Mid-terms. Minato remembered studying for them like the world depended on it back at Gekkoukan and it was no different here. Time that Minato would previously spend on napping was now dedicated to studying. Right now, he was at the library. Right now, he was at a table with his three friends. They had planned on studying and were only there for an hour before Kurumu passed a folded piece of paper to Moka and a few minutes later the vampire left, Tsukune waited a minute before mumbling something about this being too complicated. Minato didn't agree with Tsukune, Minato had slowly began recalling his test last year and how to do these problems. The curriculum was the same as Gekkoukan, leading Minato to believe that Igor registered Minato younger than Minato actually was. Which was correct, Minato was a freshman now and he had been one last year as well. It was thanks to that and his memory that he knew the vast majority of this.
"I don't get this. It's dumb." Kurumu admitted with a sigh. Math had never been her strong suit and this just didn't make sense! She looked at Minato's paper and his answer was completely different! That was when she heard Minato walk up to her from behind. The blue-haired boy leaned over her shoulder and her face had a slightly red tinge.
"You did this wrong. It should be like this." Minato said as he pointed out what she did wrong and corrected it. "Try it like that and it should be right." He finished before looking at the succubus, who had her eyes closed listening to him. He looked at her for a second before she opened her eyes. She saw him looking at her and she was a bit panicked.
"I'm sorry!" Kurumu apologized to which Minato went back to explaining what he said, this time she paid attention to what he said. Minato shook his head for some reason unknown to Kurumu before explaining it again. Kurumu worked out the problem, this time getting the correct answer, and Minato made her work out the next one. She got it right as well.
Minato was at his seat again, he remembered all of this again. He suspected his Personae had something to do with this. He had learned a while back that his Personae had access to his memories and were able to recall Minato's older memories more easily than the Wild Card user could. Kurumu would occasionally glance up at Minato as he remembered old memories both good and bad.
"Minato… Why don't you ever tell me about your past?" Kurumu said, Minato could hear distress in her voice. He looked at her.
"What brought that up?" Minato asked looking into the succubus' eyes. She had stopped using her mind-control ability after Minato saved her, he was not sure why though.
"It's just… You…" Kurumu hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words before continuing, "You don't tell me or Moka or Tsukune anything. Sometimes you just stare off into space and act all distant. I really like you, Minato-kun, but you never tell me anything." Kurumu said, her voice was slowly getting louder and attracting the looks of nearby students. Minato looked at her, again she made him feel bad. Moka or Tsukune never made him feel as guilty as he did with Kurumu. So, Minato thought of something. A bet. Junpei would make bets at the arcade all the time, so why couldn't Minato make a bet to help his friend?
"Let's make a deal then." Minato said, looking at the succubus. "If you manage to make it in the top thirty scores on the mid-term, I'll answer any and all of your questions." Minato said with a tone of finality. Kurumu wasn't sure to be happy because she might get answers or upset that Minato felt like he had to challenge her for said answers. Kurumu nodded eagerly and began studying twice as hard. She couldn't believe that she had a chance to learn more about her Destined One!
Mid-terms passed and the scores were put up today. Minato made sure he woke up earlier than normal so that he could check his scores before there was a crowd. Clearly he wasn't the only one to have this plan, a small crowd had already gathered around the scores. He looked for his scores first. He had the eighth highest score out of the two-hundred fifty seven students in Yokai academy. Next he looked for Kurumu's score. He smiled a bit, the succubus had the sixteenth highest score.
"I won." A familiar voice said from behind Minato. Kurumu was getting better at sneaking. Minato turned to the girl and nodded to her. She would get her answers.
The pair decided to talk at the library, it was Kurumu's idea and since the exams were over the Library was almost empty. The duo found a desk secluded far away from the handful of students that were still there. It was Minato who requested they be away from everyone else. Whatever questions she had, he didn't want to risk anyone learning about SEES. He had been friends with Kurumu, Tsukune, and Moka for a semester and was still reluctant to reveal his past to one of those three.
"What are you?" This was Kurumu's first question, and Minato already had trouble answering it. What was he? He was a human, he was a vessel for a fragment of the goddess of death, he was once a seal that protected all life on Earth. There were so many answers to that one question.
