Minato was at lost; he could not understand what Igor meant by repeated years. He doubted that Minako would be involved in some messed up things.
"Believe it or not, your life has been running around in circles. Consider this year will never cease. To put it simply ... ".
"Our time is stuck ? How can that be ?! This is the first time I ever ..."
"Exactly... Your memories will be erased when the year has come to an end. It will again repeat itself from the start. Hence you will have no recollection of the shadows, of SEES of anything. Actually, you have been part of this for many times. Just as long as your sister. " Minato rested his back against the velvet cushion. He can't seem to grasp the information he was given..
"How many ... years have we been running in circles ? "
"I kept count. IF this year will be no difference. This will be the 10th " Igor set flatly.
"Does my sister know ? "
"yes ... She has been doing this for about 9 years. Like everyone her memories were erased. However that was before, Until now. She managed to have keep her memories, but the others I do not think so. As an example you have no recollection of your own memories. Also she have denied access. " Igor stroked his own chin. Closing his eyes. Elizabeth was looking at him ruefully, she felt uneasy. "Master " she whispered, only to be silenced by Igor.
Minato was too preoccupied to notice, everything was spread on the table, waiting for his answer, somehow something doesn't feel right. A voice was trying to send him a message from the back of his mind. It was like beyond all this things ... There was a piece missing. He knows it there's something more, he was sure. It's placed at the tip of his brain, he just can't get a hold of it.
"You have no idea of she is doing now ... do you ? " was the next sentence that came from his mouth. Minato looked at him, his eyes showing hopelessness.
"Alas, I have no information of her activities as of now. Her Assistant Theodore is the only one who, I think, may know anything regarding her activities."
"Can't you just tell him to go back? " Minato asked desperate. Igor eyed him ruefully "We have. Unfortunately he refuses to come back. "
"Do you know where he is ? " Minato asked forcefully, if he could find this Theodore. He might find his sister too and maybe clear the mess they're in! Elizabeth spoke
"We have no information on Theo's whereabouts. My sister only saw him during the dark hour. He disappeared right after that. She hadn't got the chance to confront him."
Minato slumped on his chair so many questions and so little answers.
"I don't know if this has got anything to do with this ... but, I hoping it would. While I was at the Nagasaki Shrine, right before you and your sister came..." he pointed at Elizabeth "While I was praying, I saw my sister, it's more of a flash really, like a dream ... it's blurry but I'm sure I saw my sister. She's in some sort of Festival. "
Igor looked down, and stroke his chin. "Have you felt this often?" Igor asked his forefinger pointing at him. Minato shook his head , "No, I'm not sure, it only happened to me recently." Igor nodded.
"I can't say for certain boy ... however, I think it's a fragment of your sister's memory."
"Her memory? But, you said she has all of her memory intact. How come one memory is floating around the shrine?" Minato objected. Igor did not reply for a moment. "Was this the first time it happened?" "Yes, the very first..."
"What about the demise? " Igor's expression was unreadable
The velvet room became more cold and dark. "I think it is best ... If I do not tell you about that now. "
"Why? If you tell me when exactly it's going to happen, maybe I could prepare for it! And If I knew when the demise will come, I can have a deadline for my sister. "
"The structure of this dimension is already feeble as it is ... It is best for you to learn about it your own ... as your sister chose to do."
"You mean to tell me she knows when the time is? "
Igor nodded. He chuckled without the humour and stood from his seat.
"Thank you for your time and I apologize if I have been rude." He bowed his head in an apologetic matter then nodded towards the girl in blue who blushed and bowed herself.
Minato escorted himself towards the door and went out.
Hey Have you heard about the girl in 2-E"
"Yeah, isn't it bizarre ? "
"I can't believe that most people are so engrossed about some rumor." Junpei exclaimed to Yukari who was looking at him indifferently. The class just ended a few minutes ago. They were both heading back to the dorm, when they bumped into the duo; Yu and Yosuke.
"Headin' back yet ?" Yu greeted Junpei as he wrapped one arm around Yosuke in a playful manner.
