A/N: Whew! I finally finished chapter 32! Sorry it took so long… I had writer's block plus a whole load of schoolwork…
***: Yeah, and before we forget one of the scenes here goes way back to chapter 1, you'll know when you see it.
Empyrea: And, with that out of the way let's begin the 32nd chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Persona 3 FES and its characters, only the plot.
Chapter 32: I Promise, Yukari
In the Desert of Doors, a fierce battle is currently ensuing. The battle between Aigis and Yukari has yet to draw to a close. Both will do everything to win the battle, and, be the one to obtain the wild card…
Yukari: *aims* Yah! *shoots for Aigis*
Aigis: *swiftly dodges* …Yukari-san. *running towards Yukari while preparing for a counter attack*
Yukari: "Minato… I have to win!"
Aigis: *strikes Yukari* Why can you not just back down?! Don't you understand?! What we wish for is the same!
Yukari: *dodges Aigis' attack and then aims an arrow at her* It's not the same! *shoots her arrow*
Aigis: *dodges* We both want "him" back! So, why do we need to fight?!
Yukari: You'll risk all of our lives in your decision!
Aigis: And yours? What difference will it make? *backs away a few distance* If we lose you this time, then, everything will just repeat all over again.
Yukari: What are you trying to say?!
Aigis: I'm telling you that the difference is that we will only mourn for a different person. It will be the same as what we're going through now!
Yukari: You're wrong!
Aigis: …Yukari-san.
Yukari: You're wrong! You can't possibly understand! Not when your answer to life is friendship!
Aigis: …!!! My answer…to life…
Yukari: *aims an arrow at Aigis* I'm not leaving this place until I'm certain he can make it back! *shoots the arrow*
Aigis: *dodges but gets scratched at her right arm* That's not true, Yukari-san!
Yukari: Don't try to reason with me! *summons Isis and casts Garudyne*
From not too far from them watches Ken, Yukari was able to take him out of action just a moment ago, and he was forced to stay there and limit himself to watching them fight…
Ken: *lying on the floor* Aigis-san… Senpai…
Koromaru: *lies down beside Ken, looks at his wounds and whimpers*
Ken: *pats Koromaru's head* It's okay, Koro-chan. I'll be fine…
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Ken: Sorry to worry you. *looks at Yukari and Aigis* But, it's better this way. While I was watching them, I realized something. *looks at Koromaru* So, let's accept it, okay?
Koromaru: *tilts his head*
Ken: Let's accept senpai's decision.
Koromaru: *whimpers*
Ken: We can't leave Minato-senpai alone anymore, right? I'm so stubborn… I, of all people, should have understood how he felt here…all by himself…
Koromaru: *whimpers*
Ken: Do you agree, boy?
Koromaru: Arf! Arf!
Ken: *smiles* I knew you would… Thanks. *pats Koromaru's head*
Mitsuru: *walks towards Ken* Amada.
Ken: *looks at Mitsuru* Senpai?
Mitsuru: Will you still fight?
Ken: *shakes his head* No. I've decided to accept senpai's decision.
Mitsuru: I see. *summons her Persona* Aid me, Artemisia. Diarahan.
Artimesia heals Ken's wounds…
Ken: *stands up* Thank you, senpai.
Mitsuru: Looks like you'll be watching with us, then, Amada.
Ken: *nods* Right.
Mitsuru: Let's go, then.
Mitsuru and Ken retreats to the side where the others are, meanwhile, Yukari and Aigis' intense battle continues…
Aigis: Why won't you understand?! I just want you to realize that we only wish for the same thing!
Yukari: No, we don't! You don't know how it's like to feel that you've lost everything all over again!
Minato: *standing beside Orpheus* All over again…
Orpheus: *looks at Minato* Master?
Minato: That time…
Orpheus: That time, master?
Minato: When I was first able to contact them…
Minato is talking about the time when everyone thought Yukari became one of the Lost. She was at the 4th floor Command Room, helping Mitsuru and Fuuka look for documents about the Abyss of Time while Aigis, Akihiko, Junpei and Metis were away…
Yukari: Where could those files be? Geez…
Fuuka: *enters the room* Yukari-chan?
Yukari: *turns to Fuuka* Oh, Fuuka.
Fuuka: *walks towards Yukari* Did you find any documents?
Yukari: Nah. I looked everywhere, but, I did find a piece of files there.
Fuuka: I see. I'll look at them later, then.
Yukari: Okay.
Fuuka: I'll just go down and call Mitsuru-senpai, okay?
Yukari: *nods* Yeah.
Fuuka: *turns around and is about to leave the room*
Yukari: Oh, Fuuka.
Fuuka: *turns to Yukari* Yes?
Yukari: Umm… Never mind.
Fuuka: Oh… Okay.
Yukari: Sorry about that.
Fuuka: *shakes her head* That's okay.
Fuuka leaves the room and closes the door…
Yukari: "I wonder how the others are doing… And, what the heck was that thing that suddenly showed up beneath our dorm… I guess there's no point thinking about it now."
Yukari searches through the files again, suddenly, she notices a small box with it…
Yukari: *pulls out a box and opens it* What's this? *looks inside* Pictures? *grabs one* Oh! These are the ones from Kyoto! *giggles* Mitsuru-senpai looks cute here. *takes another photo out* What's this one? …This is… The one from before…
Yukari stares at the picture with a sad look on her face…
Yukari: This was…when we thought we had finally ended the Dark Hour… "Minato…" He was…still here back then…but, now…
Minato: What's wrong, Yukari?
