Author's Note
The next chapter might be a bit confusing so I apologize in advance. This is a guide to help.
Italicized words: Minato talking to Nyx/Ryoji
"Words inside double quotes": Nyx/Ryoji talking to Minato
Normal words: What Minato is thinking or what is happening from his point of view.
Underlined words: words with emphasis.
CAPITAL WORDS: something that is shouted
The chapters from here on tend to get longer than the others. And a lot more insight by the characters too.
Chap.2-Revival
?=?=?
MINATO ARISATO
Nyx. Foolish of me to think it was someone else. Why is Nyx playing with me?" Isn't it obvious? I'm bored…And I thought you were so smart…" Hah… so even if I can't talk, Nyx can understand me.
"Of course I can. I used to be a part of you, remember? Thou art I and I am Thou…" Nyx appeared to me in the middle of pitch-black darkness in the form of Ryoji Mochizuki. An old classmate, A.K.A. Pharos, Death…etc. We stared at each other for a moment… That copycat! Ryoji was staring at me like I stare at other people when I want to intimidate them.
"I was bored…weren't you also? Besides, don't you miss your friends?" My friends… I wonder what they are doing right now… how old are they?
"I can guarantee to you that they're still alive…"Ryoji answered my question."But...as for their ages, that I don't know …"
What is your purpose here Ryoji? Are you here to remind me of my friends? To remind me of what I left behind? I asked Ryoji with a somewhat sour tone. "…No. I appeared to you simply because I thought that you needed some company. I am always with you… remember that." Death… is always with me…
I was still contemplating this, when I was suddenly hit with a horrible headache. I thought that it was somehow Ryoji's doing, but changed my mind, when I heard him cry out "Graah! What is this? STOP!"
I wanted to plea, to make it all stop, but I couldn't move…AGH! I felt everything being torn apart…Ryoji, now in his Nyx form still roaring in the midst of it all.
I saw flashes of red and white, people in long, black robes holding golden cups that looked like the types some cults in movies use. I tried to cry out… to move… anything to stop the pain. When I felt the shock of hitting a solid, flat object with force… like, the ground. I rolled around, moaning in pain for a while. The last thing I saw before I passed out was the very familiar view of an eerily gigantic moon and bloodstained coffins…The Dark Hour?
June 08, 2010=Iwatodai Dorm=11:00pm
KOROMARU
Aigis-san explained it all to me. We could use our personae once again. And it turns out that the Dark Hour is back too! We all checked around Iwatodai yesterday.
But Junpei-kun was right. We were heavily outnumbered, if the shadows were as many as they were before…And with the strength to take down buildings as large as the one in Yokohama... We would have to be stronger than them. But how can we do that?
We were still trying to remember how to use our personae again, but even if we were as strong as how we were before, It's going to be difficult to fight shadows with just Aigis, Junpei, Yukari, Fuuka, Akihiko, Me, Ken and Mitsuru. Even with as many personae Aigis has…
Anyway, we were going out to do another check around Iwatodai, see if any shadows were wrecking the place or making people like The Lost again. Me, Ken and Mitsuru were the checking team for today. Akihiko, Junpei and Yukari were the back-up team in case something goes wrong. They were going to stay at the dorm while Aigis-san was going with Fuuka while she supported us.
We appointed Mitsuru as the field leader for this particular mission. She made sure of our equipment as we waited in tense silence as the clock ticked.
11:00pm
We were pumped and battle-ready. I offered a few barks which Aigis-san translated as "We can do this".
Junpei, who was sulking because he couldn't get to go suddenly perked up and said "Bite 'em big for me Koro-chan!"
I barked and howled a "yes" in reply. Even though he couldn't understand me. "Is everyone ready?" Mitsuru asked, holding her trusty Damascus Rapier. "You bet!" came the energetic reply from Ken while he twisted his Cross Spear around. I couldn't bark with my Athame in my mouth so I simply nodded.
"Let's go." Mitsuru said as we ran outside, the yellow moon illuminating our way.
"Can you hear me?" Fuuka asked us once we were outside.
"Affirmative. Is there a shadow near the premises, Fuuka?" Mitsuru said.
"…" We waited as Fuuka scanned the area.
"There seems to be one at the Port Island Station outskirts!"
