CHAPTER 35 / Preservation
Scrapped Entry
Dear Yukari,
There has never seemed to be an absolute correct way to do something. And what I mean is that there is always more than one way for an objective to be met. It is always up to debate as to what is the best way to accomplish something. You know this just based on the many great number of 'How To' books exists on just about every subject known to man. Perhaps that was why I spent so much time utterly perplexed with how to deal with you. I know I always played it off like I was knowledgeable...like there wasn't anything I didn't know and that I always did my best to appear like I knew what I was doing. But I think you know how insecure I actually was beneath all of that.
I was scared at first...no that isn't quite accurate. I was terrified...still terrified of how important you became to me. I never understood why...but ever since we met that first night at the dorm...I just felt a connection...like something inside of me just called out to you. Like we had met before and it was more akin to a reunion. Yeah, I think that is the closest to the truth of my feelings in that moment. The more time we were around each other...the more I couldn't ignore you...couldn't turn my eyes from you.
This all sounds stupid...but I just wanted to express how I never knew what I was doing when I was with you. I mean...how could I? You were always changing the beat of whatever song we seem to be moving to. I never felt like I could quite keep up...at least not till later on. Then almost as if it happened when I wasn't looking...I just understood you in a way I could never know anyone else. Ugh, that doesn't sound right either.
I love you Yukari...so much that I struggle to even describe the effect you have on me by just being near me. I think it was one of the few times in my life I felt like...I dunno...a child maybe? Like a boy with a crush that seemed always out of reach...like I had a dream that could never be fulfilled...and yet I was able to get to you...was able to have my own personal dream come true. Also the first time I had ever been jealous was over all the boys talking about you...and...ugh I don't even know what I'm trying to say anymore.
This is what you do to me sometimes...make me utterly incapable of making a coherent thought. Maybe it was because today we spent time at the movies and...now we're back in my room. This is all surreal in so many ways. God...I wish that this moment could last forever.
Love Always and Forever,
Arisato Minato
? Iwatodai Dormitory Roof ? / ?
Yukari couldn't help but believe that something was wrong with this whole situation. It was pretty crazy to begin with...they were locked in some sort of place that was seemingly removed from time and space, and this location was one that had held a significant moment in her and Minato's life. She had her bow drawn with an arrow ready to fly...but this moment was one that made it hard for her to process. She was standing next to Minato...her Minato...who was dead. And they stood opposite of Shadows of Minato and herself.
Her mind was having a hard time wrapping around the events that had happened...along with Minato's appearance. She had no time to adjust to the situation...no time to pull Minato to her and make sure he was real...that he was really next to her. Time...it was something she never seemed to have enough of. More than likely...by resolving this...she would have to say good bye to him once again...but she needed to focus on one problem at a time. Yukari was prepared to fire as Minato stood defensively in front of her...something he had done so many times before. That alone was enough to make this situation feel so unreal to her...but what topped it was that across from them were copies of themselves. Shadows...identified by their golden eyes that sat in stark contrast to them...and their body language seemed...more provocative compared to them. Yukari couldn't think of a better way to describe it.
"Oh Minato, you should be proud I've remained loyal to you all this whole time. Though I guess it is mostly because you left me pregnant so nobody cared to get involved with me anymore," the Shadow Yukari spoke. Yukari cringed at the thought of this subject. Minato didn't say anything or move from his defensive stance.
"Don't bother, Minato isn't affected with such tactics...are you?" Shadow Minato laughed as he took a few steps forward and pulled out the katana he had his side and pointed it at Minato. "But he is a liar...saying you don't regret dying...don't be ridiculous. No one wants to die...least of all you."
"Is that your game? Get me to admit that I didn't want to leave this life behind? You don't get it. There is a difference in regretting your eventual death and regretting the choices that brought you to that point. And I don't regret the decisions I made...only the price I had to pay to achieve it. So say what you want, I made my peace with what happened," Minato's voice came out as a growl. But it was these words Yukari had actually longed to hear...it wasn't that he didn't regret dying...he regretted that there was no other way for him to save the world. She knew he had thought about it...other alternatives to what he had eventually decided to do.
"You have...but has she?" the Shadow looked to Yukari.
She faltered...how could she ever be okay with it? But the alternative to what would happen if he hadn't made that choice. She had already come to terms with it...and with the journal she had come to an even better understanding as to what had happened and why. "No one would ever be okay with the love of their life dying on them. It was hard...I became more like the old Minato after his death...the Minato that had been distant and kept to himself. I avoided the dorm...avoided staying at school as long as I used to. I made myself busier with club activities and time with my Mother. I...just avoided everything. But it was all just to avoid my own feelings and how much I missed him. Because a part of me died that day...a part of me will always be missing without him." A part of her had reverted back to how she had been when her Father died. But the incident involving the Abyss of Time and her pregnancy with Kokoro had definitely woken her up...to her it had been just as good as Minato forcing her to wake up and move on with her life, even with all the things she hadn't known then. But now she had a greater understanding of the man she loved. She would continue to move forward.
"And having a daughter that will always remind you of what you have lost," Shadow Yukari was quick to point out. The Shadow was trying to make her falter...to take all her feelings and change them to something else.
"No, a daughter that is there to remind me of what I had. Of course its painful, but that is because of how real and important that time was to me. That doesn't make it bad...it doesn't mean I am suffering. I would never want to forget Minato or the trials and problems we had to face. It was a blessing when I learned I was pregnant. I had something...living, tangible proof that Minato was in my life...who loved me, cared for me. And Kokoro...one day she'll know and understand who her Father was. So no...nothing you say can change us. We will always be partners, boyfriend and girlfriend, husband and wife. Even if we don't get to live that life together, we both know and feel the same way!" Yukari quickly felt herself regain her confidence and drew her arrow back stronger than before. Whatever they could say or do meant nothing. It would always be hard on her own but Minato wasn't ever truly gone from her life. He would always be watching over her...and she also had their daughter to raise, a child she loved...and would no doubt only continue to love more as she grew up. It wasn't what she had dreamed of, but there were no singular decision that she could regret up to this point. She and Minato both did their best with what they knew at the time. And even if at one part of her life all she did was run away...she wasn't like that now. And she would continue to strive to never be that way again.
The Shadow of Minato sighed seemingly disgusted by the pair and their words. "Hope? Love? Faith? What ridiculous notions the two of you share. Don't lie and pretend that you fully accepted your fate. The only reason Minato made the decision to use his own soul as the seal was because he trusted no one else to do so. Because he realized that if there wasn't someone to constantly monitor the seal that eventually Erebus would break through without no one even knowing...and The Fall would have only been delayed for a time. In the end he had decided to shoulder all of it alone. Do either of you call that trust in your friends?"
"Say what you want," Minato shifted his stance in front of Yukari. "If I hadn't done what I did, then even I would have forgotten about Nyx...after all the only reason I retained my memories of the Dark Hour was because of my soul being in contact with Nyx. And the reason everyone else remembered was because of their connection to me. Ironically it was my hanging on to life to fulfill that promise that prevented everyone from remembering. So it wasn't til I was being pulled back to the seal that they all started to remember. Yeah, I could have done it differently, but even after thinking about it for this long I feel that I have made the right choice."
That was the reason they had all forgotten? It was similar to what Ryoji had said when he had given them the choice. It was actually the connection to Nyx that let them remember...so they only remembered it because...of Minato. That made sense in a different aspect as well. They only began to clearly remember the events after the arrival of Minato's journal in which he recounted the events. He was their connection to those memories of the Dark Hour and the fight with Nyx. But she understood now better than before...even if there was other options...they were not necessarily good options.
She believed in him...so much that it hurt her more than she wanted it to. He could have stopped it without sacrificing himself but there would be no way of knowing that the Great Seal would still be up. And if he had done so he would have also cut off his own memories to the events in the Dark Hour as a result. Then one day down the line when the seal began to break down...that would be when their memories would return but by that time, it would possibly be too late to do anything at all. The only way Minato could ensure that Nyx and Erebus were split apart was to be there to watch over it himself. But the location of the seal was in the place known as the sea of unconscious...a place normal humans couldn't go. There...had been little choice. It is also why it hurt Yukari so much...because she knew without a doubt that Minato had done the right thing...had done something that only he could do. Gone to a place she could no longer reach. "I hate it," she said without realizing it. But she wouldn't want to hide her thoughts from him.
Minato glanced back at her, "Yukari...I can't just..."
"I know that! You don't have to tell me why...idiot. I love you...and I trust you more than anything. I know it was something that only you could do...but its also why I hate it...why you? Out of everyone in the world...you were the one that had to carry death within you...you're the one that had to grow up alone. And then I found out that our parents had been friends...that we had even been friends as children...but we got separated and we even forgot about each other. It wasn't even till now that I even remember it. You had a power beyond just Persona...you had those social links that you were constantly struggling with and then you even had to deal with me and all that I put you through. You should have earned the right to live...not to be burdened alone to watch over the Seal...it isn't fair! You...have a daughter Minato. I named her Kokoro just like you wanted. She's beautiful...she has your hair and definitely inherited your ability to sleep through anything. And then your twin sister...despite the fact you two have never met...I could see it almost immediately that she was your sister. No...no, none of this is fair...it isn't right, after everything you suffered through...and the price you paid for everyone...that is why I hate it. But I believe in you...and I'll never stop trusting or loving you." Yukari couldn't help it...she had so much she wanted to say...but as much as she knew it wasn't the time...and she needed to keep her guard up. "That's why we have to protect this...I have to do my best for our daughter...so maybe one day you'll get to see her...one way or another."
"Yukari...I love you. And that is why we're going to win this fight," Minato took a couple steps forward moving to a more aggressive stance.
Shadow Minato just laughed, "I'm sorry are we just in the way? Should we give you some privacy? It could be quite erotic to have sex on a rooftop." The Shadow drove his point home when he moved up behind the Shadow Yukari from behind and slipped his hand up her shirt and cupped her left breast with his right hand. "Seems like someone here agrees with me."
Shadow Yukari moaned with obvious desire for more. Shadow Minato responded by slipping his hand down further underneath the skirt that Shadow Yukari was wearing.
As appalling such a scene was to Yukari...she couldn't deny that she had the desire for Minato to touch her. But certainly not right now, and definitely not in a place like this. Angry beyond what she had figured she would be she released her arrow forcing the two shadow figures to jump apart. Both of them were obviously amused.
