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

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Veluti In Speculum

Chapter 15: Piece

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Naoto gazed around the world of Dark Yasoinaba, the Estate out of the corner of her eye. She had no idea where to start looking for the others and now she was wondering if they could defend themselves here. "Cerberus, would you be able to track down the others from scents?" she asked, looking at the lion.

"OF COURSE I CAN," Cerberus yowled, "JUST GIVE ME THE SCENT OF WHO YOU'RE SEEKING."

"I wish I had something of Nanako-chan's… but the last person I was around was Kanji-kun," Naoto sighed.

"Let's try retracing your steps. If Nanako-chan disappeared by her house, then she might still be there," Minato said, sitting on Cerberus's head.

"Ah… that's a good assumption," Naoto said, smiling, "Hopefully, she's there. If not…" She shook her head, "We'll be at the Dojima Residence. That will be our safe house here. I suppose we could scrounge up something for Nanako-chan's scent."

Naoto turned and started walking towards the central district of Inaba, but Cerberus grabbed the back of her jacket in his teeth. She looked back at the demon. He blinked and then turned. She could see his muscles under his fur, but she locked eyes with the beast as he growled, "GET ON MY BACK. IT WILL BE FASTER."

"… Well, if you're okay with that…" she muttered. Cerberus lowered to the ground, waiting as she walked over. She placed her hands on his scaly spine and hoisted herself up, throwing one leg over to straddle his back. She took hold of his mane, lowering herself down a little closer, "Alright… we need to go to the shopping district and cut through the northern area. The Dojima Residence is due north east from there."

"ALRIGHT! HOLD ON TIGHT!" Cerberus roared and leapt forward. A small cry escaped Naoto as the demon bounded forward, paws slamming against the street as he ran down the street. She closed her eyes almost, but as they raced into the shopping district, she forced herself to look around. Everything was the same except the demons that crawled, waddled, slithered, and flew up and down the sidewalks, passing the stores, all of which were closed.

"Naoto! Demons coming in at four o' clock!"

"What!?"

She looked up. Several demons were coming down from the sky and charging for Cerberus. She reached down and drew her revolver, leering. Two demons with lion heads, but the body of birds were descending fast so she took aim. She took several shots, causing them to snarl in pain but then had to cling to Cerberus as he roared, pouncing on the smaller demon. Minato leapt off Cerberus, wings spreading and beam sword appearing as he charged at the lion-birds. There was a bang as Minato casted Megidola and wiped them out, leaving the small demon, but then Naoto's gun cracked again as she took that one down with Cerberus.

"That wasn't too bad…" Naoto said, putting her gun away while Cerberus stood still, watching the demons disappear. Minato flopped back on the demon's mane, sword disappearing as he looked around. Gouto walked forward.

"Nicely handled, but let's move on."

"I SMELL ANOTHER HUMAN," Cerberus growled, eyes focused towards the residential area ahead.

"Hopefully it's Nanako-chan. She's not safe alone here," Naoto sighed as he started trotting forward. He only made it a few feet when someone bumped into Cerberus, falling back. They screamed, falling back at the sight of Cerberus. "Nanako-chan!" Naoto exclaimed, hopping down from Cerberus.

"N-Naoto-kun!" Nanako cried, getting to her feet. She was crying and rubbing her eyes, "I-It's scary here! I-I went home and big bro wasn't there a-and there's all these monsters!"

"Shh… it's okay now. I'm looking for your big bro and the others," Naoto said reassuringly. Nanako looked up at Naoto with some tears still falling and Naoto nodded, "Don't worry. You can come with me until we get somewhere safe. I have to find everyone who was brought here."

"… W-Why is this lion with you?" Nanako asked, biting her lip, "It's scaring me…"

"Cerberus won't hurt you. He just looks frightening, but I have known him for a long time," Naoto said, scratching Cerberus's ear. He laid down, ear twitching and Nanako watched, surprised. "Will you be able to carry both of us?" Naoto asked, looking at the lion.

"OF COURSE. YOU'RE NOT HEAVY AT ALL," he growled. She nodded and looked at Nanako, holding out a hand. There was a pause as the young girl looked between Naoto and Cerberus again, but then she spotted Minato.

"Uh… can I hold the butterfly boy when I'm on him?" Nanako asked, frowning. Naoto blinked, but then nodded, smiling.

"Of course."

Nanako seemed a little cheerier at that, but still approached Cerberus's side nervously. Naoto helped Nanako onto the lion's back. Minato walked over the lion's mane as she settled in and looked up at her, "Just hold on tightly, Nanako-chan. We'll get you somewhere safe."

"Oh, you talk too!" Nanako gasped as Naoto got on Cerberus's back.

Minato nodded, "I'm Sukuna-Hikona, but you can call me Minato."

"Okay, Minato-kun. You don't mind if I hold onto you, right?"

"It's no problem, but if something attacks us, you have to let go," he warned, stopping before her. Nanako nodded, smiling and took Minato into her arms, hugging him like a small doll. Naoto placed her arms around Nanako and took hold of Cerberus's mane.

"Okay, Cerberus. The Dojima Residence isn't too far from--"

"Uh, Naoto-kun, there are monsters at my house," Nanako said, frowning, "I was with the delivery man when we came here and we were at the house. He was helping me run from them, but we got split up a long time ago… I've been walking through town for a while."

"… Gouto, do you think the Estate is safe enough?" Naoto asked, eyes dropping to the cat by Cerberus. Gouto's ears twitched and he looked back.

"Well, considering it's a summoners' home, I believe so. It might also have way back to Inaba."

"Mhmm… let's try finding one more person so Nanako-chan isn't alone there. Cerberus, any scents?"

