET AWAY!" her growled as the persona went wild.
"UAAAAH!" Fuuka gasped as Yukari pulled her away before it began to hit her, it was roaring wildly.
"Dammit…..It's been 7 years since Shinji took suppressants…..!" Akihiko remembered, "Even if he's not taking them anymore…!"
"Akihiko—WATCH OUT!" Mitsuru called out as the silverette looked up to see the Castor about to plant an attack to her.
"Persona" a husky voice came out as something deflected the attack and sent Castor back, vanishing back into Shinjiro.
Akihiko turned to see a familiar persona, where have he seen it before? It was.
"That was dangerous, wasn't it?" Theodore smiled as everyone turned to see the compendium open, and him holding out a card in his hand. "That was Skatty….one of Minako-sama's personas…"
"You can use their personas too?" Mitsuru asked.
"I own the compendium in which keeps the personas they've fused and stored…" Theodore seemed to be proud of that.
"Sempai!" Yukari called out as they all ran to Shinjiro, who was on one knee and panting a lot.
"I'm fine…" Shinjiro muttered as he jerked his arm back, "…You okay Aki?"
"Not a scratch…you?" Akihiko grinned as he pulled his best friend up by the bicep.
"Don't joke around…I'm fine," Shinjiro said as he regained his balance, "…Turns out Castor panicked…"
"How do you know that Sempai?" Fuuka asked him.
He just gave her an annoying look, "Ain't it obvious?—Since it's my persona, I can tell what it's thinking…"
"Woah…I never thought of it that way…" Yukari was amazed by that.
"So that is….when a persona is uncontrollable?" Naoto assumed as she approached them,
Mitsuru stepped in, "Yes….but don't worry….it happens, but not all the time," She grinned, "Our friend here is tougher than his persona, so I doubt it would happen again."
"Mitsuru-san…." Ken muttered, wondering if she's asking Shinjiro to control it better, or if she's just trying to cheer him up.
The second thought was the answer.
"You can bet on that," Shinjiro smirked as he placed the Evoker back to it's hostler, "I was just caught off guard….I'll beat the shit out of Castor the next time he does that to me…"
Everyone began to laugh at what he said, although Shinjiro had no idea what the fuck was so funny.
"So, aren't you going to try?" Akihiko turned to Naoto as they looked back at her.
"Well, alright then…" Naoto grinned as the card disappeared from her hand,
She pulled her gun out as she took a step back, facing to the left and then they could see her card coming down slowly. "All yours…Sakuna Hikona!" her head moved to look at it as her arm motioned as well, pointing her gun accurately to the card, she pulled the trigger and the card shattered as blue smoke came around her, appearing a small robot like figure that flew around like a fairy and soon disappeared. "Ugh…..!" Naoto fell to both of her knees, and her arms down as well.
"Naoto-san!" Fuuka and Yukari gasped as they ran towards her,
"W—Well…" she said through gasps, "….So this is how you would feel….if you haven't summoned your persona in a long time….!"
Junpei was still on the floor, giving a thumbs up, "You got that right girl!"
"Naoto-san looks extremely tired….than all of us…!" Yukari noticed as Naoto was still trying to catch her breath.
"The effects are different from adults and those below them…" Theodore began to explain as his compendium shut closed. "Since adults have higher stamina, they can endure longer than the ones younger of them, …..and it seems all of you are now able to summon your personas….." he smiled, "….And you all doubted it would happen…"
Everyone looked at Theodore, then back down.
Theodore continued, "Personas….are just a part of your soul, if you do not believe in them, not believing of them appearing or heeding to your call, they won't appear….you must all remember that…"
"He's right…" Mitsuru nodded, as she turned to the recovering members, "…All that we have to do, is just believe we can do it…"
"Yeah," Yukari smiled, "Besides, we've done this numerous of times before!"
"Maybe it didn't work when we tried to do it alone…" Ken began to add. "But doing it with everyone here….somehow makes it work too, kind of like a reunion…"
Junpei swinged his body strength up, to sit down. "Yeah! Kinda like a Persona reunion party, except without sushi! Oh man, I could sure use some of those right now!" then he realized that there was only one person who didn't summon, "Chidori?—Why don't you try to call out your persona…?"
Everyone looked at the couple, as Chidori just smiled.
"It's because Medea is with you now…." Chidori told him, "….So I do not have her within me anymore…"
"Hmm, well you do have a point there…" Junpei scratched his head, "….Sorry,…"
"Sorry?" Chidori asked.
"Medea was your best buddy huh?" Junpei faced her, "For Hermes to fuse up with her…..you must feel pretty empty inside…right?"
"….." Chidori didn't answer as everyone was filled with silence.
"…Chidori-san…" Fuuka said worriedly as everyone too felt discomfort.
But she shook her head, "I don't mind…" she smiled, "Since I now have a family….."
"…Chidori…" Junpei blushed as he grinned, "Well! you got that right…!"
Then weirdly enough, the mood lightened up a bit.
Naoto was finally regaining her strength back, "I—I should contact the others…"
But exhaustion was still in her tone,
Akihiko shook her head, "Not like that your not…" He told her, "…Everyone's tired too, so let's just call it a day and head back…"
"Actually, it's been already 2 days,"
"Right, let's just call it a-WHAT DID YOU SAY!" Akihiko looked back at Theodore who was just smiling.
"But it's only been 2 hours!" Junpei yelled out until he finally remembered something, "Oh shoot! Hana-chan~~! She's going to starve~!"
