CHAPTER 5: THE JUSTICE
chapter v
THE JUSTICE
**
November 24th, 2015
Thursday Morning 7:54 AM
St. Masakado Hospital
**
"Daddy!" a young and worried Nanako exclaimed, wrapping her little hands over those of her father, still asleep.
"Doctor I spoke with paramedics at his house and they told me my uncle had no surface wounds, and now you're telling me there's no internal bleeding or ruptures of any sort, no blunt force trauma..." Souji rambled, knowing the possibility that his uncle's wounds were attributed by something supernatural.
"Son, I know how you must feel.. but we have people looking into the situation as well as our most experienced staff here monitoring your uncle around the clock."
"Thank you Dr. Kakashii" Souji said, in slight relief as the doctor exited the room. He grabbed his cousin Nanako by the hand and led her to the large window beside her fathers bed.
"See that lake Nanako?" he pointed.
"We used to take picnics there all the time!" Nanako said through an abundance of sniffles.
"And we'll have more, just give your Dad some time to rest up." he offered her reassurance, hating to see his 'little sister' upset like this.
"That's a promise! But for now, how about I walk you to school and I'll see you when you get home.. I'll be there waiting for you okay?"
She looked up at her big bro with reluctance and simply nodded.
*
9:01 AM Junes: Food Court
*
"That'll be one-hundred eighty yen please!" the clerk said as she handed Souji a warm doughy pretzel. He paid up front and took the treat to a bench under an umbrella to shield him from the particularly strong UV rays beaming down. His phone went off after his first bite.
Yuki-uki 3
He answered the phone in his usual comic manner, but when he heard Yuki barely manage to get "Kanji... it's Kanji-kun" through broken sobs, he put the twisted dough down and tried to get her to rationalize the situation.
"Yuki what exactly is wrong with Kanji? Is he okay?"
"Souji just come to Kanji's place! Please!" was the end of her call. He dropped the twisted dough promptly, pocketed his phone and booked it south of the mall for Kanji's home, figuring Yuki would be there too. All that raced through his head were visions of what could be there waiting for him...
*
9:22 AM Kanji's House
*
Souji bent over slightly to catch his breath. As he slowly made his way up toe walkway he noticed the front door was broken off the hinges which immediately translated into trouble, causing Souji's heart to skip a beat. He was there for Kanji's sake, but the first thing in his mind was Yuki's safety.
Making his way into the living room, he called out for Yuki, and Kanji.. neither one replied. He walked further into the house, turning the corner to survey the kitchen, but it was quite empty. His hands made fists as he silently climbed his way up the stairs in the foyer, turning into the single hallway. He noticed that of the four doors, two on each side, they were all closed shut.
Quietly, he made not a sound to not alert anyone else that may have been in the house with his friends. He listened for sounds at the first two doors, and could not hear a thing. However at the second set of doors at the end of the hallway, he heard sniffles, and heavy breathing from the door on the left. Souji tried to reinforce himself mentally with everything he had.
-One.... two....
He extended his right leg out in front of him hard enough to bust the door open, and the top hinge was ripped from its place in the wall. As the door swung into the room by the bottom hinge, he immediately saw Yuki, on her knees sobbing and holding her phone while looking into the corner. Souji walked into the room prepared.
His eyes widened as he turned the corner of the door. There was a tall figure dressed in black leather standing over a bleeding Kanji, who apparently was out cold. The figure turned around to face Souji, who tried to keep his composure, which was shaken soon after.
The figure's black clothing became to liquefy and run down the length of its body to the floor, revealing himself to be human yet faceless in appearance, and that his body was that of an inhumane amalgamation of animal parts. He was a bipedal creature on the legs of horse, his arms and hands were composed of the necks and heads of snakes respectively.
"Yukiko, get out of here!" Souji hollered as he grabbed his betrothed by the arm but she refused to move out of shock and fear. He shook his head and stood in front of Yukiko with his arms spread side to side as if to protect her.
