A/N: Wow, and to think I just said I'll update later in the week. Oh well, it's not as if I care.
***: Tell the truth! You're updating now because, I, your beta is stuck at home!
Empyrea: Yeah. Think of it as your homework. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
***: Whatever…Let's just get this over with. So, on to the fic!
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 12: In the midst of Uncertainty
After reuniting with Ken, the members of SEES present in the Abyss of Time decided to continue on to the final door in Caina. After they arrived, they decided to open the door and Ken volunteered to open it. His hunch was right on, as the door opened, engulfed them in light, just like with the one Junpei opened, and took them to…
Ken: *looks around* This place is…
Junpei: *recognizes the place* What…the shit?
Koromaru: grrrrrr…
Mitsuru: *looks around* Where are we?
Aigis: Isn't this Port Island station?
Mitsuru: Port…Island? *gasps* ...!
Junpei: Why are we here?
Metis: *asks no one in particular while looking at the place* Where is this? Are you guys from here?
Mitsuru: *turns to Metis* At least, it looked liked this.
Metis: *shrugs* So, this isn't it, huh.
Ken: *stands at the middle and is shivering*
Mitsuru: Yamagishi. Yamagashi, do you hear me? …No response.
Junpei: What's going on?
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Mitsuru: What's wrong? *looks in the direction Koromaru's gaze is pointing*
Junpei: *looks at the front of the bar where he, Yukari and Minato almost got in deep trouble* And, why are we even at this creepy, shittin' place behind Port Island?
Mitsuru: Is this…
Ken: Mom!
Mitsuru: Mom? ...!!! Is that-
Ken: *going to run towards a woman facing back* Mom!
Mitsuru: Wait! Amada! *turns to Junpei* Iori! Stop him!
Junpei: Got it! *holds Ken* Hold still! *turns to Metis* Hey, Metis!
Metis: What?
Junpei: Lend me a hand, will ya?
Metis: Uh… Fine. *runs towards Junpei and also holds Ken*
Ken: Don't stop me! *struggling* I got to rescue my mom!
Mitsuru: *looks at Ken's mother* That woman... Is it really…Amada's mother?
Ken: Mom!
Ken's mother: *looks at her watch* It's already this late. *turns to the Ken in this scenario* C'mon, Ken, let's go home.
Past Ken: Yes, mom!
Ken's mother: *smiles* I'm going to cook something special for you.
Past Ken: Really?
Ken's mother: Guess what.
Past Ken: My favorite?
Ken's mother: That's right. *pats past Ken's head*
Past Ken: *beams with happiness* Yay! Let's go!
At about the same time Ken's mother was going to give her reply, the time for the Dark Hour struck, a stray Shadow appeared nearby and set its sight on them…
Ken's mother: Of cours- …!!! *sees the Shadow*
Past Ken: What's wrong, Mom?
Ken's mother: Get back!
Past Ken: Huh? Why?! Mom?!
Ken's mother: *pushes Ken*
Past Ken: …!!! Mom! *falls on the ground, on his butt, and then, sees the Shadow a few inches behind his mother*
Ken's mother: *about to be attacked* Run, Ken!
Past Ken: Mom! * stands up and plans to run towards his mother*
Past Shinjiro: *running towards the scene* There you are!
The Shadow spots Shinjiro and attempts to strike him…
Past Akihiko: *still a little too far from the scene* Wait! Shinji!
It was by this time that Mitsuru realized that the scene playing before them is not just any memory for Ken, as it was also one of the memories she also wishes to forget…
Mitsuru: Akihiko…and then, even me… I…
Ken: *struggles* Let me go! Mom!
Junpei: You can't!
Metis: Stop struggling!
Aigis: This memory…
The past continues playing itself before them…
Past Ken: …!!!
Past Shinjiro: *takes out his evoker* Son of a bitch! *attempts to call his Persona to defeat the Shadow*
Past Akihiko: *was almost there* Shinji!
Past Mitsuru: *going after Akihiko* Akihiko! Wait!
Past Shinjiro: *is about to get hit* Take th- Ugh! What the- Arrgh! *holds his head and kneels a bit*
Castor, Shinjiro's Persona appeared, and fights the Shadow before it…
Akihiko: Shinji! ...!!!
The Shadow was destroyed, but, Akihiko and Mitsuru of the past noticed that something was wrong. Shinjiro looked liked he was trying to hold something back…
Past Shinjiro: Yaaaah!!!
Past Akihiko: No! Shinji!
Past Mitsuru: His Persona's gone mad!
The burst of power running in him was too much for Shinjiro, who was an amateur at the time. As a result, Castor was unstable, causing him to attack everything he sees…
Ken's mother: *tries to escape* Ahhh!
Castor hit a nearby building as he was running amuck, causing a bunch of rocks to fall on the leg of Ken's mother…
Ken's mother: No!
Castor spots her, and…
Past Akihiko: Wait!
Past Mitsuru: Aragaki! No!!!
Castor attacks the woman, and then…
Past Ken: *frozen with fright* No… No… NOOO!!!
The shock of reliving one of the worst moments of his life causes the real Ken to react to this scenario, as well…
Ken: *struggles harder* NOOO!!! MOM! MOM! LET GO!