"Ooo, I think we hit a sore spot. Your dedication to your beloved leaves for some quite lonely nights, doesn't it?" Shadow Minato taunted her.
"Should I talk about some purchases I've made to help with my loneliness? Or how I still call out his name when using my fun toys?" Shadow Yukari added.
Yukari felt herself shrink back. There wasn't really a way to refute those statements. She couldn't help that she still fantasized about Minato...even now. She could never forget his touch or how he had made her feel when they were alone together. She had no intention of ever being with anyone else...so yeah, she had made a choice on how she would deal with it. Should she feel ashamed about it? No. If she had known that he was going to die...that there was nothing that could have been done...she would have pressed for them to get married. She would have done everything to spend every waking moment with him. But that was in the past...There was no changing what had happened. She found her courage once more and stood her ground, "Yeah, so what? I will never stop wanting him...I will always fantasize about him. I remember how it felt when he touched me. I remember how much I had craved it before we were even together. So what are you trying to get me to say? That I miss him? That I blame him for not being here? No, you don't get it. He could have left me nothing...could have simply lived out his last days and never said anything at all. But he didn't...he was worried I wouldn't remember...that all the challenges we faced would simply disappear. I mean it isn't natural to not remember why you started dating somebody. That's why he wrote the journal...so I could re-live those times, when I wanted."
"That journal was our journey together. Every detail is important, the good, the bad and even the mundane. People don't realize what they take for granted until it's out of reach. I wanted to leave something behind that was personal...and whenever she wanted to re-live those days all she would have to do was pick up the journal and open it. I thought...this is how I would live on...this was the only legacy I could leave behind. Although I do admit I did indulge a bit in those last couple months with Yukari. I even spent the last of my money to take Yukari to a few places to create some last memories. We went skiing, some time alone in Kyoto and Tokyo. Only over the weekend but they were romantic and memorable. There is nothing you can say or do that can get between Yukari and I. We gave all of ourselves to each other...the best and worst of us. And yes, I regret not being able to continue our journey together into parenthood and beyond that...but if I can protect the world and ensure that Yukari and my daughter are still alive...then I will pay any price to make sure that it stays that way!" Minato took two steps forward as the Shadow Minato suddenly attacked and met him head on with katana against katana.
"Your speeches are starting to piss me off. You've seen the worst that humanity has to offer and you spout this shit that the love of a girl makes saving all of it worth it? Don't play with me!" the Shadow Minato tried to push back but Minato easily held his ground.
"Yeah, I used to think that too," Minato pushed back hard and caused the Shadow to stumble back. Minato charged in and rammed his shoulder into him and causing him to fall but the Shadow Yukari was there to catch him. "You may be a Shadow but if you truly seek to understand why...then you have to make efforts to understand it, Nyarlathotep. Only by experience can you understand it." Minato hadn't been tricked at all...he seemed to have known that the being known as Nyarlathotep had been there the whole time. No...if Yukari had to guess he was actually portraying all of them as their Shadows and all at once. Just how powerful was this being?
"I understand enough...the ruthless, uncaring and destructive side of humanity. Kirijo Kouetsu was a man who only sought power...power even if it meant destroying the very world to obtain it. Many more came before him seeking power and control. Using any means to obtain it. War, death, murder, rape, discrimination...yet you think this world should persist because of something like love? I refuse to understand it. These are the reasons humans will never become enlightened beings. It is that very side of humanity that gives birth to my existence," Nyarlathotep got to his feet, his golden eyes staring with hatred at Minato.
"You were born because of it, but that doesn't mean that it is all humanity has to offer. You represent only one side of the whole and you know that," Minato sounded like he was trying to reason with the Shadow. Yukari kept her bow ready.
Nyarlathotep laughed, "At least you present your arguments better than that fool Philemon." Nyarlathotep took a couple steps forward brandishing his sword and Shadow Yukari readied her bow behind him. "Now show me...prove to me your resolve!"
Minato wasted no time and charged in, as he did so Yukari released her first arrow just above Minato's right shoulder, and as he always had before he side stepped to the left allowing the arrow a clean path to Nyarlathotep. He deflected the arrow but Minato was right on top of him forcing him to tumble backwards to avoid his attack. He fell right into Shadow Yukari and knocking her over as a result. Minato stood back as Yukari put her evoker to her head.
"Isis! Magarudyne!" Yukari unleashed a torrent of wind on the Shadows as Minato seemed to summon his Persona by mere thought.
"Orpheus Telos!" Minato summoned...Orpheus but he was different than she remembered...this one was adorned in red colors instead of light blue. She wasn't sure what he had done but an intense white light came down on the two Shadows and caused Yukari to cover her eyes to try and shield them from its intensity.
When the light cleared...the Shadow Yukari was gone and Nyarlathotep seemed to be barely hanging on.
"Heh, I guess I shouldn't be surprised of such an attack from someone who holds the Universe Arcana. But I won't be so easily defeated. All your friends will have to win their own battles...if only one of them loses...then you all lose," Nyarlathotep laughed as his formed slowly faded away to nothing, leaving Minato and Yukari alone on the fake roof of the Iwatodai dormitory.
"The Universe Arcana?" Yukari asked.
"It's what I used to make the Great Seal. My...reward for all the social links. It is the power given to me by everyone...you included," Minato turned to her with a smile and let his sword fall to the ground. "Yukari, every part of me wants to say I'm sorry. I was a coward and I didn't tell you what was going to happen. I didn't want to leave you with unanswered questions. So I figured the best way to tell you and ensure I didn't leave out any details was to write the journal. I was afraid that by telling you I would...ruin our last moments together. It was a selfish reason to withhold it. Because I...just wanted to see you smiling and happy before I moved on."
Yukari knew that...she knew him better than anyone else. She hadn't needed a journal or anything else to tell her why he hadn't said anything. Sure, she wanted to know...but it was because she wanted to understand what he had to go through...the last few months he had been alive had to be the most agonizing. "I wanted to be mad...and I probably was initially. It's because I hated the fact that you had to suffer alone...knowing a truth that everyone else had forgotten. Not only that...but each day ticked down more of what life you had remaining. That is what hurt the most, Minato. It would have hurt...but I still would have done my best to be smiling for you til the end if you had told me."
Minato looked away from her, "I know that...but I...I didn't want to see your face when you knew I would die. I never wanted to be the cause of those kinds of tears. But I guess that is selfish too...I probably just made it worse as a result."
This...this was her Minato. Despite his constant thoughts of others he was still a bit selfish...looking out for his own preservation. He had never wanted to be a problem for others...never wanted to endanger those around him. He took responsibility for all the risks and in the end he even tasked himself for being the guardian of humanity...ensuring that humanity's own destructive wish did not come true. "I think we all would have done things differently if given a second chance. But then again...maybe we wouldn't. It isn't like we would know what we do right now. We made the best decision we could with the information that we had." Yukari slung her bow over her shoulder and took Minato's hand in hers and made him look at her. She could really feel his hand...his warmth...she felt a plethora of emotions rushing over her as a result. "We don't have room for regret. All we can do is accept the past and keep moving forward. Isn't that what your foster Father used to tell you?"
Minato smiled, "That's right."
"It is enough for me just to know what you were thinking then...and the journal you wrote is more than evidence enough of just how much you thought of all of it. I love you, Minato," Yukari gave him her best smile...one that only he had ever truly brought to her face. Even the happiness she had spending time with her Mother or her daughter Kokoro could only have existed because of Minato.
Minato stepped forward and kissed her. Yukari's senses were suddenly overloaded by the feeling of familiarity as she felt his lips on hers. His arms wrapped around her like they once did...his taste, tenderness and every sensation that came from this action quickly overwhelmed her. She missed this...she missed him and this only served to push her over that edge. Tears fell from her eyes as she tried her best to memorize every second of this moment. A moment that shouldn't be possible. This place...this time...all of it was a fabrication of the power of a Shadow. When Minato tried to pull back she instead grabbed the back of his head and forced him to continue to kiss her. She wasn't ready for him to let go of this. She needed to taste him, to be close to him...to feel his touch and explore every part of him. He belonged to her...she never wanted to let this go.
When Yukari finally did let go she was panting due to a number of reasons. She hadn't wanted to stop...her body ached for more...but there was so much they should talk about. Minato put his forehead against hers and gently wiped away the tears as they continued to fall and held a soft affectionate smile as he looked into her eyes. She could see the question in his eyes, but she waited for him to ask it. "Yukari, tell me about our daughter."
She giggled a bit and sniffled trying to get her tears to stop as she reached for the chain around her neck. On it was the charm that Minato had given her a long time ago...but there was an addition to it...it was a miniature opal shaped object. Yukari led Minato's hands to it, "Open it."
Minato nodded and hit a small button on the top of it, and flipped open revealing two pictures. One was of Minato and Yukari...he was holding her in the air. It was a picture that had been taken while they had been on a date, Yukari remembered having to convince an older man to take it for them. But he had been rather grumpy...but he thanked them at the end...saying they had reminded him of his deceased wife. Yukari paused and then shook off her thoughts to focus on the moment here with Minato while she could. The other was a picture of Yukari holding their baby, Kokoro, it was of the first day out of the hospital...and it had been a party at the dormitory in celebration. All of SEES had been there. "She's going to have blue hair just like you, its not much right now...but she has your eyes."
"Looks like she has your nose, which is good cause I happen to like your nose," Minato grinned.
"She also inherited your ability to sleep through anything as well as sleeping anywhere," Yukari giggled the last of her tears finally drying up. "She just turned six months old you know."
"I do, thanks to my sister," he laughed. "Hopefully Kokoro won't give you trouble like I did."
"No less trouble than the trouble I made for you," Yukari countered.
"Either way, she'll grow up to be beautiful, just like her Mother. I just wish I'd be there to beat back the legions of boys that will go after her," Minato chuckled.
"Oh don't worry, she's going to learn how to take care of herself. No one is going to mess with Arisato Kokoro," Yukari was definitely proud of that. She'd make sure her daughter was tough...with her legacy...she would definitely benefit from learning some self defense. "Fortunately your sister will make a good Aunt and can teach her a thing or two as well."
Minato's smile faded a bit, "So you named her Arisato Kokoro?"
"She's your daughter," Yukari voice dropped to a softer tone. "If I had just given her my family name...then it would seem like I would be forgetting you. But she is only here because of you. I'm going to tell her everything about you...tell her how proud she should be to be your daughter."
"Well...I'll try and look over both of you...no matter how limited that may be," Minato's voice came out as a whisper as he looked at the picture.
