My head felt foggy.
My arm hurt for some reason, and I wasn't wearing a shirt. I was sitting on a bed somewhere, and the shower was running in the bathroom.
Now why the hell
Embrace Your Desire
Guh… my head hurt almost as much as my arm…
I am the voice of your inner self…
My… what..?
Enjoy the moment… that which cannot be felt is merely a dream… The present is all we have…
That's not true. Thoughts are things. I have thought… I have memories… and goals…
The future is but a fantasy, memory a fabrication. Let your desire free you from your shackles… such is my wish…
I'm not shackled… I have full control… I want you out.
Pleasure is what you truly want...
I want you out.
You stand before the doorway to bliss… you cannot deny your instincts…
I'm currently working out how to kill you. Get out.
Embrace your Desire
Get Out.
Why do you resist?
GET OUT.
Do not avert your eyes from the truth
GET OUT
Suddenly, my head was clearer, but my arm still hurt like hell.
I was also standing up, off the bed. Suck it, bitch, no-one controls me.
The bathroom door opened. Through the steam came… Yukari?
She was clutching a towel to her chest, blushing.
And totally naked.
As in I can see either side of her torso, and a bit of something else I'm not supposed to.
More importantly, her eyes looked like mine normally did.
And she was walking towards me.
Are you as strong as you claim?
"Yukari…" I said, holding my arms out defensively. "Yukari snap out of it!"
The towel hit the floor. I closed my eyes.
Can you truly resist taking what you want most?
Yukari pushed me down onto the bed, panting. She was warm and wet, and naked.
I held her back as she kept trying to force herself onto me. "Yukari, Don't let it do this!" I shouted.
Embrace your Desire
FINE! I WILL!
I curled up and put my foot under Yukari's stomach, then pushed her. Hard. She landed roughly against the other wall. She clutched her head. "Ugh…"
"Yukari!" I shouted, rushing over to her. "Are you alright?"
"Uh… what was I..?" Her eyes snapped to attention, and she realised the situation.
The current one being that she was naked and wet in a love hotel being held by a guy with no shirt.
"AAH!" she screamed, slapping me across the face before scrambling for the bathroom and locking the door shut.
Good to have you back Yukari.
~ Oh, I can finally reach you! ~ Yay, Fuuka! ~ Can you two hear me? ~
"I can." I said, leaning against the bathroom door. "What's going on?"
~ I'm sorry I couldn't contact you earlier… ~ Fuuka said shamefully. ~ The Shadow was interfering with your thoughts, and you all got separated… ~ We kinda got that already. ~ The others are downstairs, Mitsuru-senpai, and the Shadow is still in the room on the top floor. ~
Huh, so we can't hear what other people are saying on that line… interesting.
~ Everyone, please regroup on the second floor, by the stairs to the lobby. ~ Fuuka ordered. ~ You get that, Yukari? ~
"Huh?" Her voice came from the other side of the door. "O-oh yeah, I heard you."
~ Um… did, did something happen? ~
"No!" meaning yes. "Nothing!" meaning something.
I'm a waaay better liar than her.
"You okay in there?" I asked Yukari, knocking on the door as Fuuka cut the link.
"Yeah, fine." she said coldly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Shadow was controlling me too, but I managed to force it out before you came out."
"Oh… good."
"Sorry about that."
"Let's just… stop talking, okay?" she sighed.
"Kay."
"So close." Hi Pharos.
He entered me head. "You may never get an opportunity like that again."
You mean the opportunity to rape a hollow shell and lose my soul?
"Just checking." He seemed pleased by my reaction. "Course I am. Still, you should have seen what happened upstairs."
Why? What happened upstairs? Oh, OH!
I burst out laughing.
"What's so funny! ?" Yukari asked. Well, more demanded.
"Just realised…" I managed, getting myself back together, "Akihiko and Mitsuru just went through the same thing we just did."
Silence, then laugh. She came out the door. "Uuuh... Why aren't you dressed?" she asked.
"Can't find my shirt." I said. It was true. "Or my Evoker, or my weapons. I do however have this for some reason." I said as I pulled out a condom out of my pocket.
"Ugh…" Yukari shook her head. "Come on then, let's go. And if you tell anyone… I will never speak to you again!"
"Got it." I stood up.
"Hey, I never knew you had a tattoo." Yukari said eventually.
Oh, right, it's visible without my shirt. "Yeah, long story." I lied. "I'll tell you another time."
We met up with the others upstairs. "Alright, before anyone else says anything," I began, "I would just like to point out that Akihiko has sword holes in his shirt and vest, and I am currently shirtless, whereas you two are still fully clothed."
"W-what's your point! ?" Mitsuru snapped at me.
"Normally it's the other way around… why do you have sword holes in your clothes?" I asked Akihiko, "Mitsuru has a lead pipe."
"You don't wanna know…" Akihiko shuddered.
"You're probably right." I sighed. "Anyone seen my Evoker?"
"What is it with you and losing Evokers?" Mitsuru sighed.
