Dark Hour struck - Go time. We were in the command room, on alert as Fuuka concentrated inside of her Persona, Lucia, scanning for the Shadow.

"Any luck Fuuka?" Akihiko asked her.

~ Just a moment… I've found a strong presence! ~

"Hey, we were right!" Junpei shouted in delight.

"Or so it would seem." Ikutsuki added. Yeah, we're still not cool with each other. Eh, we'll live.

~ It's located in Iwatodai… in a hotel on Shirakawa boulevard! ~

"Hm… Shirakawa Boulevard…" Ikutsuki said as he unknowingly flashed guilty pleasure on his face. "They've been finding the Lost in pairs lately… now I understand why…" Ikutsuki's been a naughty boy.

"In pairs?" Mitsuru asked, then realisation hit. "Oh, I get it…"

Fuuka dismissed her Persona. "Why what's on Shirakawa Boulevard?" She asked. "I'm not familiar about that area…" Good. That's good. Never change that fact of yourself, Fuuka.

Yukari also seemed not in the know. "I've heard about it, but…"

Junpei grinned. "That's where all those hotels are."

Oh, you should have seen the looks on their faces when the penny dropped.

"I prepared a song about it." I said, beaming as I twirled the bowlers hat from behind me and picked up a performing cane. "It's the substandard hotels on the lalalalala~ quarter of forth and Fremont, street!
"Appealing only because they are that- unappealing!
"Any practised catholic would, cross themselves upon entering-!"

"Nonesense!" Ikutsuki said over Fuuka's blushing and my singing. "They are no different from ordinary hotels! The rooms are just a little fancier, that's all!"

"Aw, man, is that all?" Junpei groaned.

"Well, they also offer you your choice of woman when you book." I said, tossing the cane aside and tilting my hat. Stirring things is a hobby of mine.

"Arisoto!" Mitsuru shouted.

"And condoms in your favourite size and flavour." I added, removing the hat.

Akihiko was trying his hardest not to laugh or bleed, while Fuuka was trying her hardest not to laugh or blush. Ikutsuki and Mitsuru are getting angry, and Junpei was asking for a hi-five.

Yukari, however, was concerned.

"I don't know…" she said. "Maybe I shouldn't go…"

SLAP! Junpei was holding two hands together above his head. "You're just like a little kid, Yuka-Tan…"

"Dude, did you just hi-five yourself?" Pharos asked. Sadly, Junpei did in fact high-five himself. It looked like he was doing the YMCA.

"W-whatever!" Yukari was getting mad. "Fine. Then let's go." Okay, she's past mad and reached pissed. "But this time, I want a piece of the action." You really do have an unfortunate tendency to say things like that Yukari. "So, who's going to take the lead?"

Rule 34.

Mitsuru flicked her hair. "I see no reason to deprive Arisoto from his restored position." Dammit woman, will you never let that go? "Yamagishi, I want you to handle support during this mission."

"I'll do my best!" Fuuka declared.

"Alright then." I said. "Mitsuru and Akihiko are also on the team while Junpei stays behind with Fuuka."

"Got it." Akihiko nodded.

"Understood." Mitsuru stated.

"Yes, Sir!" Junpei saluted sarcastically.

I hummed various Panic! At the Disco songs on the way to the hotel. As we approached, I announced that "Right, I'm going to order a non-lethal weapons rule for this mission."

"Why?" Mitsuru said. She still didn't trust mah authoritah.

"Judging from where we are, I'm not running the risk of anyone being charmed." I said as I handed Mitsuru a lead pipe and Akihiko my new lead-shot gloves.

Then I handed Yukari some blunt arrows with a metal tip. "They won't pierce, but it'll still cause some serious damage." I then pulled out a pair of sai and spun them. Since they were blunt, they couldn't do serious damage if they were used as a knife, which a Shadow would try to do.

I shoved them into my belt. Turtle Power.

~ The Shadow is on the third floor, in the penthouse suite! ~

"Alright." I handed my various scrolls to Junpei, just to be safe. "Let's go in."

"They actually do come in flavours." Akihiko pointed out in an unamused fashion, noticing the vending machine in the corner.

"And ribbed for her pleasure." I snarked. It was the more tasteful snark I could have used.

"Focus on the mission!" Yukari barked. "…Men." She added under her breath.

"Kay…" I replied, heading for the stairs. "Come on, let's get this over with."

~ The Shadow is behind this door! ~ Fuuka warned us as we faced the Aeon room. ~ Are you ready? ~

"Are we?" I asked, receiving nods. "Okay then."

