Okay, we kinda lied. It'll be six chapters. This one was looking to end up ridiculously long, so we sliced it in about half. The next segment might be a little while away, so our apologies about that. Between Shenjay's job and Evilshroom recently being entirely too happy to effectively write such a dismally-toned story at any effective pace, the update rate may slow down juuuuust a bit for the last two chapters.
Also, we'd like to give props to Granten for his thoroughly exhaustive questioning about potential plot-holes that he was perceptive enough to notice and for not just blindly following along with the story. Though some of his questions were answerable within the text of the chapter, others, I'll confess, required some reaching. As writers, we often have a plot in our heads without holes, but it doesn't always stay that way in the transition onto paper. We forget to include things, or change something up and forget why it was important. It's nice to have reviewers that keep us on our toes. So, good job to him!
Being angry at the one you loved, Aigis considered as she stood in the yellow fog of the TV world, was considerably draining on one's spirit. She wondered how Minato and Hamuko could stand to be at each others' throats for so long without going crazy. Taking a glance around the Shadow-filled misty hell she stood in, that Minato had dove willingly into to chase a voice he heard of a person who did not exist, she decided that that was a silly thing to wonder.
"You seem worried," Souji observed quietly, sidling up to her while the former idol on the team scanned the world for Minato. Aigis simply nodded. "Don't worry. Rise was able to find him before, and this time, she's even stronger. We should be able to get to him before he gets too injured by Shadows."
Indeed, Rise's Himiko had given way to Kanzeon. While Aigis hadn't been present to see the ascension, from the extremely happy way she had greeted the rest of the group that day, and her sly explanation of having had a "good night," alongside Chie and Yukiko's knowing looks, she could take a guess how it occurred. That girl really was entirely too much like Hamuko at times…
"I am not concerned necessarily for his physical wellbeing," the android said softly. "Shadows aren't a threat to him. Hunger is no issue in this world, from what you've said. The exhaustion that you all claim is a problem is something he and I are well acquainted with from the Dark Hour, and quite used to. Feasibly, he could stay in this world for months on end, and he knows it. My fear is for…"
"His… mental health?" he finished delicately. Again, Aigis only nodded. She stared intently out into the emptiness, as if trying to discern Minato's shape amongst the fog.
Several minutes passed, wherein the only event of note was Yosuke accidentally dropping one of the knives he was tossing idly onto his foot. The small wound was healed without issue after Yukiko pulled herself together- the girl was apparently a fan of slapstick.
"Does this… normally take so long?" Naoto asked hesitantly in the fifteenth minute.
"I can't seem to get a good lock on him!" Rise fretted through her Persona. "I should be able to track him no problem, like last time, but something's blocking me out or something! I've been checking the old locations, but he's not in any of them."
"Teddie," Souji said calmly, "is it possible that Arisato-san formed a new area?"
The bear tapped a paw to its chin in a caricature of thought, then shrugged.
"I dunno if it's possible, Sensei, but this world feels pretty much the same as last time, so I don't think he did. It's just as bear-ren as ever here."
"Not even the time, Ted…" Yosuke muttered.
"So, if Arisato-san isn't in an old area or a new one, where is he?" Yukiko wondered.
"Maybe he's, like… wandering in the fog?" Chie offered off-handedly, more talking to herself than anything. Several pairs of eyes turned towards her.
"Teddie."
"Yes, Sensei?"
"What, exactly, is out in the fog?"
"Just a bunch of Shadows."
"And…" he trailed off for a moment, sparing Aigis a cautious glance. "…how far does it extend?"
This time, it was Teddie who hesitated.
"…I don't think it really has an end, Sensei."
Silence fell.
"The fog and lack of definite area could potentially be hindering Kujikawa-san's scanning," Naoto reasoned, looking troubled.
"He could be kilometers away in any direction…" Yosuke sighed. "And even with the glasses, we can barely see more than a few dozen meters in front of our faces in that deep fog. How are we-?"
He cut himself off at Aigis's sad look.
"…Everyone," she said softly, getting their attention. "Thank you all for your support. But as you are my friends, I cannot ask you to risk yourselves like this for such a thin chance. You all have your own lives; I do not. I will search for Minato in here on my own, no matter how long it takes."
"You still tryin' that crap?" Kanji grunted, shaking his head. "Pretty sure friends ain't supposed to stop helpin' friends because it's hard. Yosuke-senpai's just bein' a whiner. He's right behind ya, just like we all are."
"You have our full support, Aigis-san," Naoto affirmed.
Aigis bit her lip, conflicted.
"Very well," she said, unable to hold back a smile. "I will accept your help on two conditions."
"You're giving us conditions?" Chie laughed. "Alright, let's hear 'em!"
