A/N: All right… I know I'm late, so I'm really sorry for the delay.
***: Admit it. You're late 'cause you're screwed.
Empyrea: Hey! I just did my homework first, that's all.
***: Just kidding. Anyway, let's not stick with this and get on with the fic.
Empyrea: Agreed.
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 14: The Cry of the Past
The members of SEES found Akihiko in the last hall of Antenora, fortunately, unharmed. With Akihiko with them, they decided to move forward when Fuuka told them that she can sense what might be the final door of Antenora. Upon their arrival, they had Akihiko open the door, and they were instantly transferred to Port Island of the past…
Mitsuru: Akihiko?
Akihiko: … *stares at something*
Mitsuru: *looks at the same direction Akihiko's looking* …!
Ken: *notices something* …! Is that…
Yukari: This place…is it…
Aigis: *looks at Akihiko* Akihiko-san…
Past Akihiko: *stops running, and looks back* Hurry up, Shinji!
Past Shinjiro: *runs while huffing* …huff… I know… I know…
Past Akihiko: Hurry up, I said! Or, me and Miki will leave you behind.
Miki: C'mon, don't be too harsh on Shinji-oniisan, Oniisan.
Past Akihiko: *shrugs* I know.
Miki: Oh! *points to Shinjiro* Here he is.
Past Shinjiro: *catching his breath* It's because…you both run…too damn fast! That's why…I can't…catch up!
Past Akihiko: *smirks* Then, maybe, you should train more.
Past Shinjiro: That's easy…for you…to say. You like…running around.
Past Akihiko: I said training, Shinji!
Past Shinjiro: *still catching his breath* …Whatever.
Miki: Now, now. Let's all go back home.
Past Akihiko: *nods* Yeah, okay.
Mitsuru: *looks at the past Akihiko* Akihiko… Is that him...? Why is he…?
Akihiko: *stares at Miki* …Miki?
Miki: *beams with happiness* I'll fix the both of you dinner.
Shinjiro: *smiles* Sounds nice. I want ramen.
Past Akihiko: *shrugs* Ramen? Again? Don't you ever get sick of the same thing everyday?
Shinjiro: *shoots the past Akihiko a death glare* That's none of your business. Besides, you always drink that protein shit!
Akihiko: *shoots the past Shinjiro a death glare* What did you say?! Why you-
Miki: *interferes* Now, now. *looks at both of them seriously* That's enough, you two. Let's go.
Akihiko: Right. Anyway… Thanks, Miki.
Miki: *smiles* No problem, oniisan.
Mitsuru: Are they…? That was Shinjiro…
Ken: Shinjiro-senpai's…
Yukari: Shinjiro-senpai…!
Akihiko: Miki? Shinji? Is that really you? *follows the past them*
Mitsuru: Akihiko, wait! Akihiko!
As they followed Akihiko follow his past self, the others notice their surroundings change instantaneously from Port Island to…
Mitsuru: *looks around* …! Where are we?
Ken: …A house?
Aigis: What is going on?
Akihiko: …!!! This house…
They soon saw that the past Akihiko and Miki were standing at the doorway of what looks like Akihiko's house…
Past Akihiko: I'm going out for a while, ok, Miki?
Miki: Okay, but, where are you going?
Past Akihiko: I'm going to go to town.
Miki: Town? Okay, then, take care.
Past Akihiko: *waves at Miki* See you later!
Miki: *waves at Akihiko*
After the past Akihiko left the house…
Miki: *goes back inside the house and closes the door behind her* Hmm… *looks at the wall clock* … 11: 54 huh. It's almost midnight and Oniisan just went out. Though, he said he'd be back… I…
A sudden noise was heard from the kitchen…
Miki: …!!! *gasp* W-What was that? *Opens the door to the kitchen* …H-Hello?
The room looks empty and only the radio that was left open was making sounds…
Miki: No one… *looks around* The room looks okay. *almost steps at a glass shard* Oh! It was just a plate… Phew. That sure scared me. *grabs the broom from one corner of the room and then, starts sweeping the mess and then, looks at the broken pieces of glass, recognizing them* Hmm… My plate, huh…
Radio: The time now is 11:59 and it will soon be midnight.
