A/N: Ok we're in the eighth chapter now, and I myself am getting excited!
***: Still, we've got quite a ways to go…
Empyrea: You've got a point…so let's get on with the fic!
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 8: The Door to your Heart
A place filled with darkness. That was what the scenario behind the Door of Cocytus first appeared to the members of SEES, well, at least it was, until the place lit up and they were confronted by a Kraken-like Shadow, and almost after that, Yukari became unresponsive, which adds another problem. And so…
Aigis: *looks at the corner of the room* That's-
Metis: Look out, sister!
*the Shadow is about to deliver a massive blow on Aigis*
Aigis: *swiftly dodges the attack* Yukari-san! *looks at Yukari* How can…
Mitsuru: Yamagishi, what happened to Takeba?
Yukari: *remains unresponsive* …
Fuuka: I… I don't know.
Mitsuru: Then, let us concentrate on the Shadow and wait for Yukari to respond to us.
Junpei: *beneath one of the Shadow's tentacles* Hey! Little help over here! HEY!
Akihiko: *dodges the Shadow's attack* Okay! *summons his Persona* Odin! Thunder Reign!
Junpei: Wait, wait, wait! I'm still- AHHHHH!!!
Fuuka: I see.
Mitsuru: What is it, Yamgishi?
Fuuka: The Shadow's weakness is ice! Use bufu skills!
Mitsuru: Roger! *summons her Persona * Artemisia! Bufudyne!
The Shadow dissipated into darkness. The members of SEES all sighed in relief, save Junpei, who was still trying to recover from that electric shock, and now turned their attention to Yukari who is still in a catatonic state. But, the battle was far from over. Another set of the very same Shadow they fought before appeared again…
Junpei: *staggers back* Oh, shit! No way! There's more of 'em?!
Akihiko: *smirks* Well, they did say "the more, the merrier".
Mitsuru: *sighs* …Akihiko. *regains her composure* They're coming! Prepare for battle!
While all of them occupied themselves with the Shadow, Yukari found herself in a room that seems more of an elevator continuously moving upwards. She was sitting on a white chair with a back shaped like a lyre. In front of her was a round, white table and behind that table was a small blue couch…
Yukari: …Huh? *looks around* Where am I?
Minato: *sits in the small couch* Hello, Yukari.
Yukari: …!!! …Minato-kun!
Minato: *smiles* You look like you've seen a ghost.
Yukari: Well, you're… Uh… Where are we?
Minato: The Velvet Room.
Yukari: Why am I here? How did I get here? All I remember was seeing a weird blue door a-and then…then…it opened…and…
Minato: Hmm… Beats me… But, isn't it because you want to be here?
Yukari: Huh?
Minato: You're not really here, you know. Well, actually, only a part of you.
Yukari: …? …I don't get it.
Minato: I meant only your mind is here. Your body is still exactly where you left it.
Yukari: What?!
Minato: Don't worry.
Yukari: Why are you here, then?
Minato: Is that really what you should be asking me?
Yukari: …? What do you mean?
Minato: If you don't know about it, never mind, then. *frowns a little*
Yukari: What's wrong?
Minato: We only have a limited time.
Yukari: What? There's more I want to ask you!
Minato: Yukari…
Yukari: What?
Minato: Please don't forget the reason why we fought before. Don't blame yourself for something I decided to do.
Yukari: Are you going to leave already? But… But, I finally saw you! ...Minato?!
Minato: Don't worry… I just have one favor to ask of you…
Yukari: Ask me of anything! I'll try my best to do it!
Minato: Don't lose sight. Ever.
Yukari: Lose sight? Lose sight of what?
Minato: The answer to life's greatest question. You're almost there. When you find it… Maybe…we'll meet again… Farewell, for now… Yukari…
Yukari: I don't want to leave! I don't get it?! Why?! *tears are almost falling from her eyes*
Minato: They're waiting.
Yukari: …? Huh?
Minato: Like I said last time…
Yukari: Last time?
Minato: I'll always be with all of you. I'll be watching from within the sea of your soul. That's why you wield and carry with you my personality, my Persona.
Yukari: *clasps her hands* Messiah…
Minato: They'll protect you… Always… So, don't ever give up… Yukari…
Yukari: What?
At the Abyss of Time, the members of SEES are struggling, not with the enemies' strength but there seemingly unending numbers…
Akihiko: *counters a Shadow's attack* Are there more of them coming? *punches the same Shadow killing it*
Mitsuru: *summons her Persona* Artemisia! Mabufudyne!
*the Shadows that were hit dissipated*
Mitsuru: *blocks an attack from a Shadow that attacked from her side* Yamagishi, if you will. *slashes the Shadow away from her then casts Bufudyne, killing it*
Fuuka: Right away, senpai. Give me a minute.
Yukari: *begins to move* No! Huh? *looks around*
Mitsuru: *looks at Yukari* Takeba?
Yukari: *looks at Mitsuru* Senpai? That means…
Junpei: This is just great. This is like, the hundredth of 'em!
Aigis: *shooting a Shadow* Take this! *kills it, then, shoots another one*
Metis: Isn't there an end to these Shadows. Ugh!*gets hit by a Shadow behind her* You'll pay for that! Yah! *strikes that Shadow, killing it*
Junpei: Why are there more of these octopus Shadows?!
