Chapter 2: Dropped a Bash on them.
By: Alex T. Wallman
Disclaimer: Owning nothing, Doods.
Author's note: GOT SOME REVIEWS TO ANSWER!
chad001: So far as the SEES goes they and other Social Links will be mentioned in the flashbacks and conversation. As for Aigis… Well let's just say that I have a plan for her. I don't know if I will have Akitsu join up with Minato in this because, let's face it, between Minato's Personae and all of his other Sekireis' powers they will be pretty damn broken.
The DragonBard: The reason that Minato knows that Takami works for MBI is because he has been having dreams about the Dark Hour since he was born; imagine that you were a mother and that your son came up to you one day and started telling you tales of an hour hidden between the end of one day and the beginning of the next, imagine if he told you about the water turning to blood and instead of water falling when it rained that it rained blood instead, imagine if he told you that there is a tower that is so high that it scratches the heavens, imagine if he told you of the monsters that hid behind masks of denial and feasted upon any human to enter their time. You'd get that kid checked with all the best equipment, now who has the best equipment? That's right! MBI does! Minato clued in when everyone at MBI was calling Takami Assistant Director.
About Minato copying the Hannya, he actually isn't. Minato is doing something that Mitsuru has been known to do in the manga of Persona 3, which is summoning their Persona without using any form of foci, and usually strong emotions can be used to trigger it and a keyword may be necessary. In Mitsuru's case, she uses it when she's angry with the guys for being in the baths when they shouldn't have been and was going to Execute them. Each Persona needs a different keyword or phrase to be activated, Orpheus' is Strum, and Azathoth's is I Hunger.
A note about Azathoth for you who are unfamiliar with it. Azathoth is the most powerful of the Outer Gods from H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos and is known by the title's the Daemon Sultan and the Blind Idiot God. Azathoth is only known for consuming anything that touches it and the mad melody that is played by an infinite number of lesser Outer Gods in order to keep Azathoth from awakening and devouring everything, including reality. Azathoth's physical shape has never been described and due to the fact that it would normally be a mass of tentacles, mouths, arms, tongues, and other orifices I took the liberty to make it something less likely to break peoples' minds and insight gibbering.
New social links:
Tsukiumi – Empress: Tiamat [III]
Kusano – Justice: King Arthur (yeah I'm going there. Did I mention that it's F/sn Arthur?) [VIII]
Uzume – Hanged Man: Leviathan [XII]
The Reaper – Star: Gilgamesh (Another F/sn shout out) [XVII]
Yukari – Fortune: Nyarlathotep [X]
About the group that will Minato will lead in the Dark Hour, I currently have Shinisasayaku with him and Miya tagging along out of curiosity although she won't be very serious for a while.
As for Miya's base Persona, guess.
As always, Reviews, Questions, and suggestions are welcome.
Also, there's an obvious shout out in this chapter. Cookies to you if you find it.
~}{~
I had initially planned to head straight over to Izumo House with Musubi and speak to the landlord but Yukari, my sister, had dropped a bridge on that plan by showing up at my apartment, seeing Musubi, and declaring that 'the women need to shop', and then kidnapping her.
Stupid younger sister kidnapping MY alien. "Art thou lonely without the maiden, Fool?" No. Now shut up, we're going to look for the Velvet room.
~}{~
Instead of finding the entrance to the Velvet Room, I ended up hanging out with Yasaka, a friend from prep school. He supposedly has some huge secret to tell me, I just think he's in the closet. "What closet?"
Don't worry about it Orpheus, the revelation may shatter your mind. Wait, the Greeks didn't care about sexuality so I guess you'd be fine with it. Wait, no, that's just the relationship between student and teacher. Whatever, I'll tell you anyways. The closet refers to a state of sexuality where a person refuses to accept that their sexuality is homosexual rather then heterosexual. "I see… Yes, this young man does present such an attitude." Even you can see it and yet he denies it, he's only hurting himself.
