A/N: Oh yeah! Seventh chapter's up! Whoohooo!
***: She's hyper again…if this continues, you can expect the next chapter to be up sometime tomorrow.
Empyrea: Oh yeah! Before I forget, the video Yukari is watching here is the one her father recorded before the events of The Journey. It contains his warning, to leave the 12 major Shadows alone, and his message for Yukari. And also, another part here, you'll know when you see it, well, we can't narrate it, it was never shown in the game and besides, it might be too violent for children.
***: *sweatdrops* Anyways, on to the fic!
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 7: Reminiscing in the Dark
After the fight with the Shadow in the Desert of Doors, they all took a brief rest in lounge, Mitsuru excluded. They later discussed about Akihiko and Ken's newfound power, which, unfortunately, only added to their confusion. And just as they ended the meeting, they heard Koromaru barking at the lounge. When they got there, another event occurred that completely caught them off guard, and then…
Yukari: *walks to Aigis and then puts her hand on her sholuder* What's wrong, Aigis?
Junpei: *turns to Akihiko* Hey, what's going on, senpai?
Akihiko: Don't ask me.
Mitsuru: *goes near Aigis* Aigis?
Aigis: … *deep in thought*
Yukari: *goes in front of Aigis* Aigis!
Aigis: *head lowered, mumbling* There is no one else he'd say that to…
Metis: Sister?
Yukari: What are you talking about?
Mitsuru: … *thinks*
Akihiko: What does she mean?
Mitsuru: *turns to the rest of SEES* You all must be very tired.
Others (except Koromaru and Aigis): …???
Mitsuru: You all should rest. We'll just discuss this later on.
Yukari: But…
Mitsuru: *turns to Yukari* Just rest for now.
Yukari: *looks at Aigis then looks at Mitsuru* Fine.
Mitsuru: *smiles* I'm glad you understand. I, too, will rest. A new day may not come, but, good night.
Akihiko: Right. Good night.
Ken: *pats Koromaru's head* C'mon, Koromaru.
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Aigis: …
Metis: *staring at Aigis*...
Everyone began to leave the lounge and headed for their rooms. Fuuka, just as she was headed for the stairs, was stopped by Mitsuru…
Mitsuru: Wait. Yamagishi…
Fuuka: *turns around to face Mitsuru*…? What's wrong, senpai?
Mitsuru: There were tears.
Fuuka: Tears?
Mitsuru: I meant Aigis.
Fuuka: Aigis was crying?
Mitsuru: Well, it's just a guess…but, if she screamed, and we weren't aware of what was going on, then…maybe…
Fuuka: What is it, senpai?
Mitsuru: Just maybe… It was related to Koromaru.
Fuuka: Koro-chan?
Mitsuru: Yes.
Fuuka: But, why? It's not as if we can-
Mitsuru: That's right.
Fuuka: It was what Koro-chan said. Something only Aigis can understand.
Mitsuru: That's correct. She was crying, and the last and only time she cried was when…
Fuuka: …When "he" came back, right? …!!!
Mitsuru: You seem to be getting my point.
Fuuka: Are you saying it's related to "him"?
Mitsuru: Yes, most likely.
Fuuka: But, how would Koro-chan know that?
Mitsuru: I don't know. That's why it was only a guess. Thank you for listening.
Fuuka: *smiles* You're welcome, senpai.
Mitsuru: I'm sorry to have wasted your time. You should rest.
Fuuka: You too, senpai. Well, good night.
Mitsuru: Yes, good night.
Fuuka left for her room, leaving Mitsuru alone with her thoughts, and as she let herself be immersed in her own thoughts, she found herself walking towards the same door they were facing a moment ago…
Mitsuru: *looks at the door* Was it really you? But, why? Why would you come back here? And how? So many questions left unanswered again…like the time we fought Nyx. *sighs*
Meanwhile, in Akihiko's room, Akihiko was also deep in thought, but, his is about the new power he had just received…
Akihiko: *looks towards the ceiling* Why was I given this power? *shakes his head* No, it's not just me.
Yukari, who was also thinking of some of her own questions, grabbed her laptop from her desk, sat on her bed and put the laptop on her lap…
Yukari: *watching the video of her father* Dad… What's going on? Yet again I'm left all alone with so many questions in my head. When will he answer me? *sighs*
In Ken's room, Ken's thoughts were filled with almost the same ones as Akihiko's…
Ken: *sits on the bed* "His" power, huh.
Koromaru: *whimpers*
Ken: What's wrong, boy? Oh! You must be getting hungry. *stood up* I'll go down to get you something to eat.
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Ken went out of his room, and wandered in front of Junpei's room…
Ken: Hm? Oh! Junpei-senpai's room. *about to knock* It's open?
Junpei: Huh? Oh! Hey there, Ken! *waves at Ken*
Ken: *waves back* Um. Hello, senpai.
Junpei: Come on in.
Ken: Okay. *went in and closed the door*
Junpei: I was just thinking…
Ken: About what?
Junpei: About what really happened when I acquired "his" powers. I just can't make any sense out of anything.
Ken: Me, too.
Junpei: I wanna explore the Abyss of Time.
Ken: …!!! That was sudden, senpai!
Junpei: *smirks* Well, I know it was kinda random…but, maybe, the answers are there.
Ken: Aren't you afraid of finding out?
Junpei: Finding out what?
Ken: Like, maybe, we can't turn back anymore?
Junpei: *laughs*
Ken: *jumps at surprise* Umm…senpai?
Junpei: I just realized something.
Ken: What is it?
Junpei: Back at the last operation. I didn't do anything…more like, I couldn't do anything. Not for myself and not for "him". I didn't want to accept he died, maybe, because, I should have died, too.
Ken: Senpai…
Junpei: *scratches the back of his head* I kinda blame myself for the many deaths we've encountered.
Ken: *lowers his head* Like Shinjiro-senpai…
Junpei: Yeah… Chidori too, and then, "him"…
Ken: I understand you, Senpai.
Junpei: Yeah. I know. So, what were you gonna do?
Ken: Oh! That's right. I was going to get Koromaru some food.
Junpei: Then, I'll go with you.
Ken: Okay.
As they both left for the kitchen, we now go to Aigis' room whose thoughts are filled with the events that occurred just a moment ago…
Aigis: *sits on her "bed"* Why? Why did I have to know that? Why did I not protect you back then?
Voice in the dark: "That's not true. I was happy."
Aigis: …!!! * stands up and looks around* Huh? Is someone there?
The room is filled with silence…
Aigis: I thought I heard someone. Maybe I should just rest…but lately it's no use. I just…can't sleep.
Fuuka: (from the Command Room) Are you all awake?
Aigis: What's wrong?
Fuuka: Mitsuru-senpai is calling us. Please head to the 4th floor Command Room.
Aigis: Understood.
Aigis immediately left her room and headed for the Command Room. And when she arrived, she saw that the others were already there…
Mitsuru: Now we can start. I know you all must have realized by now that so many questions left unanswered is faced before us, so, I would like for us to further continue our investigation in the Abyss of Time.
Junpei: Whoa! You didn't waste any time there, senpai. *smirks* But, count me in!
Akihko: I'm going, too. I want to know more.
Ken: …I'm going, as well.
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Fuuka: I'll assist you, like always.
Mitsuru: Thank you, Yamgishi.
Yukari: I'm going, too.
Metis: I'll assist in the exploration.
Aigis: I'll come, as well.
Mitsuru: It's settled, then. Let's begin right away.
The meeting was adjourned and everyone, save Metis and Aigis who headed straight for the lounge, headed to their rooms to prepare anything that they may need in the operation. A few moments later, in the lounge…
Metis: *pacing* What's taking them so long?! Psch.