"That is why you all must return at once," Theodore said, "However no worries, one of my sisters are they to take care of her in the meantime" he smiled at that.
While everyone went pale.
The Velvet Room's Assistants….Sisters…
BABY—SITTING?
++++++++++++++Meanwhile/Japan/Osaka++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"I see, I believe that you musn't give her too much sweets, Elizabeth." Margaret simply put as she sat on their sofa, watching the little girl twirl around and all dizzy,
She kept on smiling as Elizabeth tired to catch her, but Hanako kept on running away,
"Oh my," Elizabeth gasped, as she tried to jump on to Hanako for her not to go, but ended up missing and falling on the floor, "…This must be, 'Sugar Rush' that I have heard about, indeed, it is very enjoyable if you are the one's who experienced it…..but for the one to take responsibility of the person with Sugar Rush….It could be quite troublesome, indeed…" Elizabeth stated when she stood up and smiles, "…Perhaps, I should have a go as well…"
"I rather for you not to," Margaret shook her head as Hanako ran by her and tripped on her feet, "Oh dear…." She began to pick her up and place her on her lap, "…..This little human seems to be tired…."
"For her to be panting that much, it is most likely, since she ran all over this beautiful mansion…." Elizabeth nodded as she sat beside her older sister,
Margaret closely looked into those brown eyes of Hanako, and tilted her head slightly as Hanako smiled and tugged her hair a bit, which she seems to not mind at all,
"….This young lady has also, a potential…" Margaret says as she looked at the little girl, "…..Hmm…"
Elizabeth too looked at the young toddler, and smiled, "You are right sister…..but she's far to young on awakening it…Perhaps, she may be our next guest at the velvet room?"
However, Margaret shook her head, "Not this one, that is what I reassure you…..The bloodline of the guests who came to the Velvet Room is not within this one…..However she seems to have a fascinating skill within her….."
"….I see, most interesting," Elizabeth nodded as she began to get something in her pocket,
"What are you giving her?" Margaret asked.
"For young ones like those to pique your interest, she must be special, sister…" Elizabeth said as she took out a pendant with a sapphire stuck inside a silver web, the web was the design, but it was all on a silver ring hanging from a silver chain that seems unbreakable.
"The Ring of Serenity….?" Margaret said as she looked at what Elizabeth held,
"Yes, it is a ring from the persona Fortuna, apparently, this ring has a huge amount of luck, but also holds an interesting ability of even teleportation…." Elizabeth smiled, "Since we may never have this rare chance, on what human calls this task, 'Baby-sitting', it would be best if we gave a momentum to our dear young princess," Elizabeth said that as she smiled at Hanako's dizzy face.
Margaret gave it some thought, till she nodded, "…It may provide some help in the future…" she smiled, "Very well then, I shall allow this to partake…"
"Here you go, Hanako-sama," Elizabeth smiled as she broke the chain and placed it around Hanako, and in no time, the chain went back together,
Hanako though just smiled as she swing her arms around, until slowly she felt really tired,
"Oh dear, she is running out of energy," Elizabeth said, "This isn't good, I heard if babies run out of energy, they might become sick. Perhaps I ought to give her some more sugar."
"Or perhaps she needs to rest," Margaret corrected.
However…
…Elizabeth wasn't listening.
"I believe they still have some chocolates in the fridge and some ice cream….I hear that they have high sugar content, that would charge her up…!"
She even sounds excited as she ran to the kitchen.
Margaret sweat dropped, "….Honestly, my sister is as just as energetic as Hanako-sama…"
+++++++++++++++++++++Back to the S.E.E.S.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Brrrr~~!" Junpei shivered, and the same thing happened to Chidori,
"What's wrong, Junpei?" Yukari asked,
"Huh?—Oh nothing, it's just…" Junpei went pale, "I felt like something BAAAD is going to happen…."
"I have to agree…." Chidori nodded in agreement.
"Hmm, if I am correct," Theodore stated, "That must be a phenomenon called, 'Parent's intuition', or rather, 'parent senses' I've heard from watching Television with my pasted trips with Minako-sama…."
Everyone sighed as a sweat dropped appeared on their heads,
"Can we go home now…?" Junpei groaned, "I'm worried about our poor little princess with those two chicks around…."
"Ah, wait," Fuuka began to say, "….But how will we meet your group, Shirogane-chan?"
"Please, just call me Naoto," Naoto smiled, then she nodded her head, "I will make plans for a meeting….I assume by the time we will come back, we would be at the last places we were before coming here,….so most of you might be at other places…."
"You're right about that Naoto," Mitsuru nodded, "I and Yamagishi are in England now….sadly enough, I am not sure if we should leave since the Apathy Syndrome has got one of it's victims from within that vicinity,"
Fuuka nodded, "Yes that's right," then a worried look came to her face, "If we leave England, then the Apathy Syndrome…."
Theodore shook his head, "No, the Apathy Syndrome victims won't be released by it until the problems coming from one source would disappear," then he tucked his book under his arm and checked the time once again, "…It would be pointless to stay in a place that you can't do anything at all,….So rather for you all to be in one place and work together, since the goal is all but the same…"
"As much as I hate to admit it," Akihiko began to say, "He has a point there….the problems in Yasoinaba, so why go to another place when it's already there?"
Shinjiro nodded, "Aki's got a point, so don't waste your time…"
Mitsuru begins to smile, "In that case, I finally be able to fight along side with you all without any delay,"
Fuuka smiled as well as she nod her head, "…At last, we can all meet be together like the old times, ah, but how about Shiro-chan?"