Junpei: *tightens his hold on Ken and then looks down* Listen! There's nothing we can do!
Metis: … *tightens her grip on Ken*
Aigis: *looks down* Nothing…
Meanwhile, those of the past have their own reactions as well…
Past Shinjiro: I-I… NO! NO! NO! Uhhh… *collapses*
Past Akihiko: Shinji! *goes to Shinjiro and takes a look at him*
Past Mitsuru: … *Goes near Ken and his mother* I…
Past Ken: … *holds his mother* M-Mother…
Past Mitsuru: I know that words cannot bring your mother back, but…
Past Ken: … *just sits there, almost lifeless*
Past Mitsuru: *tears start to fall from her eyes* I'm truly sorry…
They decided to leave even with Ken (past) still soulless from the shock and terror he just felt. Soon after that, the police arrived, and they got the testimony of Ken, but, they thought that his narration is ridiculous and is just caused by the shock of the sudden loss of his mother, and considered the case an accident. The events playing before them stopped there and they are sent back to the Desert of Doors, in the Abyss of Time…
*everyone was silent*
Ken: *falls to his knees* No…
Koromaru: *whimpers*
Fuuka: Everyone? Thank goodness you're all safe.
Mitsuru: Let's all go for now…
Junpei: Yeah… We know…
And with that, they went back to the dorm. Then they all gathered in the lounge to hold a meeting…
Mitsuru: *looks depressed*
Akihiko: We saw it, too. *Suddenly stands up* There's no need to hide the truth from me!
Yukari: Senpai…
Junpei: What just happened?
Mitsuru: That was when Amada's mother died.
Junpei: Yeah…but…
Akihiko: And yet, there's nothing we can do! …Dammit! Why THAT memory?!
Metis: Why are you looking at me?!
Akihiko: You should know! Why, dammit!
Metis: *snaps back at Akihiko* I don't know! How the hell should I know?! It's your memory! Not mine!
Akihiko: *grits his teeth and clenches his fist*
Mitsuru: This isn't going anywhere. Let's all rest for now… It's time we all retire.
They all went to each of their usual places in the dorm to think about what happened. As usual, we find Mitsuru in the 4th floor Command Room…
Mitsuru: Amada… *standing in the middle of the room and then looks up* Why did this have to happen?
Yukari, in her room…
Yukari: *Sitting on her bed* Ken-kun… I know what it's like to lose a parent…but… I don't know what it means…to lose everything…
Aigis, in her room…
Aigis: * sits on her bed and looks down* Why did this have to happen to him? Why must he suffer like this? I do not know what it means to live or what it means to have a purpose…yet, I somehow understand his feelings… I, too, am completely alone now… I don't want for Ken to suffer the way I did… I know what it's like to lose something dear to you… I… I truly regret…not being able to protect you…
Voice in the dark: "Is that what's it's really like? Did he really lose everything?"
Aigis: …!!! What do you mean? *looks up but remains seated*
Voice in the dark: "He now gained the resolve to know…"
Aigis: Know what?
Voice in the dark: "The answer…"
Aigis: Answer?
Voice in the dark: "To life's greatest question."
Aigis: …!!! Wait!
The room is empty… No one was there besides Aigis…
Aigis: He's…gone, again… *lowers her head*
Fuuka, in the lounge this time…
Fuuka: Why did this have to happen to Ken-kun? *closes her eyes and shakes her head* This is so unfair! Ken-kun's just a kid! *opens her eyes and looks up* So, then... Why?
Junpei, in his room…
Junpei: *sitting on his bed* This ain't fair anymore. Ken's just a kid!
Voice in the dark: "Then, do something."
Junpei: *stands up and snaps back at the Voice* What, dammit!
Voice in the dark: "Believe."
Junpei: Believe?
Voice in the dark: "If you don't… You might not see her again…"
Junpei: …Again? Hey! Wait! Who are you?! Are you talking about…Chidori?
The Voice didn't reply, and Junpei realized it was gone and his questions remained unanswered…
Junpei: Damn!
Akihiko, in his room…
Akihiko: *paces* Why?! Why him?! Why did he have to go through that again?! Dammit! WHY?! *stops at the corner of his room and punches the wall* Damn… Ahhh… *covers his eyes from the light emanating from the door that appeared in front of him* …Huh? *looks at the door* A door…? Another door? *Looks at it carefully*
The door opens for Akihiko…
Akihiko: What the-
His mind travels and then he ended up in the Velvet Room, seated in the same chair the others before him sat on, with Minato seated on the blue couch in front of him…
Akihiko: …Huh? *looks around* …Where am I? What is this place?
Minato: Welcome…
Akihiko: …!!! …Impossible!
Minato: Hello there, senpai.
Akihiko: What? Why are you here?
Minato: This is the Velvet Room.
Akihiko: Velvet Room?
END OF CHAPTER TWELVE
A/N: Oh yeahhh! I've already got 12 chapters down!
***: *fuming* What do you mean "you"?! You make it sound like I haven't done anything!
Empyrea: C'mon, calm down… I just forgot…
***: *grabs a giant hammer*
Empyrea: Hey! *turns to readers* Uhhh…Same as…always…Hope you enjoyed the chapter and look forward to the next one! *runs off with *** right behind her*