A/N: Finally the sixth chapter! I personally like this one the best so far.
***: Me too. Oh! Especially the end part, the one where-
Empyrea: Hey! Stop right there! You almost said it aloud! Ugh…Why did you have to start showing up here?
***: To annoy you ^_^
Empyrea: Okay. I got the message. On to the fic!
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 6: A Reason to Live
The Shadow that Fuuka detected turned out to be than they anticipated; even its supposed weakness had no effect on it. As events turn from bad, to worse, to dire, Akihiko awakened to "his" power and helped discover another weakness of the Shadow: the cables attached to it. Now, the members of SEES are currently struggling against the formidable Shadow at the Desert of Doors, whilst Ken is currently having a conversation with the Strange voice…
Ken: "Who?"
Strange voice: "What's wrong?"
Ken: "Who are you?!"
Strange voice: "My… That's rude. After all, you're the one who summoned me here, you know."
Ken: "I did?"
Meanwhile, the battle with the Shadow is still on…
Yukari: *summons her Persona* Okay, Messiah! Break those cables!
Junpei: *readies his katana* I got your back!
Fuuka: You should all focus on the Shadow! It's about to move!
Akihiko: I'll handle him!
Mitsuru: *readies her rapier* I'll assist you.
Akihiko: *looks at Mitsuru with a surprised look* Mitsuru?
Mitsuru: Don't worry. I'm fine.
Fuuka: I'll ask Ken-kun and Koro-chan to back you up. …!!! Ken-kun? Ken-kun!
Mitsuru: *dodges the Shadow's attack* Yamagishi, what's wrong?
Fuuka: Ken-kun isn't moving!
Koromaru: *pats Ken's leg with his paws a bit, then whimpers*
Ken: *remains unresponsive*
Fuuka: Oh, no! Ken-kun! Please, answer me!
Junpei: What the- Him, too?!
Yukari: Ugh… Why now?! Ken-kun! Wake up!
They frantically call him, but of course, he will not answer as his consciousness is elsewhere…
Ken: "Where are we?"
Strange voice: "The Sea of your soul, I guess."
Ken: "What do you mean by that?"
Strange voice: "You have too many questions, Ken."
Ken: "But… I don't understand. We were fighting, and-"
Strange voice: "And what?"
Ken: "And…"
Strange voice: "You wanted power, one that can overcome any obstacle. Is that about right?"
Ken: "No…"
Strange voice: "Well, it is not entirely true."
Ken: "…?"
Strange voice: "That's only what you tell yourself, something along the lines of, I want to fight for both Mom and Shinjiro-senpai."
Ken: "That's not true! I'm-"
Strange voice: "What?"
Ken: "I'm…"
Strange voice: "What is it that's truly important to you? Hmm… I wonder."
Ken: "Truly…important to me?"
Strange voice: "SEES? No. Your Mom? She's already dead. And, Shinjiro? No. I mean, yeah, sure, you feel guilty about his death, but that's just it."
Ken: "What are you trying to say?"
Strange voice: "What's truly important to you is to find your reason for being here."
Ken: "…!!! That's-"
Strange voice: "What? Am I wrong?"
Ken: "…"
Strange voice: "It's okay. You'll find it. Soon, I guess. That's why you can't die just yet. Not when there's nothing for you, yet, kid."
Ken: "…! What?"
Strange voice: "What I'm saying is that I'm offering you one option."
Ken: "What option?"
Strange voice: "Call me."
Ken: "!!!"
Ken ponders on what decision to make: to accept or not the Strange voice's offer, meanwhile, the others are concentrating on breaking the cables that had been hindering them from inflicting any sort of damage to the Shadow…
Yukari: Stupid cables! *shoots an arrow at the cables but the Shadow blocks the way*
Junpei: Damn! The Shadow's blockin the way! Go away! *shrugs off Junpei's slash attack*
Yukari: Oh! That's it! *summons her Persona* Messiah! Megidolaon!
Junpei: Okay! *summons his Persona* Surt! Agidyne!
Yukari: *snaps her fingers* That should do it! …What?!
*the Shadow blocked the cables and appears to be unscathed*
Junpei: *staggers back* T-The hell!
Fuuka: …! It did get hit by Yukari's magic...but…
Yukari: …Then? What?!
Fuuka: But…it absorbed…Junpei-kun's magic…and…it healed…right away.
Junpei: What?! Are you shittin' me?! I helped that thing?! *points at the Shadow*
Yukari: *looks like she wants to kill Junpei* Ugh. I knew it was your fault, again! Stupei!
Akihiko: *grits his teeth* Damn. We almost got it, too.
Mitsuru: Try to be more careful, Iori.
Junpei: What?! *looks at everyone staring at him* Everyone's blamin' me now?! Hey!
Yukari: *shot Junpei a death glare* Focus!
Junpei: *grips his katana* Uh… Right!
Fuuka: Huh? Ken-kun?
Ken: *stands up, his head down*
Fuuka: I'm glad you're fine.
But Ken gave no response. He let his evoker fall to the ground, he then raised his head, and pointed the spear he held in his right hand upwards and struck it to the ground. Now he is surrounded by blue light and scattered mirror shards…
Ken: Lucifer!
Others: *stares at Ken* …!!!
Metis: Again…
Aigis: Even Ken…
Yukari: Him, too?
Junpei: The hell…
Akihiko: …!!!
