A/N: And yet again, I'm late… *sulks in a corner*
***: Cheer up…we're only a day late…
Empyrea: …
***: *sweatdrops* Oh well, let's just get on with the fic…
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 21: The Unfathomable
Not only was Junpei able to bring Chidori back, but, he was live through it as well. Everyone was so happy that he's alive and well, and that he will be able to be together with Chidori come April 1st. Yukari and Mitsuru then came upon a realization after this event with Junpei, that if Junpei brought Chidori back through Medea, then, they can bring Minato back through his Personas. But, since the others weren't able to catch up to what they mean they decide to go the Command Room and talk about it there…
Junpei: *looks at Yukari* So, Yuka-tan, what do you and senpai exactly mean by that?
Yukari: *looks at Junpei* Think about it. You brought Chidori back. That would mean that we can bring "him" back, too.
Junpei: That's true… But… Unlike Chidori, he's…
Mitsuru: It's just a theory, but, maybe…
Akihiko: *looks at Mitsuru* What?
Mitsuru: It may be possible that he was with all of us all along.
Ken: With us?
Mitsuru: Yes…
Yukari: *places her hand on her chest* Within us.
Junpei: Huh?
Yukari: Through the personifications of our personalities…
Mitsuru: Persona.
Others: …!!!
Junpei: *scratches his head* Great… You guys lost me.
Yukari: Ugh… Stupei!
Junpei: *snaps at Yukari* Hey! It's not my fault, is it?!
Yukari: Whatever.
Mitsuru: I think that I and Takeba are thinking the same thing.
Akihiko: And, that is?
Mitsuru: That we may be able to bring him back through his Personas.
Junpei: *looks at Mitsuru* I used Medea to bring Chidori back… Is it something like that?
Mitsuru: *looks at Junpei* Apparently so, Iori.
Ken: *looks at Yukari* But… How do we bring him back?
Yukari: *turns to Ken* Like we said-
Ken: *shakes his head* No, senpai.
Yukari: Huh? Then, what?
Ken: I meant "how" exactly?
Yukari: Well…
Mitsuru: *turns to Ken* I'm afraid we don't know the answer to that, yet.
Aigis: *lowers her head a bit* Is there really a way?
Mitsuru: *nods* Maybe so…
Metis: Hey.
The members of SEES turn to Metis as she approached them…
Metis: I think I know how.
Yukari: You do?!
Metis: I met him after an incident here in your world, or so he said.
Yukari: And? Tell us!
Metis: He told me that after he disappeared here, he intentionally left parts of himself to the residents of this dorm.
Mitsuru: What else did he say?
Metis: He said, that to give those pieces back… You all must…summon all of his Personas.
Mitsuru: Do you mean…
Akihiko: Is this related to us becoming like one of the Lost?
Metis: Yes. It's most likely that way.
Yukari: Is that really true?
Metis: I won't lie about this. *looks at them* By the way, did you know that your Personas are also Shadows? That, Personas and Shadows are one and the same?
Junpei: Are you shittin' us?!
Yukari: *sticks out her tongue for a sec* Only you, Stupei!
Junpei: Hey!
Metis: *sweatdrops* Well, that aside… What I just said is true.
Mitsuru: So, our Personas are also Shadows…
Yukari: Who cares if they're Shadows! They have always helped us! And, that's that!
Mitsuru: Takeba's right.
Aigis: So, then… We can bring him back?
Junpei: Both him and Chidori…
*everyone suddenly jumps for joy*
Yukari: *beams with happiness* We can bring him back!
Akihiko: *smiles* That would mean that SEES will be complete again.
Mitsuru: *smiles* That's a relief.
Aigis: *smiles* Thank goodness.
Ken: *turns to Koromaru, smiling* Isn't that great, boy?
Koromaru: *wags his tail* Arf! Arf!
Junpei: *grins* Oh, yeah! Both Chidori and Minato!