I turned to the door and kicked it down, smashing it off its hinges.

~ Um… the door was unlocked... ~

"Hey, I'm the leader, and if I can't blow things up, then I'm gonna smash things." I announced as I walked inside, ignoring everyone's shaking heads.

The Shadow was a big fat guy whose chair was feeling him up. "Ugh… why here of all places?" Yukari groaned, loading an arrow into her bow. "Well, let's get this over with!"

The Hierophant stood up, drawing itself to full height.

Its arms were freaking HUGE! I'm serious, like tree trunks!

And now I'm getting a good look at the guy, there was a hell of a lot of muscle in that flab.

Blunt attacks were not going to work.

Guess who left all their sharps downstairs?

"Good decision, Minato." Akihiko laughed, "Maybe next time we'll leave out Evokers at home too!"

"Hey, I was wrong, alright?" I snapped. "And that was one time!"

~ Everyone! Look out! ~

GAH! Thunderbolts! Half of us dodged in time. I was one of the unlucky ones.

Fortunately, the other was Akihiko. Serves us right for complaining, I suppose.

"BEGONE!" Mitsuru shouted, launching a Bufula at the Shadow. Fatty swatted the attack aside, then ignored Yukari's arrow as it hit his gut.

~ Its arms can block magic attacks! ~ Fuuka declared. ~ You're going to have to get around them to hurt it! ~

"Akihiko, Mitsuru!" I barked, "Take the left and right arms, keep them busy!" Actually, hold on, "Belay that, Akihiko and I'll do it! Yukari, keep its eyes on your arrows!" I corrected. "Mitsuru!"

"Understood!" Mitsuru shouted as she dodged around the side and I switched into her previous place, plunging my Sai into the Shadow's left arm.

WHAM! And I think it just broke my back against the wall.

"Minato!" Yukari shouted.

"Stick to the plan!" I grunted, "No overrides!" Dammit, I can't reach my Evoker. You're gonna have to leave for a sec Pharos.

"Aye aye, cap'n..."

Once he was out of there, I charged my Sai with Getsu-ei. The Hierophant screamed as my weapons slit through its arm. "Physical channelling works Akihiko!" I shouted, sending Diarama's down my back. "Charge your fists with physicals!"

"Got it!" Akihiko shouted as he punched the right arm, knocking it flying back into the Hierophant's face. The lumbering Shadow fell backwards- toward… oh crap! DAMMIT MITSURU! WATCH OUT!

I shouldn't have worried. With a sick SLISH the Hierophant stopped falling as a big spike of ice rose through it, bursting through its gut. The top of the spike was black, stained with the Shadow's Ichor.

"Nice!" I shouted as Mitsuru ran back from the Shadow's shadow. Yukari, however, ran towards the Shadow, climbing on top of it with a charged arrow at the ready.

"Take this!" She shouted, launching the spinning weight into the ice, shattering it all the way to the bottom.

Splintered ice is far more effective at skewering flesh than any shrapnel, and that Hierophant could scream!

"Sweet!" I shouted as ran towards it, shooting myself with my Evoker. "ORPHEUS CUSTOM!"

BAM! The Persona rose into the air, strumming a chord that launched more fire into that already shredded hole. No kill like overkill, huh?

"The enemy is down," Mitsuru shouted, "Let's finish this!"

"Blood For The Blood God!" I shouted gleefully, already tearing into the Hierophant with my Sai.

"You'll fall by my hand!" Mitsuru shouted, diving in for her share of the kill.

CRACK

The Hierophant started to dissolve as its mask fell apart. S

Yeah, I bricked myself too.

Sleep tight ya fat bastard.

"Whegh, glad that's done." I said, landing backside first on the oversized waterbed.

~ Good job guys! ~ Fuuka shouted. ~ We're waiting outside for you!~

"Great!" Akihiko said with a tired grin, covered in ichor. "I'll get the door. Come on!"

Wait.

Door?

Akihiko grabbed the handle of the door, but it wouldn't budge. He tried ramming it, but nothing.

"What the!" He shouted in disbelief. "It fell down when Minato kicked it!"

…

"Shit..." Akihiko said as he realised that booted down doors don't fix themselves.

"There's still a Shadow in here." I told them, rising back to my feet..

~ He's right! ~ Fuuka shouted. ~ It was hiding its presence, so I didn't notice it earlier because of the Hierophant! But it's hiding in that room!~

"But… where?" Mitsuru asked.

"Hey, is it just me," Yukari began, "Or is there something strange about that mirror?"

Like the fact that it's not mirroring? No, it's not just you.

Wait, what?