"The first is that we remain as safe as possible. Rise-san should stay here, and we should not go any farther than she can contact us, so she can guide us back to here if we get lost."
"I was going to suggest the same, as well as splitting up into small groups of two to cover more ground," Souji said with a nod. "And your second condition, Aigis-san?"
"My second… is that you all drop the 'san,'" she said with a smile. "Anyone who would help me in such a way has more than earned the right to simply call me 'Aigis.'"
Over the next few weeks, Aigis worried often for Minato as the Investigation Team tried in vain to find him. There were times, however, in which Minato's memory became a mere whisper. Something distant, like a bad dream. Sometimes Aigis felt like she couldn't recall any time before meeting the Inaba Team, and it was both beautiful and sad, in its own way.
Games and jokes became the most natural occurrence in Aigis's new life, so different from the stagnant air of depression Minato always dragged behind him. Their appointed leader, Souji, was a completely different sort of boy. Confident, outgoing, quite a jerk at times… and cunning. Enough to manage dating eight girls at the same time. Hamuko would have probably had a shrine erected in his honor.
Yosuke was a curious sort of boy. At times he'd give her an odd look. He didn't seem to know how to treat Aigis following the revelation of her inhuman nature. Or perhaps... he didn't know himself how he felt about her? Regardless, he was often fun to be around, if only because his occasionally cruel sense of humor reaped vengeance from Chie.
Chie herself was a joy to be around, especially with Yukiko present. Though the girl somewhat regretted coaxing Aigis into a "kung-fu spar." The android's metallic limbs and insane speed gave even the martial arts enthusiast a difficult time. They both withdrew after a short while, Chie bruised and sweaty but grinning as broadly as anyone Aigis had ever seen. Yukiko herself, when she could be around, was a rare person who appreciated Aigis's jokes.
Naoto's bright mind brought welcome conversation. The girl was actually fairly close to the girl within the other world, despite the lack of blood relation to Minato. Kanji actually was a surprisingly soft-hearted boy with some creative hobbies, despite his appearance. He did, however, regret teaching Aigis to sew cloth figures once she created dozens of felt ninjas in secret and hid them around his shop. Rise, who became Aigis's karaoke partner, found the entire affair hilarious.
One Sunday, when the games and fun were over, and everyone went back to their own homes to have lunch, Aigis and Souji stayed behind, enjoying the rare quietness, so often the rule in her old dorm.
"So, was he always so...?" the gray-haired boy trailed off, but Aigis got his meaning.
"No, not at all," she said with a fond smile, then corrected herself. "Well, not quite so bad. I remember him when he was happy... or even when he wasn't. He was never so bad as this. He'd have such a wit. And he wasn't always kind, but he grew to genuinely care about most everyone. He was well-spoken, and bright, and he looked forward to the future. Most of all... he was such a self-sacrificing, loving boy, especially to Hamuko."
Souji watched her through her speech with a small smile.
"He's the one you love, right?" he asked. At her nod, his smile turned teasing. "So, I don't suppose you would be willing to open your heart to another?"
Aigis only shook her head, returning his teasing smile.
"Souji, I'm afraid you're a bit young for me," she joked. "And I prefer men with more pigment in their hair. I don't want my children going so prematurely gray."
"Ouch, shot down," Souji laughed.
"A first for you?"
"Indeed. You're going to chase me into the arms of another woman, Aigis."
"Oh? Which? You're spoiled for choice."
The both of them laughed.
"Actually," Souji said thoughtfully. "One you haven't met before. I haven't spent much time with my little cousin, Nanako, lately... would you care to have lunch with us? She's always happy to meet my friends."
"I'm home," Souji called as he stepped through the front door.
"Welcome home, big bro!" The voice Aigis heard, standing behind the boy at the entrance to his home, was exceedingly cheerful. She stepped over the threshold, following Souji closely, and took in the sights.
The home was simple and somewhat rustic, but clearly up-kept. The TV in the living room was going, and a little girl, aged perhaps 7 or 8, sat in front of it, looking toward the front door with a beaming smile. Upon seeing Aigis, it faded very slightly as she reached for the remote, turning the volume on the TV up.
"Hello," she said to the android with a tone of resignation.
"Ah, no!" Souji hurried to explain, waving his arms. "Nanako, this is Aigis. She's a new friend of mine. She's just visiting for lunch."
"You aren't letting her go upstairs?" Nanako asked, giving him a scrutinizing look. Aigis turned quite the same look on him. He laughed nervously.
"No, no. Just lunch. Do you want me to make you something, Nanako?"
At that, the young girl's beaming smile returned.
"Yeah!" she cheered. "Thanks, big bro!"
Souji sighed in relief, then turned to Aigis.