"Good question." I nodded, getting a little manic. "You know, Fuuka?"
~ It's in one of those rooms on this floor. ~
"Why the hell is it in there?" Akihiko sighed.
"We must retrieve it." Mitsuru ordered.
"Nah, it's fine." I said, "I'll run downstairs and borrow Junpei's."
"No, you need to get it, or it'll be taken to the police, dusted for prints, and if you don't get arrested for possible gun possession," Akihiko explained, "Then you'll get expelled for going to a love hotel." Akihiko explained.
"Fine…" I sighed. "Let's split up gang..."
We all went into one of the rooms on the floor. I found it hilarious how there were two Coffins on the bed. Lolses.
I saw a black short sleeved shirt thrown against a chair. I confiscated it, seeing as its current owner wasn't using it. I'll put it back later.
I was just doing the buttons up when I caught myself in the mirror. Or rather, I didn't.
"Hey, Fuuka, what's with the mirrors?" It had a weird gold sheen to it and it reflected the room except for me. I moved a chair to experiment, and the chairs movement was reflected.
So why not me?
~ I got it! ~ She shouted. ~ It's the mirrors! They're giving off the same energy as the Shadow! ~
DAMN! I kicked the mirror in, smashing it to pieces.
~ You weakened the seal! ~ Fuuka exclaimed. ~ But there's another one on the floor above you. ~
"Right." I said, heading for the door. I meant to do that. "Anyone found my Evoker yet?"
~Akihiko-senpai has it.~
"Great." I said. "Breaking is what Minato's do best. Uhohohohoo!"
I freaking loved Tigger.
Once we'd broken the seals, we went back to the Hierophant's room.
The Lovers shadow looked like a heart shaped balloon with the lovers mask on the front of it. It was covered in spikes, and had one right demon wing and one left angel wing coming from behind it. The spikes were secreting juices, which filled the inside, where one man shaped Shadow was boning another Shadow, one with boobs.
"That is sick…" Yukari said, and I was forced not to quote Rule 36. "Because of you, I had to come to this disgusting place! YOU'RE GONNA PAY!"
I see your desire… you do not want pleasure…
SHIT THAT HURTS!
I looked down to see a pink spike in my chest.
Oh shit.
You want Pain
"MINATO!" Yukari was shouted, rushing over to heal me.
"Hold on!" Yukari shouted as she pulled the spike out and started healing the wound. "It's okay, you can still fight!"
Once it was healed, she patted my chest. "All done."
"Thanks." I said, smashing her across the face. "Bitch."
"What the hell!" Akihiko shouted, grabbing my shoulder. "What's wrong with-"
I shoved my elbow into the assholes ugly mug, shutting his damn meathole.
"Shut it." I turned around and stamped on his throat. "You think you're so high and mighty, you get to order ME AROUND!" I snarled. The pretentious bastard was always pissing me off. "That's rich. You can't even keep your own friends in line."
"You… the hell..?"
Ice smashed across my back. I turned around with a grin. "Ah, daddies little girl, don't I have a bone to pick with you…"
"Listen to me Arisoto." The redhead ordered, Evoker to her head as I kicked Akihiko up into my hand. "You've been charmed! You're under the Shadow's control!"
WHAM! I threw the king into the queen. "I've never felt so lucid in my life." I said. "You should try it sometime."
"RRARGH!" BOOM! Polydeuces came at me, its punches oh so easy to read. I grabbed the Persona and Judo threw it against the floor, shoving my Elbow into its pit as it fell. "GAH!" White-hair screamed.
"IORI!" Mitsuru shouted, "We need help! Arisoto's been-!"
CRUCH! There, it's amazing what shoving someone's head into a wall with the Arisoto Hand can do.
Oh, redhead's still not out. "Night night." SMASH. "Still awake?" SMASH. "How about now?" SMASH. "Sleeping? Well... best make sure." CRUNCH!
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
I turned around and parried the boxer's punches. "Hey, Senada-senpai." I asked. "Do you know why boxing is the suckiest martial art out of all of them?"
"NNRARGH!" he grunted, throwing another fist before falling to his knees after I kicked him.
I raised my feet to stamp on his shoulder. "Because one Lowkick will take them down for good." WHAM! "Ooh, did that just crack?" His screams were fantastic.
"I got here as fast as I… WHAT THE HELL!"
"Hey, it's my favourite backstabbing cowardly asshole!" I smiled at Junpei as I grabbed Akihiko by the scalp. "You're just in time to see Gekkoukan's golden boy go down!"
"Dude... you… you're insane!" he shouted. "NOBODY talks when charmed!"
"Hold on, I'll be riiight with you." I chuckled as Akihiko tried to punch me feebly. "Just trying to remember what they count to in boxing…"
"T-ten?" Junpei offered."
"Thanks mate, I was wondering why I kept you alive for so long." I said as I lifted Akihiko into the air by what little grey hairs he had, then slammed my kneecap into his nose. SLAM! "ONE!" SLAM "TWO!" SLAM "THREE!"
