The Other Chance
Chapter 8
Disclaimer: I do not own anything connected with Persona, Atlus or ancient deities used for cultural influence. I only own myself. So there.
Chapter 8: Big A** Tower
April 21, 2009:
Even after the exhausting trials they had faced the other day, school still continued as relentlessly as ever. Akio wondered if the world hated him but he didn't blame it.
The siblings again went to school with Yukari, an activity they all enjoyed. Yukari told them how thankful she was they joined the team, since it was only her and Mitsuru presently.
Minato told her he was honored to join then. Minako informed her that friends stick together no matter what. Akio yawned…then nodded after his little sister smacked him upside the head. He had no motivation to argue with her today. After being woken up my pajama boy all he wanted to do was get to class and take a nap.
When he separated from the monsters and Yukari, he made his was to class. There he set up his history book as a force-field and slept soundly as the instructor bored the rest of the class with Classic Literature.
After school was over, Yukari gathered her stuff and walked over to the twins. As she neared them, she yawned loudly.
"I thought I was gonna fall asleep in there…" she said rubbing her eyes. No sooner had the words come out of the mouth, when Mitsuru opened the door and boldly walked right up to them.
"Can I have a minute?" she asked them, to which they all nodded. "Come to the lounge when you get back to the dorm. I have something to tell everyone."
"What's up?" the female twin asked, "Is it important?"
Mitsuru gently smiled at her and said, "I'll save the details for later. See you there." She then turned on her heel and left the room before they could ask any more questions.
Minato looked to his female companions and said, "That was fast…"
"She's probably busy with things like Student Council, unlike us," Yukari bitterly informed him.
Minako looked at Yukari disapprovingly. "Ouch, that's a self burn. Why would you do that?" she asked Yukari, semi-jokingly.
Just then, Junpei came up beside them and joined in. "Whoa, Yuka-tan! Do I sense some hostility?" he asked, also semi-jokingly.
Yukari suddenly became aware that all eyes were on her. "Well," she began nervously, "It' not that I don't like her…She's just…" Yukari paused, searching for the right words but they didn't come. She gave up trying to explain and instead turned to the twins.
"N-Never mind. Let's get going, you two," she said quickly grabbing the twin's hands and pulling them to the door. The twins barely had time to say "bye" to Junpei before they were dragged out the door by their embarrassed friend.
After they were gone, Junpei was left alone, feeling left out and a bit nervous for the events that awaited him.
On the way back to the dorm, Yukari finally released her death grip on the twin's arms and they walked in silence for a bit. Finally, as they reached the station, Yukari spoke.
"A-About earlier…" she said getting their attention, "It's not like I don't like her or anything, y'know?" She looked like she wanted to say more but got distracted by something before she continued. "Why's Junpei always have to talk about stuff that isn't any of his business, huh!"
The twins tried to say something but Yukari cut them off again. "Plus, he says it all in the creepiest most perverted way. He's like the poster boy for sexual harassment."
At that, the twins burst out laugh agreeing with her. They realized she had dodged the issue very effectively but knew it was a sensitive topic so they just let her gossip about Junpei's stupidity. They headed back to the dorm, laughing and enjoying themselves.
Although the twins couldn't help but feel that something was missing…
Meanwhile, back at the school gate. Akio was feeling rather lonely, waiting for his siblings to walk home with him.
When Yukari, Minato and Minako got back to the dorms they dropped off their things in their rooms and headed for the 4th floor Command Room. When they arrived, they found Mitsuru and Akihiko waiting for them.
"Welcome back," Mitsuru greeted them. She looked at them puzzled. "Where's Akio?"
All three of them, grimaced and looked at each other.
"Uh-oh! / Bro!" Minako and Minato said together. They turned back to head for the door when it swung open to reveal their older brother standing there, looking dejected.
"Where the hell were you!" he asked them aggravated. The twins and Yukari quickly apologized to him, while Mitsuru and Akihiko laughed.
After a few more insults and a kick to the shin, the friends all sat down to listen to what Akihiko and Mitsuru had to tell them.
"We were waiting for you," Akihiko started, "There's someone I wanna introduce."
Everyone but Mitsuru said "Huh!" simultaneously. 'Another Persona-user maybe?...damn,' Akio contemplated.
Akihiko went to the door, pushed it open and called out, "Hey, hurry up."
From outside the door a very familiar voice called back, "Hold your horses…This is freakin' heavy." The door opens and a cart full of suitcases is pushed into the room. Pushing the cart is none other than Junpei Iori.
Junpei stops pushing and stands upright, facing everyone. "Wazzup?" he says chuckling to himself.
The Arisatos and Yukari gasp.
"J-Junpei!" Yukari yells.
