Sorry for the waiting. This is my last year in university, i have to split my time so i can write this. Is thanks to your reviews that i can keep writing :D Thanks.
If i'm lucky then i'll post new chapters every weeks. "IF" i'm lucky... and i'm never lucky :(
Chapter 6: Persona Users
It was early morning, Mitsuru, Minako and Akihiko were in front of their old dorm. The place was closed up but they never take it down, thanks to Mitsuru. She think that someday it would be useful again, it take a time but finally that day arrive. Mitsuru open the door and they enter the living room... everything was covered by the dust like it was expected. It's been quite a while.
"Leaving the dust aside... this place looks exactly as we left it" Said Akihiko with optimism
"Yes it is... I'll bring people to clean this place and see if everything is in conditions. We are using it as our base after all, we don't know when the next shadow might appear. The last one didn't appear in a full moon so we have to assume that could happen anytime now... even today" Said Mitsuru
"You are right, this evening we are having the meeting right?" Minako ask
"Yes. This places won't be completely clean but at least it will be presentable for the meeting" Said Mitsuru "Akane will go out of the hospital today, is Ken going to bring her?" Mitsuru ask to Minako
"Yes, he offer. So we are going to tell her everything?" Minako ask. She was nervious about it
"... We are going to tell her about Personas and Shadows... but i don't know if we need to tell her about her father" Said Mitsuru
"Eventually she will know, i think it's better that she don't know a thing... for now" Said Akihiko "When the time comes, Minako should tell her everything" He say while he see at Minako
"Agreed" Said Mitsuru
"Don't push me, Akihiko. It's hard enough for me that she can summon two personas. I don't want her involved in this... She need a normal life"
"... I'm sorry, Minako" Said Mitsuru
"No, Senpai... it's not your fault, it was mine from the very beginning... but i don't regret it"
Ken Amada was waiting for Akane to come out of the hospital, they still have time until the reunion in their old dorm. Ken couldn't help but to smile to the happy memories, the sad ones and the moments that change his life forever. He live every day of his life like it was the last, he won't give up on life. He honored Shinjiro's sacrifice. Ken take out his phone and look at the screen, there was a picture of him, Minako and Akane when she was only 6 years old.
"Every change really fast, so fast that sometimes i wonder... i'm getting old... that's what adults use to say when i was around. I understand them now. That's so sad" He say to himself
"Life still goes on, Ken" Akane was in front of him "What are you looking at?" She ask and look at the picture in the phone. She couldn't see it because Ken hide it
"Nothing. Are you okay? How are you feeling?"
"My head sometimes hurt but nothing that a good nap couldn't fix. I miss my bed, the hospital have awful ones" Said Akane "And don't get me started with that awful food"
"Haha tell me about it. The beds feel like stones and that food... horrible. Like Fuuka's when she didn't know how to cook"
"Yeah, i know. Haruka told me"
"Listen, later we have to go to see your mother and Mitsuru. Meanwhile we can spend some time in the arcade in Paulownia Mall. What do you say? It's on me"
"Really? Cool then. I want to get distracted a little of what happen that day" She say and walk away. Ken look at her while she go to the street "At least it's over"
"... It's far from other, i'm afraid" Ken say to himself
Yu Narukami was reunited with his friends after a couple of years apart. Naoto explain everything to Yu and Marie, about the shadows, the return of the dark hour and Akane's father. Marie was in deep thought, Yu as well. After a couple of minutes Marie speak and everyone make sure to listen to what she have to say about the problem...
"Lets see... Everything seems to indicate that the shadow that attack recently, was looking for Akane. Not only that but she's part shadow... I think we are stepping in dark territory"
"What do you mean?" Chie ask
"Shadows attack only for two motives... one, if they are threaten and two, if the are denied. This shadow attack without being threaten, not only that, The shadow ignore everyone else and went straight to Akane. I dare to say that this shadow was being controlled for someone"
"Is that possible?" Naoto ask
"It is. When you fight Adachi he summon another version of Izanagi. That wasn't a persona, that was in fact a shadow. When Izanami awaken the power in him, Yu and Namatame; They give shape to their power regarding to their own personality. That's why Adachi's Izanagi was a "corrupted version" of the Izanagi that Yu have. Because of they ideals... they are opposite to one another" Marie explain "It's possible to control Shadows... maybe the second persona that Akane summoned was a shadow. I need to see her summoning them and then i can give you a veredict"
"What if that persona is a shadow?" Chie ask "Is her other self coming out of her?"
"I doubt it. Her father is the appraiser of Death... a part of Nyx. Akane become a human that most likely can summon shadows and use them in her favor" Said Marie "Like i say, i need to see her first. Meanwhile, all that i just say take it as a "maybe". I'm not sure yet, maybe i could be wrong... or maybe not"
"Marie... What if Akane can control Shadows? Is that a problem?" Yu ask
"..." Marie didn't answer right away "There are gods that use Shadows... usually those gods are known to bring destruction to humankind. The fact that she can use that power, means that she draw attention to them... or other groups"
"This can get out of hands if we don't play well our cards" Said Yu "Listen, we'll help S.E.E.S in everything they need. The Dark Hour is back, that means that we can't leave them. This concern us too. I know that everyone have other things to do, Family to take care, jobs to attend... a life. But if we turn around and leave now, maybe in a couple of mouth this will come back and bite us in the ass. I know that i'm asking you a lot with this..."
"It's okay, Yu" Said Yosuke "I'll stay here to fight. Besides, i live here now. I won't let the shadows to enter my house in midnight and attack while i'm sleeping"
"Yosuke is right" Said Chie "We'll fight, like we did before"
"We'll kick their asses, senpai!" Kanji yell
"Kanji, don't yell. I'm next to you" Said Naoto "I'll fight too. We made it this far so i'm not leaving the train now"
"Me too. Shadows won't now what hit them" Said Yukiko
"We are reunited again like the old times!" Teddie celebrate
"Except for Rise" Yu point out "Does she know what's happening?"
"I talk to her" Said Naoto "She's busy but she's trying to take a couple of days off. Anyway, we need to go now. Mitsuru is waiting for us"
"Alright guys... Lets go" Said Yu
Akane and Ken were in the Arcade, they were playing at a Shooter game and like always Akane win. Ken can't believe that Akane won in every game they played... except fighting games, he won. It was getting late and they need to go back to the dorm. Ken take Akane and they take the train.
"So, where are they?" Akane ask. Ken didn't tell her where they were going to reunite with the others yet
"Near Iwatodai Station. It use to be our dorm when we attend school" Said Ken "It was also our... "headquarters""
"To fight those monsters?"
"Yes. It was weird at the beginning but one get use to it"
"..." Akane remain silent. The train arrive to Iwatodai station, after that they walk to the old dorm. At first sight it look abandoned but it wasn't. The lights were on. They open the door and were receive by a bunch of people. Among them was Mitsuru, Minako and everyone of S.E.E.S (except Aegis), the others were from the investigation group. Akane didn't know them. Mitsuru told them to take a seat and they start the meeting. Mitsuru was the first to talk.
"I'm glad that you are okay. How are you feeling?"
"My head hurt a little but it's fine"
"I see" Mitsuru made a pause "Before we start, let me present to you to this people" Mitsuru point at the group of people that Akane didn't knew. She introduce them in the order they were sitting. Yu and Marie Narukami, Yosuke and Chie Hanamura, Yukiko Amagi, Teddie, Kanji Tatsumi, Naoto Shirogane (Naoto insist on keeping her last name when she married Kanji). "I'll start asking you this, Akane. Do you believe me if i tell that there is an extra hour when the clock hit midnight?" She ask and everyone got quiet and see at Akane's reaction
"... Of course not. That's not even possible"
"It is. You saw it" Said Minako "That day when those monster attack, nothing was working, the lights were out, people disappear and transform into coffins, the sky was green... That was the Dark Hour"
"The Dark Hour...?"