"Who..... What are you!?" Souji prompted. The figure made a hissing noise before his arms extended and the snake heads bit his chest. He felt the stinging in his chest immediately, but it wasn't severe, and certainly did not feel any continuous burning from venom. With a clenched jaw, he darted for the creature who lifted one of his monstrous legs and kicked Souji in the stomach. The impact of the blow contorted Souji's body and the wall behind him was not strong enough to prevent not only the wall from crumbling, but Souji being knocked off the 2nd floor of the building onto the grassy backyard below.
Yukiko shrieked in fear as one of her friends was critically injured, and her boyfriend was being assaulted in front of her eyes. She crawled to the edge of the floor to see Souji writhing on the grass as the monster jumped from ledge to continue its relentless assault.
Seta Souji found some amount of strength to get out of the way of the chimera's whip like snake arms and was growing quite tired of this dance.
-One can only hope....
He thought to himself, praying that his ability to conjure the physical manifestation of his demon ego.
Souji closed his eyes, envisioning his friends in a safe environment. The Amagi Hot Springs, laughing together while sneaking alcohol to a party for the first time.... the first time he laid his hands on Yukiko, having a family in the future..
His eyes were forced wide open and tainted with anger and rage. In a deep, guttural growl, "Izanagi!" escaped his throat.
As he made the motion of a samurai slashing his katana through the air, a phantom dressed in a black robe with a white bandanna materialized with a bladed pole arm, mirroring Souji's body movements.
The phantom's blade cut through one of the arms of the demon with ease, like heated steel through butter. As the snake-like arm flopped and writhed on the grass before disappearing in a cloud of black smoke, the creature's faceless head turned to Souji's direction. In an attempt to dispatch Souji on the spot, Souji raised his arms to the sky then brought them to the side of his waist, hands together forming what looked like the Cancer zodiac sign.
With arms stretched out in front of him with the undersides of his wrists together to form a crooked 'U', his manifestation of power, 'Izanagi' appeared again, mirroring Souji's every movement. The only exception, is that a beam of light appeared from Izanagi's hands, and the horizontal pillar obliterated the monster in an instant.
Breathing heavily, Souji remained in that position. He slowly began to stand up straight but noticed a black sludge stained the grass in front of him in a small pile. It reminded him of how the monsters in the mirror world secreted black liquid or at least solid black matter when destroyed.
The more he pondered about that, the more he knew inside that they were connected.
"Yuki!" he shouted, as if coming out of a daze. "Yuki stay right there I'll be right up!!"
She nodded as she watched him disappeared around the corner of the house and patiently waited beside Kanji for him to enter from the front to retrieve her and Kanji.
When he made it to the room again, he slid to Kanji's side, noticing traces of black fluid on the ground as well as blood staining Kanji's jeans from the knee down.
-So he must've only hurt his knee....
"Kanji can you hear me? Are you okay?" Souji asked with worry.
A groggy Kanji mumbled incoherently and rolled over, growling in pain; evident from him trying to grab his knee. Souji sighed in relief when Kanji sat up.
"Senpai... Oh my head..."
*
Kanji's House: Kitchen 10:42 AM
*
"Are you sure you didn't get a good look at the perp?" asked an officer to Kanji, the home-owner.
"Listen dipshit, I said the room was vandalized as you can obviously see you fucker.. I didn't see him, he knocked me out." said Kanji, quite agitated.
"I saw some dude in black, and before I know it ... I have a sad phone call to the insurance company to make and my friends are taping up a busted knee, what the fuck else do you want me to say?"
The agent nodded and closed his notepad. He looked over at Souji and Yuki who were also finished making their statements to the police department, then left.
Kanji, who had been sitting at the kitchen table with gauze wrapped around his knee and a blanket around his back for an hour, was becoming extremely impatient with the police department. Especially Souji, who was becoming worried about the conversations in the background. Eyewitnesses who claim to have seen a beam of light shoot from the backyard and what looked like snakes and horses. Yuki assured Souji there wasn't anything to be worried about, yet at least.
"No one is going to believe that Souji, rest assured" she said, planting a light kiss on his forehead.
"Senpai, you don't have to explain anything to me. I have a feeling I know what's going on. We've got demons on the run, don't we?" he asked, quietly.
