Blackeclipse: Alright~! Here comes the third chapter~!
Hey guys, thanks for the reviews you've given me! And I'll take some of your advice! Thanks so much!
And I shall repeat again, that SOME sayings here are not from the real Persona, some of it is just what I made up in order for you guys to see how they handled the Answer back then.
Oooh, and I think I made a mistake with Souji, he's now a Senior, since a year just passed after Persona 4 had their ordeal in this fanfic SORRY ABOUT THAT! =_=;;
Please continue on reading my fanfic! Well~! here is goooooeeessss~~~!
Disclaimer: I do not own any creation of ATLUS or Shin Megami Tensei-sama…if I did, I would have probably have died from extreme shock and excitement….
Chapter Three: Bonds of Our Love Ones II
"…..You don't need to save the world to find meaning in life…..All you need is something simple…..Like someone to take care of…" -Aegis
"Why didn't I see it before?—Even if it were to be slammed directly to my face?-Just shut up!...I know that I miss them…and you have no right to tell me that I don't….there, I said it…happy now?..."
-Shinjiro Aragaki
A orange sky appeared with the horizon, like a painting coming alive from a sunset, this is what Mitsuru could see from her window, as they got their things packed and ready,
"What about Shiro-chan?" Fuuka begins to ask her as Aegis was helping out carrying the things out to the maid, Shiromaru was just there whining, begging to come with them.
Mitsuru shook her head, "I apologize, but I have to leave him with a few caretakers of this house, we can't afford any casualties, even if it's just a dog…"
Shiromaru began to roll on his back, a sign of another please, as he insisted on coming as if he understood so well,
"Sempai, we may not know, but perhaps Shiro-chan too has the potential," Fuuka told her as she gently rubbed the furry belly of the Shiba Inu,
Mitsuru was hesitating, until Shiromaru began to rub head on her legs, that made her relent, and begins to smile, "Alright, alright,….I'll see if Amagi can allow pets to their inn…"
"*BARK!* BARK*!" Shiromaru began to bark as he ran around the room, circling both Mitsuru and Fuuka,
Aegis smiled, "Koro-chan says that he is very happy to go back to Japan…" she began to pet the dog, her mechanical hands were surprisingly gentle for the dog to wag its tail.
Mitsuru looked at her watch and nodded, "We best to be off, we have to make it there by Japan's afternoon…"
Fuuka agreed as they all turned to leave the room, Mitsuru was the one who let them all out, as she got the keys, now alone in the room, she went to the door and placed a finger lingering on the switch to turn off the lights of a luxury room,
Her eyes lingered on a photo she had on the table, of when she was young, and a young and caring father with her,
She can't help but to soften her eyes as she smiled, closing her eyes momentarily as she did, "…..I'm off…Father…"
*Click*
_Souji's House_
It was surprising, not to mention weird and almost UNREALISTIC.
Even Minako and Minato couldn't say anything, Souji was just speechless as his parents smiled and agreed to just let him move back to Yasoinaba to attend his final year of Highschool, and for them to believe in the lies they placed,
It was frightening enough when they found out that Minako and Minato actually had a life here on earth, wait, sorry , let me rephrase that.
It's like Minato and Minako's existence was now being planned out, for them to fit then.
There.
"I think we should ask Igor about this when we get the chance…" Souji said as he rammed a hair through his long bangs, when he put up some of his bangs, he looked a bit like Akihiko which made Minako smile,
Souji was even more handsome than before, not to mention that he was way taller, but not as tall as Minato and Minako, and his face seemed to have mature itself,
"I think so too," Minato nodded in agreement, "Further more, we have to already prepare our things…"
Minako sighed as she leaned against the chair, "But I expected this to be even more of a hassle, now, it's so unexpected, as if everything was already planned out…"
"Well, even though it DOESN'T make sense, we can't complain, it's easier for us now," Souji told them, "Having to lie too much is going to be too heavy for both of us, especially to a blood relative…for you…and my parents for me…"
"Yeah, well, you're right there Souji," Minato said as he looked at the table, he didn't like lying so much himself, but sometimes it couldn't be help, it was a good thing that this happened instead, or it would be,
SUCH A PAIN, the silent type was silent on the outside, but within his head, there was a loud voice within.
Then a sound of a chair moving made Minato snap out of his thoughts, to see both of them getting off, and he did as well,
"Well, we should start getting ready…"
"You should."
"Huh?" Souji turned his head to Minato, "What do you mean?"
"These are the only clothes we have, it ain't even ours…." Minato said as he tugged onto the collar of the long formal shirt, and puffing out some dust from the long black pants, "We are even bare footed, so we don't have anything that is ours….except out identities,"
Minako agreed when she sighed, "I agree, we only have our I.D. and passports and all those stuff, but no jobs…" she shrugged her shoulders, "…Not even a job…"
Souji cupped his chin, "Hmm, you're right there…" then he shook his head, "Well, I should start packing, wait here okay guys?"
