04 November 2009
It's DOLLY!
Today is a wonderful day! I suppose everyone one of you, my adoring fans has had one of those days where everything in the world is just perfect? Well, I'm having one of those days, I'm just ready to burst out in joy!
Oh, before I leave all my loyal viewers to enjoy the outside – which, by the way, you should all do as well, maybe you'll see me – what's your favourite kind of sushi? There's a thread on the forum for you guys to vote and argue. But please, keep it clean, alright?
Minatodai Dorm, 1st Floor Lounge
Evening
Junpei was awestruck, and just a little close to worshipping the ground Mitsuru walked on. When he had asked for the good stuff, Mitsuru delivered exactly as promised. On the table were three large platters of the finest sushi that any of them had ever seen. "Fresh from my father's personal chef" she said, proud of the arrangement.
"These slices... they're huge!" For once, Yukari was glad for Junpei and his big mouth.
"So, where's Ikutsuki-san and Aigis?" Minato wondered aloud as he brought the plates, chopsticks and other required materials in from the kitchen, Ken behind him with more.
"The Chairman was concerned with Aigis' use of her Orgia Mode last night and he took her back to the lab for a tuneup." Akihiko shook his head sadly. "He said they'll join us later."
The sounds of a car pulling up out front caused the conversation to die down a notch. Mitsuru looked out the window and identified the vehicle. "My father has arrived." Looking down, she made sure her perfectly arranged clothes were still perfect. "Ah! This will be Amada and Komaki's first meeting with him. You two are to be on your best behaviour."
"What about Koro-chan?" Ken asked as he quickly checked his clothes for lint. "Doesn't he get a warning too?"
Mitsuru smiled. "If I thought he needed reminding about that, I would have given him one."
"HEY!" Both Midori and Ken objected to the unsubtle jab. Feeling pleased with himself, Koromaru simply wagged his tail. Then he saw that Junpei was already going at the Sushi, putting some carefully onto a plate and he growled a warning.
"What?" Junpei defended himself carefully. "Look, I asked Chidori what kind of sushi she liked, and now I'm making sure there's some available to take to her!" His defence earned him a small reprieve from the dog who escorted him back to the kitchen to make sure.
Together, they greeted Takeharu Kirijo at the door. Mitsuru took her place at the fore both by dint of blood relation and also by being the nominal leader of SEES and welcomed her father properly.
Or, as Midori privately noted, like a business meeting. She had seen warmer greetings from hostile Demons than "We've been waiting for you" and "So it's over at last". She almost rolled her eyes at the realization that they hadn't even said each others names!
Kirijo's two bodyguards stood by the door, taking in the entire room. Meeting their eyes, Midori refused to break contact out of worry or fear. But she felt no hostility from them, only the tenseness of people doing their jobs in an unfamiliar environment.
Kirijo-san raised his voice to be heard clearly, a well practised mode of speaking. "Thank you. Everyone. There are no words to express the depths of my gratitude, as well as the well-wishes of all those on behalf you have fought, even if they will never know. And outside of this building, you will never receive the recognition that you so rightly deserve. You have achieved something beyond measure, and all of those – including myself – whose mistakes led to this owe you all for lending us your power."
Yukari bowed. "It was no big deal, sir."
Kirijo accepted the humility with equal grace. "Nevertheless, the twelve Shadows that were the cause of all our troubles for these many years have been destroyed. Thus, the burdens that they have placed on all of us are no longer yours to bear; you all deserve what was taken from you. A chance at a proper youth. Therefore, the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad will be formally dissolved as of Midnight, tonight.
"Tomorrow, you can return to your classes with heads held high. Your normal lives."
Midori felt the bottom drop out of her stomach, taking her heart with her. A quick look around confirmed that pretty much everyone had the same reaction. They had spent weeks, months, years... all living this double life of humanity and shadows. To have it removed to suddenly was a blow none of them seemed quite prepared for.
"Is there something the matter?" Kirijo looked around at the young people in front of him, not expecting a strained silence in response to his proclamation.
"I'm sorry sir," Midori put her feelings into words as best she could. "It's just that... well..."
For a moment, the elder Kirijo didn't quite connect the dots. Then he did. "Ah. I understand." He nodded his head in an abbreviated bow. "I apologize for my brusk behaviour. You have just finished your work and need time to centre yourselves."
Mitsuru gestured at the table. "No matter. Let us celebrate. Our feast awaits."
"Suh-WEET!" Finally freed of his formal obligations, Junpei was the first to go for the food, this time serving himself as people lined up around him. Minato paused by the door in reflection before joining his friends for one last meal together.
Rationing herself carefully, Midori justified the empty space as being the result of skipping lunch and not wanting to gorge herself, and not at all with her figure. Finding a place to eat in peace, she was quite surprised when Takeharu Kirijo sat down beside her, a plate of sushi in his hands. "Is this seat taken?"
