The Other Chance
Chapter 14
Disclaimer: I do not own anything connected with Persona, Atlus or ancient deities used for cultural influence. I only own myself. That's the size of it.
Author Note: Hello readers! I know I've been absent for a long time but I'm not giving up on the story at all! I've become very popular for another story I wrote and it's dominated too much of my time. I assure you that I will be finishing this story, it will take time but it's something I'm dedicated to finishing. I don't know when I will be able to update next but keep on looking for more chapters!
Sorry for the delay. Enjoy the story.
Chapter 14: Mall Crawl
April 29, 2009: SEES Dorm
The day flew by. Again, Akio decided to let the team rest today. They could always go to Tartarus tomorrow. It's not like they had a time limit or something. As long as they kept up the search at a moderate pace, who cared how long it took. Maybe Ikutsuki would complain but no one really cared about him, especially not the Arisato siblings.
When everyone returned to the dorm, Mitsuru informed them that the internet had finally been fixed after the Shadows attack last month. Junpei was excited to finally be able to play his internet games again. Minato and Minako didn't have much an interest in the internet but Junpei convinced them to try some game he didn't play anymore, "Innocent Sin Online" or something like that. Yukari also didn't have much of an interest.
Akio, however, had only a single thought on his mind. After everyone left to check out the game, Akio plopped down on the couch next to Akihiko. The boxer looked to his friend who was furious watching to see if anyone was looking.
Akio snapped his head toward Akihiko, making him jump. Akio cautiously leaned closer and whispered, "Okay Akihiko, level with me…" he paused and double checked that no one was around. "What's the porn situation?"
Akihiko let out a big sigh. "Thanks for reminding me…" he pushed out while Akio's fears began to grow.
"You mean…"
"Mitsuru has the latest firewalls in place. In fact, it's hard to do anything but get educational sites on the computer…" Akihiko glanced over to see Akio practically having a stroke.
"How do you survive here!" Akio nearly shouted.
"By buying the cheap stuff at the corner store." Akihiko's answer was filled with disgust. Akio let out a big sigh of his own before looking to Akihiko.
"I don't know how. I don't know when. But we will fix this…or get laid, whichever comes first." He held up his fist and Akihiko gladly knuckle-bumped it. They would be partners in this to the end!
April 30, 2009: After School
Class had just finished and Akio couldn't decide what to do. He really didn't feel like Kendo today. Akihiko was busy with his boxing club, doing as much exercise as he could. Mitsuru was doing Student Council. The twins were in their clubs, as was Yukari. There was Junpei but Akio wasn't in the mood for a headache.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated. He looked at the screen but the number was restricted. However, the caller was identified as V. R. Probably a telemarketer but Akio always had fun ruining their days. With nothing better to do, Akio answered it.
"Hello?" his voice was bored. He leaned back and waited for whoever it was to tell him how they were gonna try to scam him but a familiar voice called to him.
"Good day, Master Akio." Akio bolted upright as he recognized the voice. It was Theo. Akio checked the phone again. V. R. – Velvet Room!
"Okay, wait!" Akio demanded. "Two things. One; how did you get this number? And two: How the hell can you call me when we're technically in two different worlds!" Akio didn't care that people were staring; he was too involved with the seemingly impossible call.
"I'm sorry to bother you but if you could please come to the Velvet Room at your earliest convenience, we would be more than happy to explain in detail. Thank you."
Akio panicked. "No, no, wait!" Too late. Theo had disconnected the call. Akio fumed as he grabbed his stuff and raced for Paulownia Mall to get to the blue door in the alley. 'There's gonna be hell to pay…damn!' he screamed to himself as he busted open the magical door to the other world.
April 30, 2009: Velvet Room
"How the hell can you call out from this place!" Akio screamed as he entered the room. Despite his apparent rage, the assistants looked rather excited today. A strange sight to behold but the young man ignored them. Akio slammed his hands down on the table in front of Igor. "Talk Long Nose!" Igor sat with his eyes closed, calmly ignoring him while Theo and Elizabeth approached.
"I'm afraid this was all our doing, Master Akio." Theo informed him.
"We are not allowed to reveal how we obtained your cell phone identification or how we are able to contact you through it." Elizabeth explained.