"Why are you here!" Minako calls right after her.
"Hey, I know that guy," Akio says pointing at Junpei.
Before any more outbursts Akihiko spoke up. "This is Junpei Iori from Class 2-F. He'll be staying here as of today."
Again, the group registered shock. "He's staying HERE!" Yukari cried out.
"You've gotta be kidding me…" Minato said in disbelief.
"So that's why he wanted to walk back to the dorms with me…" Akio added, earning a glare from his siblings and Yukari. "What?" retorted Akio, "You abandoned me. What the hell else was I supposed to do?"
Before his siblings could complain to him Akihiko continued. "I bumped into him other night. He has the potential but he just awakened to it recently," he explained, "I told him about us, and he agreed to help."
Yukari scoffed at the "potential" statement. "You have the potential!" she asked sarcastically.
"For real!" Minako added.
Junpei stepped up to explain himself. "He found me cryin' like a baby at the convenience store, surrounded by a bunch of coffins," he told them almost proudly. He smiled and continued, saying, "I don't remember much, but…man that's embarrassing."
Akio and his siblings held back a laugh as Junpei continued. "He said that's, ya know, completely normal…in the beginning. Like, bein' confused and not remembering anything," he told them, "Did ya guys know that?"
The siblings looked to each other and back to Junpei.
"Didn't happen to me," Akio proclaimed.
"Me neither," Minako agreed.
"Must only be you," Minato told him.
Junpei only half-heartedly listen to them before responding, "Heeey, don't feel bad," he said obviously not believing their claims. "It happens to all us Persona-users…" he said as if he understood.
Akio face palmed while his siblings shook their heads.
"…But man," Junpei continued, "I was shocked to find out about you guys. I had no idea."
"Neither did we 'til a few days ago…" Akio muttered as Junpei continued.
"I'm glad I'm not the only one," the baseball boy continued, "It could get kinda lonely, ya know."
The siblings could definitely agree to that. Having experienced the Dark Hour for years on their own, it was reassuring to have others to confide in. For a moment they let that thought warm their hearts, until Junpei shattered the moment.
"I bet you're stoked too, right? Havin' me join…" Junpei asked the siblings and Yukari.
They all mutter some form of "yeah" at his comment which satisfied him. "So anyway," he said bowing to them all, "Glad to join the team."
Akio found his respect endearing at the very least. He offered his hand to Junpei. Junpei saw it, stood upright and shook it with enthusiasm.
"Let's do our best," the female twin encouraged.
"We're counting on you," the male twin added.
"Don't slow us down…" Yukari muttered under her breath.
Junpei smiled wide at everyone. "You can count on me!" he shouted happily.
Akihiko stepped in when the introductions died down. "Well, I think we're about ready…" he said as Ikutsuki came through the door.
"Okay, everybody's here…" the chairman said, noticing everyone. "I'd like your undivided attention."
Everyone sat and listen to the chairman. "For a long time, Mitsuru and Akihiko were the only Persona-users we had," he informed the youths. "But that number recently jumped to seven. Therefore…" he took a breath before continuing, "Starting tonight at 12:00 AM, I'd like to commence the exploration of Tartarus."
Everyone save for Mitsuru, Akihiko and Yukari were confused. Junpei leaned forward and asked, "Tartarus? What's that? Sounds like toothpaste."
Everyone sighed. "This is why you're not allowed to comment until further notice," Minako said to him, earning a light smack from her older brother.
"You haven't seen it? Any of you?" Yukari asked. The Arisatos and Junpei shook their heads.
"It's no surprise…" Ikutsuki continued, "Since it only appears during the Dark Hour."
"It's the perfect place for us to train," Akihiko said excited, "You can think of it as a Shadow nest."
"Whoa," Junpei said, wide-eyed, "Their nest, huh?"
All the talk about heading into a nest of Shadows didn't excite Akio at all. 'I never signed up for this. If I'd know they want us to take them head on…damn!' he thought angrily.
Minato and Minako noticed their brother's anger and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to them and they smiled at him, as if to say "It'll all be alright". Akio held back his comments. It was too late to be constantly worried about their safety. They were tough. They could take it.
Yukari turned to Akihiko and said, "But, Senpai…What about your injury?"
Mitsuru chimed in, almost happily, "Since Akihiko hasn't fully recovered yet, he'll only come as far as the entrance."
Akihiko's mood took a dive as he responded, "Yeah, I know."
"Relax," Junpei said, trying to be reassuring, "I've got your backs."
Yukari looked to him skeptically. "I'm not so sure about this…" she said nervously
"And for good reason," Minako quipped.
Mitsuru noticed their concerns and turned back to Ikutsuki. "What about you, Mr. Chairman?"