"You should go talk to her," he encouraged. "Nanako loves meeting new people, usually."
Aigis nodded, still giving him a careful look, and walked over to where the elementary schooler had planted herself in front of the TV, watching some magical detective show Aigis had certainly never been interested in, as it was far below her age level.
"Hi, Miss Aigis," Nanako greeted, smiling at her. "Sorry 'bout what I said. Usually when big bro brings girls over, they fight upstairs really loud. He should bring more friends that he's nice to over, 'stead of arguin' with them all the time."
"Arguing?" Aigis asked, a smile starting to creep onto her face. The girl was like an inverse Hamuko, she was so innocent.
"Yeah, I guess big bro doesn't wanna do something, 'cause they're always saying 'yes,' but I can't hear him say 'no.' He argues quiet, I guess."
"I see." Aigis was visibly holding back laughter. "And does- get her, Loveline!"
Her sudden shout startled Nanako, who whipped her head around to focus her attention back on the TV screen.
"Yeah!" she cheered. "Fill that bad guy with holes!"
Perhaps not completely innocent. The two cheered on the heroine and the story playing out on the TV before them for several minutes while Souji rolled his eyes in the kitchen.
"Next time, I'll Lovely Phantasm your heart, too!"
With that sign-off line, the episode closed, and the centuries-lived android and the elementary school girl began talking animatedly about it. This was the scene Souji came into, holding a tray of sandwiches.
"If I may interrupt?" he said with a tone of amusement, causing Aigis to break off and look embarrassed. She cleared her throat.
"…What is for lunch?"
"Has anyone ever told you to watch less TV, Aigis?" Souji asked with a smile.
"…No, no one ever has."
"Yanno, I didn't get any job offer or any cool degree. Nothing like, 'Hey, you, go protect this world from any fucker who tries to do the same you did', but, since I did it, and I know I caused everyone a headache, I decided to do that. I mean, I kinda coup-de-estate'd it, but I'm cool so that's cool."
She kept marching onwards, following steps that led nowhere.
"I swear, you've really got fucked up in the head with all those resets or somethin'. Ya were totally smarter back in the day."
She released a big sigh. "Teasin' ya's like, funnier when you're clever enough to turn around from time to time, so at least I have to hide. But no. You won't listen to me, you won't turn 'round, and those idiot guys won't come here no matter how many 'HEY I'M A MOTHERFUCKING ENORMOUS SHADOW, GEE WONDER IF THAT'S WEIRD' signals I send."
Hamuko's low words kept being absolutely obscured my Minato's screams.
"Yanno, that ain't what I meant with 'look ahead' and all."
She could only kept walking behind him, ensuring that Shadows wouldn't approach him, and at the same time, making sure he wouldn't notice her, lest her resolve would falter.
"Alright, for serious this time. I swear that if you don't get your head outta your ass and leave in like thirty seconds I'm leavin' for real."
She felt another sigh forming in her chest.
"Hamuko!"
Minato wondered vaguely how his voice had gone at some point straight from hoarse with disuse to hoarse from strain with nothing in between. Perhaps his voice was simply naturally hoarse now.
"Hamuko! Are you out here?"
Still though, he kept shouting. She certainly wouldn't be able to see him in the impenetrable yellow fog, after all. And he'd only been at it for… for… how long had he been out here for? He wasn't hungry. He felt no need to rest. Although there was no way to physically tell the passage of time in the wasteland he wandered, he felt certain he had not been there for long. Though, he had to admit, his feet hurt just a bit.
"Hamuko!"
After every cry, he listened intently, pausing even in his steps to find any sign of a reply. His senses were keen; he knew she wouldn't escape his notice if she was near.
"I found you!" a voice cried out.
Minato spun sharply to his right as a shape loomed out of the fog. That voice… was decidedly not Hamuko's. A man dressed entirely in a green delivery uniform lurched forward, a haunted expression on his face.
"I found you…" he said reverently. "Who… who saved you? You are safe, right?"
Minato took a step back as the strange man took a step forward. He eyed the clearly confused man carefully.
"What do you mean, 'saved me?'" he asked.
"You… you were on that channel," the man replied quietly. "You were going to be killed… I would have saved you, like I saved the others, but someone got to you first. Someone else understands… but I had to make sure you were safe."
Minato silently bumped up his estimation of the man from "confused" to "delirious," or possibly "deranged."
"How'd you get in here?" Minato asked bluntly.
"I… I came in," the man said, his gaze focusing just a bit. "I've never put in more than an arm before, but I had to see if you were here…"
"You know it's dangerous here, right?" asked Minato.
"Dangerous?" The man seemed genuinely confused. "No, no, not dangerous. It's safe here. This is where I put people who the killer targets."
