11 December 2009

Minatodai Dorm, 3rd Floor, Midori's Room

Morning

She stared at her COMP. There would be no help from her friends in Tokyo. Of all of them, only she had a Persona, and Abel wasn't able to leave Tokyo due to Demon things, or so he said.

He did apologize, and told Midori in no uncertain terms that he was confident she could resolve this herself, without any extra help. It was a sentiment that warmed her heart whenever she thought about how the others didn't understand that the unbeatable can be beaten.

On the top screen, a simple message was composed. She had already pressed against the limits of her promise to Igor already, but yet she felt the necessity of doing more. It wasn't that she wanted to hurt Igor's feelings, but something stayed her hand from sending this one last message to her friend.

"What do you know about Nyx?"

16 December 2009

Minatodai Dormitory, 3rd Floor Seating Area

Afternoon

Midori opened the door, annoyed that her prep-work for the trip into Tartarus that evening was being interrupted. "Yes..ss?" He preemptive question short circuited by Mitsuru in her day clothes standing there.

"Komaki-san, may I come in?"

"Sure!" Recovering from her startled state of mind, "Just give me a moment..." she turned back to start and clean up some space for her senpai to sit. Eventually she just made room at her desk for her senior to sit. "How may I help you?"

"I wanted to talk."

Midori paused before resuming cleaning up a space for her to sit, cursing her inability to keep her room tidy for guests. Finding a measuring tape in her hand, she set it around the neck of the mannequin that was adorned with the still unrepaired purple dress. Every time she went to patch it up, she just couldn't do it. Every piece of damage a testament to her desire to see her convictions through. "About?"

"First, I wanted to thank you for your effort to get help for us with Ryoji's deadline looming over us. I know it couldn't have been easy to ask those whom you helped, and were helped by back in August to come to our aid."

Midori felt the sting on her cheeks. There was no insult here, but it still shamed her to admit to herself that she never once thought about asking for the help of anyone else but Abel. "They... couldn't." She finally said, avoiding giving a tangible answer.

Mitsuru nodded. "I understand. If they no longer wield their Personas, then they have limited options to help."

She helped Mitsuru's errant line of thought along. "I'm the only one with one." It was true, certainly, but it also avoided the truth of the matter.

"Still, I had to thank you. If they are anything like you, I have no doubt they would have helped if they could. I only wish you would have let me know who they were." Mitsuru sighed. "I know I shouldn't worry about you like this, but I have to ask. Your decision regarding Ryoji's offer?"

Her feigned ignorance was betrayed by the slight grin on her face. "What decision?"

Mitsuru smiled. "That's good to hear. I had talks with Yamagishi and Takeba earlier. They are both in agreement."

"Well of course they would be!" She narrowed her eyes as she looked down at her senior. "Then why ask me? I've never made any secret to my thoughts and feelings about this sort of thing."

"Because I've heard from Akihiko and Arisato about you. In the months you have been living here, you and I have never actually sat down and talked."

Looking around, Midori realized the only place left to sit was her bed. She really needed to clean up in here. All the fabric and designs just left about. A total mess. Not even the end of the world would be enough to cause her to change her ways.

Sitting she looked back at Mitsuru, silence in the air. "Talk?"

"I've read your files, the ones that are public record of course. I've seen your school transcripts, but I still don't know you. I don't know what makes you who you are. And that lack, that something that I'm missing... I don't know how to go about relating to people."

"Why start with me? I mean, you're, or you are going to be, the President of the Kirijo Group. Won't you have plenty of practice with your people skills then?"

Shaking her head sadly, Mitsuru confessed her problem. "It's that people already act to me like I'm the President. Those officers with the SDF earlier this month? They treated me like I was... like I was my father."

"And that relates to me, how, exactly?"

Mitsuru paused to consider her words carefully. "I want to talk to you because you are not like me. I want to understand someone who thinks with their heart, not their mind. You don't bow to be because I'm who I am..."