Metis has never seen the members of SEES and her sister so happy before, so, naturally, she was surprised, but, of course, she knew things won't be so easy, and so, she called their attention and asked…
Metis: So… Who hasn't been able to call his Persona yet?
That question obviously caught them off guard; they realize that they can't celebrate just yet…
Mitsuru: That's right. Not all of us have been able to call his Persona, yet.
Akihiko: *looks at them* Then, let's count.
Junpei: Right.
Yukari: *looks at Aigis* Aigis was first.
Aigis: *nods* That is correct.
Yukari: *points to herself* Then, me.
Junpei: *points to himself excitedly* Then, me!
Akihiko: I came in next.
Mitsuru: And then?
Ken: I followed shortly after Sanada-senpai.
Akihiko: Oh, yeah. *looks at those at the rest* Who else?
Aigis: *looks at Koromaru* Koromaru had his in a different way, but, he was also able to see him.
Junpei: *turns to Koromaru* That's great, right, boy?
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Mitsuru: I followed afterwards.
Akihiko: *staggers back* R-Really?! When?!
Mitsuru: You may not be aware of it, but, I was able to talk to him during the time I fell in the chasm in Antenora.
Akihiko: *mumbles to himself* I knew something was weird when you showed up with his Persona…
Junpei: *looks at Mitsuru* Seriously?!
Mitsuru: *turns to Junpei* It's natural that you don't know, Iori. You weren't there when that happened.
Junpei: *scratches his head* Oh… I-I see.
Yukari: *grins* What~? Scared to be Stupei again~?
Junpei: *snaps at Yukari* Of course not!
Yukari: *smirks* Stupei!
Junpei: Hey!
Mitsuru: *stops Yukari and Junpei* Now, now. That's enough.
Fuuka: *fidgets* Umm…
Yukari: *looks at Fuuka* What's wrong, Fuuka?
Fuuka: *points to herself* That...only leaves...me...doesn't it?
Others: …!!!
Yukari: Hey… That's right.
Junpei: Well, don't worry, Fuuka… All you need to do is think about him… I guess.
Akihiko: Yeah, maybe a life-and-death situation isn't required.
Ken: Why don't you try now, senpai?
Fuuka: *shakes nervously* But…
Mitsuru: Don't worry, Yamagishi. We believe in you and your abilities.
Junpei: Go on, you can do it.
Yukari: Yeah, Fuuka! Heck, even Stupei here can do it.
Junpei: *snaps at Yukari* Stop calling me that!
Fuuka: I-I'll try.
Fuuka closes her eyes, and concentrates real hard to try and think only of Minato, and…
Fuuka: "Please…"
Nothing happens and no Persona appears before Fuuka…
Fuuka: *opens her eyes* I…
Yukari: Fuuka…
Fuuka: I…I'm sorry! I-I…I didn't-
Akihiko: It's okay. I'm sure you'll be able to call one of "his" Persona, soon enough. You're just…tired, right?
Junpei: Yeah, yeah! That's right!
Fuuka: *lowers her head* Thank you…
Mitsuru: Yamagishi… Don't worry about it. We-
Fuuka: It's okay, senpai… I'm really useless, anyway.
Mitsuru: That's not true, Yamagishi!
Fuuka: It…It's true! *runs away*
Mitsuru: Yamagishi! *reaches out her hand to Fuuka*
Yukari: Quick! Let's go after her! *runs after Fuuka*
Others: *followed a second after Yukari and ran off to follow Fuuka *
They all run after Fuuka, meanwhile, where Chidori and Minato are…
Chidori: …Will I really be able to return?
Minato: Yes…
Chidori: Then… What about Junpei?
Minato: Don't worry about that.
Chidori: How did he live? Tell me.
Minato: Huh? What are you talking about?
Chidori: I know you know.
Minato: All right, all right. Well, it has been quite some time since he acquired my Persona…right?
Chidori: And?
Minato: Well… My Persona already gave him part of my life for him to live.
Chidori: For how long?