"That's a hard question. I've been a lot. I was a human, I was the vessel for a fragment of Death itself, I was a statue, I was a member of a secret organization." Minato answered, it was a long and convoluted answer. It only gave Kurumu more questions.
"What was that thing you summoned?" Kurumu asked, she had been wondering what it was since he summoned it. It was… terrifying but, it didn't scare her. She watched how Minato ordered it and the moment she recognized that it was obeying him, any fear she might of had was lifted.
"It was one of my Persona. It's pretty hard to explain but, I can summon them. Well, a lot of people can summon them but, I'm one of the few who has more than one." Minato answered, he was a lot more satisfied with that answer than the previous one but, the blue-haired boy noticed the look on the succubus' face.
"You have more of those?" Kurumu was shocked, her mouth open at the statement. Minato simply nodded and gave simple, yet large number. One hundred and seventy. A massive number of creatures just as powerful as that one?
"Are all of them that powerful?" The blue-haired girl asked, Minato simply shook his head and the girl asked her next question, "What did you do before you came here." That was the question Minato had been expecting. The one he dreaded but, he had prepared for that one.
"I was a guardian. The Great Seal. I was tasked with protecting all life on Earth separating Nyx and Erebus. If I wasn't there then The Fall would occur and there wouldn't be any life left. Before that, I was a member of a group dedicated to stopping The Fall but, we made a mistake and speed up it's coming instead." Minato explained, Kurumu shocked at his statement. Minato felt a little better, it felt good saying that. He had kept that bottled up for months and now he finally said it.
Kurumu wasn't sure how to respond, she just looked at him. She saw Minato in a new light, the blue-haired boy had been through a lot throughout his life. Kurumu shook it off, now that he wasn't protecting humanity it gave her a chance to spend time with him. The two of them could be happy together since that part of Minato's life was over. Now was the part where Kurumu's face turned red, she shook her head. Should the succubus ask the question on her mind? No, she would wait.
"That's all." Kurumu mewed and Minato nodded. It was obvious that she wasn't sure that she wanted to ask another question. If the succubus was nervous about it Minato wouldn't make her. The two left the library after that. Kurumu was happy, she was a bit closer to Minato now.
When Minato and Kurumu next saw Moka and Tsukune, Moka was being groped by a little kid. Minato merely watched as the young girl commented on how Moka's breasts were bigger than they looked and very soft. Minato walked forward but, Kurumu watched from where they were. When Minato was only a couple feet away, the girl switched her focus to Tsukune.
"Tsukune Aono, grades: middle of the middle, athletic ability: average, like a human. No hobbies or special interests. You're a picture perfect ordinary boy!" After she said that, the little girl noticed Minato walking up, "and you, Minato Arisato. Your grades are above average and so is your athletic ability but, you're not interested in anything! Plus, you're personality is horrible. You act quiet all the time and rarely talk. When you do, it's short and whenever your not near your three friends, you listen to you music and ignore everyone!" The kid critiqued. Minato merely blinked before the girl continued her rant. "Neither of you are worthy of Moka-san!" The girl spoke, her voice had a condescending tone to it. Kurumu was pissed. She was mad that this little eleven-year old was making fun of Minato.
"You… You little washboard!" Kurumu yelled at the girl who merely stuck her tongue out at the succubus. Minato shot a sidelong glance at the blue-haired girl and shook his head. Kurumu either understood or decided to stop talking.
It was later that day, Minato had fallen asleep in class as he was prone to do. The boy was awoken when something hit his head. He opened his eyes and saw the young girl from earlier. The girl was holding a wand as another broom swatted at his head. "Stop." Minato growled before switching to Abaddon. Abaddon was arguably one of Minato's most useful Persona. Abaddon usefulness came from it's abilities, the Persona nullified slash, pierce, and absorbed strikes. It was insanely useful against enemies that used physical attacks. Minato went back to his nap as he felt something being plucked from his head. He looked at the girl who was now running out of the room. Minato mumbled something grumpily before going back to his nap, he only had his eyes closed for a couple seconds before Kurumu woke him up.
