(Hopefully making progress on the end... and yeah this and the last chapter should totally just be together.)
The weather was growing bleak. You knew it was going to rain later that night.
On Thursday, you decided to check on Zero. Had Alice managed to get through to him? Perhaps that was something you shouldn't bring up directly...
After asking around, you found him in a break room. He was alone, and the lights were dim. He seemed to prefer the faint light from the window; the sun could barely get through the clouds outside. You greeted him, and he nodded silently. His expression remained as emotionless as it was the day you met him; that was a bad sign to you. Hesitantly, you asked what happened to the girl.
"She's gone."
You apologized for asking.
"Don't be sorry about your concern." He sighed. "She survived the procedure, but her body was unable to recover entirely. She fell into a coma and died at around 3 A.M."
It pained you just to hear that; you could only imagine how hard it was for him to cope. Was he all right...?
He smirked. "You're not as great at talking as everyone says you are."
What? That was sort of uncalled for...
"Sorry. You're probably expecting me to be upset, but I've already had time to reflect. I've already talked to someone, in fact. I don't want to brood over her death anymore." He stopped, looking at the floor. "She had a loving family and a few friends, it seemed. They had all stopped to wish her luck in getting the operation done just before I performed it yesterday evening. I didn't want that to be the last time they saw each other. I wanted her to make it out alive. I was so sure that I had done enough, and then..."
He shook his head. "But I know she left this world in peace. She would be missed, but she would be remembered. In a way, she can continue to live on this earth through the memories of her loved ones."
He looked at you with a serious expression. "That is why it's pointless for people to die before they need to. Their memories will linger in everyone. It's selfish of someone to end a life early, and even more so for me to think that I should've been the one to do it in the TV world.
"People should live until they have no regrets. No one knows what the future holds for them. Even if their outlook is bleak, they may still have one more thing, one more person to live a bit longer for."
His words were filled with new emotions. Zero could open up to you with ease, and he was happy that you were able to sympathize with him. He regained his confidence in his profession; he had pride that he had the special ability to help people live longer. He looked you with glistening eyes and spoke.
"I can't heal everyone, but I will do my best to give them the opportunity to live."
He jerked a little, gasping in surprise. The two of you looked up and saw Maion's image. His wings stretched as he was swallowed in a light that transformed him. His wings grew larger and lighter; his sword's blade was shining, and his hair broke free from the tie. The new Persona came with a new, gold and mint robe with flame-shaped designs.
He, too, had overcome his weaknesses, and formed an unbreakable bond with you.
"It's like... I have a new power," he said.
You told him it was his new Persona. Maion had evolved into something even stronger.
"I see. We're one step closer to the end." He nodded. "I think I'll stay here and rest while I can." A new, almost soft expression on his face turned to you. "Thanks."
-.
The rain had poured from the afternoon to the evening. You were about to open your umbrella just outside the door when-
"Tengoku."
You jumped from the sound; you felt silly for not realizing it was only Devil Zukin's eerily quiet voice from behind you. You faced her. More concerned about her health than her random word, you asked if she was all right from being out in the rain. How long had she been out, anyway?
"Tengoku. What does it mean to you?"
She ignored you in return. Well, "tengoku" was Japanese for heaven, if that's what she was referring to. Was this about the Song of Heaven you heard about?
"Now, ten go kyuu. What does that mean to you?"
You tilted your head. It was the same word with the last syllable altered. You thought about it for a second before she continued.
"It is a number, Souji."
Of course, then it was point five nine. After a moment, you remembered where you had seen that number before. Your eyes widened; she smiled from your reaction.
"You understand, now. That coincidence and Paranoia's words led me to believe that I am definitely linked to that song. Perhaps it's a part of me, or perhaps it and I are the same thing. Still, if a holy song is part of me... why am I tormented by my demon side?"
She didn't seem saddened or scared, only puzzled. You told her that her demon side was nothing to be ashamed of.
She smiled. "I know that now. Before I met you, I used to believe that being a demon was what separated me from being human. But after seeing the dark side of everyone, perhaps my dark side makes me closer to being like everyone. We all have demons inside of us; it is in human nature to avoid being controlled by them. Inside, I am the selfish, obsessive, and dangerous monster you saw at the start of our adventure, but it is what makes me who I am. I am proud to be as flawed as everyone else."
She said her last words with a gentle smile. Her ruby red eyes glowed happily, despite the lack of light in raining sky. Her heart was filled with the joy and gratitude of a regular human being.
As with your human partners, her Persona had realized her change in heart. Zukin placed a hand on her chest, probably having felt something as the sky darkened instantly. She glanced above, where Ouze appeared. The Persona disappeared and reappeared as another being, clothed in a cloak with two curved spikes on her back and a blindfold over her eyes. Her chakra looked like an eye on her forehead, and she still retained her large ears at the sides of her head.
When the new Persona returned to Devil Zukin, she tried to feel it in her heart with her hands. "It's as if... I have a new power."
You nodded. Her face lit up, at least more so than it usually did.
"I will make use of this power, I promise you. After all, heaven is on our side."
-.
The rain outside your room was soothing white noise to your ears. After the long Thursday you had, you were ready to retire around 10:30. You locked the door for privacy to change clothes.
You heard a rumbling noise through your ears; it wasn't like thunder at all. Your floor vibrated gently beneath your feet; you felt a chill through your spine, telling you you weren't alone.
Paranoid, you scanned your room, not knowing what to look for. You held your arms up defensively as you spun in a circle, unable to find the source of the noise.
…!
Something grabbed at your ankles!
You nearly screamed, but something else covered your mouth and wrapped around your head. What was going on? You flailed your arms until they were quickly grabbed pulled downward. You could feel your body sinking, being pulled into the floor, as you were tightly engulfed in what felt like living quicksand. A shadow covered your eyes, leaving you blind and helpless. Your entire face was then covered, your chest was squeezed tightly; the lack of oxygen depleted your strength, and you limply gave into the darkness, believing you were going to die...