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 19: Annealing

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Weak exhales of breath filled the still air as Naoto stared up at the twisted monster before her. Its face was skeletal other than the bits of tissue and muscle clinging tightly to it, saber fangs jutting out of its mouth and overhanging its lower jaw. Multiple hands reached up, sharp, silver clawed tips curling and uncurling as its eyeless gaze fell on Naoto. It lumbered to its full height, decaying flesh folding over and falling off its red and black legs as it stepped forward unseeingly. Suddenly, white rolled in the black hole sockets, amber glaring out from the looming darkness, before it roared.

The air stirred and Naoto stepped back into Cerberus as the gray fog swarmed, clashing together into clouds, thunder crashing above them. A powerful wind gusted and billowed from an unknown source, swirling around into the storm forming overhead. She held onto Minato tightly, her feet slipping as the storm got worse. Gouto had to dig his claws into the ground to keep himself from sliding as well. Lightning split the ground thirty feet away, raising the stage around them, and Naoto finally heard the demon speak again.

"The worlds we reside in are always parted. Sadness, anger, jealousy, fear… emotions that compose most of it. Happiness? Love? Acceptance? They cannot and do not exist. Seeking the truth, but is what you seek worth it? My master wishes to bring the true happiness, the true satisfaction to you humans and demons. You, Kuzunoha, who stand in my way… you're the only one to rise against me. Why fight? It's hopeless…"

The voice it spoke through was definitely Adachi's, but distorted, stretched, and echoing.

"Humans show so little to each other when actually, they wish to forget and focus only upon themselves. I, Yakusa-no-Ikazuchi, bear witness to your failures, conjuring my storms and watch humans cast atrocities on their own kind. Why protect such a race when my master is the only answer; the only truth?"

"Who is your master!?" Naoto demanded, slipping against the ground a bit more. Cerberus grabbed the back of her coat, keeping her from moving anymore.

"The first ever casted aside by her lover just because of a tragedy. My Lady Izanami, the only truth of these worlds of false hope and joy. Give in, Kuzunoha; give in to me and you will not suffer."

"You think I'm a fool? You think I'm going to allow you to do this?" Naoto snapped; hugging Minato closer as the storm became worse.

"Deny a world that could mean happiness for you again? You will turn away Izanami as well?"

"I don't need her answer! I need to find my own. Besides, I think my friends are a much better choice than some woman I don't know," Naoto replied, wincing. A lightning bolt struck right next to them, causing the ground to crumble near their feet.

"I gave you a chance for a peaceful resolution, but if you wish to fight, I'll see to it you never return to your world."

"And I'll make sure the others get home," Naoto hissed, raising her gun. Cerberus let go of her and both quickly moved as the ground gave away. She fired three times before rolling out of the way, Yasuka's claws raking into the ground effortlessly. Cerberus bellowed, flames surging upon the living dead demon, but the wind blasted it out before damage could be dealt. "Minato, can you still attack with magic?" Naoto asked, circling around, but ducking low as an icy bolt almost hit her in the head.

"I think I can," Minato said, fingers holding onto her arm tightly. He paused, but then released a hand, raising it towards Yasuka. A blinding ball of light descended on the demon, exploding on contact. Momentarily, the storm was abated, an eye appearing in the black clouds, but it thundered and brewed again. A funnel slammed into the ground, quickly moving towards Minato and Naoto. She broke into a run away from it.

Cerberus raced forward, fangs digging into the rotten flesh around Yasuka's leg and buried his claws in as well, trying to pull the demon down. He flinched, roaring in pain as a clawed hand dug into his ribs, tossing him aside. The skin he tore off quickly reformed on Yasuka, damage disappearing. Its saber jaws started to open, black flames swirling in its mouth and sparking loudly.

"I don't like the looks of this…"

Naoto grimaced, watching Yasuka as its head turned, the flames growing larger. She shielded herself and Minato as it expelled, but the flames didn't touch her. Raising her eyes, she noticed the fire encircling her, slowly burning forward. Cerberus ran over, but yowled, stepping back. Shaking his head, he snarled, "NAOTO! GET OUT OF THERE!"

"Ugh!"

Caught in the center, Naoto winced. The fire didn't burn, but as the flames drew close, she felt energy being pulled from her body. Her head swam and her breath clipped a bit as she stumbled. The black fire drew closer as she lost her footing, but she never connected with the darkness. Black was engulfed in orange and yellow as Cerberus's flames cut through the dark inferno, until a small funnel cloud gusted them out. Naoto shook her head and fell over to Cerberus, panting, "T-Thank you…"

"YOU CAN'T FIGHT THIS… THERE HAS TO BE A WAY OUT," Cerberus grunted, but his haunches rose as Yasuka's saber jaws tried to hold black sparks back. It was coming again. There wasn't going to be an escape for them at—

Dark flames hailed forward at them, Cerberus's whip like tail slamming into Naoto's side. It tossed her away with Minato and Gouto was swatted aside just as the flames hit Cerberus. A guttural yowl escaped the white lion creature and it fell back, the flames cutting through his thin body. He hit the ground with a bang and her eyes widened, "Cerberus! Cerberus! Oh God…!"