Souji silently nodded, and released a sigh.
"Kanji, we don't have anything to do against demons.. but we can't leave it up to you Souji.. I feel so helpless" Yuki expressed. She ran her hands through her raven black hair and tied it back into a ponytail with a hairpiece given to her by Kanji, who had plenty of accessories laying around.
Kanji simply shook his head in defeat as well.
One who didn't share such defeat was Seta Souji, who wondered if this had anything to do with being able to access the Mirror World, and shadows lurking in there as well. His mind ran countless possibilities of what was happening and how to fix the issue.
"I obviously don't have to tell you, I still have my persona-abilities..."
Kanji grinned and put his hand on Souji's shoulder. "I figured as much. Yuki told me about what happened when you were making a statement."
Souji nodded. "I don't know how comfortable you guys are with the idea, but I think we'll need to find the rest of the gang, and figure out how to get your persona-abilities back too."
Yukiko moved her head as to agree, as well as Kanji.
"Senpai, you know I'll follow you to the end of the earth. Well, at least after I get some dick to fix my house."
Yuki giggled. "Kanji, that's not nice!" she said as she batted Kanji's shoulder with her hand.
"Yeah well, I'm not going to enjoy the 5 years on the phone with the fucking insurance prick today. Why don't we rest up, and try to reach out to Chie and Yosuke and meet somewhere in the morning?"
Souji liked Kanji's plan. "Good idea. Are you going to need a place to stay in the interim?" he asked.
"You can stay at my inn if you need to Kanji-kun" offered the inn owner. She loved having guests that she knew. Kanji quickly accepted the offer. She excused herself from the kitchen while she phoned the inn to make arrangements for Kanji.
"I guess I should pack, I'll get to the inn later after I finish things here. Let me know what the plans are for tomorrow okay? I guess I'm stuck here at least until the cops leave, so I'll call the insurance company now and get it over with".
Souji nodded again in assurance, said goodbye and left with Yukiko shortly after.
*
Inaba Lake, Bike Path 12:02pm
*
"We're not going to have a lot of peace and quiet after today, you realize that right Yuki?"
She nodded, while walking along the riverbank with her hand entangled in his.
"Yeah, I know... I just can't shake this feeling of helplessness. After Izanami left, we lost our powers of Persona." she said reluctantly.
"If we don't get our powers back, we'll all be watching you from the sidelines..."
She let go of Souji's hand and walked in front of him, wrapping her arms around his sides into a tight hug. Souji reciprocated and attempted to calm her down, but her anxiety of him fighting an array of demons on his own was more frighting than facing death itself.
"I don't want to lose you Souji, not again. Not forever!"
Yukiko Amagi lost her composure. She let a stream of tears fall from her dark brown eyes that he loved to gaze into.
"Shhh, it's okay Yuki. If I have to fight alone, I'll be okay. I have Izanagi still, and Igor said I still have dominance over other Persona".
She found it extremely comforting to feel his hand slowly move up and down the length of her back. It stopped her tears almost in their tracks and as she pulled away from Souji, she looked into the greyness of his eyes and smiled. She loved that about him. How safe he made her feel.
No one else has ever done that to her before.
"Yuki let's go home and rest up for a bit before Nanako comes home. We'll call Chie and Yosuke later tonight, and visit Doujima-san one more time before nightfall."
At this point, Yukiko loved the sound of that.
*
Doujima Residence 3:11pm
*
Several knocks at the front door went completely unanswered, and so did Nanako's voice when she entered. "Hello? Souji?" she said as she peered into the living room.
Nanako immediately hushed her voice as she found a sleeping Souji and Yukiko on the couch in the living room. She took her shoes off and slid into her house slippers, and up the stairs she went.
Souji woke up with the sounds of footsteps up into the 2nd floor hallway and hugged Yuki, which caused her to wake up from her nap. "Nanako's home" he said softly.
Yuki smiled and buried her back deeper into Souji's chest, as she let out a soft yawn.
Souji grabbed the television remote the fell on the floor while they were asleep, and as the picture focused they could hear the audio quite clearly.
It was a bulletin about the attack on Kanji's house.