We ran to the Port Island outskirts as soon as we got the transmission. I casted Masukukaja on the team to make us run faster. When we arrived at Port Island outskirts, we spotted the shadow near Que Sera Sera. The shadow was apparently looking for something, but it looked kind of odd. We cautiously went near it to check it out, but it suddenly attacked Ken, luckily he was alert, and dodged.
Ken swiped his spear at the shadow as a counter attack, but unfortunately, the shadow caught it and threw Ken around. The shadow then took Ken's Cross spear and faced us. Me and Mitsuru attacked at the same time, casting Agi and Bufu at the monster, it just got annoyed and we dodged in the nick of time when it unleashed a Megidola on us.
We ran back a few meters, not because we were retreating but to regain our strength and formulate a strategy. "It's strong." Mitsuru said as she casted a Diarama on us both."Fuuka, can you analyze it?"
"Give me a sec; I'll scan the target"
"Guys. Be careful. It's not a Shadow! Something related to it but…"Fuuka cried out
Mitsuru and I ran back into the battle when we saw Ken run to the shadow. Holding his evoker, he pointed it at his stomach and…Blam! "Kala-Nemi! Ziodyne!" Ken cried out. A blast of electrical energy went down at the shadow. The monster howled in rage and dropped Ken's spear. But it was far from defeated.
I took my chance and howled. Cerberus casted an Agidyne, Mitsuru-san followed my lead and summoned Artemisia."I summon thee! Bufudyne!" After the mist cleared, we were all surprised to see the shadow still standing. "All-out attack!" Mitsuru ordered. We all rushed in as Ken picked up his fallen spear. Ken healed us with a Mediarama as soon as the monster dissolved.
"Good job guys! No shadows are left."Fuuka said.
We rested a bit before surveying the damage done. "Damage is minimal. It's hardly noticeable." Mitsuru spoke into her earphone, when my dog senses got a hold of something. I ran to check it out. "Koro-chan! Wait. Come back!" Ken said as he ran after me. "Hey! Where are you going?"Mitsuru said as she followed us.
I knew I shouldn't be running off, but… I just had to check I out. It was like, something was calling me. When we got to the source, I couldn't believe my eyes.
A man was laying on his side, wearing a Gekkoukan uniform, his long hair nearly covering his face. "What..."Ken said, dumbfounded by what he saw. "Minato?"Mitsuru whispered.
June 09, 2010=Port Island Station=4:30pm
YUKARI TAKEBA
All of them are practically at the dorm by now, even Mitsuru and Akihiko-senpai; they were supposed to leave today, since they still had school tomorrow. Why am I not there? I guess I just can't bear the shock at first. Seeing Minato again, last time I saw him, rather his corpse, was at his private funeral (I only saw a stone statue at Nyx's seal).
The truth was never revealed to the public… we just told them that he went overseas; only members of SEES knew what really happened. A lot of people were really disappointed, saying that Minato never told them that he was going away. Kazushi and Yuko said that they were planning to win the regionals with Minato that year, since Mamoru Hayase, the star athlete, went away.
Kenji kept complaining that Minato was supposed to help him in searching for a girlfriend an all. The Old couple from the bookstore even visited our dorm just to find Minato. Junpei and Akihiko-senpai helped the couple to go back to the bookstore despite the couple's protests. President Tanaka sent a letter to Minato saying (to our surprise)"I hope you are doing well, with what I taught you, you SHOULD BE! No thank you's necessary. Just pay me back when you earn your 1st million."We never even knew that Minato knew the TV entrepreneur. The list goes on and on…
It was a harsh burden on us all. I was very tempted to just tell people the truth, that Minato was gone and never coming back. But, I couldn't let Minato's friends feel what we felt when figured out the truth. Anyway, I always thought that when he came back, IF he came back, I would be the first one by his side, never to leave him again… So what the heck am I doing here? Lining up for some movie I'm not even going to watch….
Seeing Minato like that brings back too many memories…I wiped the tears out of my eyes. What if he's not back? What if some fool just dug up his body and left it on the Port Island Outskirts? I know it goes against the decomposing thing 'an all, But its Minato were talking about. He defies laws; he's the Great Seal, Mr. Wild Card, Student Council Member, Top of class, and kind, brave and strong Minato. Always there when you need him…"Stop it Yukari." I said wiping even more tears out of my eyes.
