It's been a while, i know, and i'm really sorry. Mostly of that is because i was waiting for Persona 5 and they start changing the release date and all. I've been screaming at the screen most of the time because i want that game so bad! And considering that this fanfic take place in the future i can't pass the oportunity of adding the characters of Persona 5.
If any of you leave a review, do leave spoilers of Persona 5 because i'm going to get mad.
Chapter 9: The Music Club (Part 1)
4/14 Friday, 2029 (Dark Hour)
Yukari was about to enter the tower with Naoto, Junpei and Ken; But Fuuka stop them. She was watching speechless at what was happening inside the tower. She couldn't believe at her eyes, it was like taking a look at the past. She wasn't looking at Akane, she was looking at Makoto summoning two personas at the same time. She blinks a couple of times before yelling, as soon she did everyone else at the entrance look at her.
"What's wrong Fuuka!?" Junpei asks and everyone else waits for her answer
"Two Personas... At the same time" She whispers.
"What!?"
"Akane summon two personas at the same time"
"How is that even...?" Yukari couldn't actually believe her.
"Let me see" Marie walk toward her and touch the bubble from Juno. She saw the fight right through Fuuka's eyes. Above Akane were two personas, one was a woman with a white robe, long Blue hair, Purple skin, yellow eyes and full of Egiptian Tattoos all over her body, except her face. Strings were coming of her skin. Other one on the other side was a complete opposite, it was a woman in black robe, a hood was covering her face, but her eyes were glowing red, she had wings that resembles a raven's wings, she was wielding a scythe with a human skull stuck in the middle of the blade, her whole body was full of tattoo too. Marie gets away from Juno and gasp.
"What happen?" Mitsuru asks.
"What Fuuka just said... Akane summoned two personas"
Meanwhile, in the first floor, Akane was smiling at the Shadows while her personas stay above her. Akihiko, Yu and Yosuke were watching at her, also speechless. The Shadows shot Ziodyne at her, but Morrigan and Hathor protect her from the attack, each one raises their hands and create a shield. The Ziodyne reflects at the Shadow and absorb it. Akane's eyes glow red and look at each one of the Shadows, there was at least 10 Shadow in front of her. She grab her Scythe and run right after them, her Personas follow her right behind. Every Shadow launches a Ziodyne at her, Akane was moving too fast so she dodge every attack they throw at her. She jump and stab the first Shadow she saw with her Scythe, the Shadow next to her decide to throw a Megidolaon. Akane point at the Shadow and her Personas attack it. Hathor throws Agilao and Morrigan Bufudyne, but the Shadow was barely damaged by it. Akane notice that and jump away from the Shadow she just attacked and the Megidolaon hit the Shadow instead of Akane, she just dodges it in time. Akane run to the end of the hallway, but saw Akihiko, Yu and Yosuke still on the floor. They could barely move.
"Akane!" Akihiko yell. "Their weakness is wind! Garu skills!" Akihiko tries to get up, but his legs give up half way.
"Garu...?" She didn't know the name of the spells, but she definitely knew that Hathor and Morrigan didn't have Wind spells. Hathor had fire and Morrigan ice, she need help. Yosuke get up and walk to her, his legs were shaking.
"Can... You protect me from their attacks?" He asks. "If so, then i'll attack, you protect me"
"Yes!" Akane makes the shield again. Yosuke summon Takehaya Susano-o and attack them with Magarudyne. All the Shadows fall to their knees, Morrigan breaks the shield and jump at the Shadow with her Scythe, she decapitated them without any sign of mercy. Everyone could see how Morrigan grabs them by the head and behead them with her Scythe and some she just ripped them out with her bare hands. All The Shadows disintegrated and Morrigan disappear alongside Hathor, who didn't move at all. Akane fall to her knees and laugh a little.
"H-Hey, are you okay?" Yosuke asks
"My... My head is about to explode" She said and grab her head.
"Take it easy, now we need to go, before more of them show up" He said.
"Yes... You're- Yosuke, look out!" She yell. Another Shadow fortress appear and attack with another Ziodyne. Akane summon her personas again, this time only Hathor has come out and took the attack for Yosuke. Akane scream in pain, she felt all the damage that Hathor just took. Hathor disappears and Akane fall to the floor. The Shadow was about to attack again, but was destroyed by Yukari's Persona. Akane saw how another group compose by Yukari, Naoto, Junpei and Ken arrived. They didn't lose time and take Akane and the others to the entrance. Right after that, Yukari, Yukiko and Teddie heal everyone that had a big wound. Luckily, no one had a life threatening wound, they were only exhausted. It's been a while since anyone summon a Persona and on top of that, fight one. The real problem now was that the weak Shadows were now on the top and the strong ones are on the first floor, that way they'll never go up. If they want to succeed then a bigger group need to go in.