"Oi, Sahashi you paying attention?" Yasaka asked me as he tugged on the sleeves of his, most likely new, jacket that looked pretty fancy I might add or rather make that all his clothes. He's really going hard into trying to make himself look good. I nodded and said, "Yup, Kagari-san this blah blah blah, Kagari-san that blah blah blah. Really, It's a conversation that I could have tuned out of fifteen minutes ago and just extrapolated from there." "Which thou did." A-yup. I mean really he just started looping.
"No you idiot! I was telling you about my new job!" Yasaka said as he tried to pull me into a noogie, the idiot. I lived with Junpei for a year, Yasaka has no way to catch me in a noogie with all the practice I've had dodging pretty much anything Junpei tried to do to me from flying kicks to noogies. I just shrugged and said, "It must have been drowned out by the praise you're singing about your senpai."
"Very funny Sahashi. I'm a host, you idiot. Pay attention next time." Yasaka sighed, I chuckled and patted him on the back, "Don't worry, your senpai will understand your feelings if you keep trying your best."
"SAHASHI!" Yasaka cried as he began chasing me while trying to hit me, I just ran and kept laughing. Yasaka froze when a voice called out, "Yasaka-kun, is that you?"
"Kagari-san!" Yasaka exclaimed as he straightened up and fixed his clothes, I looked at the source of the voice and sighed. Damn, that guy was pretty much built to attract women, he was thin, he had grayish hair, and his face was the kind that woman would fight each other to have. To be prompt about it, the guy was a bishonen and I swear that with every movement he made he let loose the bishie sparkles. "Bishie sparkles?" Bishie sparkles are a hallucinatory effect that happens around men who are considered bishonen and well, they appear to sparkle. These sparkles are most effective on women and have a tendency to aggravate men. "Fascinating, I am impressed at the way humanity has evolved over the millennia." Humans are fascinating things all right.
"Hmm, a friend of yours Yasaka-kun?" Kagari asked as he looked at me, I met his eyes and he narrowed his as he studied me. I straightened up and extended my hand, "I'm Sahashi Minato, and it's a pleasure to meet you if all the praise that Yasaka has been singing is true."
"Heh, I'm not that great. In fact I've been off work with a cold up till now." He chuckled as he shook my hand but then winced slightly and continued, "Looks like I'm still not quite up to snuff. Let's meet up over some drinks some time."
"Sounds good." I called to him as he headed away.
SMASHThou hast forged the Tower Social Link.
It will guide Thy Destiny.
Hmm, seems like I'll be seeing him soon. Oh, now lightning shouldn't be falling on a clear day. Hey Orpheus, normally I'd ask if you're thinking what I'm thinking but I feel the need to ask if you want to do something bang out of order? "It's thy body Fool, I am but a passenger in this body and a tool for thy cause. I will do as thou will." Seems like you're up for this.
~}{~
A few minutes later and I was behind the building where the mysterious lightning was falling and I had Orpheus' card in my hand. I crushed the card, felt Orpheus grab my shoulders and then the lurching feeling of Orpheus pulling me into the air. After about twenty seconds, I found myself on top of the building and beheld the sight before me. The lightning twins from yesterday were in some sort of three-way fight with a water using Sekirei, and a one with a whip. The water user appeared to be fighting off both the twins and the twin tail, the twins were probably trying to knockout one or both of the other Sekirei, and I had no idea as to what the twin tail's motive was. I chuckled and moved forward into better view of the combatants, Orpheus' card hovering slightly over my hand and said, "Well, well, if it ain't the lightning twins from yesterday. Out bullying other Sekirei again, and here I thought that yesterday was a good demonstration of what I think about bullies."
"Geh! The monster guy from yesterday!" The bustier twin, Hikari, growled as she paused in her assault on the others who had also turned to look at me. The water user, a blonde in some sort of white tunic and a black overcoat was looking at me with disgust, while the whip wielder, a twin tailed blonde in a yellow and black dress, was looking puzzled by my appearance. The water user snorted, "Another monkey who's testing how arrogant he can be."