Naoto asked, "Shiro-chan'?"
"Oh, he's one of the pups that another S.E.E.S. member had…" Yukari answered and Naoto's eyes widened, "A—Ah, well, that member of ours is named Koromaru, and he's a dog…."
"Amazing, I never knew a dog would have a persona…!" Naoto said, completely astonished as she observed, "An android, and now a loyal canine…..Is he still around?"
Then their faces began to show hints of sadness as Fuuka answered that,
"Koromaru was too old now, and the only pup left to him was Shiromaru," Fuuka began to giggle, "But at times, we get confused with them, because Shiro-chan looks so much like Koro-chan,"
Naoto asked, "Does this dog have a persona?"
"We can't say for sure yet," Akihiko answered next, "We haven't seen it come out yet…..But there are high chances that he does….besides, that proves that everyone has a persona."
Junpei grinned, "Yeah, remember the time during the Dark Hour?—Koro-chan awakened his persona by the shrine, he's one loyal dog…."
Again, Naoto was fascinated, "So, all of you can summon your personas, outside as well?"
"Well, not exactly," Mitsuru shook her head, "Our situations are different from yours,…..and since Dark Hour is like the Shadow world leaking into ours, maybe that gave us the edge one summoning them anywhere, as long as it is still the Dark Hour….."
"Interesting…." Naoto nodded as she began to think about it, until she felt her head ache coming back.
Aegis smiled, "You look tired, we should call it a day,"
Everyone turned to Aegis and agreed to that,
"Yeah, I'm worried about Hana-chan…..and our house being upside down…." Junpei added to that as he sighed, not sure if he was excited or horrified,
"If I may ask, who is 'Hana-chan'?" Naoto asked him,
Chidori was the one who answered this time, "….She is our child…"
Naoto's eyes widened, "I—I see…..Congratulations…!"
Junpei was proud of that fact, "Heheh, I'll let you play with her sometime Naoto-chan, she's the cutest thing in the world! Just you wait for that~!"
Naoto smiled as she closed her eyes momentarily, "I most certainly will, Junpei-san…"
Then she began to remember, "Now, going back to the point….as all of you guys would come in Inaba, please contact me if you are ready, and I'll call everyone to the Food Court of Junes…."
Mitsuru nodded, "Understood….in the meantime, you may contact me," and in no time, she and Naoto began to exchange numbers.
Ken stretched as he yawned, "…We're finally heading back…."
Shinjiro groaned, "You got that right—My head freakin' hurts,"
"Well, we just summoned our personas, and not to mention almost gotten killed by one, and standing his all day screaming, yelling, and crying…." Akihiko grinned to his best friend.
Shinjiro recoiled, "That was not my fault—and what do you mean 'crying' huh Aki?"
"I didn't say it was you, Shinji" Akihiko smirked as Ken moved back slowly, feeling the high tension from the glares of the two best friends.
"Oh by the way Naoto-chan," Yukari called out to her, "How did you come here?—I mean, for you to suddenly appear….out of the blue?"
Naoto put her phone back to her pocket, "I was brought here with Theodore-san before you all arrived, but before that, he abruptly appeared in my room and woke me up, then explained, and without for me to say a single word, I was brought to a Velvet Room, and I was brought her," She sighed at the memory of that young man seeing her in her pajamas, it was embarrassing, even for the Detective Prince.
"Please excuse my lack of courtesy then," Theodore bowed slightly, "But there was just simply no time to waste, my master has a tight schedule, and now…without anymore questions, please gather around so that we may return…"
Everyone looked at each other as the group did gather around infront of Theodore,
Theodore looked at them and nodded,
He turned around and began to snap his fingers,
Right in an instant, the Velvet Room's door flashed before them.
Theodore opened the door as he placed one hand on his chest and bowed like a gentleman.
"Ladies first," He smiled, which made some of the girls in the group heat up,
Naoto, then Fuuka, Yukari, Mitsuru then Aegis went inside of the door, Chidori wanted to go in together with Junpei, so Junpei had to be first as they held hands going within the door,
Shinjiro paused, "Oy, how do I know this isn't some kind of trick into beating the shit out of us?"
"Because I would have no obligation to do that." Theodore answered, still smiling, "Otherwise, if I would….I would have let your persona kill your best friends, and I would have killed all of you as well."
"Tch." Shinjiro cursed as he glared at Theodore,
"Shinji, just let it go…!" Akihiko placed his hand on his shoulder, but Shinjiro shrugged it off.
Ken sighed, "Come on, let's just get going…" Shinjiro sighed as he nodded without any other complaints as he followed behind Ken,
Akihiko walked towards the door, only to stop before entering the bright light,
"…If you said was true then," Akihiko turned his head to look at Theodore, "…was Shin Kanzato one of your guests?"
Theodore shook his head, "Unfortunately no, it is because he wasn't brought to the Velvet Room, only to have met my master by the corner of the street, and for them to meet in a dream…" then he thought about it again, "However, I can never say for sure…."
"I see…." Akihiko looked down at his feet, "…..So, Minako and Minato must be with the other Fool Arcana user like them, am I right?"
"Yes, just as you've said." Theodore nodded.
"So she-"
"Unfortunately, I cannot hold this door forever…" Theodore halted him, "…You must go in now, or stay here….."
"….Yeah, sorry about that." He turned his head to the light.
"Rest assured," Theodore smiles, "….You will meet once again, reunited…."
"?" Akihiko blushed, as if Theodore had read his thoughts.
