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 21: Glass

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"… Hey! Her eyes are openin'!"

"What?! Oh my God! They are!"

"Hey, hey! Get back! Don't crowd around her suddenly!"

"Got it, Dr. Hanamura… pft."

"Mhmm… I can hear you all talking," Naoto croaked, squinting a bit as she opened her eyes. Her pupils moved around slowly, taking in everything; green tatami mats, dark blue sheets, a tall cabinet and a low table. "The Amagi Inn?" she asked, confused, but then noticed that everything was no longer tinted red. Also, Minato wasn't by her side in Sukuna-Hikona's form. She frowned, "How are we back?"

"Uh… we're not exactly sure…" Yukiko said, turning her attention to the ground, "We were just standing around in the estate and then there was this really bright light. I think… well, it looked like Minato-kun and he was carrying you. He said he had to go and find you while we watched over your body."

"We kinda panicked because you weren't moving, but you were breathing… of course, SOME of us were freaking out more than necessary," Rise said, giggling, but stopped just as soon as she started. "Anyway, after he came back, something like a portal opened and we were just… standing in the middle of Inaba. We would've taken you home, but…"

"Didn' know how your gramps would react," Kanji said, scratching his head. "We talked 'bout what to do and then just decided to come here."

"Gouto went home to talk to your grandfather a few days ago," Souji said calmly, "He's probably waiting there now."

"… Alright," Naoto mumbled and lulled her head back towards the ceiling. She stared at it while the others remained quiet. Teddie bit the bullet.

"Nao-chan, what happened? I smelled a bear-y strong presence on you when Minato brought you back," he said, speaking up, "What did you fight against?"

"… A large, skeletal demon by the name Yasuka-no-Ikazuchi," Naoto answered after a moment. She closed her eyes and sat up slowly, thinking for a second, "He mentioned working under Izanami before we began to battle… and he killed Cerberus." She shook her head, "He almost killed me too… but Minato finished him off."

"Cerberus is dead?"

"What? How did he finish him off?"

"A black fire… Cerberus took the hit for me, but I almost died anyway," Naoto sighed, "I don't remember anything… but I guess I allowed Minato to channel through me like a spiritual medium."

Souji remained quiet for some time while the others continued talking to Naoto. Suddenly, he nodded, "Yeah, he summoned his personas."

"… How do you know?" Naoto asked, raising an eyebrow. Souji opened his mouth, but then closed it, remembering that the others didn't know about the Velvet Room and Igor.

He looked away, "It's a long story. Maybe some other time."

She stared a bit longer, but then nodded, brushing some of her hair back. She closed her eyes again, trying to hear or feel Minato, but it was dark; nobody answered. She didn't notice until Chie grabbed her arm that she swaying back and forth. Chie frowned, "You should try getting some more sleep. You're not looking so well."

"I suspect a fever. Being a medium is uncommon with summoners and her soul needs to settle again."

They all looked towards the window. Gouto was sitting on the window ceil, his emerald eyes gleaming. He leapt down and padded over to them, his tail swaying back and forth as he spoke.

"Handling and breaking seals and curses is most common. I wonder if this is because you're female. Nothing wrong with it, I'm just saying females tend to have a higher spiritual power."

"How did the audience with my grampa go?" Naoto questioned as Gouto sat down on the futon.

"Not good, but not bad either; just somewhere in the middle. He's still furious that you escaped, but he's willing to listen to what you have to say."

"Mhmm… I'll see him soon then…" Naoto murmured, her eyes drooping closed. She was still exhausted and Gouto was probably right. She was feeling a bit warm, even nauseous, but it all faded as she let herself rest. Gouto looked up at the others as Naoto drifted off.

"We'll need some medicine when she awakens again and I think we could all use something to eat, don't you?"

"… We'll have to figure out later why we can still hear you, but that sounds ideal," Souji said. He looked at the others, "We'll take turns taking watch and call the others when she awakens. Who wants to go first?"