"...... this morning, and that appears to have been some sort of blast or other act of vandalism has torn a huge hole in a 2nd floor room in Inaba's own clothing designers house, who goes by the name 'Kanji'. More will be brought to you as we learn more about this story. Reporting live from Inaba, this is Ebihara Ai, Channel 4 News."
Souji knew a news cast would follow this mornings events but didn't expect Ebihara to be a news girl now. "Uncle Doujima didn't tell me that...." he snickered. "I didn't think she'd have the personality to do that."
Yuki jabbed her elbow back into Souji's side as she turned to face him. "And do you regret not going out with Ebihara?" Souji wasn't sure if she was kidding or being serious, but reassured her that he never had any feelings for her, nor intentions on dating her, let alone never cared for her outside of casual conversation.
"Yuki can I tell you something?" he asked softly.
She stood up off the couch stretching, releasing another yawn.
"I love you, and only you..." he said, which got a smile out of her.
She leaned over his head and pressed her lips against his. As they parted she giggled and turned around.
"That isn't going to get you any Mr. Seta!"
He sat up and swung his legs off the couch, planting his feet on the rug below.
She reached for a glass from the pile of clean dishes and filled it half way with water.
"Not yet anyway, we got company!" she said. She sipped from her glass, and nearly spit it out as she turned to face the stair case by the front door. There Nanako was standing, giggling at Yuki's new found dirty humor.
"Yuki you've changed so much since you started dating my brother! You're so casual now!" Nanako said with her face lit up.
Souji leaned back into the couch with a sense of victory, and winked at Yuki who barely caught it.
"Nanako if you have any homework why don't you finish that first. I was thinking the three of us can get something to eat from out on the way to visit Doujima-san one more time tonight".
The little one disappeared up the stairs in a ball of excitement, and Yuki's smile widened at Souji's kindness and brotherly love for Nanako.
"Ne, Souji?" she asked, as she put the now empty glass back into the sink, and made her way into Souji's lap.
"Hm?"
"Aishiteru..."
*
5:20PM
*
"Oh, my phone!" Souji said as his cell phone rang. Yuki picked it up for him off the kitchen table and brought it to him. "It's Chie!" she said with a smile. Souji took the phone and answered.
"Chie!"
"Souji!"
"What's up lady?" he said casually, as taught by Chie after many nights watching countless "Manly-Man" kung-fu movies with her.
"I heard about what happened early from Kanji, that and I got my hands on the reports... is everyone okay?" she asked out of concern, to which Souji reassured her that all was okay.
"So ... Kanji tells me you still can evoke Persona..."
Souji nodded as if the caller could see him. "Yeah... we've got a lot to talk about. I was thinking about having the six of us meet up at the Junes food court, Yuki, me, you and Yosuke, Kanji and Rise...to talk... about stuff."
"Stuff, you mean the appearance of demons...?" Chie asked.
"Bingo".
"Okay Souji, I'm game. I'll call Rise to tell her whats going on. I'll bring her, and the boys with me to Junes, what time is good for you?"
"Why don't we meet up around noon so I can be back home in time for when Nanako gets home?"
"That sounds perfect. We'll see you tomorrow then."
"Okay. See you then Chie".
"Hey Souji?" she interrupted.
"Yeah?"
"It's good to have you home... you know, like ... with us. We're your family too, and don't you ever think about leaving again. Yukiko was devastated when you left..."
He nodded again with a slight pang of guilt.
"I know, it's good to be back, and I don't plan on leaving again. Get lots of sleep tonight and we'll see you tomorrow!"
"Ja!"
Souji thumbed the 'end' button on his phone, flipped it closed and slid it into his right front pocket.
He looked at Yukiko who was sitting at the kitchen table playing with cards.
"What's that Yuki?" he asked out of curiosity, not having seen this before.
"It's called Solitaire. It's a one player card game I picked up from an American who stayed at the inn awhile back. It's fun! C'mere I'll show you how to play!" she explained, smiling.
Souji got up off the couch and made his way to the chair beside her and got close, as she began to explain the rules and format of a standard game of Solitaire.