Yukari shook her head, "You look after the whole world now. Which means you are always looking out for us." The time she had spent thinking about what she would say to him never prepared her for actually being given that opportunity. She had a list of things to say...but instead she just found herself leaning into him and just enjoying being close to him once more...even if it was just for a little while. She knew this was hardly the time to indulge herself. But all she could do was take advantage of the time she was given. After all she had no doubts that her friends would conquer their own battles. So while she waited to be reunited with everyone...she would take full advantage of this time.
? Inoto Hospital Research Facility ? / ?
Hamuko felt a strange sensation pulse through her head as she finally managed to open her eyes. This place...was familiar to her. If only for the reason she had seen this room recently...but another part of her mind was on alert.
She groaned as she tried to sit up from where she was laying on the ground. She heard the unmistakable noise of chains as she did so...when she tried to move her arm it refused to move further than a few inches from its position. Then Hamuko was very aware of the restraints connected to her. Her wrists, ankles and one around her neck. There was no sitting up. She had little to no range of motion...this room...was what had been referred to as The Show Room. Many times in the past she had been subjected to experiments while strapped down like she was now. Because of it...she was doing her best to not panic.
"She is a superb specimen. She continues to provide amazing evidence. She is particularly fond of that one Shadow. It is the first time we have seen a bond or connection between any of the specimen's and the Shadows," a voice came from some distance away but Hamuko couldn't turn to hear it.
"Yes, but that shadow also seems a bit different as well. It does not seem to interact well with the other Shadows," another man said.
"We should increase the interactions between the two. The amount of data we could gather could be important," another speculated.
"I was told her sibling was also a specimen at a different facility. If we could find out the results of that research...then maybe we could find another connection," the conversation had turned to her brother. What exactly was Hamuko experiencing? Was this an actual conversation that had happened then?
"Hmm, if I remember correctly, her twin brother has shown potential but they are unsure of how to awaken it. So in that regard this one is a step behind. She still has not shown the potential. But her interactions with the Shadows have shown promise so I think we are along the right path," this voice was familiar...it was most likely the voice of Yoshimitsu.
"Shall we move on to today's experiment then?"
"Yes, prep her in the usual manner," Yoshimitsu said.
Hamuko could hear them approaching...men in white stood over her. She tried to speak but it simply came out as mumbling...her mouth was gagged. When had that happen? She could have sworn it wasn't like that just a moment ago. She struggled against her restraints as she attempted to scream through the gag.
One of the men held up a long syringe and quickly injected it into her. At first Hamuko thought it would be some sort of sedative but instead came a blinding pain, starting from the injection spot it spread across her body causing her to scream...only to come out as muffled noise. It hurt...it hurt so horribly, beyond what she thought was possible...the pain consumed her...body and mind. Desperately she wanted it to end...she shook her body violently pulling on her chains as much as she could...but the pain was so vast and so thorough that she could not tell if she managed to do anything at all. Her cries muffled by the gag...the sound of chains in her ear as she tried to do anything to alleviate the pain.
It did stop...and Hamuko was left with only silence as she gently sobbed from the pain she had endured. She tried to look around but could not seem to turn her head enough to get a view of anything.
"Hamuko-chan!" a new voice was accompanied to the sound of a door being violently forced open. A moment later Kana was standing over her. "No, no..." Kana was quickly undoing her restraints and Hamuko could hear the chains hitting the ground. The last one was around her neck and as soon as it was gone Kana pulled Hamuko up and into her arms. She welcomed Kana's touch...but she felt the pain still. "Hamuko-chan, are you okay? I'm sorry...I didn't get here fast enough...I..."
Hamuko pulled out the gag but didn't let go of Kana. "Relax Kana-chan," Hamuko managed weakly, she simply held on to Kana. "I just...need a moment."
"This place sure brings back memories." An unwelcome voice spoke.
Hamuko quickly looked at the source of the new voice and saw the Shadow of Minato...no, this one called himself Nyarlathotep.
"What do you want with Hamuko-chan?" Kana stood defensively in front of Hamuko although she was still holding on to Kana.
Nyarlathotep took a few steps his attention on the environment around them rather than on the two of them, "How long were you down here? I think it was around the time you were 6. Well naturally it would be...it all happened about the same time as your parents were killed. The very same night that happened was the night that the Shadow helped you escape."
"How would you know anything about what happened here?" Hamuko asked.
"Well part of me does comprise of the other Shadows that were at this facility. And naturally I would have been attracted to the experiments they conducted here," Nyarlathotep said as he looked over to Hamuko. "The researchers were all fools, they hardly understood what it meant to expose children to Shadows. There are many factors that are needed for an individual to become a Persona user. But there is one key deciding factor that effects an individual's capacity to awaken that power."
"A key factor?" Hamuko shook her head. For some reason she understood what he was referring to. It was something that she had noticed about all of SEES as well. "You mean...its a choice."
Nyarlathotep nodded and seeming to be satisfied with the answer. "A more appropriate means of saying it would be...resolve. A coward that simply goes with the flow and runs away from every problem would never be capable of awakening to Persona, at least not one he could properly control. Only those that choose to stop and fight regardless of the odds. You gained that resolve while trying to save your friends in this very hospital...although in the floors higher than this one. And Kana, the Shadow, awakened hers because of her resolve to ensure your safety. All the members of the group known as SEES all had to make a choice...and it was in those moments that each of them awakened to their power. No one becomes a Persona user by accident. And those that never face that dilemma and our forced into that power are threatened by it."
"You're referring to the members of Strega...and how they had to take those suppressants to use their Persona without it killing them," Hamuko echoed the information out loud as she pieced it all together. "But how do you know so much about the nature of Persona?"
"Just as I am the embodiment of mankind's destructive nature...there is a counterpart to me that represents humanity's potential. A fool who bestowed the power of Persona to a group of individuals. But just like everything else, there are rules...and understanding what those rules are is how I better manipulate it to my advantage," Nyarlathotep laughed. "For example, did you know that a Persona can be reverted to a Shadow?"
"Revert? You mean..." Hamuko's eyes widened as she made the connection and why he had brought up this conversation.
"You are smart," he laughed. "Someone who losses their resolve...they lose their Persona. Well I guess that is putting it in very simple terms but that is the general idea. And someone who had a very strong resolve can produce an incredible Shadow when they are broken. Now let me pose to you a question. What if you wanted to gather a mass of shadows in a effective manner? Would you go looking for them...or would you gather those with Persona's...and break them?" The laugh he let out now made Hamuko's skin crawl.
It was a horrible thought...people...that had made the choice to fight...or protect something of their own...and they had been broken...shells of what they had been...just to obtain their shadows?
"Oh! I have another question. What if you figured out a way to withdraw individuals shadows forcefully, regardless if they were a Persona user or not?" he grinned as his voice dropped to a whisper. "Take a guess at what the Apathy Syndrome really was."
"It...was.." Hamuko nearly fell from the table she was on but Kana was there to catch her. But what he was implying was clear. No...for that...it meant previous Persona users were somehow captured and experimented on...until they had been so broken down that they were a mere shell compared to what they were before. They had lost themselves...and their Persona. And then they used that same information to spread it out further. It was also a means to gather power...it all clicked in Hamuko's head and she felt herself go light headed. If Kana hadn't been there she would no doubt have fallen. But now, Hamuko felt sick. "To accumulate the power needed to create The Fall. They found a way to create Shadows."
Nyarlathotep laughed once more, "Correct! After all, doing something as affecting the entire world would be pretty hard if you didn't have enough power for it. It's why at first the Dark Hour only affected a small area, and would be focused around an object. An object infused with a few dozen shadows power neatly packed inside."
"What about places like the Abyss of Time? Or places like this?" Hamuko wasn't sure why Nyarlathotep was being so talkative but it was best to keep him talking while she recovered her strength...she was in no position to fight after the torment she had just endured. She could barely stand...she was using Kana to stand and had no idea where her Naginata was. It had to be somewhere nearby.
"Shadows have no wishes; this is a fact that cannot be dismissed. They only do what is natural to them. To destroy all that gets in their way. So a place like this is created simply using the Shadow's power as a catalyst...it takes the dreams and wishes of an individual...or group of individuals and makes it tangible...trapping them within their deepest desires. So I wonder why is it that you brought yourself here to be tortured," his words made Hamuko's blood run cold. "Maybe perhaps you feel you deserve this treatment."
Hamuko nearly fell over again because her knees had gone weak but Kana held onto her and supported her entire weight, "I wanted this?" No, that couldn't be it. All her life she had been the one that had been the lucky one. Things just came naturally to her and she never really had problems growing up. She had forgotten about her time in this facility and pretty much anything before she was 7 years old. No, her brother had been the one that suffered had given up everything...and she had been protected by him since the moment he was born without ever knowing it. He had shown more promise as a Persona user...had suffered the loss of their parents and shouldered their grief for the both of them. He had come back to Iwatodai and Tatsumi Port Island and the Moonlight Bridge where their parents had died and had avenged them for the both of them. And now...he silently watched over the whole world...protecting those he loved and her. Her brother...her twin brother had done so much for her without ever meeting her. She couldn't begin to understand the amount of suffering he had to endure...the emotional weight he had to bare alone and...Hamuko closed her eyes. Now she understood. This was what she wanted. "I get it."
"Hamuko-chan?" Kana's concerned voice only gave more strength to Hamuko's resolve.
She stood on her own weight and stepped forward, no longer needing Kana's support to stand, "That's right, this is what I wanted. Not because I want to suffer or hurt myself. No...what I want to do ultimately is understand Minato, my twin brother who gave up everything to protect what is important to him. I want to feel what he went through...suffer like he did, so that he wouldn't have to be alone. So that I can reach him...and stand next to him...and be the sister he needed. I should have been there to support him...so that he wouldn't have had to shoulder the world on his own. So I am not going to let you or anyone else get in my way! At the very least I will live my life in his place so I can experience all that he couldn't for him."
"Truly?" Nyarlathotep scoffed at her and shook his head. "You don't know what you want. But your resolve is there. Shall we put it to the test?"
"Hamuko!" Kana grabbed her and dived to the side as a massive weapon came crashing down. Looking back the image of Nyarlathotep was gone and instead was replaced with a large Shadow that had four spider like legs with the torso of a human and its mask a pure white with golden slits for eye sockets. It had massive arms that were wielding a massive club as a weapon.