"You longed for her, don't you?" Theodore continued, "Unfortunately, you are not the only one, so please keep her close, at all times…"
"…" Akihiko looked at Theodore for the last time, till he finally went in the light.
Theodore was smiling when he was there, and once everyone was gone, and he was left, a frown began to show in his face, "….So that is…." He began to frown, "…..Minako-sama's lover….." somehow within him, he felt a sudden sting of pain,
"…What is this…?" he shook it off as he looked at the Great Seal, and the human like statue there, "…" he looked at the watch, the pocket watch he had, and remembered the times Minako had given him to that at Christmas, it is because Theodore would always bring her back late, and would summon her to the Velvet Room at the worst possible timings.
He chuckled at the memories of that, as he entered the door, and the door locked shut.
Disappearing from that place.
And as the Great Seal still held on,
+++++++++++++++++++Tokyo/Evening+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Souji lay at rest in his bed, at his own room back in his house at Tokyo, it was raining outside, heavily raining, and it just struck midnight.
But nothing appeared on the T.V.
"Sou-kun…"
"….Uhhhmph…" Souji began to clench onto his blanket, as if he was having a bad dream, but it wasn't at all bad.
"Sou-kun…!"
A female voice called out to him,
"Souji…"
This time, it was a firm but calm male's voice.
Both so very familiar to him,
From the T.V. across his room, something began to ripple,
"Souji….!"
"Uhh….?" Souji was now half awake, as he tried to regain some sleep.
Till he suddenly heard something from the T.V. a static channel,
His eyes widened as he jumped out from bed and saw it again,
A T.V. channel he never knew he'll face ever again, "…..How could this….?"
"Sou-kun…!"
His eyes widened, "That voice…" it was too familiar for him, There's only one person, who ever called me by that nick name…!
He stood up and looked at the television screen, waiting for something to show up, but then, the ripples began to grow in numbers, and rapidly increasing, till the screen turned white and black squares came showing, like the image he would see when he entered the T.V.
When he looked closer, something popped out,
…
It was a hand.
"…."
a…
"UAAAAAAH!' Souji screamed as he dropped to the floor, the hand was now moving! "W—What the?"
Then something else was weird, the hand was glowing a bright color, and then, something else came in, a body, a glowing body with blue short hair,
He knew at an instant who it was, "M—Minato!" he quickly grabbed him before he would fall down, and placed him on the floor,
He thought it was the young teenaged Minato, only to find out that he was so damn heavy, he ended up dropping him abruptly to the floor because he couldn't carry him.
*THUMP!*
"S—Sorry…." Souji said, one eye closed when he knew that was very painful.
It took him some time to notice that had nothing on,
Then something else came up, there was another hand, and before he knew, it another body came out from the T.V. at the same manner,
Souji had no idea what the hell was going on, but he grabbed her and placed her on the bed,
He quickly remembered her looks, "No way….Minako…!" then he noticed the light glowing out from their bodies,
And he remembered,
If Minato wasn't wearing anything, then….
Souji quickly covered Minako's body with his blanket before the light from her body disappeared, and they all returned to normal.
He sighed, it was a good thing he didn't see anything, or else he'll never be able to think straight for a year.
Yes,
For a year.
Souji went to the closet and took out his futon, for Minato to lay on, and he also covered him with its blanket,
When both were covered, Souji sat down and scratched his head, "….Alright…what is the hell…?" he looked at his arm, and hesitated but, "OW!" he tried pinching himself, but he was awake, this wasn't a dream.
But man, that was scary, and it still is for him.
Souji kind of remembered a movie he watched with one of his classmates, entitled the 'Ring', when someone comes out of your television.
He now knows how the character feels like, it was a good thing his T.V. wasn't as small as the one back in Inaba,
It was also a good thing, that his parents are still at work by this time, or else they would have been rushing in like when he was back at Inaba and Nanako would ask what happened.
"…Ah…" Souji began to think, talking about Inaba, he should tell this to them, and that's what he did at the next 2 hours, and he's now very, VERY sleepy.
It wasn't long before someone replied to him, and he was surprised to find Naoto up this late,
That is,
The even bigger surprise,
Was the message.
"….." Souji looked at the clock again, and slapping his face to make sure he wasn't dreaming, because everything was happening so damn fast, but reading his message, it kind of makes sense to him now.
So when Margaret told me, that she'll find a way to release the boy with blue hair and the girl with red hair, she meant Minato and Minako,…But…Who's Theodore?... his back leaned on the chair as he read the e-mail some more, …The S.E.E.S. huh?...Back when I was still in grade school, Minato and Minako would send me some e-mails on how they were doing,…I think it was during April,… he scratched his head and sighed, And I thought that I was the only one to be experiencing this…To think Minato and Minako had it harder than us… He turned his chair to look at now, the 2 young adults in his room, sleeping soundly, …So The Great Seal, was real…and to think that our bloodline had some connection with the lines of multiple persona-users…. If I would think about it calmly, it all makes sense now…
Souji began to look at the screen first, the side of his head leaning on his wrists, he decided to send this all to the members of the Seekers of Truth, or to his friends, his girlfriend Yukiko, his best friend Yosuke, Chie, Rise and Kanji.
But another message popped out, it was from Naoto again.
I shall be responsible for the explanation to all of them, please do not hurry,
I am glad to hear that Sempai, so Minato-san and Minako-san are now with you, that's now reassuring,
It is urgent that we would all meet back here at Inaba, the S.E.E.S. members are just preparing on moving here with all of us.
I apologize for this time of day, but it seems an ordeal has came back to us once more.