Midori froze in his presence. The eyepatch alone was enough to make her want to quail, even though she had faced far more inhumane things. Perhaps it was because he was human that the effect was magnified. But gathering her courage she stood her ground. "No sir. Would you like me to move? To make room for your daughter?"
"No, thank you. You are Komaki Midori, correct? SEES' last member?"
Nodding slowly, she felt her built up courage slowly slink away. A quick glance showed that no one was paying them any attention, not even Mitsuru, who was busy reading Junpei the riot act for swiping food for Chidori first and not telling her.
Oh, and she spotted Yukari and Minato sharing a plate! That was a good distraction for all of three seconds.
Aware that she was seeking an escape, and knowing full well what sort of image he could put out, Kirijo moved on to making sure that Midori knew she wasn't in trouble. "I wanted to thank you personally for your efforts. Given the circumstances which led you here, Mitsuru speaks highly of your motivation and eagerness to succeed. I must say, such things give me hope for the future of our nation."
He had to be referring to the official story of the Tokyo Lockdown. "Thank you, sir. It has been an honour and a pleasure to work with your daughter and everyone else these past months."
"That is good to hear. How is she? As a leader? You have the freshest view on her, and she notes you are not above speaking your mind, so I would like your honest answer."
She couldn't help it. Midori stared at him. Did he just ask her in a roundabout way how his daughter was doing? "Sir, wouldn't someone like Fuuka or Akihiko or Minato be a better person to ask?"
He shook his head. "No, they all have their own perceptions of Mitsuru. I am asking for yours."
Your daughter is a conceited control freak, Midori pushed down the built-up memory of her impressions of the younger Kirijo in favour of something that wouldn't possibly get the one-eyed man annoyed with her. "She knows when to let others lead, sir." It was true, right? She took orders from Minato in battle, just like the rest of them.
Kirijo considered this. "An interesting perspective. What else?"
Midori put down her plate gently, then turned to face Kirijo directly. Let no one say she was a coward. She had faced down far more dangerous things than this. Leaning in, she spoke flatly. "I don't know what it's like between you and your daughter. But asking me if she's doing alright is just plain wrong. How can you expect to learn about her if you can't ask her?"
Deciding she had pushed enough buttons in the name of Love, Midori took her leave of Takeharu, deciding that Fuuka would be far better company if her seat across from the Yukari and Minato Show was any indication.
It was much alter when Junpei announced that he was completely stuffed, ending the meal that he had started. "How about we take a group photo?"
A round of agreement quickly chimed in and Kirijo told one of his bodyguards to take the picture for them, which they did without complaint.
"Shouldn't we wait for Aigis and the Chairman?" Ken asked as he set down the last of his sushi.
"They missed supper, they miss the photo. We can take another one later with just us in it. Kirijo-san, would you like to join us?" Junpei offered, and Kirijo accepted.
Minato tapped Akihiko on the shoulder. "When we do the real one, remember to grab Shinji's picture, alright?"
Akihiko froze for a moment, then smiled. "You're right. For the real one, then."
The picture was taken with no hassles, despite Junpei trying to have some fun with it. Minato and Akihiko combined forces to keep the slacker's arms in place while the girls took the second row with Ken and Koromaru at the front.
As midnight approached, Ken had fallen asleep on the couch, and Midori was pleased to see that the two Kirijo's had stepped off to one side and were, well, saying words at one another. It was a start. She helped the two bodyguards clear the food away as Junpei complained that Aigis and Ikutsuki still weren't back yet. "Maybe we should give him a call? It's almost midnight."
Kirijo took the hint, worried himself, and was on the phone, trying to connect to Ikutsuki when the clock struck midnight.
The Dark Hour
Midori smacked her nose running into the coffin that used to be one of the bodyguards. She circled around and saw that the rest of SEES and Kirijo were in a slight state of panic. Ken was saying that something just didn't feel right about the Dark Hour going away like that, and Midori loudly cleared her throat, failing to get people's attention.
Finally she resorted to the time honoured tradition of the piercing whistle. "Raise your hand if you really thought the Dark Hour would just vanish when we were done?" A lot of confused looks came back at her, then people started raising their hands. "Alright. Who thought that the Dark Hour, an artificial wound in the nature of the world would take time to heal up properly as the real world slowly worked to fill in the gaps?" Only Midori put up her hand. "You guys. Seriously? You all thought that we'd win so cleanly and simply?" She sighed and shook her head sadly.
Mitsuru echoed the sentiment. "Komaki is right. We placed all our hopes on the Dark Hour vanishing instantly. That it didn't is no cause for concern."
DONG.
Yukari snapped around to face the front of the building. "What was that?"
DONG.
"A bell..." Kirijo said as the others gathered by the front window.
DONG.
DONG.
"It's coming from Tartarus, isn't it?" Midori spoke, a slight tinge of annoyance in her voice.
DONG.
"Yes." Minato said.
DONG.
"Me and my big mouth."
DONG.
"Maybe the bell is tolling the end of the Dark Hour?" Fuuka offered, her voice extremely shaky.