"Discard your facade and look upon your true self! This is the nature of what a Shadow is! Come now! I shall smash your petty preconceptions into nothing!" The Shadow announced.
"Hamuko-chan," Kana spoke softly from next to her. "I know there is a lot you are trying to find out right now...and even if after all of this you still aren't sure what to do...I will be with you all the way. Hamuko...you showed kindness to me...a Shadow. Treated me like a friend...it confused me...I had only been treated as a thing...something that was feared and handled like nothing more than an animal. But not you...you made me feel...feel like I could be more than I was. I wanted to be like you so much. But do you know why I took this form?"
Hamuko shook her head, "Why me?"
"To me I had to become strong to protect you...so I imagined myself as the strongest thing that I knew...it was you," Kana smiled. "So no matter what you face or decisions that you make, I will always be on your side. I'm going to support you no matter what you face."
"Kana-chan..." Hamuko shook her head. "Thanks. I don't know what the future holds for us...but I'm going to keep moving forward until I get the ending that I want." Hamuko noticed her naginata was leaning against the wall. The Shadow charged towards them and she took it to dive to her weapon and quickly moved away from it. She ran forward slashing at one of the Shadow's legs as she did so and stood next to Kana who was standing in a ready combat stance. "Our Persona is something that doesn't allow us to turn away from who we are. We constantly have to face ourselves in order to continue to draw upon that power. And not you or anyone else can take that away without our permission. Kana and I will never stop moving, not as long as we have each other!"
"Foolish sentiments from foolish creatures," the Shadow brought his club down at them. The two side jumped away from it and then immediately both leaped towards its mask. Kana landed a powerful kick on the mask and jumped off of it as Hamuko connected the blade of her weapon into the mask.
"Eurydice!" Kana's Persona came forward and prevented the Shadow from retaliating as Hamuko used her weapon to spring board up into the air and freeing her weapon as she did so. She twisted her body as she approached the top of the Show Room's ceiling. The momentum she had made it feel for the moment that she was actually right side up.
"Siegfried!" Hamuko shattered the tarot card in front of her as she leaped straight down at the Shadow. Her Persona came down fast and hard as it drove its large sword down onto the Shadow. Hamuko came right behind it and brought all of her weight and strength on to her naginata and right into the mask. The mask resisted for a moment...then it cracked and her blade slid into it. The Shadow let out a horrific howl as Hamuko jumped away and leaving her weapon in its mask.
Kana was there to take advantage of it. She jumped by Hamuko and up to the naginata and used it to land on the mask itself and used the weapon as leverage. She twirled around the weapon and kicked hard at its base causing it to split the mask even further. The Shadow cried out and tried to claw at Kana but Hamuko had landed and swiftly turned around to jump back up and used her Persona to send its arm reeling back. She jumped to the other side of the naginata and put her hand on top of Kana's.
The two shared a glance, "On three, Kana! One..."
"Two...
"Three!" They both yelled as they combined their strength to kick down hard on the weapon and the resistance of the mask gave way. The Shadow disappeared and the two fell. Hamuko wrapped her arms around Kana as they landed on the ground.
Both of the girls started giggling and it quickly turned to laughter as the two laid next to each other on the ground. Hamuko's weapon landing somewhere away from them.
"You've gotten stronger, Hamuko-chan," Kana said through her laughter.
"You too, Kana-chan," Hamuko said as she slowed her laughing and was left with a smile. She pulled Kana into a hug as they laid on the ground. "Thank you, Kana. I could have never faced this without you."
"I won't ever let you face anything by yourself, not anymore," Kana smiled as she buried her head into Hamuko's chest. "You are everything to me, Hamuko-chan."
Hamuko knew it without it ever having to be said. Here she had doubted herself...about her own existence and if it even meant anything for her to keep living. It had been a thought that had plagued her for a very long time. Constantly abandoned with her only friends were Saya-chan and Akira-san. She knew better now...she had Kana-chan and Yukari-chan. People that had shown genuine feelings for her. Yukari may have come to her because of her brother and what he would have wanted. But Yukari had shown that she cared for her as well.
She could keep going. She could keep moving forward. No, life wasn't going to be easy but at least now she knew about the darkness in her past. She was a part of a family that seemed to be tied to Shadows...but that didn't have to be the future. Maybe...somehow...in some way she could find a way to break that chain. For now she would just have to take it one step at a time.
Moonlight Bridge / Pseudo Dark Hour
One after another...members of SEES began to re-appear on the Moonlight Bridge. Minato couldn't hide his smile as his sister appeared along with Kana. He could see a definite change in her resolve...both of them. At the end of this...there was still a choice she had to make. A choice for her alone. He could hardly imagine himself having a twin sister. If he wasn't where he was now as the Great Seal...then he probably would have reacted a lot differently. But Minato knew more than he should because he was the Great Seal. He could feel and see in ways that were not physically possible. But the form he took right now was nothing more than a dream. Supported by everyone's desires for him to be there with them...with a little more help from Ryoji.
Speaking of...Ryoji appeared next to Minato as if summoned to him with his thoughts.
"And where did you go during that little adventure?" Minato asked him.
"Nyarlathotep seems interested on how the Appriser is capable of having such free will...or why one would help humans, considering the contradictory nature of my existence," Ryoji smiled. "I simply told him that he does not know what you are capable of, as well as that of the individuals around you."
"That does sound like something you would say," Minato shook his head. "I'm guessing you didn't mention how you were sealed inside of me as I grew up and had forgotten what you even were until you were whole again."
"Any explanation would prove nothing to him. His reasoning only ever leads to but a few conclusions. Since he is the collective thoughts of mankind's more destructive side," Ryoji shrugged.
He shook his head and looked around, "Is everyone here?"
"It appears that way. Is everyone okay?" Mitsuru asked.
"Man, that was a rough fight. Haven't had to struggle that much in quite some time. What about you guys?" Junpei chimed in.
"Fine here, a little annoyed that he would use the site of the burning orphanage as a battleground," Akihiko grumbled.
"Yeah, it seems like he was trying to shake us up by invoking moments in our past," Yukari was holding on to Minato's hand and didn't seem like she would ever let go. That didn't bother Minato...if it was reversed he knew he would do the same. But nothing could last forever. Things had happened for a reason...and it was not something that could be easily changed.
"He mentioned something about being able to turn Persona's into Shadows. Do you think that was his goal?" Hamuko asked looking at Minato. Unable to help himself he stepped towards his sister and pulled Yukari with him. "Onii-chan?" She gave him a questioning look but she stepped towards him as well.
"Are you okay, Nee-chan?" Minato looked over her...unsure why but something suddenly worried him.
"I'm fine, Onii-chan. Kano rescued me," she smiled, but he knew instantly.
"Please, don't lie to me," Minato voice dropped.
She looked at him and put her hand up to his face. Yukari had let go of Minato's hand and allowed him to put his own hand over hers as he brought his own hand up to Hamuko's face. "You have no idea how long I dreamed of having family...family that was concerned over me...would constantly check up on me...and even call me out on my bullshit answers."
"Nee-chan, if I had been there...if I had known..." Minato started but was interrupted when Hamuko's hand moved from his cheeks to put a finger to his lips.
"I know, Onii-chan. Believe me...I know how frustrating it has been for me. I learned...so much about you...about what you had to go through. If I had been with you...maybe it would have been easier...I could have shouldered some of your burden. That is all I have been thinking about...what could I have done if I had been at your side?" Hamuko shook her head and took a step forward wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. "Onii-chan..."
"Yeah, I know I shouldn't but...it's all I've been thinking about too. But it isn't a total loss. While this is far from normal...we still got to meet," Minato said in more of a whisper. "I guess it doesn't stop us from wishing though."
"No...it doesn't," Hamuko whispered back. She pulled back looking into his eyes.
He smiled softly and put his hand up to her cheek again but this time wiping tears away, "One day...we will be reunited. I know that doesn't offer much comfort but...its the best I can do, Nee-chan."
Hamuko didn't say anything but instead moved back in to rest her head on his shoulder. Minato didn't know what else to say...he didn't even know what to do when it came to having any family...much less a twin sister. Nothing he said could ever ease the pain that would be there for her. Minato could hardly sort how he felt when he felt so disconnected at the moment. He was the Great Seal...he wasn't sure what being that had an effect on him. All that continued to matter to him was ensuring that it continued to exist for as long as it was needed. But he also wanted to ensure the safety of those he had fought so hard to protect. And while he had not known of his sister's existence at that time...that did not exclude her from that net of individuals. He truly wished he had the opportunity to know his twin. But that chance...if there had ever been one...was long gone. He could only place hope that one day...they would be given that chance...if only in another life.
"All of you seriously piss me off," it was Nyarlathotep...still controlling Minato's real body. Behind him...an unconscious form of Yoshimitsu...but something seemed off to Minato. "Here I provided the perfect stage for all of you...yet you cling to such ridiculously idealistic sentiments. Hope for the future...belief in your friends? Even for those that have already died. You all make me sick! Why would you all defend a world that is inhabited by humans bent on nothing but power and the suffering of others. And yet you all believe you can change that?" Nyarlathotep shook his head.
"Even if it is just one person...one child. Every individual counts. It won't be easy and it will take time...time beyond out life on this planet. But there will always be someone with a reason to fight. And yes...there will always be individuals that go against that but, that is just human nature. We are diverse and free willed people, so we will always clash with one another. But that is what makes it worth fighting for. I believe in a future where there is no one wishing for The Fall. I will never give up. That is the future we all fought for," Yukari was the one to speak defiantly at Nyarlathotep. Minato couldn't help but grin.
"You won't get what you want here, Nyarlathotep. You had manipulated Yoshimitsu to gather Persona users for your own benefit but all you did was strengthen them," Minato added.
Nyarlathotep was quickly laughing again, "Oh, but do you know where you are?"
"I am completely aware of where we are," Minato retorted.
"Well naturally you would know. But does everyone else?" Nyarlathotep casted his gaze at the others. "You would all believe we are on the Moonlight Bridge...in what is called...the Pseudo Dark Hour. You would be...incorrect. You are actually within the sea of unconscious...before the Great Seal itself!"
"What...how did we...get here?" Fuuka was probably really confused. The revelation probably made her confirm it...and she quickly realized that they weren't on the Moonlight Bridge. "I sense...Minato-san...all around us."