"I know that the twins are trying to knock you out based on what Musubi told me but what about the twin tail over there? What's she up to?" I mused aloud as the twins began to back off. The bustier twin was glaring at me as she spat, "Hibiki, we're out of here. It isn't worth it if the odds are like this. And you, monster guy, don't think that we've forgotten yesterday!"
I waved at them as they jumped away, leaving me with the twin tail and the water user who were both looking at me funny. I smiled at the two of them and asked, "So, why are you two fighting?"
The twin tail gave me a smug look and said, "Hmph, I'm just trying to do as my Ashikabi ordered and deliver more Sekirei to him but this one just isn't listening."
"So, you're trying to drag a Sekirei off to a person who she hasn't reacted to? That's bad juju, that is so I think that I'll be helping her then." I said as I jerked my head towards the water Sekirei and crushed Orpheus' card. I heard the familiar shattering of glass as Orpheus rose up behind me and I chuckled, "Just like old times, eh Orpheus?"
For the first time that I had called him forth, Orpheus spoke other then his chant or just shouting, he said, "Indeed Fool, It has been too long since we've fought a real battle."
The water Sekirei and the whip wielding Sekirei gawked at me and Orpheus and I let my smile grow until it felt like it was touching my ears and I said, "Yeah, but that's if the jou-chan there can keep up. Drop a Bash her, would ya?"
Orpheus surged forward, lyre raised above his head as he went to attack the whip wielding Sekirei. The girl jumped back just as the lyre went crashing down, creating a crater in the roof. Both of the Sekirei looked at Orpheus and boggled at the fact that something like him could exist while I summoned Azathoth's card into my hand and chuckled, "Do you want to face another?"
"Wha-What? You have more?" The twin tail cried as I cupped my hand around Azathoth's card, slowly brining my fingers toward it as a threat. The twin tail broke first, "Tch, I'll be back for you Number 09!"
The whip wielding Sekirei jumped away across the rooftops until she was out of sight, I turned to the blonde Sekirei and said, "Nice to meet you, I'm Sahashi Minato. Yourself?"
"Hmph, that a monkey such as yourself would try to help me is just idiocy seeing as I, Number 09 Tsukiumi, am the strongest Sekirei!" Tsukiumi declared as she turned away from me, I chuckled and turned back towards the stairwell of the building when I heard a familiar sound.
SMASHThou hast forged the Empress Social Link.
It will guide Thy Destiny.
Ooh, two new Social Links in less then twenty minutes I am good. Then I noticed someone on top of the stairwell. He looked down at me, and no matter how hard he tried, I knew that it was Kagari because that mask was not fooling anyone. Who does he think he is? Clark Kent? I was about to ask him what he was doing when Tsukiumi asked, "Homura! Playing guardian again are you?"
"I was about to come and help but it seems that everything is under control. Thanks for helping out." He said to me just before he jumped away. I could hear Tsukiumi shouting after him about him running away before they could settle the score but I wasn't paying attention because I heard that familiar, satisfying sound.
SMASHThou hast improved the Tower Social Link.
It will guide Thy Destiny.
Proof that Homura is Kagari and wearing a paper-thin disguise at that. I'll talk to him about that the next time we meet. Does he seriously think that his mask is fooling anyone?
"Fool, who is 'Clark Kent'?" Don't worry about it Orpheus
~}{~
I awoke later that night after day of much nothing, and looked out the window to see that the rain was still falling but it wasn't rain. It was raining blood, the Moon hung low in the sky, and the world was bathed in a green glow. The Dark Hour was here, somehow.
Well, no time like the present to investigate. I grabbed my umbrella and headed out because this Dark Hour just doesn't add up. Nyx was sealed, sleeping but not dead.
~}{~
The dreamers dreamed of a world that wasn't theirs once more.
This time they saw not a hopeless battle but a one sided slaughter. The Fool, older now, stood atop the roof of an apartment in a puddle of blood facing down a strange monster that was composed entirely of an infinite number of hands, a blue mask, and a number of blades grasped in its many hands. Near the Fool, a girl lay on her side watching the scene as it played out before her, the gun she had dropped earlier now lying in the puddle before the Fool. The abomination shuffled ever towards the pair as the Fool knelt and picked up the gun, cradling it in his hands. Slowly, the Fool put the gun to his head and whispered, "Per…So…Na!"
