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 22: Glare

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She stood before the Estate like it was foreign territory, Gouto by her legs and Minato re-summoned and sitting on her shoulder. It was just them. The others were inside the TV checking everything out. When she didn't move for some time, Minato gave her a slight tap, "It'll be okay Naoto. We have to confront grandpa sooner or later."

"I know, but he's probably still furious we broke down the basement door as our first act as summoners…" Naoto sighed.

Minato paused. "… Ah, good point."

"Stop it you two. Tadashi is expecting both of you so - door or no door - move it."

"Yes Gouto," Naoto replied. Slowly, she raised her hand and knocked on the door several times. It was silent, but soon, she heard footsteps rushing towards the door and a lock clicking open. Yakushiji opened the door and immediately hugged Naoto, startling her.

"Shirogane-sama! You're back! Have you been well? You're not injured are you? You have been monitoring your health, right?" he asked rapidly, but someone was approaching him from behind.

"Yakushiji… set her down."

Immediately, Yakushiji withdrew himself and stepped aside. Short dark hair with a few gray specks, sharp, angled gray eyes with dark circles, pale skin, her grandfather stood in the main hall in one of his usual dark suits. The hat she had seen Elder Jouhei wearing was on Tadashi's head right now. She remained silent, looking at him, noticing his eyes move. He was looking at Minato; she knew he was looking at Minato.

"… so, Gouto wasn't lying… then again, he rarely ever does," he said, his voice firm, but slightly scratchy from age. "I can't say in my years that I have ever seen one like it. It's almost close to a Faerie, more so, a Pixie or Sylph…"

"Grampa…" Naoto whispered, her gaze falling. Minato was silent, but then.

"Grandpa… it's me, Minato," he said coolly. If Tadashi had been alarmed at the news, he didn't show it. His face remained neutral, but his eyes were colder.

"I thought your soul was completely gone after that demon came down to our world, but I guess a faint remain escaped," he grunted. Naoto tensed at the tone, balling her hand into a fist for a moment, but then unclenched. She fished into her pocket, walking forward.

"Before we discuss more in either matter, I was insisted to give you this letter and also told that you must read it," she said, holding the unopened envelope to Tadashi. He stared at it like it could be a letter bomb, but, after a moment, he took it.

He frowned, "This letter… I received it years ago. How did you come across it?"

"Tadashi, you know very well where your granddaughter has gone. The Herald told you in one way or another that a Kuzunoha had stepped into the Dark Realm here. The other Kuzunohas know their place."

"… Gouto, even though you are the first Raidou Kuzunoha, I ask you stay out of Shirogane Family Discussions," Tadashi replied. The black cat shook his head, but remained silent none-the-less as the old man opened the envelope. He pulled out the enclosed letter and unfolded it, scanning the page in silence. Naoto stood, her lips sealed and Minato's wings gave a nervous flitter.

"… This still doesn't change the fact you and Gouto defied my rules. Summoners have no place in this century," Tadashi said, crushing the letter in his hand.

Naoto's eyes flickered and she felt anger rush through her, but she didn't say anything, looking away.

"Grandpa, there's always a need for summoners! If dad didn't do what he did back then…"

"Silence you! The line ends now!" he snapped, making Minato fall back. Gouto hissed.

"Tadashi, you still can't be bent on that!"

"The world is beyond repair. The Dark Realm is disappearing, the Herald grows weak…! Everything… nothing… the past is gone; reality and the future is all we have to look towards," Tadashi said, his eyes flashing, "So much sacrificed and it's for not. I will not allow needless death in this family anymore."

"… Elder Jouhei… he accepted the dangers and still carried the name," Naoto murmured, glaring at her grandfather.

Tadashi's attention was on her, briefly showing a small emotion: shock. "… I do not understand how you know that name, but he's the reason we've had our tangle with misfortune."

"You know perfectly well why that happened."

"I don't understand why you fight against what we must do. Either way, we're still detectives. We still must protect everyone and solve cases. You'll let me inherit the Shirogane name, but refuse the title of Kuzunoha by keeping the information tied up after mother and father's death. Not only that, but my brother too?" Naoto growled, shaking her head, "You left me in the dark… but I'll do what I must to continue where my father left off, grampa."

She had only seen her grandfather's gaze become that cold once before, but now, she didn't really care. This was her life, this was the truth. Detective, Persona-user, Devil Summoner… Shirogane and Kuzunoha… this was her choice, not his; he didn't control her.

"… You want to be next in line? Prove it to me…" he trailed, raising a hand. A sword was tossed into his open palm, his fingers closing around it. Yakushiji lowered his hands and stepped back as Naoto shot a look in his direction.

"Look out!"

Naoto turned and jumped last second. When did her grandfather summon!? Minato flew off her shoulder and back towards the door, "Outside Naoto! Hurry!"

She didn't need telling twice and turned, racing out of the house. The Estate was secluded away from Inaba so this fight was just between the two of them. When she turned around, she saw her grandfather standing with the sword drawn and blade shining in the faint sunlight. To his left was a purple skinned woman with long, jet-black hair and curved horns. Silver tattoos crossed her body and her hands held tightly onto two swords. Bladed circles floated around her body as she stared at Naoto, dark lips curling into a smirk, "We're fighting against another summoner? This should be entertaining."

"Summoner or no, it has been a while since I have been called," said the other demon on her grandfather's right. Large white, feathery wings, tan almost orange skin with short black hair, adorned in armor and robe, and wielding a blade as well, the demon's sharp eyes glared at her. "I sense Kuzunoha blood in her. What reason are we fighting against your relative?"

"We act as her first test if she wants to truly pursue being a summoner," Tadashi said, "Also, it will teach her a lesson why she should remain just a detective."

