I promise, this time i will update more often. Persona 5 is finally here! Too bad it won't be in english until february :P Thanks for the Reviews!
Also, in response to SakuraPinkSky415: Honestly, i didn't notice the resemble of Murasaki with Natsuki Moriyama :P I laugh when you point it out XD I wasn't thinking on Natsuki when i put Murasaki there.
Sorry for the delay again. Work, school, etc. You know what i mean. Also, Argentina has become a shitty place to live in, honestly. You walk two meters from your home an someone already stole your wallet, your keys, your shoes, everything! Fuck them!
Chapter 8: Tartarus
Akane had a lot of questions in her head, but the most important right now was about Annabelle. Who is she? How she could do that? Is she human? What is the Velvet Room exactly? All does questions will remain without answer for a while. She has to wait, now she needs to wait a couple of minutes for school to end and then go back home and prepare herself to fight the shadows in the night. She was surprised that all these things didn't hit her so hard. She should be freaked out, but she isn't. It was a good thing, or at least that's what she thought. At that moment, someone knock the door of the Nurse Office.
"Come in" Said Akane. The door opens and Mitsuru enters. She closes the door and step in front of her. She has some documents on her hands.
"How are you feeling?" She asks. Akane looks at the papers she was holding.
"I'm alright. Aside for the Black eye"
"I'll make sure that Okuse take responsibility for this"
"Leave it like that, Mitsuru. I kinda deserve it, she warns me after all" Akane didn't want Mitsuru to punish Murasaki. If she does, then Murasaki will go after her, probably. Who knows. "The last thing i want is a bully following me around"
"Are you sure? I can do something about it"
"It's alright. Believe me" Akane stands up and sigh. "School is almost over, i will go home now. We have something to do tonight after all"
"Yes, i come here to see if you are okay and to talk about something" Mitsuru give her a paper. "It's about the Music club. The Clubs will open tomorrow, i assume that you will participate"
"Of course i will, i'm the president of the Club after all" Akane state the obvious. "Is there a problem with this?"
"Well... You remember that last year the club only had 4 members, including you, right? That was the minimum, but it was enough to maintain the club open. This year you need at least 6 members and then those who were with you last year already has gone to other clubs" Mitsuru explain.
"Oh... So you will close the Music Club if i don't have 6 members?"
"Unfortunately, yes. I can give you a month, no more. If you don't have 6 members by then, i will close it"
"Today is April 14. So i have to..." Akane check the calendar in her phone, Today is April 14, 2029. So she has time until... "May 15?"
"Exactly"
"(Sigh) I'll do what I can. Maybe this year i will have a lot of members in the club" Akane was optimistic, but Mitsuru wasn't. The Music Club didn't have a lot of members since 2016. Each year the number of members of the club decay.
"Good Luck with that, Akane" Mitsuru turn around and walk to the door. "See you tonight" Mitsuru leaves the Nurse Office. As soon she leaves, Akane sigh and sit on the bed.
"I better find people that are interested in the club. I don't want to close it"
Akane got home and went straight to her room. She throws her backpack at the chair of her desk and fall to the bed. Her room had white walls with movie posters hanging on the walls. She only had a bed, a desk with a computer and a wardrobe, there was also a red electric guitar in a corner of the room. She looks at the ceiling for a moment before looking at the door of her room. Her mother was there, she enter the room and sit in the chair on her desk. First she takes Akane's backpack and leave it in the ground before sitting.
"How are you feeling?" She asks. Akane was a little annoyed now. Everyone is asking how she's feeling. She's fine, there's no need to ask.
"I'm perfectly fine, Mom" Akane gets up from her bed. "I need to prepare for tonight" Akane look at her mother and then look at her feet. "Is there... Any advice you can give me?"
"Well... Watch your back. You don't know what might be around" Minako take out something from her pocket. "Take this. Is a lucky Charm" It was a ring. It didn't have anything outstanding, it was just a silver ring. Akane could tell that it was old.
"This is yours?" Akane was curious.
"Actually... Is from your father" Minako was nervous. Akane notices that, she didn't say a word and hear what she have to say. "Akane... There's a lot of things i need to tell you about your father. A lot. But i can't, not now. This ring, he give it to me before he left for good. At that moment, me and your Uncle had to make a decision that will change the world. It was difficult, but it was the right choice"
"Mom... Did he abandon you?" Akane didn't want to know why her father isn't around. She thinks that he leaves, but if turns out that he's dead, then why her mother was hiding it from her. There's something else. Something that Minako didn't want to say.
