CHAPTER 24 / Recover

February 26th, 2010

Dear Yukari,

I never spent time thinking about my own mortality. What if I died sometime sooner? What if one of the many stupid things I did on the Full Moon fights had actually killed me? Who would have missed me? What would happen to the people that were left behind? What if I had died at the beginning? What if I had never woken up when I had first awakened to my Persona? I never had to think about any of this before. Except now…I know I am going to be dead. Well…dead for all intents and purposes.

What happened to my body? Is it still alive even though I'm no longer in it? How does that even work? Maybe it is just the same as the first time I awakened my power except this time I really won't wake back up. I suppose medically it would be called brain dead. I'm sorry about this Yukari. You know I would have stayed if there was any other choice. But it was what had to be done.

Within that small amount of time that I looked into the heart of what Nyx was…I realized that everything that Ryoji had said was true. There is no defeating Nyx…because Nyx is death. It is something that is necessary for the world…and so Nyx…is truly eternal. In that moment I saw the truth…not only about Nyx…but the world itself.

There was only one real way to truly stop the world from ending. But it took every last bit of my power to achieve. And hopefully as you come to the last portion of this journal you'll see exactly why I made the choice I did. And maybe you will be able to move on into the future with a smile on your face. I loved not just you…but the world that we lived in. And just like Kirijo Takeharu, I wanted to protect that future.

Love Always,
Arisato Minato

March 16th, 2011 / Pseudo Dark Hour

This Shadow was larger than anything Hamuko had faced so far. And her anger had given a strange focus on this fight. She ducked under an arm as it swiped at her, and then jumped over a leg. She landed briefly for a moment before launching herself into a higher jump to avoid another attack. As she came out of the jump she pulled out her evoker and summoned her Persona, "Black Frost!" The Persona spun and hit the large Shadow with a powerful fire attack. Hamuko continued on her path until she was clear of the Shadow's reach and quickly turned around.

It was no good. They were damaging it but nothing seemed to be effectively hurting it. They needed to do something…something much more decisive to end this fight. The Shadow turned and launched a spell at her, but just as she was about to move Kana jumped in front of her. "Eurydice!" Kana's Persona emerged and stopped the incoming spell in its tracks and rebounding it back at the Shadow.

Hamuko watched as the Shadow seem to stumble a bit…and for a moment…the Shadow was completely defenseless. That was it!

"Everyone! I need you to bombard it with magic! Yukari I need you with me!" Hamuko yelled out. The rest of SEES gave their confirmation as they rearranged their positions. It was a wonder to behold just how well SEES moved as a unit. None of them had to really look at the others as they moved…yet they all were perfectly aware of where their allies were and the room they needed. It was proof of just how experienced they were at fighting as a unit. Had her brother been that good at coordinating the group? They spent so long with him as their leader…he would have no doubt had researched and implemented different strategies in battle…more so than what he talks about in the journal that he had given to Yukari.

"What do you need from me?" Yukari asked as she moved close to Hamuko.

"I need you ready to blast it with wind. You'll know when. Kana…you're with me," Hamuko looked over and saw Kana nod in confirmation.

She charged forward with Kana close to her, she brought her naginata into a forward thrusting position as the Shadow seemed to focus right on her. That was when SEES magical bombardment started. Hitting the Shadow from multiple directions it was confused as to where it should focus its efforts. Taken this moment Hamuko came ever closer to the Shadow. It took notice and even under the bombardment of differing elements it managed to swing its massive arm at Hamuko.

Kana was suddenly in front of her and summoning Eurydice, smashing the massive hand into the ground. Hamuko leapt up onto the hand and ran up the arm and then springing towards the white blue mask it had on its head. The Shadow tried to adjust and swing over its other hand to protect its head but his arm swung wildly back when a blast of wind forced it away. That was from Yukari. The blade of her naginata connected with the mask and struck halfway through causing the Shadow to shriek in pain. Continuing with the momentum she landed on top of the Shadow and summoned the tarot card. Shattering it with a free hand, her newest persona appeared, Kali. Her Persona struck down hard on the top of her weapon slicing it the rest of the way through the mask and then the Shadow began to disappear and Hamuko fell. Akihiko was there to catch her.