Miki: *disposes of the mess and replaces the broom at the corner of the room* I should go to bed now…
Suddenly the Dark Hour passes, and…
Mitsuru: The Dark…Hour…
Ken: What…?
Miki: What? …It's suddenly so dark…
Something crashes, and as it was near the house, Miki went outside to see what caused it…
Miki: Who- *sees something* …!!! Wh-Wh-
What Miki saw looming before her was a Shadow, and unfortunately for her, it has set it sight on her…
Miki: *steps back* O-Oniisan… Help!
Miki, in an attempt to get away, continued stepping back until she and the Shadow were inside the house. She ended up with her back leaning on the living room's wall, the Shadow, now seeing its prey cornered, prepares to strike Miki when the past Akihiko arrived…
Akihiko: Miki!!! NOO!! *attempts to run to Miki*
Mitsuru: *holds Akihiko* Aigis! Lend me a hand! Restrain Akihiko!
Aigis: Understood. *trying to stop Akihiko*
Yukari: *holds Akihiko, too* Senpai… Please…stop…
Akihiko: Miki!!
Miki: NOO!!!
Past Akihiko: Miki! I'm coming! *grabs a wood form their stack of firewood and lights it with the lighter he was carrying* Take this! *attempts to hit the shadow*
The Shadow simply shrugged off the past Akihiko's strike and smashes him, sending him flying across the room…
Past Akihiko: Ugh!
The past Akihiko's grip loosens on the torch he's holding and it flies to the corner of the room, and, everything that's flammable around it, furnitures and such, catches fire, and from there, began to spread…
Ken: Oh, no! Fire!
Mitsuru: Fire…?
Akihiko: Let me go! *Struggling* I got to help Miki!!
Past Akihiko: Miki!
The Shadow becomes agitated as the fire continues to spread throughout the whole house and started running amuck…
Past Akihiko: Miki! *reaches his hand out to Miki* I'm coming to get you!
Miki: Oniisan! *extends her arm towards Akihiko* H-Help! *coughs*
Past Akihiko: *going to run towards Miki*
The now enraged Shadow spots the past Akihiko and hits him…
Past Akihiko: Ugh! No… M-Miki… *faints*
Akihiko: NOO!!! MIKIII!!!!
Miki: Oniisan… *stunned with fear* AHHH!!!
The Shadow strikes Miki, Akihiko stops struggling, and then, all of a sudden, the place changes again. They are now in a hospital room, the past Akihiko lying in a hospital bed, unconscious…
Akihiko: *isn't moving due to shock* Miki…
Mitsuru: ...
Past Akihiko: *stirs and then sits up* Huh? MIKI! *attempts to go off and find her*
Past Shijiro: *stops Akihiko* Wait!
Past Akihiko: *looks at Shinjiro* Where's Miki?
Shinjiro: … *averts his gaze*
Past Akihiko: *glares at Shinjiro* Answer me!
Shinjiro: When I saw the house burning… I…
Past Akihiko: What?! Answer me!!
Shinjiro: I only saw you lying by the entrance, and I…couldn't find…Miki…
Past Akihiko: That's…A LIE! You just didn't look carefully!! *shakes the past Shinjiro* …Right? ...Right?!
Shinjiro: *punches Akihiko* Accept it! I didn't want this, either! No one wanted this! Wake up!
Past Akihiko: *lowers his head* …No…M-Miki…
Shinjiro: Miki's dead…
Past Akihiko: …!!!
Akihiko: *struggles again* NO! I can still save Miki!!
Yukari: *tightens her hold* Senpai!
Mitsuru: *tightens her hold, too* Akihiko. Please, this isn't our time.
The playback ended there and the whole scenario faded. Their minds now travel back, returning to the last hall of Antenora…
Ken: So, that happened to senpai, as well…
Aigis: *looks around* We're back?
Yukari: Fuuka? Hey…Fuuka?
Fuuka: I'm here. I'm glad you're all safe…but…
Yukari: I know… It's okay…
Fuuka: …!!! Yukari-chan, behind you!
Yukari: *looks behind her* …!!!
A Shadow is behind Yukari and is about to hit her …
Yukari: *gasps* Oh, no! *raises her arms in front her, attempting to use it as a shield*
Aigis: *shoots the Shadow* Be careful, Yukari-san!