However we will shall be awaiting for your arrival, Souji-sempai….
Souji was somehow afraid of Naoto right now, she looks like that she's more, well,…..Leader oriented than he is,
Then again,
She is the Detective Prince,
So it would just be expected from her,
"M—Mmmphh…"
"?" Souji turned his chair to see the first one to wake up, "….You're finally awake…"
Eyes slowly opened as the older Wild Card wielder {Let's just call them that besides the Fool Arcana blah, blah} sat up slowly, his white yellowish skin bare, it wasn't glowing madly as before like awhile ago, and his body seemed to be back to normal.
"…." Minato raised his head up, and blinked, then he turned his soft silver glazed blue eyes to a silver eyes young teen who was seated by the study desk. "…..?—Souji….?"
Souji just smiled as a small sigh escaped from his nose, "….Morning,….long time no see…."
Minato looked at him with a sleepy face, not answering, "….."
Then they heard a sound.
*Grumble* *Grumble* *Grumble*
Souji's eyes widened as he looked at Minato holding his stomach, and falling back to the bed, "…So…hungry…..going….to…die~…."
Souji just let out a chuckle as he sweat dropped, "You guys came in my room a weird way," he said as he stood up and begins to approach the closet, until he found some clothes for him to wear, he threw it to Minato. "Here…"
"…" Minato just looked at the clothes landing on his face, and fell back on the bed.
Souji sighed, he looks like he's all matured, but he's still the teenaged Minato inside, who's just like a child at times.
Souji began to go back to his closet to find anything for Minako, but up to no avail,
"Wait here alright?—Don't leave this room, I'll get one of my aunt's clothes back at the guest room…." And with that, Souji left the room, leaving the whole place quiet.
Minato removed the clothes from his face and began to change, now wearing a long sleeved formal white shirt and long black pants, he still sat on the futon, looking around.
This room almost reminded him of the dorm room, except, this was bigger.
Then he began to remember, where was his other self?
"…Minako…?" He began to move his head around, until his eyes rested on the face sleeping on the bed next to him, her whole body was covered with the blankets, and she had pillows on her body as well, Minato sweat dropped, even if they were related, Souji was making sure that she was 'concealed', I mean, just look at it! She looks like a caterpillar…. Minato had stated in his mind.
"M-mmmmhhmph…." A sound from the young beauty began, as her eyes opened slowly, her red eyes slightly glowing from the light as she woke up. "….?"
Minato and her locked as they looked at her, both had nothing to say.
A smile emerged from her face, and Minato smiled as well,
"…..We're back…aren't we….?" Minako muttered softly, her voice sounding a bit of a child, even there was a hint of maturity in it.
Minato just nodded, being the silent type as he is, he smiled at her, and only that.
+++++++++++++++++In the guest room+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Let's see….nope…nope….nope….." Souji threw out all the clothes he could get his hands on, but nothing seemed to be working, till he felt something, something weird, and heard a weird sound.
He turned, but no one was there, and he found, properly folded on the floor, was a silver colored moonlight dress, it was good for a being a summer dress, and the fabric was silky, Souji looked at it, only to find a black feathers around it,
He looked at the windows, it was raining that time, so no ravens nor crows would be in….
"…?" Souji looked at the dress as he unfolded it, it looked like a summer dress, that almost resembled Aegis's sky blue summer dress, it had a very short ruffle sleeves, just almost like Fuuka's summer dress too, but it was extremely beautiful, as if it never came from this world.
"Where did this….?" He wondered, he never saw a dress like this before, his mom nor her aunt or anyone who had visited this place would have a dress like this, he looked down at the ends of the skirt, and small ruffles was also there, and the dress had a breathable texture-What the…..
Souji scratched his head and sighed, I am starting to sound like Kanji…! He gave out a mental yell.
He folded it again, and looked around, as if he felt someone looking at him.
"Give her that"
"!" Souji's eyes widened as he turned to see who was whispering in his ear, but all was left, was black feathers falling to the floor. "….Who's there…!" he looked around again, but again, no one was there to answer at all.
Is he imagining things?
Well, the shock of the impact of information that came down from Naoto, and his closest cousins to appear out of his T.V. after being released from the Great Seal, and everything, must have made him mad or something.
He sighed, "Why does weird things always happens to me….?"
"Hey, it happens to me as well…" a voice came out from the door, as Souji turned around to see Minato in his clothes, "…Is that for Mina?" he asked simply,
"Yeah,…it's weird, how it popped out of no where with these black feathers," Souji scratched his head, "It's like watching something from a movie…..Ugh, I have to stop watching television these days."
"Black feathers…?" Minato looked down and saw what he meant, but he wasn't surprise, those feathers were too familiar to him. "…Whoever the person is….he was kind…"
"Huh?"
"It's nothing…." Minato shook his head, then he faced him, "Mina's getting cold….we better hurry to get her some under clothes…"
Souji blushed, "B—But…" he didn't really want to get any girl underwear from his mom's drawer or something but…
Minato sighed, "I'll be the one….don't worry, she's me after all…." He looked around.
Souji just now noticed, about Minato's voice was very, "…You're voice changed a bit,"
"What do you mean a bit?"
"Well," Souji shrugged his shoulders, "…I was a kid when you last talked to me, your voice sounded sad and all, but now, it sounds mature and responsible…"
"Is there something wrong with that?"
"No." Souji said as he walked towards the adult Minato, "How old do you thing you are?"
"Um…." Minato moved his eyes down, "…..How many years has it been since I've sealed away the Nyx…?"
