Chapter Five:

Secrets Are For Keeping

7/22

Minako's POV

Sucking in a sharp breath I watched as the syringe filled with my blood. "Is this really necessary? All I want to know is whether or not I have a cold." I complain to Mitsuru, standing just feet away. Mitsuru, ignoring my complaints, nods to the doctor as they walk away with the syringe of my blood and samples from my mouth and ears.

After being poked, prodded, and listened to all I want is to go lie under a parasol, and forget I ever asked to be checked out. This is Mitsuru we're talking about though. I should have known it wouldn't be just a simple procedure.

Aigis, whom I had forgotten was in the room, grabs my hand and squeezes it. "Your temperature is above average," she states. "Whatever can be done must be done." Sighing in exasperation I submit to my fate.

Ever since we got to Yakushima I have been feeling stranger and stranger. I barely keep anything I eat down, and become winded extremely easy. Considering I have to go back to fighting Shadows the day after tomorrow I should probably hurry up in finding out what is wrong with me.

After what seems like a few minutes pass, I search for my phone to check the time. It's just past 9:00 am. The group had agreed last night that we would spend the day together at the beach. Despite how late we all stayed up, we wanted our last day on vacation to be spent having a fun time. Although, we wouldn't have had to stay up so late if it weren't for Junpei. I mean, I'm shocked too that we have a cyborg joining our little Shadow-fighting group, but I'm not going to spend hours asking every question I can think of and gushing over how cool it all is.

Leaning back in my chair I close my eyes and try to relax just a little bit. That's what this vacation was supposed to be for right? Not videos of dead parents, or crazy, clingy robot women. Thinking about it, what if that was really the reason we were brought here? Maybe Mitsuru had planned this all along... not even she could be that manipulative, right? Everything all seemed too planned just to be coincidental though...

Suddenly I'm pulled from my thoughts by a loud buzzing sound. I look up to see Mitsuru's manicured fingers wrap around her phone and bring it to her ear. "Yes?" she asks in a hushed voice. "I'll be right there." Quickly she closes her mobile then heads for the door. "I'll be right back," she throws over her shoulder, and is out the door before I can even react.

Can I really trust these people after all?...

-Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ-

Mitsuru's POV

Gliding out into the hallway, I keep my pace even yet quick as I ascend to the lab. On the phone the doctor had sounded somewhat off, almost as if there is some rather unpleasant news. We all had already assumed that Minako does in fact have some sort of cold, but what could be so serious that they need to talk to me directly? Maybe something is seriously wrong with Minako?

We would be in real trouble if that were the case. Despite the fact that I founded SEES, Minako is the true leader and glue that keeps us together. I've known plenty of Persona Users, but she is the first and only one I've ever met with the ability to change between multiple personas. Before her we never even made a dent in the Dark Hour, but now we are well on our way to completely eradicating it. All because of one girl. One amazing girl that is changing all of us. Something better not be wrong with her.

Shaking my head, I reach for the key-pad on the wall and input the code for the lock. The door to the lab slides open and I step inside. Wind lashes at my bare calves as the door sucks shut behind me. A slight chill runs the length of my body, though it isn't just from the cool air. I'm not a really religious person, but a part of me is praying that Minako was okay.

Crossing my arms, I prepare myself for the news. "So what is it?" I ask. "What's wrong with Arisato?"

The doctor, who is behind his computer, looks up at me alarmed; he had yet to notice I was there. "Well," he swallows loudly. "I'm not quite sure how to say this, but it appears that your friend has something she has to deal with."

I narrow my eyes at the doctor and he awkwardly stands up. "What is that supposed to mean?" I demand curtly.

"It means," he pauses and gathers himself. "That your friend is pregnant." Clenching my teeth, I take a moment to think about what the doctor has said. Minako, the 16 year old leader of the group saving the entire world, is pregnant. How could this happen?! Who is the father? Who is it that did this? Who is it that jeopardized not only Minako's life but the entire world?

Unable to keep my balance I stumble back into the wall. What did this mean for SEES? What did this mean for Minako? What will she do? What can she do? Taking a deep breath, I try my hardest to collect my thoughts. There are several options she has, but I can't force her into one. The doctor clears his throat so I calm my thoughts and try to focus on him. "Yes?"

"If you would prefer me to tell her," he says, no longer as awkward as before. "I can do that."

Closing my eyes tightly I try to figure this out. I should be the one to tell her. She needs to hear this kind of news from a friend... Maybe I'm not the best one to tell her then after all. I could just not tell her though; there is always that option.

It's not like she wouldn't figure this out eventually, maybe she already knows. Although, if she doesn't then it may be too late to take care of it by the time she figures it out. If she wants to even go that route that is. I know Minako though... she could never do that kind of thing.

Thinking about all of this is starting to give me a blinding headache. "Miss Kirijo?" the doctor asks, noticing my discomfort.

"I am alright," I reassure him. "And I'll tell Arisato the news." With that, I turn on my heels and head back to the room.

-Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ-

Minako's POV

Staring at the clock on my phone the numbers change from 9:34 to 9:35. "Are you uncomfortable?" Aigis asks from beside me, her hand still tightly wrapped around mine. I slide out of her grasp, then interlock my hands before she can take one captive again.

"I'm fine, Aigis," I grumble. "Just a little impatient is all. We're supposed to meet at the beach in 25 minutes." Aigis looks at me, silently processing the information.

"We can leave now, can we not?" I look at her then the door. I've never really been on Mitsuru's bad side, but I wouldn't want to see what that's like now.

"Technically we can, but I'd rather not," she looks at me with something resembling confusion. "It would make Mitsuru really upset if we just left, Aigis, we have to think of her feelings too." I take another look at the time. "You can go now if you want to though, and explain to everyone what's going on. They're probably all already there."

Aigis goes rigid. "You are my highest priority."

"Yeah, yeah, you've said that," I frown deeply. I hope she doesn't become a permanent attachment.

Another few moments go by, and I'm about to get up to leave when Mitsuru enters the room. Her face is pale and she looks completely ashen. Did something else happen or is this about what's wrong with me? "Mitsuru Senpai, what's wrong?" I ask hesitantly, unable to quell my curiosity. Slowly she looks up, but it is almost as if she doesn't see me.

"I don't know," Mitsuru says quietly. "It seems that you..." she stops mid-sentence. Then something sparks on her face, as if she remembers something. "It seems that you have caught a stomach bug from the island. It should clear up after we get back to the mainland." I sense that she is hiding something, but I push away my doubts. Mitsuru has no reason to lie to me. She is the one that insisted I see one of her family doctors to begin with. Maybe she's just down because she overreacted.

"Are you sure that's it?" I ask. "Why didn't the doctor come back and tell me himself?"

Again Mitsuru looks at me, but it feels like she doesn't see me. "I told him we have to hurry to get to the beach, so I would take care of it." A little voice in the back of my head says she's lying again, but I ignore it. I've waited long enough, I just want to go relax with everyone.

"If you're sure, Mitsuru Senpai." Quickly she nods, then makes her way out of the room in record time. Watching her go I feel something churn in the pit of my stomach. She is definitely hiding something from me, I just know it.

-Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ-