Hello everyone! Sorry for the wait, but I was having trouble figuring out how I wanted this written. This is the 5th or 6th rendition of this chapter in the past few days, and probably the 20th or 25th overall since my last post. I hope it holds up to my previous chapters, and I hope you enjoy reading this. As always, feel free to post reviews with your thoughts on the subject, and I thank you once again for your time and support. Please enjoy!
Souji and Naoto stood at Dojima's bedside, looking sadly at the stricken man. After hearing the news about Taro Namatame, the detective had led a high speed chase after the former politician, Adachi having caught up towards the tail end of the chase in his own car. However, the panicked delivery man had thrown his emergency brake on in a moment of desperation, flipping his own truck over and causing Dojima to spin out and crash.
The investigation team had seen the trail of smoke in the sky, and had run towards the scene. Naoto had called the paramedics and searched Namatame's truck while the others stood around Dojima, fearing for his life. Naoto had come back with a journal belonging to Namatame, reading aloud the list of names inside, while Adachi nodded, claiming that was all the proof they'd need. Dojima stirred, bringing Souji back from his memories.
"Y-You guys…"
The detective coughed harshly, causing Souji to lean forward in concern. Naoto stood close by, face downcast as she struggled to maintain her composure. "Are you alright?" asked the young sleuth. Dojima grinned wryly, but the small effort caused him pain, and the smile disappeared as quickly as it had come.
"I must look like hell right now…" Dojima turned to Souji; the young boys' eyes were gleaming with tears as he looked at his uncle's face. "Nanako...She's...my reason for living...If I lose her...I might as well be dead..."
Souji shook his head. "Don't say that, Uncle Dojima. She needs you to be strong right now…"
Dojima shook his head at Souji's words. "But...She must be so scared right now...Waiting for someone to save her...And...here I am..." Dojima coughed with the effort of talking. "When she needs me most...I'm helpless...What kind of a father am I...? I can't even protect my own daughter...!"
Naoto looked at the elder detective with a pained look. "Dojima-san…" she murmured.
"If anything happens to Nanako...I'll make Namatame pay...!" He looked at Souji again. "You can save Nanako, right...? I trust you...Please...save her for me...! You're the only ones I can turn to right now..."
Souji nodded, taking Dojima's hand in his own. "I promise, we'll get Nanako back. It might take a while, but we'll get her back." He smiled lightly. "We all want to find her, but Yu's aiming to move heaven and earth to get her back. Nanako's going to be fine, okay? Trust us, and get some rest." Dojima nodded at the silverette's words, and leaned his head back as he drifted into unconsciousness once more.
Naoto and Souji began to leave the room, but an unexpected weight on Naoto's shoulder caused her to halt in her tracks. Souji was leaning heavily on her, suddenly finding that his legs were too weak to stand on their own. "If I hadn't been so pre-occupied…" he began, but a finger to his lips shushed him.
Naoto was looking at her boyfriend concernedly. "Now's not the time for that. We need to keep it together so we can find Nanako-chan." The young sleuth hugged Souji tightly, feeling the tears in her own eyes soak into his jacket. Souji leaned his head on hers for a few moments before the detective pulled herself away. She hardened her gaze as she met Souji's eyes. "We'll find Namatame, and rescue Nanako-chan. But we'll have to wait until Junes opens again, okay? Be strong for a while longer." Souji nodded at Naoto's words, feeling his determination harden again. "Come on, the others are waiting." Naoto led the way out of the hospital room, fists clenched at her side.
The Investigation Team stood still, gazing around at the scenery before them with a sense of awe. "It's so beautiful…like a storybook picture of heaven…" Rise murmured, and then put her hands to her mouth as she realized what she'd said. The group looked sullen.
"Heaven, huh? Deep down inside, Nanako-chan must really miss her…" Yosuke mumbled softly, and moved to Chie's side for some sense of comfort. Kanji shook his head and swore, looking down to hide his face. Yu swung his katana a few times before sheathing it, grasping the hilt tightly as he did so. Souji stood with his arms crossed, briefcase that still contained his Tonfa hanging from the strap on his shoulder; Teddie would take it and put it into his suit once he'd removed the weapons. The blonde youth would leave his suit, holding the containers for the teams weapons, here at the entrance; the shadows never bothered it. Naoto stood off to one side, polishing her revolver and checking to make sure that the mechanisms still functioned, and Yukiko stood near Yosuke and Chie, talking softly about the scenery around them.
