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.
Note: Before anyone asks, Souji uses the Persona 4 exclusive personas so Naoto won't recognize most of the demons as personas. Now as for Souji…
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Veluti In Speculum
Chapter 16: Razor
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They were back dashing across Dark Yasoinaba, her hands grasping the silvery mane as Cerberus ran with heavy bounds. Sukuna-Hikona – No, Minato – flew near her shoulder, wings flapping with each boost of speed to keep up. His buggy, orange-yellow eyes darted around at the buildings.
"Several more Anzu approaching from the sky."
"Hmph… Cerberus, how close are we to the school?" Naoto asked, her eyes shooting up towards the lion-bird demons. There were at least four of them, but she saw they were accompanied by something else. It looked almost like a small doll with wings.
"I'M ALMOST THERE NOW!" the beast replied, not looking up. He was concentrated on the path he was taking.
"They're too close then. Minato, let's take them down," she said. Minato nodded and his wings expanded, slowing him down. He flapped several times, shooting up and tucking his wings in, raising his beam sword as he shot through the group of demons. Several yowls announced his attacks landing and he had to swerve around fast to dodge the wind spell shot at him. An Anzu revved up to attack, but a bullet pierced its stomach at that moment, making it drop and disappear.
"I was aiming for its head," Naoto muttered, reloading. Gouto chuckled from his place perched around her shoulders.
"Hey, you're doing very well for someone aiming off a moving demon's back… Hm, there's a large demon obstructing the school."
"Huh?"
She turned her head away from the demons as another dropped and gazed ahead. It looked like a cross between a tiger, a gorilla with a shrunken face, and a snake. Well, it had a snake for a tail; that counted. It was looking around, but then yelled, "I SEE YOU HUMANS!"
"What is that?" she asked, tugging slightly on Cerberus's mane to get him to slow down. Minato fluttered down at that moment and stared at the demon as it began tearing through the doors of Yasogami.
"It's called a Nue. It's not really the brightest demon in the world, but the lightning it creates can be damaging. When they're hungry, they'll keep chasing after their prey so they are troublesome."
"Souji-senpai and Yukiko-senpai must be its targets. The school grounds are big enough for us to fight it," she said and Cerberus took the hint. Walking passed the ripped open school gate, the moment they were on the school grounds, Nue raised his head and looked around. It lumbered to its feet and turned, beady red eyes staring at them.
"HUMAN SUMMONER!? I WAS TOLD NO MORE SUMMONER HERE!" it snarled, annoyed, "MAKE UP FOR HUMANS I LOST. FOOD TIME!"
"Passed the talking sooner than I thought it would," Naoto commented, leaping off Cerberus's back. Nue's fur sparked and it slammed its pawed hands on the ground as the sparks rose to its head. With a roar, a strong lightning bolt surged forward, but everyone dodged. Gouto leapt off of Naoto's shoulders, hissing at the demon with his fur high. Cerberus let out an equally powerful roar, a flame bursting before Nue, but the hulking demon was more agile than it appeared, slipping passed the fire.
Nue ran forward on its paws, taking a swing at Cerberus, but the lion moved to the side, fangs bared. Minato zoomed around Nue, blade skimming against its skin, but it lashed at him with a strong swipe. Naoto caught him before he hit the ground and turned, firing several shots with her revolver. Nue turned, opening its mouth as its fur sparked again, but Cerberus's claws slashed down its back.
Naoto moved around, frowning, "Minato, are you alright?"
"Just a bit stunned," he replied honestly, shaking his head. He stood up in her hands and leapt back into the air while Cerberus slashed at Nue again. It roared, angered and slammed both paws back at Cerberus, drawing a pained yowl. Naoto fired again at Nue, angered that the demon had possibly injured Cerberus. "Over here!" Minato exclaimed as Nue almost rounded on Naoto. He raised his blade, a dark orb forming before it. He batted it forward and struck Nue directly in the face and it stumbled away.
"… What was that?"
"I don't know! I was casting Mudoon!"
She was about to press for more reason as to why the dark instant-kill would be a ball of darkness when Nue let out a rattling cry. Cerberus released its jaws from its back, panting as it stepped off the downed demon. Naoto put her gun away slowly while she made sure the area was clear, letting out a heavy breath. Minato flew over to the school, looking inside, "Hello? Naoto's friends? Anyone here?"
He moved quickly up, startled as a broom almost swatted him. Souji glared at Minato, his clothes slightly frayed and bloody. Behind him was Yukiko, holding a fan prop from the Drama Club, and glaring at Minato as well. She didn't have any injuries on her, but they were both ready to attack.
"Souji-senpai! Yukiko-senpai! Hold on!"
Souji already took another swing at Minato, but the butterfly boy slipped around with no difficultly. Unfortunately, Naoto stepped in at that moment, taking the broom to the top of her head. Her hat flipped off and she had to shake her head, "W-What the…?"
"Naoto-kun!" Yukiko exclaimed, lowering her 'weapon'. Souji set the broom down, looking apologetic as Naoto fussed with her hair for a moment before putting her hat back on. "A-Ah… how did you find us?" Yukiko asked, confused.
Naoto nodded back, "Cerberus helped me. Before I explain, I'm getting everyone to safety and then back to our Inaba."
"… We're in another world, aren't we?" Souji sighed.
Naoto nodded, "Yes… there is much we need to discuss."
"NAOTO, I CAN SMELL ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS APPROACHING," Cerberus said suddenly from outside and Naoto looked back, raising an eyebrow. While Souji and Yukiko stared at Cerberus apprehensively, Naoto gazed towards the school gates, relieved to see Rise stop and stare, shocked, at the ruined gate.