After grasping the game quickly he started moving her cards for her to show her that he got it.
"And so now the aces stack up in same suit so this...." he trailed off, grabbed a two of hearts, and placing it on top of the ace of hearts that Yukiko has already placed on the table earlier. Before he could take his hand off the card, she placed her hand on his, and turned to face him.
"You picked up on it really quick Souji..." through a slightly bit lip.
He leaned in to kiss her, the tip of his tongue meeting hers right behind her slightly parted lips.
Before she became too accelerated, she slowly backed away and through heavier breathing, noted on his ability to pick up on wanting to be kissed too.
Souji was about to follow her lips for another kiss but was reminded by Nanako who was jogging down the stairs that her homework was finished.
Her big brother would never let her down, and so Souji reluctantly stood up and stayed behind Yukiko until they locked up and got outside.
Nanako didn't really understand why her brother insisted on standing behind Yukiko, or why Yuki was giggling... but she was happy enough that she was spending time with them. Spending time with them, going out to eat, and seeing her dad at the hospital all in one night. Although, she wouldn't openly admit it, she would rather her father be home ... this very moment.
*
St. Masakado Hospital 7:32PM
*
"Daddy, you're awake!" Nanako exclaimed, bursting in through her fathers hospital room door. She ran up to the bedside and hugged her fathers arm, extra careful to avoid the one with the countless IVs in it. He tried to hug her as best as he could, as swollen and tired as he was.
"Souji..." he whispered.
Yuki let Souji's hand go as he walked up to his uncle's side.
"I'm glad you came, I really missed you guys." he spoke in a raspy voice.
"Doujima-san you really don't have to say anything. We know you're hurting.
Just relax" Souji offered. He rested his hand on his uncles shoulder as Nanako went on and on about school, and her great grades.
".... and then I ended up getting an A in it!!!".
Doujima's smile was as wide as it has been in years since his wife died. That part of his life almost didn't hurt him anymore, seeing what he had now. Knowing that his wife wouldn't want to see him depressed and in agony anymore..
Doujima made a motion with his hand which Souji understood. He got close to his Uncle,
listened carefully to the quiet whispers...
"Souji, thank you for taking care of everything... I know there is something out there that I can't handle... so I want you to take care of it for me, okay?"
Souji nodded, and wished there was a way to make his uncle less stressed and more comfortable, but all he could do is verbally reassure him.
"Nanako it's about time you guys started going home, it's getting dark out.."
Doujima suggested. "I'll be here tomorrow, I'm not going anywhere.." he said as he let out a coarse laugh.
His daughter, albeit being 10, was mature beyond her years and understood her fathers wishes, and was simply happy knowing he was now awake and well.
"I'll be good as new before you know it!" said Doujima. "Be safe going home,
I love you all and I'll see you tomorrow". He sent them off with a wave and a smile, as Souji led Nanako and Yukiko out of the room.
It gave him such happiness to see Souji with a woman like Yuki, especially in a relatively dark time in his life, having lost close family.. he knew that his nephew, whom he treated as a younger brother, would be just fine after all....
Comment Time:
- Yes, I do read and thoroughly appreciate comments, and feedback ... and we'll have chapterly comment time to prove it : )
Fox-White-Moon: Yes, Souji has retained his ability to control his Persona, and they won't always need TVs to access this mysterious TV world. More about that will be coming up next chapter : ) ... As far as fluff in concerned, I'm trying to keep this rated M without being lemony-porny-sleezy, but there is obvious sexual reference, use your imagination for where I left gaps. I hope I didn't disappoint : )
Oathkeepera: I'm glad you enjoyed the intro, character building, as well as my writing style. I'm so sorry I took so long to update. Funny story, my laptop basically shit the bed and I lost my chapter 5 and my storyboard, so gave up but recently started putting a new series of chapters together. I hope they're as good as they sound in my head : )
Evil Prince88: I'm glad you like the Souji x Yukiko pairing, because that's the only one I use when I play P4, and Yosuke x Chie just fits so right : )
Lord Mordaq Sevillate: I tried to use some humor here and there, I'm glad someone picked up on it : )
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