A/N: I had writer's block for a while… Nothing else to say. So, here's chapter 19!
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 19: Medea
Junpei lost hope when Minato told him that to bring Chidori back, he must sacrifice himself. After viewing Mitsuru's past through the door, they returned to the dorm. After talking about what Mitsuru actually feels to see her father's death again, they all spread out to rest. Junpei, at this time, made up his mind…
Minato: I'm not forcing you to do this… You can just let things remain as they are, and…
Junpei: I can't do that. No… I won't do that!
Minato: Junpei…
Junpei: I can't… I won't leave Chidori…
Minato: … *averts his gaze*
Junpei: So, Minato… Tell me how to bring her back!
Minato: … *looks at Junpei*
Junpei: Nothing you'll say can change my mind!
Minato: …I know.
Junpei: Then, tell me!
Minato: Medea…
Junpei: Medea?
Minato: Chidori's Persona…
Junpei: Okay… What do I have to do?
Minato: Her Persona has merged with you, as well.
Junpei: Merged?
Minato: When she passed her life essence to you, Medea became one with you, as well.
Junpei: And?
Minato: You must accept that part.
Junpei: How?
Minato: Only you may know the answer to that.
Junpei: Wait! How can this bring Chidori back?
Minato: Her Persona can bring back the life…she once gave you.
Junpei: I don't get everything…but… I have to do this! For Chidori!
Minato: Just remember, Junpei.
Junpei: …???
Minato: That you chose this path of your own free will.
Junpei: I know that-
Minato: If you die, you'll blame no one, but yourself.
Junpei: …!!!
Minato: Are you afraid?
Junpei: *snaps at Minato* NO!
Minato: I shall leave you now. *turns around*
Junpei: Hey…
Minato: *looks at Junpei* Yes?
Junpei: Were you scared?
Minato: …?
Junpei: When you…fought Nyx…alone?
Minato: *turns his head to look at Junpei* What difference will my answer make?
Junpei: Well…
Minato: *turns back again* Maybe I was… Maybe I wasn't…
Junpei: …I see.
Minato: Think before you proceed.
Junpei: You'll see…
Minato: …?
Junpei: I'll call Medea for sure!
Minato: Nothing in this world is for certain, Junpei… Nothing…
Junpei: …!
Minato leaves Junpei to his thoughts, meanwhile in the 2nd floor Hallway…
Yukari: *walking around* … "I wonder what he's doing right now?"
Fuuka: Yukari-chan?
Yukari: *turns to Fuuka* Oh! Fuuka.
Fuuka: What's wrong?
Yukari: Huh? Umm… Well…
Fuuka: You can tell me.
Yukari: It's nothing really… I was thinking how…
Fuuka: How?
Yukari: How Minato's doing.
Fuuka: …! Why? Did something happen?
Yukari: No. It's not that. I just…
Fuuka: *stares at Yukari* …???
Yukari: *averts her gaze, then looks at Fuuka* Never mind!
Fuuka: I see. *stops staring at Yukari*
Yukari: Let's go.
Fuuka: Where?
Yukari: I want to see something.
Fuuka: Uhh… But… Okay.
Yukari: C'mon. *drags Fuuka*
At the Desert of Doors…
Fuuka: *turns to Yukari* Why do you want to go here?
Yukari: I just want to see something. That's all.
Fuuka: I see. *looks around*
Yukari: Since we're here, let's go walk around.
Fuuka: Is that… *stares at space*
Yukari: Fuuka? Hey. *waves her hand in front of Fuuka's face*
Fuuka: A door?
Yukari: Door?!
Fuuka: *walks away from Yukari* I…
Yukari: *extends her hand to Fuuka* Wait! Fuuka!
Fuuka: I have to go…
Yukari: Is she…?
The door opens for Fuuka, and she, like the others, is seated in the chair of the guest in the Velvet Room…
Fuuka: Huh? Where am I? *looks around and sees Minato in front of her*
Minato: *lying down on a couch in front of Fuuka* Hey! Elizabeth! Where's my- *turns his head to his side*
Fuuka: Minato-kun?!
Minato: *still lying on the couch and stares at Fuuka* Fuu…ka-san…
Fuuka: Umm…
Minato: Uhh…
Fuuka & Minato: *points to each other* Why are you here?
Fuuka: I'm sorry. Go on ahead.
Minato: *laughs* Silly. Never mind, then. *sits down*
Elizabeth suddenly enters the room before their conversation could move on…
Elizabeth: *carrying a tray with a glass of water on it* Here is the water you requested. I'm sorry it took so long. I still had to go to your world, and I- *notices Fuuka*
Minato: Oh, thanks. *takes the glass of water from Elizabeth*
Fuuka: *stares at Elizabeth* …
Minato: What's wrong, Fuuka-san?
Fuuka: *quickly looks at Minato*…! Huh? Oh! It's nothing.
Minato: Whatever you say.
Elizabeth: *looks at Fuuka* I see we have another guest.
Minato: Sorry about the trouble.
Elizabeth: I am totally fine with it, and the master has no objections, as well.
Minato: Or, so you say.
Fuuka: …???