"Now, that was something really unexpected" Said Yu while Yukiko heals him. "Those Shadows really want us death"
"The worst part was that they keep coming, no matter what we do" Said Yosuke and sighs. "I think i saw my entire life for a moment there"
"They really give us troubles... We are out of shape" Said Akihiko and look at Akane. She was sitting on the floor, still grabbing her head. "Are you alright?" He asks.
"It hurts a lot" She said and stand up. "It's like my head is about to blow up or something"
"How did you do that?" Junpei ask her. "How could you summon them at the same time?"
"How should i know? I just pull the trigger and came out..." Marie walk toward Akane and look at her in the eyes.
"Did they, by any chance, talked to you?" Marie asks and everyone look at her. Akane looks at the floor for a second.
"... They told me to pull the trigger" She said. "They were... Finishing each other's sentences. Like they were... Synchronized"
"I see. Did you give them orders at the same time?" Marie asks.
"Yes... But Morrigan move on her own at the end"
"..." Marie was thinking about something.
"What happens, Marie?" Yu asks.
"Nothing, i just wanted to know" She replied. "Maybe we should come back and start planning the next trip to the tower. We just came in, unprepared, thinking that there were only weak Shadows inside. If the strongest shadows are actually in the first floors and they just keep coming out of nowhere, then we need a strategy. Besides, we don't know what other surprises are inside. Maybe the next thing that we encounter there will be a Reaper"
"Please, don't mention that thing. I hate that monster" Said Junpei.
"You are right, Marie" Said Mitsuru. "We are a big group indeed, but first we should investigate more. We also need more training, just like Akihiko said, "We are out of shape". Some of us didn't even summon their Personas in a long time. They may be strong, but those Shadows take us by surprise"
"Alright" Yu stand up. "But we have another problem. Like Fuuka said before, the teleport that appears in each floor don't work. Meaning that if we go up our only way out if to come back where we came. We all are going to end up exhausted after reaching the tenth floor"
"Yes, we have to be more careful than before. On top of that, if we get outnumbered again, then we are screwed" Said Yosuke. "Maybe we should take out time on this"
"But what if another Shadow appears in the middle of the city?" Ken asks. "We need to be prepare every night from now on. That last Shadow didn't appear in a full moon" Everyone remain silent. Tartarus has changed, but how and why? Why the Shadows change floors? Why the big Shadows don't appear in a full moon anymore? Everyone was questioning themselves about that, there wasn't an answer for those questions right now. What was more important right now was to come back later, more prepare and stay alert for the next Shadow. Who knows when it will appear, they didn't have a way to know for certain.
"Let's leave, for now. I'll come back tomorrow with Fuuka and another group. We'll inspect the tower, carefully this time" Said Mitsuru and look at Akane. "How are you feeling?"
"The pain is leaving" She answered.
"You think that you can go to school tomorrow?"
"Yes... I can go to school"
Outside of Tartarus, on top of a building there was three Shadows watching at the entrance of Tartarus. The group of Persona-Users was leaving the place. All three shadow reveal themselves, they were people, two men and a woman, wearing white masks with roman numbers on them and a black robe. The woman chuckle, she had the number XV on her mask.
"They are running away from the Shadows" She said. "Good call, the second floor was a Death trap. If they kept going, they'll be dead by now"
"Devil..." The man with the number XXI on his mask talk to her. "Why Akane was weaker than before?" He asks
"That's simple, World. When she first summons her Persona, she let it all out. She releases all her power at once, it was like an atom bomb exploded. Now she isn't in her best form. She needs to explore her powers, to understand them, her Personas aren't like the others. They are more than just simple Personas and every time she summon them, they take a lot of energy from her. And i mean, A LOT. So much energy that could kill a human being... But she isn't one, is she?"
"Should we send another Shadow to see how she reacts under pressure?" Ask the other man, his mask had the number IV. "How about a Shadow of the Tower Arcana? That would be a challenge and maybe we can kill one or two of those Persona Users in the process. I say we kill Narukami, he'll be a problem later on. Especially with that Persona of the World Arcana"
"Jester said that he'll take care of Narukami, personally" Said World. "Let's wait, for now. We need Akane to be a little more... Tougher" World look at Emperor. "Don't let that Shadow out yet. Tell Hunger to keep that monster down for at least a month"
"Still, there's something we have to take care of too, World" Said Devil. "The Velvet Room. I saw that weird assistant walking around like an idiot in Iwatodai Station. I think she was provoking me"
"Leave her be, for now"
4/15 Saturday
The next day Akane wake up earlier than usual, her body was sore from the battle in Tartarus that night. Akane takes a couple of serious hits, but nothing that could threat against her life. Her head didn't hurt anymore, so she gets up and decide to start the day with a little of optimist, despite the fact that she almost died yesterday. Akane takes a quick shower and put on her school uniform.