Both of them nodded as Souji began to turn to leave the kitchen,
Leaving Minako and Minato look at each other,
"Um, uh, so….." Minato begins to ruffle his hair, it was so quiet now, he was now starting to miss his mp3 player, and he knew Minako did too,
"I wonder if cars can fly now!" Minako smiled as she hurried out to look at the window, and sighed, "…No…still the same old boring ones."
"I'm amused you still believe cars would fly in the future, Mina…" Minato grinned as he joined her into looking at the window, "…It looks pretty much, the same old Tokyo…"
"Yeah…" Minako sighed, "….same old people…"
Minato's eyes shifted to her, but he didn't respond to that, she was right, it was the same old people.
Their hearts, barely changed from before.
Minako just sighed, eyes still set on the people passing by, having their own lives, without a care in the world, without them worrying about the end, without even knowing the sacrifices that they did for all of them,
Yet they still, stay the same,
Her eyes softened as she looked down, she can't lose fate, she had to believe in their race, otherwise…
"?" Minako's eyes suddenly caught something, a small thing, a little kid,
She smiled, looking at that little girl that reminded the times she was little, she was hugging the thing that her eye caught, and the little girl was hugging it tightly as if she was going to lose it soon,
A stuff toy rabbit,
Minako looked back at him, "…Can I ask a favor?...Before we go to Yasoinaba…"
She was a bit nervous in asking but, "…I want to come back to the dormitory, there's something I want to get so badly…."
"What's th-"
"Hey Minako-chan!" a woman's voice called out to them,
"A-ah, yes! Coming!" Minako almost jumped from the sudden voice, "I'll be back,"
"Alright…" Minato nodded his head as she watched her exit the door, a small smirk from his face,
"Yes, Aunt Seta?" Minako called out when she arrived to the door step, she saw the deliver man, he had a familiar vibe around him, That is…? She spots a blonde hair from the red cap he wore, and a familiar smile, but his eyes were covered by the cap, and his hands were gloved, anything else, before he looked at her, lifting his head, Souji's mother closed the door, holding a box.
"There's a delivery for you," Souji's mother said as she gave her the package, "The young man didn't tell me his name or who it came from, but it's addressed to you…"
"M-me?" Minako repeated, holding the box in her hands, staring at it.
"Well?—Aren't you going to open it….?" Souji's mother nudged her, and she smiled, "I have to go and see if Souji's alright with his packing," she gave a nod when Souji's mother left.
She didn't want to wait any longer,
She knelt down and placed the box down, opening it carefully,
A smile began to spread across her face, her eyes glittering from the sight, "This is…!"
She can't believe it as she looked at it, "This is unreal…! This is a joke right!" she laughed as she grabbed it, it was a white stuff toy rabbit, with red eyes like hers, that brought so much memories to her,
She embraced the soft object, a precious object as if she would lose it, then something glint within the box,
A silver leader watch, and she felt like crying,
"Mina?" Minato came over to see why she was taking so long, "…Nothing…" he softly said when he saw her, smiling from the hallway as she sobbed,
Tears not of sadness,
But of pure relief that had overwhelmed her,
…Within this world…those who have overcame the fear of Death, and go on into the future…Those kind of people…
Does…
Exists
+++++++++++++++++++++++Yasoinaba/Police Department+++++++++++++++++++
"The police chief of Ayanagi City?" Ryoutaro Dojima shifted in his seat as he looked at Akihiko's files, "What's someone like him doing here?"
A more confident looking young man was now his partner, he had bright blonde hair, and his eyes were deep blue, "He is here to investigate the cases here, some of the cases he had handled was also related to this," he said in a serious voice, "However, some parts of his investigation is unclear,"
"Unclear'?" Ryoutaro asked him,
"Yes, some parts of information shows that he was doing some cover up, perhaps h-"
"Ryu, don't make these guesses unless we're sure…!" Dojima scolded the young youth,
The young man named Ryu simply smiled without a fight, he relents, "Yes, sir…"
"Besides, we need some help ourselves….Having a guy like him around with us, it won't be so bad as long as we don't get in his way," he muttered, his hand holding rubbing gently on his chin as he gave it some thought, "…But, we just have to look out for him….the Chief of Police wouldn't just suddenly come to a place like this just for a vacation or something unimportant…."
Ryu nodded to his boss, "I have to agree…."
"Is he here today?"
"Let me check, sir, should I call him if he does?"
"No, I just want to know…"
"Alright, I'll go and check," Ryu nodded as he turned around and left the room,
Dojima scratched his head, it became easier than expected to talk to his partner, back when Adachi was his partner, it was a real pain in the… well, you know.