"You put people down here?" Minato sighed, rubbing his forehead. "You know, just because I'm walking around fine doesn't mean other people do. Look around you! This place is a craphole. You're probably endangering them more than anything…"
"No, I… I have to be…"
"All these Shadows… speaking of, have you seen a girl walking around here? Brown hair, about this tall, teeth about this long-"
"I have to be saving them!" the man shouted out. "I have to be… I'd give up whatever it takes to make people safe. I have to be…"
Minato's eyes sharpened.
"…What's your name?" he asked calmly.
"I'm… Taro Namatame."
"Right. Let me tell you something, Taro," the Fool said flatly. "That attitude of yours? Stupid. You can say you'd give up anything for some people you don't even know, but actually losing everything- not your life, but everything? You start to realize those people mean a whole lot less than that."
"I… I have lost everything. My job… my wife… the woman I love…" Namatame responded. "Keeping people safe from the same thing which took her is all I have."
"We aren't so different… why hasn't he given up?"
"How did you lose those things?"
"I… I had an affair," Namatame admitted softly. "I met someone whom I fell in love with, and when my loyal wife found out, she left me, and I lost my job in the debacle. And that woman… she was killed."
"Hurting someone loyal to him, who loved him, to chase some girl he loved… and you're here judging him. When did you become such a hypocrite? Look at what you're doing to Aigis."
"Shut up. Aigis will understand once I find her," Minato hissed. Namatame blinked in surprise. "And you. Just what the hell is your problem? What do you think you're doing with these people?"
"I'm… I'm saving them. So that they aren't killed, like Mayumi…"
"By tossing them into a monster-filled hellhole," Minato agreed sarcastically. "Excellently done."
"I have saved them!" Namatame hissed back angrily. "No one else has died! They are safe! I saved them! What do you know?"
Minato shrugged.
"I know a group of high-schoolers came to pull me out after I was thrown in here, and that they seem to have a better grasp on the situation than you do. And only two of them seem at all intelligent. Look, if you didn't see a girl with a passing resemblance to a rodent walking around here, I've really got to get back to searching. I haven't the time to deal with some lunatic who thinks people are saved when you kill them- dealt with one of those already. So-"
"I. SAVED. THEM!"
At the TV world's studio atrium, Rise perked up from within Kanzeon's visor.
"Everyone! Listen up!"
Across the fog, the various groups exploring stood still.
"Go ahead, Rise," Souji instructed.
"Okay, I just sensed a whole bunch of Shadows all gathering up for a second, right next to that really strong one we've been steering clear of. Now there are two really strong Shadows and, get this- I sensed a Persona being summoned there, too!"
"Is it Minato?" Aigis asked sharply. "Where is he?"
"I can't tell if it's Arisato-san from here. The fog is way too thick. But I can lead you to it- you and Senpai are the closest group, Aigis! Just turn a bit to your right and-"
The android was already off like a bullet. The wind howled in her ears as she ran, the fog parting in her wake like the contrails left by an airliner.
"Am I on track?" she asked shortly.
"Uh, yeah! Actually, you might wanna slow down, 'cause- SERIOUSLY, STOP!"
The massive shape materialized out of the fog before her, far too close to slow down. With reaction times and athleticism beyond any human, she vaulted straight up over it, flipping gracefully in midair and landing on the other side of the massive Shadow. She skidded to a stop with her weapons all extended in its direction. The creature was shaped like a huge humanoid with black skin, clothed in a white robe with the symbols for love and peace emblazoned on it. It had an ornate peace sign floating above its head, and it extended the first two fingers on its right hand in a "V". Aigis noted the irony.
"I thought I told you not to bother looking for me," Minato commented dryly beside her, looking slightly worse for wear. One arm dangled limply at his side.
"I saw your note," Aigis said with a nod. "However, given that it was a stupid note, I elected to ignore it."
"No TV for a month," Minato sentenced with a smile.
"I suppose you'll just have to come watch TV… with Nanako then, Aigis," Souji said between breaths, panting hard as he jogged out of the fog. "Arisato-san. Good to see you're in good health."
Just as he spoke, a blast of Almighty energy blasted Minato backward.
"Relatively speaking."
"Minato?!" Aigis exclaimed in alarm.
"What I wouldn't give for a Persona that could heal," Minato grumbled, rising to his feet. As if on cue, the healing wave of Diarahan swept over him. He flexed the fingers of his formally limp arm experimentally, muttering about Zio nerve damage.
"Yukiko, Chie," Souji greeted. "The others?"
"On their way!" Chie reported. "Not like we need everybody to take down this thing, right- hey!"
She dodged narrowly out of the way of an Agidyne from the seemingly irate Shadow.
"Ya know, on second thought, how about we just leave it alone and get out of here?" she suggested.