"I see, you took advantage of them all...by manipulating each scenario they experienced so that they would think about me and their relationship with me. Isn't that right? By doing that you used their collective wish to literally bring them closer to me so you could hitch a ride here," Minato chuckled a bit. "So you aren't actually surprised by how that all worked out...you actually counted on it. My, my...I'd say even you have a little bit of faith in humanity."
"I have faith in your ignorance of the world. That you all believe in your childish conceptions of what you can achieve. As with all things you are doomed to fail," Nyarlathotep seemed more amused by their defiance rather than irritated. "Besides you have already caused the fall of your kind." He reached out behind him...and like the shattering of glass they were no longer on the Moonlight Bridge but standing before the Great Seal.
Minato felt it...suddenly a piercing pain came through him and he collapsed to the ground...he looked seeing Nyarlathotep's hand on the Great Seal. Yukari and Hamuko were at his side at a moment...but this form he was holding in front of them meant nothing. The Great Seal was also him, more accurately his soul.
"I wonder...by breaking this...does that mean...you'll die along with the world?" Nyarlathotep laughed.
SEES charged forward to stop him...but an immense Shadow erupted in front of them. No this was not an ordinary Shadow...it was Erebus.
"You? But we..." Junpei shook his head not believing the sight of it.
"No...this beast can never truly be defeated," Hamuko said as she got to her feet. "But either way I'm not about to let you harm my Onii-chan! Nyarlathotep!"
Erebus was a Shadow that had two bodies connected at the center. It gave them no time to adjust as it came forward swiping past the others and towards Minato. He was in too much pain to move...and it didn't really matter...he was taking more damage from Nyarlathotep than Erebus could ever do to him. But Hamuko dived on to him and knocked him away from Erebus' attack.
"We have to get him away from the Seal!" Mitsuru was giving out orders.
Minato could feel the pull from the Seal...it was demanding him to release this form and back to the Seal itself.
"Onii-chan..." Hamuko was holding him...when had he been turned towards her? That didn't matter...he could see it now...he was fading away...being pulled back to the seal.
"Don't worry...it wasn't like I am actually here. That Seal is me...not this form," Minato offered her a smile.
"Don't give me that shit. I'm not an idiot, Onii-chan," Hamuko held a fierce stare with me.
"I know that," Minato said softly looking up at her. "We have...quite the unlucky family...don't we?" He coughed and felt another wave of pain run over him. "Get to the Seal...Nee-chan. Touch the Seal."
"I will...just hang on, Onii-chan," Hamuko set him down and then was running off, away from his sight.
Minato could not resist the pull of the Great Seal for much longer. Another individual came into his view...he smiled up at her. "Yukari, it seems like I caused you a lot of pain. And I can hardly imagine how hard it was to go through with pregnancy in your senior year. It makes me pretty irresponsible to leave you like that."
"We both had choices Minato. You know that," Yukari whispered as she grasped onto his hand. "It was hard...and I was afraid of so many things...but Mitsuru was there for me and so was everyone else. But no matter what I went through...all of that had been a price I would willingly pay again to have our daughter. She is so beautiful, Minato. She is our beautiful baby girl. I just wish...you could hold her."
Minato was starting to visibly disappear now, "Time is up, Yukari. I have to return to the seal."
She nodded, "I love you, always and forever."
"Always and forever..." he smiled one last time. "I'll be watching over you and Kokoro. I love you, Yukari. I will see you again..."
And then the last of his body faded off...as he merged back with the Great Seal.
The Great Seal / Sea of Unconscious / Pseudo Dark Hour
Hamuko rolled forward as Erebus swiped towards her, as she popped up she jumped and came to a stop with enough time to pick up her naginata that was on the ground. She quickly used her Persona to halt Erebus' attack and then took a jump back to create some distance. Kana was at her side.
"Nyarlathotep has seemed to use his own power to increase Erebus' strength. If we don't hurry...the Seal will..."
"It will be fine," Hamuko cut off Kana as she took a couple steps forward. "Because I'm going to stop this right now!"
Erebus launched a barrage of ice towards Hamuko, but it was stopped as Mitsuru jumped in front of her and shattered the attack with Artemesia. "I've got your back, Takahashi." In the short time that Hamuko had known Mitsuru it had been easy to figure out what exactly made the Kirijo heir tick. While on the surface she seemed to be all business...all of that came from actually being socially awkward and not really knowing how to be casual about most things. So her words seemed to be stiff but she cared greatly about those around her. Hamuko wanted to spend more time with her.
Continuing her charge...Erebus tried to attack her again with another assault of magic...this being made of zio and agi skills...but this was blocked again as well as three individuals were in front of her to clear the path. Junpei, Ken and Koromaru, "Have no fear, Junpei is here!"
"We'll cover you, Takahashi-san," Ken added, and Koromaru added a confirmation bark as well.
She only knew what she had read and heard from the Journal about them...but she would definitely make time to spend with all of them once they were out of here. The way they moved together...it was obvious that they all had experience in fighting as a team. Was this what her brother had been able to shape them into? There was no lack of confidence in their movements...and even without looking they seemed to be aware of their comrades' position.
Hamuko couldn't linger on these thoughts; she summoned her Persona and increased her agility as she continued her charge forward. As Erebus became increasingly annoyed by the failed attempts on her life he launched a physical barrage towards her...a flow of arrows suddenly came towards her, but once again Erebus' attack was stopped...this time by Akihiko and Aigis.
"Quickly, you must protect the Seal," Aigis urged her on.
"Stay focused, we'll be behind you to support you," Akihiko advised as Hamuko started running off again.
She was on top of Erebus in moments but she came to a stop when Erebus was knocked back...and there stood Kana and Yukari.
"Kana-chan and I will take care of this guy. You deal with Nyarlathotep and get to the Great Seal," Yukari said as she released an arrow.
"Go! Save your brother, Hamuko-chan!" Kana said as she summoned Eurydice and smashed into Erebus.
"Thank you," Hamuko breathed as she rushed straight towards Nyarlathotep. He stood there grinning with his hand on the Seal...the damage he was causing becoming more visible with every moment. She didn't stop and came swinging hard with her naginata onto him...but it stopped mere inches from his head as if held there by some invisible force.
"What a pitiful display...is this really the group that managed to live from facing Nyx?" He laughed. "Oh wait...the only one that actually did that was Minato...who is now right here." He twisted his hand and the Seal had a large crack appear on it.
"Onii-chan!" she couldn't help herself...the desperation in her voice was so obvious. So much so that Nyarlathotep only laughed more.
"Is this all you got?" he grinned.
"No," another voice entered. Suddenly a force supported Hamuko and her blade came down striking Nyarlathotep and causing him to relinquish his hold on the Great Seal. Standing next to Hamuko was someone she had never seen..but it matched the description of someone she had read about...the long coat and...This was Aragaki Shinjiro. "I'm not about to let some jackass ruin what Arisato did. He found a solution like he promised he would."
"This is Arisato's body, you know," Nyarlathotep grumbled as he got to his feet. "And you're dead...you shouldn't even be able to be here."
"You chose the battlefield, dumbass. In the sea of unconscious, even the dead can come here," Shinjiro held a large axe and extended it out pointing at Nyarlathotep. He glanced down at Hamuko...and for some reason she felt her heart rate climb even faster than it had been going before. "You must be that sister of his...Takahashi...right?"
She nodded, "Takahashi Hamuko. You're...Aragaki Shinjiro?"
"I owe your brother. He protected everyone...and even made sure that what I did meant something. I'm not about to let this asshole do what he wants," Shinjiro slung his axe over his shoulder. "You with me?"
Hamuko stood next to him and readied her weapon, "Let's teach this bastard a lesson."
"Alright. Let's do this," Shinjiro leaped forward in front of Hamuko and charged Nyarlathotep. He swung down hard at him but Nyarlathotep jumped back. Hamuko jumped on to Shinjiro's back and came down with a wide slash causing Nyarlathotep off balance and falling back to avoid it. Hamuko ducked down as Shinjiro leaped over her and came down with his axe again causing Nyarlathotep to roll away. But Shinjiro's Persona Castor came down and landed a devastating attack. A large hand appearing from nowhere and smashed Nyarlathotep hard into the ground.
Nyarlathotep was now a good distance away, and Hamuko took the moment to run back to the Great Seal.
"What do you hope to do? Even if you stop it today...some day in the future this Seal will fall and humankind will die," Nyarlathotep said as he staggered to his feet.
"Maybe, but a stupid little shit like you isn't going to decide when that day is," Shinjiro said as he stood between him and Hamuko. "You're not bad, Takahashi. Maybe we'll get to know each other in the next life."
She truly hoped so...all these people had such strong wills...even in death. Hamuko hesitated only for a moment looking back at Shinjiro...but then she placed her hands on the Great Seal.
Then she was no longer at the Great Seal...no...the place she was at now...it was a room decorated in blue velvet. The velvet room...but instead of Igor or Theodore she was greeted by a different but familiar individual. Igor and Theodore were in there usual spots but standing to Igor's right was none other than her brother.
"Welcome to the Velvet Room, Nee-chan," her brother was dressed in a blue suit and his hair slicked back, he gave a smile but Hamuko was more confused now than ever.
"Onii-chan...but how are you here? I thought that the Velvet Room that I was in and the one you were in were different...and that..."
"Relax, Nee-chan. And you are correct...this Velvet Room is uniquely tied only to you, but mine is also connected to yours. Our psyches connected. You see...the reason why is because either one of us had the potential to become the Great Seal. If you and I had switched places when we were born...and I had been taken by Yoshimitsu instead of you...then I would be the one standing where you are and you would be the one standing here. Well at least that is one of the many potential outcomes...is it not, Igor-sama?" Minato glanced at the long nosed old man. He let out a small cackle.
"Your choices and the people you would have met would have differed but it was a possibility. Just as there are infinite possibilities and outcomes from the choices we make," Igor said in his usual vague way. Providing answers but always leaving a mystery.
"Onii-chan...I touched the Seal but why am I here?" Hamuko asked and took some steps forward towards him.
"I summoned you here, to give you what you needed to repair the Seal and expel Nyarlathotep. He can't really be defeated, much like Erebus. He is the collective of mankind's destructive nature. But he can be confined for a time...and he won't be able to reach the Great Seal without manipulating others like he did with us," Minato shook his head. "The fight against Shadows is always ongoing."
"As long as mankind continues to move forward...and put its nose where it doesn't belong," Hamuko sighed. "I'm not like you Onii-chan...you have bonds with many other people. I don't...I'm not fighting for anyone else. I don't even know why I push on...when at the end of this...I don't get to see you."