"Where's the 3rd ?" Yukari asked jokingly. Yu raised his eyebrow, clearly referring to Minato. "He said He needs to do some club work ... " Yu replied
"Why? Has our Yukari have taken a liking to our leader ?" Yosuke teased. Yukari stammered and burned red. Junpei laughed almost chocking on the air he was breathing. Yukari fumed angrily at Junpei and Yosuke.
"Pipe down you guys " Yu exclaimed. They ceased, but the two continued with blissful snickers and attempts.
"Hey you guys heard about the girl in 2-E ?" Junpei asked somehow forgetting the statement he made earlier. "That again? I was asked about it like ... 10-3 times. " Yosuke yawned. "So you heard? "
"Nah... At least I pretended that I was listening." Yosuke replied
"whoa, How about Yu ?" Junpei switched.
"Not much really... I just caught some of it. Girl was found lying right in front of the school gate. The reason they were there is in total blank. The girl was hospitalized. Yada-yada-yada…" Yu counted by lifting a finger after the other. Yosuke, Yukari and Junpei stared at the silver teen, both astonished and confused at the way Yu answered. His tone was blank from expression, like a person reading lazily on a check list.
Yu got their glances. "What? "
The conversation between the group was a racket. Often wild sprouts of defiance and irritated screams countering the two class clowns tease fest. They reached the dorm and still the love-hate fest still continued. When all four set eye on their blue haired leader sitting cross legged, drinking coffee and reading newspaper wearing his silver rimmed glasses. He looked up with one eyebrow perked.
Something inside Yukari popped and made her face look bit red. Yosuke and Junpei noticed it and started to tease again. Yukari didn't shout this time, instead, the girl ran up the flight of stairs while hiding her flushed red face with her school bag.
"Did I miss anything ? " Minato asked.
"Nothing in particular" Yu replied.
"Man I never seen Yukari so flushed and red like that! " Junpei gave a thumbs up to Minato and a wink. Yosuke just patted their leader's shoulder and gave his congratulations. Minato was in a depth of not knowing of what was happening.
"Care to explain ? " He eyed Yu
"Can't say for certain ..." He shrugged.
"Heh, If I were to be given one yen every time I hear that. " Minato took a sip. Yosuke and Junpei ran up the stairs like some bunch of kids. Shouting phrases from, he guessed, the video games Junpei was playing.
"So any news ? " Yu asked.
"Just one ... Although I'm not sure I got my head to understand it yet" Minato replied.
"you went?"
"Last night ."
"And? "
Minato explained everything he have learned in the velvet room, giving his opinions while at it. Yu listened fully. Clearly Minato was both worried and confused, he would not object, it's not like he could differ. From the moment he told him about Minako's disappearance he could not stop thinking about her. Minako was a special girl to him not in a romantic way but like a younger sister and like Minato. Her being missing doing heaven knows what, frightened him.
"Do you really think she'll be there ?" Yu asked
"It's worth a try ... but, I have mix emotions about that place." Minato replied
"How? " Yu asked.
Minato seemed reluctant he placed his coffee and paper down "Well, for one. If she's not there a part of me is relieved, but thinking she wasn't there I don't know any more leads. "
"Good point. "
Yosuke was playing innocent sin with Junpei and is proud to announce to have mastered the game well enough to beat Junpei at every attempt he could throw. He laughed at every victory as he stepped on Junpei. He used to laugh like this when he was playing with Minako. Minako Yosuke repeated; A faint sad smile crept on his face.
Three days later and the school was not doing anything to stop the rumor. It somehow evolved itself into a ghost story, which Junpei enjoyed telling. They listened one night when the SEES held a group meeting down at the longue. Yukari was white as a sheet during the conference and until the story was over. Yosuke and Junpei are definitely having fun teasing Yukari off her skin.
Mitsuru was troubled at the fact, so Minato went and conversed with her.
"why isn't the Kirijo doing anything to silence the rumour ?" He asked as he leaned against the wall.
Mitsuru smiled coolly. "Unfortunately the Kirijo group is too busy with other more pressing matters" He replied with an expressionless face as if silently indicating that he wasn't convince. Mitsuru sighed.
"I'm just playing Ms. Kirijo. If you approve I may try to be at service on investigating the ghost story. Something is telling me that more of the night creatures other than ghost are involved with this."