DONG.
"I wouldn't bet on it." Akihiko countered.
DONG.
Ken woke up. "Huh?"
DONG.
Yukari backed away from the window, fear in her step. "No, no, no! We finished this!"
DONG.
DONG.
DONG.
"Get your equipment, we're going to Tartarus." Mitsuru made her orders clear as she turned for the staircase. "Prepare for battle."
Midori followed, leaving behind a cursing Takeharu Kirijo, who tried again and again to contact the two missing SEES members.
Outside Tartarus
They arrived at the gates to Tartarus to find Aigis and Ikutsuki waiting for them. "Chairman! Aigis! You're here! We were worried." Akihiko called out only for a threatening silence to fall between the two groups.
"Aigis?" Fuuka called out plaintively, hoping for a response.
Ikutsuki answered for her. "She is here to play the role she was created for. A weapon."
Midori was instantly on edge. Something in the way he spoke reminded her far too closely of the way Takaya spoke last night. Her hands inched towards her weapons, a motion that caught the attention of some of the others, who in turn tensed as well.
"What the hell's going on, man?" Junpei demanded. "You said the Dark Hour was going to be over!"
"That if we defeated the twelve Shadows," Akihiko added carefully, "that things would end. That is why we fought so hard! That is why we bled for this!" His voice raised a bit in rage at the possibility of betrayal.
"Than what was your intention?" Mitsuru demanded of Ikutsuki, hoping to reign in the growing passions around her. "Why lie? What possible benefit could you get from telling us the Dark Hour would vanish?"
"You are far to late, dear Mitsuru. Even if you are on the right track." Ikutsuki sounded quite serene, causing Midori to jump to a hasty conclusion from incomplete information.
"There's not Twelve, is there? There's Thirteen."
Ikutsuki beamed. "Brilliant!"
"You tricked us?" Ken demanded angrily.
Ikutsuki put his hands in his pockets. "It doesn't matter. Everything is as I have planned. It is not unexpected that Tartarus and the Dark Hour remain. On the contrary, really."
"What do you mean?" Fuuka asked as she reached out to stop the bouncing Midori, hoping to stop her from attacking Ikutsuki immediately.
"The twelve Shadows were part of a whole, divided ten years ago! They were destined to be reunited, a feat accomplished by your efforts! Thank you! You were wonderful! Soon, Death, the almighty, shall rise forth and bring about The Fall!"
Midori hissed, blood in her vision. This was wrong. This was the worst! The King of Bel would never stand for this, and neither would she!
"Death will be the beginning! We will be free from despair!" Ikutsuki proclaimed, as though lost in his own world.
"Are you OUT OF YOUR MIND? Junpei roared.
"You're talking nonsense!" Yukari added in.
"Ah, but you see, ten years ago, I too was a scientist for the project. The experiment certainly went awry, but that is not the cause of the Dark Hour and Tartarus. No, they manifested as the result of harvesting the Shadow's power – just as they were designed to do. That, my dear foolish Mitsuru, was why your grandfather gathered so many Shadows. To summon forth Death and the Fall!"
Shocked, Mitsuru tried to dismiss the madman's claims. "That can't be possible!"
"It is! People have filled the world, but they themselves are void! The only hope for salvation lies in the ruination of all things! According to the prophecy, The Fall will be orchestrated by 'The Prince', and once the Prince has delivered us all, he shall rule over the new world as a King!"
He gleefully turned his gaze upon each member of SEES. "The man who tried ten years ago failed. But I will not! I will succeed!"
"He's lost it..." Junpei commented sourly.
"I must apologize for deceiving you. But this was for your sake as well. If you will follow me for just a little longer, I can deliver you to your well earned reward."
"You call that salvation?" Fuuka yelled, the raging heat coming off Midori prompting her to speak up lest her friend do something they would all regret.
"Question." Yukari spoke calmly.
"Yes?"
"In the video from my father. He said to defeat the Shadows. Was that a lie?"
"Ah! Well, he did record that himself. I did, however, have to make some modifications."
"You doctored it?!" Mitsuru shot back, aghast at the level of treachery laid before her.
"I FIXED IT!" Ikutsuki replied, anger creeping into his voice. "Your father was a superb scientist. He may not have known my feelings, but I truly respected him for his ability to see the real nature of the Shadows! It is such a shame that he could not comprehend the magnificence of the Fall."
"What." Yukari's voice had lost all emotion.
"He left that message at the cost of his life! How dare you!" Mitsuru yelled back.
"I dared, because it was for the sake of the world! How could you not understand?"
Mitsuru drew her Evoker and placed it against her head. "Ours is a duty to correct the mistakes of the past. We shall do just that."
"Aigis! Capture them!" Ikutsuki yelled as Fuuka let go of Midori.
Midori charged past everyone else, aiming straight for Ikutsuki. This just meant that Aigis also got to her first, Orgia Mode screaming out her power. They met, too fast to bring Personas into play, they all went dark.