A/N: Told you I'll update soon, didn't I?
***: Well, that's because you hurried me to finish it!
Empyrea: Oh c'mon! You liked this chapter right? So, that should do, right?
***: Oh, all right…Well, let's get the show on the road!
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 15: Minato Arisato
After viewing Akihiko's past this time, they returned to where they previously were; the last hall of Antenora. The Shadows from the previous hall chanced upon them, and in the course of the battle, Aigis awakened to Thanatos. On the other hand, Yukari, all of a sudden, can't summon her Persona, and Mitsuru, Akihiko and Ken are all unresponsive. The Shadows joined together, forming one strong Shadow, and created tremors and chasms, with Mitsuru falling into one of the chasms. Mitsuru now ended up in a place filled with white light…
Mitsuru: *looks around* …Huh? W-Where am I?
Strange voice: "In a place even I don't know where."
Mitsuru: I remember falling into the chasm, and…
Strange voice: "You're not dead…"
Mitsuru: What? Then this place…isn't…
Strange voice: "It's not the afterlife…"
Mitsuru: *looks around again* I don't understand. Where are you? Show yourself.
Strange voice: "I brought the others here, as well…"
Mitsuru: …Others? Do you mean SEES?
Strange voice: "I've been having difficulties since then…"
Mitsuru: Difficulties?
Strange voice: "Yes, a lot, actually…"
Mitsuru: What kind?
Strange voice: "Their insecurities and fears grow by the minute…and…I…"
Mitsuru: What do you mean "insecurities and fears"?
Strange voice: "…"
Mitsuru: Is it about the doors showing their pasts?
Strange voice: "I may never exist again…"
Mitsuru: Exist?
Strange voice: "I was close to reaching my goal for him, too…"
Mitsuru: Him?
Strange voice: "Junpei Iori…"
Mitsuru: Iori?
Strange voice: "Just a little more time…and I can finally reunite them, but…"
Mitsuru: …! A-Are you talking about Chidori?
Strange voice: "Yes… Though, that may no longer be possible…"
Mitsuru: *lowers her head* It never was possible. Chidori's dead.
Strange voice: "So that's how you all see it, huh…"
Mitsuru: All?
Strange voice: "All of you think that way…"
Mitsuru: *looks up* What do you mean?
Strange voice: "As long as it's not connected to your deaths…you couldn't care less about the others…"
Mitsuru: T-That's not true! …I-I…
Strange voice: "It's human nature to prioritize oneself before others…"
Mitsuru: B-But, Father… He…
Strange voice: "You want to save him? How? By having yourself killed here?"
Mitsuru: No… I…
Strange voice: "No one remembered…in the end… I knew that, but…"
Mitsuru: Remembered?
Strange voice: "In the end… You won't remember this… No one did…"
Mitsuru: No one...
Strange voice: "I don't want to go back anymore. This is enough."
Mitsuru: Who are you?
Strange voice: "You don't know either, eh? …I see."
Mitsuru: …???
Strange voice: "We met before."
Mitsuru: Before?
Strange voice: "Back in April."
Mitsuru: …! …April?!
Strange voice: "When Yukari even mistook me for a Shadow…"
Mitsuru: …Takeba …!!! Y-You're-
Strange voice: "It's okay… This is goodbye, anyway… I wanted to see everyone again, too… But, even that is not possible now… Goodbye, Senpai… I'm sorry we couldn't meet, but, thank you for talking with me… I will soon disappear…"
Mitsuru: *reaches out her hand* Wait! Arisato!
While Mitsuru was having her little conversation with Minato, back at Antenora, the situation has gotten a lot worse; everyone is not in any condition to even hold their ground against the Shadow…
Yukari: *leaning on the edge of the chasm, her hand held out* Senpai! SENPAI!
Aigis: *turns to Yukari, still firing on the Shadow* Yukari-san!
Yukari: *stands up, her head hanged low* …Why?!
Voice in the dark: "Goodbye…"
Aigis: …!!! NO! Don't go!
Yukari: …!!! NO! You can't go!
And even at the dorm, tension is rising. Fuuka lost contact with the others that went to Antenora. All they can do now is sit around and wait; hoping misfortune has not befallen the others…
Junpei: *twiddling his thumbs* …What's taking them so long?
Fuuka: *hands Junpei a teacup* Here, have some tea.
Junpei: *looks at Fuuka* You're not assisting them?
Fuuka: *averts her gaze* …I can't help.
Junpei: *takes the teacup from Fuuka and holds it with both hands* H-How come?
Fuuka: The Shadow's too powerful for me… I…
Junpei: Hey, don't worry… I-I mean, you might be able to contact them later…we're counting on you, too…
Fuuka: Junpei-kun…
Metis: *taps the Fuuka's shoulder* …Can I have some, too?
Fuuka: *smiles* Of course, Metis. *hands out a cup of tea to Metis* Here you go.
Metis: *takes the teacup* Thanks.
Fuuka: You're tensed too, Metis?
Metis: *sits on the couch* Actually… *averts her gaze* Yeah… I'm worried…
Junpei: Oh, come on! Don't give us THAT look!
Metis: Sorry. *about to sip her tea*
Strange voice: "Me…tis…"
Metis: …!!! *puts down the tea in the table near her* "…What?"
Strange voice: "H-Help!"
Metis: "Help?! Hey! Where are you?"