Minato: The normal life span of a human.
Chidori: I see. So, you gave him life, all along.
Minato: Hey, c'mon, smile. You're gonna be with Junpei soon. Trust me.
Chidori: I know that…
Minato: Then, why the long face?
Chidori: What about-
Minato: *forces a smile* Don't worry about me.
Chidori: …
Minato: So… This is goodbye…
Chidori: What?
Minato: You'll just have to wait until they succeed to continue on to April 1st…
Chidori: I can't go yet!
Minato: *waves at Chidori and turns around* Goodbye.
Chidori is suddenly surrounded by a bright cylindrical light and she vanishes…
Minato: *sits down on the floor* It's suddenly so quiet… *sighs and then looks up* I wonder what Yukari's doing right now…
Meanwhile, Yukari and the others are chasing Fuuka…
Fuuka: *running away towards the lounge* …
Yukari: Wait! Fuuka!
Fuuka reaches the lounge and no longer has anywhere to run to…
Fuuka: *stops running and looks around* I know it! You're all thinking I'm useless…and…I'm…
Mitsuru: Stop it, Yamagishi!
Akihiko: We never thought of you that way!
Fuuka: *shakes her head* You're all just saying that!
Junpei: Stop this, Fuuka! We're a team! We'll never think of you that way!
Fuuka: No!
Ken: Please, senpai, listen to us.
Yukari: Fuuka…
Aigis: This is not the way we want it to be. Please listen to us, Fuuka-san.
Fuuka: NO!
Fuuka runs towards the Abyss of Time…
Kormaru: Arf! Arf!
Mitsuru: Quick! Let's run after Yamagishi!
Akihiko: Right!
They run after Fuuka towards the Abyss of Time, and, as they arrive on the Abyss of Time…
Mitsuru: *gasps* A Shadow?
Akihiko: No ordinary one to boot.
Yukari: *looking for Fuuka* Fuuka?! Where are you?!
Yukari sees Fuuka standing beneath a Shadow…
Yukari: Fuuka! *readies her bow and rushes off towards the Shadow*
Mitsuru: *readies her rapier* We must rescue Yamagishi! *runs towards the Shadow*
Fuuka: *holds her head* I'm so helpless… I-I can't even scan this Shadow…even though it's so close to me… I knew it… I… I…
Yukari: "Why can't Fuuka call you? Why not? Please, Minato… Help her…"
Mitsuru: *looks at Yukari* Takeba!
Yukari: *quickly looks at Mitsuru* Huh?
Mitsuru: Stay alert!
Yukari: *nods* R-Right! *fires off an arrow at the Shadow*
Akihiko: Damn Shadow! *gives the Shadow a quick jab on its side and dashes off to the other side*
Ken: *summons his Persona* Lucifer! Megidolaon!
The Shadow is not fazed with Ken's attack…
Ken: What happened?
*the Shadow attacks Ken, but Ken dodges*
Mitsuru: Yamgishi, please scan the opponent! Yamagishi!
Fuuka: I… I… If only it wasn't me…
The whole messy situation suddenly disappears. The Shadow disappears as the place began to fill with white light. The white light soon disappears, and they are transported to different place…
Akihiko: *looks around* Huh? Where'd that Shadow go?
Junpei: *looks around* Is this…a school?
Yukari: Yeah… Isn't this…Gekkoukan?
Mitsuru: *looks around* I can't be mistaken… This is indeed Gekkoukan from before.
Junpei: Shit. This is our school?
Akihiko: *sees Fuuka* Is that Fuuka?
Mitsuru: Yamagishi…
Yukari: …Fuuka?
Fuuka: *looks around* This is…
A classroom door opens and…
END OF CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
A/N: Bwahahahaha!!!
***: *sweatdrops* uhmmm…Anyway…it looks like things are picking up…
Empyrea: Well, yeah. I mean, we're almost done aren't we? *turns to readers* See you guys at the next chapter! *waves hand*