"No, he didn't. Believe me, he had to leave. I couldn't do anything about it" Minako touch Akane's cheek. "If there was a way for him to stay here... He would be happy. He would be so proud of you, just like i am" Minako try not to cry. "I don't want you to fight, but it's something that you want to do. You choose, so i will step aside. Just promise me that you will be careful" Minako won't go with her that night, unlike her old days now she have a work that she must attend it in the early morning.
"I will Mom..." Akane wanted to know about her father, but there must be something really important about it that she isn't ready to hear. Akane knew that her mother only wants the best for her and if she isn't ready to tell her, then she'll wait. Eventually she will know the truth, for the moment she will wait. Akane hug her mother and both stay there for minutes until Minako breaks the hug. After that, Akane takes a bath and prepare for the battle. Minako told her that she used to go with her school uniform, Akane didn't like the idea of using her school uniform in battle. What happen if she accidentally burns it or something worse? Akane leaves her uniform at home and instead she wears a Leather Jacket, a white T-shirt beneath it and black pants. Akane makes sure to not forget anything important behind. She has her Uncle's Evoker, the keys from home and her cell phone. That was enough.
While she is walking to "Tartarus", she starts to wonder why it was near the school. Her mother didn't say a word, she just told her to go to school and she will see for herself. Akane sighs and keep walking, she looks at her cell phone. It was 11:50, almost Midnight. Akane saw the gates of Gekkoukan Highschool. In front of the gates was Mitsuru, Akihiko, Fuuka, Yu, Marie and Yosuke and Chie. She thought that the whole group was going to be part of this. Akane arrives and turn to Mitsuru.
"I thought more people were coming" She said
"They will be here by midnight, don't worry" Said Mitsuru. "I'll take this chance to explain you some things"
"Mom told me to watch my back every time"
"That's correct, still, you won't be alone inside" Mitsuru point at Akihiko. "He will be with you inside, also Narukami and Hanamura. We always go in groups of four. You four will stay in the lower floors because you don't have any experience"
"So they will train me?" Akane was expecting some kind of training.
"Yes" Mitsuru looks at her watch. It was Midnight. The sky turn green and blood starts to come out from the fractures of the floor. Everyone looks at the school and out of nowhere start to deform. The structure of the building reshapes itself into a giant tower that reach the clouds. In less than a minute, Akane was looking at a monstrous tower instead of the school she used to go every day. She couldn't help but to walk away a little. This was something else, that's why they were keeping it as a secret. They want to give her a surprise. "Akane, This is Tartarus"
"No way... I don't know if i should say "cool" or "freaky". This is... something else" Said Akane
"Let's go inside. The others will be here in any minute" Said Akihiko and everyone go inside. As soon they open the door, Akane saw at the end of the hall stairs that lead to a giant clock. On the left, she saw a blue door and at the right she saw another door but this one was gray. The group stops in front of the stairs.
"Alright. We can begin your training" Said Mitsuru. "First, you need to choose a weapon"
"Weapon? My personas aren't enough?"
"You'll get tired faster if you use them every time. It's better that you have something to defend yourself if you can't use your personas" Mitsuru explain. At that moment, the door of the entrance open, The rest of the group arrives. Everyone of S.E.E.S and the Investigation Group enter Tartarus. Akane saw two more people she didn't recognize. Two girls, one with blonde short hair and the other with long gray hair, they look like the same age as her, but the way they were dressed. They look like some kind of robots. "Just in time" Said Mitsuru. The whole group of Persona Users gathers in a circle. "Before we begin, i want to introduce two members of the group that Akane hasn't met yet" Mitsuru point at the two girls. "Aegis and Labrys" The blonde girl smile at Akane and walk to her.
"I'm Aegis, it's nice to see you again, Akane" Said Aegis. Akane was confused, she didn't meet her before. "I actually had met you before. You don't remember me because you were a year old" Aegis explain. Akane didn't believe until she saw her closely. She wasn't human, she was, in fact, a robot.
"You are... A robot?" Akane asks, a little afraid.
"Android, actually" Aegis corrects her. "Don't worry is a common mistake"
"Aegis was part of S.E.E.S when we were fighting the shadows 19 years ago. She's the 7th Generation Anti-Shadow Suppression Weapon" Said Mitsuru. "Labrys in the other hand was awakening after S.E.E.S was disbanded. Aegis insists on wake her up, they may not be humans, but they have emotions"
"I still find it a little hard to believe" Said Akane. Labrys give her a handshake.