"Yes I do! You're a very scary woman when you want to be!"

Mitsuru shot a piercing gaze at the blue-haired girl. "I... see..."

"Sorry."

"No. Don't be. That's the sort of thing I want to hear."

"Oh. Well, um, let's start with something simple. What do you like to eat?"

20 December 2009

Minatodai Dorm, 4th Floor Control Room

Evening

Minato quietly entered the room, careful to not disturb anything of Mitsuru's. Approaching the computer console that took up a large portion of one wall, he saw that once again the system had glitched out and there was a recording that needed looking after.

Part of him didn't like being a voyeur, but it was something he had been asked to do in good faith by the late and unlamented Ikutsuki, and Mitsuru had approved.

A button was pressed, and the log indicated that it was made during the Dark Hour of the evening of 06 October. With a lurch in his stomach, Minato realized he was looking into Midori's room the night after Shinji was murdered.

He pressed the play button.

On the screen, he watched as Midori sat in her chair, stock still. The camera angle didn't show her face, but he didn't need to to know she was staring at nothing. She reached into her pocket and pulled something out; he couldn't identify it. Then she rushed it between her hands and he watched in shock as Frosty appeared on the table before her.

She didn't use an Evoker he realized.

On the tiny screen, Midori swept Frosty into a large hug and the puppeted Persona deeply. It shocked Minato to see her drop her guard like that, but the circumstances of the moment were far too intense for anything else. He remembered not getting much sleep that night either.

Midori crawled into bed, her Persona used like any child would use a stuffed toy, a source of comfort when all else failed.

Then the Dark Hour ended. And Frosty remained.

"Well, shit." That, he knew, was something he would have to tell Mitsuru.

22 December 2009

3rd Floor Sitting Area

Evening

Yukari grabbed Midori's arm, dragging her into a corner. "Hey! I need your help with something!"

"What?" This confused Midori. Yukari didn't usually act this way around her. "What did you need?"

"I need you to check out Minato's MP3 player!" She let Midori go, clasping her hands together in a gesture of supplication. "Please! I need to know what music he listens to so I know what CD to buy him!"

"Huh? Why me?" Oh. Christmas and New Years. That would explain much. She had already bought her daddy his present, and knew his would arrive on time.

"Because you can! Fuuka can't, she's... well, she's Fuuka! Please! And I asked Akihiko, but he said no! You're my only hope!"

"You asked Akihiko-sensei to spy on Minato-san for you? Of course he'd say no." She groaned in annoyance. "Fine. But you'll owe me. Big time!"

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

1st Floor Lounge

Midroi found her target sitting at the dining table, nose in a book. She walked over and traced the line running from his headset and down into his pocket. She gently reached down and started pulling on the cord, drawing a questioning and annoyed glance. Ignoring it, she took his MP3 player in hand and started scrolling through his play-list.

"Why the hell do you have seventeen different versions of "Burn My Dread?" Her question at his music choice was full of incredulity. "I mean, come on!|"

Minato took back his music player. "Because it's a good song?"

"That's a given. Thanks." Midori turned and went back to deliver the horrible news to the expectant girlfriend. Her boyfriend's taste in music wasn't easy to expand upon.

Minato shrugged, thankful for the warning from Akihiko. He stood up and pulled out a spare storage device for his player from a different pocket and switched out the music he was listening to the real deal.

While he was looking forward to spending Christmas Eve with Yukari, he didn't quite trust her taste in music.

23 December 2009

Tartarus, Lobby

The Dark Hour

They came down, having pushed their way to the top of the current Block this night. Chidori was tugging at her dress, the hemline soaked with sweat. "Told you you should have used your normal clothes for a serious ascent." Akihiko commented as she responded with a glare.

Midori had to offer her own commentary. "You're lucky. I'm in school, so I have to wear the uniform."

"I recall that first night." Mitsuru commented from her spot by the door. "I had to remind you of the rules."