Teddie approached the twins, looking at each boy briefly. "Is Nana-chan gonna be okay?" he asked.
The twins nodded firmly. "We'll get her out of here, Ted, don't worry." Souji looked at the bear warmly, forcing a smile as he did so to comfort his friend.
Yu spoke up. "Cheer up, man. How'd you think Nanako would feel if she saw us all moping like this?" The others all heard him, and looked towards the youth with a curious gaze. Souji nodded, genuinely smiling as he caught on to his brother's plan.
"Yeah, I don't think she'd be too happy with us if we showed up looking all sad. You know how she worries about us all the time." The silverette's chuckled as they thought back to the times they'd been out late working at the hospital, only to come home to a very upset Nanako silently waiting at the table in the Dojima's house. She'd chewed them out a few times when they'd failed to come home when they'd told her they would, and made them promise to keep a better track of time whenever possible. The twins had never come home late again.
Looking around now, Yu saw the teams faces brighten a bit. "This isn't any different from the last time we had to save someone. We all feel the same way, so let's put that feeling to use. Don't push ourselves further than our limits, make sure we pay attention at all times, and work together. We'll get Nanako out, no sweat!" The teens all nodded, feeling more unified than ever before. Nanako was responsible for bringing the team together often, and they'd all made promises to the young girl they'd come to adore.
"Alright, then what are we waiting for, dammit? Let's get in there, kick some Shadow ass, and save Nanako!" Kanji's words earned him a cheer of approval from his friends, and they all turned to look towards the gates of Heaven.
"Let's do this!" Souji said, and led the way into the bright world ahead, fixing his Tonfa to his arms and handing Teddie his briefcase.
The team paused for a moment. Rise had mentioned earlier that she'd felt someone else's presence in Nanako's world, but now they heard a voice speaking, Namatame's voice.
The man was speaking in crazed words, claiming he'd never let Nanako go, wishing he could live in this world with…someone…and causing worry for the team as a whole.
"Senpai, I can hear them really close by. Nanako-chan and Namatame are just up ahead!"
Yu nodded his thanks to Rise, and turned to slash at a shadow that had leaped out of nowhere, cutting it in two before it could react. "Come on, we're wasting time here" he said, and moved forward, his brother and the rest of the team following close behind.
The team stared in horror as Namatame's body convulsed harshly. They had arrived at the end of the road, and found Namatame holding Nanako close as he screamed at the team. Souji and Naoto had begun assaulting the crazed man with a barrage of questions, causing him to lower his guard. He'd claimed to have been saving people, and had greeted Yukiko, Kanji, Rise and Naoto as "the one's he'd saved." However, the drop in his guard had left him open, and Yosuke and Kanji wasted no time in tackling the delivery man, forcing him to release Nanako.
The young girl stumbled forward, falling into Yu's arms as she did so. Now, Namatame was changing, as shadows from all around "Heaven" began merging with the man. An explosion of darkness caused the team to cover their eyes, and Yu felt Nanako being removed from his grasp. The teen tried to scream, but choked as the darkness cleared away, and he saw what stood before him. A massive being floated in front of the team, wearing a white robe with the symbols for love and peace on its front. A large stylized red circle floated above its head, jagged points poking out from its edges. The figures body was black with red lines crossing it horizontally, and it held its hands out in peace signs as it looked at the teens.
The team looked around frantically for Nanako, and found her in one of the beings hands, hanging by her arms. "Nanako!" Yu yelled, summoning Izanagi. The tall Persona seemed uncharacteristically angry, and looked ready to fly at the being before them at a moment's notice.
"I am Kunino-sagiri!" The creature spoke with a twisted version of Namatame's own voice. "I…I'm going to save her! Don't interfere!"