Ryu tried not to make himself more noticeable, he got two empty cups and begins to proceed, his eyes looking around as he passed the offices, he began to approach the corner, a turn would lead him to the kitchen were he can get coffee,
Or,
"Ah…!" Ryu paused before he bumped into someone before him, and looked at the one before him, a young man with silver hair and eyes, brown formal shirt and red tie, with a black jacket and pants, together with brown inverse shoes for his feet,
"Sorry about that," Akihiko bowed his head slightly as he passed Ryu,
Ryu sighed, a bit shaken to think that he was going to bump into him, he forgot about the coffee and began to follow him, not tail to tail, but at a safe distance until Akihiko went to his office,
Ryu went over, putting the other cup to his other hand, slowly rotating the knob slightly for to not make it too noticeable, but it was lock,
"Drats." He cursed silently, and he swore, he swore he heard footsteps approaching the door,
He quickly began to rush over to Dojima's office before Akihiko peeked outside, wondering who was just there infront of his office,
+++++++++++++++++++++Akihiko's Office++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Akihiko sighed, closing the door, "Sheesh…..newbies these days," he mumbled as he proceed to sit on his black office chair, removing his jacket in the process as he looked to his computer, opening up his e-mail, he had messages from Yukari coming on this day, and Mitsuru soon to come within the afternoon,
"Everyone's coming, huh?" he muttered as he leaned down, elbows on the table, his fingers tangled together as his mouth rested on it, then on his forehead, making him look down, …Not everyone… he added in his mind, anticipation within him is making him even more impatient,
How long would he wait for her to come back to them?
Or is he not to wait at all?
He knew, planning something would just be worthless, but he wanted this to happen so much, for her to be coming here, not only her, but him, her brother, other self, or whatever you may call him,
Minato, and Minako, even their name sounded alike, they are exact opposites of each other, set aside the part that you have this sudden urge to go and hang out with them, they were open, yet a closed book, mysterious beings that lures us to them, their kindness and sacrifice,
He fully knows, that there is no way to repay the debt, to reward them for what they did,
Like what Theodore said,
She didn't ask for a second chance… he continued in his mind, thinking of how it would be like,
They shared such a tight bond together,
But for her to restart the whole year, without him remembering?—It would have somehow turn painful for her, but what could he do?
He knew their Leaders were stronger than all of them,
And despite him wanting to protect all of them, he just doesn't know anymore,
He ended up being the one protected, "Kuso!" he cursed as his fist hit his desk, the table shook from the impact, he gave a frustrated growl and sighed, ramming a hair through his hair, trying to remain calm, his hand traveled to the computer keys, exiting the window of the computer, it was so hard. For him to just watch and do nothing, and just to think about it, ….what was this feeling again?
….he was sure he have said it before….
Ah..
Yes….
…
….
Powerless, his mind continued, just when he did, his desktop photo showed a familiar picture, of when they were all in the Dormitory, all of them, including her and him.
His hand reached to the screen, his finger caressing the image of Minako on the screen, as if he could touch her,
…He wanted so much,…. So much of her….
++++++++++++++++++++++++Flood Plains/Yasoinaba++++++++++++++++++++++
"Amada-kun!" a little girl's voice called out, as Ken walked along the road that leads to the river bank, "Amada-kun~!"
"?" Ken stopped in his tracks and looked forward to see a little girl running towards him, her hair was short and dark brown, tied into pigtails with small pink ribbons, she had a dress colored white, pink and brown, and she seemed to cheery, Ken smiled back, "Hey, Dojima-san,"
"Call me 'Nanako'!" Nanako smiled at him, stopping before she bumped into him, "Did your school just ended?"
Ken nodded, "Yeah, I'm heading back home…"
"Can I come with you?—Daddy's still at work at this time, and I'm already down doing the house chores…!" Nanako explained, jumping up and down with excitement, "Please! Only once? Please!"
Ken was having second thoughts, a little girl meeting Shinjiro might scare her, then again, back when he was small, it didn't scare him, (he wanted to kill Shinjiro then), he chuckled to himself from those old memories, Nanako was just tilting her head,
"Oh look!" a voice called out as they turned to see who it was,
It was Chie, along with Yukiko that was greeting them a friendly hello, but it didn't hide the fact that they looked nervous on seeing him,
"Um, so…" Chie began, scratching the back of her head, "….We got a message from, Naoto-kun…about you guys so…"
Yukiko continued, "We like to apologize…We all thought that Naoto-kun missed our leader so much…But to hear about you guys," the embarrassed expression changed, "We were all flabbergasted….we had no idea that an earlier group with persona users existed.." she said that part silently as the students, the non-caring ones, passed by.
Ken just shook his head with a smile, "Nah, don't mind it…" he said, "We expected it to happen anyway….."