Strange voice: "…"
Metis: I said, HEY!!
Fuuka: *drops the tray she's holding and looks at Metis* Metis?
Koromaru: *whimpers*
Junpei: Hey… You okay?
Metis: *suddenly stands up and runs towards the Abyss of Time*
Junpei: Hey! Wait! *Metis ignores him* I said, WAIT! What the shit-
Fuuka: I'll track her down… *summons her Persona*
Junpei: *turns to Fuuka* So…where did she run off to?
Fuuka: She went to Antenora?!
Junpei: What?! Why would she go there?!
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Junpei: *shrugs* I know.
Fuuka: Should we follow her?
Junpei: We can't.
Fuuka: But… Junpei-kun…
Junpei: What if the others need back up?
Fuuka: You're right. I'm sorry.
Junpei: *scratches his head* Nah, that's okay. I know how you feel.
Metis quickened her pace as soon as she reached Antenora's first hall…
Metis: What the?! Shadows! Plenty of them… *looks around* HEY! Where are you?
Strange voice: "…"
Metis: Still nothing, huh. Damn. *runs further in*
Meanwhile, where Mitsuru is…
Mitsuru: *sits down* There's still nothing I can do. *looks around* So, Arisato was here?
Strange voice: "Me…t…i…s"
Mitsuru: M-e-t-i-s? Metis?
Mitsuru looks around her, but still, all she sees is nothing but white…
Mitsuru: Maybe I should walk for a bit… *stands up* There's nothing here anyway…
She began walking towards nowhere in particular, seemingly devoid of hope, just as how the others feel at the very same time…
Yukari: NO! I refuse to believe you're gone!! ANSWER ME!
Akihiko: *still on his knees, head hanged low* …Mitsuru… She's gone, too…
Ken: *falls to his knees* …Is this the end?
Aigis: We can't give up! We must fight!
Yukari: NO! *tries to summon her Persona* Please, Messiah!
Still, Messiah does not appear before Yukari…
Yukari: *falls down to her knees* No… Are you really…gone…? *tears are now falling from Yukari's eyes* No… No…
Aigis: *attempts to call Thanatos again* Thanatos!
Thanatos didn't appear to aid Aigis…
Aigis: Does this really mean…?
Metis: *running towards them, panting*
Aigis: *turns to see Metis arrive* Metis?!
Metis: You all have to remember!
Aigis: Remember?
Yukari: …! Remember?
Metis: He isn't gone, yet!
Aigis: …!!!
Yukari: …!!!
The giant Shadow and the Shadows from the walls and the ceiling drop down and block Metis' path…
Metis: *fights the Shadows* He once told me…that if you lose something, then, that only happened to open a new door for you! To gain something much more important!
Akihiko: *looks at Metis* …Important?
Ken: *looks at Metis* …To gain?
Metis: *still fighting the Shadows* He once saved me! This time, I'll save you! Minato!
Aigis: Please! I no longer want to be alone! Minato!
Yukari: I know what's important to me now, Minato!
Akihiko: *stands up and raises his head* Hahahaha…What was I thinking? Moping like that… Shinji must be laughing at me, together with Miki… Well, we can't lose here! We won't lose here! Right? Minato!
Ken: *stands up* That's right! This isn't over yet! It just can't be! I have to fight! To find my reason to live! Help us, Minato!
In the dorm, everyone there also feels the same way…
Junpei: I feel you're right there, man! Fight with everyone! Minato!
Fuuka: I want to believe you're there! Minato!
Koromaru: *howls*
On the other side where Mitsuru is, Mitsuru continues to wander around aimlessly, that is, until she finally spots someone…
Mitsuru: …!!!
Minato: *lying unconscious* …
Shadows are crawling towards him, but, some of them are disappearing. And then, it all became clear for her. Mitsuru hears it clearly, the resounding voices of her comrades, calling out to Minato, and she realizes, it's time for her to step forward. She ran towards him with a clear goal in mind…
Mitsuru: Arisato!
Mitsuru runs towards Minato and strikes the Shadows blocking her way until she reaches him…
Mitsuru: *holds Minato* Hang in there. This… This isn't the end, yet! You must wake up! Minato!
Minato: *stirs for a few moments and opens his eyes* …Senpai?
Mitsuru: *smiles* Finally… You're awake…
Minato: When you fell… I wanted you to live…so… I…dragged you all the way here… Sorry…
Mitsuru: It's all right. Save your strength.
The Shadows are about to get near and attack them…
Mitsuru: *looks around and then, gasps*
Minato: *holds Mitsuru's hand* Fight for me…
Mitsuru: *looks at Minato* …???
Minato: I'm fine now. Everyone's with me. I can feel it. *stands up*
Mitsuru: *stands up* Arisato?
Minato: *smiles* Minato's fine… Senpai…
Mitsuru: *nods* …Very well… Minato…
Minato: This Persona's for you. *extends his hand to Mitsuru*
Mitsuru: Persona?
END OF CHAPTER FIFTEEN
A/N: Ahahahahahahaha!!! That was a blast!
***: Really? Honestly… I almost had a heart attack…screw you…
Empyrea: This one is my favorite so far. So, readers…what do you think? Btw…Thanks to vastler75 for his continuous reviews, it gives us a lot of boost! And thanks to all our readers as well, for making this story reach an amazing 703 hits! Anyway, see you folks at the next chapter.