Minato and Kurumu were in the Newspaper Club room, Moka and Tsukune went out to get some stories and do interviews, leaving Minato and Kurumu to type said papers. Minato didn't mind, he wasn't busy anyways. He would catch the occasional sidelong glance sent by Kurumu. That was when it happened. His stood straight up, knocking his chair over before walking over to Kumuru. The succubus was surprised by the blue-haired boy's actions. His eyes darted around the room and he saw a familiar witch's hat outside the window. He took a step towards it before falling, landing on his hands and knees with Kurumu beneath him. It wasn't a mental ailment so, Asura wouldn't do any good. It was like he was a puppet and he hated the feeling. His hands started gravitating towards Kurumu's breasts. Minato finally manage the strength to speak.
"Kurumu, I'm being possessed." Minato spoke, still as calm as always. "The witch is in the window." Minato added, causing the succubus to look towards the window. The blue-haired girl slid out from under Minato before he touched her chest and headed towards the witch. Thanks to Yukari no longer being able to concentrate, Minato felt control of his body. He stood up before sprinting over to the window and jumping out of it. He was glad they were on the first floor.
Kurumu ran forward, she didn't want to go to her true form. The succubus had already halfed the distance between herself and the eleven year old. Buckets flew out from a nearby supply closet but, Kurumu hopped over them but, as she was in the air a broom swatted her in the face, making her fly back into Minato. She fell on top of him. "Sorry, Minato-kun." Kurumu apologized as she stood up.
"Where is she." Minato growled, since the event in the club room, Minato was hit in the head by three falling buckets, tripped by a broom, and had hugged Kurumu. The last wasn't unusual but, Kurumu didn't know he was possessed and some of the things she said while he was possessed were rather awkward. That was why she was a few steps behind him her face bright red.
"Can you please forget what I said?" Kurumu asked for the fifth time. She should have known. Minato wasn't that the type of guy to randomly hug someone, or at least from what she had seen of him he wasn't. Sure, Kurumu may have hugged him back, and sure, she may have said some things about wanting to be in his arms forever, and she might of said some other things to that she would regret but, that didn't mean that she meant it! Well, she did mean it but, she didn't want Minato to remember she said it. The girl sighed in anger, both at herself and how Minato hadn't forgot about it.
"It's harder to forget stuff when it's constantly brought up." Minato commented causing the succubus to stop talking. "Don't worry about it." Minato added, causing Kurumu to perk up a bit.
The duo found Yukari an hour later, during that hour Minato agreed that he would forget about it if Kurumu would stop bringing it up. Yukari was being bullied by three lizardmen until Tsukune and Moka stood up for her. Minato was a bit upset but, Kurumu told him that if he calmed down she would fix his lunch for a week. The blue-haired boy had a slight smile at that and agreed.
"Why…? After I've done such horrible things to you all? Why? Why did you come for someone like me?" Yukari asked, Minato was about to say that he didn't come to help her but, the moment he opened his mouth to speak, Kurumu covered his mouth with her hand. The boy sighed while Kurumu's hand was over his mouth, sending shivers down the blue-haired girl's spine. Tsukune said something about them all being her friends now and the next day Kurumu informed that the witch apologized to her class for pranking them. The girl also tackled Minato and informed that she was joining the newspaper club, earning a groan from Minato.
Minato sat in the club room. Kurumu and Minato were charged with watching Yukari, who had been trying her best to escape. Minato was bored after multiple failed escape attempts by Yukari, the girl learned that she was not going to get to leave. That's when Kurumu requested Minato to leave for a moment. The Persona user was hesitant but, he eventually went and stood outside the door.
"So, can you do it?" Kurumu asked, the witch shook her head.
"I don't have the ingredients." Yukari informed Kurumu sighed. She asked a few more questions to the witch, all but one were definite no's but, there was a maybe. Kurumu stood up and headed to the door, inviting Minato back in.
Tsukune ran in and started talking about a crying statue then started panicking when he saw the most recent missing girl. Tsukune told him about seeing a statue like this girl crying in the Art Room. The four of them started running to the art room, Moka was in danger.
