A/N: This is the 18th chapter, wow. Honestly, I first estimated this fic to be only 23 or so chapters, and now, when my beta and I counted it, we estimated it to be 27-30 chapters.
***: Well, it's your fault for forgetting the minor scene adjustments, hehe. So, let's get the chapter over with!
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 18: The Courage to Choose
Junpei gained a newfound hope when Minato informed him that Chidori can be brought back, even if it comes with a price. He then went to the Door of Ptolomea, in the Abyss of Time, to look for Chidori, as that's where Minato said she'll be. The others soon found out that he went there, alone. And they, of course, decided to follow him. As Mitsuru, Aigis, Yukari and Koromaru, the ones who went in to follow Junpei, were struggling with the staircase of Ptolomea, Junpei already found the one he's looking for, only see to her walk away…
Junpei: *reaches out his hand while running after Chidori* Please! Chidori!
Chidori: *stops walking* Please, Junpei… Enough…
Junpei: *stays still* Chidori?
Chidori: *still facing back* Why do you choose me?
Junpei: Because, I… I…
Chidori: I don't understand you, Junpei.
Junpei: I want to…to…
Chidori: Please, Junpei… Enough. *starts to walk away*
Junpei: Where are you going? Chidori?
Chidori: This is goodbye, Junpei.
Junpei: *runs to Chidori* I can't let you leave! Chi- …!!!
Suddenly, Orpheus appears out of nowhere, and then, stood before Junpei and blocks his way…
Junpei: *glares at Orpheus* Get out of my way! *Orpheus didn't move* Chidori!
Chidori: *still walking away* …
Junpei: Chidori!
Chidori: … *continues to walk away from Junpei*
Chidori disappears into the darkness, and Orpheus vanishes, as well. Minato then appeared beside Junpei…
Junpei: *falls down to his knees* …Why?
Minato: She was always there…
Junpei: Huh? *looks at Minato* Minato?
Minato: She never left your side, even now.
Junpei: B-But… I want to be with Chidori…
Minato: She feels the same way. She already knows that…but…
Junpei: *stands up and faces Minato* I know you can bring her back! Please!
Minato: Do you really want her back?
Junpei: Yes! I'll do anything to have her back!
Minato: Then…I'll give you a choice.
Junpei: …Choice?
Minato: *nods* Yes. You must choose: *points at Junpei* You… *pockets his hand* or Chidori.
Junpei: …!!! What?!
Minato: Her life essence is within you…and…I can only bring her back…if…you give it back.
Junpei: That's…
Minato: You can choose. I'll give you time.
Junpei: *looks down* The price is…me?
Minato: *nods* I'll be back when I know that you've made a decision.
Junpei: …
Minato: …I'll come back… Tell me your decision, by then…Junpei.
Junpei: …
Minato fades, leaving Junpei stunned from what he told him. The others are calling out to Junpei as they reach the top of the stairs of Ptolomea…
Koromaru: Arf! Arf! *runs towards Junpei*
Yukari: *running towards Junpei* Junpei!
Junpei just stood there like he didn't hear them. When they reached him, they immediately noticed that something, terrible, maybe, happened to him…
Mitsuru: Iori… What happened?
Aigis: You should not have come here all by yourself, Junpei-san.
Junpei: … *remains unresponsive*
Koromaru: *whimpers*
Junpei: Sorry…
Fuuka: I'm sorry to say this all of a sudden, but…
Mitsuru: What's wrong, Yamagishi?
Fuuka: I sense something ahead of you. It doesn't seem dangerous, but…
Mitsuru: We'll handle it. *turns to Aigis* Aigis.
Aigis: *looks at Mitsuru* Yes?
Mitsuru: Please drag Iori with us.
Aigis: Understood. *holds Junpei by the collar of his jacket*
Junpei: *looks at Aigis* Ai-chan?
Aigis: *looks at Junpei* Can you walk?
Junpei: Yeah. I'm fine.
Aigis: Let's go. *lets go of Junpei*
They walk a little further more and found out that what Fuuka sensed was the final door of Ptolomea…
Mitsuru: Another door?
Yukari: Should we open it?
Mitsuru: Yes, we should.
Yukari: *tries opening the door* It won't budge.
Aigis: *tries to unlock the door* No good.
Mitsuru: I'm the only one left. *steps forward and tries to open the door*
The door opens for Mitsuru; light engulfed them, and then, they are transported to Tartarus…
Mitsuru: This place is…
Yukari: Isn't this…
Aigis: Tartarus?
Junpei: *head hanged low* …
Koromaru: *looks at Junpei and whimpers*
Junpei: Sorry, boy…
Yukari: Why are we at Tartarus?
Mitsuru: And? This scenario…
Yukari: *looks around* Wait. Isn't this…the…
Aigis: *looks around* …!!!
What they saw were their past selves tied up on crosses, and Aigis standing beside a man they just want to forget, and, in front them stood Takeharu Kirijo, Mitsuru's father…
Yukari: This is…
Mitsuru: Father…
Yukari: The time…when we…were about to be sacrificed by…Ikutsuki…
Past Mitsuru: *hanging in a crucifix* Please, Aigis! No!
Ikutsuki: *shoots Mitsuru's father* …Ugh… *gets hit as well*
Mitsuru's Father: *falls*
Past Mitsuru: Father… Father!
Mitsuru: This was the time…when my Father died…
The scenario ends and their minds go back to Ptolomea, after witnessing for the second time, the incident that took place in Tartarus that caused Mitsuru's father's death…
Mitsuru: *looking down* …
Yukari: *looks at Mitsuru* …Senpai?
Aigis: Mitsuru-san? Are you okay?