"We should defeat it," Minato said, shaking his head. "As much of a moron as this guy is, I get the feeling your 'Investigation Team' would like to talk to him."
"'Guy'? So, this is a person?" Souji asked.
"Can we talk- damn! Later?" Minato shouted back, enduring through another Agidyne with Orpheus Telos's natural resistances.
"Right. Tam Lin!"
The spear-wielder in teal shot forward to engage the Shadow. Minato looked curiously at it.
"Pretty sure that's Cu Chulainn."
"No, it's Tam Lin," Souji disagreed.
"Look, just because he finally started wearing blue doesn't mean it's a different Persona. Orpheus Telos!"
"Fire attacks look effective, Yukiko! Black Frost! And Arisato-san, I've used Cu Chulainn. This is a different Persona."
"How's its luck?"
"What? I suppose… not all that good?"
"Yeah, that's Cu Chulainn."
"Hey, partner! Who started the fight without me?" Yosuke joked, running into view while conjuring Jiraiya for a Garudyne.
"Presumably, Hanamura, they wanted to stop me from dying to this thing," Minato said dryly. "But no, they should have waited on you."
"You're pretty damn cranky for a guy whose ass we just saved, Arisato," grumbled Yosuke.
"Your voice still gets on my nerves," replied Minato shortly. "And why is Naoto trying Hamaon on that big Shadow? I swear she seemed smarter in the dream world."
"You make no damn sense…"
"This is Naoto's first major battle, Arisato-san," Souji replied. "She likely isn't aware of their usual negation of those techniques."
"And as the leader, you haven't directed her on this why?"
"Minato, stop being aggravating and pay attention!" Aigis shouted, firing off a grenade at the massive Shadow. "The Shadow appears to be preparing a technique!"
"Hanamura started it- hey!" Minato started to protest, then leapt back as Yosuke took a swipe at him with a kunai. "Look, asshole, you may not like me, but that's no reason to try to cut my throat! You did start it!"
Aigis avoided a forming Hamaon rune and an Agidyne in one Orgia-assisted jettison leap, getting a view of her attackers from mid-air.
"Souji!" she called out. "Yosuke, Yukiko, and Naoto appear to be Charmed!"
"Partner, cut it out!" Souji shouted at Yosuke, rising off the ground after being tossed around by a Garudyne. "Aigis, what does 'Charmed' mean?"
"You guys seriously never fought a Shadow that could Charm?" Minato asked in disbelief. "You lucky bastards have it easy. It makes your teammates want to kill you. Or worse, in particular instances…"
"How do you cure it?" Souji asked desperately, trying to hold Yosuke's arms above his head while Aigis and Chie contended with the other two. Minato shrugged, conjuring Orpheus Telos to attack the Shadow.
"Do you have any Dis-Charms? Or a Persona that knows Charmdi?"
"No! What are those, even?"
"You all are lucky that you never found something that Charms…" Minato sighed. "I don't know, hit them in the face or something!"
"ON IT!"
A flying chair to the face knocked Yosuke flat. Kanji ran out of the fog and picked it up, hoisting it over his head in preparation.
"Ugh…" Yosuke groaned, blinking slowly. "I feel like I got hit by a chair…"
"Oh, uh." Kanji lowered the chair sheepishly. "Welcome back, Senpai. That Shadow sure hit you hard."
"Senpai, looks like that weird mind-control thing wore off naturally! Yukiko and Naoto are back to normal!" Rise reported.
"Huh. That never happened with Charm," Minato commented casually.
"Kanji-kun, why'd you toss that chair at Yosuke?" Teddie asked in curiosity.
"Shut up, you stupid bear!"
"What?!" Yosuke exclaimed. "Kanji, what the hell?"
"A… Arisato told me to!"
"Can we please focus?" Aigis asked in exasperation, unloading a barrage of missiles on the Shadow just as her Orgia Mode forced her into cooldown.
"Right," sighed Minato. "Orpheus Telos! Morning Star!"
The blinding light called forth from Minato's Persona forced all of the Investigation Team to shut their eyes. Upon its fading, they saw no remains of the Shadow, only Namatame, collapsed and unconscious.
"You could have done that this whole time?" Chie asked in exasperated disbelief. Minato just shrugged.
"Sorry," he said, not sounding really so. "Orpheus Telos is a weird one. It seems to have a mind of its own sometimes, and it highly prefers using Agi skills to others. Honestly, the only moves it knew naturally were Fire Amp and Victory Cry. The others came through fusion."
"Arisato-san, we have just a few questions to ask you, while we wait for this person to regain consciousn- huh?" Souji, but was cut off as Aigis shoved past him, storming up to Minato. Minato smiled sheepishly at her as she approached.