"You certainly are just as capable of fighter, much like your brother," Akihiko said as he put her down on the ground.

"Thank you," Hamuko blushed at Akihiko's proximity for a moment, but refocused when Kana came up beside her. "Kana-chan, you did great."

She shook her head, "I just followed your lead, Hamuko-chan." Despite herself Hamuko pulled Kana into a hug, which the Shadow didn't question, but welcomed the comfort.

"Great job, Takahashi," Mitsuru said as she and the others approached her. "Still…it bothers me that I wasn't able to learn that Yoshimitsu was actually an Arisato. That he is actually you're Uncle. He must have altered his records within the company a long time ago...if I had to guess...to keep his actions hidden from other members of his family."

Hamuko shook her head, "It just means my family was more related to it than before."

"If the Arisato's have been involved in Shadow research or related studies in the past, then perhaps the whole family has been involved in this business much longer than we could have predicted," Yukari appeared on Hamuko's right. "We should still make sure the rest of the Arisato family here is okay. We…already know where we will see Yoshimitsu next."

"The Moonlight Bridge…it is a place of great significance to Minato," Akihiko commented softly.

"It wasn't just the place his parents died…it's also where Death had been sealed inside of him by Aigis-san," Ken commented. "Where we defeated the last of the 12 Shadows…and also…where Ryoji told us that he was Death all along."

Hamuko glanced at Yukari…she looked solemn…sad really. She could imagine why. It was probably also a reminder to all of them…to questions that all of them had left unanswered back at that time. Questions about their leader that none of them had thought to ask. Because maybe they all believed they would make it out in the end. No…that wasn't it either. Hamuko looked to see Kana looking into her eyes and then while looking into those golden eyes it dawned on her. It was because they had an all or nothing mind set when they went to fight Nyx. They believed either they would all come back…or none at all. So when her brother had collapsed they were all forced to witness the third option that none of them had known was present. It was like what Igor had told her about the Velvet Room. It existed specifically to provide the tools the guest would need…but that was all they were…tools. Her brother didn't have to play the martyr. He could have chosen a much different path that would have probably led to the Fall. But he didn't. He made the ultimate sacrifice…he gave his life so that everyone could have the chance to live. The Velvet Room and the guests that had helped him...had merely provided him the opportunity to make a choice.

That was why the world they lived on was still here…but this world was Minato's. It became his when he made the choice to save it over his own life…over his own happiness. He sacrificed everything for this world…and what was her Uncle planning to do? To undo everything he did? To ruin the world he had given everything away in order to protect? And for what purpose? What would be the point in reviving her brother? Even if his body was alive…she had seen him at the Seal…and he had seen the resolve on his face. Sure he had regrets…everyone had regrets…the thoughts of 'if only there had been more time'. Or if only I had spent more time with the ones I loved. That was normal…but Minato…her brother did not regret his actions about saving the world. What was Yoshimitsu's true motive? From the way it sounded…it seemed much simpler than it probably could be made out to be. The man was filled with regret…regret for betraying his own brother…his family for power and recognition.

She couldn't help but wonder if Yoshimitsu was also a victim in all this. The difference being he didn't know what to do…didn't know how to handle all of the things that happened. So he was using what he did know…hoping that his years of research could possibly put together a family that he had probably never wanted to harm, yet he blamed himself for ripping it apart.

The others had searched for the source of the Pseudo Dark Hour and before long they had found it and disabled it…returning them back to Tokyo. They had found it in front of the residence of the Arisato's. Yukari was the one that started to approach it. Hamuko reached out and grabbed her.

"Yukari-chan…I'm not sure if we should talk to them," Hamuko didn't want to endanger more of her family…even if that meant not seeing them.