Chie and Yukiko both seemed to lighten up a bit, "So, where are you going?—Ah! I'm sorry Nanako-chan! I didn't see you there!" Chie bent down to smile her as Nanako smiled back,
"It's okay!" Nanako said cheerfully, "I was going to tag along with Amada-kun to his house…"
"Oh really?" Yukiko asked,
Ken grinned, "It's not exactly my house, we just moved her and all, it's not permanent…" he faced them, "You are also welcomed to tag along, but I'm warning you about a friend of mine that lives with me…"
"Who?" Chie asked,
+++++++++++++++++++Ken and Shinjiro's Apartment+++++++++++++++++++++++
"What the?" Shinjiro mumbled when he opened the door to see 3 teenagers and a little kid on the door step,
"Oh, um," Yukiko was a bit scared to see him, "I—it's nice to meet you!—You must be Aragaki-san…"
Shinjiro didn't mind her and looked at Ken, "Amada, who are these kids?"
Ken smiled again, "Oh they're one of Naoto-san's friends,"
Shinjiro quirked an eye brow as he faced the two girls,
"….Ah….hey," Chie nodded her head, nervously of course, "I—I'm Chie Satonaka, you can just call me 'Chie"
"Amagi and Satonaka, huh?" Shinjiro muttered as he relents, gesturing them to go in with his head, before closing the door shut and locking up,
"Hey Mister!"
"Huuh?" Shinjiro muttered, a tone in his voice sounded like a complaint,
He looked down to see Nanako pulling the end of his shirt, and she had the sudden resemblance of Miki, "I'm Nanako Dojima…!"
Shinjiro just looked at her, "Aren't you too young to be out with these strangers?"
"They're not strangers, they're friends!—and also, I am not too young!" she pouted in the end,
"Hmph," Shinjiro smirked, ruffling her hair a little as he walked passed her, "Come on in then, don't just stand there, Nanako."
Nanako just smiled, following him inside.
The apartment wasn't that big, nor too small, it was just right when they came to the living room space,
"Something smells good," Yukiko commented on the scent flowing through the air,
Shinjiro grunted as he turned his back to them, "I don't wanna see one of you kids in the kitchen, got it?"
"Eh?" Yukiko was a bit surprised,
"Aragaki-san, you cook?" Chie asked
Shinjiro hesitated, judging from the shook of his head, then he looked back, "Ya I do, got a problem with that, girl?"
Yukiko and Chie instantly shook their heads, feeling the heavy tension from his glare, "N—No sir!"
Ken sighed, "Shinjiro-san, you don't need to glare at them like that…"
Nanako though wasn't affected and was giggling, "So Aragaki-san cooks too?—Like Big Bro!"
Shinjiro shifted his eyes to Nanako, the word of saying 'big bro' was too close to what Miki would call him back then, and he looked away, "Whatever." He muttered as he left that room,
Ken scratched his head as he shifted his eyes to the girls that was calming down their nerves, "Sorry about him Sempai, he's really a nice person when you get to know him…..He just doesn't want other people to see him cook."
Chie smiled, "I can understand that, I get self conscious as well when someone is watching my every movement,"
Yukiko agreed, but when she recalled the time she had cooking tips with a friend, she was blushing slightly, even letting her friend taste it, she knew it was bad but, she can't help but to feel happy for those memories.
Then someone began to ring on the door,
"I'll get it~!" Nanako said cheerfully as she ran to the door,
"Ah—wait! Nanako I'll get it for you!" Ken said, a bit alarmed as he ran after her, but it was already too light,
Nanako already opened the door, and somehow, "Big Bro!" she began to hug a handsome adult infront of her,
Ken sweat dropped, "Uh, wait, no, that's…."
"Where!" Chie yelled out as she ran towards them, Yukiko was also by her side,
"Souji-kun!" She called out,
"Ah, wait….." the adult said, a hand scratching his head,
"What's all the fuss!" an irritated Shinjiro began to come in, and sighed, "Aki?—What took you?"
Akihiko moved his head up to his best friend, "Sorry Shinji, work and all…." His eyes shifted to Nanako, that got a striking resemblance to Miki as she cling onto him,
Yukiko blushed, Akihiko was very handsome indeed, "O—oh, we're sorry,"
Chie had one eye closed, a sweat drop down her head, "Y—yeah, you looked a lot like our Leader…."
"Leader'?" Akihiko muttered,
"E-eh~? You're not Big bro?" Nanako began to slowly let him go sadly, looking up at him, and she realized, Souji had longer bangs, "Oh, I see, I'm sorry…."
"W—well, I don't mind if you want to call me that too…" Akihiko said with a gently smile, a bit of nervousness was in his voice, Nanako just smiled up at him as everyone came in, the door being closed behind him as they settled in the Living room space,
"I'm Akihiko Sanada, Chief of Police of Ayanagi City," Akihiko introduced himself with a smile, that sent Chie and Yukiko blushing and their hearts thumping,
"O-oh, well, it's nice to meet you Sanada-san," Chie nodded her head, soon, she finally pulled herself together, "I'm Chie Satonaka, and this here's my friend,"
"Yukiko Amagi, it's a pleasure to meet you," Yukiko nod her head for a friendly gesture,
"I'm Nanako Dojima, you can just call me Nanako if you want," Nanako smiled, slightly pulling the sleeve of Akihiko to catch his attention.