A grin broke across the Fool's face as he pulled the trigger, an unearthly glow alighting his eyes as what looked like glass flew from the side of his head parallel the gun and formed a robotic figure that floated behind him. A cry rang out from the dreamers who recognized the figure.
One called, "Orpheus!"
Another shouted, "The thing that was with that monkey!"
The final one whispered under their breath, "The thing that was with Yasaka's friend."
The Fool gripped his head in pain as Orpheus began to spasm, its limps jerking to and fro as a pair of arms ripped out from under its head and pulled it apart. The beast that emerged wore a helmet that resembled a tyrannosaurus rex's skull, had a cape of coffins adorning its back, and in its right hand it clenched a sword. The beast roared as it pounced on the Inverted Magician, hacking and ripping it to pieces as the Fool sank to his knees in pain. Ichor flew wildly from the Inverted Magician's wounds as it was unable to fend off the beast on top of it. Severed hands leaking ichor were strewn across the roof by the beast's rampage, all the while the Inverted Magician screeched in pain which ended only when the beast had cut the Inverted Magician's mask.
The dreamers watched in abject silence and horror, the smallest of them crying at the sight, until one spoke, "And thus, the false Magician falls at the hands of neither the Fool nor those his fellows. Not the Magician's, or the High Priestess', nor the Empress', or the Emperor's, nor the Hierophant's, or the Lovers', nor the Justice's, or the Chariot's."
The beast stood, a severed arm still writhing against its viselike grip, and roared as it crushed the arm causing ichor to spew onto the roof. As the beast finished its roar, it faded briefly to Orpheus and then disappeared as the Fool collapsed.
The scene faded to black as the dreamers heard the girl call out to the Fool, "*i*a*o-kun? M*N*T*-KUN!"
Two of the dreamers bolted awake and glimpsed the green skied, and bloody rained world of the Dark Hour, four remained as the coffins the Dark hour rendered them, and the last stirred slowly and gazed at the swollen moon that was jutting through the clouds and said, "Three are awake and four are asleep. Only a matter of time now, Fool. Both Time and Fate are cruel mistresses and no one, not even I, can escape their grasp…"
~}{~
I kept my head on a swivel as I walked through the streets of Shin Tokyo, keeping a wary eye for any Shadows that may be lurking just out of sight. I had yet to encounter any but the familiar coffins that were standing, blissfully unaware of the blood raining down on them, in the streets were proof that it had the same effect on people as the Dark Hour does.
I ended up in a residential area of northern Shin Tokyo when I noticed that there were lights, candles I presume, in an old Japanese style home. I walked towards the entrance in the fence and chuckled when I saw the sign that said 'Open house at Izumo house' and gave a variety of details. I walked to the front door and knocked, I didn't notice a doorbell but I doubt it'd have worked, I heard footsteps and someone call, "Coming…"
The door opened and I found myself at sword point, which was something that didn't normally happen when someone opens a door. Then again, this is the Dark Hour and since this person seems to know that no electronics work and that candles are the best light source other then the Moon. This person has probably had to deal with a Shadow or two so I probably should have expected it. The person pointing the sword at me had lavender hair and was wearing a hakama with a lavender bottom, she had a smile on her face and her eyes were mere slits but I can't help but wonder…What sort of person smiles while threatening to kill, but a one used to killing? I raised my free hand and said, "Hi, not a Shadow nor am I here to kill you. Saw the lights, thought I'd say hello to another person who experiencing the Dark Hour."
The woman raised an eyebrow at my explanation and then asked, "Ara ara, that someone else is out and about at this time is strange, but I wonder, what is the Dark Hour?"