"Well, I'm gonna cook, so pick someone else," Kanji said.

Rise raised her hand, "Hey, hey! I was going to cook!"

"We're tryin' to make her healthy, not poison 'er," Kanji stated blatantly. Rise turned and glared at him, but he just looked away, not giving a damn really. He grumbled, "You just take first watch or sumthin'…"

"Okay! But Teddie's staying with me so I have someone to talk to!" Rise exclaimed. Teddie turned red and then jumped to his feet, excited.

"Wow! Is Teddie being hit on!? Is this what it feels like to score?!"

"Calm yourself, son… Naoto is still trying to rest."

Teddie nodded quickly and sat down, looking at Gouto, "You are very wise, grandfather."

"Eh… I'm too old to be your grandfather."

"Uhm… than I'll call you bear-y great great great great…"

"… While Teddie's busy with that, I'll take the next shift. Yukiko will go after me, then Chie, followed by Yosuke, and Kanji can take watch after Yosuke or just join whoever's on watch when the food's ready," Souji said, "We'll cycle every hour. Keep a bowl nearby if she gets sick and a damp rag to keep her fever down."

"Right Souji-kun. I'll go see if we have some medicine," Yukiko said, rising to her feet, "And I'll bring back the bowl and rag." She turned and walked out, closing the sliding door behind her.

"I'll make some miso soup. Shouldn't be too long till I'm done," Kanji said, getting up as well. He opened the sliding door, but then froze, "Anything else? I'm makin' a run to Junes for ingredients."

"Get a trout for me. Other than that, I think you kids should just have the same as Naoto."

"Wha?"

"Hey!"

"I'm off then," Kanji said and disappeared from the room, door sliding shut. Souji, Yosuke, and Chie departed not long after, leaving Rise and Teddie to watch over the bed-ridden summoner.

Click!

Naoto looked around for a moment, but then pushed open a door as it appeared, stepping inside. A clock ticked softly, not disturbing the two sitting at the table in the center. Another click as she approached quietly, a calm voice whispering, "King me."

"Minato, can't we play something else?"

"Ryoji, there's barely anything else we can--"

"Why are you two playing checkers?" she voiced suddenly, making the two jump. Minato rose to his feet, hands automatically sliding into his pants pockets. His outfit was emblazoned with the Gekkoukan High School seal on the chest, headphones dangling right next to it; silver glinting faintly in the light in the room. Slowly, Naoto walked closer and then hugged her brother tightly, "I was scared you disappeared."

"No… I'm only here temporarily until you're well again," Minato explained, hugging her back, "Ryoji's already bored though."

"… Ryoji?"

She looked past Minato, staring at the second figure. Jet black hair swept back except for two distinct strands, blue eyes in contrast to Minato's gray, and a mole under his left eye almost under his temple. Her eyes flitted to the yellow scarf on his neck before taking in his dress shirt and black overalls. The boy smiled, "You're Minato's sister. I'm glad to meet you in this form."

"Naoto, Ryoji is… I guess you could compare him to being my shadow except… like Teddie," Minato explained as Ryoji moved over to Minato's side. Naoto looked at Ryoji warily, but her eyes darted back over to Minato. Her brother continued, "He's… Death; the shadow that was sealed inside me 11 years ago. He doesn't mean any harm though. He's actually a part of your persona."

"Naoto… I'm really sorry for what happened then. I was supposed to gather with the other shadows. I didn't mean to cause that car accident," Ryoji said, frowning. He seemed to shrink behind his scarf as he spoke, "All of Minato's memories of them and you, I really wish I could have them. They were so kind… and you loved your brother so much…"

"Then why did I forget?" she asked, casting her eyes away. "I loved him, I loved our parents, but I couldn't remember anything."

"But you didn't. You wouldn't have dreamed about him if you did, right?" Ryoji stated, smiling a bit. She didn't know how to respond. That was mostly true, but the mind could play tricks and implant false beliefs.