The massive shadow swept its hand in front of him, buffeting the team with a large gust of wind. The teens summoned their Personas, looking on at their foe with a fierce look. "We've come this far! We're not losing now!" Yosuke yelled, and leaped forward alongside Yu. Izanagi and Susano-O flew forward as the teens moved. Izanagi slashed at the sagiri, but was knocked backwards with a swat of the beings hand. Susano-O danced around the shadow's attacks, casting its own wind forward, but stopped as one spell came close to hitting Nanako. Kunino-sagiri saw the opening, and threw his hand forward, casting a massive lightning spell at the hesitating Persona. The spell connected, and Susano-O was thrown back into Yosuke. Yu was on his knees, recovering from the blow that had hit Izanagi.
Chie and Yukiko had flanked the shadow as Yosuke and Yu began their attack, and were now attempting to harass the sagiri from behind. The shadow shook his head, as if annoyed, and spun around quickly as a light poured forth from the circle above its head. Chie fell backwards, a look of shock on her face. "Wha-?" she began, then gasped as she saw Yukiko cast Agidyne, and what should have been a massive eruption of flame appeared as a small ember on the large shadow. Kunino-sagiri laughed as Rise yelled.
"He's changed something! Some spells won't be effective now!"
Kanji swore. "Well, if spells ain't gonna work, then an old-fashioned beat-down should stop him!" Kanji ran forward, swinging his massive metal plate at the shadows feet while Rokuten Maoh swung his massive blade at its head. The blows connected, staggering the sagiri a bit. Kanji shoved his fist in the air at the small victory, but was thrown backwards as another blast of wind emanated from the sagiri's hands. Naoto and Souji moved forward to catch him, and ran forward with Teddie.
"Everyone, get up. Try attacking at once, get him distracted!" The others nodded at Souji's words, and began another assault. Kunino-sagiri began backing away, but an idea had formed in the shadow's head.
Grinning widely, it thrust the hand holding Nanako in front of him. The teens immediately halted, looking at their foe with seething hatred. "How dare you use Nanako-chan like a shield!" screamed Chie, but the brunette could only look on helplessly. The sagiri smiled again, and came down close to the ground, and waved his hands in a beckoning motion. The teens all felt a tugging, and began running towards the sagiri, lining up behind him. Yu and Souji managed to break free from the sensation before the others had moved, but now looked on in horror as they saw their friends and their Personas raise their weapons towards the twins.
"Gah….can't….stop!" Yosuke grunted, trying desperately to halt his hands. Chie and Yukiko were struggling themselves, alongside Kanji, Teddie, and Naoto.
Naoto's revolver came up and pointed straight at Souji. "I….I can't stop it…Senpai!" she yelled, feeling her trigger finger tighten. Souji and Yu looked at their friends, desperately trying to find some way to stop them. Even the Persona's seemed to be trying their hardest to keep from attacking the two boys. Despite their best efforts, however, the team couldn't stop themselves, and Kunino-sagiri laughed as he watched the silverette's try to defend themselves from the assault that had begun. Yamato-Takeru was casting Megidolaon while Kanji and Rokuten Maoh approached the twins, assaulting them with mighty swings from their weapons. Yosuke and Teddie unleashed a Junes Bomber on the twins while Chie and Yukiko cast a multitude of spells to attack their friends. The assault ended with the explosion of Naoto's Megidolaon, but their friends returned to Kunino-sagiri's side, and tried their best to resist the commands he issued.
Rise stood horrified off to one side, her lack of fighting abilities keeping her from being under the sagiri's control. Yu leaned on his katana, trying to stand upright while Souji fell to one knee. "We can't take another attack like that…" Yu gasped out, falling to his knees. He couldn't find the strength to stand anymore. Souji shook his head, desperately trying to find a solution, but could think of nothing.
"Maybe…" he began, but groaned as he heard the familiar sound of spells beginning to be cast. They were out of time.
Souji looked up, hoping to see his friend's faces one last time, and widened his eyes in shock. Everything appeared…frozen. No one was moving. Looking to his side, he saw Yu was frozen as well, not even breathing. "What the hell…?" Souji murmured, then gasped as he heard a voice speak in his head.