Moka was wrapped in snakes when they arrived, Tsukune was about to run over to rip the snakes off of Moka when Minato pulled out his Evoker. Yukari was about to yell at Minato but, Kurumu stopped her. Minato placed the gun to his head before pulling the trigger.
"Come forth!"
The being that appeared was nothing like Thanatos. Thanatos was horrifying but, this Persona gave off a calming feeling. It made any tension leave the body and Minato released the same, comforting aura. It was an angel made of brass, for gold was a sign of avarice. It wore a simple green and red tabard, so it would be quick when delivering prayers. It wielded no weapon, it had no need because it never felt wrath. It's wings were snow white as it arose from a praying position.
Unlike Thanatos, who communicated through guttural sounds and roars, this Persona was capable of speech.
"I am thou."
"Thou art I."
"I am thy divine messenger."
"I am tasked with the decision of one's gender."
"My name is Sandalphon and I have arrived."
"Salvation." Minato ordered and a golden glow covered the room, the stone encasing the girls in the room began to fall off, leaving them standing there nude. The golden glow quickly faded once all the stone was gone. "Get them to safety, I'll deal with the Medusa." Yukari summoned clothes, almost exclusively pajamas, to cover the girls as the Medusa outraged.
"My art! My beautiful art! It took me so long to create such masterpieces!" The Art Teacher roared before his snakes unwrapped from Moka, who quickly ran over to Tsukune to get her Rosary removed. The snakes in his hair lunged at Minato but, were caught in mid-air by Sandalphon. The serpents tried biting the metallic angel but, their bites did nothing to the metal body of Sandalphon. The angel clenched his fist harder, causing the snakes to go limp as he crushed their spines. "No! Not my precious tools! How dare you!" The Medusa hissed before Sandalphon floated forward. It did a jab into the Art Teacher's stomach causing the teacher to lose her breath before falling onto the floor.
"Thine punishment is complete." Sandalphon spoke before fading away. Minato sighed as he looked at the unconscious teacher. At least at Tartarus there was more challenge. This was supposed to be a teacher? Minato silently hoped that there were more powerful foes later on.
They had decided to put the story about the Art Teacher in the newspaper, although Minato made sure there was not anything about his Personae.
"I can't take this. It's finally Saturday and we're all packed in here." Kurumu complained as she put her hands in the air and stretched. To be honest, it was less of a stretch and more of pressing her chest out and Minato had a sneaking suspicion that it was because he was sitting across from her. Then came a series of complaints before Gin made them all settle down and told them to work. Minato looked around, he had a sneaking suspicion that someone was watching him. Then, there was a knock at the door. The day was proceeding as normal, until Ms Nekonome appeared.
"Is everyone working hard? I brought snacks!" The advisor said happily. Everyone was working as Nekonome had a brief conversation with Gin before passing out the snacks, one of which was raw fish. It wasn't strange until she approached Kumuru.
"Oh yeah, Kumuru-chan this letter was dropped in front of the classroom." Ms Nekonome said before handing a letter to the succubus, the letter read 'To my beloved Kurumu-chan' it was from someone named Nagare and the blue-haired girl was visibly surprised.
"Love letter? Who's this? and why now?" Kurumu thought to herself as she opened the contents of the letter were shocking. Photos showing Kurumu's in erotic positions, showing her in a bra, panty shots, and others similar to those, with these pictures there was a letter. The letter read:
"If you don't want these pictures to become public, come alone to the 'Monster Tree' in the main schoolyard, Nagare." This was the beginning of more trouble. Kurumu quickly stuffed the pictures in the Newspaper Club Toolbox, causing Minato to raise an eyebrow. Kurumu quickly ran to the door, saying something about having to do something before leaving. Minato was concerned, the girl was sometimes nervous around him but, her voice was filled with panic. Minato waited for the door to close before standing up.
"I'll go see what's going on." The blue-haired boy said about to head out of the room, her grabbed the pictures that Kurumu stuffed in the toolbox before leaving. He was careful about his movement, keeping Kurumu in his view but angling himself so that nobody could see him. He was hidden when Kurumu walked under a tree and a voice spoke.