Akihiko was just hoping he would stop being a bit emotional when he sees her, "It's nice to meet you all…." Then he added, "If I am not mistaken, you are all Shirogane's friends?"
A nod came from the three,
"And I take it that you're one of the S.E.E.S. she told us about, right?" Chie asked, and a nod came from him, she exhaled like she was exhausted, "Phew, so you guys are real…..I mean, yeah you're real, but it's kind of nice…" she grinned, "At least we now know there are others like us, it can get pretty lonely,"
Yukiko nodded, "Yeah, but we heard about you're story," her eyes were now casted down, "….And…I'm sorry about, what happened to your Leaders…"
Despite Akihiko wanted to look away, he didn't budge, "No, don't apologize, it had to happen, otherwise…none of you would be born then,"
Yukiko and Chie shook from the feeling of not being born, and Nanako was just wondering if this was some kind of thing that grown ups handle in work,
"They're talking about a game, Nanako," Ken quickly told her, "It's in the internet,…and we play different characters…"
"Wow!" Nanako sparkled, "So can I play~?"
The persona users began to exchange looks,
"M-maybe, let's just see…" Chie nervously said to her, smiling wryly, then before anything else, a wonderful aroma began to fill the air as Shinjiro brought in the food, "W—Woah…" Chie's eyes widened,
Yukiko as just speechless,
"Wow~~!" Nanako's smile widened,
Shinjiro blushed a bit as he grunted, "J-just eat before it gets cold dammit."
Yukiko shook her head to snap herself out of it, "Can you teach me how to cook like that? Please Aragaki-san?"
"Why me?" Shinjiro asked annoyedly, but sooner or later relents, feeling a weird De Ja Vu going on within him, "Fine, whatever…Just EAT…"
Akihiko chuckled, "Wow, this is getting familiar…."
"Shut up Aki," Shinjiro growled, Ken hiding the urge to laugh at Shinjiro's embarrassment, Shinjiro had enough as he began to fill the atmosphere with his terrifying presence, "EAT-NOW—OR ELSE I'LL BUST YOUR H-"
"ITTADAKIMASU!" Everyone yelled out before Shinjiro finished his sentence.
+++++++++++South Shopping District/ Tofu Shop/Yasoinaba+++++++++++++++++++
"GAH~! IT'S YUKARI-CHAN~!" the fans began to yell out as the place began to become crowded,
Yukari was in the Tofu shop, the only means of escape was now impossible because of the sea of fans around the area,
"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT~~! RISETTE AND YUKARI IS NOW HERE~~!" one of them yelled out loud, none of them can figure out whether that was a girl or a boy.
"Sorry Rise," Yukari sweat dropped, placing her bag down, "I didn't mean to bring this kind of crowd back to your door step…"
Rise just giggled, "Oh I'm fine with it!—This happened too when I moved here…"
Yukari was able to arrive here within the given time, even if she asked for no limousine, her manager wanted it. She asked if she could stay by Rise's place, she didn't want to live alone anymore until she finds a place in Yasoinaba, she promised Rise that she wouldn't take so long, but Rise didn't mind at all, she said it was fun having another one like herself here in her Granny's Tofu Shop.
Yukari of course, didn't mind helping out in the place either, she needed a break from Show Biz,
It wasn't long before the police began to fill the place and shoo the fans away,
"Now get back! Go home already!" Ryoutaro began to yell out, shooing them all away as Ryu helped along with the other side, being more helpful than Adachi when this scene came back, "Geez, this feels like De Ja Vu all over again…."
"Oh hey, Dojima-san," a friendly voice came from the side as he turned to see Yosuke, together with Kanji beside him,
"Hanamura, Tatsumi?" Dojima recognized them, "Don't tell me you're here to join the crowd,"
"No, we're just visiting a friend," Yosuke grinned, "Rise texted us that she wanted us to meet THE Yukari Takeba,"
Kanji sweat dropped, "….Sorry for the trouble but…uh…yeah, S'true,"
Dojima grunted a bit, and sighed, "Fine, but you kids better hurry up before any other fans follows you,"
"Yes sir!" Yosuke mocked saluted,
"Stop that." Dojima sighed,
"Yes sir…" Kanji muttered as they began to turn and go to their direction,
It wasn't that difficult, Ryu, knew the two teens and began to make way for them, and once they entered he instantly shut it before the other fans came rushing in to run after them.
