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 23: Sheen

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If either of Tadashi's demons moved, Thanatos would turn towards it and start growling, tightening his hold on his sword. It was strange; two demons that had been trained for years wouldn't try approaching the demon and even their grandfather seem wary of approaching. Naoto looked at Minato, but he was watching the stand still, ready to give orders if one strayed too close.

It was a sudden, rapid motion. Cybele and Michael flickered and appeared before Thanatos who roared. Minato snapped as they raised their swords, "Tempest Slash!"

Both opposing demons were pushed back as a series of circular arcs deflected their attacks and came back to catch them both across the front. Michael's armor was cut and Cybele had to move back in order to heal her newly acquired injury before it became too much. Thanatos was shaking with anticipation for more, growling lowly as the two demons recovered from the single attack.

"… Thanatos, send them back to their tubes," Minato ordered after a moment. Thanatos's grip tightened on his sword and the chains rattled as he roared, coffins clinging together before he practically warped as he charged at Cybele. Minato shielded Naoto, but that didn't block out the horrible cry drawn from Cybele and the accompanying sounds of blade cutting flesh repeating over and over.

"Summoner… forgive me…"

There was a faint thump before a whooshing sound. Minato lowered his hand and Naoto noticed that Cybele was gone. All that remained was a pool of red-almost-black blood on the ground where she had been. There was a terrible yell as Thanatos turned on Michael, charging him down. Tadashi and Naoto watched as Thanatos mercilessly attacked Michael, severing his wings and breaking his arms.

"Call him off Minato! That's enough!" Naoto exclaimed as Thanatos raised his blade high and pointing it down towards Michael's chest, but Minato didn't do anything. Naoto turned her head as Thanatos impaled Michael, a yell ringing in the area.

"I… failed."

More dark red blood hit the ground and Michael disappeared from Thanatos's stained blade. Minato stared at Tadashi silently, gray eyes flickering as Thanatos moved back, wiping his blade clean on his outfit. Minato frowned, "Grandpa, are you ready to admit it? Naoto would be fine as a summoner and with her determination, the line will continue. Our family is still necessary for events that might occur in the future, events that only we can correct. It's better to do something than take a risk for doing nothing at all."

"… Like father like son. You and Toshihiro think exactly the same, but I have seen the Herald. I know what will happen and there is little we will be able to correct. This world is blackened and beyond saving," Tadashi replied, tightening his grip. Thanatos tensed at the motion, growling lowly again. Tadashi raised his blade, "It isn't enough! She cannot be a summoner!"

Minato bowed his head, silent as Thanatos dashed forward, large sword high, but then looked up sharply at a clang. Tadashi had staved off the blade and swung back in a powerful series of slashes, fending off the harbinger of death with barely any difficulty. Thanatos snarled angrily, shaking off its injuries with irritation before swinging back again. Once more a clang, but this time, it was followed up with a stab. Thanatos almost didn't dodge in time.

"Minato, what are you doing?" Naoto asked, alarmed as she watched Thanatos and Tadashi exchange blows. Their grandpa was going to be turning eighty soon; this battle was getting out of hand. "You might hurt grampa if you let this continue!"

"He doesn't believe in your skill still, even after channeling me… he's difficult…" Minato replied, more or less ignoring Naoto. He drew her revolver, making her eyes widen as he stepped forward to fight as well. She looked around, knowing she had to find another way to stop them.

As Minato dashed forward, she spread her wings, flapping frantically to become airborne. She watched as Tadashi pushed Thanatos back, barely blocking several bullets Minato fired as he dashed into battle. Quickly, she zoomed down to Gouto, "This is too much! Gouto, how can we stop them?"

"Your brother is battling for your right to be a summoner and your grandfather will stop at nothing to keep that from happening… You might need to reclaim your body and try a new tactic."

"… Father. Maybe he could stop grampa," Naoto said, eyes darting over to the hat on Tadashi's head. The Kuzunoha heirloom hat was still firmly on his head, but she blinked as Thanatos's blade suddenly cut through empty space. There was more gunfire and blood spilled against the ground. Minato had finally hit Tadashi with a bullet in the leg, causing the older man to stumble.

Thanatos let out his blood-curdling roar and leapt forward, raising his blade high for the final blow. Naoto flapped her wings, bolting over, "Thanatos, stop!" The light saber appeared in her hand and she blocked the mighty swing last second. The force sent her spinning off to the side, hitting the ground after a dizzying fall, sword disappearing.

"Naoto! What the hell…? Ryoji, stop!" Minato yelled. Immediately, Thanatos froze, pulling his blade back. Tadashi's eyes fell to Naoto, surprised and he limped over, kneeling down as she pushed up to her hands and knees, shaking her head. Gouto ran over and stole the hat from Tadashi's head as he picked Naoto up in his hand. He cast a glare at the cat, but then rose to his feet.

"Naoto, you shouldn't interfere," he scolded, though, he was noticeably concerned. She remained silent, on her tiny feet finally and spread her wings. She flew over to Minato, passing through her body as it glowed. Both Sukuna-Hikona and Thanatos disappeared as she returned to herself.