Souji though has no idea, "…I didn't even knew that before Naoto told me,"
"Huh…." Minato looked at him, Souji had a point there, they rarely e-mailed each other because of tight night schedules back then. "….the year then was 2010…..what year is it this time?"
"2017…." Souji replied.
"7 years, huh?" Minato scratched the back of his neck, "…I'll say that…..I'm now, about 23…and if I had another year for my seniors,….they would be about 24….." then he also realized that he came back to the same year twice before Minako appeared, "…Well, if I included the year I came back to repeat…"
"You repeated a year?"
"Not a school year, a YEAR…."
"Oh…."
"Well, I would be also 24…." But he shrugged his shoulders, "….It's confusing as it is…..But I'll stick with 24,….how old are you now Souji?"
"Me?" Souji began to realize that last month was his birthday, "….Ah, well, I'm now 16…"
"You're a Junior now right?"
"Going to be,"
"Good for you then," Minato placed his hand on his head, "….Enjoy it while you can…"
Souji's eyes widened as he looked at the fake smile on Minato's face, he can't hide his eyes, fore surely, when Minato said that, it somehow was so…..
Minato noticed somehow that he had made the air worst around them, "….Hey, you can call me Minato-sempai…"
"Eh?" Souji blinked.
"I've always wanted to be called '-sempai-'…" Minato smiled,
"But I don't think it works in cases like this," Souji sweat dropped,
"Then call him, Aniki,"
The two boys turned to see Minako at side of the door, she was wearing a long men's shirt,…but…
Souji blushed, that was HIS shirt.
"Mina, what are you doing out of the bed…?" Minato sighed,
"It's lonely in there, so I wanted to see what took you guys so long…" Minako smiled as she came in the room, "Ah!—Sou-kun…long time no see…!"
"Y—Yeah," Souji blushed as he tried to pull himself together, "….Aniki, huh?" he recalled in what she says,
Minato grinned, "That'll do…."
Souji and Minato both nodded as they smiled at each other,
"Ah, then I'll call Minato, Aniki too!" Minako smiled, "Sou-kun can call me Mina-neesan!"
Souji smiled at her, "Mina's fine, it's what we used to call you when you were younger anyway…."
"Eeeh…..?" Minako pouted,
"Mina-neesan sounds weird Mina," Minato said, "…And your beginning to sound like back when you were just a teen…"
"Hey!" Minako said, as the small Wild Card group begins to laugh together,
Minato and Minako never laughed like this in a long time, not with someone who's blood related to them, and Souji had the same feeling as they all shared a close bond.
Then,
Something happened.
SFX: *Glass shattering*
Everyone's eyes widened, that sound was too familiar to be mistaken,
Did they just create, a bond….!
SEA
XXIII
They all looked at each other, neither one speaking,
Then, Minako broke the silence, "…It happened…Like when I was with Minato for the first time, the Existence arcana…..and now,"
Minato continued, "The Sea…the 23rd Arcana…"
"…." Souji was rather knew to this, "Well, I never knew that even Wild Card wielders can have social links with other Wild Card wielders…." He smiled, "….It doesn't feel lonely anymore, having to know that you aren't the only ones who know this…."
Minato and Minako looked at each other smiled, then smiled back at Souji as they nodded their heads,
"*Achoo*!" Minako suddenly sneezed as she covered her mouth,
"Oh, here, sorry about that…" Souji said as he bowed a little to apologize, "Ah,….and about your…"
"Don't worry about that, I was able to find your parents' room, ah, that is if you don't mind…"
"No, we were about to g—Well, Aniki was able to go there…" Souji scratched his head.
Minato chuckled, "You're still a kid,….Souji,"
"Shut up," Souji said in embarrassment, "It ain't my fault…."
"Who said it was?" Minato smiled, winning the argument.
"I'll go change then," Minako said as she went out of the room, holding the dress close to her chest as she looked for the bath room,
"Ah, the bath room's to your left side, down the hall!" Souji yelled out,
"Okay!" Minako's voice echoed as her footsteps soon vanishes from sound,
Minato then faced Souji, "…Anyhow, Souji, since you know out situation," Souji faced him and nodded, Minato continued, "…You understand, that we have to go back into battle, although, I'm not forcing you…But as your aniki, I don't want you to get hurt…..since you are younger than as, and also not having the same fate as us….It is your choice if you still want to put your own life on the line once again, and with it, must be your friends as well…."
"Aniki….." Souji muttered.
"We don't want to lose anyone important to us, like before, we saved some lives, but also failed to save others….like family members," Minato casted his eyes down, remembering the failed attempts of both Yukari's and Mitsuru's father,
Back then, when the Chairman had Aegis undercontrol, both fathers came in the scene to protect their daughters,
It was a heroic attempt, a bold move, even with the protective suit, the bullet strayed to the head of Yukari's father when he was about to shoot her first, he died in an instant as Yukari was struck with shock,
While Aegis was hesitating to shoot Mitsuru's father, the Chairman got impatient and began to point the gun from us to him, then with our eyes only to watch was going on,
We saw him pull out a gun and shoot the chairman just as the chairman shot him,
Takeharu Kirijo, was the first to fall from the duel, and then the chairman followed next.
Then what followed after that, was the endless screams and mournings of Yukari and Mitsuru, and with the cries of Aegis who have thought of killing herself for what had happened.
"Even if I were to come back, and even with Minako with me," Minato began to say, unknowingly as tears slowly went down. "…..We can't change what is meant to be done…." He began to say as Souji looked at him sadly,
"Aniki," he only muttered that.