Akio's rage began to settle. No use yelling at them over a simple phone call, especially when they looked so God-damn happy for some unexplainable reason. "I suppose it's about that vow of secrecy that you cannot speak of…"
"Actually, we aren't really sure why we are able to 'call out' of this place. Only Master knows that." Theo enlightened him. Akio glared at Igor who remained motionless and silent. Akio sighed again.
"Well," Akio spat out, "What do you want now?" The assistants hesitated. "You called me here for something; you might as well spit it out."
The assistants looked to each other and nodded. "We have a request for you, Master Akio." Elizabeth said.
A scowl spread across Akio's face. Of course that's what they wanted, what else could it be? "Let's hear it." Akio sighed.
Theo cleared his throat. "We would like to accompany you to…Paulownia Mall." Silence filled the room, only sound of the elevator skyrocketing could be heard. Akio's expression didn't change, he held his scowl. On the inside however, he was blowing up.
'They called me here…to ask me to take them to the MALL!...DAMN!' his mind screamed.
"And why would you want to do that?" Akio hoped they had a very good reason, so as to avoid his wrath. The assistants nervously looked to each other before turning back to him.
"W-We wish to spend more time with you, Master Akio." Elizabeth responded.
"We thought that a familiar setting would put you at ease and we could learn more about you in the efforts to assist you better." Theo added, more resolute than his sister. Akio's expression softened and he sighed deeply. It wasn't their fault he was having a conniption…or so he told himself. Besides, they actually seemed interested and invested in spending time with him.
With another great sigh Akio informed them, "Get your coats…" The assistants nodded enthusiastically before replying in unison, "We will return momentarily." The blue clad siblings approached a large door covered in a large cloth. Theo held it up as his sister opened the door and they quickly passed through it, seemingly disappearing.
Akio snuck a peak on the other side of the door and realized, just like the magical door that led him to the Velvet Room, this one connected to another space entirely. Finally alone with Long Nose, the frustrated young man turned his rage on the room master. "You're the one that put them up to this…aren't you?" he said, aggravated
At long last, Igor let his hands drop and a wide grin plastered onto his face. The sight infuriated Akio even more and he kept his aggravated attitude. "You just want them out of here for a little while…don't you?" Again, all Igor could do was grin, making Akio frown. "I'm in hell, aren't I? I died in Tartarus and this is my hell…" Igor continues to grin but shrugs, the young man's scowl deepens. "Ya know, you're not helping."
Just then, the assistants returned, appearing exactly the same as when they departed. "Ready?" Akio asked, half-confused as to why they left at all. They nodded to him and the young man led them to the door that connects to the real world. As he grabbed the handle he turned back to them and declared, "You two are going to behave and do exactly as I say…or I'm bringing you straight back here. Got it?"
The blue clad siblings looked to each other then back to him, nodding firmly. 'That's the closest thing I'm gonna get to a yes…damn,' Akio thought as he opened the door and light flooded his vision.
April 30, 2009: Paulownia Mall
The trio of misfits made their way to the lobby of the lavish mall, the assistants gasping at the wondrous sights. "So this is the Paulownia Mall…" Theo spoke softly as he surveyed the area. His sister nodded to him but kept her eyes on the surrounding.
"Indeed, it's exactly as I imagined." Elizabeth offered, a strange gleam in her eyes. Akio instantly noticed the same shine in the male assistant's eyes and couldn't help but smile. It was nice that they could spend some time in reality instead of that crazy elevator room. The thought of being cooped up in there all day and night was like a death sentence to the teenage Persona User.
"So…excited?" Akio asked, already knowing his answer. Elizabeth instantly turned to him and declared, "Oh yes! I have waited long for this chance to come!" Her enthusiasm was almost worth the trouble to get them here.
However, Theo gave a swift huff and oddly turned away from them. "Pshaw…I'm not so easily amused." It was an obvious lie but Akio knew the idea of putting on the manly air and let it be. Then, Theo glanced to the fountain in the center of the mall and stared at it with wide eyes, his sister following suit.
"What is this?" the female assistant questioned as they approached.
"An aqueous duct in a place like this?" Theo inquired when they stood before it, a puzzled look on his face. "The dwellers of this world must get thirsty easily…" he concluded before Akio sighed.