"… Then may we make this the last battle between summoners," the angel said, spreading his wings wide. The purple woman clashed her swords together, smiling.

"It's been a pleasure to serve, Summoner. Hehe…"

"This will be a real challenge…" Minato whispered. Naoto nodded, her eyes darting around. Would there be any way out of this?

"…! Grampa doesn't know I can channel spirits still. If things get desperate, allow me to try channeling you again Minato," Naoto said quietly. She spotted the hat again on Tadashi's head, "If that doesn't work… maybe that hat…"

"The hat is an heirloom handed down to each summoner. Yes… that should be a last resort. So many souls can be called through it and our lineage isn't without impurities."

"Right," she said, nodded and drew her gun. She didn't voice the fact that it might not work. She wasn't even sure how it worked the first time.

"Cybele, Michael, we're just disabling her. She has one demon on her side so make it quick," Tadashi ordered.

"Of course Summoner," Cybele replied. Michael didn't say a word, but prepared for an attack. Naoto barely rolled out of the way as wind cut right through where she had been standing a second ago, a grove appearing in the ground. Minato zoomed past her, blocking Cybele's next attack with his beam sword. "What a cute demon… let me clip its wings."

"Back off!" Minato snapped, pushing Cybele back a bit.

"Oh, a little spunk in the firefly," she said.

Minato had to move quickly as Michael suddenly appeared and took a swing at him. Naoto was about to come help, but her eyes widened as she leapt back. Her grandfather's sword hit the ground with considerable force and she didn't even see him move. So, to each their own battle, huh?

Cybele and Michael were ganging up on Minato and he was quickly getting fed up. With a burst of speed, he looped around and casted Megidola, sending the two demons back in the explosion. Michael was the first to come forward, but Minato had a sudden realization. He had Michael as a persona and his weakness… quickly, he casted Mudoon which caused Michael to freeze up. Now that left him with Cybele for a few seconds, but before he could start casting Hamaon, her blades smacked against him.

Naoto wasn't having any more luck either. Her grandfather had a sword and his gun. Every shot she fired he would dodge or block almost effortlessly before countering with his own assault. His accuracy too was nothing to laugh at. He had clipped her left arm and calf with his gun while his sword nicked her hip and her right thigh. She barely dodged a strike at her knees and was able to slip in a kick, hitting her grandfather leg, but just a bit. It wasn't anywhere near balancing out the injuries between them both.

"This is beyond your league of training, Naoto," Tadashi said calmly as he cut her hand. Her grip on her gun slackened, but she managed to hold on and move back to a safe distance. Minato skidded to a halt at her feet and she picked him up just as Michael was about to strike. She kicked the angel away.

"Minato, are you alright?" she asked, glancing down at him. He flared his wings several times as he climbed up to her shoulder, glaring back at Tadashi, Cybele, and Michael.

"Yeah, I'm alright, but I can't say this will end well," he replied as he stood on her shoulder again.

Naoto nodded deftly, taking another step back, "I wish I had taken better care of Cerberus… I should've stopped him from dying… we probably would've stood a chance."

"No time to regret what's happened! Move!"

Naoto rolled to the side, missing her grandfather's high arc swing, but Cybele and Michael were waiting for that. Two strikes to her hand made her drop her gun while the third knocked her back. She sat on the ground, gnashing her teeth, both in pain and annoyance for falling into that trap. Tadashi's sword was less than an inch in front of her face when she blinked, making her tense.

"It's no use, Naoto," he said, looking down at her just as he always did. Minato shifted, staring at his grandfather and the two idle demons. This wasn't a fair match…

His beam sword knocked away his grandfather's suddenly and he flew into the air, casting Megidolaon to distract them. "Naoto! Channel me! Quickly!" he yelled, as the blinding light erupted.

"I'll try…!" Naoto exclaimed, getting back to her feet. She held her bleeding right hand to Minato. His small palm touched hers and she promptly started concentrating, trying to connect and possibly trade positions with him. She didn't remember much except moving automatically, whispering under her breath and drawing Minato close. She didn't know when it happened, but she flopped into her own arms, somehow tiny and very exhausted.

"Naoto, are you alright?"

She blinked and looked up, but she was staring at herself. No, that had been Minato's voice though. Looking down, she noticed her hands were bandaged and her back was heavy. Willing herself, she felt the weight lift momentarily, but then flop back. Minato laughed gently, "The wings take some getting use too…"

"I… I suppose…" she murmured, climbing onto her body's shoulder. Minato assisted her before glaring over at Tadashi.

Cybele was silent, looking between them, "Summoner, your relative isn't in her body any longer."

"Yes… no wait. She's still here, but there," Michael said, looking at Sukuna-Hikona. Tadashi paused, lowering his sword a bit.

"… What manner of deceitful spell is this?" he growled.

"It's… not a spell! I'm right here, grampa!" Naoto snapped, standing up on Minato's shoulder.

"Your granddaughter isn't as weak as you think… and Minato… you have something too, don't you?"

Minato waved Naoto's uninjured hand, a sealed tube appearing in his grasp and his eyes glowed through her body, "You weren't fighting fair with Naoto so it's time I fight unfairly with you too." The tube started unscrewing at the top and he pointed it forward as it opened, "Thanatos!"

Metal jaws clashed with a sharp clashing sound, chains rattling and coffins floating around its shoulders, its black cloaked body floating off the ground. Its white gloved hands swung its large blade, before it let out a blood-curdling roar, "I am Thanatos, the personification of Death! I'll give you the early demise you seek!"

Naoto held onto a few strains of blue hair. What manner of demon had her brother called upon?

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Me: This chapter was fun and the battle will continue. Please review.