"…Their fathers were meant to die, for the reasons of Yukari's resolution….and for Mitsuru to remember everything at Graduation day…If they didn't die, they might have not remembered anything,…But…for fathers to die, I may never fully comprehend the feeling….for I never was close to my father, nor my mom.." Minato tried to stop crying as he took a deep breath. "….We don't want to make the same mistake…3 times already…..Please Souji," he began to look strongly back at his cousin, "….Tell me…are you willing to come back into this fight…?"
"…." Souji nodded as he grinned, "….Yes,"
"You might die,"
"Even so,"
"Your close ones might die,"
"I will protect them,"
"You will lose things that you never wanted to lose,"
"Then I will protect those things,"
"…."
"…."
"You might mourn, and scream for something, and all hope might be stripped from you,"
"Then" Souji begins to smile again, "I'll hit myself into a pulp and force myself to stand up…."
"…." Minato looked at him, and knew he isn't kidding, he sighed, as he smiled, "….Kids, these days…."
Souji chuckled, "Hey, now you sound like an adult….!" And in no time, they began to laugh.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++Bath Room++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Let's see…" Minako began to look at herself in the mirror, "These dress is just, so, pretty…!" she smiled as she stood infront of it,
Then her seems to sadden, "….I've changed,….my voice, my looks…" then she looked at her height, "…..Even my height and body, I'm now an adult…" she smiles, "….I never knew I'll see myself as an adult….when Aniki told me about the Nyx…."
She turned around as she saw he dress whoosh, she felt so happy, "…." Then she noticed the black feather stuck at the end of her dress, then her eyes widened, "This belongs to….!" She looked at it closely, as the light shined on the feather, it looked a bit like a mixture of black and midnight blue, and she held it close to her chest and smiled.
"….Ryoji-kun…" she said as she looked for a chain or a string to tie it on the end, for her to make it into a necklace, until she found one at the cabinets and began to make the feather necklace, then she wore it like a lucky charm.
…I wish you were here too, she thought to herself, as she looked at the dress, and blushed a bit.
Then she went out of the bathroom and passed the hallways,
Only to stop at picture frames at the table to the hall's right, "Hmm?" she looked at it, and saw Souji when he was younger, together with his family, and she smiled, "Sou-kun's so cute here…" Souji was very small then, his bangs weren't really that long like now, this was when it was still very short, and it showed his fore head, there were bandages on his face as his face showed joy of holding a pup in his arms,
He was on the ground, and was so dirty, Minako can only imagine what happened to him there,
Then she noticed a bandage at the forehead, and blushed, "…He looks like Akihiko-sempai…" having to say her boyfriends first name, she smiled.
She stood up and sighed as she looked down to the pictures,
"…..I wonder…..How's everyone doing, ….right now….?" Minako muttered sadly, "..ah…." then she clapped her hands together and pulled out a picture she had in the pocket,…..she was holding it while she was asleep, grasping and clenching hard to it, it was the last thing she held before falling asleep on the roof with Akihiko, Shinjiro, Minato and Aegis,
She looked at the picture of all of them together,
They were on the sofa, and some where standing behind the sofa, she was seated at the left corner of the sofa, with Minato occupying the opposite side, in the middle, was Fuuka and Ken together with Koromaru,
Behind Minako was Akihiko, and next to him was Shinjiro, behind Minato was Yukari, which followed Mitsuru and her father on to her left, and to his side was Yukari's dad,
In the middle of the standing group was Junpei,
Something funny was in the picture, Junpei could be seen getting punched by Shinjiro's fist, with the back of his hand, Shinjiro had a look of irritation,
Akihiko was looking at the scene in surprise, Minako's mouth was open when she turned her head to look, Fuuka's back was facing the camera when she turned around to see what was going on,
Ken was holding onto Koromaru who almost jumped for the camera man, Minato had a startled expression on his face, while Yukari and Mitsuru looked a bit frantic, both shocked,
Mitsuru's father was looking at the scene, although it was hard to tell his expression, when you can't see his eye, it had an eye patch, but his mouth was slightly open.
Yukari's dad had a worried look as he looked at Junpei, mouth too was slightly opened.
Minako lightly chuckled as she recalled the event.
_Flash Back_
"Alright everyone! Squeeze in!" Junpei yelled out as he jumped excitedly, "To the Sofa!"
"Why not the front door?" Fuuka asked.
"Well it would be too boring!" Junpei winked, actually, the real reason, since they knew everything, Junpei was preventing of him falling like what happened to the original celebration picture.
"It's a load of shit…" Shinjiro muttered as he sighed,
"Well, it won't hurt to take one…." Akihiko smiled, "Like a memento, for everyone here…."
"Sempai's right Sempai!" Minako smiled as she slapped hard, Shinjiro's back which he almost coughed out and fell off the sofa,
"Why you…!" Shinjiro said in annoyance, but Minako just smiled at him in return, which made him blush and recoil, "Geez….." he sighed.
"Hmm, a picture huh?" Mitsuru smiled, "What a wonderful idea, Iori…..Everyone, let's gather around in the lounge…"
"Oh, but I can't get my picture looking like this," Yukari's dad joked as Yukari smiled, excitedly pulling his arm to the lounge,
"Come on Dad!—Hurry or else we'll be left out!" Yukari giggled happily, cheeks flushed with pink.
"Okay, okay, I'm coming Yukari," Her father smiled with a slight chuckle,
"…." Minato was at his usual quiet self, but he was smiling, as the nostalgic feeling of this came over.