Minato shook his head, "You do have bonds...with Sayane-san, Akira-san and even Yukari. You also have one with me."
Hamuko felt something in her mind and the next moment saw something floating down to her. A tarot card...the arcana of The Fool. But it glowed and after a moment it changed to...Judgement. It floated...spinning above her hand.
"You have obtained a lot more power since your trials began. And even if you don't realize it...you have already come to a decision to what you will do after all of this. And as I said before...I shall support you no matter what it is you decide," Minato stepped forward with a comforting smile and closed Hamuko's hands around the tarot card as she felt something enter her mind. "Thank you, Takahashi Hamuko...for seeing this through to the end."
She shook her head and smiled, "No, Onii-chan. My name is Arisato. Arisato Minako...your twin sister."
Hamuko turned around and she was back in front of the Great Seal as Nyarlathotep was coming towards her. Shinjiro was there, protecting her as she concentrated on her Persona. "I got him, Aragaki-san."
"He's all yours," Shinjiro offered her a smile as he stood and quietly disappeared.
"Messiah! Salvation!" Hamuko cried out...her Persona appearing and the damage on the Seal disappeared causing Nyarlathotep to fully stop.
"What? It isn't possible...without a direct connection to the Seal you couldn't possibly affect it!" Nyarlathotep back stepped.
"The Great Seal is my twin brother...I am more connected to him than anyone else! And you...I won't allow you to inhabit his body anymore!" Hamuko...no Minako reached out and dropped her weapon as the shining tarot card came floating down to her. "I am Arisato Minako...and I will protect my brother!" She shattered the card...the moment she did, several large golden chains came from the ground and wrapped around Nyarlathotep...as it tightened around him...he was ripped away from the body of Arisato Minato.
"You cannot contain me! I will come back! I will break this..." Nyarlathotep's voice dissipated as he was pulled into the darkness. Erebus had already been defeated. Minako smiled to herself as she stepped towards the rest of SEES.
"Hamuko!" Kana was the first to reach her. She missed a step and fell but Kana caught her.
The world around them shimmered and then they were back on the Moonlight Bridge...the Pseudo Dark Hour ending. Hamuko despite her lack of strength she made Kana bring her over to the body of her brother. Kana let her down. "I did it...Onii-chan. I protected you..." she fully collapsed on top of Minato's body as her world went black.
March 21st, 2011 / Afternoon
Yukari shifted Kokoro in her arms as the rest of SEES were gathering at the table, all except two individuals. They were in a meeting room at the hospital in Iwatodai. Hamuko had collapsed and had not woken up for over a day now. The only words that repeated in her mind were, "Please...not again."
"It seems that Yoshimitsu does not remember anything from the incident. But if we take into account the being known as Nyarlathotep and the powers he showed...it is possible his mind was affected in some way. We're going to be looking into it further, and see what happens. Also there is another thing in relation to Arisato's body. Arisato Isako has decided to cut life support." Mitsuru's voice was a bit quieter than usual. "I think this is for the best."
"I agree," Yukari said softly. "We all know the truth about him…he's too busy to come back down here."
Everyone let out an uneasy laugh but there was no speaking against it. Everyone here had made their peace with the truth of their leader's fate.
"One more thing," Mitsuru placed a folder on the table. "There is also something else I want to discuss."
"What is it?" Junpei asked.
"It is likely that there is many more incidents that are occurring around the world. As such...I see how ill equipped we were to approach problems in other regions. Plus the Kirijo Group is already under constant scrutiny by the public and the police. Our activities were easy to dismiss as the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad...but we're adults now. So I plan to make a new organization, one that is accepted by our government so that we can appropriately handle any situation without worry," her proposal was a big step. "Don't misunderstand...I am not asking you to join me in this fight. I want all of you to be able to live normal lives. But I can't ignore the possible dangers that may still exist in this world. I want to continue to protect it...that is how I will help make this a world that does not wish for The Fall."
"Even so, it would have to be an organization kept in secret...but knowing you I'm sure you can convince people," Akihiko got to his feet. "I have no problems helping but, I've made my own decision. I am going to get stronger. Minato was more than a leader...he pushed himself to the limit and broke past that. I may never be able to reach that but...I feel I need to discover for myself what it means to be truly strong. And staying in one place doesn't feel like it is the way to achieve that. So I'm going to go on a journey of my own."
"That's just like you," Mitsuru smiled. She turned back to the others. "I'm not asking you all for commitments, but I wanted you all to know what I am going to do. The Kirijo Group caused a lot of problems...and many people died as a result. Even if in a small way I'm going to use the Kirijo Group to save lives and protect the world."
"For Minato...right?" Yukari asked.
"And my Father," Mitsuru added.
"Kokoro is my first priority, but I still want to help when I can. I don't know where it will lead me but...I think its the best I can do," Yukari said as looked down at Kokoro in her arms. She was awake but contently sucking on the pacifier in her mouth. "I can't be relying on you so much Mitsuru if you are going to be running the Kirijo Group so intently."
"I understand...but know that I am always here for you," Mitsuru said.
"I know that already," Yukari giggled.
"I'm worried about Takahashi," Fuuka said...derailing the conversation. She realized this, "Oh...I'm sorry its just I can't stop thinking about her. I don't want her to end up like..."
There it was...the unspoken worry that all of them had. That Hamuko would end up just like her brother. Yukari had been thinking about it non-stop sense then. And as if on cue, Yukari's phone rang. She picked up from next to her. It was Fujihara Sayane, Hamuko's best friend. "Sorry guys, Fujihara and Ishide are here."
Taking Kokoro with her she headed out of the meeting room at out to the reception area. She rushed over to them as soon as she saw them, "Hey, glad you could make it."
"Where is Hamuko-chan?" Sayane was quick to move to the point. "Has she really not...woken up?"
Yukari shook her head, "No not yet."
"Is this something similar to when she awoke to Persona? She was out for a few days then," Akira took Sayane's hand to calm her, and it did but Yukari could tell that little was going to comfort her except for Hamuko waking up.
"I don't know," Yukari answered honestly. "She risked her life to protect her brother."
"I thought her brother was dead?" Akira didn't skirt around the issue...he was demanding answers quickly.
"Yes...but its more complicated than that. Persona and Shadows defy what we know to be reality," Yukari looked around at the others in the waiting room. "Follow me."
She turned and led them back through the hospital and into one of the patient rooms...where Hamuko was laying and hooked up to an IV. Sayane was immediately rushing past to get to Hamuko's bedside. Yukari walked over to a chair in the corner and sat down. Akira moved next to Sayane but then looked over to Yukari.
"What happened exactly?" Akira asked.
"I told you before how her brother became a seal...The Great Seal was damaged by an entity known as Nyarlathotep and Hamuko used her Persona to restore the Great Seal and then banished the entity that had damaged it. She has a lot of power...and I think she discovered more about herself in the process..." Yukari said softly.
"Hamuko? Hamuko-chan!" Sayane was suddenly reaching over and hugging the girl on the bed, Yukari immediately looked over.
Sure enough, Hamuko had gotten up, "Ugh...Saya-chan? Akira-san? What are you doing here?"
"Takahashi, good to see you up," Akira grinned.
"I was so worried about you," Sayane had a firm grip on her best friend.
Yukari got to her feet, "I'll let you guys catch up."
"Wait, Yukari-chan," Hamuko said and motioned her over. Yukari walked over to the other side of the bed. Sayane had given Hamuko room as she sat up. She clutched her head for a moment, "Did I really black out...again?"
Yukari couldn't help herself and laughed, "Yes but this time you had already finished the fight."
"I guess that's a bonus," she said softly. "I want to say I'm sorry. I don't think I had truly accepted the fact that I had a brother until the end there. I mean...there was a part of me that knew it was the truth but I didn't really accept it. I didn't realize it until those last few moments."
"Don't be sorry...but are you thinking of changing your name? Should I start calling you Minako?" Yukari asked. It was one of the things she had said in the confrontation. She had stated...and quite proudly...her name. Arisato Minako.
"I'm considering it," Hamuko giggled a bit. "For a while I thought that by accepting it that my life as Takahashi Hamuko wouldn't mean anything. At the same time thinking about why I have that name makes me mad. I should have been Arisato Minako since the beginning. But it doesn't really matter what I am called...I know the truth now and that is all that matters."
"I agree," Yukari nodded. "I thought I had remembered everything but the Abyss of Time had taken away parts of my memories...because I had been looking for a easier way to handle his passing. Or rather...I just didn't face that fact for a long time. And it all would have stayed forgotten if it hadn't been for Minato writing that journal. We wouldn't be here...and we would have never found you."
"Good thing you did...or we probably wouldn't have made it out of the abandoned hospital," Hamuko shook her head. "Onii-chan saved my life without even knowing about me."
"But he does now," Yukari said softly as she adjusted Kokoro in her arms. "I'm going to go let the others know that you are awake."
Hamuko nodded, "Come back soon though. I was hoping we could talk..."
Yukari was surprised for a moment but smiled, "Definitely." She left the hospital room, leaving Hamuko with her friends and walked back towards the meeting room where the others were. Things were going to be better. It would always be hard without Minato around. But she could keep moving forward. She had Kokoro and Hamuko in her life...And one day she just knew she would be reunited with Minato. It may be a long time from now...but she was fine with that. Against her chest she still wore the charm that Minato had given her...and as long as she had that...she felt safe and that he was near her.
She entered the room with a smile on her face, "Everyone, Hamuko is up."
Smiles and cheers came over SEES as everyone got up to go and see her. Sixteen days ago she had graduated high school. Yukari had been thinking about Minato on the roof when Mitsuru had arrived with a small package. When she had ripped away what covered it...it had revealed a letter and a blue leather bound journal that currently resided in her purse. The first journal entry...she remembered.
"How can I explain to you why I had to do what I did? It's been so hard to just be with you the last two days when my inevitable future draws near. You deserve to know. I know you do. Out of everyone I encountered since stepping into the dorm that night, it was always you. Are paths were destined to cross, one way or another, this I believe whole heartedly. So this is all I can do for you. Maybe this makes me a coward. But hopefully when you read this you will have remembered the hardships we faced. If not, I will try and recount them as best to my knowledge in my last days in this journal. This I write for you and only for you."