"Hey! I tried to find a way to have fun in the rules!"

Chidori contemplated the effort of putting on something other than her elegant gothic dress, and decided that this was a decision best made when she wasn't so tired.

25 December 2009

Port Island Station

Afternoon

Ken found her by sitting down, watching the clouds drift by. He sat down beside her, watching what she was. Eventually, he spoke. "Whatcha doing?"

"I could ask you the same thin, Ken-kun." Chidori said quietly.

"I'm just walking. And I keep running into the Lost. You?"

"Thinking about him."

"Oh. Is it hard to?"

"Very much. I imagine us standing together, here and now. Him in that jacket of his. And I realize that it can't be. His life, my life, all as one."

"Sounds complicated."

"You'll learn love eventually, Ken-kun."

"We just have to survive first."

"We will."

"I agree."

"..."

"..."

"So did you spy on Yukari and Minato last night?"

"No. It felt wrong to do so." Chidori spun to look at him. "Was it as bad as I envisioned?"

Ken smiled, and began to relate the 'date' last night. "It was worse! Although Mitsuru-san just didn't get any of it."

30 December 2009

Minatodai Dorm, 1st Floor Lounge

Evening

"No! No! Tape it there!" Midori directed Mitsuru in attaching the "Welcome Home Aigis!" sign to the wall in much the same place that was done for her two months previously. They had been alerted to her return that morning and in response the entire Dorm had spent the day preparing for her arrival.

That included setting up the signs and cleaning up her room in addition to the dozens of other trivial manners.

A knock on the door ushered in a moment of silence. Aigis let herself in, leaving the door open a crack behind her. "I'm home" she announced formally as she waited for the reaction.

"Welcome Home!" Midori cheered loudly a split second before everyone else offered their greetings. Even Chidori offered one in a perfunctory manner.

Surprised by the reaction, Aigis took in the warm faces. "I am.. sorry. I caused all of you worry."

"And we were!" Fuuka complained as she came closer. "No one would tell us anything! But we did send flowers. Did you get them?"

"I did. Thank you." Aigis bowed quickly.

"Well come on in. Don't leave the door open, unless you're planning on leaving so soon?" Akihiko gestured towards the living area with its decorations. He smiled a little, thankful for the return of the missing member of their small family.

"I... was not." Aigis paused, turning back to the door. After a moment's hesitation, she closed it. "You did not have to fear for my return. I am a machine, I can always be rebuilt."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Midori took offence to the apparent self-depreciation.

Aigis turned to face her with a sharp click of her heels. "Even if I am completely destroyed, the programming and technical data to rebuild me still exist. I can be replaced."

A sullen silence descended across the room. "What the hell are you saying?" Akihiko demanded once he found his voice. "That position is ludicrous!"

"Yea!" Yukari pitched in a moment before Midori, Ken and the others sounded off. "You are you! There are no others like you!"

"That is not true." Aigis said, aware that she was pressing the limits of operational security. "I am part of a series of units and there is a prototype unit as well. I can be replaced."

Midori stepped up and slapped Aigis. Hard. It was enough to sting her own hand, but the force of the blow was enough to rock the robot's head around slightly. "That! You feel that!? That's yours and your alone! No one else has that, and no one else can replace that."

Aigis reset her position. "That was uncalled for."

"Necessary." Midori said as she whipped around and made her way past the rest of the stunned group. Slipping by Minato she whispered in his ear "your turn".

Noting to have a stern talk with her later for putting him on the spot, Minato moved forward to try and talk some sense into Aigis. "We mean that you are more than a mere machine. And not just to us, because of all the time we've spent together."

"But.." Aigis struggled for the words. "I hurt you. I caused you pain and suffering." Her voice was quiet, straining against things she couldn't begin to comprehend. "You shouldn't trust me. I'm a failure." She didn't react when Minato put his hand on her shoulder. "Just... You should have just let me be. I am sorry." She looked ashamed at her failure. "Ten years ago, I could not do what must be done."