"Minato!" Minako called out as she pulled him from leaning against the wall, "Come on! You'll miss out on it!"
"Alright…." Minato smiled, "M—Mina—Don't…!" before he said anything, he tripped,
"Ah, sorry," Minako sweat dropped as she pulled him to his feet, and she just smiled.
"You're too excited," Minato sighed,
"Yup! You bet!"
"Hah," Minato chuckled, "It's better like that…" and soon he took a seat on the sofa,
Minako was still picking up her friends, "Koromaru!" she called out, "Koromaru!—Koro-chan~~!"
"*BARK!* *BARK!*" Koromaru replied happily as he run down from the stairs,
Ken following from behind, he came from his room to return his bag.
"What's this? Are we going to take a photo?" Ken asked as he smiled, approaching Minako,
"You bet," Akihiko was the one who answered, as everyone gathered around the sofa,
When everyone was in their places, this was when it started.
"Alright! HERE COMES MY FAMOUS POSE!" Junpei began to place 2 fingers behind Shinjiro's head,
"Hey, knock it off…!" Shinjiro said angrily,
"Ah, sorry," Junpei sweat drop, recalling that time, he changed to a different tactic, "EVERYONE SQUEEZE IN! COME ON! COME CLOSER TO THE JUNPEI~!"
"Why?" both Yukari and Akihiko asked in annoyance,
"No fuckin' way Iori," Shinjiro added,
"He's rather an eccentric person," Yukari's father added to comment on Junpei's personality,
"Yes he is," Mitsuru though was the one who replied to that, as she smiled.
Then they heard a beeping sound, "Everyone! It's almost ready!" Fuuka noticed as the camera gave a signal of numbers, of 5 seconds.
5.
"Oy, Iori, you're too damn close," Shinjiro said, cradling his anger,
4.
"Well, ain't that fine? Aragaki-san~~?" Junpei seems to be at bliss as he put on a goofy face and a peace sign near his own face.
3.
"No it ain't…move the fuck away,"
"Ahahah, no way sempai!"
2.
"*bark!* *bark*!" Koromaru smelled something and spotted hidden egg rolls in a plastic bag near the camera man, and he tried to break free from Ken's grip,
"Ah! Koro-chan! Stay still!" Ken said as his grip was loosening.
1.
*SMACK!*
"AH! KORO-CHAN!"
"J—JUNPEI-KUN!"
"JUNPEI!" Yukari
"?" Minato
"J-JUNPEI-KUN!" Minako
"IORI!" Mitsuru
"WHAT THE?" Akihiko
"*BARK* *BARK*!" Koromaru
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Camera man.
And with that, the picture came out as everyone looked to see if Junpei was still alive.
_End of Flash Back_
"…...I wonder how's everyone doing…?" Minako sadly smiled down at the picture, as silence drenched her surroundings,
Unknowingly,
In the far corner of the hallway.
Minato was leaning on the wall while Souji was standing beside him, looking at her sadly, then they looked at the floor, no one uttered a word, as silence came for them as well, what was there left to say?
*GASP*! IT'S FINALLY DONE!
I would also like to thank the ones who reviews my 1st chapter in this story!,
I didn't take not on how long it was, till I noticed it was already 12 thousand plus!
Oh dear, oh dear.
At the picture taking before the night hour, I had to change it to make Shinjiro and Yukari's dad a part of it, and I placed them by the lounge too because I thought it was funnier that way, ^^;
And no, Souji didn't see ANYTHING when he put Minako and Minato down,
I wanted the S.E.E.S. persona users to summon their personas all at once in one place to make it easier, besides on them having on by one but… somehow why didn't I put it here I wonder? Hmm,…. Well! tell me if something wasn't right or something doesn't add up alright?
I didn't really, at first, intended Naoto to be the one to explain everything and to appear, but when I saw a manga panel of a fan, it said there that Naoto was meant to represent Minato in Persona 4, I had this idea of them being related since her situation was very similar,
She summons with a gun, (but not to her head), she's at times silent, her parents both died in an accident, and her hair color and eye color was the same as Minato.
So I had to make up a plot, which made my head hurt if I wanted to squeeze in Souji's relation,
It would be interesting though! If all the passed Wild Card wielders, Persona 1 and 2 were actually related to each other, than that would be really something to think about! 0o0….. I got that idea from looking at a drawing that showed all the main characters, having the protagonist of persona 1 at the front, then the next and the next, all facing side ways, then another version of that pic had Minako in the in between Minato and Souji, she was the only one looking at the camera.
It was really a nice pic~!, but I wonder why Aegis didn't show up? Hmm,
Anyhow! Please tell me if I bringing in things too fast! AND REVIEWS! PLEASE! ALL FOR THE SAKE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD! PLEASE LEAVE REVIEWS FOR ME~~~~~!
Minako: Sou-kun! Your so big now!
Souji: Actually, I should say that to you….
Minato: -nods-
Souji: by the way, Aniki…? Why did you guy appear through my TV?
Minato:….-shrugs shoulders-…I'm not sure….
Minako: Hmm, maybe because our souls were sealed in the Shadow like world…so…..maybe the only way to come out was going out through a portal…..
Minato: If we have knew we can do that when we were back at Junior High…..perhaps we don't need Tartarus by that time,
Minako: Or place some food stacks or things into the TV!
Minato: That would be useful, than having a basement. Our basement turned into the Abyss of Time, if we put our food there, it would get eaten by shadows
Souji: You have a point there. But once you're in, you can never get out without Teddie.
Minato & Minako: EH!