A/N: This is the 3rd chapter and it's quite longer than the last, hehe. Anyway, I think the fic itself will last longer than I expected. Not good… My beta reader is already complaining, anywho we both promise to finish, so without further ado, here is chapter 3.
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 3: Depths of a dream
The members of SEES returned to the lounge of the dorm after the fight with the Shadow that broke free form the Abyss of Time, with a lot of questions in mind prepared for Yukari, that is, if she would answer them…
Mitsuru: *nudges Yukari a bit* Takeba?
Yukari: *remains unresponsive and seems deep in thought*
Akihiko: *examines Yukari's face* Hey? Are you all right? You look pale…
Fuuka: *looks at Yukari with a worried face* Yeah, are you okay, Yukari-chan?
Yukari: *still seems to be lost in thought* Huh? Uhh… Yeah…
Mitsuru: Let's discuss this upstairs.
Akihiko: I agree.
Everyone (except Yukari): *nods*
They all proceeded to the 4th floor Command Room and upon arriving Yukari sat down on the couch and Fuuka sat beside her…
Mitsuru: *turns to Yukari* Takeba…
Yukari: *turns to Mitsuru* …Yeah?
Mitsuru: How did you summon your Persona from back there?
Yukari: W-What are you talking about? I just-
Mitsuru: *interrupts Yukari* Summoned a Persona without an evoker…also…what you summoned… That wasn't your Persona.
Yukari: Oh… That…
Mitsuru: According to Yamagishi, it was definitely "his" Persona. So…how?
Yukari: *averts her gaze then quickly looks at Mitsuru again* You'll know, Senpai… Soon…
Mitsuru: …? What are you talking about?
Yukari: *lowers her head* I can't tell just yet… I promised.
Mitsuru: Promised? Promised who?
Yukari: *her head still lowered, her hands now clutching the opposite arm* I promised…I would do my best…I promised to myself and…and…
Fuuka: *puts a hand on Yukari's shoulder to interrupt her, then turns to the others* Umm… Maybe we should call it a day.
Mitsuru: *turns to Yukari* …I'm sorry. *turns to the others* Yamagishi's right. That last battle is taxing for all of us. Let's discuss this later on. You all should rest.
Yukari: *remains deep in thought*
Aigis: *looking at Yukari*
Truth be told, the last battle was one of their hardest so far, and that they won was tantamount to a miracle… As such, everyone went to their rooms and occupied themselves with their own thoughts, Junpei in this case…
Junpei: *sits at his bed* What the hell…happened…to me back there?
And on to Akihiko's room …
Akihiko: *punching a punching bag* "How? …I thought it was only Mitsuru… And by chance, too… But to actually summon a Persona without an evoker… Just what the heck happened back there?"
Meanwhile, at the Command Room…Mitsuru and Fuuka were continuing their own investigation…trying to piece together all the information they have gathered so far…
Fuuka: *turns to Mitsuru* Aren't you going to rest, Senpai?
Mitsuru: *turns to Fuuka* Thank you for your concern, Yamgishi, but, I'm quite worried…
Fuuka: Is it about Yukari-chan?
Mitsuru: Yes… I'm afraid so…
Fuuka: I'm worried as well. She seems depressed. What do you think, Senpai?
Mitsuru: *lowers her head* …I think so… I wish…I knew what to tell her.
Fuuka: Don't worry.
Mitsuru: *raises her head and stares at Fuuka* …? Yamagishi…
Fuuka: *smiles* Yukari-chan is strong. Trust her.
Mitsuru: *smiles* You're right… Thank you.
And now, a similar scenario is taking place in Ken's room…
Ken: *sitting in his bed* What happened back there, boy? *looks at Koromaru*
Koromaru: *whimpers*
Ken: *pats Koromaru's head* I guess you're confused, too, huh.
Koromaru: Arf!
Ken: I know, I should rest…but…I can't stop remembering that moment…
Koromaru: *whimpers*
And finally, Aigis' room…
Aigis: I wonder how… Please tell me… I need to know… How was Yukari able to summon your Persona like me? …Where are you? Answer me… Please…
After a few moments of thought for each of them… Metis suddenly breaks through the room and it seems she is bearing bad news…
Metis: *panting* Hey! …You're…huff…Fuuka…right? *looking at Fuuka*
Fuuka: *turns to Metis* Yes? Why?