"Are you serious? You've never seen a fountain before?" The annoyance in his voice put the assistants on edge and they didn't want to be escorted back so soon after arriving. Elizabeth quickly retorted, "H-He's only jesting, we know its true purpose."
Theo instantly nodded in agreement and added, "O-Of course! Why wouldn't we?"
Akio just knew he'd get some mileage out of this one so he grinned at them before asking, "Really? Then tell me…what is it for?" Instantly the blue clad siblings stiffened and obviously searched for a reasonable answer. Theo glanced all around but no one was near the fountain to give hints to its use, while Elizabeth constantly wracked her brain for information that would be relevant.
Akio so enjoyed watching them struggle for an answer, almost as much as he loved tormenting his younger siblings…
Suddenly, Theo shouted out, "Why…It's meant to wash one's hands! What else could it be for!" The young Persona User had to stop himself from bursting with laughter. The idea was so outrageous to him but it appeared accurate to them.
After stifling his fit, Akio grinned and asked, "Are you sure?" The instant he questioned it, so did the assistants. However, they could not go back on their declaration now, due to Theo's great boasting. Elizabeth sent a worried glance to her brother, signaling that she would handle this.
"Why yes…of course we are sure." Elizabeth proclaimed, "Why else would we make such a boast?" Her voice was carful and it amused Akio to no end. Maybe having these two airheads in public wouldn't be the chore he thought it would be. Akio let a grin slide over his face before replying, "To try to impress me?" the look of shock on the assistants' faces was more than worth the trouble he was going through.
Now Akio let out a laugh and the blue clad siblings finally gathered an idea. "Oh…It was only a small joke…" Theo falsely explained, hoping their master would believe them.
"Yes, a joke to…lighten the tension of our visit…" Elizabeth added with false bravado. They gave nervous laughter as Akio continued to chuckle at their reasoning. In truth, the young Persona User could not believe he was having so much fun and with these to no less! When the laughter died down Akio turned to the fountain.
"It's just decoration. It doesn't have much use really." His explanation seemed to fascinate his guests and they stared at it with renewed awe.
"A bit of scenery…I see—" Theo suspected before his sister cut him off.
"Wait! I remember reading about this before!" Elizabeth exclaimed, pointing at the fountain. "Is it not used as form of granting wishes by making an offering to the fountain spirit?" she questioned her guide.
Akio shrugged and replied, "I guess…though it's kind of—"
Instantly, Elizabeth squealed and pulled out her purse. "Then I shall make an opening bid of…1,000,000 yen!" Akio was stunned when she instantly rushed up to the fountain and opened her purse to it. A flood of coins poured out of the small bag, a clearly impossible feet. As the flurry of coins continued abated, it was obvious that some sort of otherworldly attribute was the cause of it. Theo sighed and approached his sister.
"You can be so childish sister. It is clearly a children's tale meant to give hope to the misfortunate." Elizabeth paid her brother no mind, however. A continuous stream of coins persisted in filling up the small fountain and Akio could not stop gazing at the amount of coin being presented for him.
'Mental Note: Steal as much as you can when no one's looking…damn'. There was enough money there for him and his sibling's tuition for the next few years! No way was he going to pass up this chance! Theo sighed deeply again and turned his focus to the building directly behind Akio.
"What is this?" The tall assistant inquired to himself. He approached the police office behind Akio and began surveying the pictures of the lost civilians and criminals. "Most Wanted…Reward?" He took a moment before processing the information and replied to himself, "So the idea of subjugation requests in not unknown in this world…Valuable knowledge indeed. Don't you agree Master Akio?"
The young Persona User was still to preoccupied with the flood of coins to even concern himself with Theo's request. Just then, Elizabeth stopped her flow of coin and smiled to herself before giggling. "In my haste…I forgot to make a wish…How silly of me…" The fountain was littered with up to 1 million yen and Akio was finding it hard to resist the temptation. So much so that he quickly lost track of what he was supposed to be doing.
He snapped back to reality and noticed that the assistants had mysteriously vanished. Akio's eyes widened, 'Oh dear God! I've lost the children!...Damn!' he screamed in his head as he frantically searched the area for them. "What am I, Junpei? I never make these kinds of mistakes…Stupid endless money fountain!" he shouted aloud as he ran to the other side of the aquatic device.