"I'll stay here," he said quickly. "As you know, I can't summon a Persona…"
Akio took note of the comment. While he sat in the safety of the Command Room, he sent them off to fight unspeakable horrors. This did nothing to expel Akio growing fear of the situation.
The group of Persona-users headed to the lobby, preparing for their first exploration when Mitsuru stopped them.
"Wait," she said, "Before we leave, I think we'd better get you some weapons."
Junpei spun around to face her. "Weapons?" he asked enthused.
Mitsuru led them to what would have been the dorm director's office. She opened the door to reveal various types of bladed and non-bladed weapons displayed on the walls. Even Akio stared wide-eyed at the room full of "toys".
"Go ahead and pick out whatever you think is suitable for you," Mitsuru told them. Before she even finished Junpei sped past her and began examining the largest weapons on display. Minako was close behind him, followed by Minato and Yukari.
Akio watched as his little sister took a naginata from the wall. She exited the room and practiced swinging it a few time before nodding to herself. Junpei abruptly joined her brandishing a large broadsword. He grinned, overjoyed with his choice.
Minato exited holding a short sword and Yukari with a bow and quiver full of arrows. Akio made his way in last. He slowly scanned all the weapons. He knew he could handle just about any weapon but he was looking for a particular kind of weapon. It took him quite some time before he found his choice weapon.
Far in the back was a sheet covering something. He pulled back the sheet to see a very well-maintained katana. His eyes sparkled like a kid at Christmas. As he reached for it, he heard Mitsuru's voice.
"That's a family heirloom," she informed him, "But I don't mind letting you use it."
Akio hesitated now. He felt guilty taking it but it was the only katana there and after using a wooden sword for so long…
He grabbed it and unsheathed it. The blade was sleek and beautiful, reflecting the light perfectly. It was all the encouragement he needed to use it. He returned the blade to the scabbard and hooked it onto his belt and adjusted it so it would stay there. As he made his way out of the room he turned to Mitsuru and said, "Thank you."
She smiled and nodded to him. Now they had weapons…Akio hoped it would be enough.
The young group of Persona-users found themselves standing in front of their high school. After walking the incredibly long way from the dorms to here…they were underwhelmed.
"This is it?" Junpei asked, "This is the place?"
"Why here?" Minato added.
Akihiko took out his phone and looked at the time. "Just wait a few minutes…" he said, "It's almost midnight."
Everyone took out their phones and waited. Moments later the clock struck Midnight. The Dark Hour came and the world was wrapped in eerie light.
Suddenly the ground shook and everyone faced the school. The building twisted and turned until it began to rise. New structures erupted from the sides and top forming new walls, pillars, buildings, etc. It soon rose so high into the sky that it nearly blocked the moon. A sight that somehow pleased Akio.
The newcomers stood shocked that their place of education had turned into an even more hellish place. Suddenly, they all found their voices.
"Whoa," Minato gasped.
"Holy crap," Junpei commented.
"Oh…my…god," Minako choked out.
"That's a big ass tower," Akio deduced, nodding his head.
"This is Tartarus," Mitsuru explained, "The labyrinth that reveals itself during the Dark Hour."
"Labyrinth?" Minato questioned. Before Junpei cut him off.
"What are you talking about!" Junpei shouted, "What happed to our school!"
"It looks like it took some steroids," Minako joked, trying to relieve the tension.
Akio stepped up and said, "I'm guessing that when the Dark Hour is up…everything goes back to normal right." He directed the question at Mitsuru.
"Yes, that's correct," she affirmed.
"This is the nest you were talking about?" Minato asked calmly. Mitsuru nodded but was verbally assaulted by Junpei.
"But, why!...Why'd hour school turn into a giant tower!" he asked desperately. Mitsuru turned her head away and didn't speak.
"So…You don't know, either?" Minako offered. "No," Mitsuru said in response.
"I'm sure it's complicated," Yukari told her. Minako noticed how Yukari was quick to change the subject.
"Well," Akihiko said joining them, "Maybe now we'll find out." His tone was confident and his eyes had a lust for action. "Mitsuru and I have only gone in to take a peek; this will be our first time exploring it," he said, barely containing his excitement. "Exciting, isn't it?" he asked Akio.
"Yeah," Akio answered plainly, unable to stop staring at the edifice that towered over him.
"There has to be some sort of clue in here about the Dark Hour…" Akihiko continued before Mitsuru cut him off.
"Akihiko," she said smiling, "I respect your enthusiasm but you won't be accompanying us today."
His mood suddenly died down and his excitement was lost. "I know…" he answered, "You don't have to remind me."
Akio and the twins couldn't stop staring at the top of the tower, so high in the sky. They felt a foreboding feeling about it for some reason. They all felt a pain in their chest, one they could not explain.