"Hey Rise-chan!" Yosuke begins to call out to the counter as they entered the Tofu Shop, only to be greeted by a lovely young lady, Yosuke and Kanji almost jumped, "W—Woah! I—It really is Yukari!"
Yukari looked annoyed, "Who are you two?"
"It's alright Yukari!" Rise came in the scene with a smile on her face, "They are one of our group, oh, and I've placed your things in your room already…"
"Really?" Yukari faced her, then added, "Oh, thanks about that…sorry for the trouble."
Yosuke, in the meanwhile, was whispering to Kanji, "Dude, we're in heaven!—two super hot stars are now in our lives!"
"The hell are you tellin' me this for?" Kanji asked, irritated of course,
"So you two must be friends of Naoto-kun, right?" Yukari asked them, having nods from both of them, "I'm, well, you might already know but, I'm Yukari Takeba…."
"Oh, alright.." Yosuke snapped out of it, "Well I'm Yosuke Hanamura, this here's Kanji Tatsumi,"
"I can introduce myself, Yosuke-sempai!" Kanji growled,
Yukari quirked an eye brow, those two somehow reminded of her of one of her hot headed friends, and Yosuke's voice, Just sounded like…Minato.
"Yukari?—Yukari!"
"H-huh?" Yukari snapped herself out of her thoughts, only to see the worried expressions the 3 teens were giving her, "Oh, my bad—I just remembered something…But I'm alright!" she smiled, "Thanks for worrying,"
Yosuke winked, "Hey, no problem…" he also grinned to add in, and before anyone said anything, Yukari's cellphone began to ring.
"Hello?" Yukari instantly answered it, "Mitsuru-sempai?" then a smile came in, "Uh-huh?—Really?—That's good!—Okay…..uh, yeah I'm here,…..At Rise's place, the Tofu shop by the South District….Okay….yeah,…..No I'm fine, just got here anyway, no, Stupei's coming soon don't worry, …. Okay, see you then!" and the call ended,
"Who was that?" Rise asked her,
"It's my sempai, together with 3 more members of S.E.E.S." Yukari smiled, looking pretty excited,
"We've heard about you guys from Naoto," Kanji said, "….Um,…Sorry, if we kind of…"
"It's alright," Yukari grinned, "It happens a lot,"
"So?—Where are they now?" Yosuke asked, seeming to be interested on more girls joining the group.
"They're already at a train coming this way, they're pretty fast if you ask me…." Yukari told him, "Anyhow….I have to find someone, actually, some people…a family around here," she began to reach for her purse and showed them a family picture of Junpei, Junpei having a good teeth baring grin on his face, and on his shoulders is little Hanako, beside him was Chidori in a French attire, holding a sketchpad to her chest, they looked like they were in France in the season of winter.
"Don't tell me—They are also the members of S.E.E.S.?" Yosuke gasped, looking at it carefully, alarmed that there was little kid in there!
"Not all," Yukari corrected him, pointing with her finger to Junpei's pic, "This is Junpei Iori, he's a part of us, and Chidori, before, she used to be Strega, now she's with us…the good guys,"
"Strega?" Kanji asked her,
"A group of people, they're different, some of them has to force their persona out, or to take control of their persona, since they go on a rampage at times…"
Rise and Yosuke froze at that, a sweat drop coming down from both heads, "…Rampage?"
"Naoto-kun has told you about that right?" Yukari turned to them, and she got a nod, "Then there's no need for me to explain anymore…" she sighs, placing the picture back in her purse, "Anyhow, these guys have a streak on forgetting the reason why they're here and go on vacation mode…."
"Don't worry, Inaba isn't that big, so if we ask a few people here and there, we would find them in no time!" Yosuke assured her with a wink, "So, all we have to do is wait for your side to come here….and I guess Naoto-kun would give us a ring,"
Yukari nodded, "That is what she said….I'll just check if she sends me a text message," and she began to reopen her purse again, going through the stuff there, a picture began to fall to the ground, two pictures actually.
"Oh, I'll get that!" Rise got one, while Yosuke helped out into getting the other one, Rise began to smile as she looked at the one she held, "Ooooh, is this your boyfriend?"
Yukari froze, a blush coming her face as she looked at it, "G—give me that!" but her snatch was useless, Rise was too quick, she looked at it again,
It was when Yukari was in Junior high, wearing her red Kimono on New Year's Day, beside her was a handsome young man wearing his winter attire, it was Minato, smiling slightly at the camera,
"Wow~ he's cute—and handsome!" she added, observing his looks, until Yukari succeeded from snatching the photo from the younger super star's hands.
"Y—yeah, he is," Yukari mumbled,
"You gotta introduce me Yukari!" Rise winked, "So, is he coming along with your sempai?"
Yukari's expression somehow softened, "No…He's our Leader,"
Rise gasped, a mouth over her mouth, "I—I'm sorry….I…"
"It's alright," She shook her head, "What matters that they're all back, both of them, and we will soon see them…"
Yosuke nodded, "That's the way to go, we can never cling on the past forever!" then he showed her the picture he held, "Anyway, Yukari-san, is this all of you guys here?"
