Blackeclipse: Hey guys, sorry for the long wait, we had lots of exams and projects pounding in school, so I had no time writing the next chapter. Anyhow, here comes the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Atlus or any creation of Shin Megami Tensei….WHY! TTATT

Chapter Five: Tears of Joy…

Minako shook her head, as she tried to wipe the tears of her face, she slowly crawled out of the bed, trying not to wake her beloved lover. She looked at the mirror, wiping again some tears from her face, she looked back and tried to smile.

"…" But soon, she frowned again. "…" her eyes dropped down to the sink, it almost reminded her about her old dormitory room, as she gently placed her hands on it and slowly smiled back at her own reflection.

Her eyes slowly closed.

"Good evening…."

"Pharos…?"

"I'm glad you still remembered me…" She began to remember that unearthy yet, calm smile that had a hint of sadness. "...."

"Is there something wrong….?"

"Ahahahaha…." She remembered the time he sat on her bed. The child like laughter that hinted sadness in his voice. "…I should be asking you that question, my dearest…."

"…." She felt herself shiver slightly as she looked down again to her feet, she felt as if, she had grown cold, the room, everything was ice, and it was freezing her. She quickly turned away, grabbed Akihiko's jacket and went outside the apartment.

++++++++++Inaba Flood Plains(Or was it Rice Plains? Oh well…)++++++++++++++

Minako rubbed her shoulders as she tightly wore his jacket for warmth, the fog was slightly around her as she walked outside, making sure she looked around for Landmarks so she could go back.

It was dark outside, but she had missed this kind of night, this….

This peaceful night, with a normal moon, with a normal sky.

"….*Puff..*" she puffed a sigh out as she found a bench to sit on. "…" sooner or later, she folded her legs up for her to hug them, and bury her face.

"Hey, hey!—It's that chick!"

"!" Minako's eyes widened from shock when she heard the familiar voices ringing in her ear. She raised her head to see at least 2 of them coming nearer. She began to freeze in her place.

"Hey bitch, out here alone now aren't we?" the guy with rusty colored hair grinned, leaning closer with his hands in his pockets of his jeans. "Well, pretty boy ain't here to help ya out!"

"I'd say it's time for pay back!" the other with brown hair suddenly came from behind her.

Swiftly, Minako raised her legs up to kick the head behind her and she rolled out of the bench and began to run for her life. Oh why? Why did I have to leave Akihiko-sempai! I'm such an idiot!

"!" Minako instantly stopped in her tracks, her eyes widened in what she saw, she was in the shrine! "B—but how…!" she looked around, she didn't know what to do.

It was a dead end here and here on, she looked around, trying to find a place to hide, she can heard the screaming of the two rapists (that's how she likes to call them) getting closer.

"Hurry…"

"!" Minako's eyes widened, she looked to the corner of the shrine, to see the back of a boy with Jail like clothes, black and white, "…Pharos…!"

When she called out to him, the boy raised a hand for a gesture to follow, and the boy began to run to the back of the Shrine.

Without any further questions, Minako began to race towards the back of the shrine, following the phantom of Pharos.

"Where did that bitch go!" the brown haired man yelled out as he held the side of his face,

"Maybe over there! Come on!" his partner said as they ran towards the shrine.

Meanwhile, a young man happened to be passing by, "…?" he noticed the two were all fumed up, his head tilted slightly.

"…."

+++++++++++++++++++++++The backside of the Shrine+++++++++++++++++++++

"*Pant* *pant*!" Minako tried to catch her breath as she looked around, "Pharos!—Pharos?" she frantically looked around, in search for him, but the phantom had disappeared. "…Pharos…..!" a small tear coming out from her as she turned around.

Only to stop when she saw the two men coming closer.

She tried to suppress a scream as she slowly backed away.

"Heh, no where to run huh?" the brown haired man grinned, "We'll make you pay for what you and your boyfriend did to our faces!"

"Yeah, all that shit, bitch!" the rusty haired man laughed at her as he cracked his knuckles.