Mitsuru: *kills off another Shadow, then, looks at Junpei* They're not octopus, Iori. They're Krakens.
Junpei: *looks at Mitsuru for a second* What?! Well, they're all friggin the same to me! *attempts to strike a Shadow*
Akihiko: *just finished killing a Shadow, turns his head to Junpei* Junpei! Look out!
Junpei: …Huh? …Look out? *gets flattened by the Kraken, yet again* OH, SHIT!!!
Fuuka: Senpai! I don't sense any more incoming Shadows. Those are the last ones.
Yukari: "Never lose sight, huh…" *turns to the others* Let me help! *summons her Persona* Messiah!
Fuuka: Yukari-chan! Wait! Junpei-kun's still…!
Yukari: Megidolaon!
All the Shadows instantly disintegrate…
Akihiko: Nice shot, Yukari.
Mitsuru: *looks at Yukari* How are you, Takeba?
Yukari: *looks at Mitsuru* I'm fine. Thanks.
Akihiko: What happened this time? *looks around* And, where's Junpei?
Fuuka: Ummm… He's…
Mitsuru: *looks around* Ahh… There's Iori. *looks at Akihiko* Akihiko, carry him.
Akihiko: What?!
Mitsuru: *glares at Akihiko*
Akihiko: *sighs* Oh, all right.
Mitsuru: Let's head back to the dorm for now and talk there.
Back at the dorm's lounge…
Mitsuru: Amada, Akihiko, Koromaru *looks at them one at a time* I'd like to ask you to continue the exploration in the Abyss of Time in our stead.
Ken: *nods* Okay.
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Akihiko: You got it.
Mitsuru: I'm sorry to ask you, Akihiko. I know you're also tired.
Akihiko: It's okay. I'm fine. *smirks* I'm actually in it for more action.
Fuuka: I'll be assisting you here, then. Good luck.
Ken: Thanks.
Metis: Sister, rest here for now.
Aigis: Thank you.
Metis: I'll be assisting them, as usual. *looks at Akihiko, Ken and Koromaru* Is that okay with you all?
Akihiko: I don't mind.
Ken: That'll be a great help.
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Metis: Then, let's begin.
Akihiko: *turns to Mitsuru and the others* We'll be back soon.
Mitsuru: Yes, take care.
Akihiko: We'll report later, then.
The four head for the Abyss of Time, into the Door of Cocytus, while those who were left behind sat down on the couch, ready for another discussion…
Mitsuru: *turns to Yukari* What happened back there, Takeba?
Yukari: Senpai…
Junpei: Hey, It's okay if you don't want to tell us.
Yukari: It's okay, Junpei.
Junpei: Y-You okay? You look like you're gonna cry.
Yukari: Stupei!
Junpei: Hey, it was just a joke!
Yukari: *lowers her head* Well, I guess you're right. Maybe I do want to cry.
Mitsuru: Takeba…
Yukari: *looks at them* I saw "him", again.
Mitsuru: "Him"? Do you mean, Arisato?
Yukari: Yeah.
Mitsuru: Where?
Junpei: And, like, how?
Yukari: He said it was in a place called the Velvet Room.
Mitsuru: Velvet Room?
Yukari: Yeah…
Junpei: What did he say?
Yukari: He said some things that I didn't really understand, but…
Mitsuru: …? What?
Yukari: It did kind of make sense to me. A little, at least…
Mitsuru: What do you mean by that, Takeba?
Yukari: It kind of…made me feel at ease…at home. While I was there, I knew nothing would go wrong. It kind of opened a part of me that I shut tight, long ago.
Mitsuru: Takeba…
Junpei: Okay. I don't really get that last part.
Mitsuru: That'll be all for now.
Aigis: …
Each one left to find a place to rest for a while, Yukari, however, stayed behind in the lounge…
Yukari: Never lose sight… I'll always remember that… Thank you…
Mitsuru's destination was found on the fourth floor Command Room…
Mitsuru: *sitting in her usual seat* So…you appeared to Takeba. What do all of these mean?
In the 2nd floor lobby, we now find Junpei…
Junpei: *sighs and then sits down* This is all too complicated for me, man.
In the 3rdfloor lobby, we now find Aigis…
Aigis: *looks at her feet* Why did Yukari see you? Why do we have your power? Why? I no longer understand anything. *sits down*
Voice in the dark: "It's because they need help. Besides, I'm always by your side."
Aigis: …!!! *raises her head and looks around*
Voice in the dark: "Like when you told me that you'll always be by my side, Aigis."
Aigis: *tears are about to fall from Aigis' eyes* Is it "you"? *she feels as if someone is touching her shoulders* …!!! *looks at her back*
The hallway is filled with silence…
Aigis: Where are "you"?
Fuuka: Aigis?
Aigis: Fuuka-san? What's wrong?
Fuuka: It seems they found something. Please head to the lounge.
Aigis: Understood.
END OF CHAPTER EIGHT
A/N: And that ends chapter eight.
***: Yeah, yeah. Just do your usual stuff already.
Empyrea: Uh…right. Thanks to my two reviewers, vastler75 and BM. Please R&R. And hope you like it. See you next chapter. ^_^