Yukari: *gets closer to Mitsuru* Hey, Senpai…are you okay?
Mitsuru: I'm fine. Let's head back for now.
Yukari: Okay.
Aigis: Very well.
Yukari: C'mon, Koro-chan. *turns to Junpei* Let's go, Junpei.
Junpei: I know…
Back at the dorm's lounge…
Junpei: *still carries with him a depressed look* …
Ken: Are you guys okay?
Metis: *runs to Aigis* I'm glad you're fine, sister!
Aigis: Thank you, Metis.
Metis: *smiles*
Akihiko: *looks at Mitsuru* Are sure you guys are okay?
Mitsuru: Yes, we're fine.
Yukari: …Senpai.
Mitsuru: *turns to Yukari* What is it, Takeba?
Yukari: Are you really all right?
Mitsuru: Well, there were no Shadows to fight, and we-
Yukari: That's not what I mean.
Mitsuru: Takeba…
Yukari: Are you all right? After seeing that again?
Mitsuru: *averts her gaze* Honestly, no.
Yukari: …
Fuuka: Senpai…
Mitsuru: *looks at them* But, my father would not want that!
Yukari: …!
Mitsuru: I must…I will face this head-on.
Akihiko: Mitsuru…
Mitsuru: I must fulfill my father's wishes, as well as mine. For that reason alone…I…
Akihiko: *staring at Mitsuru* …
Mitsuru: I must face the fact…that my father is no longer here.
Fuuka: But… Senpai…
Mitsuru: Don't worry, Yamagishi.
Fuuka: …???
Mitsuru: My father never left my side.
Junpei: …!!! *stares at Mitsuru*
Others: …???
Mitsuru: He is here. *puts her hand on her chest* He lives within me, as I remember him each day. He may not be here literally, but… He was always here.
Junpei: *puts his hand on his chest* Always…here…
Mitsuru: I'm sorry for worrying all of you. I'm fine now. We should rest. Let's just talk about this some other time.
Akihiko: Mitsuru…
Fuuka: You're so strong senpai…
Mitsuru: *shakes her head and then looks at Fuuka* No, I'm not.
Fuuka: But-
Mitsuru: Being with all of you. That is what's making me strong.
Fuuka: *smiles* Thank you, senpai.
Mitsuru: *smiles* Let's go and get some rest.
Yukari: *smiles* Right.
Some of them went back to their own rooms, while some went to a place to relax. Mitsuru is, as usual, in the 4th floor: Command room, seated on her usual seat …
Mitsuru: *sighs* Father…I'll try and be strong…for me and for SEES…
Yukari: *knocks * Senpai?
Mitsuru: Who is it?
Yukari: It's me, Yukari.
Mitsuru: Oh. It's open.
Yukari: *enters the room* Nice going back there.
Mitsuru: *looks at Yukari* Oh, that. That was nothing. I'm used to it.
Yukari: For believing in your father…
Mitsuru: Takeba?
Yukari: I think you did the right thing.
Mitsuru: Thank you, Takeba. What about you?
Yukari: Me? I believe in father, and…
Mitsuru: …???
Yukari: It's nothing. Never mind.
Mitsuru: I-I see.
Yukari: *goes out and stands by the door* Rest well, Senpai!
Mitsuru: You too, Takeba.
*Yukari Leaves*
In Akihiko's room…
Akihiko: *punching a punching bag* Mitsuru… She…She accepted her father was gone…*stops punching* I…I have to move on, too…*punches again* I'll fight for myself, for the others, and for her… Mitsuru…
In Ken's room…
Ken:*sits on his bed then, looks at Koromaru* Koro-chan.
Koromaru: *looks at Ken* Arf!
Ken: I want to fight, too. What about you, boy?
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Ken: *pats Koromaru's head* You too, huh? Don't worry. I know we'll all make it out of this…together… I want to fight for the others, too… I no longer want to be a burden.
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Ken: *smiles* I know.
At the lounge, where Metis and Aigis are sitting on the couch…
Metis: …
Aigis: *looks at Metis* Aren't you going to rest?
Metis: *looks at Aigis* I'm fine now. All okay! See? *moves her arms*
Aigis: *smiles* Thank you for always being concerned about me, Metis.
Metis: It's nothing. I'm the one who should be thanking you, sister.
Aigis: For what?
Metis: *beams with happiness* For being with me!
Aigis:*looks surprised for a sec, then smiles* …Yes.
Metis: *holds Aigis' hand with both of her hands* Let's fight together, sister.
Aigis: I'll fight for the others, and for you.
Metis: I'll fight, too.
Aigis: Thank you.
Metis: *lets go of Aigis' hand* Stop saying thanks all the time.
Aigis: *giggles* Yes.
At the 2nd floor's lobby…
Fuuka: *sitting in a chair there* Senpai seems so strong… I have to do my best, too…besides… *lowers her head* I'm the only one who hasn't made a step forward, yet… Everyone's beginning to realize some things, while, I… *sighs* What am I supposed to do?
Meanwhile, in Junpei's room…
Junpei: I know you're there, Minato!
Minato: *sitting in Junpei's bed* I see you've made your choice…
Junpei: I'm certain now!
Minato: Are you truly certain?
Junpei: Yeah! I want Chidori back!
Minato: … I understand.
Junpei: …
Minato: *stands up* …
END OF CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
A/N: And Junpei has made his choice, and then, dies.
***: *throws crumpled paper at Empyrea* Take this!
Empyrea: All right, already! Stop that! * *** stops* If you really want to know, wait for the next chapter and no buts. *turns to the readers* What do you think? Will Junpei live, or die?