Chapter 20

Yu held his sword to his gut, preparing to slice himself open. Tuoni watched intently, looking more curious than anything else. He loved his friends more than anything else, and Naoto in particular. He would do anything for them and for her. But was this the right thing? He would save them, but what about Remnant? He breathed heavily, agonizing over the decision. Could he break his promise to Ozpin? How many would die if he did this? It was not heroic, it was selfish. He was going to sacrifice himself and everyone on this planet just to bring back his girlfriend.

"This isn't the way." Yu said. He swung his blade around and sliced through Tuoni. Tuoni frowned with disappointment before bursting into dust, maybe ash, to be blown away by the wind. Shadows normally collapsed into a viscous liquid, this was completely different. Yu turned back too Naoto's lifeless body. "I'm sorry I even considered it. I was weak and I would have let you down." To his shock Naoto's body burst into a cloud of ash just as Tuoni had done. The world around him melted like wax under a heat lamp and his consciousness faded.

Ruby had lost her mother all those years ago and it nearly destroyed her. The only thing that kept her going was Yang's support. Now she was gone too. There was nothing to live for without her. What was the point? Tuoni looked on as Ruby positioned Crescent Rose so the blade was inches from her neck. A pull of the trigger would slam the blade back and end it all. She tensed up and her finger trembled on the trigger. Something was not right. Why was she doing this? Why would she throw away her life and all of Remnant? She knew deep down that Yang would not be there forever. She was too rash, too aggressive, and as a Huntress her life expectancy was short anyway. No, this is not what she would have wanted.

"I'm sorry Yang." Ruby whispered. She twirled around, the blade of Crescent Rose scything through Tuoni. He frowned and burst into a cloud of ash the soon dissipated. Ruby turned to Yang's body. "I'll live for the two of us. I'll find your mother for you, and I'll never forget how much you mean to me." To Ruby's surprise Yang's body burst into a cloud of ash just as Tuoni had done. Then the world around her began to melt like ice cream on a hot day and she drifted into unconsciousness.

Aigis had never been so alone. Well, she had, but she had never felt so profoundly lonely. She lost Minato all those years ago, and it was a crushing blow. The trauma had almost killed her and all of her friends. Now she had found a sister she had not known existed, and lost her just as swiftly. It was brutal. She pressed the end of her spear against her chest, careful to line it up with her Papillion Heart. Firing it would send it crashing through her chest, ending her. Then Labrys would live. But Labrys would be alone. Did she want to pass this feeling on to her sister? Surely that was just as cruel as letting her die, perhaps to a greater degree because Aigis actually had control in this case. Would Minato have wanted her to? He sacrificed himself to save the world. She would be sacrificing herself to save one person while abandoning an entire world to destruction. No, Minato would be very disappointed in her.

Aigis dropped her spear and looked up at Tuoni. "It pains me because you have his face." She said as she raised her arm. She blasted Tuoni with her hand gun. He frowned before bursting into a cloud of ash, not at all what she had been expecting. She fell to her knees, overcome by emotion. Had she made the right choice? "You had a short life, a painful life, but you can rest now." She said to Labrys. She placed her hand on Labrys' cheek and to her shock Labrys burst into a cloud of ash as Tuoni had done. Then the scenery started to melt like plastic insulation on overheated electronics. She got a warning that her systems were shutting down and then everything went dark.

A loud click drew their attention to the double door. In their grief they had all but forgotten that they were trapped. "It's unlocked, we can go now." Rise reported.

"What's the point?" Kanji sighed. "It's already too late." The others felt the same way. Still, Yu, Ruby and Aigis were surely just as distraught if not more so, and they needed support.

"Yu must be crushed." Rise said. "Aigis and Ruby too. We should go to them." Rise opened the door and stepped into the hall. She summoned her Persona to locate their friends. Suddenly her expression brightened. "No way." She concentrated intensely to confirm her findings. "Guys, I detect six of them!"

"So that means…" Kanji started, the reality beginning to dawn on him.

"They're not dead!" Nora shouted as she jumped for joy. They were separated, but they were all alive, if Rise's Persona was right that is.