Yet his words, had recounted the entirety of their hardships from his perspective that she could not keep to herself. She read the journal aloud for SEES. It led to questions...questions that had remained unanswered. And then with investigation they had discovered something else...That they had not known enough about their leader...and Yukari did not know enough about the man she had loved. So they dug...and they found those answers. And now it had been answered. They knew why Minato had been on the Moonlight Bridge so many years ago. They knew why his parents had died. They had found out that Minato and her had actually been childhood friends that had forgotten each other because of the traumatic events that had occurred. They learned of Minato's twin sister and how both the Arisato twins had been victims and test subjects of the Kirijo Group. They learned more about the steps that had been taken to try and stop The Fall.
Most important for Yukari was that she felt like she was able to fall in love with Minato all over again. And now any time she wanted to take that journey...all she had to do was open the journal. One day she would be able to share everything with Kokoro...to tell her just how amazing her Father had been. She could only think of something Minato had said once as she left the room. Remember the past, be aware of the present and prepare for the future. It was time for Yukari to move forward.
March 30th, 2011 / Afternoon
Hamuko closed up the last box in her dorm room. She really had too much small junk. She certainly didn't need all the stupid jewelry that she never even wore in the first place. Sayane had bought it for her but she didn't really wear outfits that went with it. Sayane had been insistent that a girl should have a selection of jewelry, because you just didn't know when it would work with your outfit.
She sighed heavily as she found herself looking out the window...looking into the small town of Inoto. She had spent a lot of her life here...and a portion of it, underground. In a facility with Shadows...being experimented on daily. She remembered it all now...and so on occasion she had nightmares...not of the Shadows...but the men in white. The scientist that had inflicted horrors upon her.
"Hamuko-chan, are you okay?"
She turned to see the golden eyed Kana looking over her. She shook off her thoughts, "I'm fine Kana...I just find it hard to believe that I'm going to be moving."
"You've been excited about this. We're moving in with Yukari-chan after all," Kana said placing a hand on Hamuko's shoulder.
She smiled at the thought, "Yeah, it's hard to believe that this is happening. I haven't really known her that long but...this feels so right. Plus we'll have Kokoro to look after while Yukari is at work. That is a definite benefit."
"Are you sure you are okay?" Kana eyed her...unconvinced.
"I'm fine, Kana-chan. Now grab some of these boxes. Sanada-san and Iori-san are waiting for us," Hamuko said as she put a couple boxes into Kana's hand and turned her towards the door. Kana looked back for a moment before heading out the open door.
Of course, Kana-chan could tell. Her mind wouldn't let go of the events that had happened. The last few moments with her brother...everyone else seemed to be able to move forward...but Hamuko had her feet squarely planted in those memories. She still couldn't wrap her mind around it. She knew she had a brother...a twin brother and all the amazing feats he had done. But there was so much more that she wanted to know. Things she should have known if only she...had actually known him...had been with him. She couldn't change the past.
"Hamuko-chan?" someone else entered the room. "Hey, you okay?"
It was Yukari...Hamuko must have looked really out of it. Or maybe it was just obvious that a lot was on her mind. "Oh, Yukari-chan. I didn't realize you would be here. I thought you had a shoot to do." Things had definitely changed quickly. In a short time after the incident Yukari had been contacted by a modeling company because of a connection her to-be Step Father had. She had been reluctant but had eventually met with the agent and got signed to do a bunch of shoots. The contract seemed to be flexible enough for her to accept it, as part of her agreement was to give her enough time to also be a Mother to Kokoro, so she only did things with certain hours. And thankfully they were willing to work with her. Hamuko couldn't be happier for her.
"Well, my mind wasn't really in it today so my agent rescheduled it for another day. He has been doing his best to not bombard me with too much work," Yukari said as she had Kokoro in her arms. "I just felt like I should be here. We're going to be roommates now after all."
"Yeah...I had been thinking so much about everything that I had forgotten I needed to plan a place to live. I forgot that the deadline for moving out of the dorm was today. I'm sorry that all of this happened so quickly," Hamuko said as she took a final look around.
"Its fine, Hamuko-chan. But I know that isn't what is causing this mood you are in," Yukari said and waited for Hamuko to look towards her. "What is it? I know you don't like to worry Kana-chan but keeping it bottled up isn't going to help you."
Hamuko looked to the ground for a moment, "It is going to take me time...but for right now...I just want to remember the brief moments I had with Onii-chan. Do you think...we could sit down and talk about him?"
"Definitely," Yukari smiled. "How about tonight after we get you all situated in the apartment?"
Hamuko blinked, "Don't you still have things to unpack?"
She laughed, "Well normally I would but, Mitsuru's maid Kaede went ahead and...well you'll see when we get there."
Hamuko shook her head and picked up the last box. She looked back at the mirror on the door of her closet. That was the mirror she had seen her brother through...and had been able to talk with him while in the Pseudo Dark Hour. She had also forgotten she had been standing in her underwear as she had been talking with him. Her Brother hadn't said anything about it though...then again when you were left on permanent guard duty you probably enjoyed anything that was different a bit more. Now that she thought about it...did her brother...check her out?
She shook her head as Yukari left the room first. She stood there for a moment looking back at her dorm, "I have a lot of memories here but...I'm ready for some new ones." Hamuko gently closed the door to her room as she juggled the last box and walked with Yukari to the stairs. On the street was a truck ready to take her away from Inoto and towards her new life.
Would she be able to adjust to all the things she had learned? Would her uncle Yoshimitsu be alright? She had family now...Isako was her Aunt...she could study about her family and slowly learn more about her parents and her brother. And maybe...hopefully she would find all the answers she wanted. But it would take time. The only question that lingered in her mind...was she alright with this outcome? An ending that is not really happy but...that everyone has simply accepted what has happened and moving on to the future. Was there no way for there to be a happy ending?
As she exited out of the dormitory and out to the truck where her new friends waited for her...that question refused to fade away and she had serious doubts that it ever would.
EPILOGUE
Date Unknown / Place Unknown
She found herself standing on the top of a large tower...she could see a city far below...one that was very familiar to her. It was Tatsumi Port Island and Iwatodai. The most recognized landmark to her was the Moonlight Bridge. The location she had confronted her Uncle and the entity known as Nyarlathotep. But what was the structure she was on? And how did she even get here?
It was brightly lit...she was standing on a circular platform with pillars surrounding her. Everything seemed to be a brilliant white, "What is this place?"
"It is quite a sight to behold. I have been unsure as to how I could appropriately show my appreciation to the young man who saved the Earth. It was atop a tower such as this that he ascended to the sky and he learned the truth of his struggles. He used the power of his bonds to create a solution. One that had a bitter price to pay in order to ensure its success," A man clothed in white appeared before her, but his face was covered by a white mask. He took a bow before her. "I apologize, my name is Philemon. It is a pleasure to meet the sister of such a noble and sacrificing young man."
Hamuko was taken aback for a moment and shook her head, "Is this Tartarus?"
Philemon shook his head. "It is not. Think of this place as a memorial to Arisato Minato. It resides in a place between dreams."
"Like the Velvet Room?" she asked.
"You are quite astute. Yes, this place is much like the Velvet Room. I do not want those to come later to forget of such an outstanding young man. He has shown that mankind does in fact have the potential to become higher beings. But we are still far off from that," Philemon truly did sound proud of this fact.
"But..." Hamuko looked up towards the Full Moon that shined down on them. "It does not explain why I am here."
"No encounter happens without reason," Philemon said as he approached her. "Tell me, are you not satisfied with the resolution?"
Hamuko shook her head, "No. My brother and I were separated...and many people died along my brother's journey. He held such a heavy burden on his known...not because he felt obligated to...but because he felt he was responsible. Because there was no one else. If I had been there I could have taken on some of that burden...I could have helped him...and maybe I could have prevented some of the deaths. Is there truly no ending where we can have a happy ending?"
"Refusal to accept things as they are...and strive for something better is also a pivotal strength. Your presence at such a time would certainly have made an impact on the outcome...but many more changes would also occur as a result. Do you truly believe that you could achieve a more optimal outcome?" Philemon's question threw her off guard. Was he being philosophical about this? If she went back...what would she do?
First she would break into the underground facility in Inoto and rescue Kana. Then she would transfer the both of them to Gekkokuan High School. Then she would join SEES. From there she would have some difficult decisions...should she hide the fact she is a wild card from them? She wouldn't want to disturb the dynamic that became such a tightly knit group later on. Would outing the plan by Ikutsuki be the right thing to do...or instead simply manipulating it and adjusting the outcome? Armed with the knowledge of her brother's journal...she would be able to do a lot of good. But would preventing the destruction of the 12 Shadows be the correct action? Doing that would mean the Dark Hour would never go away.
She looked up at Philemon, "I don't know...but even if I couldn't change the outcome...I would still try...It is...incredibly selfish of me to wish for something like this."
"You and your brother are quite unique. I feel as if the prices you paid were quite high but what I am about to offer you is limited. I cannot prevent the death of your parents, but I can send you back to a time before your brothers arrival in Iwatodai. But know this...if you accept...you will be leaving this time line behind and you will never be able to return. To everyone here...you would have never existed, not a memory of you will remain. And the death certificate at your birth will turn from a lie...to truth," Philemon's expression could not be seen through a mask...and Hamuko did have the part of her that wanted to refuse and telling her she just needed to accept things as they were.
However her heart could not accept the present, "That's fine. But there is something I want to bring with me."
"Name it."
"The blue leather bound journal...written by my brother," Hamuko said. And in an instant the object appeared in front of her, she grasped it in her hand.
"Then you are committed? Do you have no doubts?" Philemon asked.
"None," Hamuko's voice left no room to question. "I know they wouldn't approve...that they would be angry with me but...I can never accept this outcome. I refuse for this to be the ending."
"If you are ready...then close your eyes, my child," Philemon was stepping towards her as she closed her eyes.
I'm sorry everyone. But for Minato...my brother. I'm going to do everything I can to ensure that him and Yukari will have a happy ending. We may have not been able to grow up together as a family...but I will not allow the Arisato line to continue to hold tragedy. And even if I have to create a new time line to do it...then I will! If at least one time line exist where that happy ending is...then I want to give that to him...my loving brother.
She felt a hand on her forehead. There would be no going back...and that was fine...she had lived long enough for the sake of herself. But this was a wish that she had held in the deepest part of her heart and had shared with no one. This was what she wanted more than anything. Then she felt as if something washed over her as she felt herself falling into a deep...deep sleep.