She watched him raise his head and sniff the air, nose wrinkling and straightening with each sniff. His eyes gleamed as he glanced back, "TWO ON THE RUN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I BELIEVE IT'S A MALE AND FEMALE."

"It could be Souji-senpai and Yukiko-senpai or Yosuke-senpai and Chie-senpai… either way, we need to go help them," she replied. "Gouto, get up here."

"…? I can run on my own thank you."

"You'll fall behind," she said, "You can ride on my shoulder."

"You are not as big as your father or grandfather. I don't think…"

"… Are you scared or something?" she asked. His ear twitched and he started grumbling under his breath. He leapt up onto Cerberus and clawed up Naoto's jacket, perching around her shoulders.

"I didn't know cats could talk too," Nanako said, giggling.

Naoto and Gouto stared at her, but then exchanged looks. Must be another effect of the Dark Realm. Oh well, they would address it later.

"Gouto's special… Cerberus! Let's go!" Naoto ordered. Cerberus roared and turned before dashing off again. Nanako squeaked and held on tighter to Minato, but he didn't make a sound. It hurt, but she was just frightened. After a moment, she loosened her hold and started smiling.

"Oh! This is fun!" she exclaimed, looking back at Naoto. Naoto blinked. Well, it was kinda fun, but it was important that they find the others. It couldn't be some sort of joy ride in her opinion…

"Cerberus, some lesser demons are about to bar your path."

"THAT'S WHAT THEY THINK!" Cerberus snarled. His tail twisted and he let out a booming roar. There were several series of bangs as a powerful fire spell engulfed the demons and he leapt over them as they burned to nothing. Nanako flinched at the sound, but Naoto kept her eyes forward, watching out for more demons. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a new demon come into her line of vision. Quickly, she pulled out her revolver and shot several times to stun them.

"Keep going Cerberus!" she yelled as the demons halted, shaking off their injuries. If she had more tubes, maybe she could contain them so they would stop, but that wasn't the case at the moment. Nanako was in danger if the longer they fought and so were the—

"Hiyah!"

That cry was familiar.

Cerberus slowed down near Junes, his ears twitching, "THEY'RE SURROUNDED. ORDERS NAOTO?"

"We have to help them. Do you know what the demons are?" she asked.

His nose curled, "HM… RAKSHASAS AND A SCATHACH."

"… I have no idea what those are, but Nanako-chan, stay low. Minato, I want you to make a preemptive strike with Megidola. Cerberus, you'll cast Maragidyne the moment there's an opening. If any of them try getting away, leave them to me," she commanded.

"Got it," Minato said. Nanako let go and his wings spread. He leapt off Cerberus and glided forward, beam sword returning to his hand. He was careful to keep his wings silent as he flapped, hiding behind the food court's bushes. Chie and Yosuke were falling back on defense as the two Rakshasas slashed away at them and the Scathach hung back, casting spells, waiting for them to break. With his sword, Minato cut through the bushes and circled around the three demons. A bright ball of light fell from the sky as he bolted back over to Chie and Yosuke's side, allowing the spell to explode.

"W-What the!?" Yosuke exclaimed, but he yelled as Cerberus bounded over the bushes, smashing several tables and chairs under his paws before roaring. Scathach let out a scream as the fires erupted and disappeared while the Rakshasas were stunned. Chie took the chance to take one of them down with a well-aimed kick, but the other tried slipping away. Three bullets pierced into its back and it faded away like the others.

"Chie-senpai! Yosuke-senpai! Are you two alright?"

Naoto ran over, reloading her revolver, but neither of them responded. They were watching Cerberus closely, gritting their teeth. The young detective shook her head, "Why is every suspicious of Cerberus. He isn't going to do anything…"

"Wait, you know this thing?" Yosuke said, not lowering his daggers.

"Hi, Chie-chan! Yosuke-kun!" Nanako exclaimed cheerfully, sitting back up on Cerberus's back.

Chie's eyes widened, "Nanako-chan! What are you doing on that lion's back?"

"Naoto-kun found me in the shopping district and Cerberus has been helping us find everyone. So far, you're the first two!" Nanako said happily, smiling, but then frowned, "Uh… do you have any idea where big bro is?"

"We're not even sure where we are," Yosuke said, lowering his daggers now. Gouto leapt onto the table, deciding to test something as he looked between Yosuke and Chie.

"Naoto, why is your cat--"

"This is the Dark Realm. It's similar to your home town, but a reflection. It's a world for demons."

"… Naoto, your cat just talked. I'm hallucinating, right?" Chie asked, rubbing her eyes.

"WE SHOULDN'T REMAIN HERE TOO LONG. MORE DEMONS ARE AWARE OF OUR LOCATION," Cerberus growled and Chie jumped. Naoto placed a hand on his snout, nodding.

"Can either of you summon your personas?" she asked. Yosuke and Chie shook their heads at which Naoto frowned. "Well, at least you can still fight. Come on, I'm taking you all back to the Estate. You have to stay there so I can find the others. You'll have to watch over Nanako-chan and try finding an exit from this world."

"Trying to be like Souji, eh? Well, if you like the guy, just…" Yosuke started saying, but Naoto shook her head, placing a hand in Cerberus's mane.

"Senpai, there's no time for joking around. Besides, even you know that he's pursuing Yukiko-senpai and we're just good friends," she sighed, "I'd prefer to leave it at just that anyway."

"You can pry the info out in a less intense situation anyway," Minato said. Yosuke blinked, staring at Minato, but then turned his head to Naoto.

"Uh… your persona is talking to me."

"That's my brother," Naoto said.

"That's your BROTHER?" Chie asked, astonished.

"No questions; walk," Naoto grumbled. Geez, hopefully when she found Souji or Dojima, things would be a little more orderly. Shrugging off a twinge in her arm, she started leading the way back to the Estate.

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Me: Senior project drag… please review.