Disclaimer: I do not own Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, or most of the characters within this story as they belong to Atlus.

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Veluti In Speculum

Chapter 12: Shattering

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Naoto should have figured that her luck with retaining her father's journal would be short lived. When she awakened the next morning, it had been removed from her jacket. This was becoming very aggravating and it had only been two days at most. She sighed and closed her eyes hoping maybe Minato would appear this time so she could speak to him. Instead, she felt like she was transported to a dark training hall. It seemed oddly familiar, illuminated faintly by torches lined up against the walls. Chanting filled her ears, echoing in her mind and suddenly, a crisp, older male's voice called to her.

"So, the next one has arrived finally… after eleven years since the last one's passing…"

"Naoto… you made it."

She looked up, finding Minato had suddenly appeared before her. He smiled, "You brushed against the truth finding dad's journal, but Yakushiji-san must have taken it while you slept." He shook his head, "Grandfather is trying to keep you away from our true family lineage, but he won't succeed if you have come here. Tell me, has Gouto been guiding you?"

"… Gouto was taken away. I haven't been able to speak to him for two days," she admitted, scowling from her frustration.

"When he comes to get you, will you be ready for your destiny to unfold?" Minato asked, basically brushing aside her answer. She raised an eyebrow, perplexed at his certainty in Gouto, but then nodded. "Heh, that old cat… eighteen generations and the nineteenth is before him. The tube knows who holds the power now," he said, smirking, "I'll be back when its time sister…"

Naoto opened her eyes and the scene disappeared, replaced by the darkness that was her basement in the early morning. Sunlight spilled into the confine and she rose to her feet at the insistent knocking at the door.

"Shirogane-sama, it's time for school."

"… I'll be right there, Yakushiji-san."

No time for more questions. She would just have to wait.

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"G-Guys… Something… happened to Souji last night."

Chopsticks paused as Yosuke spoke. They were seated on the roof top minus their leader and didn't try dwelling on it, but something about Yosuke's tone unnerved them. Slowly, he drew his cell phone and started pressing buttons, "I keep my conversations recorded. Here… this is the one from last night…"

Beep!

"Huh? Souji? Isn't it a bit late to be calling?"

"Y-Yosuke…! Something's happening! I-I can't… u-uuuuaaAHHH!"

To hear their leader yell in such a matter made everyone's blood run cold. The food balanced on Kanji's chopsticks fell, Yukiko's eyes widened, Chie swallowed what was in her mouth, and Rise's hand started to shake. Naoto, on the other hand, remained as she was, but was just as equally startled at this sudden development.

"I have a feeling… whatever took Nanako-chan and Dojima-san came back and took Souji," Yosuke said, "It's taking everyone…"

"What we don't know is what it is," Naoto said, looking down at her bento box. "From what you told me about Adachi's disappearance leads me to suspect that this is, in no way, a human behind it. To disappear into thin air is impossible by any human means and the distortion…"

"Ugh, this is sounding more and more like that movie. Ever since you found out about your brother, weird things started happening," Chie sighed. "It's bizarre, but… this is just like Raidou Kuzunoha. That girl in the opening disappeared… what was her name…? Uh, Rin! That's it! Also, you don't think that since Souji disappeared that we're all going to be next, right?"

"Chie-senpai, this ain't the movies. That won't happen," Kanji said, "Besides, disappearing again? I don' wanna think my shadows back…"

"Ha… you're shadow wouldn't be back. Instead, we would be mauled by demons," Chie said, laughing at her joke, but it sounded forced, nervous almost.

Yukiko frowned, "Can we stop joking around please? Souji-kun's gone… what do we do now?"

"What else? We have to find out what's happening like always," Yosuke said, rising to his feet. "We'll find out what the hell's going on and save Souji. We'll save Nanako-chan, Dojima-san, and Adachi too! This isn't the TV murders, but I have a feeling if we don't act, it will be just as bad."

"Whatever it is, I'll kick its ass!" Kanji yelled, standing up. His food fell to the ground, but he didn't care. "Whatever's messin' around with us is gonna pay!"

"It better be paying for your lunch tomorrow too," Rise muttered, looking away and shaking her head.

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"Please forgive me, Shirogane-sama…"

"It isn't your fault, Yakushiji-san…"

Naoto walked to the bottom of the basement stairs and looked back as Yakushiji closed the door, locking it again. She stared a little longer at the door, but then turned away, walking across the dimly lit room to her corner to sit down. No homework, no book… she reached in her school bag and pulled out the tube from Gouto. Something about it seemed different, but she couldn't place her finger on it. It felt slightly warm and seemed lighter in both weight and appearance.

She closed her eyes, clutching the tube and wondered if…

The training hall appeared before her again. In the center where Minato had been standing previously, however, was Gouto. His green eyes glowed from the flickering torch flames and his ears twitched as he sat calmly and stared at her. He cat grin curved sharper.

"That's right… your brother has given you a gift in remembrance of him. The remaining part of him you hold within your soul. I believe that it goes by the god of medicine's name… Sukuna-Hikona, your persona."

"Is there something wrong with that?" Naoto asked. Gouto shook his head.

"No… not at all, summoner."