Yukari: Right! *turns to Mitsuru* Senpai!
Mitsuru: Akihiko's…
Yukari: Senpai!
Ken: Sanada-senpai also went through the same thing…
Akihiko: *on his knees and is unresponsive* Miki… Shinji…
Yukari: *turns to Aigis* Oh, no! *turns to Aigis* Aigis!
Aigis: I shall assist you. *shoots the Shadows*
Yukari: I'll back you up! *tries to summon her Persona* Help me! Messiah!
Yukari did as how she usually summons her Persona recently, but now, something strange happens; she isn't surrounded by the blue and scattered mirror shards that appears when they summon their Persona, and Messiah, this time, didn't answer her call…
Yukari: W-What?
Aigis: *turns to Yukari, while continuing her barrage on the Shadow* What's wrong, Yukari-san?
Yukari: I-I can't summon Messiah!
Strange voice: "The…Personas…are in…th…dar…si…"
Yukari: What? Is that you? Hey…
Aigis: You?
Yukari: Hey! I'm talking to you. Answer me… Please…
Aigis: Answer… I understand what…it means to lose something you care about… When I thought that I could never be with you again… I don't want that… I want…to be by your side…
Yukari: *looks at Aigis* Aigis?
Aigis: *attempts to summon her Persona*
Aigis is now surrounded with blue light and scattered mirror shards, but instead of Orpheus, she summoned Thanatos instead. Thanatos then did what his master willed and obliterates the Shadow…
Yukari: Aigis…
Fuuka: I sense a lot of Shadows coming your way! You have to escape!
Yukari: What's wrong, Fuuka?!
Fuuka: There are too many and I don't think you can win! The Shadows are- *gasps*
Yukari: What?!
Fuuka: The Shadows are joining together!
Yukari: What does that mean?!
Fuuka: It's forming a much more powerful Shadow and it's headed there!
Yukari: Oh, no! That can't be good. *turns to Aigis* Aigis!
Aigis: Let us flee. *turns to Ken* Ken! *shakes Ken* Ken!
Yukari: Senpai! *tries to catch Mitsuru's attention* Hey! Senpai!
Mitsuru: *head hanged low* …I see…
Ken: *head hanged low* …Mom…
Akihiko: *still on his knees and is unresponsive* Miki…
Yukari: Oh, no! Not now!
Fuuka: Yukari-chan! It's there!
Yukari: Senpai!
The Shadow arrives and causes a huge tremor, making a chasm on the ground in the direction of SEES…
Yukari: Aigis!
Aigis: *carries Ken* A huge Shadow…
Yukari: *dragging Akihiko away* Hurry, Aigis!
Aigis: Yes! *running away from the shaking ground*
Yukari: *going away to avoid falling and then, gasps* Senpai! *calling out to Mitsuru*
Mitsuru: … *head still hanged low*
Yukari: Oh, no! Aigis! *turns to Aigis*
Aigis: *summons her Persona* Thanatos! Megidola!
As Aigis continues to fight the Shadow alone, the chasm gets bigger due to the attacks of the Shadows and…
Mitsuru: … *standing above a cracked ground*
Yukari: SENPAI!
The cracked ground, no longer able to support Mitsuru's weight, gives way, and Mitsuru falls into the chasm. Yukari ran towards her like mad and managed to grab her hand…
Yukari: Hold on, Senpai!
Mitsuru: *her hand slowly slips* Takeba…
Yukari: S-Senpai… Hurry! C-Climb up!
Mitsuru: *looks up to Yukari* Takeba… I…
Yukari: *tries to tighten her grip* N-No! D-Don't give up!
Mitsuru's hand slips from Yukari's and…
Mitsuru: *falling* I'm sorry… Takeba…
Yukari: SENPAI!!!
END OF CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A/N: Whooohoooo!!! What a spectacular ending, don't you think?
***: Yeah…A spectacular cliffhanger…And…Poor Akihiko.
Empyrea: Yeah, I know. I wanna make them suffer! *turns to readers* So, what do you think? Anyway, the next chapter's ready, it just needs editing. So, I'll update as late as tomorrow! Promise!