She ran over, the flames dissipating as she neared the fallen beast. She knelt next to him, hands sinking into his mane as she shook him gently, "Cerberus! Come on! Wake up!" Cold seeped from the fur, his jowl open with no breath escaping. His golden eyes were shut tightly and he remained motionless. Her fingers gripped his fur tightly, shoulders shaking, "No… this can't be…"

"Death is but the final step. Your comrade has just moved on a little early. I'll make sure you follow soon…"

"Naoto! Move now!"

Naoto barely dodged the second wave of black flames, more of her energy lost as it passed her shoulder. No, scratch that; it wasn't just energy, it was her life getting sucked away like a vacuum. She stumbled as she rose to her feet, raising her gun with difficulty to fire three more times. Her gun clicked as the ammo ran out and her vision swam briefly. It darkened, coming back just as claws dug into her side, swatting her across the battlefield. She hit the ground once, twice, three times before sliding to a stop and in the midst of it, Minato slipped from her arms.

For a moment, she didn't move, but then she balled her hands into fists and struggled to rise just to her knees. Her back was hunched, body trembling as she fought to just stand up again. A spasm ran through her body and she coughed, blood splattering against the ground. She wiped her mouth on the back of her hand, getting to her feet. The thunder and lightning sounded distant, her own, weak breathing louder in her ears. Her heart was hammering and her vision starting to tunnel, but somehow, she step-sided another strike aimed towards her chest.

"Give in… listen to your body…"

"C-Can't… stop now," Naoto muttered, reloading her gun, "If… I don't stop you… now… you'll…"

She gritted her teeth and raised her gun again, firing three more times. Several hands surrounded her, stirring the air around her while flames started forming in Yasuka's jaws again. This was it; the end… dammit, there were several things she still didn't know. Why was she the only one with her grandfather the day her parents died? Why did he disown Minato? Why did her grandfather try to hide the Kuzunoha lineage from her?

"You WILL get away from my sister!"

A blinding flash erupted over Yasuka's head causing him to cut off his flames. He turned, eyes gazing down at Minato's tiny body still standing proudly, wings flapping irritably.

"Trapped soul… why do you still fight?"

"Shut up. I don't care what you are, but you go against every reason I died. If you and your master threaten to combine the worlds, everyone will die. My sister, my friends… I died to protect them from that fate over a year ago. They'll choose when their time comes, they'll decide on their happiness, they'll discover the truth and their fates," Minato snapped. His eyes looked over at Naoto, or at least, she thought they did. She was still trying to regain focus.

"Naoto, rise. I know you can… as a Kuzunoha, no, as a Shirogane, we do not give up."

"… R-Right."

'But I don't know how much longer I can last…'

She bit her lip, tasting blood in her mouth, but she had recovered enough to see and fight again.

"The first one to ever try taking on a powerful demon without training. Stubbornness hasn't changed at all."

Gouto shook his head, but then dashed forward, hissing, leaping onto Yasuka's leg, climbing up. Minato continued to flap his wings, managing a small flutter to avoid a hand swiping at him. His beam sword reappeared and he sliced through the rotting thing, letting it hit the ground with a squelch. Yasuka roared, turning on Minato, but Naoto shot at its face, bullets piercing into its skull. She leapt back; reloading and firing again while Minato casted Megidolaon again. A large, amber eye turned on Minato only to be blinded as Gouto hissed angrily, digging his claws into the orb.

Yasuka reeled back, opening its mouth and letting out a shrill, high pitch, siren wail. Gouto released its eye, claws digging into what little flesh as he slid down to the ground, ears pulled back. Minato's antennae pointed back and he dropped his sword, holding his head at the sound. Naoto had to cover her ears, trying not to listen to the sound, but it rattled her to the bone, causing her to move away. Suddenly, she didn't remember much, but a sharp sting race through her body as a bolt of lightning caught her.

"Naoto! Guh! Ah!"

"Minato! Naoto!"

'This… this can't be…!' she thought, hitting the ground, but not feeling the impact. Shock made her body convulse, but was it due to the lightning or blood loss? Everyone talked about their life flashing before her eyes and… it was. As she stared up at Yasuka-no-Ikazuchi, her short life appeared before her as blood pounded in her ears and flowed from her mouth. The black flames formed soundlessly in Yasuka's mouth, her sight darkening as the fire engulfed her.

…

A piano played softly in the darkness and she felt stiff. An arm was wrapped behind her back and another was under her knees. Her head lulled and as much as she wanted to raise it, she couldn't. Her body was like lead, limps dangling as she was carried… where ever.

"I know you're struggling at the border… allow your mind to rest. You've fought long enough; you did your best…"

She wanted to ask what this person meant, but it was hazy, too blurred and too difficult to even try speaking. She did try her best to take on the demon alone; sacrifice herself to stop it, but it wasn't enough, was it?

'The border… between life and death… I tried… I bought them time and some of the truth was exposed.'

"That's right. Now calm yourself. You'll be home soon."

Naoto felt herself be carried further away, but she listened and allowed her mind to close down as the final piano cord struck.

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Me: Everything will be answered soon. Review please.