"Yes, a place where the Shadows can roam the world" Said Marie "Those monster that you fought are called Shadows, they are the negative emotions and dark side of people. Altough there are two kinds, the one that appear in the Dark Hour and the ones that remain in the Shadow World. The Shadow of the Dark Hour don't kill the humans, the feed of their minds. The Shadows in the Shadow World kill humans if they are denied by their respective humans" Marie explain the Shadows in great detail and Akane listen to her
"I see... What about the ones that came out of me? I heard them... they are called Persona, aren't they?" Akane ask. She know about her Personas thanks to Igor but she won't tell them this.
"Yes, like the shadows, they are originated by humans. But they aren't negative forces, they exist as Shadow counterparts. When someone accept a Shadow, it became a Persona... and there are times when a Persona can turn back into a Shadow. They are one and the same after all" Marie explain "Also, Personas are the only ones that can fight the Shadows, humans can do it too but Shadows can't be hurt with normal weapons. Those who can summon a Persona, are called Persona Users"
"It's not that hard to understand this but..." Akane look around "Why i wasn't aware of this until now?"
"Only those who have the pontencial to summon a Persona can enter the Dark Hour. Besides the Dark Hour disappear 19 years ago. We end it" Said Mitsuru "Thanks to someone that give his life for us"
"... Who?" Akane was somewhat afraid to ask
"Your uncle Makoto, Akane. He died saving the world" Said Minako
"... No way" Said Akane and Minako nodded
"Akane, listen. The Shadows are back after all this years, we don't know why or how the Dark Hour return after all this time but i'll tell you this" Said Akihiko while he close his fist and punch his chest "We are going to fight, to find the truth and stop this again as many times it takes"
"Akane..." Minako was worried "We leave you with a choice here... You can fight with us, help us... or you can go to the door and go home. I talk to Mitsuru, no one here is going to think bad of you. Personally, i don't want you here. This is suppose to be our fight and i don't want my daughter risking her life..." Said Minako. Akane didn't open her mouth, she was in deep thought. It's true that she can walk away from this and pretend that this didn't happen at all but she can't. She remember perfectly the attack and how she summon her Personas. Besides, she sign a contract in the Velvet Room "accept all responsabilities for your actions", that means that she need to think in the possible outcome of her decisions.
"... Sorry, Mom. I'll do it" Said Akane with determination on her face "I can't walk away after what i saw. I can't pretend that this never happen or that it won't happen again. I'll help you... i own my uncle for saving us all" Minako smile to her daughter. She was going to fight but she was sad about it. Minako don't want her fighting Shadows but the moment she summon two Personas she knew... She is the owner of her destiny now. Every decision she make are her responsability.
"I'm proud of you, Akane" Said Minako even when she was a little sad and make an effort to not show her sadness. Minako get up and take something out of her pocket, it was wrapped in a white cloth. Akane take it and unwrapped it, it was a gun with the letters S.E.E.S on it but also there was a mark next to the letters. It was a roman number, XIII. "This is an Evoker, it's what you use the day you summon your Personas"
"Someone use it?" Akane ask the obvious question. She knew that it was used but she couldn't help but to ask.
"It was Makoto's Evoker. Now... it's yours" Said Mitsuru and Akane's eyes widen
"N-No... I can't take it" Said Akane and leave the Evoker in the table
"Please accept it, Akane" Said Minako "Makoto give it to me before he left... Now is yours. Take it as a gif from him"
"..." Akane didn't want it but she end up taking it "T-Thanks..."
A Misterious Shadow was outside the Dorm, it was looking from the window at the meeting. It's eyes widen when Makoto's Evoker appear in Akane's hand. A smile appear on his face.
"The Messiah's Evoker... It's passed to the Reincarnation of Death. How interesting" Said the misterious Shadow and disappear in the air "I must... protect her... From the Arcanas..."