"Hey, Aigis, good t-"
While the sound of the slap was absorbed flatly by the fog, the effect was no lesser for it. Minato touched his cheek in astonishment while sitting on the ground he had been knocked to. The android had an impressive arm.
"You promised!" Aigis shouted down at him, her face furious. "You promised me, Minato! You promised you wouldn't come down here looking for her, that you'd stay up there with me. Do you know how long we were looking for you?"
"Well, actually-"
"You are a complete idiot!" she continued raging. "You're always so self-sacrificing, like your safety doesn't matter, but it does to me! If it was absolutely necessary that you come search out here, at least tell me beforehand so I can help you!"
"Aigis, I… I just wanted-"
"You just wanted to bring her back. I know, Minato. But you're just… you're just so stupid about it!" Aigis took a few deep breaths. "I want her here too, Minato. You are not the only one that misses her. And you are not the only one who has a say in whether you get to do something idiotic to bring her back, because I don't want to lose you, too."
"…You're right, Aigis," Minato said softly, not looking up to meet her eyes. "I'm sorry. I just… I want her back so badly."
Aigis sighed and lifted the man up to his feet, shaking her head slightly.
"Minato… perhaps you should start respecting the sacrifice she made," she said gently. Minato did not respond. Souji stepped forward.
"Aigis, if you're…?" he said vaguely with a gesture, seeking approval to ask Minato some questions. At her nod, he stepped a bit close. "Arisato-san, can you tell us anything from when you were thrown in here?"
Minato looked at him neutrally and shrugged.
"What have you heard already?" he asked.
"My uncle is an officer. He told me that you managed to slip out of the station while no one was watching you. He was honestly less interested in it than some of the folks around town. The story of your… altercation… with Naoto got a bit popular… and exaggerated."
"Naturally," Minato grumbled. "So, your uncle didn't mention anything about a gun?"
"No," Souji said with some honest surprise. "Was there one?"
"Not exactly…" Minato sighed. "Tch, dishonest bastard… alright, to get to the point, some crooked detective came in, tried the "Good Cop, Dumb Cop" routine on me with him playing both roles, and snapped when I called him out on being a deceitful ass. He smashed my head into the table and somehow managed to get me into the TV. The head trauma made it difficult to tell exactly how it went down, but that's the gist of it."
The entire Investigation team seemed to be waiting with bated breath.
"What was the name of this officer, Arisato-san?" Naoto asked. Minato scratched at his neck.
"Ah… Adachi, I think. Something Adachi. Tora or something. Didn't pay too close attention, honestly."
"Short, dark hair?" Souji clarified. "Rather… goofy-looking?"
"Yeah, that's him," Minato confirmed. "You know him?"
"We've… met," Souji said hesitantly. "You're sure you have the name right? Tohru Adachi?"
Minato nodded in affirmation. Souji sighed.
"We're taking this guy's word for it, then?" Yosuke said. "I mean, no offense, Arisato, but you're the guy who claimed Naoto was his sister."
"None. Taken," Minato gritted out sarcastically. "Why don't you just interrogate him, then?"
"It isn't a bad lead in any case," Naoto said, acting as a mediator. "We can see if we can catch him slipping up."
"You're going after him?" Minato asked to clarify. At Souji and Naoto's nods, he returned the nod. "I'd like to go with you, then."
"Minato?" Aigis gasped.
"I owe that guy some payback," Minato explained. "I'd like to at least be there to see him get locked up. And not just that… I want to make sure you're all treating Aigis alright, too."
"Better than you were," Yosuke mumbled just under his breath.
"We'd be glad for the… temporary assistance, Arisato-san," Souji said, taking up the role of peacemaker. "At the least, your role as a witness may encourage Adachi to confess."
Minato nodded.
"Then I suppose I'll meet with you all… where, exactly?"
"Must you all do everything here?" Minato asked in exasperation. The group had gathered once again in the Junes food court. "We're here to apprehend a serial murderer, but we look like we just need a bite to eat."
"This is where Adachi will be," Souji replied calmly. "He always does his grocery shopping today."
"How do you even know that…?"
Yukiko giggled.
"Souji-kun knows everyone's schedule. We've stopped questioning it."
The grey-haired boy just shrugged, keeping a careful eye on the entrance. Minato sipped at his soda, offering another question.
"So, where are the police?"
He got some questioning looks, to which he sighed.
"You know, the police. We aren't planning on walking him to the station ourselves, are we? Are we seriously planning on arresting an officer ourselves? Doesn't anyone here know an officer personally at least that they can get to listen? Seta, isn't your uncle one?"
"He's Adachi's partner."
"Figures," muttered Minato.