"The time has come." Souji looked around, hearing the voice physically as well as mentally. The figure of Morpheus stood in front of him, robe billowing despite the lack of any wind. "You must make your decision now. The final cost of my service will be determined by your choice." Souji's eyes widened. He suddenly remembered the dream he had had not long ago; the blue and gold platform, the images of his friends and family, the darkness that had swallowed him whole.
"What do you mean? What choice must I make?" Morpheus' shoulders shook, and Souji heard a deep chuckle come from his Persona.
"The choice is this, Souji Seta. Do you wish to save your friends? Or will you let yourselves all die, here and now?"
Souji shook his head, standing as he did so. "Of course I want to save my friends. But what do you mean by cost?" Morpheus waved his hand, crossing them in front of his chest after he finished the movement.
"The cost will be of my choosing. Should you choose to save your friends, I will grant you more of my power to use, but you will…disappear." Souji shuddered, thinking of the implications this information held, and felt his skin break out in a cold sweat. "Should you choose to die, I will take your existence. You will be forgotten by all who knew you, and your contract will be broken. Even the beings of The Velvet Room will forget you. Those are the prices for your decisions."
Souji looked down, mind working rapidly. He didn't quite understand what exactly was going on, but letting shock take over would not help him at all. The silverette shook his head. "What do you mean, disappear? Isn't that the same as dying? Or non-existence?"
Morpheus nodded slowly. "I'm afraid to try to explain the details of that cost would only cause more questions to form, rather than answer those that you have asked. I am nothing if not honest. I can only say this. To disappear now will indebt you to me. That is my goal with such a cost." Souji was taken aback. If he understood correctly, Morpheus had just said that he'd be indebted to his own Persona if he agreed to save his friends.
Morpheus held up a hand in a halting gesture. "Truthfully, Souji Seta, I have come to admire you and your friends over the course of our…relationship. My powers come with a price, though, and I cannot renege on my own stipulations, despite my own thoughts. To do so would be to go against my nature. The power I can offer you here will save your friends and family, but the cost comes from you. You will disappear, as I will take you from this place." The Persona nodded his head. "This is not death. I cannot say more at this juncture, but opportunities do arise from all choices. You will disappear, but whatever the future holds, it will be your decisions that make it unfold."
Souji nodded grimly. He had an idea about what Morpheus was saying, and decided to throw caution to the wind. "Then I accept your terms. Allow me the power to save my friends and family."
Morpheus nodded firmly, then walked over to Souji. His voice came only from his physical form now; it was low and deep, comforting and disturbing all at once. "Then, Souji Seta, I allow you to draw upon more of my power. Let my dreams unfold upon the threat you face!"
Time began moving again, and Souji saw Yu continue his motion off to his side. Morpheus turned around to face the sagiri, who was looking triumphant. The Dream-lord removed the white staff from his back and held it in front of him, dreamcatcher swaying slightly as he did so. Souji felt himself begin to speak, but the voice that leapt forth was not his own, but the voice of Morpheus.
"Your dreams threaten the existence of the one who bears my favor. The reality you see before you is not the truth, but the illusion you've allowed yourself to believe. See now the dreams you ended with your actions!" White mist flowed forth from the staffs tip, and began to form seemingly random shapes to Souji's bewildered eyes. Kunino-sagiri seemed shocked however, and let his arms fall limply to his sides. The power over the Investigation Team that had controlled them disappeared, and they ran towards the two teens, apologizing and healing their wounds as best they could. Naoto looked at Souji, but he was focused only on the scene before him.
A woman with a red scarf appeared and disappeared quickly, a beautiful woman who appeared to be singing followed the image, dissipating as another image flashed into existence. The figure was small, and Souji recognized it as an image of Nanako. The sagiri looked horrified, and dropped the young girl as he stared at the images in the mist. Teddie didn't wait, and made a mad dash to reach Nanako in time. The blonde youth slid under the sagiri's hands just in time to catch the young girl, and immediately summoned Kintoki-Douji to his side to protect them from any possible repercussions. The action was unneeded, however, as the sagiri simply floated, looking positively stunned. Suddenly, the mist contorted violently, and Morpheus reached back to bring out the black staff from his right, and held it forward in place of the white one. The mist turned silver and purple, and Souji remembered the being from Kanji's bathhouse.