"Oh my goodness," a woman, more than likely in her late forties came out to them but ignored them and went straight up to Hamuko. "You look just like Miyuki." The woman noticed Kana as well, "You as well." She looked lost for a moment and then shook her head. "I'm sorry it's incredibly rude of me to do this…You just look like my step-sister."

"Step-sister?" Yukari stepped forward. "Are you the wife of Yoshimitsu-san?"

Her features darkened by the mentioned of that name but she nodded, "Indeed, do you know my husband?"

"Arisato-san, I'm Kirijo Mitsuru, there are some matters we'd like to discuss with you about your husband and the Arisato family. I believe you might be able to answer some of the questions we have," Mitsuru cut to the chase.

She eyed her then everyone in SEES before her eyes settled back to Mitsuru, "You're the daughter of Takeharu-san?"

"That is correct," Mitsuru nodded.

"I am Arisato Isako," she bowed to SEES. "Please enter my home; I feel we have much to talk about."

Hamuko felt uneasy…but something in her gut told her that Yukari had been right. They needed to talk to them…to understand more of the big picture…to understand more about the Arisato's. More importantly understand Yoshimitsu…and what led to the situation as it was at the moment. How much did Isako know about the events that occurred in the past? Well they were about to find out.

November 5th, 2009 / Evening

The meeting room felt different for several reasons. For one, any items related to Ikutsuki had been cleaned out thanks to the Kirijo Group. It was definitely a much welcomed subtraction to the entire dormitory. However, the air in the dorm remained heavy with the death of Takeharu…Mitsuru's Father. Minato had avoided the subject as well…as he had wanted to talk much more in depth with the man about the subject of Shadows and Persona…he had seemed to be a wealth of information when it came to that topic. Seeing as what he had lived through…it only made sense. On that same note he sure as hell did not deserve to die at the hands of Ikutsuki Shuji. No one deserved that.

Minato, this time, sat where Ikutsuki used to sit. Akihiko was the one that called everyone here today, but Minato agreed that they all needed to let out some of the frustration they were holding in. None of them had been sure what to say to Mitsuru that night. Mitsuru was tangled up with the power shift in the Kirijo Group and fielding invasive reporters and paparazzi. They needed to get the situation under control in some manner. They were all lost as to what their goal was now. All they had was the cryptic words of Ikutsuki…and something called The Fall.

"The Chairman's room has been cleared out…" Fuuka was the first one to break the silence.

"Well, that's no surprise, considering what he did," Akihiko said.

Yukari let out an audible sigh, "I just can't believe all this."

"It's in the papers, too…'Sudden Death of Kirijo Group's CEO.' They blame it on illness, though," Ken added.

"Yeah, it's never the truth," Akihiko shook his head.

"Of course not. The last thing we need is the police getting too involved. Our activities as SEES and the Dark Hour, what do you think would happen if that all suddenly became public knowledge? What do you think would happen?" Minato said but no one responded to it. They all just looked away from him. He wasn't surprised…but what did they think would happen? Even Ikutsuki's death was attributed to an accident. Still the power the Kirijo Group had was something to respect, if not fear. But perhaps Minato was being to aggressive...everyone was going through a rough time. "Sorry," he muttered.

"Mitsuru-senpai's not here, huh?" Junpei tried to break up the mood.

"She's an only child, so there are a lot of matters to be settled, including the funeral and the family business. I'm sure she'll be busy for at least a week," Akihiko commented more offhandedly.

"Planning the funeral of her Father? No one should have to do that. Especially as young as she is," Minato muttered. "Plus the Kirijo Group Board of Directors isn't going to make anything easier for her. Hopefully she doesn't have to deal with people looking to take advantage of her and take power away from her."

"That sounds rough…I hope she'll be okay…" Yukari said softly.