"Rise! Over here!" she called, making the idol look up. Her expression brightens, but then dissolves into tears as she runs over and cleans to Naoto.
"Wah! I thought I was going to be stuck here forever!" Rise cried, hugging Naoto tightly. She began to struggle in Rise's bone-crushing hug, but the idol didn't take notice until Yukiko waved, announcing hers and Souji's presence. Naoto rolled her shoulders and rubbed her arms as Rise let go to latch onto the other two. "And you are… ah!" Rise jumped, realizing she was about to hug Cerberus. The big cat snorted.
"We better get moving back to the Estate. You're still missing four people."
"W-Who was that?" Rise asked, looking around. Naoto sighed under her breath. She would have to explain Gouto too.
"Don't worry about it right now. Yosuke-senpai, Chie-senpai, and Nanako-chan are waiting back at the Estate," Naoto explained, scratching Cerberus's ear. The big cat closed its mouth, enjoying the scratching. Minato flew back over and sat on Naoto's head.
"School's clear, Naoto," he said, staring at the others.
She nodded, closing her eyes, "… I have an idea on where the others might be."
"How exactly did we get here again? I just remember standing in front of the inn… and then there was a high pitch sound like a whistle or scream…" Yukiko muttered, looking down. "Kanji-kun was there to deliver something… did he get taken too then?"
"I haven't found Kanji-kun yet, but I have an idea where he might… be…" Naoto trailed, shaking her head and rolling her shoulder.
"Are you alright, Naoto?"
"Just feeling a bit sore… maybe even slightly drained," she replied, looking down at the black cat.
"Must be the side effects the Herald was talking about. Quickly, we must leave and find the Tatsumi, Dojima-san, Adachi-san, and… Namatame-san, was it?"
"Uh, yes," Rise said, blinking down at Gouto. Naoto ushered the others to start walking, Cerberus standing anxiously to her side. Gently, as they walked past the Samegawa River, the white lion beast nudged her shoulder.
"NAOTO, REST AT THE ESTATE. I'LL FIND THE MISSING ONES BEFORE WE HUNT THE DEMON," he growled, obviously worried.
Naoto locked her gaze with his golden eyes, but then shook her head slowly, "I know you're worried, but this is my job now. I agreed to it back with the Herald that I would forego the consequences and save my friends. Assist me, my dear ally, if you're that worried."
"… DON'T PUSH YOURSELF TOO MUCH," he growled in compliance before licking her cheek.
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Guns drawn, but who they're supposed to be aimed for is the uncertain factor. Dojima and Adachi had originally turned on Namatame and they were ready to arrest him in the strange world, but then… Dojima noticed how Namatame cowered and repeated over and over he failed, they were all in danger, and how nobody was safe now. The older detective shot a glance over at his young subordinate while he hesitated, but something about Adachi just said determination.
"Wait Adachi. He doesn't have a clue where we are either. There's no point in arresting him," Dojima said, lowering his gun. Adachi looked over at him, cocking his head in confusion.
"Huh? But sir, you know this is the man who took Nanako-chan. Your nephew and his friends even came to the conclusion that he was doing it."
"Adachi! Calm down! If he was the one, he would've attacked us already, guns or no. Now lower you damn weapon!" Dojima barked, leering at the younger detective. Adachi jumped, but then nodded, putting his gun away into its holster. Dojima shook his head and drew out a cigarette, taking it into his mouth and lighting it, "Jeez… even if we arrested him, I doubt it'll matter much here… Where the hell are we anyway?"
"No idea, Dojima-san. Should we try finding Nanako-chan instead of worry about him?" Adachi asked, nodding his head over at Namatame briefly. The man in question was curled in the fetal position on the ground, moaning pathetically and Dojima stared at him with an almost judging eye.
Slowly, he shook his head, sighing, "We have to bring him along. We need to question him when we get out of here."
Adachi grimaced, disappointed at the decision, but that disappeared quickly as he smiled and nodded, "Ah, I understand Dojima-san."
Dojima nodded and walked over to Namatame, holding out a hand, "Come on… we need to get out of here…"
"A-Ah…" Namatame looked up, his eyes unfocused. He seemed to be staring passed Dojima and suddenly, his eyes widened and he crawled backwards on the ground, moving away from the two of them.
"What the hell are you doing?" Dojima snapped and reached for Namatame again. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and he froze immediately. Something was wrong; he felt a killer intent behind him or…
"You know sir; it would just be easier to let it out now. You know you want to hurt him for taking Nanako-chan."
"… Adachi, what are you saying?" he asked, gradually looking back at the young detective. There was something off about him and the dark world they stood in now seemed to be adding to that effect.
"Dojima-san, don't give me that bull shit… we could kill him here and nobody would care," Adachi chuckled, smirking.
Dojima's eyes widened a bit at Adachi's words, but he didn't seem to notice, chuckling under his breath, "This place… can't you feel the power stirring in the air? It's so perfect… better than that TV world. I'm glad we all got dragged here. Maybe slowly this is what the town will really become or both demons and shadows could take over! Ahahaha! Hey, which one do you think sounds better? Either way, we'll leave behind our useless lives…"
"A-Adachi, what are you blabbing about!?" Dojima barked, stepping back as Adachi raised his gun. The young man's eyes were glowing amber and black seemed to creep down his arm, leaving a trail of cloth and bright red vein markings. He grinned, fanged teeth flashing before he laughed again.
Namatame yelled behind Dojima and scrambled to his feet, dashing off, leaving the detective transfixed as Adachi seemed to change before him. Adachi's gun clicked as a bullet loaded and before two and two came together, there was nothing, but black.
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Me: … Review please.