Naoto frowned, unsure if she had heard Gouto correctly. Summoner? There was no such thing. That was all a work of fiction and special effects. "Gouto, have you been getting into the cat nip?"

"Your friends are in danger and you question my mentality? I knew this would be difficult. Your grandfather did an efficient job… almost."

Chanting started to ring throughout the room again, ringing in her ears and she looked around. Gouto closed his eyes.

"You can hear them, can't you? The voices of your ancestors ring in this room. You've been hearing my voice even before you were granted entrance here."

"… That's right… you knew my father… Gouto, what… no, WHO are you exactly?" Naoto asked, but then a squeaking noise reached her ears. She looked down, finding that the tube was starting to unscrew itself. Her eyes widened as it opened, a bright green light blinding her vision…

"The time is soon, Naoto… when I can finally call you a full-fledged summoner… This is your first case. What do you see?"

…

Footsteps struck the pavement as two people ran through the night.

"Wait! I think we're safe…"

Both paused and Yosuke looked back, staring at the sky. It wasn't shifting just like it had been back at the district. Maybe it was only limited to a few areas for kidnapping people. He sighed and looked over at Chie. He had been walking her home after shopping late at Junes, but that thing just… appeared. In fact, she was still on edge, glancing around nervously, "A-Are you sure we lost… whatever that was?"

"I'm not sure… but I don't see it anywhere…" he trailed, eyes widening as the air rippled again. That annoying, high pitch wail started to shrilly ring in his ears again. He had heard it back at Junes, but it was worse now. "U-Ugh! Chie, let's go!" he shouted, turning on his heel to run.

Chie shook her head and yelled, "Where Yosuke!? I'm tired… I just wanna go home…"

"You won't be able to go home if you just stand there! Hurry!"

Despite her continuous protesting, he grabbed her hand and dragged her along just as the wave's magnitude increased near her. It was difficult running through town with that constant siren-like whistle in his ears and it seemed like it was getting louder and louder. Soon, it was at a point he couldn't focus on his current task and his feet clipped together. With a startled cry, he tumbled to the ground and Chie fell on his back.

"Ouch! What the hell, Yosuke!? …? Y-Yosuke? Are you okay?" Chie asked nervously as she got off his back. He wasn't getting up even though she was off him. Instead, he was on the ground, holding his head and trying desperately not to yell, sweat forming on his brow. "Yosuke, what's wrong?" she asked again, but then looked up. The sky was distorted. Whatever they were running from was drawing closer. She was ready to get to her feet, but Yosuke was groaning now. Chie looked between him and the distortion getting closer, "C-Come on, Yosuke! Get up!"

She grabbed one of his hands and pulled him up again, forcing him to follow even if she was basically dragging him. He was stumbling after her as she ran. Her eyes darted around to possible places they could hide, but he was making her go slower and slower as they approached the banks of the Samegawa River, "Uh! Y-Yosuke! Come on! At least try running!"

"I know! I-I… god! Stop! Ouch! S-Susano-o!!" Yosuke exclaimed, releasing her hand. He stumbled towards the riverbank and tripped, falling to his hip and proceeded to rolling down the hill before she could stop him. Chie ran down after him, but he stopped rolling at the rocks next to the river, still writhing on the ground in pain. She didn't understand. What was causing this to happen and what was wrong with Susano-o?

Suddenly, she heard something. It sounded like a continuous chirping sound in her head, but soon, it drew out so fast it sounded like a high pitch, almost shrill siren wail. Her eyes widened and her body started to shake. She barely registered that Yosuke was panting and starting to get up while she firmly clapped her hands over her ears, biting her lip. Was this what Yosuke had been hearing? I-It was… ghastly! And it couldn't be possible, but Suzuka Gongen was in pain from it as well.

"Egh! S-Stop!" she cried, falling to her knees. It felt like a tug and her arms were wrenched away from her head. The wail was ear-splitting and she screamed. Yosuke jumped, but then said something. She didn't catch it. She was falling backwards into some void. Her vision was swimming and soon, nothing.

"Chie! A-Ahhh…!" Yosuke scrambled back as Chie disappeared right next to him and he looked around, trying to find any trace of her. What happened to the ringing in his ears? He had seriously screwed up this time. She wasn't anywhere and that distortion…

He scrambled to his feet as a ripple appeared before his eyes and ran in the opposite direction.

…

Naoto blinked, frowning. So, that's how everyone was disappearing… but why did it change targets? Was Yosuke too much trouble fighting back or was it just because he was running? Was it ambushing its victims? Was there any way to save them where ever they had been taken to or was it too late? It was too many questions right now. She still had to figure out how to get out of the basement to even help the others.

"Did you see, Naoto? We'll have to tread this carefully… get some sleep. We will discuss more tomorrow."

"W-Wait… Gouto, how are you still speaking to me?"

"… I will explain everything. Trust me."

His voice fell silent and she blinked again. The hall disappeared again, changing back into the basement. She stared for a moment, but then looked down at the tube still in her hands. It was sealed tightly, but something told her trying to open it with her hands was out of the question. She sighed and moved over to her makeshift bed.

This would just take time, but would it be enough to save her remaining friends? She dreamed restlessly that night.

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Me: One by one, two by two… it all falls apart. Please review.