Mitsuru: Another one of "his" Persona…
Ken looked at Yukari and Yukari immediately understood. She summoned Messiah and casted Megidolaon in conjunction with Ken. And for the first time in the battle, the Shadow finally got hurt…
Fuuka: The Shadow's panicking, now's your chance!
Mitsuru: Let's destroy the cables!
Junpei: You got it, senpai.
Ken: *turns to Koromaru* Let's help, Koromaru.
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Junpei: Take this, you freakin' cable! *summons his Persona* Surt! Agidyne! *aims for the cables*
Yukari: *summons her Persona* Messiah! Megidolaon!
The cables now look quite worn, as if it'll break any minute…
Fuuka: That's it! Keep it up!
Mitsuru: *summons her Persona* Aid me, Artemisia! Bufudyne! *aims for the cables*
*the Shadow tries to attack Mitsuru*
Ken: Oh no, you don't! *summons his Persona* Lucifer! Megidolaon! *strikes the Shadow*
Koromaru: grrrrrrrr… *attacks the Shadow*
Aigis: *shoots the Shadow* You're not getting away!
Yukari: *aims with her bow* Take this!
Finally with all the attacks it received, the cables short-circuited and are rendered useless…
Yukari: All right!
Fuuka: Now!
Mitsuru: *turns to Akihiko* That's your cue! Akihiko!
Akihiko: Say your prayers, Shadow! *summons his Persona* Odin! Thunder Reign!
As electricity is its weakness, the Shadow, taking the brunt of Akihiko's attack, finally dissipated into darkness…
Yukari: *huffs* Is it…over?
Junpei: *sits down* Phew! Finally done!
Akihiko: That was tough.
Mitsuru: *smiles* We should head back now. Let's talk there.
Everyone was so tired that they were able to return to the dorm before Yukari can say "Stupei". When they arrived, everyone, except Mitsuru, slumped on the couches in the lounge…
Fuuka: Good work, everyone!
Mitsuru: I'd like to discuss something with all of you, head to the Command Room after taking a break. I'll be waiting. *heads for the staircase*
Fuuka: What happened back there?
Yukari: We don't really know.
Akihiko: …*deep in thought*
Ken: …*deep in thought*
After a few moments of a well-earned break, they headed for the fourth floor to meet with Mitsuru in the Command Room…
Mitsuru: You all know what this meeting is for.*turns to Ken and Akihiko* It's about Akihiko and Amada. I'd like you to tell us how you summoned "his" Persona.
Akihiko: I don't really remember much…
Ken: Me, too…
Akihiko: Though, I do remember hearing something like Junpei and Yukari here. I heard a strange voice.
Yukari: So, it was the same?
Junpei: Again, huh…
Mitsuru: What about you, Amada?
Ken: Well… I also heard it. After that, I was asked many things, though my memory of it is vague.
Akihiko: The same goes for me.
Mitsuru: I see. What else?
Yukari: *smirks at Junpei* Let's see who's wrong now, Stupei!
Junpei: *returns Yukari's smirk with his own* You're on!
Yukari: *turns to Akihiko* So, senpai.
Akihiko: *turns to Yukari* Yeah?
Yukari: What else do you remember happening after that?
Akihiko: Well…
Yukari: *interrupts Akihiko* You remembered something, right?
Junpei: No, no, no. You thought about livin', right, senpai?
Akihiko: *shrugs* Actually, I just realized what I wanted to protect.
Junpei & Yukari: …???
Yukari: *looks baffled* Ookkkaaayyyy…
Junpei: *looks at Ken* What about you, Ken?
Ken: I realized what my reason for living is.
Junpei: Hah!
Yukari: *turns to Junpei* What?
Junpei: Ours are related!
Yukari: It's still different! Stupei!
Junpei: Hey! I resent that!
Yukari: Whatever.
Junpei: You're just angry 'cause you lost!
Yukari: Ugh. I didn't lose! Stupei!
Junpei: Hey. Hey, hey! Stop calling me that!
Yukari: No way! *grins* Stupei!
Junpei: Mean! *sighs in defeat*
Mitsuru: *sighs* Yamagishi.
Fuuka: *sighs then turns her attention to Mitsuru*…? What's wrong, senpai?
Mitsuru: What do you think?
Fuuka: Well… The only thing they have in common is that they all heard a voice. It may have just been their imagination. I didn't sense anything at the moment.
Mitsuru: I see. Well then, we should rest.
Akihiko: I agree.
Koromaru: Arf! Arf! (A/N: They left Koromaru at the lounge)
Mitsuru: Hm? What's wrong with Koromaru all of a sudden?
Junpei: Maybe he's hungry?
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
And with that, they all went down. They saw Koromaru standing in front of the door wagging his tail and barking happily, as if welcoming someone back. They went closer to Koromaru to see if what they think is true, but, instead…
Aigis: *looks down to Koromaru* Koromaru?
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Aigis: …!!! *tears fell from Aigis' eyes*
Metis: *turns to Aigis* Sister?
Agis: *whispers to herself* Welcome home… (A/N: She is translating Koromaru's words)
Koromaru: Arf! Arf! *looks as if someone is patting his head*
Aigis: …! *holds out her right hand* Wait! Don't go!
Others: …???
END OF CHAPTER SIX
A/N: Another cliffhanger, I know… This one's the best so far!
***: Yeah, sure… *sulks in a corner for a while then perks up* Anywho, this is great!
Empyrea: Whoa! Mood change …Oh well. Hope you liked it! Please R&R. See on the next chapter! *waves hand*