"Can I see?" Kanji too took a peek as they looked at the gathering Photo before both Father's death,
Even if it brought some bad memories, she loved the picture so much, "Yeah, my dad's over here beside him, and the other male adult his Mitsuru-sempai's dad…..they were both great men."
The 3 teens looked at each other, wondering if they were making her feel bad,
And Yukari knew it, "Don't look like that!" she chuckled, "Never cling on the past, right?" a smile came from her face as everyone began to feel relief, she pointed at Minato's face on the pic, "This here, is him, and the one at the opposite side," her finger traveled to the Brunette, "is his other self, Minako Arisato, she's also out leader…."
"Dang, she's cute," Yosuke bit his lip, smiling like some kind of… uh, anyway, just smiling. "Does she have a boy friend?"
Yukari smiled at him, looking like she is enjoying this herself, "Over here, just standing behind her," she pointed to the silverette, "He is, Akihiko Sanada-sempai, our senior and also our school's Champion Boxing student,"
Yosuke sweat dropped, there's no way he can compete to a guy that looked like Akihiko, "Woah….dammit, I feel so beaten up."
Kanji smirked, "Hah, you bet you do…"
Rise was beginning to laugh, "Is that Iori-san? He's getting beaten up here by this big handsome guy!"
"Him?—Oh that's Shinjiro Aragaki-sempai, a best friend of Sanada-sempai…" Yukari began as she pointed to the little boy with a dog that looks like it would eat the camera any second. "And this is…Ken-kun, and the dog is Koro-chan, or Koromaru,"
"So that's Amada-kun!" Yosuke grinned, taking a good look at it, "He's so small then!"
Then she pointed to the girl with sea green hair, "And this is Fuuka Yamagishi-chan, she's like Rise, her persona isn't battle oriented."
"That's cool!" Rise grinned, feeling relieved that she isn't the only one not to be able to battle along with them. "I can't wait to meet them all!"
"I wanted to show you Aegis as well, but I don't have a picture of her, YET" Yukari began to pull out a camera, "I'm not going to let this huge reunion go to waste,"
"Huh, taking pics to capture the moments huh?" Yosuke smiled, "I should bring my video cam, fresh from Junes!"
"Ugh….why a video?—a picture is enough for me," Kanji complained.
"Speaking of Junes, why don't we bring Teddie here?" Rise asked, "ah wait no, we should leave that later, besides, to make ourselves even right?"
"Even?" Yukari asked,
"Except our leaders, one from each of our group has yet to be seen, like you with Aegis-san," Rise explained, "Anyhow, let's just wait till we get a call from Naoto-kun…."
"I guess I can wait till then," Yosuke smiled, agreeing with everybody at the idea.
++++++++++++++Infront of a House/Inaba++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"So what do you think, Chidori?" Junpei grinned, pulling Hanako to his shoulders, "It may not be like our house, but hey, old fashion Japanese wouldn't hurt right?"
Chidori smiled, nodding to him, "I don't mind, it still is home…"
"That's the way! Right Hana-chan~?" Junpei turned his head to his little girl, giving her a little jump,
"Stu~pei~!" Hanako cheered,
Junpei groaned, "Oh come on! Call me Daddy~!"
"Stupei~~!" Hanako cheered again,
Junpei sighed, "You're just like your mom and Yuka-tan," he shook it off, grinning again, "Alright! Let's go and take over our home! CHAARGE~!" Junpei yelled out as he darted towards the gate,
Chidori chuckled when they did, as she took one step, only to freeze, feeling a very familiar vibe, "…It can't be…" she turned around to see someone walking by her,
He had silver hair and yellow eyes, a striking resemblance to Takaya, and beside him was a person that looked like Jin,
The Takaya look alike had shorter hair, and less pale skin, and no, he isn't anorexic, and he has a shirt on, and greeted with a warm smile, beside him was the look alike Jin, some hair and glasses, but with simple clothes on, no weapons were on both men.
Takaya, Jin! Chidori tried her best not to look surprise, why were they here?
"You must be our new neighbor," the Takaya look alike smiled at her,
"Hey," the Jin look alike also greeted,
Even their voices are the same…i—it can't be…! Chidori felt herself panic, it was normal, but she just stood there, her face neutral from any emotion.
"Hello," is what she answered, "May I know who are you both?"
"Oh, please forgive my rudeness," the silver hair smiled, "I am Takaya Toriru, you may just call me 'Takaya,'"
"I'm Jin Tensai," Jin introduced himself next, having their last names, it sounded weird now, "I live on the house to your right, and Takaya to your left,"
Chidori looked, and they were both right, Takaya and Jin died didn't they?—Are they just, reborn to these people?