She went to the kitchen and find her mother making the breakfast. Akane came back home after the Dark Hour ended, with Mitsuru, and Minako was waiting for her. Mitsuru explains to Minako, what happened in Tartarus and Minako got a little angry at her because Akane almost got killed, but she didn't yell or make a big deal about it because she have been in that situation too. Sometimes she almost got herself killed in Tartarus too, so Minako just let it go, for now. Akane sits down at the table and saw the little breakfast in front of her, a cup of coffee and a toast. Akane look at her mother and smile at her, but didn't say a single word.
"Is everything okay?" She asks. Akane sighs.
"Yes, just a little sore from yesterday"
"If you are not feeling good, then you should stay at home for today" Akane quickly drink her coffee, despite the heat of the drink.
"No! I need to be there today. The clubs open today, so i need to be there. I'm the president of the Music Club, i can't skip class. Besides, if i don't get at least six members, Mitsuru will close the club" Akane explains.
"I see... Then i wish you good luck with that" Minako smile at her and finish her coffee. "I need to get going now. Say hello to your friends for me" Minako leave the cup in the dishwasher, kiss her daughter on the cheek and walk to the door. "Goodbye, sweety"
"Don't call me sweety! And say hello to Akihiko for me!" She yells and Minako leaves the house. Akane sighs again and look at her cup of coffee, it was half empty. She didn't want to drink it anymore, she prefers tea in the morning, but her mother always makes coffee when she's in a hurry. Akane grabs the cup and throw the coffee in the dishwasher. Akane eats her toast, grab her backpack and go to the door. She makes sure to grab her keys and leave everything turn off so it won't consume so much energy. Akane closes the door of the house and walk right to school. On her way to school, she crosses paths with Misaki and Haruka that were walking together to school. They say "Good Morning" to each other and walk together to school.
This was a normal day in the school and one day relatively short. Akane, Misaki and Haruka feel like school only lasted an hour or less, mostly because today, nobody was even paying attention to their teachers. Their minds were focused on the Clubs. As soon as school ended, everyone run away from their classroom and went straight to the club they wanted to join. Akane grabs the key from the Music Club in the Faculty Office and went straight to her club on the first floor. She got there pretty quickly and open the door. As soon as she did, she notices the piano in the center of the room, a couple of instruments in the corner and a lot of chairs piled up in another corner. Akane takes one of the chairs and sit next to the piano. She saw in a paper that a teacher gives to her. She needs to write her club members, and they at the same time she need their signs, but for now she didn't have any at all. Akane stays in the club for almost an hour, but no one came in. In that moment, Misaki and Haruka enter.
"How are you doing, Akane?" Misaki asks and look around the club, it was empty. "No one has come here yet?"
"No one... Damn, if i don't have at least 6 members until may 15, Mitsuru is going to close the Club. What do i do!?" Akane yells at Haruka and he backed away from her.
"First of all, don't yell at me" He said. "Second, why don't you get out and convince someone. It has to be at least someone"
"Mmmm, but last year i only had 4 members, including myself, they all went to Kendo or the Manga Club. Where i'm going to find...?" Akane could at them and smile. "Did any of you join a club yet?"
"... I'm not joining the Music Club" Said Misaki
"Me neither" Haruka shock his head.
"Please, we are friends, don't make me beg!"
"I'm sorry, but you know that i'm terrible with any instrument" Said Misaki. It was true, any instrument she touches, she breaks it. Who knows, maybe it was some kind of curse or she just does it on purpose. Haruka in the other hand, was very good with the battery. But he'll either join the Manga Club or Home economics.
"I don't care if you can't play a single instrument. Just join, write your name and then leave wherever you want. You don't need to be here at all, please" Akane bow to her and beg. "I'm begging you, help me!"
"Stop that! Besides, i don't like doing that. If i'm joining a club, then i'll assist to all their meetings"
"Fine... Haruka, i know you won't join, but can you give me some ideas to attract people here" Akane ask Haruka for help.
"Well... Why don't you convince people that the club will help them to improve in school?"