Luckily, his eyes spotted a tall man in blue at the Arcade and Akio rushed to him in a panic. Theo simply marveled at all the wondrous games and prize machines, questioning them aloud to himself. "Ar…cade…What a strange name for a correctional facility…" A hand slapped on his shoulder and he turn to see an out of breath Akio, seething.
"What did I say about wandering off?" he choked out, breathing heavily.
Theo thought for a moment before smiling and responding, "I believe you failed to mention it when we arrived." Now Akio face-palmed. As much as he didn't want to admit it…the male assistant was right. Why couldn't he remember to just tell them the important things earlier! He sighed and regained his temperament.
"Right..." Akio pushed out, "From now on…stay near me." He glanced around the area and asked, "Now where's your sister?" Theo gazed straight ahead and pointed far behind Akio. The young Persona User shifted back and finally caught sight of the female assistant, she was heading directly for the 'Escapade Club'.
Akio took a deep breath and called out, "Hey Elizabeth!" Strangely, no reply came, she didn't even turn back at all. Akio sighed again and jogged over to her, gripping her arm. "Hey Liz…" Now another strange occurrence…he was standing in place…but also moving. He looked down to see his feet skidding along the ground. Akio gasped as he realized that Elizabeth was subconsciously dragging him in her attempt to reach the club.
"Club…" Elizabeth whispered as she continued her senseless advance.
Akio began to pull furiously but to no avail. 'She can't go in there! I'm not allowed in there!...Damn!' Akio shouted to himself as he endeavored to pull the female assistant back. Suddenly, Akio remembered he was not alone and turned back toward Theo.
"Yo, Theo! I need your—" He stopped speaking instantly as he discovered Theo was a few feet behind him, one arm submerged in the water of the fountain. Akio mouth hung open as Theo slowly lifted his arm from the water.
"It's 8 degrees Celsius…" he concluded proudly, before he heard Akio's shrieking.
"That's nice but it doesn't help me right now! Help me Theo!"
The instant Theo recognized those words, he turned to his master and rushed to him. "What may I do to assist—"
"Help me stop her!" Akio shouted, still tugging on Elizabeth's arms. A confused look decorated Theo's face until he noticed where his sister was heading. Somehow Akio knew things had gone from "bad" to "we're screwed".
"Oh dear…" Theo pronounced suddenly, "It seems my sister is still far too infatuated with this 'club' establishment. I fear that we—"
"Club…club…" Elizabeth recited like a hypnotized child as she marched on, almost ignoring Akio's efforts to stop her.
"Just shut up and help me!" Akio cut Theo off, not caring for dialog. Theo instantly obliged and grabbed his sister's arms before pulling back himself. Immediately, Elizabeth's progress slowed but it did not stop. "Pull harder Theo!" the young Persona User declared.
"I am pulling as hard as I can, Master Akio." Theo's words shocked Akio. Was there no way to stop this beast of woman dedicated to dancing in a seedy bar? If Theo couldn't stop her then what chance did…
Inspiration struck Akio as he glanced down to her slow moving legs. "I've got it!" Akio shouted, startling Theo. He glanced to the male assistant and motioned to Elizabeth's legs. "Take her out at the knees!" Theo instantly grasped the situation and nodded firmly. They both lifted their feet and delivered solid kicks to the female assistant's lower legs.
"Cluuuub…" Elizabeth spoke as her legs flew out from under her and the men began dragging her back away from the neon lights. "Cluuuub…" she protested but did not make a physical attempt to be freed.
"Back to the Room!" Akio shouted to his blue clad ally as they dragged the lovely female assistant back to the ally and through the glowing blue door.
April 30, 2009: Velvet Room (Again)
"What were you thinking!" Akio scolded the assistants as they hung their heads in shame. "I told you both to behave and do as I said but did you..."
"No…" the blue clad siblings said in unison.
"No! No you didn't!" Akio shouted before taking deep breath. He picked up his school bag, which he'd left in the Velvet Room, and moved to the door. "I'm heading home for the day." Just as he approached the door a soft voice called out.