Metis: Wake everyone up! Hurry!
Mitsuru: *stands up* What's going on? *looks at Metis*
Metis: *turns to Misuru* I'll explain later! This is important! Your friend's life is on the line!
Mitsuru & Fuuka: …!!!
Mitsuru: Very well. *turns to Fuuka* Yamagishi, if you would.
Fuuka: *nods* I understand.
*Fuuka summons her Persona to connect to the other's minds*
Fuuka: Everyone! Please wake up!
Ken, Akihiko, Aigis, Junpei: …!!!
Koromaru: *growls*
Ken: Let's go!
Everyone made haste to the Command Room…wondering all the while what has happened…
Aigis: What happened?
Fuuka: Yukari-chan's missing!
Akihiko: What?!
Junpei: How did she go out?
Metis: *turns to Junpei* She didn't go out.
Junpei: *turns to Metis with a confused look* …?
Metis: I saw her go to the Abyss of Time.
Akihiko: *charges towards Metis, but was stopped by Aigis* And you didn't stop her! *shot Metis a death glare*
Metis: *met Akihiko's glare with her own* I couldn't stop her!
Akihiko: *clenches his fists* Don't give me that! You could have stopped her if you wanted to!
Metis: If you don't believe me, then, fine! Anyway, she mentioned something about someone calling her, and went inside the Abyss of Time.
Junpei: *punches the wall with his right fist* Damn! Why did she have to go alone?!
Mitsuru: Let's set a party to search for her in the Abyss of Time.
Junpei: *turns to Mitsuru* What? You really believe her?
Fuuka: I agree with Mitsuru-senpai. I detected Yukari-chan in the Abyss of Time, Junpei-kun!
Junpei: W-What? R-Really? *sees a deep gash on Metis' left arm* Hey, Metis? Where did you get that? *points at her wound*
Metis: *looks at her wound* Oh, this? *looks at Junpei* I got it when I tried to stop Yukari.
Akihiko and Junpei: ...!!!
Aigis: *holds Metis' wounded arm* It's deep. Let me heal it. *summons Orpheus and casts Dia* That should do it.
Metis: *smiles at Aigis* Thank you, sister.
Junpei: Hey, um, Metis… *scratches his head* Sorry, about a while ago...
Akihiko: Yeah... Me, too...
Metis: Apology accepted.
Akihiko: Thanks.
Junpei: Yeah, thanks.
Aigis:*looks at the three, then turns to Mitsuru* May I take part in the operation? I want to go and find Yukari-san.
Mitsuru: *nods* You're more than welcome to.
Junpei: All right! I'll go, too!
Mitsuru: *nods* Very well.
Akihiko: I'll go with them. *smirks* This may be fun.
Mitsuru: *face palms* This isn't a game, Akihiko. *turns to the others* That aside… Who else?
Ken: I wish to go, as well.
Metis: Allow me to assist you.
Fuuka: I'll stay and assist you from here on out.
Akihiko: *turns to Mitsuru* What about you, Mitsuru?
Mitsuru: Well… I'd like to go, but, I'd rather stay. I and Yamagishi will try to investigate the previous issue further.
Akihiko: I see. Good luck, then.
Mitsuru: *turns to Koromaru* Koromaru's staying here as well.
Koromaru: Arf!
Fuuka: Good boy, Koro-chan.
Mitsuru: Now… Let us commence the operation!
Everyone prepared to perform their own tasks… Metis went ahead of them into the Abyss of Time and now the people assigned to the search head out there, as well…
Akihiko: I guess now isn't the time to be asking, but, do think Yukari did this because of what happened earlier?
Junpei: *turns to Akihiko* Uh… Senpai…
Akihiko: What? *looks at Junpei*
Junpei: *scratches the back of his head* …What earlier?
Akihiko: *looks at Junpei like he went insane* What do you mean by that? You know… When Yukari summoned one of "his" Personas.
Junpei: *stood there with his mouth hanging open* …Really? *looks more confused* That freakin' happened?!
Akihiko: Well, duh. You were there, you know.
Junpei: So, Yuka-tan did something like that… That's cool for someone who's scared of ghosts. Right, senpai?