"It a Music Club, not a "I'm making you pass the tests Club". It's been almost an hour and no one came! I need a miracle!" Akane yell at the ceiling and just like the Gods hear her screaming, someone knock the door. "The Gods heard me" She said and walk to the door.
"Are you sure it's a student who wants to join? If it is, don't scare him away" Said Misaki.
"Misaki, At this point i would accept even a dog to be part of this club. The first day each club have at least 15 students joining. I'm lucky if i have at least one, so i don't care who's behind this door. I will accept any student!" Akane opens the door and regret it immediately. Murasaki Okuse was in front of her with her arms crossed. Akane close the door, slowly and lock it.
"DID YOU JUST CLOSE THE GODDAMN DOOR IN MY FACE, ARISATO!?" She yell and punch the door. "AND YOU LOCK IT TOO!? OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!"
"What were you saying?" Misaki asks. "You said that you'll accept any student, didn't you?"
"I did... But she's the exception" Akane whisper and Murasaki keep punching the door.
"Do you realize that she'll break your nose if you don't let her in, right?" Said Haruka.
"I know, but..." Akane didn't want Murasaki near her. She deserves that punch, but she also didn't want to deal with her. Now she was on the other side of the door, trying to break it. Break it! She doesn't care at all if she destroy the school property. Akane sighs and unlock the door, she knew that if she didn't let her in, she'll get something worse than a black eye the next time, maybe an broken arm or much worse. "Stop punching the door! I'll open it... But first, promise me that you won't hit me, or any of my friends"
"I won't punch you... I'll kick your ass!"
"... Just... Let's talk, Can you do that?"
"... Fine" She answer. Akane open the door and Murasaki punches her in the stomach. Akane fall to the ground and Murasaki enter the club. "That's for closing the door in my face"
"I... Know... Bitch"
"What did you call me?"
"Be... Welcome"
"That's better" Murasaki sit in one of the chairs and wait for Akane to stand up.
"Umm, Murasaki..." Haruka was a little nervous to have Murasaki here. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm joining the Music Club, isn't that obvious, Yamagishi?"
"Well... I, um, never mind. Welcome" He said.
"You are part of this club too?" She point at him.
"No, i'll be in another club" He explain
"I see... Good luck then" She said while looking in the ground, avoiding eye contact. "I could care les of what you do..." Akane stand up and still feel the pain.
"Shit" Akane sit down. "So... You want to join...? Really?"
"You don't believe me?" Murasaki stand up.
"NO, no, i believe you!" Akane said and Murasaki sit down again. "It's just that... I don't see you as... Someone to play an instrument"
"I can play the electric guitar and the battery" Murasaki explain. "I also need a place to stay after school"
"Why?" Misaki asks
"Don't pretend that you care, Takeba" She almost yell at Misaki
"Alright" Akane sighs. "I only need your sign in this paper and you are officially in the Club" Murasaki grab the paper and sign.
"Done. Now what?" She asks. "Do we play the guitar? We form a band? Or we just see who's the best playing the guitar?" Murasaki was a little excited to play an instrument, something that surprise Akane, Haruka and Misaki.
"Maybe she isn't that bad... I think. She still didn't apologize to me for the punches and I think she'll never do" Akane thought. "Actually, today i was waiting for people to show up. But no one is joining the Music Club. If i don't get 6 members until may 15, they will close the club" When Akane says that, Murasaki's eyes widen.
"They can't do that shit" She said. "I mean... They WON'T do that shit" She stand up. Akane finds it weird that Murasaki actually cares about the club. Maybe she love music enough to care about the Music Club, or is just an excuse to not be at home, just like she said.
"Can you stop cursing in every sentence?" Misaki asks
"Fuck you, Takeba. Now we need more members. I refuse to go back home earlier and the other clubs are the worst... None of them want me near"
"I wonder why..." Akane whisper. Murasaki grab Akane's shoulder and drag her out of the club. "WAIT! Where are we going!?"
"We'll search more members. And if they don't want to join, we'll force them to!" Murasaki really wanted to stay in that Club by all means necessary. It makes Akane asks herself why. She could just go wherever she wants and do whatever she wants instead of going back home. But no, she choose a school club. Who knows what problems she have at home or she just simply wanted to avoid a family member. Either way, Akane is a little happy to have at least a member, but she doesn't like the way things are going.
"Wait, What!?" Akane try to break free from Murasaki's grasp. "Let me go, you psycho!" Misaki and Haruka stay in the Music Club watching how Murasaki drags Akane out of there.
"What the hell just happened?" Misaki asks
"I don't know..."