And just at that moment, my phone rang, making me jump. "Probably one of the SEES members" I said as I looked at it. Fuuka.
"Hello?" I answered, preparing myself get shouted at from all sides, it's probably on speakerphone.
"Yukari-chan! Where are you?"Fuuka said. "Minato-kun started breathing. And his pulse is getting stronger by the minute too!"
"…" Started breathing? Stronger Pulse? I didn't know what to say… I didn't know whether it was from shock or I just didn't care that much…
"Yukari-san? Are you there?" Aigis' voice said over the line. Yep, it's on speaker.
I felt my lips move to form a semi-smile. Hah! Of course I care! Why won't I? "Yeah. I'm here. Is Minato awake?" I answered, quite louder this time.
"No. Not yet but soon… If he keeps recovering at this rate…"Mitsuru-senpai said.
We'll if Minato has always been there for me, I should be there for him too! "I'm on my way." I confidently said, ending the call in the process. Sorry movie, no point in watching by myself is there? I ran to the dorm.
Iwatodai Dorm=5:00pm
I reached the dorm, panting. I took a moment to catch my breath and to compose myself and then I went inside. "Hey! Guess who walked in?" Junpei's grinning face said "I win the bet Akihiko-san!" I just noticed that Junpei and Akihiko-senpai seem to be holding bets very often… They said that it all started with the one at Yakushima, But they wouldn't tell any of us what that bet was. "Hahaha All right! Well Yukari, since you're here, try to wake sleeping beauty up huh?" Akihiko-senpai said "Maybe it needs your touch."He added, winking.
I walked near his peacefully sleeping form. He looks just like he did when he died… I could feel all those doubts and bad memories coming back. I took a moment to compose myself, casting a Me Patra in the process. I held my evoker and summoned Isis. I casted a recarm on Minato. Still the same. I casted a Samarecarm. No effect. Another Samarecarm. Still no effect. I looked at the others helplessly.
"Perhaps if we all casted Recarms and Dias at the same time…" Ken suggested. Honestly, that kid makes us all proud.
"Worth a try." I said "All right everyone, use every support and healing spell you've got!"
"Dia!" "Media!" "Rakukaja!" "Samarecarm!" "Diarama!" "Diarahan!" "Sukukaja!" "Tarukaja!" "Samarecarm!"…
After a while, we lay there on the floor, panting. I looked at Minato, what the? Still no effect? I don't know how long I lay there, panting with my mouth open, staring at Minato (I hope I wasn't drooling…)"What the heck? Now how are we supposed to even wake this guy?" Junpei exclaimed. I couldn't blame him… I was screaming the same thing in my mind.
June 09, 2010=Iwatodai dorm=11:00pm
FUUKA YAMAGISHI
We were doing our routine preparations an hour before the Dark Hour. Akihiko-senpai, Yukari- chan, Junpei-kun and Aigis were the ones going out tonight. It was all four instead of the usual three. It was Mitsuru-senpai's idea that we were safer with more members. Especially since we don't even know what we're up against. That shadow (was it even a shadow? Did I mention that we don't know what we're up against?)was very dangerous, it took all of the three (Mitsuru, Ken, Koromaru) to stop the shadow-thing.
Ken-kun, Koro-chan and Mitsuru-senpai, who went out last night, are all going out with me instead. People, robots, and canines readied their equipment. In the middle of all this, I saw Yukari-chan go near Minato-kun's body and attempted to silently revive him again. I felt pity for my friend. Of us all, she was the one who was most affected by Minato's death. Her Samarecarm didn't work. Yukari sighed and turned around, seeing me watching her. I figured that it would have been foolish and rude to just avoid her eyes so I simply smiled and nodded as I said "Excuse me". I walked away, pretending to be busy while feeling her staring at me as I did.
11:59pm
One minute before the Dark hour. Minato-kun still hadn't waked up. I could feel the group's hopes fall. I was also hoping that he would wake up. I believe that he instills hope and confidence in SEES. Will he ever wake up? I was pondering this while the clock ticked the final seconds before it stopped working. Tick-tock-tick-tick-tock-tick. Every light bulb went out and gave way to the moon's eerie yellow glow.