"M-Master Akio…" Elizabeth called out softly.
Akio whirled around, anger in his soul until he noticed both the assistants bowing to him. "I apologize for my lack of control. Please do not think ill of our abilities to assist you despite me failure." Elizabeth's voice begged for forgiveness and it tore at Akio's conscience.
"I am also to blame, Master Akio." Theo added, "I should have been more compliant and my negligence led to this disaster. I am willing to receive punishment for my actions." That also tore into Akio's mind.
Sure, things went a little awry but there was no need for…
Suddenly, Akio remembered a time when he'd scolded Minato and Minako like this. When they were much younger, the twins had gone to the restroom together while Akio was busy buying groceries. They left without a word and Akio was close to calling the cops trying to find them. When they did finally turn up, Akio yelled at them for nearly twenty minutes, expressing his worry and anger.
His temper, when he was dedicated to protecting others, was quite deadly and he had turned that rage on his innocent siblings.
The twins only hung their heads and said nothing. Later, when Akio was preparing them dinner when he heard sobbing from their room. He peeked in and saw them making him a piece of colored paper with the words "We're Sorry" plastered on it. They had cried the entire time. Akio instantly burst into tears as well and opened the door, startling his siblings. He gave them a great big hug and apologized for yelling at them so much…it was a moment that was burned into Akio's eyes to this day.
Now, seeing the assistants in the same light, Akio did the only thing on his mind. He walked up to them and pulled them into a group hug. "Don't worry about it." He knew it looked kind of odd because both of the assistants were taller than he was but he didn't care. "I lost my temper. My bad…" The young Persona User pulled back and grinned at them, "Just be sure to be more careful next time we go out." The blue clad sibling's eyes lit up, fully understanding his meaning.
"You mean…" Theo began.
"You'll take us out again…?" Elizabeth finished.
Akio grinned wider at them and said, "I'm never taking you to the mall again but we can go somewhere else. Somewhere less hazardous…" The assistants bowed to him again and this time it was not out of guilt.
"We shall not fail you again, Master Akio." They replied in unison. That kind of freaked him out but Akio just shrugged and picked up his bag again. He headed for the door and grasped the handle before turning back to them.
"You guys are weird!" he shouted back before exiting the strange elevator room. When he was gone, the assistants turned to each other and smiled.
"He's still the same…" Elizabeth speculated.
"Kind as always…" Theo concluded.
Behind them, Igor suppressed a grin of his own, remembering events best left forgotten.
April 30, 2009: SEES Dorm
It was well past dark when Akio returned and he knew he'd answer for it.
The instant Akio got back to the dorm he was rushed by his sibling. "Where the hell were you!" they shouted in unison. Minako punched him in the face while Minato kicked him in the gut. Akio doubled over and grunted, "Nice to see you too…"
Akio glanced up to see everyone glaring at him. Yukari had an angry/worried look while Akihiko and Junpei just looked pissed. The scariest was Mitsuru, her icy glare more frightening than a pistol barrel dangled in front of your eyes. Akio knew he needed to rectify this situation somehow…but how!
The twins picked him up off the ground and glared at him as well, "So…" Minato asked.
"Where the hell were you!" Minako shouted, stomping on his foot, "You had us worried, you jerk!"
Akio yelped in pain before shouting back, "Maybe if you stopped hitting me I could tell you!" Everyone waited patiently for their Leader to explain his absent, no matter how difficult it was. Finally, after Akio nursed his wounds, he sat down at the couch and took a deep breath.
"I was trying to plan a surprise but now it's ruined." Akio made up on the spot. Luckily, he sold it pretty well. That is until Mitsuru got in his face, frosty anger in her vibrant eyes.
"And what surprise requires you to be out past curfew?" Her tone may have been quiet but nonetheless deadly. Akio had a quick mind and knew that only sincerity and a great deal of acting would save him from execution.
He shifted and pulled out his wallet. "I was reserving a space for all of us at Karaoke…" he informed them. "We spent so much time in Tartarus, I wanted us to take a break. Maybe bond a little." He half-joked, half-prayed she believed him. With all of them unable to see the Velvet Room it would do no good to worry them with all the havoc it caused him.
Plus explaining brought up painful memories from earlier today.