Minato: Thanks for the water. *gives the glass to Elizabeth*
Elizabeth: I shall take my leave, then. *turns to Fuuka* If you'll excuse me.
Elizabeth leaves the Velvet Room…
Fuuka: Who was that?
Minato: Oh, her? You mean, Elizabeth?
Fuuka: Elizabeth?
Minato: She's a resident here.
Fuuka: What is this place?
Minato: This is the Velvet Room.
Fuuka: Velvet Room?
Minato: Let's just leave it at that.
Fuuka: Uh… Okay.
Minato: My bad… I wasn't prepared of your visit here.
Fuuka: …???
Minato: I wasn't able to welcome you properly like the others. Plus, you had to see me acting all lazy.
Fuuka: *giggles* You're so funny, Minato-kun.
Minato: *smiles* Yeah, Yeah.
Fuuka: Umm…
Minato: What?
Fuuka: Why were the others here?
Minato: Don't know.
Fuuka: Huh?
Minato: Well… The only explanation is that they wanted to be here, even you.
Fuuka: Me?
Minato: Yeah… So, how are things in the dorm?
Fuuka: Well… Everything's okay for now. Everyone's safe, but, we still can't go back to our own time.
Minato: …I see. It's good to hear you're all okay.
Fuuka: What about you?
Minato: *points at himself* What about me?
Fuuka: *looks around* Do you live here now?
Minato: No…
Fuuka: *looks at Minato* Then, where do you stay? Are you sad…all by yourself?
Minato: Not really.
Fuuka: Really?
Minato: Yes. Whenever I'm here, Elizabeth entertains me.
Fuuka: That's good to hear, then. What about where you stay?
Minato: Nothing special, I guess.
Fuuka: I see… *stares at Minato*
Minato: Don't look at me like that.
Fuuka: *stops staring* Sorry… I just…can't believe it.
Minato: What?
Fuuka: You're here, talking with me. I never thought we could talk like this again.
Minato: *smiles* The time was short, but I enjoyed it. Farewell, for now.
Fuuka: We'll see you again, right?!
Mianto: Maybe…
Fuuka: Minato-kun…
Fuuka's mind returns to the Desert of Doors…
Fuuka: … Huh? *looks around* I'm back?
Yukari: Are you okay, Fuuka?
Fuuka: Yukari-chan… Yeah, I'm fine.
Yukari: Let's go back and tell the others.
Fuuka: Okay.
Yukari and Fuuka headed back to the dorm and informed the others to meet at the 4th floor Command Room to talk about what happened to Fuuka…
Mitsuru: What happened, Yamgishi?
Fuuka: Well…
Fuuka told them, that like some of them, she entered the Velvet Room and confronted him, and…
Yukari: And then?
Fuuka: Well… He told me he was doing fine.
Mitsuru: That's a relief.
Akihiko: Did he say anything else?
Fuuka: No… But, there was this woman named-
Yukari: *stands up* Woman?
Fuuka: Yeah. Minato-kun called her Elizabeth.
Mitsuru: Isn't that the woman Iori mentioned before?
Yukari: Even before? That can't be a coincidence!
Akihiko: Y-Yukari?
Yukari: What else?!
Fuuka: Oh. That's right. He didn't tell me where he stays, but, he said that whenever he's in the Velvet Room, this Elizabeth keeps him company, and-
Yukari: WHAT?!
Mitsuru: T-Takeba?
Akihiko: H-Hey, calm down.
Fuuka: Yukari-chan?
Yukari: *talks to mid air* Who else are you flirting with, huh?! First, Senpai! And now, a new Elizabeta, whatever her name is!
Mitsuru: Takeba-
Yukari: *turns to Mitsuru* Wait a minute, Senpai! I'll just talk the crap out of him!
Mitsuru: Huh?
As Yukari continue to throw her complaints regarding Minato, the others talked about another topic…
Akihiko: …Umm… Has any of you seen Junpei?
Ken: *shakes his head* No, not me.
Fuuka: Why? Has something happened, senpai?
Akihiko: Well…he's not here, and I haven't seen him.
Mitsuru: Do you sense him, Yamagishi?
Fuuka: I do. He's here in the dorm.
Mitsuru: That's good, then.
Akihiko: *smiles* I see. Maybe, he just needed some moment to relax. So, let's cut him some slack.
Mitsuru: I suppose you're right.
Meanwhile in Junpei's room…
Junpei: Please… Chidori…
Junpei recalls Chidori's last words to him back at Tartarus…
Chidori: I love you…Junpei…
Junpei: I won't let you down! *attempts to summon a Persona* Come! Medea!
Covered with same blue light and scattered mirror shards, Junpei was certain he was able to draw out Chidori's Persona from within himself. And like he thought, Medea materialized before him…
END OF CHAPTER NINETEEN
A/N: Yeehaw! I'll kill Junpei in the next chapter!
***: *mashes Empyrea with a hammer* Why you?! You said last chapter that we get to see in this chapter whether Junpei will live or die! And now you tell us its still next chapter?!
Empyrea: *rubs her head* Don't worry, next chapter for sure!
***: That better be true… *turns to readers* So, see you guys next chapter!