"…!" Minako gripped onto her fists, I'm not going to scream anymore, I can't always rely on everyone to help me in this! She told to herself as she looked for something to hold, until she found a broom stick nearby.

She took hold of it, and settled in her old fighting position, holding her Naginata like before. "Well come get it! HENTAI!" she yelled out to them.

"What the hell did you say!" one of them got pissed, and began to bring out a pocket knife as he ran towards her.

At once, Minako shifted away and began to maneuver her stick to hit down his neck, but the guy was tougher than she thought, it didn't knock him out just yet. She jumped and moved away to dodge the other guys advance.

Then the other began to come with a punch, she quickly brought her stick up to block.

*SNAP!*

"!" Her eyes widened in horror as the stick snapped into two, and the punch was going towards her. Her eyes quickly closed as she prepared for the pain.

That never came.

"Wha-!" she was suddenly pulled back by an arm wrapped around her waste, before she knew it, she was behind a young man that used his free hand to grab the man's fist.

"Please do not hit Minako-san that way…" the politeness was all too familiar to her as Minako shifted her eyes to the guy standing by her.

He had brown hair, his bangs in a wave, and inside in what he was wearing was an orange hoodie

Within her, she felt something heat up as she saw the all grown up.

"KEN!" she gasped.

Ken didn't flinch as he began to twist the arm of the man before him.

"GRAAGHH! WHO THE HELL IS THIS ASSHOL—GAAAH!" the man gasped as he was suddenly kicked in the nuts.

Ken let go of the guy's fist and brought up his leg for a 45 kick in the face, the other man began to come towards him, yelling like crazy.

"May I borrow this?" he got the remaining stick from Minako's hand and used it to slam it to his face, the raised it up to hit his head, then he began to twirl it to pierce it down the guys head, which split into two (THE STICK, NOT THE GUY'S HEAD).

"G-GRRAAGGHHH~~!" the man gasped as he dropped dead down to the ground.

Ken sighed as he threw the stick again to their faces, "That'll show them…" he grinned as he turned to Minako with a very familiar smile, "Are you alright, Minako-san?"

"I—It's really Ken-kun~~!" her eyes began to water as she hugged him tightly.

Ken's face lit up in red from the hug he thought he will never have. "S—so it really is Minako-san…" he blushed as he tried to calm down his heart. "You've grown Minako-san!...but look!" Ken grinned as Minako looked up at him.

"I'm taller than you now!" Ken smiled prouldly,

Minako's eyes softened as she smiled. "How many gallons of milk have you drank to get this tall?"

Ken blushed. "Umm…."

"Ken!—Hey Ken!" A familiar rough voice began to call out the highschooler's name.

Ken's face brightened, like the little kid he was before. "Wait here Minako-san!"

And off he went to the streets, leaving Minako in wonder. That voice… she blinked from the familiar complaints of a man from afar.

Until she saw 2 figures emerging, Ken was pulling the man she knew so well.

"SEMPAI!~!" Minako cried out, making the man snap his head from the voice and his eyes widened.

Not the fact that he saw her but…

"WAIT!-MINAKO-WAIT NOT TO FA-GRAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Shinjiro was too late, Minako jumped on him and began to hug him to the ground, making them roll down the streets.

Ken paled. "A—are you guys….alright?"

The laughter of the three began to echo within the shrine, as a shadowy figure watched by the entrance.

Akihiko puffed as he looked at the shrine, unable to see them since they were behind it, he clearly knew that they were there, their laughter and Shinjiro's coughing was evidence enough for the young Chief of Police.

He hid half of his face under his red scarf wrapped around his neck and sighed, letting his warm breath heat him up a bit as his eyes softened.

"In the end, you were always the one looking out for her, weren't you?"

"!" Akihiko's eyes widened for a moment, but he didn't move, despite the ghost behind him. He knew all too well who it was, and he hid a smile. "…I'm nothing special….you were there too, right?"

"It's because I am her." Minato said as he walked to his side, looking at the sky above them. "….Don't make the same mistake twice."