Mitsuru: We're here. Let's go! As always, Aigis will lead the operation.
Aigis: *nods* Understood.
Mitsuru: We have decided that some will stay here as reinforcements. That will be Amada and Koromaru.
Ken: Okay. I'll be with Fuuka-senpai.
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Mitsuru: That's the formation.
Akihiko: Got it.
Mitsuru: Then, let us proceed with caution.
They then headed for the Desert of Doors, they were about to enter the Door of Malebolge, when Fuuka contacted them…
Fuuka: Senpai.
Mitsuru: Yes? What is it, Yamagishi?
Fuuka: Do you all remember the cables used by the Shadow?
Yukari: Of course. Why?
Fuuka: It was from one of the doors there. Not the one you entered before, though.
Mitsuru: Let's try that, then.
Yukari: Agreed.
Akihiko: This door, right? *pointing to the door that been left open and has cables stuck beneath it.*
Fuuka: We may learn something by knowing the source of that Shadow.
Mitsuru: I see your point, very well.
They all entered the door where the last Shadow came from, the Door of Cocytus. Nothing went wrong upon there entrance, except one small detail…
Akihiko: Why is it so dark here?
Junpei: *runs around* It's…friggin' dark here!
Mitsuru: Stop panicking, Iori.
Junpei: I really can't see! *tries to feel the surroundings with his hands* Hey, hey, hey! I grabbed something! It's squishy! It could be a Shadow!
Mitsuru: *clenches her fist, her voice sounds like she was fuming* I'll execute you!
Junpei: What? What happened? H-Huh? ARGH! HELP! SENPAI!
Akihiko: Hey! What's going on?! *tries to look at the others but it was just too dark to see*
Mitsuru: *still fuming* What you did was unforgivable!
Akihiko: M-Mitsuru?
Yukari: *sighs* Stupei.
Aigis: *taps Metis* What's happening?
Metis: *shrugs* Don't ask me.
Junpei: No more, please!
Mitsuru: I see you haven't had enough! *******
Junpei: STOP!
While they were wondering what was up with Junpei and Mitsuru, a sudden, loud growl caught their attention...
Yukari: What was that? Is it a-a S-Shadow?
Akhiko: What's wrong, Yukari? Why are you hiding behind me?
Yukari: Help, Senpai... It could attack.
Akihko: Not if it can't see us.
As if fate wanted Akihiko to eat his words, the once dark place suddenly began to fill with light, and a few meters away from them, stood a Kraken-like Shadow…
Akihko: *sweatdrops* This changes the story…
Junpei: What's that?! Yuck! It looks gross!
Metis: So, it was hiding all this time.
Yukari: *facing the corner of the room* Huh? A door, here?
Mitsuru: Takeba?
Junpei: Don't worry, senpai! I learned a new ability!
Akihiko: Uh-huh. And? That would be?
Junpei: I'll just show you! *summons his Persona* Surt! Ragnarok!
*The Shadow is NOT hurt*
Akihiko: Nice move, but…
Fuuka: That Shadow absorbs fire! I can't sense its weakness, yet!
Junpei: What the- !#$% Are you shittin' me?! That was my new technique!
Akihiko: Whatever, Junpei! Get movin'!
Junpei: Movin'? Why?
Fuuka: Look out, Junpei-kun!
Junpei: Huh? *hit flat by the shadow* OW!
Akihiko: *face palm* Moron!
Mitsuru: *totally ignores Junpei* Yamgishi, please scan the enemy.
Fuuka: Give me a minute. …! Wait! Yukari-chan!
Aigis: *looks at Yukari* What's wrong? …!!!
Yukari: *standing in the corner and stares at space*
Mitsuru: Takeba!
END OF CHAPTER SEVEN
A/N: And that's it. Bwhahaha!!!
***: Ok…what in the World Arcana's name is that all about?
Empyrea: Next chapter.
***: What?!
Empyrea: Well, that's all for now. See you folks later. Please R&R.