"Well, Mitsuru told us what's been happening lately, so i can understand if you are uneasy" Said Labrys. "Don't worry about it"
"I'm not worried... It's too much for my mind to handle"
"You can take your time" Said Yu. "We can wait for now"
"No, i'll be okay. Let's do what we came to do" Akane focus on what she came to do. Training. Mitsuru snap her fingers and Kanji with Junpei bring two suitcases. They open them and inside there are weapons.
"Alright, like i said before, Akane. You need weapons to protect yourself. You can choose whatever you want. Your mother used a Naginata, your uncle a sword. Personally, i prefer the sword, but choose whatever suits you best" Said Mitsuru. Akane walks to the suitcase and saw a lot of weapons. Ken grabs a spear from the suitcase, Yosuke grabs a couple of knives and Junpei a long sword. Akane couldn't decide, she never uses a weapon before. It's true, the sword could come in handy, but something tells her that it's not for her. Akane was about to give up and grab the sword until she saw a Scythe next to it. She grabs it without thinking it twice, something told her that this was the weapon for some reason.
"You are choosing that?" Akihiko asks
"You have a problem with it?"
"Not really. I thought you were going to pick a sword. It's always the first pick" Akihiko explain. "If you think you can use it, then do it"
"Alright. We are going to do this" Mitsuru start to give orders. "Akane, Akihiko, Yu and Yosuke will remain on the lowers floor. They'll train Akane. Kanji, Naoto, Yukari and Junpei will go and check the floor of the middle. Aegis, Labrys, Teddie and Chie will go to the last floor. I will stay here with Fuuka, Yukiko, Marie and Ken"
"What about that door?" Akane asks and point to the gray door
"We will go in there once we make sure nothing is out of the ordinary in the tower. We don't know how the Dark Hour comes back, we don't even know if Tartarus has the answers we are looking for, but it's a good place to start"
"I see" Akane saw the blue door. It was glowing. She was about to ask about that door, but Yu tap her shoulder. She looks at him and he whispers to her "Later". Akane assumes that he was referring to that door. She didn't ask and let it be for now. "So, we start now?"
"Yes, go to the stairs and you will enter the Labyrinth. Be careful" Said Mitsuru. Akane nods and with her group they enter Tartarus.
Akane was expecting the labyrinth to look like some kind of horror movie. Instead, she was seeing a twisted version of the school's hallways. Of course, there wasn't any window and the floor had pools of blood everywhere. Akane takes a deep breath and keep walking forward. She heard a voice inside her head, it was Fuuka.
"Can you all hear me?" She asks. "It's been a while since i did this"
"Don't worry, Fuuka. We are old" Said Yu
"Please don't say that" She said. "I'll scan the floor. Please wait a moment"
"Alright Akane, listen carefully" Akihiko turn to her. "I'll take the lead. In the middle of the battle i will teach you the basics. Don't worry, this shadows are weak in the first floors" Akihiko take out his Evoker. "It's been a while since we've entered this place. It brings back memories... must of them bad. But some of them were funny"
"What do you mean funny?" Akane was curious.
"Your uncle was the leader of the group during the explorations. One time he makes a bet with Junpei and Mitsuru. The first on killing all the shadows of the floor can make the losers do whatever he wants. Of course, Makoto won. He makes Junpei to buy him dinner, he basically makes him spend all his money on ramen" Akihiko said with a big smile on his face. Akane smile too, she could only imagine it.
"And Mitsuru?"
"He asks her out. You should've seen her face. She was completely red. It was kinda funny, i was trying not to laugh"
"I'm sure it was pretty funny" Akane laugh a little. Fuuka come back with information.
"Ummm... Akihiko, there's a problem" Fuuka was a little nervous. "I can sense shadows, but they aren't... "Weak". I scan must of the tower and looks like the shadows of the last floor are now in the first floors. And the shadow from the first floor are in the last floor. They change places"
"That's weird. We can handle them?"
"Except for Akane, yes. Also the teleport doesn't work, so we have to go up by foot. Which is bad, we won't make it to the last floor that way" Those were bad news for the whole team. Fuuka made a pause. "Akane, are you alright?"
"Yes, why?" She answer.
"... Nothing. I think i saw something weird. Maybe it's nothing. In any case, be careful and stay behind Akihiko and the others"
"I will" Akane sigh. "What now?"
"For the moment stay in the middle of the group" Said Akihiko. "We will clean this floor. Are you ready?" He asks to Yu and Yosuke
"Of course we are" Said Yosuke
"Let's go" Yu wanted to get this over with. The group walks through the hallway, their guard was up every moment. Akane had a lot of things running through her head, she try to get rid of them and focus on the enemy that she didn't see yet. Akihiko stop and sign the rest to stop too.