"…" Akihiko looked down as his fists gripped. "…Aah." He nodded with the gesture of closing and opening his eyes. "Mou…wakatta…" (trans: I already know that…)

Minato's eyes moved to the silver-haired young man, and looked at the shrine's entrance, "….Sou…" (trans: I see…)

And from behind them, was a smiling Souji, hands in his pockets as a little girl clings onto his coat. "Big bro?"

Souji's eyes looked at her gently, "Let's head home, we'll meet Minato-onii-chan, there…ok?"

Nanako's eyes smiled at him as she nodded, burying herself at the pink coat she wore. "Besides, dad will get angry if he notices I'm out at this time…"

Souji chuckled slightly, as he looked back at Minato, who was slightly looking back from his shoulder, then away.

Akihiko didn't seem notice them when they had already left.

Minato left when he turned and patted Akihiko's shoulders before leaving.

And Akihiko hid at the corner when Minako, Ken and Shinjiro walked out from the shrine, talking here and there with smiles on their faced, of course, Shinjiro was trying to smile.

Akihiko watched her carefully like a guardian. (Or a stalker)

He stopped once they disappeared into the apartment building, he sighed at it, he would have came out from his hiding place and brought her home but.

He didn't want to be selfish.

At least.

Not yet.

"…See you later, Minako…" he muttered with a smile as he turned, his coat making slightly flapping sound when he walked off alone.

"?" Minako's eyes blinked when she looked out at the window, seeing that no one was there while holding a cup of hot chocolate. She smiled slightly, knowing perfectly well, who's presence this was. She bowed her head slightly. See you later, Akihiko…

Ken and Shinjiro looked at each other, wondering what the brunette was bowing her head for, but soon, it became clear as they grinned and began to drink their cocoa.

Apparently…to me….I just happened so fast and so unexpected…

The meeting…

The reunion….

Everything of it…..

"MINAKO!" voices of Yukari, Fuuka and Mitsuru began to scream together with Aegis.

"BARK! BARK!" and as if Koromaru was speaking through Shiromaru.

"HEY GIRL! DAMN WHAT—WHAT—TOOK YOU SO LONG!-*SNIFF* *SNIFF* WAAAHH!" and the cries of relief from Junpei and all her friends.

I didn't say anything when they came towards, I didn't smile, like I would, I didn't frown either, I didn't laugh as well.

My face was just blank, my eyes as wide as I would ever imagine they would be, the friends that I thought would have forgotten all about me, Minato, or any of our existence.

Usually, these things wouldn't come true. Or is impossible.

Yet, here they are.

They are strangling me, hugs wrapped around my body in any way possible.

Our new friends, which later have been introduced to me, simply smiled and laugh at their expressions, my head was already spinning when Souji began to come up to them from behind, making the brunette girl and the raven haired senior scream with delight, and soon the rest followed.

My world was spinning from the rays of the sun and sheer joy that echoed through the place, people stared at us, but all of us could care less.

Each of our group were like two suns.

Minato soon got his share of strangulation as well as Souji too.

That was when I slowly, "…Aha…." Slowly….

"?" everyone began to look at me, as my eyes began to water.

"Ha…" my hands clasped together as if I were praying, "Aha….ahaha…" and I put them against my smiling mouth as I looked down, my knees giving in when Minato and Akihiko caught me, but I continued to kneel down. As I laughed while I cried.

All the concerned voices came out, but soon died out when the other girls began to join in and hugged me.

Even Aegis, began to cry…

Was this…?

Is this what they call….

…

Tears of Joy….?

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And it's done! I am very sorry for the LONG wait and the SHORT chapter D=

I suddenly got de-motivated when I learned that P5 was in PS3 D= TT_TT

I really hated it! I don't have one! Nooooooooooooooooooo~~! I just hope they make a PSP version or PS2 as well TT_TT

Anyhow, school is really killing me, violin requests, drawing requests, my computer dying here and there. TT_TT anyhow! I sincerely apologize for making you guys wait!

I'm sorry if this sucked D= it was so short for me….