She was about to speak when there was a chiming sound. Minato and Ryoji looked up as well, but Minato spoke first, "Your friends are trying to wake you up. Food must be ready. Well, don't stay here too long or else they'll be worried."

"Yeah, you can come back and we can talk more. Also… bring another game other than checkers," Ryoji said.

"Now you're being a sore loser."

"No I'm not!"

"Naoto? Hello? Earth to Naoto?"

Naoto shifted and rolled onto her side, a cool cloth falling from her forehead before she opened her eyes. Her vision swam, setting after a few minutes, but she could make out Souji, Kanji, and Yukiko. Still warm… well, it wasn't going to clear up in an instant.

"… How long was I sleeping?" she asked, looking at Yukiko.

"A few hours. The watch arrangement didn't work when Yosuke remembered him and Teddie had work and then Rise didn't want to keep watch alone," Yukiko explained.

Souji turned away as Kanji started grumbling, "It didn' help when she tried cookin' with me either. Spoiled four attempts at miso! Who the hell throws in a cabbage?!"

"I was trying to make it healthy!" Rise snapped.

Kanji grumbled under his breath, retrieving a steaming bowl of miso from the table along with two pills. Naoto sat up with Rise's assistance just as Kanji set the bowl down next to her. She nodded her head, thanking both of them and took her pills with a spoonful of soup. "… This is really good," she said quietly, surprised. They turned, staring at Kanji who just blushed and looked away.

As much as she wanted to finish it, she could only finish half before her stomach refused her from having more. It was just like October again. She couldn't eat anymore like this. She set the bowl down, "Sorry… I can't finish it…"

"S'ok," Kanji said, picking up the bowl.

Yukiko nodded, "Yeah. You're still recovering. My mom doesn't mind us taking care of you here so rest as long as you need."

"T-Thank you…" Naoto said and, lying down again, she slowly let her eyes drop close.

"… And then the toast just landing in his lap, butter face down."

A new voice? Who was it?

"Oh, face down? Unlucky…"

"If Gouto didn't do it, that bug might've done something."

"Better safe than sorry. Oh! Naoto's back!"

Ryoji was first on his feet, smiling, "Do you have a new game?"

Naoto fished into her pocket, pulling out her cell phone and clicked a few buttons before thrusting it into his hands, "It's called Tetris. Have at it."

"Ooh…" Ryoji was quickly distracted by the game while Minato and a man walked over. Black hair, gray eyes, pale skin, and garbed in an old gakuran (or at least it seemed looked like one) with a familiar black cap, the man nodded his head.

"Naoto, your brother has been telling me a great deal about you. Also, he mentioned how Tadashi hasn't been teaching you about the family. Even Gouto was annoyed when we last spoke," the man said. He crossed his arms, "Sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm your ancestor, Jouhei, but most kids your age know me as Raidou Kuzunoha the 14th."

"Nice to meet you, elder Jouhei, though, I feel like I shouldn't be saying that," Naoto said, frowning.

He nodded before speaking again, "Tadashi doesn't actually mean to end the Kuzunoha lineage… when anger wells up in a person, things can be said that aren't actually meant. Toshihiro and Maria's death was a little more than he expected and immediately, he suspected their final case. He doesn't even know the full details and followed through with his statement." He paused, raising a hand to his chin, thinking, "… I guess he figured you couldn't be the next Raidou, but you're capable to channel spirits. He'll be surprised."

"… Naoto, do you still have that letter Souji-san found?" Minato asked suddenly. Naoto's eyes shifted over to him and she nodded. "Good. You should give it to him before saying anything else when you see him. For now… I think the three of us have some history to go over," he added, smiling.

The three of them rejoined Ryoji at the small table where the checkers game lay abandoned now.

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Me: … Maybe we can end this on an even number… no, most likely odd. Please review.