"My thoughts exactly..." Mitsuru replied. "What do you propose?"
"Yukari over there is on the brick of melt down why not give her the task ... " Minato said evenly. "I don't mean to lead something like this ... "
"Fine " she complied. Walking over Yukari Mitsuru called her attention. Yukari looked surprised for a moment and was hesitant to agree. She was too freaked out from the ghost story to even defend herself.
The other guys heard the offer and when they heard her scared voice they begun to tease again forcing her to bravely accept the assignment.
"We should call it the night guys. And stop scaring Yukari already... I don't want any members to get sick because of sleeplessness. Besides, she might die later tonight and haunt you. " Minato pointed in Yukari's defense.
It was really weird for someone like him to let out a joke. The attempted joke landed like a 2 ton metal on ground which silenced the two jokers with an uneasy chuckle Yukari was more pressed than before, not knowing which is which. Did he just made the situation worse. Go figure. Not risking any embarrassment he headed to the second floor.
"Was he trying to defend me ? " Yukari asked silently.
"More or less ... But I see the point though..." Junpei nodded steadily
"Yeah ... If we keep scaring you. You couldn't sleep and you will grow huge eye bags hence making you look like a ghost . "
An outburst of uncontrollable laughter followed by irritated shouts from a scared girl. The night went on peacefully… more or less.
While in bed. Minato wondered; if that boy would return. Closing his eyes, half expecting that he would be awaken by the same boy. He drifted to sleep while he waited for the cold presence which didn't appear like it did the other night.
Chidori was slowly opening up to Minako. This was their Third night together. Chidori calls her Nyx and openly adores her name, she may not know her true identity, and slowly she found herself why Junpei liked her so much. She learned more of Chidori other than knowing that the girl likes to draw and sketch although that's the only thing she knew about her then.
"There is one thing I am confused about ... " Chidori asked softly almost in a whisper. "I have come to know you ... and I have learned to befriend you ... Medea tells me that I should fear you ... It's strange."
Minako has no idea how to respond to this. She has no clue on why Chidori's persona was acting like this. But deep inside she can make a wild guess.
"Jin told me something earlier" Chidori said with a smile. Minako perked up her brow. She was not expecting that comment. And was scared to let her say it. "What did he say to you? " Nyx asked, letting the wind touch her cloak and face, the wind was strong enough to make it flutter, but not strong enough to blow the hood away.
"It's a queer opinion... I never really heard him say this before..."
It made her more curious she waited for her to continue. "He somehow grew a liking to you." Thankful for the heavy attire she was wearing, Nyx was relieved that it was dark and Chidori won't see the rapid change of her face she could feel heat run up her cheeks.
That was really unexpected being with STREGA for only 3 and a half weeks. Nyx never took Jin as an idiot, then again. They were. She laughed under her breath which made Chidori smile carelessly as if at the moment the burden weighed upon her ceased.
"What made you join us ... " Chidori's expression turned dim. A long pause followed. "We have our reasons Chidori. Mine is mine alone… " She replied equally.
Chidori nodded and went back to sketching. "Tartorus is such a sight to behold. " She said. Minako looked at it, from where she was the horrible tower did have its own charms.
"It's a shame that only few can see its beauty ... " Nyx added. Chidori nodded.
The moon revealed itself from the clouds that covers it. It's slowly growing full. This will be the second ordeal they will face. She wonders ... how will it end.
"It's getting late we should head back, Theodore doesn't want me staying out on my own"
"What ... is your relationship with Theodore?, If you don't mind me asking" The red haired girl quizzed.
Minako giggled. "He's more than an admirer. " she lift a finger to her mouth, a toothy green showing.
Chidori smoothed out a chuckle, hugging her sketch pad near her chest while they walked back home.
The walk wasn't noisy and it wasn't quiet. Chidori would ask questions and she would give her own opinion but every now and then. She would speak the mind of Medea and make the conversation less amusing and more uncomfortable. She noticed Chidori's physique when Medea is speaking through her. She would lose her balance and look pretty frail, although it would only last a couple of minutes. It wasn't good for the user