"Look" He said and point to the end of the hall. It was a big shadow. It was like a fortress with two tiny elephant legs. Its mask was at the top of the whole structure. "We can't pass. We have to kill it. Akane stay behind"
"Alright" She said. Akane didn't say another word. She knew that if she step in, she will get hurt or die. "By careful"
"I'm always careful" Akihiko takes out his Evoker and point at his forehead. "Caesar!" He pulls the trigger and summon his persona. Yu and Yosuke raise their hands and cards appear out of nowhere. They crush them and call their personas.
"Izanagi-no Okami!"
"Takehaya Susano-o!" The three Personas attack at the same time. The Shadow looks at them and didn't move at all. Caesar attack it with his sword, but got repealed. Izanagi-no-Okami attack with Agidyne, but it barely damages it. Takehaya Susano-o attack with Garudyne and hit it's weakness. The Shadow fall to the ground, weak. Yosuke order his Persona to finish him off, but the Shadow let out a cry and more fortresses Shadows appear out of nowhere. In less than a second, the whole group was surrounded by the giant Shadows, all of them targeting at Yosuke. "This isn't good at all" He said. The shadow throws Ziodyne to the group. Yu and Akihiko weren't affected, but Yosuke was weak at Zio and fall to the ground. Akane was thrown to the wall and fall unconscious. She also was weak to Zio.
"Akane!" Akihiko try to run and help her, but the 4 shadows throw "God's Hand" at him. Akihiko dodge them all and summon Caesar again. This time he uses Elec Break in one of them and use Ziodyne. The shadow fall to his knees and disappear, but as soon he disappears, Two more appear out of nowhere. "You have to be kidding me" Said Akihiko. "Narukami, help Hanamura!"
"I'm on it" Yu was already helping Yosuke to stand up. The Shadows ignore Yosuke and Yu and walk pass through them. Akihiko notices that they were getting closer to Akane. It was logical. She was the only weak opponent from the whole group. Akihiko uses Elec Break again, this time on all of them, and then use Maziodyne. He destroys all of them without much effort, but sadly... more appear. Instead of 4 Shadows, now they were 8. "They are multiplying"
"No shit, i'm seeing it. The more we kill them, the more come" Akihiko summons Caesar again. "Any thought Narukami?"
"I have one, but the attack could kill us. There's no enough space" Said Yu. Akihiko knew what attack he was going to use if there was enough space
"Megidolaon?" He asks
"Yes"
"H-Hey" Yosuke try to get their attention. Yu and Akihiko turn to see him. "We have more coming from behind"
"Fuuka" Said Akihiko. "Can we escape from them?"
"There are more coming down from the floors. Looks like they are being attracted by something" Akihiko look at Akane for a moment. She was still unconscious.
"More like someone... Listen, we'll kill them all and run away. They have only one weakness for now, let's use it" Akihiko use again Elec Break and throw Ziodyne at them. Yosuke exploit their weakness with Magarudyne and Yu kill the remaining with Agidyne. Akihiko takes Akane and start running away. They run to the exit, but another group blocks their path.
"No! Get out of there!" Fuuka yell
"What?" Akihiko didn't understand why. The Shadows shoot the cannon from their fortresses and nothing happen until a big light start to form above them. "Those sons of a bitch" The light come down and explode before they could even move. Yu and Yosuke hit the wall, Akihiko was thrown away to the other end of the hallway. In the explosion, he let go of Akane. The Shadows move faster and point at them with their cannons. Akane open her eyes and saw what just happen, she then saw a Shadow right in front of her, ready to attack her. Akane start to panic, she close her eyes for a moment, waiting for the hit. She was paralyzed in a second, but in the other second she stand up. Akane opens her eyes again and hear a voice. A sweet voice, followed by a sharp voice.
"Don't be afraid of them... THEY SHOULD BE AFRAID OF YOU" Akane grabs her head. The pain was coming back. "Just pull the trigger... AND EVERYTHING YOU HATE WILL DIE" Despite the pain, Akane grabs her Evoker and pointed at her head. The Shadow for some reason wasn't attacking her. Akane looks around for a moment and notice that everything was in slow motion, that it's why. "Pull... THE TRIGGER!" The voices order her. She did so and a grin appears on her face.
"I summon you... Hathor... Morrigan" She said and pull the trigger. The two Personas appear on top of her. She smile, not because of the power that was running through her body. She smile because the pain was gone "Let's bring them down!"