Dark Hour
"Is everyone ready?" I asked the current checking team.
"You bet!" An obviously energetic Akihiko-senpai answered. This was his first time to be one of the checking team since we figured out that we could use our personas again. I took a deep breath and concentrated as I tried to find a shadow.
"Please wait a moment. I'm having difficulties in looking for shadows." I told them. I concentrate a bit more and sensed something…odd.
"Guys! There seems to be something or someone in Paulownia Mall. I don't think it's a shadow!" I informed the checking team.
"All right!" Junpei-kun said. "Let's go!" Akihiko-senpai said, running towards Paulownia Mall.
"(Pant) is it (pant) like the one (pant) they fought (pant) yesterday?" Yukari-chan said asked once they had reached Paulownia Mall.
"I'm not sure… There are similarities, but…" I answered.
"It doesn't matter. We're still gonna kick its butt anyway!" Junpei-kun said confidently
"It's better to be sure, Junpei-san. The others had difficulty yesterday. How shall we attack? Aigis asked. But, I suddenly sensed movement…
"Look out! It's headed towards you!" I shouted.
"I guess we'll just have to go with the flow then. Fuuka please analyze." Said Akihiko.
"Got it! Give me a sec." I said as I started analyzing. I concentrated as I tried to figure out the enemy's weakness.
"It seems to be proficient in Agi/Fire related attacks. Zio/Electric attacks are its weakness" I said.
"Caesar! Ziodyne!" Said Akihiko-senpai, exploiting the enemy's weakness.
"Let's prepare for an All-out attack!" Yukari cried out when the enemy was down. We were all surprised to find out that the enemy avoided/blocked all of their attacks.
"Hahaha! My turn!" The enemy said. Surprisingly (again) It seemed to have a human-like voice, could it/he/she be human? Another persona-user? I could feel he/it/she charging up for a powerful attack.
"Be careful!" I warned the others. I didn't know what was coming…
Next thing I knew, smoke enveloped the area.
"What the?(cough) (cough) I can't see a thing!" Yukari said
"Hey! Where'd he go?" Junpei-kun asked
"He is escaping! " Aigis said. I don't know how she can see the enemy with all this smoke, but then again she is a robot…
"After 'im!"cried Akihiko-senpai
I couldn't sense anything. When the smoke cleared (thanks to Yukari's Garu) the enemy was gone.
"Drat! Dang coward!" Junpei exclaimed
"I'm sorry. If only I could have been better." I said, feeling guilty.
"Don't sweat over it Fuuka, that enemy must had had something to prevent you from analyzing." Yukari-chan told me
"Maybe we can still catch up?" Akihiko-senpai said
"I would not recommend that, we only have 30 minutes left of the Dark Hour." Said Aigis
I tried to scan anyway, I still felt that the enemy escaped because of me. I concentrated. It couldn't have far but, I couldn't sense anything. It was like the enemy disappeared into thin air. Or in this case, smoke.
June 10,2010=Iwatodai Dorm=11:00pm
JUNPEI IORI
"I HATE YOU EKODA!" I screamed again and again. Both in my head and out loud. I received the occasional: "Shut up Junpei!", "Junpei!","Please quiet down Junpei-san", "Will you keep quiet?". That stupid teacher gave me a ton of homework to do just because I got a C- on my report card. I mean, ugh! It was a C-! A C-! I used to be a straight F student. Argh!
I went downstairs to drink a glass of water. I was burning up. An event Mitsuru-senpai would call spontan… spantan…spenton…combas…combus… Argh! Whatever! Anyway, I went downstairs to get a glass of water. And I spotted an ultra yummy sandwich on the table! I looked around to see if anybody planned on eating it… No one was even around! They were either in their rooms, The command room, Outside… In other words, Nobody was at the lounge! I silently thanked God for giving me this mouth-watering sandwich! I suddenly forgot Ekoda and his stupid homework assignment.
I gulped down the sandwich. I didn't even notice how hungry I was!
11:15pm
Hahaha! It took me only 15 minutes to finish the sandwich! Aww… now I have to do the stupid assignments…
Author's note: Sorry for the time it took me to update this. The next chapters are gonna be more exciting! Again, I request the readers to please review. Your words are what give me energy guys! Hahaha