Luckily, Junpei's infinite enthusiasm chimed in. "Karaoke, huh? Oh, count me in Sempai!" Akio gestured to his underclassman friend and nodded, as if to say, "He gets it". Mitsuru's icy glare strangely vanished and she backed away suddenly.
Taking a step back she interjected, "Don't you think we should be studying for school if we're not exploring Tartarus?" Akio fought a grin that threatened to overtake him. The question was more than simple for his elusive and creative mind.
"But if we do that," he began, "Then my reservation will go to waste. Can't be wasteful now can we?" He had expected Mitsuru to fight him on this but strangely, she half-smiled and gave a quick laugh.
"I suppose," she grinned slightly, "As long as you're paying." Akio cringed a bit but knew he could not back down, even if it would drain his remaining funds. He jumped to his feet and puffed his chest out.
"It's on me tonight!" Akio proclaimed, making Junpei and Minako shout with joy. How easily it was to sway them…
Yukari, however, seemed kind of apprehensive about the idea. "I don't know…I think I might just stay here." It was kind of odd for everyone to go to Karaoke so soon after doing it before but then again, Akio had missed it last time for the hectic Velvet Room!
Minato heard her complaint and turned to her. "You sure? It's not every day that Akio pays for Karaoke." Instantly, Minako jumped into the conversation, showing her support. "It may never happen again! Come on, Yukari! Don't make me the only girl in the group!"
Yukari pointed to Mitsuru and asked, "Isn't Mitsuru-sempai going along?" The redhead shrugged and didn't give an answer. The female twin instantly changed her game plan, she would have her brother's love interest with them tonight! It was her duty as sister to ensure her brother's happiness, plus she wanted a girlfriend to chat with and Mitsuru was out of the question in that department. She waved her hand and smiled at her classmate.
"Either way, I want you to come with us. It won't be any fun without you." Her words were heartfelt and honest…at least they sounded it. Akio marveled at the level of which his sister took the plan to hook up their brother and the brunette. Then again, he had gone out of his way to find ways to get them to spend more time together too.
Now isn't that the pot calling the kettle the whore…
Meanwhile, Yukari was busy contemplating what she wanted to do. That is, until Minato also mentioned, "I think it'll be fun. You should come with us." He was simply being honest but that always made Akio smile at his younger brother. It was a skill that very few people had, not to mention it impressed the chicks.
Finally, Yukari smiled and replied, "What the heck? One night won't kill me." Minako jumped for joy while her twin brother smiled happily. Junpei advanced to the doors and pushed them open before turning back to everyone.
"Let's get this show on the road! To Paulownia Mall!" He rushed out into the night air, the twins and Yukari not far behind. Akio turned to Mitsuru and Akihiko before gesturing to the door. "Coming?" he asked pleasantly, making them grin at him.
Akihiko approached him and said, "Whenever you feel like telling us the real reason you were out so late, we'll listen." Now Akio couldn't contain his shock. His friend had waited until the others had been out of earshot to tell him this. "You think we wouldn't notice?" the boxer continued, "We aren't friends for nothing you know." The young Leader let a sad smile cross his lips.
"If there's a problem," Mitsuru offered with a smile, "We can help you. That's what we're here for, right?" Akio was marveled at how deeply his newfound friends thought of him. Even with living here for so short a time he had somehow managed to find friends in the place, something he once thought impossible.
Akio sighed deeply before smiling warmly at them. "I'll give you the details later. For now," he glanced out to his waiting siblings and friends, "Let's just relax and forget our problems." Akihiko and Mitsuru shared a knowing look before smiling back and nodding.
Akihiko turned to the redhead and asked, "So, you coming with us or staying here?" His voice sounded almost hopeful but only Akio caught it, and he wasn't surprised by it.
"It's been a while since I tried something new," Mitsuru informed them, "It might be fun." The heiress responded before advancing in front of the men, leaving Akio and Akihiko to catch up.
Akio didn't know when it began…but he was actually starting to grow attached to this new way of life.
To Be Continued…
I missed all of you and I'm glad to finally get another chapter up after many months of waiting! Stay tuned for more but I can't promise when I'll have a new chapter out. Either way, keep on reading readers!
Please Review and thanks for the support!