"… This fight is meant to be between you and me. Also, I'm trying to prove a point, not have a fight to the death," Naoto sighed, restored to her old self. Gouto padded over and she took the Kuzunoha hat from his mouth, removing her own cap. She frowned, "There's no possible way for me to fight you truly. You raised me after mother and father passed away and taught me the ways of being a detective. I understand your intention to protect what little family we have remaining, but we put our lives on the line for a reason…"

She raised the heirloom and placed it on her head, closing her eyes. It was nothing, but silence for a moment, both Naoto and Tadashi unmoving from their spots.

"… We serve the Capital, the people, and Yatagarasu. Sacrifice is necessary for our profession. You have been Raidou the 17th for decades now. You should understand better than anyone."

Tadashi's eyes widened at the voice and he wondered if his old eyes had suddenly decided to deceive him. Toshihiro gazed with calm determination at Tadashi, black cape draping his shoulders as it always did during a case.

"Father, what have you been doing? I know you're sore at me because of eleven years ago and the Dark Hour, but it was necessary. I put people in danger, but the Dark Hour was like the Dark Realm if you think about it," Toshihiro continued, "People would be safe until a Shadow dragged them in. Fortunately, my son and his friends acted. Sure, things were downhill first, but Minato acted as any summoner would. He sacrificed himself for the good of others."

"He was fortunate to be old enough to remember those events in the past and try correcting it, but how he collected the demons to assist him is beyond me," Tadashi growled.

Toshihiro shook his head, "They were not gathered in the fashion we summoners use, that's why. They were born from him as other selves; Personas as most of them call it. Naoto wasn't connected to demons either yet she first summoned Sukuna-Hikona, a demon unheard of in the Dark Realm, because it was a part of her. Even if she didn't become a summoner, she would still be a persona-user. Our family is meant to take risks each generation; no matter the gender… you'd be surprised how well Maria accepted that."

"Maria wasn't of this family…"

"She very much was when you arranged our marriage. You even made her study Shinto and spiritualism coupled with advancing her detective skills," Toshihiro intervened, making Tadashi fall silent. The young spirit frowned, "Detectives, summoners, persona-users… it's an inevitable cycle of risk in our family. It will be the same when the title passes from Naoto to her children and to her grandchildren… family shouldn't bear grudge on its own ancestry. Besides, I believe its time you retire from the game. You aren't as spry as you use to be."

"… It was probably my wish to see our family continue to live that blinded me into thinking our only chance of survival is to abandon tradition. Your death, Maria's death… It was something I was not willing to accept. Our cousins Geirin, Kyouji, and Naoki are on the verge of disappearing and seek those with promising skills to join the family," Tadashi whispered, cleaning his sword, "Our numbers thin, but we are the symbol of hope that remains in history. Even cursed, Gouto is still a figure for future progression…"

"Quite. Now, father, I don't want to see you again so soon. Naoto's training begins with you before going to the village."

"I'm old, not forgetful, son and I have a few more years on me," Tadashi hissed, but smirked all the same. Toshihiro nodded once, smiling. As suddenly as he was there, he was gone, and Naoto was back. She panted, falling to her knees, the Kuzunoha hat falling from her head. She sat back on her heels, drained and Gouto rubbed against her side. Slowly, Tadashi limped over and stood before Naoto. She looked up, evening her breathing just as her grandfather extended his hand.

"It seems as though your mother's talents have left its marks. While your father took the more forward jobs, your mother excelled in handling curses, seals, and exorcisms. They made quite a team. I wonder if we could find someone capable to assist you like that," he said as Naoto took his hand. He pulled her to her feet and frowned, "Forgive me Naoto… and you too, Gouto. When your father and mother wanted to take the case surrounding the gathering of Shadows for an experiment years ago, I feared the worst. I knew it would be a heavy cost, but they still took the case. I refused to have that happen to anyone else, but I forget that the first has suffered the longest."

"The first?" Naoto asked, concerned as she tilted her head. Gouto's ears lowered.

"Naoto, my name isn't Gouto-Douji by choice. When a Kuzunoha Family Law is broken, we are to be cursed for eternity. The sentence is called Gouto-Douji. I am incapable of moving on from this world so I have witnessed and heard of many deaths in our family. I'm to forever remain and suffer the losses as my punishment. Fortunately, Tadashi hasn't stepped beyond family bounds."

"Cursed for the end of time… to serve each of the following Raidou Kuzunohas… Well, he started his job early, but it's time for training to begin," Tadashi said. Gouto's ears perked and Naoto blinked.

"Training? Now? Shouldn't we take some time to recuperate? You still have a bullet in your leg too," she said.

Tadashi waved a hand, "Training begins in the New Year and continues till the elder says you have passed. Gives us time to rest and start conditioning… Hm, I must send word to Naoki. I believe he's still in the village. Also, the Herald will oversee your spiritual training at the Shrine. Yakushiji-san must prepare a proper revolver for combat."

"A-A what? What do you mean Yakushiji-san? Grampa, is the whole house in on the Family Summoners?"

"They have been serving us for years now. Come, come, no time to waste."

Even with his limp, her grandfather was making his way swiftly back to the Estate. Naoto stared, bewildered, but then let out a bemused chuckle. Her family was definitely beyond normal.

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Me: Finally! One more chapter!