A/N: Well, sis here insisted, so I made this and chapter 10 one after the other.
***: Yeah, right! Admit it…you just got excited…hehehe
Empyrea: Hey don't tell 'em that! *turns to readers* Anyway, on to the fic!
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 9: The Echoes of my Sin
Akihiko, Ken, Koromaru and Metis went to the Abyss of time in place of those who are now in the dorm. Added to the already many questions in their mind was Yukari's visit to the Velvet Room, a place only known by Aigis so far, and his meeting with Minato Arisato. They're waiting for news from the group that left, that is, until Fuuka notified them that the group had news for them…
Junpei: Yo! Ai-chan!
Yukari: Okay. We're all here now.
Mitsuru: Good. *turns to Fuuka* Yamagishi, what happened during their exploration?
Fuuka: I'm not sure about the details, but, they said something about discovering a door.
Mitsuru: Where are they now?
Fuuka: In the Desert of Doors. They asked me to call you.
Mitsuru: Thank you. *looks at them* Let's go.
They headed for the Desert of Doors and found Akihiko waiting for them there…
Mitsuru: Akihiko, what happened?
Akihiko: It's easier to just show you. Follow me.
They went a little further in and they end up where Ken and Kromaru and Metis are waiting for them…
Ken: Oh! There they are.
Koromaru: *wags his tail* Arf! Arf!
Metis: Sister! *waves her hand to Aigis*
Aigis: *waves back at Metis*
Yukari: Wait, senpai, isn't this just another door?
Akihiko: We aren't there yet.
Mitsuru: Akihiko, wait.
Akihiko: *looks at Mitsuru* What?
Mitsuru: What's going on?
Akihiko: I told you it's easier if I just show you.
Ken: We're almost there, anyway.
Junpei: Ohh. Is it something exciting?
Akihiko: *turns to Junpei* Knock it off, Junpei.
They traveled even further in, and after reaching what seems to be a dead end, they finally stumble across a door…
Ken: Phew. Luckily, we didn't encounter so many Shadows.
Akihiko: *sighs* Yeah, compared to last time.
Mitsuru: What's that door?
Akihiko: Well, this is the end of the line. *points to the door* This is where we got stuck.
Yukari: Why?
Ken: We can't seem to open the door.
Yukari: *goes near the door* C'mon. Just use the knob. *tries to open the door* Huh? Hey! It won't budge!
Mitsuru: I see. So, this is what you discovered.
Akihiko: Yeah. Maybe one of you guys can open it.
Mitsuru: Very well. I'll try. *tries to open the door* It won't open.
Ken: *looks at Koromaru* It can't be Koromaru, right?
Junpei: *shrugs* Oh! C'mon. He's a dog, he can't open knobs.
Koromaru: *whimpers*
Junpei: *turns to Koromau* Oh! Sorry, Koro-chan. I didn't mean it that way.
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Mitsuru: It's your turn, Iori.
Junpei: *turns to Mitsuru* Oh! Did Aigis already try?
Aigis: Yes, I have. But it still won't open.
Junpei: I see. Okay! *tries to open the door* Here goes nothing! *the door opens* It opened? Woohoo! *raises his arms in joy* Junpei's the man!
The room suddenly became filled with the light that came from the door Junpei opened. The light soon disappeared and they found themselves in front of a place they know well, Tartarus, and a familiar scene played before them…
Junpei: Huh?
Another Junpei: Chidori! *holding Chidori*
Chidori: Jun…pei… *holds up her hand to touch Junpei's cheek*
Junpei: Chidori?
Chidori: I can feel the life pulsing through you…
Another Junpei: No! I don't want you to die, Chidori!
Junpei: Wait! Chidori!
Mitsuru: Wait! Iori!
Akihiko: Two Junpeis?
Yukari: Ain't this…
Another Junpei: Chidori!
Chidori: This way I can always be with you, Junpei…forever.
Junpei: No! Chidori!
Chidori: I love you. *her hand fell down to her side*
Junpei: AHHH!!!
Junpei: Chidori!!! *being held back by Akihiko*
Akihiko: It's not her! Snap out of it!