Minato and Yukari already knew what it was like to lose your Father but this was something different. How do you comfort someone when you also felt partly responsible for what happened? Minato especially felt he had been too careless…had he planned appropriately then maybe things would have been okay. If Takeharu hadn't come after them…then he was sure that everything would have been okay. However, there was no point in thinking in 'What ifs…' the past was over…what's done is done. Now Minato had to move forward and ensure that nothing like that ever happened again. He still had a promise to keep to Aragaki Shinjiro.

"So, what're we supposed to do now? What'll happen to Chidori?" Junpei shifted the conversation again.

"No word yet. They're probably too busy to be thinking about that. In fact, the entire Kirijo Group must be in a state of shock," Akihiko shook his head.

"I hope Aigis is okay," Fuuka added.

"What the hell…? Am I just supposed to wait for them to get their act together?" Junpei suddenly got angry.

"Calm the hell down, Junpei. It hasn't even been a full 24 hours yet. Look we're all frustrated, okay? All of us got blindsided and now we have a Dark Hour with no foreseeable end in sight. Everyone was hoping it would have ended but it didn't. Please just…now isn't the time to fight each other," Minato interjected. Junpei shrunk down and took a deep breath. They were definitely all on edge...each one of them was understandably frustrated by the situation.

"I know but dammit, I just feel so useless right now," Junpei tried to relax back in his seat.

"I understand, Junpei. Like Minato said though we need to keep our heads cool. Mitsuru is meeting with the Board of Directors tonight. It might explain the delay. Plus we don't know if Strega is gone for good either," Akihiko added.

"I see…But still, what are we going to do? We have no idea how to get rid of the Dark Hour. We don't even know what we are fighting against," Yukari shook her head and looked to Minato. "What do you think?"

"All we have is what Ikutsuki was talking about last night," Minato shrugged. He was still piecing it all together...all he had right now was a general idea based on Ikutsuki's words.

"What was that he said about 'The Fall'? What would have happened if we had been sacrificed?" Ken added looking to Minato this time. All of them looked to Minato this time.

"You guys want my theory then?" Minato asked and got nods from everyone. "Alright, so from what we know, 'The Fall' isn't something that can just happen. There are a few integral portions for it to actually occur. What we first encountered is the 12 Shadows…all of which we defeated over the last few months. The gathering of those Shadows was the first step towards 'The Fall'. Why those Shadows? I don't know. But you all fought them…they were definitely different than the ones in Tartarus, right?"

"Yeah, even the bigger Shadows in Tartarus felt the same as all the others, yet those 12 Shadows just felt different fundamentally," Fuuka added. "I only have data from the first few fights, I don't know if Juno would sense them differently like the others did."

"For arguments sake, let us assume that they do. Which means that these Shadows are different…they have a purpose. That purpose is a step in bringing about 'The Fall'. Takeharu-san…Mitsuru-senpai's Father put it in simple terms as to what 'The Fall' is. Death as a deliverance. A fanatical idea that is achieved by killing everyone and somehow it would bring about a new world. One that would make Ikutsuki the King as he had put it. It seems that Mitsuru's Grandfather went off from his original purpose for his research under this so called prophecy. A man who sought for absolute power and dominion over the world. The real question we are left is…will 'The Fall' happen even without the sacrifices? Or was the sacrifices a means of expediting the process?" Minato pretty much was only surmising what they knew so far. "We also have no idea how the world even ends with 'The Fall'. But with a name like that, I would say it involves something well…falling."

"There are so many unanswered questions," Fuuka shook her head. "Thank you for that, Arisato-san."

"Yeah, but standin' around here won't solve anything, right?" Junpei was definitely looking for some action…he wanted to be active…do something.

"…True. But, there is one thing we do know…Tartarus is still around and there's a bunch of Shadows inside it. We should train, so we're ready for whatever it is we might have to face," Akihiko finally said.

"Was wondering when you'd get to that, Senpai," Minato said doing his best to show a bit of a grin for the others. "For now, it is business like usual. We'll continue to venture in to Tartarus, at the very least we need to keep our fighting skills sharp. We are more or less like we were before we knew when the big Shadows would show up. And we will be ready, no matter what anyone has to throw at us."