"Chill out already, Arisato," Yosuke sighed. "We have a six-foot tall muscle-bound punk all the police are scared of, a gun-toting detective, and a super-strong, totally cute robot. What's Adachi gonna do?"
"Shoot you, if I have any luck…" mumbled Minato under his breath, then continued in an audible tone. "The point is, everyone we have confronting him is aware of the paranormal things he's doing. Therefore he has nothing to lose by doing anything paranormal. If he can put people into that world, he probably has a Persona. He wouldn't summon it in front of another officer, probably. But with just us?"
"We ain't exactly gonna let him get into the TV. We ain't stupid," Kanji said, frowning at Minato. Minato frowned right back.
"I suppose none of you can summon in the real world without any tools?" he asked.
"Well, duh," Chie said lightly, starting to frown herself. "That's not possible, right?"
Minato shook his head.
"It is. We had a member- our scanner, like Kujikawa- who could. But maybe it's rare enough. I'm not even sure I could. Aigis can, but she has a built-in device…"
"He's here," Souji said quietly, interrupting Minato's mutterings. "Everyone. Let's go."
Minato stayed out of sight, in the back of the group, as they moved to intercept Adachi in front of the megamart's front doors. The officer frowned upon seeing them.
"Hey, shouldn't you kids be in school? You aren't all skipping, right?" He smiled. "Nah, you're good kids. A little nosey, but pretty decent. I guess school must have cancelled. So what's up?"
"Officer Tohru Adachi. We have a few statements, and some questions to ask you," Naoto said formally. Minato sighed. He knew this was necessary- some form of hard evidence apart from an out-of-town witness claiming he was 'thrown into a TV' was needed for a conviction. If only it weren't so tedious…
"Hm? Uh, alright… let's make it quick, though. I really shouldn't be grocery shopping on the clock," Adachi joked. "Still, there's so little to do on-duty at the moment."
"We located and questioned Taro Namatame, whom I understand was formally a suspect in the serial murders," Naoto continued. "He admitted to being responsible for the disappearance of several of the missing persons this year, including Amagi-san, Tatsumi-san, Kujikawa-san, and myself. He had this deranged thought that he was 'saving us.'"
Adachi scowled and smacked his fist into his palm.
"So, that settles it, then. That crazy bastard- oops, excuse my language- has been responsible for everything all along! Boy, you kids are lucky you got out safe. Good job coming to the cops about this!"
"A moment longer, if you will, Adachi-san," Naoto said calmly. Adachi stopped in his tracks. "While he confessed freely to those disappearances, he claimed innocence in the disappearance of two others- Mitsuo Kubo and Minato Arisato."
"Oh, the two escapees?" Adachi laughed, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah, those were both kinda my fault. Jeez, Dojima-san reamed me for those… hey, at least the Mitsuo kid turned up! And I guess that creepy Arisato guy just ran for it back to wherever he came from."
"He also claimed innocence for the murders themselves," Naoto continued smoothly. "According to him, his actions, as misguided as they were, were intended to protect people from the actual murderer."
Adachi scoffed, shaking his head.
"Man, the things some people will say to get out of trouble. Two people disappear for a while, then turn up dead. Then it turns out he's making people disappear for a while, but he's not the killer? How stupid does he think we are? Boy, good detective work, Shirogane-san. I dunno how you got it out of him, but you cinched this case up! So where is he?"
"One final point if you would, Adachi-san," Naoto interrupted. "Namatame claimed that someone in the police force whom he spoke to over the phone encouraged his actions. That when he called in regards to others being in danger, he was told to 'rescue them himself.'"
"These people get crazier and crazier…" Adachi sighed. "First that Kubo kid killing one guy and claiming he killed others, and now Namatame killing two guys and claiming the police made him do it. Are we done here yet?"
"To be frank, Adachi-san, I have my doubts over Namatame being the culprit," replied Naoto. "He has, according to the case file, a strong alibi for the first two murders. And none of the disappearances attributed to him resulted in anyone's death."
"Well…" Adachi trailed off, glancing around. "I mean, we should bring him in anyway, right? Just to check those things. So where is he?"
"Actually, I have a different suspect in mind," Naoto continued as if she had not been interrupted. "One who was present around both victims in official capacity. One who may make Namatame's stories make more sense."
"…What do you mean? You're making less sense right now, Shirogane," Adachi said, his eyes still darting around.
"Adachi-san, you were very quick to jump onto the idea of Namatame being the culprit," Naoto noted, her eyes narrowing. "Despite the evidence against him, and the almost irrelevant information I presented you, you seemed to believe that it 'settled' the matter. How, I wonder, did what I say 'settle' anything?"
"Wh-what? What are you trying to imply?" Adachi asked angrily.
"What're ya tryin' to hide, Adachi?" Kanji rumbled, stepping closer to him. Adachi took a step back, his head whipping around.