"Hey, I've been waiting for you! So you saw those pictures and my letter… I'm glad! Long time no see, eh Kurumu-chan?" A boy said before leaping down from the branch he was perched upon, "I took really cute pictures of you right? I really liked them!" Kuruumu was shocked, she silently noticed how he was slimy with sweat or something and was a little scary. "I'm Kanou Nagare, don't you remember me?" The boy introduced.
"Remember, it was right after we started school…"
At the beginning of the school year….
"You sure are beautiful Kurumu-san. May I take a picture of you?" Kanou asked as Kurumu turned to look at him, the blue-haired girl smiled before answering with, "Really? I guess?" Her answer was cheerful and the succubus continued with "Maybe I am just that beautiful… Hey, am I more beautiful than Moka Akashiya!?" Kurumu asked before the slimy boy looked a bit surprised, answering the question with "Er? Uhh… well…. You do have big boobs!" Kurumu was happy with the adoration and answered with a single finger in the air. "Yaaaay! If you take a really pretty picture of me I'll let you go out with me." The slimy boy was ecstatic with Kurumu's offer.
Present day…
"I've been waiting all this time ever since then!" The boy panted, visibly excited, "Go on a date with me right now, just like you promised, Kurumu-chan. Unless you want 'those pictures' to be shown to the whole school?" The succubus was hesitant and then the ex-SEES member revealed himself.
"You! If it wasn't for you then my precious Kumuru-chan would be mine already!" The slimy boy threatened before melting into a slug-like form. The boy sprayed sometime of poison gas at Minato, who simply stood there a bit upset. Minato wanted a challenge now, this had been boring. Sure he had to find the seal that Elizabeth had found but, right now he was focused on saving Kurumu. Minato had already switched to Barong so Poison had no effect.
"Kurumu, don't look so scared. It doesn't suit you." Minato complained as more poison gas sprayed in his face. Minato turned and punched the Madslug. He had seen Akihiko box before so Minato did his best to imitate his old friend. He realized it was useless as soon as his fist sunk into the creature and his hand got stuck.
Kurumu had to act! Minato was wrist deep in that blobby boy and she could never forgive herself if she caused the boy she loved to die! Think Kurumu, think! Figure out what to do! Think! She opened her eyes, which now had a pink glow. Her bat-wings came out of her back, tearing holes in her school uniform. Her fingers extended into claws as her tail emerged, ending in a heart-shape. A power in her had awoken, the power of Illusion. Her illusions weren't tricks but, they could do commanded the roots to pierce the boy, and they flew through. One root after another pierced the slug-boy. Who quickly fell apart and ran away.
"Not yet." Minato said before putting his Evoker to his head.
The creature that emerged made Thanatos look like a child. Pure evil leaked out it's indescribable body. It commanded, it ordered all to bow before it but, it did not speak for none other than Minato were worthy of hearing it's voice. It was the embodiment of sin. It's name was known to all around the Earth. Tempter of men, master of the underworld, it had a simple five-letter name. Satan. Kurumu was struggling not to fall, she shifted to her human form and the commanding presence lessened but, it didn't disappear.
"Don't bully Kurumu." Minato threatened before the king of demons conjured a flame between his hands. Satan unleashed a Maragidyne on the Madslug who left burnt and traumatized as Minato dismissed Satan. The blue-haired boy walked up to the girl before asking a question. "I didn't want anyone to see that one." Minato said, referring to Satan. Kurumu merely shook her head as she thanked him.
"Kurumu." Minato held up some pictures the succubus face turned red as she walked over and grabbed the pictures. She clutched them to her chest and turned around before asking Minato a question.
"What did you think?" The blue-haired girl asked, nervous about the blue-haired boy's response.
"You looked good." Minato said before the succubus started leaving, blushing and grinning from ear to ear at the same time.
Minato, Tsukune, Moka, Kurumu, and Yukari had stayed up all night to reach the deadline. They were all resting on their heads aside from Kurumu, who was leaning on Minato. Ms. Nekonome couldn't be happier.