Akihiko: *shrugs his shoulders* You're one to talk.
Junpei: Huh…? Why?
Akihiko: You were so damn scared of that Shadow, you couldn't even move.
Junpei: …Seriously?
Akihiko: *shot Junpei a death glare* Do you think I'd joke about this?!
Junpei: Well, no…but…
Aigis: *turns to Junpei* You seem shocked, Junpei-san. Is something wrong?
Junpei: *shrugs his shoulders* Well…to tell you honestly...I don't remember what happened back there.
Aigis, Akihiko, Ken: …!!! *stares at Junpei*
Ken: Are you sure, senpai? I mean…you were there.
Junpei: *turns to Ken* I'm sure. Though, I do remember some of it. Before I was attacked that is.
Aigis, Akihiko, Ken: …!!!
Fuuka: How are you doing?
Junpei: *surprised* Oh! Fuuka…
Fuuka: Did…something happen?
Akihiko: No, it's nothing. Why did you contact us?
Fuuka: Oh! I wanted to tell you that I sense Yukari-chan.
Aigis, Akihiko, Ken, Junpei: …!!!
Aigis: Thank goodness she didn't go too far below.
Fuuka: Metis is almost at the location and will be waiting for you guys there.
Akihiko: Got it.
Fuuka: I'll contact you again later.
Aigis: *turns to everyone* Let's go!
As Fuuka said, Metis was near the location, in fact she had now arrived and what met her wasn't a pretty sight…
Metis: …! There she is! *runs towards Yukari*
Yukari: *lying there unconscious*
As Metis continues to run towards Yukari, a Shadow dropped from the ceiling, positioning itself between Yukari and Metis…
Metis: What the- *regains her focus and took out her hammer *
Fuuka: Metis? This is Fuuka. Are you oka-
Metis: *interrupts Fuuka* I need backup! Quick!
Fuuka: I'll contact the others! Hang in there!
Fuuka contacted the others…
Fuuka: Emergency!
Aigis: …! What's wrong?
Fuuka: Metis has engaged an enemy! Please help her!
Junpei: *trembles a bit* Oh, shit! Is it like that one before?
Fuuka: Most probably, yes.
Akihiko: *readies his gloves* Let's hurry.
Others: *prepares their own weapons then ran off*
As Fuuka predicted, the Shadow was similar to the Yukari defeated, as such, all Metis could do was hold her ground…
Metis: Yah! *strikes the opponent*
Aigis: Yukari-san! *sees Yukari lying unconscious behind the Shadow*
Junpei: *grits his teeth* Let's kick his ass!
Akihiko: *clenches his fists* Okay!
Ken: *twirls his spear in place* Let's give it our all!
While Aigis and the others were busy dealing with the Shadow, Yukari finds herself in a place filled with nothing but white light, and she saw a person standing a few inches away from her, his back facing hers, sitting in a white chair …
Yukari: *she stood there, eyes wide with surprise*
Minato: *turns his head towards Yukari and smiles*
Yukari: It's… * about to cry* Is it…really you?
Minato: *turns his head back again* Why are you here?
Yukari: *tears slowly pour down her cheeks* To…(sob)…see you…
Minato: I see…
Yukari: *smiles* I'm so glad your safe!
Minato didn't reply. Instead, he stood up; the chair he was sitting on disappeared, and started to walk away…
Yukari: *reaches out for Minato then runs after him* Wait! Where are you going?
Minato: *abruptly stops* They need you…
Yukari: *abruptly stops as well, her eyes questioning* …? Who? Who needs me?
Minato: Don't cry…Yukari… I know you're strong. Trust me and open your eyes…
Yukari: Open…my eyes?
Minato: Yes… Please… For my sake, and theirs…
Yukari: Them?
Minato disappears and reappears in front of Yukari…
Minato: *pats Yukari's head* Don't worry… I'll wait…
Minato, this time, fades slowly, his hand still rests on Yukari's head…
Yukari: …!!!
END OF CHAPTER THREE
A/N: And that ends chapter 3, folks. Hope you like it…Not much to say…*looks at hits count*…Wow! 92 already! Thank you very much, guys! *wants to give out cookies but doesn't have enough* Please R&R…