Others: …!!!
Light engulfed the place once again and after the light disappeared, they found themselves in front of the Door of Cocytus, in the Desert of Doors…
Mitsuru: We're…back…
Ken: What just happened?
Junpei: Chidori!
Akihiko: *puches Junpei* I said snap out of it! And don't you dare give me the bull that you still feel guilty about what happened!
Junpei: Senpai… *lowers his head* You're right…
Yukari: What now?
Mitsuru: Let's go back for now…
Others (except Junpei): *nods*
They head back to the dorm and stays in the lounge…
Fuuka: I'm glad you're all safe! I suddenly couldn't sense you at all!
Junpei: Sorry to worry you, Fuuka.
Fuuka: What happened? Something flashed in my head.
Yukari: You saw it, too?
Aigis: Could it be that Junpei-san was the only one who could open that door…because it contained Junpei-san's memory?
Akihiko: That was also ours; we were there when that happened.
Mitsuru: This doesn't make any sense at the moment. Let's just recollect our thoughts and rest.
Akihiko: *pats Junpei's back* Hang in there, Junpei.
Junpei: *forces a smile* Yeah. I know. I'm fine.
They all looked for a certain spot to relax and think about what happened…
Junpei: *sits in the couch* I guess I'll just stay here, after all. *sighs*
Akihiko went to Shinji's old room…
Akihiko: *standing in the middle of the room and looks up* Shinji… What's going on?
Mitsuru went to the 4th floor: Command room…
Mitsuru: *sits in front of the board of consoles* Why is this happening…? One thing after another and still, none of my questions have been answered… Though, it is not just about me anymore…
Yukari went to her room…
Yukari: *lies down her bed, looks up* Why that of all things? Why did that door show Junpei's past… And why THAT past? ...I don't get it anymore… But… I promised… That's why, I won't lose sight. *closes her eyes* Is this what you mean? *open her eyes and sighs* Please, answer me…
Aigis went to her room…
Aigis: *standing in her room* Junpei-san's memory of Chidori's death… If that was me…would I have to see you leave me again?
Voice in the dark: "I never left you, Aigis…"
Aigis: …!!! *looks back* Is it "you"?
The room was filled with silence…
Aigis: Why do you not appear to me, when you already appeared to Yukari-san? … I can only remember your face now because of my memories… …!!! *raises her head* Maybe Junpei-san also feels the same way I do… Maybe he doesn't want to forget Chidori…the way I don't want to forget you… Maybe he also feels responsible…
Ken went to his room…
Ken: Koromaru… *pats Koromaru's head*
Koromaru: *whimpers*
Ken: *looks up* Why do you think did all of this happen?
Koromaru: *whimpers*
Ken: *looks at Koromaru* Sorry, boy… You don't know that either, right? *sighs* I wish there was an answer to our questions…
Fuuka stayed at the 2nd floor: lobby area…
Fuuka: Why did Junpei-kun have to see Chidori-san die again? *shakes her head* That's unfair! I wish I knew how Junpei-kun feels… *lowers her head* I… I don't know what to say to him… Junpei-kun…
Back at the lounge, where Junpei decided to stay…
Junpei: I know I'm not supposed to mope around *looks at his feet*… Chidori…*looks up* Huh? A door? Here? Was that there before?
Back in Aigis' room…
Aigis: This is all too hard for me. Maybe I should ask Igor about this… Maybe then, I'll see "you"…
Aigis went down to the lounge to head for the Velvet Room…
Aigis: *spots Junpei standing in the lounge* Junpei-san, wh- …!!!
Junpei: *standing in the lounge near the window and is staring into space*
Aigis: …! Why? Junpei-san…
END OF CHAPTER NINE
A/N: All right! That ends chapter nine!
***: You know what? You really like tormenting me with all your cliffhangers…
Empyrea: Oh yeah, sure…I love 'em. Bwahahahahahaha!!!
***: *watches Empyrea gloat* Whew…Well, please R&R, I'll take care of her so that you can see the next chapter soon. Ciao! *knocks Empyrea unconscious*