"L-Look, you kids are out of your mind. Get out of my way!"
"Adachi," Minato addressed, stepping into view. He smiled slightly at Adachi's sudden panic. "Answer the question."
Adachi stopped scanning the area, standing perfectly still. Everyone felt a surge of relief, seeing that he had no intention of running. Aigis, however, starting looking around herself, wondering what Adachi saw. The answer seemed quite simple- nothing. It was the middle of the day. Children were at school. Adults, at work. The dismal clouds seemed to discourage shopping housewives. The front door of the megamart was devoid of witnesses.
"Arisato," Adachi greeted, his voice losing that cheerful mask and growing dark. "Guess you got out of there too, huh? Was hoping that I could get you by tossing you in right before it got foggy. Boy, these kids got to you quick. Guess you're their ace-in-the-hole, huh?"
"Something like that," Minato responded cautiously.
"Funny," Adachi chuckled. "You're mine, too. Thanks for the gift, and the tip on how to use it."
With that, he reached into his jacket, withdrawing what looked like a gun… but what three of the people standing there knew full well was not. He placed it to his temple.
"Magatsu Izanagi!"
"Athena!"
CRASH
The two Personae, one glowing faintly with a blue light, the other seething menacingly in red, formed in the open pavilion. However, Adachi's Persona was called ever so slightly sooner, and that, in the end, changed things. The Ziodyne roared forward at the group of teens, and Athena could do naught but stand firm between them with her shield. The Hellenic Persona was struck down with ease by the element it could not bear, and the backlash knocked the group in all directions.
Kanji was the first to rise, easily shaking off the damage. He caught but a brief glimpse of Adachi sprinting past, through the doors, into the megamart.
"Dammit, get back here, you son of a-!" he roared, tearing after the crooked officer.
Kanji tore after the madman like, uh… like a madman. It was hard to think of similes when chasing after a guy who murdered two people. Closer, closer. He thanked his long legs, as he gained slightly on Adachi with every second. Closer, closer. They were running on a pretty familiar path, though. Closer, closer. Wait a minute! He was heading for the electronics section. Closer, closer. Adachi shoved an old woman out of the way. Closer, closer. They reached that massive TV. Adachi vaulted cleanly over the stand without breaking stride, disappearing almost entirely into its screen…
Except for the sleeve Kanji clung to with an iron grip. The pull was heavy- because of the fall, Adachi had to be being assisted by gravity. The freshman blond, however, gave no yield.
"You ain't… gettin' away… that easy," Kanji grunted out, giving a mighty pull and managing to grab onto Adachi's arm itself. Little by little, he reeled him in, the arm becoming more visible. He had to pull him out before someone came by.
BANG
"AH!"
Adachi fell completely into the TV, the ripple on the screen fading away. Kanji fell back, clutching his shoulder with a pained expression. The sounds of panicked screams and people running reached his ears over his own grunts of pain.
"Kanji! Are you alright?" Souji asked in his own panic, running up to the bleeding boy.
"Dammit Senpai, go after him!" Kanji managed out. "He's gettin' away!"
"Not a chance," Souji assured. "We are going into the TV world, though."
"Kanji-kun!"
"Kanji!"
"Yosuke, Chie, help me get him into the TV," Souji instructed firmly. "Yukiko, get ready to heal him as much as you can."
The group ventured into the TV carefully, supporting the injured Kanji to the best of their abilities. He winced as they hit the ground of the TV world's "atrium." Minato followed shortly after, having attended to Aigis and made sure she was alright. He looked upon the scene he came upon.
Kanji, the tall, tough young man, laid on the ground bleeding, gasping with pain. Yukiko gave her all to heal him as everyone watched with worried, grim faces.
"How many times have I seen this?"
He watched silently a few more moments, as the bullet wound shrank and ceased its bleeding. A round, puckered scar was all remaining. Before everyone's relieved faces, Kanji held up the remains of the bullet that had been in his shoulder.
"So, like… you think it would make a better necklace than the one I got, Senpai?" he joked.
"Imbecile," Naoto sighed, though she smiled the same as everyone else. Kanji just chuckled and rubbed his tender shoulder. Minato continued watching the friends celebrate his safety as Aigis became the last one to join them.
"Are they all alright?" she asked quietly in an aside to Minato. He nodded.
"Kanji got shot. They healed him. No real damage."
"Adachi got away?"
"…Yeah. You think they'd mind if I stuck around just a bit longer? Just… to catch Adachi, of course. Still need my revenge on him."
"You have no other reasons?"
The image of a long red peacoat and a beanie superimposed itself over Kanji to Minato's eyes.
"No, I have no other reasons."
Two chapters to go! 8D