I winced at my slip up then gestured at the sky with my free hand and said, "This is the Dark Hour, a time that should not exist, an hour hidden between one day and the next, a time where most turn to coffins, a time when water turns to blood, and a time where no electrical device works. Such is one half of the Dark Hour, a time when Shadows stalk the world and, based on the fact that you assumed that I was dangerous, I assume that you have some experiences with them."
I noticed that my hand was getting wet so I pulled it back under my umbrella and looked at the blood running down it, a familiar sensation. The woman had her eyes open and was giving me an appraising look although the smile never left her face and the sword never left my throat. I looked the woman in the eyes and smiled, "Hello I'm Sahashi Minato, originally I was going to come and visit tomorrow about the open house, but when I went for a wander my feet led me here and I noticed the light so I decided to knock."
"Ara, so that's why you are here? Normally I'd turn you away for being here at such a time but given the circumstances I suppose that you may know more about this time then most. I think I'll have you explain that to me. Oh my, where are my manners? I am Asama Miya, the landlady of this Izumo House." Miya said as she moved back into the entrance hall, sheathing her sword and allowing me in. I slipped off my coat and shoes and leaned my umbrella against the wall near them and followed Miya who had begun to move further into the building. I found myself in what probably served as the dining room and living room and sat down opposite Miya. She smiled at me and said, "I'd offer you something to drink, but there's not really much that can be done at this time. I must ask how do you know so much about this time, this…Dark Hour, as you put it?"
"The Dark Hour is…well, it's an hour that shouldn't exist. You all ready know the basics, water turns to blood if it isn't in a sealed container, most people turn into coffins, there is no electricity, Shadows roam the streets, and those that turn into coffins do not remember or experience the Dark Hour. That's about it other then one thing, those that experience the Dark Hour generally have the aptitude to summon a manifestation of the mask they wear to face the hardships of daily life known as a Persona. Personae generally take the forms of beings from mythology such as Greek or Japanese and for the most part each person has two Personae, an initial Persona and a 'perfect' Persona. Initial Personae are, of course, nowhere near as powerful as a 'perfect' one and they also have a tendency to have no immunities to any attacks, whereas 'perfect' Personae are extremely powerful and have the ability to negate certain attacks and are also 'strong' against another. To cause a Persona to go from initial to perfect the wielder generally has to have some form of great personal growth." I paused and the continued, "There is another form of Persona user known as a Wild Card. Wild Card's have the ability to change between Personae and they can have over one hundred possible Personae. That's about all I can tell you other then the fact that both Shadows and Personae fall into groups that are given the titles of the twenty one major arcana in tarot."
"I have seen proof of everything that you mentioned except these Personae that you were talking about, I assume that you have some experience with them Sahashi-san?" Miya asked as she gauged my reaction, I smiled and said, "There…there was someone who taught me all this as well. But, yes, I am a Persona user, in fact, I am a Wild Card but right now I only have two Personae, Orpheus and Azathoth. I can summon them if you like."
Miya shook her and said, "it's would be best not to do so inside and I believe that this hour is almost up."
"Then I best be off, wouldn't want any of your tenants coming down and seeing me here at this hour. I'll be back tomorrow to discuss moving in here with Musubi." I walked out to the front hall slipped on my shoes and coat and grabbed my umbrella, turned to Miya who had followed me into the hall and said, "See you tomorrow."
"Indeed." She said as I bowed and walked out the door. I popped open my umbrella only to hear that old nostalgic sound.
SMASHThou hast forged the Hierophant Social Link.
It will guide Thy Destiny.
You were unusually quite Orpheus, what's up? "Nothing, it's just…she reminded me of something…" Crushing on the landlady Orpheus? That's bad juju, that is. "Fool! Why I never…!" Relax Orpheus, it was a joke.
~}{~
"Fool, we must speak." A female voice called from behind me as I walked back towards my apartment, my curiosity piqued I turned and faced the one who had called out to me. I was surprised to see a girl of about junior high age wearing a large trench coat, a cravat, and carrying two… overly long barreled pistols. I sighed and said, "Sup Reaper? Or is it Shinisasayaku now?"