Yukari: …!!! That voice…
Minato: That voice?
Yukari: *about to turn around her head*
Minato: *gently holds Yukari's head* Don't look.
Yukari: Minato? Is that…really you?
Minato: What do you think?
Yukari: Silly…
Minato: You sound sad. Are you not having fun with them?
Yukari: Of course not. You just died…
Minato: Died, huh…
Yukari: I'm all alone now…
Minato: Mitsuru-senpai's there.
Yukari: *shakes her head* She isn't here…not anymore… She has her own problems now…
Minato: What about the rest of them?
Yukari: It still isn't you!
Minato: *hugs Yukari* It's okay…
Yukari: …Why?
Minato: Why?
Yukari: Why you?!
Minato: …
Yukari: Why only you?!
Minato: I didn't go away…okay?
Yukari: But…
Minato: I am always here. I never went away.
Yukari: I want you here! This is just not fair…
Minato: Okay, then… Next time we meet…
Yukari: What?
Minato: Next time, when I see you and everyone else together… I won't leave you anymore…okay?
Yukari: Promise?
Minato: …I promise.
Yukari: *smiles* Okay.
Minato: They're here.
Yukari: They?
Minato: Your friends.
Yukari: Wait.
Minato: *leaves Yukari* Till we meet again, then.
Yukari: *turns around and shouts* Wait! Don'- Huh?
Fuuka: *hugs Yukari* Thank goodness, you're all right!
The events went on as everyone knew it… After that, Yukari awakened to his powers, during the fight with the Shadow that broke free from the Abyss of Time…
Minato: *looks down* I shouldn't have made that stupid promise…
Orpheus: It's not stupid, master.
Minato: *looks at Orpheus* You only say that because you're my Persona. You were part of that decision.
Orpheus: Forgive me, master. I and Messiah are one in you.
Minato: I know… I didn't know the consequences back then, Orpheus…
Orpheus: …
Minato: Now, I know… It means them giving up their lives in exchange for my fate… The fate I chose.
Orpheus: Thou had no choice, master.
Minato: No, I had a choice… I could have turned back, but…I didn't…
Orpheus: …
Minato: At that moment, I just knew that I had to do it…
Meanwhile, as Aigis and Yukari continue their fierce battle…
Yukari: *huffs*
Aigis: *huffs*
Yukari: You're good, Aigis.
Aigis: Same to you, Yukari-san.
Yukari: Shall we? *takes on a defensive stance*
Aigis: Before we do, I would like to ask you something.
Yukari: What? *lowers her weapon*
Aigis: What did you mean when you said…I am not alone?
Yukari: … *looks away*
Aigis: Please, tell me.
Yukari: *turns to Aigis* Why do you want to know, anyways?
Aigis: I have to know.
Yukari: Why?
Aigis: Because, I want to know, so, please, tell me, Yukari-san.
Yukari: You'll only know the answer if we fight, Aigis.
Aigis: … *raises her weapon* Very well, Yukari-san.
Yukari: *points her bow at Aigis*
Aigis: Let us decide this now.
Yukari: I guess you're right. It's turned to nothing more but a simple trade of shots, huh. One strike, then. *aims at Aigis*
Aigis: *prepares to strike* Agreed.
They now prepare to launch the attack that shall decide the outcome of the match...
Yukari: Accept my resolve, Aigis!
Aigis: Never!
They unleash their attacks, perfectly at the same time…
Yukari: …Sorry, Aigis… *holds her wound in her left arm*
Aigis: *falls down to her knees* I failed…
Aigis gets a huge and deep wound in her right shoulder for an arrow is stuck across it…
Aigis: How…can I lose him, again…to one single moment…?
Yukari: *faces Aigis* Aigis…
Aigis: *looks down* I know the answer now, Yukari-san…
Yukari: …
Aigis: He…was with you… I'm sorry…Minato… I failed you, again…
Minato: *holds Aigis shoulder* It's okay.
Aigis: …!!! *looks at Minato* Minato?
Minato: *pulls the arrow in Aigis' shoulder* …
Aigis: Ugh!
Minato: Come, Metatron. *summons one of his Personas* Diarahan.
Aigis: Minato…
Minato: You're human now, Aigis…
Aigis: Is this…like you said…?
Minato: *crouches* Yes… *whispers to Aigis* This may be the last time we meet.
Aigis: I'm sorry…
Minato: *stands up and faces Yukari* I can't simply hand this over to you. *reaches out his hand to Yukari*
Minato holds the wild card within his palm…
Yukari: Why?!
Minato: I'll give another chance to decide. You can still-
Yukari: No!
Minato: …
Yukari: No matter how many times you make me pick, it doesn't matter! I'll still have the same answer!
Minato: I see…
Messiah appears and faces Yukari…
Yukari: Messiah…
Minato: Fight me, then. If you win, then, you'll get what you want.
END OF CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
A/N: Well, hope that was worth the delay… I really thought hard about this scene…
***: It makes me want to read the next chapter now…
Empyrea: So, see you guys next time. Don't worry, though. I'll make sure to upload sooner.