She just smiled, if that was true, it was like God had given them all, the second chance of living this life, "It's nice to meet you both…" she began to see, she can't hide the fact she was happy to seem them once again. "I am Chidori Iori,…."
A nod from both,
"Chidori?—I've heard that name before, you're a famous artist aren't you?" Jin said, almost making Chidori flinch when he said the first part of his sentence,
"I hope we can get along well, you and you're family," Takaya smiled as he turned around, "Well, I best to be off, good day to you and your family, Chidori…." And he left,
Jin turned to her and gave another nod, "Well, I guess that goes the same with me as well, see you around, don't hesitate to give us a knock when you need help, Chidori,"
"I will," Chidori smiled, Jin smiled back and began to leave her there as he proceeded to his house, "I will…" she repeated, as the summer wind gently blows against her.
"Chidori! Hey Chidori! CHIDORITA~!" Junpei called out from the yard, "Come on sweet heart! Hana-chan's hungry already!..." then a growl could be heard when she faced him, "Uhh, me too!" he smiled, "Come on girl! Feed us!"
"You're such a child Junpei," Chidori chuckled, "Alright I'm coming!"
Junpei was shocked, "Y—You okay?—y—you're looking pretty jolly, did you hit your head?"
"Of course not~!"
"What the! You slurred! Chidori just slurred her words!" Junpei was panicking, "Dammit! You're sick aren't you! It must be the climate here!" and Chidori just ended up laughing.
If only he knew,
That a part of her, has somehow,
Although she doesn't know how to describe it,
It felt like, a part of her has been.
Lifted…. For some unknown.
Reason.
++++++++++++++++Train Station going to Yasoinaba/Afternoon++++++++++++++++
"We're almost there right?" Minako complained,
Minato sighed, "You've been asking that for the last 5 minutes, Mina…"
Souji just smiled to himself, they all were impatient, and at the same time, a rush of excitement just overwhelmed both leaders as the train was getting closer to its destination. Who could blame her?
All of them were excited, Souji on the other hand was a little of both, the other half was scared, he didn't reply Yukiko's past e-mails, and he had no time since they were leaving already,
Minato was bored now, just watching the images of places passing by rapidly, gives him a nostalgic feeling of the sametime situation, after this train ride, things will go differently, another turn of fate, and he knew Minako felt the same as they looked at each other.
It was meant to be anyway, and there would be no other way to just face it head on,
He and she can't spend this year, that might be the only year they have to feel life again, being like a zombie and depressing,
"?" Minato began to notice the wide grass fields now taking place that they saw before, the city was gone behind them, and now they were entering to a new place, …Will I be forgiven by them?... it was ridiculous, is what he thought next as his mouth leaned on his knuckles, as his eyes traveled down to his reflection on the window,
…It's fine if I won't be forgiven… Minako unknowingly continued his thoughts as she looked down, gripping onto the dress skirt, her hand had the wrist watch she had, something that she had thought and the watch was related, "Forgive everything else…you don't have to forgive me, but forgive everything else…"… her eyes closed, as she covered that part with her other hand, …Aragaki-sempai…
She felt so frustrated for some reason, she didn't know why, but when she thinks of him, she instantly thought of the times they spent, and the times that he was nearly lost to her, then after him, she thought of Akihiko, she doesn't know why.
It felt so….
She began to shake her head, why was she getting so emotional again?
Smile. She told herself, and a smile, was placed on her face as she looked at the dress, whom she knew where it came from, she knew that perfectly well. Ryoji-kun…
She began to recall him, one of the closest men she had ever been with, she had forgotten about how he loved her,
But she didn't regret it, but somehow, what could she say?
She loved Akihiko, but Ryoji….he was….
Unknowingly, "!"
"Mina?"
She looked up to Minato and Souji looking at her, and Minato wiping a tear from her eyes, "…Why are you crying….?"
"Eh?" Minako's hand slowly reached her eyes, and felt the wetness of her tears, she instantly removed it, shaking her head and smiled, "I—It's nothing! I just yawned! *yawn~*! See?"
Souji and Minato exchanged looks, as Souji went back down to his seat,
"If you say so, Mina," Minato said worriedly as he turned back, both of them knew, that she was perfectly lying. He knew her too well, as much as himself in fact,
As for Souji, from befriending so many people with emotional disorders, ah, no that's wrong, that has some problems, yeah that's better, he knew that she is hiding her feelings,
But both Wild Cards knew that, like any situation, they shouldn't force it out of her,
They just wait, if she wants to talk about it.
Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews again! And I would really appreciate for another!
Highschool is really hard now, so I'm studying all the time and sadly my time in the internet is limited because of the schedules, so please bare with me into the VERY late updates, chapters may decrease in numbers of words though, I figured each chap was too long =_=;;, and so it needs adjusting~
Thank you all again! :D