Akio pulled his eyes away, not able to look any longer. He noticed his sibling still staring. He gently placed a hand on their shoulders, startling them. They turned to him. He grinned wide at them, his best trick to reassure them. It only half worked this time. They smiled back but Akio knew it lacked heart.
"Well," Akio called out to Mitsuru and Akihiko, "Can we go in now? All this waiting makes me antsy." They nodded to him and opened the gate leading to the foreboding tower.
"Whoa…It's just as cool on the inside…" Junpei said. Akio didn't know how to take that statement.
The inside of the tower was…plain in his eyes. A set of stairs leading up to a doorway at the base of a large clock was one of the only surprising structures inside. Pillars of white stone held the roof up and near the entrance was a strange circular device that Akio had never seen before.
To put is simply…it was dull. At least to Akio.
"It sure is creepy…" Yukari said.
"True that," Minako agreed.
"This is only the entrance," Mitsuru explained, "The labyrinth lies beyond the doorway at the top of the stairs."
Everyone looked to the doorway. It had no actual door but an eerie light illuminated it. None of them looked forward to crossing the threshold…except for Junpei who couldn't stop shaking with excitement.
"First, why don't you all get a feel for this place?" Akihiko offered, drawing attention. "Go have a look around."
"What! By ourselves!" Yukari protested.
"Seriously!" Minako quipped.
"Yeah, what they said," Minato agreed.
"We're not asking you to go very far," Mitsuru explained, diffusing the worries, "…and I'll be feeding you information from here."
"We're also going to appoint a leader to make any necessary decision," Akihiko reassured them.
Junpei's eyes lit up when he heard that. "For real?...One of us?" he said not really asking. "Oh! Oh! Me me me! Pick me!" he shouted brazenly swinging his broadsword.
Akihiko grimaced and quickly turned to Akio. "You're in charge," he told the eldest brother.
Akio's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Pain in the ass, forget it," he answered plainly. Everyone turned to him in shock, especially his siblings. In response, Akio looked to each of them quizzically.
"I'm kidding," he said moving past Akihiko patting him on the shoulder. "I'm just nervous, that's all," he reassured them.
"Why does he get to be leader?" Junpei muttered. Akio abruptly turned back to him, grinned and said, "Because I'm your Senpai."
"Also," the male twin said turning to Junpei, "Big Bro is a lot stronger than he appears to be."
"Hey…" Akio tried to say.
"Plus," the female twin interjected, "He never knows when to quit. He takes things way to far but it can be good sometimes."
"Hey!" the eldest brother objected.
"Besides," Yukari began, making Akio grimace for fear of her comment. "He's fought them before…"
Akio breathed a sigh of relief, finally hearing some praise. Junpei only really reacted to Yukari's statement, saying, "Seriously?" while looking at Akio with newfound respect.
"There's another reason," Akihiko said cutting in. Everyone turned to see him pull out his own Evoker and place it to his head. He looked directly at Yukari and Junpei and said, "Can you two summon your Persona without any difficulty, like they can?"
Junpei immediately responded, "Y-Yeah, of course I can!" Followed by Yukari with, "I think so…"
Just then, Junpei realized what Akihiko had actually said. "Wait, 'they'?" he asked confused.
"We can summon ours, too" Minako said, smiling and making a V-sign.
"It happened at the same time as Big Bro," Minato added, slightly smiling.
Junpei suddenly felt disappointed in himself, for some reason. He wanted to be the leader, the hero. But he couldn't deny that Akio was a pretty tough looking guy. Plus all the stories the twins told him about Akio taking on street gangs and such to defend them. He wasn't about to complain about not being leader next to a guy like that.
Akio noticed his glum attitude and called out to everyone, "These are Shadows we're dealing with." Everyone took note of him. "Without a Person, you're screwed…We learned that the hard way…" he said lowering his head along with his siblings. He jerked his head back up and finished with, "We can't afford to make any rash decisions."
Yukari nodded to him. "I'm aware of that," she informed him.
The twins nodded also and Junpei swallowed his pride and followed suit.
"Well," Akihiko said confidently, "Let's head inside then."
Everyone began heading for the stair, when something caught Akio's eye. A strange blue door had appeared close to the entrance. He instantly recognized it at the door from his dream, the one that led to the Velvet Room. He abruptly headed for it, pulling the blue key from his pocket. Before anyone could call out to him, he used the key and opened the door.
To Be Continued…
This was a fun chapter to write. Now that the preliminary events are out of the way I can now focus on the more fun stuff. Like interactions between characters and the amusing things that always happen in the game during the transitions we never see. As always, R and R. Thanks again. Flames will be used to melt the snow from my driveway.