"MINATO!"
SLAM "Counting. FOUR!" SLAM "FIVE!" SLAM "SIX!" SLAM "SEVEN!"
"Stop it man!" SLAM "This… you've gone nuts!"
"EIGHT!" SLAM "NINE!" CRUNCH! "TEN!" I threw him up into the air and punched him. "DINGDINGDING!" I span and kicked him into Stupei as he fell. "HE'S DOWN! THE GREAT MINATO WINS!" Damn, my arm hurts.
"RRAAGH!"
"Ooh, finally got the balls to face me like a man eh?" I said, dodging his pathetic sword slash, "I was wondering why you were asking me to stop instead of just making me. Why do you fight anyways?"
"RAGH!" idiot swung his pathetic sword again. "SO I CAN SAVE PEOPLE FROM THINGS LIKE YOU!"
"Bollocks!" I grabbed the back of his sword then punched its side. It cracked. "Try Again!"
Junpei tried to wrestle the weapon from me. "So… So I can Be a Hero and help people!"
"Survey says; EH EH!" I punched the sword again. This time, it broke. "Is that your final answer?"
Junpei fell back, waving his little piece of metal at me. "So I… Because I… I am…"
"Useless for anything else." I said, and the idiot fell to his knees. "You're a failure, you've no sense, and you're ugly as a mule and twice as thick." I sneered at the waste of space. "Face it. You're an even bigger screw up that your old man."
Junpei stopped cowering. "Say that again."
"Ooh, did I hit a nerve?" I stooped to his level. "Does little Junpei have an ounce of respect for his daddy?"
"I AM NOTHING LIKE HIM!"
"Prove it." I smirked. "Tell me what you're good for." I challenged him. "And don't say Persona, or you would have lasted longer."
"I… I…"
"BING! Time up!" I grabbed him by the throat in lifted him in the air. "Junpei Iori, you Are the weakest link. Goodbye!" I threw his ass right into the oversized fishtank by the wall.
Now to check I did the job right. Huh, glass didn't slit his throat. Well, rocks usually do the trick.
I like that one.
"IO!"
I threw the rock behind me. "AH!" CRUNCH. Such a satisfying sound.
I turned around. "Hey, that was a good shot, wasn't it Yukari?" I started walking over to her. "I broke the hand holding your evoker without even looking behind me to aim!"
She ran over to Mitsuru, but I got there first and grabbed her wrist.
"Minato!" she shouted. "Stop! Please!"
"Stop what?" I asked. "You're trying to stop me."
"You're charmed! This isn't You!" she shouted. "Can't you see that you're being controlled!"
SMASH! I punched that whore right in the mouth. "NO ONE CONTROLS ME!" I shouted, elbowing her in the face. "Stay there, you'll get your turn." I told her as she collapsed to the ground.
"Uhn…" Was she still trying to get that Evoker? I kicked it out of her reach, standing over her.
"Minato...! Please…!"
I knelt down, straddled on top of her. "Hey, this feels familiar." I said as I smashed my fist into her pretty little face. "Oh, that's nice." SMACK "Not so pretty now, are we bitch!" I shoved an elbow in there. "Are we?" SMASH "ARE WE?"
"Minato…"
"Grr…" I am so gonna smash that
Eh?
"THE HELL?"
Okay, why the hell am I straddled on top of a bleeding Yukari with one arm in the air?
Why the hell is no-one fighting the Lovers?
Where is everyone?
I stood up and saw them. Mitsuru, Akihiko, Even Junpei?
What the hell?
"Minato… snap… out of it..."
"Snap out of what?" I demanded. "What the hell happened here!"
~ You were charmed Minato-kun! ~
Fuuka? "You alright? You sound horrified?"
~ The Shadow, It… It made you… do this… ~
"Do what?" I asked. "What are you…" Oh. OH.
"Minato…" Yukari was covered in blood, struggling to get up. "Are… are you…"
I ran into the corner and fell to my knees. My stomach heaved as a wave of nausea weakened my limbs. But…
I didn't vomit.
Because I've seen worse.
I've done far worse.
It's what you wanted.
How the hell can you say that?
I merely unleashed your full primal desires.
"I'm sorry?" I asked. "MY primal desires?"
You were so happy. Let me return you to your bliss
I turned around and caught the pink barb.
"You… steal my body…" I hissed as dark mist began to rise around me. "You hurt my friends…"
It kills me not to know this but I've all but just forgotten
I crushed it in one hand "And you dare say… That I wanted it?"
What the colour of her eyes were, and her scars or how she got them
"No pity." I snarled, the darkness rising fast around me. "No remorse. No fear."
As the telling signs of rage ring down a single tear is dropping.
"Kill for the living." I snarled as a black card formed in my hand. "Kill for the dead."
Through the valleys of an aging face
"And by my hand..." I said, crushing the card as blood ran freely down my face. "You shall be broken."
That this world has forgotten
"ORPHEUS HOLLOW"
SMASH