Author's Note:
This is it...the final chapter. This fan fiction has come a long way from when I first conceived it back in 2013. It was originally called A Lover and her Fool and was just going to essentially be a short story of Yukari remembering her time with Minato. At that stage things kept pretty close to the original script. I had simply been wanting to do something related to Persona 3 and something to do in between my own personal writing projects. I was in the middle of playing through Persona 3 Portable at the time...and some details started to bother me the more I thought about it. The biggest one...Why in the bloody hell was Minato on that bridge? Why was his parents driving a six year old kid home at midnight?
The more I looked into it...I wasn't really satisfied with the information given about the protagonist. I get it...leave it vague and it serves as a good point of view character. But...the player character has no motivation to actually fight other than the fact that...the game requires you to. If you are like me, then you became attached to the characters rather quickly. I personally related quite well to Yukari because of my own personal experiences in my life, but beyond the dynamics of the relationships in the game...I still didn't know why the protagonist wanted to build these relationships...why would he develop social links? Why would he risk his life for a cause that was not his? Fate perhaps...maybe with a bit of irony attached to it. You know all these horrible things happening in the game? Guess what...you coming to this place is what got the ball rolling. You...the player picked up the controller and caused these events to happen.
I wanted more...I needed the protagonist to have a deeper connection to the events...to the other characters. Something in my brain just refused to let the game just end. Maybe it is why I have played the game so many times. I think I beat vanilla P3 about 4 times...then another 2 times on FES and then 5 times on P3P. I think I was searching for something more that I just didn't realize I was going to get. As a result I expected more out of the Persona 4 Arena and Ultimax games. I wanted it to come back to the Persona 3 protagonist...because I felt like Persona 3 isn't resolved yet.
That is what came together to create this Fan Fiction. Momento Umbrae...or Remember the Shadow. The actions we take always leave a effect...but they can both be positive and negative. I think the ending is a clear indication of that. Yukari took a journey of acceptance...but Hamuko's journey was different and it is a journey that isn't over yet. But Yukari did finish her journey and finally has moved on. Despite how hard it might be for her, she'll do her best to raise Kokoro and live her life as fully as possible. If only to be able to one day sit down with Minato and tell him everything about it. More is in store for Hamuko...
Sequel for this story is already under way and will be titled Momento Reliquum. Obviously this is directly related to the Epilogue of this story so...more details on that when its first chapter is posted, which will most likely be sometime next week. Also the release schedule for it will be much different because of changes in my life that have rapidly changed my living situation. Anyway before that I want to tackle some general questions for those that are curious...so here they are in no particular order.
1. Why is it titled Momento Umbrae?
The term means Remember the Shadows in its most basic form. But this was intended to stay close to the original intention to the game. Persona 3 had the constant theme of Momento Mori, which means Remember you will die. Well that is what the translation is intended, but overall it is a reminder of the fact that at the end of it you are a mortal. A human being that has the same capacity and potential as anyone else. So in the end what separates us is our choices in life. The tale of Persona 3 is about the series events that lead to a pivotal choice for the Main Character. Granted it is a video game and ultimately the choices you make are often cosmetic rather than hugely story affecting...but...then again...maybe not.
Completing everything in Persona 3...every Social Link...every side battle, every collectable makes the Main Character equipped to be able to handle every situation. It is also easy to see that either using a strategy guide or whatever else that the Main Character is...pretty much never going to have down time from the moment he steps into Iwatodai. So...we know the benefit of doing everything...the Main Character is super powerful and stomps through enemies...but what we never know is the emotional impact the relationships and battles are done to him. But more than that...we don't know the Main Characters past other than a few cryptic facts. His parents died on the Moonlight Bridge ten years ago. A simple statement...that also tells you nothing. You don't know why he came back to the town where his parents died or exactly where he had been. Again only a cryptic message about how he has lived in a lot of places, implying that he has been shuffled from place to place for one reason or another.
The journey of Persona 3 gives a sense that the Main character has found a place to call home...a place with people he cares about and its because of that he makes the ultimate choice. So the message Momento Mori...which is represented through many ways in the game...either through the presence of death as a constant threat in Tartarus, or the fact that all members of SEES have had an experience that deals with death. All of them are more than aware of what it means to lose someone. So what happens after? When the Main Character dies he saves all of them. It was more than just simple loss...which leads me to the title of the Fan Fiction.
Momento Umbrae, Remember the Shadows is a reference to the shadow we leave behind when we pass by something. We may not be there anymore...but we affected it...changed something when we passed by. This is the thing to remember when reading the Fan Fiction. The Main Character's actions saved the world and affected all the people he touched...and his life would be remembered...and the things he did would continue to affect them years after he is gone. And especially since he...you know is continuing to make sure that the world isn't ending.
2. Why did you choose Yukari to be his love interest?
I wouldn't say it is all too complicated of a reason, but it was also a bit of a personal one. I realize there is a lot of people that don't care for her, and most of it is because of what she does in The Answer portion of the game. I would say you are just doing that as a knee jerk reaction but that is just an opinion based on my own experiences. I might as well explain it. In reality Yukari reminds me of someone that was in my life and it was someone that died early in my life before I really had time to consider what I really felt for her. Persona 3 made me feel like, in some form, I could become close to her. Maybe it is stupid to think that but Yukari reminds me of her. So I just tended to be drawn to her more than the other characters. I wanted to explore her more...and dive into her problems a bit more than what the game covered. I felt like the game hadn't properly explained why Yukari was so motivated...or why she reacted to the Main Characters death in a much different way then all of SEES.
She loved the Main Character...I think that was obvious because of her behavior in The Answer. But I think it wasn't portrayed correctly in the game...there was no lead up to it...no obvious reason as to why Yukari was being the way she was. There was no context or explanation provided until after her breakdown. When she collapses crying out how she just wants to see him again...it was such a raw moment...that it caught some players off guard and others...well they had already stopped caring for her at all. To me, Persona 3 was not a story of just the Main Character...but it was also one for Yukari. She goes from being uncertain...unable to confidently summon her Persona...and somewhat just going with the flow...then as the game progresses she becomes more confident to the point that she is willing to go against all her comrades...people she has trusted with her life...all for just the chance to see the Main Character again. Not a single other female character did that...and ultimately that plus my own personal reasons is why there was no other choice than Yukari to be the love interest and main pairing, at least for me. I suppose some would argue for Mitsuru as she took Yukari's side but we know the reason for that was because of a promise Mitsuru had made with herself to support Yukari just like she had for her and wasn't really motivated for seeing the Main Character. Fuuka I could see if only for the fact that her character is more or less not one that wants to go against the others...so she feels like even if she had a wish like that she would stuff it deep down and just support the others.
What made you bring in Hamuko (Female Protagonist)?
It fit the story? Haha. No, it was actually because I wanted a counter point. For Yukari...finding out the truth was a journey of acceptance. Her finally finding a way she can accept the past with what Minato had done and move to the future with confidence. Hamuko became the stark contrast...she was an individual that had no knowledge of what her brother had done. Well she didn't even know she had a brother. Those that had been there...had fought beside him would be able to accept it and move on...but Hamuko...she was different, she now knew of a Brother that she would never meet...and she was left with a bitter fact that her Brother was loved by so many and had to die in order to save them. And there was no one that could save him.
Oddly it fit in quite naturally, and I wanted to somehow fit her in and give an explanation as to how she could exist within the same time line as her brother and yet never meet. Plus give a plausible event that could have very well ended up with either one as the Great Seal. I've read many Fan Fictions that simply placed her in the car with him and it was more determined by which one lived...and I didn't like that. It meant to save both it would require a more...divine intervention and instead I went with something else. I went back even further to split them away from each other and used that moment as a pivotal plot point for the whole story and serve as history of their family. This happened almost by itself as I was answering the questions that came from the death of Minato's (the main character) parents. Why were they on the Moonlight Bridge? Why were they there at midnight? Why didn't any of Minato's relatives come for him? Was there a reason? Was he more involved in the incident than SEES knew?
Did the Abyss of Time really alter the memories of SEES as they keep mentioning in the story?
Yes. I don't think it was ever deliberately answered but when they left the Abyss of Time they were all granted their combined wish...but knowing it or not...members of SEES wanted to move forward...and be less burdened by the loss of their leader. So that wish was granted...altering all of their memories to essentially forget about the hard times and struggles that Minato had. Again this also ties back into the theme of the story...Momento Umbrae.
What was your favorite part of the Fan Fiction?
Oh hell...I can say over a half dozen scenes that stick out in my mind because they felt like the main reason I wrote it. Essentially any moment that was a defining character moment. Chapter 6 is probably still my favorite chapter because I feel it a pivotal moment for Minato and Yukari. And I think was underplayed by just how messed up that event is in the game. Both of them are being compelled by something to have sex. But it is so much more than that. This is also really the first time Yukari realizes there is something inconsistent in her memory but I kinda just glossed over that fact as Yukari was more concerned about other thoughts. But its also a chapter where Mitsuru confesses to Yukari that she had fallen in love with Minato even though Yukari and him were dating. And then finishing the chapter it is the first time they consider that their memories were not what they believed and that it might have been affected by the Abyss of Time.
My other favorite is absolutely chapter 9, when Hamuko enters the story...honestly there are so many other moments I want to call out but probably those two things are what stand out to me the most.
What was your least favorite part of the Fan Fiction?
I think it was what I ultimately cut or didn't cover that I didn't enjoy. I wanted to cover more social links, but it would have been an idiotic thing to do. Adding a social link character meant I would want their story arc to mean something more to the greater story...and if it didn't do so in a way I thought was beneficial then I would skip it. I think I should have added Maiko at the very least. I also had a very short scene with Elizabeth somewhere in there and then we never saw her again...so that bothers me too. I actually removed this scene that is here on as a result. So if you want to find it you can see it and the entirety of the first draft on my deviantart account. Well what author is ever fully satisfied with their story anyway?
The end of Momento Umbrae seemed to be leading to a new story...whats up with that?
Yeah, a sequel is coming...I couldn't help it...the muse for that story could not be silenced. It's called Momento Reliquum. I hope you'll enjoy it.
Is Nyarlathotep gone for good?
No way...I mean is he ever? He is pretty much impossible to kill off for good. Pretty sure the Persona fans are more than well aware of this fact.
Anyway, thanks for sticking with me through this whole odd journey. And I definitely got more coming. I will be posing my Persona 4 fan fiction and also the sequel to this story in the future so be on the look out for that. Thank you for your time. Read, review and hopefully I'll see you around with my next one!