Everyone seemed to lighten up and Akihiko grinned, "That's right; it's the last time anyone gets the jump on us."

"And we all need to pull together…now more than ever…not just for ourselves but for each other," Minato added and everyone nodded in agreement. "Alright, let's call it a night. Let's rest up and plan for a trip to Tartarus in a day or so. Sound good, Senpai?"

Akihiko nodded as he got up, "Thanks everyone."

Everyone started shuffling out, but Minato stayed back with Fuuka and Yukari as it seemed Fuuka had something else to say.

"Yukari-chan…Umm…There were traces of a video on the Chairman's hard drive…Most of it was deleted, but I was able to restore part of it. I thought you might like to see it," Fuuka said nervously as she handed Yukari a disk.

"Is it what I think it is?" Minato asked.

Fuuka nodded, "The real message your Father sent is on here."

"Thanks, Fuuka," Yukari said as both her and Minato watched Fuuka leave.

"I have to say she is pretty talented when it comes to computers. It's pretty hard to really delete a file completely without doing a full wipe of the drive but knowing what you're doing to recover those missing files is really impressive," Minato commented although Yukari just stared at the disk for a while.

"Umm…would you come to my room and watch this with me?" Yukari asked softly looking at Minato.

"Of course, Yukari. You know I'm here for you," Minato stepped next to her and took her free hand and softly pulled her towards the door. They made their way down to her room and entered it together. Yukari locking her door behind her. This was technically the first time Minato had been in her room…he wasn't surprised to see the majority of her room decorated in pink. It was more or less how he expected her room to be, just judging by what he knew about her. He sat on her bed as she pulled out her laptop and flipped it open and inserting the disk.

Her hands shook as the video player popped up automatically. Minato moved behind her on her bed and pulled her into his arms. "Relax, I'll be here the whole time," he said in a comforting whisper.

She let out a sigh and adjusted her laptop as she made herself comfortable against Minato. After a long moment she opened the file and then hit play on the video. The sight of Yukari's Father greeted them.

"I pray this recording reaches safe hands. My employer has become obsessed with a loathsome idea. This experiment should have never even been conceived. That's why I had to interrupt it. However, in doing so, I set free a number of Shadows that are certain to torment future generations. But, if I hadn't, the entire world may have paid the price. Please, listen carefully…I cannot stress this enough…You must not hunt the Shadows that have been dispersed!" Eiichiro, Yukari's Father, was speaking the words that Minato had more or less assumed had actually said. Minato felt himself more disappointed in himself though...he should have listened to his instincts...but it was too late for that...all he could do now was support Yukari through this. This was not going to be easy for her to hear.

"Huh…? This part is…" Yukari pulled Minato's arms tighter around her as the video continued.

"I wasn't able to stop this madness. He won't listen, no matter what I say. He's under the devil's spell. Now the Shadows are trying to eat one another. But if they are reunited, then we are all doomed! I'll say this once more. Leave the Shadows be!" Her Father pleaded at the screen, begging to whoever would see it to take up that responsibility...however he had no way of knowing that the one who would find it was Ikutsuki.

Yukari paused the video, "You knew didn't you…you knew that my Father tried to stop the experiment."

"I never had proof, Yukari. I just knew that what you say about your Father and what we were being told by Ikutsuki didn't add up. It never made sense to me. Your Father was a good man and he loved you. He would have never done something that would have put your life in danger," Minato tried to soothe her before she clicked play once more.

"There's not much hope for me now. I just have one favor to ask. Whoever finds this…Please…Give my daughter Yukari this message. I know I promised I'd be home soon…and I'm sorry to break that promise. But I want you to know…Daddy was the happiest man on Earth when he was with you. I love you, Yukari. Please take care of yourself."