"I forgive you. You did a splendid job."

"NO!" She tried to push away, but the strength failed her. "When he comes, please... Please accept Ryoji-san's offer."

"What are you talking about, Tin Girl?" Chidori spoke up, "The decision has been made."

"Yea? What's wrong, Aigis?" Ken asked, Koromaru barking to add to the force of the question.

But Aigis had withdrawn into her own little world. "Why? Why did I come back? My mission is over. I cannot protect humanity from the Shadows. I cannot defeat it!" Her shoulders sagged. "So then, why am I here? I am useless." Head snapping up, she stared wide eyed into Minato's own compassionate face. "

"WHY? WHY Fight? You can't possibly win! Why do you want to waste your lives?!"

"We're not." Akihiko said quietly. "We have plans for the future. Promises to keep. To ourselves and others. Right, Ken?"

"Right!" the young boy affirmed.

"Why don't I understand?" Aigis muttered. "Why? Is it because I am not alive? I do not possess 'life'?"

"You silly, stupid childish doll. Life has nothing to do with it." Chidori snapped, not desiring to see even an emotionless robot wallow in self-pity more than what she had seen. "You're worried. Not just about yourself, but about your friends. Your comrades. If you want to live, then you're doing a fine job of it so far, in my view. No matter how pathetic it may be."

Everyone turned to look at the outburst from their latest member. They hadn't expected that from her. Junpei, maybe. But not her.

"But...! I am a machine! To fight the Shadows! And I can't fulfil that mission with the powers I have been given. So what is my purpose now? Can someone tell me? Please?" Aigis looked around at the circle of people. She wanted an answer to her journey so badly, that even her eyes expressed her pleading emotions.

"We.. we don't have an answer we can give you, Aigis." Minato tried to let her down softly. Instead, she crashed to her knees, the inner turmoil written plainly on her face.

"C'mon! Cheer up!" Midori could hold her silence no longer from where she had stayed at the back of the group, behind Mitsuru. "The only one who can give you purpose is you! Not your creator, not us, or the Shadows. You!"

"There is no easy answer." Mitsuru said, "We are the sum of our experiences, or choices, our purpose is that, and our hopes for the future." She shared a meaningful glance with Akihiko.

Yukari pitched in, the moment getting to her. "Our purpose and our life are one and the same."

"But our lives are not just our own. We share them with the ones we love." Chidori spoke, surprised at herself.

"Even our enemies give us the strength to change, to live and grow." Ken spoke.

Fuuka decided now was the time to chime in. "Look at yourself, Aigis. You too are growing and changing, even as we speak. You are becoming a better person."

"I... I can change?" Aigis seemed to almost dismiss the possibility as a ludicrous gesture. "Do you think so?" Minato was the focus of the question. The pleading her in eyes and voice were clear. She wanted something more, a validation of all she had suffered.

He smiled, nodded, and hugged her.

"Then I know. I... know what my purpose is." A change came over Aigis, like she was shedding her skin. She stood up, a fluid motion that held none of the mechanical avian aspects that used to dominate her. "And I am the one who has done this. I can give these things to myself. I am my new purpose. To be Me." She looked around at the smiling faces. "I'm sorry for my outburst earlier. Will you let me join you?"

"DAMN STRAIGHT!" Midori yelled out. "I accept you! One of us!"

Minato agreed. "One of us."

"One of us!" "One of us!" "One of us!"

A loud clapping came from the opened front door. A middle-aged man stood there, dressed in a traditionally styled kimono, full of dark hues in green and blue. "That was beautiful. Truly, it was."

Mitsuru's eyes narrowed. Aigis turned to thank the man who returned her to her family.

And Midori freaked right out. "YOU! YOU! NO! WHY ARE YOU HERE? GET AWAY!"

Naoya smiled and shrugged. "Is that any way to treat a man who's done you such a service?"