"Dreams exist in all forms. Let your darkest nightmares seep forth and claim you, as penance for your transgressions!"
A large, misty copy of the sagiri formed, purple and silver mist twisting and turning throughout the images' body. The figure reached out to touch Kunino-sagiri, who backed away quickly. However, the figure's reach didn't end with the length of its arms, and tendrils of mist shot forth, binding the sagiri tightly and hoisting him high above the teams' heads. The shocked teens could only stare as the mist began violently tearing at Kunino-sagiri's body, ripping away at the shadows making up its body. An ungodly scream rang forth from the sagiri as he fought against the extreme pain he felt.
Souji felt his lips twist in a smile, then shook his head as he regained some control of himself. "What are you doing?!" he yelled, looking at his Persona. Morpheus paid him no mind, and instead brought the two staves together under Kunino-sagiri. Souji spoke once more in Morpheus's voice, a voice he felt horrified to hear.
"I will not tolerate those who live in peaceful lies! They hold the most boring of dreams, and aspire to nothingness. You are no savior. You are best left to be forgotten, like a dream." Light began to glow from the staves, and Souji felt control over his body return. He leapt forward toward his Persona, realizing that Morpheus was about to erase Namatame from existence.
"No!" he screamed, and tore away at the Dream-lords weapons, attempting to halt whatever the Persona intended on doing. A gauntleted hand shoved him back, and Souji fell into the arms of Yu and Yosuke, who had snapped out of their shock at Souji's sudden movement.
Naoto and the rest of the team came running up to him, looking at Morpheus with a mixture of fear and awe. Morpheus' voice came forth from his own figure this time. "Well, it seems you are entwined in another fate." Morpheus nodded towards the investigation team. "I shall let those who you wronged exact their justice upon you. I have received my payment, anyways." The staves stopped glowing, and Morpheus returned the weapons to their resting place on his back. Kunino-sagiri fell as the mist released him, and the shadows immediately dissipated as he hit the floor, leaving an unconscious Namatame behind. Souji stood shakily, reaching into his pocket for the item he'd stored there earlier that day. Morpheus walked over, and stood a small distance away from the teen.
"My payment is due. Wish your comrades goodbye. I will allow this." The team turned to look at Souji, a question in their eyes.
The youth shook his head, and turned to Naoto. "I'm sorry. Take this. I made it in case…something happened today." He shoved an item into the sleuth's hands and stepped back. Yu reached out to grab his brother, sensing something very wrong, but fell forward as his hand grasped nothing. Souji's body was rapidly becoming incorporeal, and
Morpheus strode over, grabbing Souji's arm as he did so. "Since he did not, I shall bid you adieu in his place. Farewell, friends of Souji Seta." The Dream-lord and Souji disappeared suddenly, leaving nothing behind.
Yu fell to his knees, shock on his face as he tried to comprehend what had just happened. Naoto opened her hand to gaze at whatever she'd been given, and choked as she saw a small ring, attached to a silver chain. It was a simple looking silver ring, but for some reason Naoto felt it meant more than she knew. The detective began to tear up, salty tears stinging her eyes.
Teddie spoke up, snapping them out of their shock. "Nana-chan's hurt!" Yu stood up and ran over to his cousin's side. She looked like she was in pain, but she didn't seem to be physically hurt anywhere.
"We need to get her out of here. This worlds not good for her!" Teddie said, standing up from the crouched position he'd been in. The team nodded, and Yu walked over to Naoto, who was turned away from the group so as to hide her face.
"We…we need to go, Naoto." Yu spoke softly, feeling his own despair well up inside him. despite having saved his young cousin. Naoto nodded once, and came over to the group.
"Take us home, Ted." Yu said as he walked up, and the bear nodded. He handed Nanako delicately to her "Big Bro", and summoned his persona.
"Traesto!" he said firmly, and the team disappeared, teleporting back to the entrance of Nanako's world. The group quietly collected their belongings, and hurried out of the T.V, making a beeline towards the Okina hospital where Dojima was.