Yukari put her hand up to the screen…Minato didn't have to look at Yukari's face to know how fast the tears were going down her face. Then the video and sound turns the static and then suddenly stops. "Dad!? Daddy!" Yukari cried. Minato shifted a bit and closed the laptop and set it away from them. Then pulled Yukari into his arms. Like the opening of a dam, she let the tears come as she cried against Minato, burying her head into his chest. Minato waited...letting her cry and didn't speak until she began to calm down. These tears were a combination of not just sadness...but also relief. Relief in knowing that her Father was still the great man she remembered...that her Father had done his best not just for her but to save the whole world. Her Father was not one at fault in what happened...not as much as he might claim to be...no to Minato he was a hero...someone who stood up and did what he had to to ensure the future would go on. Minato could learn something from that. He smiled softly before speaking.

"Now you know the truth, Yukari. You're Father wasn't responsible for what happened. He died not only protecting you…but protecting all of us," Minato said in a whisper.

"I wanted to see him…just one more time…I had wished for it for so long that…" she sighed heavily. "Minato you were right. I was right to believe in him. I should have never doubted him, not even for a second."

"Like I said, you are his daughter. You know him best…not some ten year old video, right? But at least now…you know what the video actually said," Minato said as Yukari sat back up and then turning around she leaned back into Minato and resting her head on his shoulder she looked up to the ceiling.

"Are you listening, Dad? I'm doing okay. I have a very loving and supporting boyfriend. And even though we aren't sure what we will face in the future, I'm going to face it head on…next to him," Yukari smiled although tears still fell down her face. "It took a while, but I finally got your message, Daddy."

Minato saw it, and couldn't believe his eyes for a moment. Io, Yukari's Persona, manifested itself above them…but then her Persona changed. He understood this…it was a change in Yukari's mind…her resolve. Yukari…she finally got the answers she wanted. And so...her power as a Persona user had changed...gotten stronger.

"Isis," Yukari smiled as her new Persona disappeared back within her. "I'll fight for what I believe in. That's what my Dad would have wanted."

"So you've made your decision then?" Minato asked somehow smiling despite himself. "I'm really happy for you, Yukari."

"You're going to fight with me right?" Yukari said shifting to look at his face.

"As if I would let you fight alone," Minato grinned. Yukari smiled and shifted her body back towards him and capturing his lips with her own. At least for a little while they had found some resolution. The dangers would only grow from this point on…there was no telling as to what would happen next. But they would recover…they would be ready to fight…and they sure as hell were not going to let the world come to an end. Not when they were just starting to find reasons to live.

Author's Note

When parts of your life are filled with tragedy and death...its hard to describe just how difficult it can be at times. Some days you will be just fine and others...it will hit you all at once. One thing about Persona is that your heart and resolve are clearly shown by your power. In that regard it is impossible to hide it. Well...at least in the case of everyone but those that hold the Wild Card ability. What I mean by that is that despite everything the heart of the protagonist or rather Minato is the only one who's heart and personal resolve and motives don't actually factor in to his ability as a Persona user because of the nature of it.

Along the way, all the social links do something else for the protagonist, something that wasn't necessarily needed for everyone else. For Minato he finally discovers who he is and how much life actually means to him. It's why at the end of the game Ryoji says to SEES. "He has found his answer to life." Well I'm paraphrasing but I'm sure you remember it. His journey and path of discovery takes everyone in order for him to find. Hence why the protagonist is generally of The Fool Arcana for this reason. But they never knew they needed that journey. For Minato, I imagine that he wasn't aware how the death of his Parents had actually affected him...but in a lot of ways he was emotionally stunted in a lot of ways because of it. I think the Persona 3 movies have been really good showing a natural progression to what he will eventually have to do in the 4th movie.

For the purposes of Momento Umbrae I wanted to explore his personality and the actual influence to the others...and well...add more drama, naturally. Haha. I hope you've enjoyed it thus far and continue to do so. See you tomorrow with the next Chapter.