"That matter is of no importance at this point in time, now we must speak." Shinisasayaku answered, her yellow eyes betraying nothing but apathy towards, well, just about everything. I couldn't make out any of her distinguishing characteristics other then her yellow eyes and a roughly cut cascade of pale grey hair. I shrugged and asked, "All right, what's the problem?"
"I am currently protecting another Sekirei from unscrupulous ashikabi within a forest nearby, as it stands I may soon be outnumbered and I desire for help. I would request your help at this moment, but I am able to understand any hesitancy that you feel." Shinisasayaku said with a nod, as if coming there was some form of unspoken agreement between the two of us. I quirked my eyebrow and answered, "I'll help but I do have some business to attend to tomorrow."
"That is of no matter, all that you need to know is that Sekirei number 109, Shinisasayaku is now yours." With that she reached up and pulled my head down into hers, I winced at the impact of our skulls and she got a look on her face as if remembering something. Shinisasayaku tilted her head back and kissed me clumsily, wings of grey light illuminating the dark green atmosphere of the Dark Hour. When Shinisasayaku released the kiss, she furrowed her brow, shrugged, released her clutch on my head and murmured, "Forever and ever it seems."
"So do you want me to go and grab Musubi, and meet you there or what?" I asked as righted my umbrella, gears whirring inside my head as I tried to formulate a plan, which isn't my area of expertise seeing as Mitsuru usually did the planning. Shinisasayaku shook her head, "No, let the wheel of Fate turn and watch the result. There is no need for any other action at this moment."
I nodded and as I turned away called, "See you soon!"
"Indeed…" Her sentence trailed off as I walked away and the patter of rain was overshadowed by that same old sound.
SMASHThou hast forged the Star Social Link.
It will guide Thy Destiny.
That was strange. "A queer encounter, indeed…"
~}{~
The rain had let up as I was nearing my apartment and when I neared my street, I felt a chill run down my spine as I heard a scratching sound. Out of the gloom, a ripping sound accompanied the scratching as a Shadow seemed to glide into sight. The Shadow dragged it gnarled fingers across every coffin as it passed, octopus tentacles writhing as it moved towards me. I can almost see its face as it got closer and closer, its head tilted at an angle. My heart was pounding in my chest, I'm not strong enough to face this Shadow, and right now it's beyond my reach.
I almost summoned Orpheus' card into my hand and when the Dark Hour ended, I let out a relieved sigh as the transmogrified people around me began moving again and closing their umbrellas. I forced myself to keep from running back to my apartment as I moved down the street and rounded the corner. I jogged back to my apartment and unlocked the door. As I entered, I pushed the door shut and locked it with one hand while I shrugged my coat of my shoulders. I chucked my pants against the wall and crawled into the futon, Musubi latching onto me as soon as I lay down.
~}{~
I was sitting across the table from Miya again, this time I had my hands steepled in front of my face and had locked eyes with her. Musubi sat to my left and kept looking back and forth between us as we continued our staring match, which was interrupted when someone opened the door and said, "Miya, I- Yasaka's friend?"
I didn't break eye contact with Miya as I answered the familiar voice with a grin, "Yo Kagari-san! I'm guessing that you live here and, well, Musubi and I are discussing moving in here with Asama-san. If all goes well then we can have those drinks you promised here."
"Ara, that Kagari-san knows a delinquent who calls on people at absurd hours of the night, such a shame." Miya said with a beatific smile slapped across her face, her eyes almost closing because of the smile's width. I chuckled and lied through my teeth, "Lies, slander, and balderdash! You're the one who invited me in last night, I only stopped by to leave a note about my plans to visit today."
"Ara ara, that's quite the mouth you have there Sahashi-san." Miya remarked as she let loose a blast of malice that formed a Hannya mask behind her. Where did it even come? Oh dear lord, it feels like Nyx's pressure wave only more malign and horrifying while being less oppressive. Mother of God, it's terrifying! Wait…Mitsuru did something similar when she was angry so it should be possible…
I focused my energy and tried to call out Orpheus but all I did was nearly crap my self. Oh well, I'll figure it out soon…very soon…