Yu heard voices, but they sounded far away. Slowly they grew louder. He was finally able to open his eyes but the light blinded him. He squinted and looked around. He was lying in a bed in the Beacon dorm. How did he get here? Then he remembered, Naoto, Tuoni. He no longer wanted to open his eyes. What was the point? He realized the voices were his friends, but he could not understand what they were saying. It was like he was under water. He had to be strong for them. If he was depressed, so were they. He would have to be there to support them.

He sat up, his eyes blinking furiously as he tried to adjust to the light. The conversation around him stopped. There were his friends, looking at him with relief. He looked to his left and the sight made his heart leap. It was Naoto! She was unconscious but breathing. No bullet wounds, no blood, she just slept comfortably. Could it have been a dream? No, it was far too real. It must have been a trick, the sort of thing that had trapped Aigis' mind. He was so relieved. He wanted to shot for joy but his mouth was as dry as a bucket of sand and he could not make a sound.

The others noticed. "It must have been so hard to see it." Rise said, hugging him tightly. "We saw it too. When we found you, you were alone on the roof unconscious."

"Naoto was in one of the dorm rooms." Kanji explained. "As far as we can tell she was there the whole time."

Yosuke arrived, helpfully bringing a glass of water. Yu downed it and could speak again. "I'm so happy to see you guys." He said. "How much did you see?"

"We saw Naoto fight Adachi, and then saw her die in your arms." Yukiko explained.

"I'm afraid I may have said some things that are a bit embarrassing." Yu admitted.

"We had no sound." Chie said. "We were too busy crying anyway." Well that was a relief. He still maintained relationships with all the girls to one degree or another and the things he had said to Naoto would have made things with them awkward.

"Is she okay?" Yu asked, gesturing toward Naoto.

"She's the same as you." Rise replied. "We found her unconscious just like you, Aigis, Labrys, Ruby and Yang. They're all still out too. Is there any kind of mind trap like Aigis had?"

"No, I was just unconscious." Yu answered. "I guess we need some time to recover." Something was bothering him. "How long did the video go on for?"

"It cut off as soon as Naoto died." Pyrrha said. "It was the same when we saw Yang and Labrys die."

Yu had not known about them. Now the varied looks of concern and relief on everyone's faces made sense. Whatever had happened, it had been designed to impact all of them. "So you didn't see Tuoni?" Yu asked.

"Tuoni?" Weiss asked. "Who or what is Tuoni?"

"After I saw Naoto die, he appeared in Minato's form." Yu explained. "He said he was responsible for everything. He said if I killed myself and thereby gave him my Persona powers, he would revive Naoto and allow the rest of you to leave Remnant. Then he would take over."

"Take over for and do what?" Teddie asked.

"I don't know for sure." Yu said. "I got an unnerving feeling when talking to him. It was similar to when we faced Tuonen Piika. The name is similar too. I have to assume they're related and trying to do the same thing."

"You mean the stuff that happened in the forest is related to this?" Blake asked. "I'd assumed as much. Still, I thought that was over."

"What did Tuonen Piika want?" Ren asked. Team JNPR had been given the basic outline of the previous incident, but not the details.

"She wanted to merge the world of the living with the world of the dead." Yukiko explained. "That would mean the effective death of everyone on Remnant."

"Why would anyone want to do that?" Nora asked incredulously.

"Apparently Tuonen Piika is a goddess of death." Rise said. "She said she wanted to end everyone's pain, the pain that comes from losing loved ones. If everyone were united in death, that pain would disappear."

"Tuoni tried to use exactly that pain." Yu said. "He needs our Personas. I guess those of us with the Wild Card have access to so many that they would be all he would need. He tried to get me to kill myself so he could have my power. Tuonen Piika said she needed our Personas too. They've got to be working toward the same goal."

"That must be how Rosso is involved then." Chie said. "Tuoni must have broken him out of jail to help him like he helped Tuonen Piika."

"Hold on, did you say Tuonen Piika was a goddess?" Jaune asked with a hint of fear. "That would make Tuoni a god. We're fighting gods?! How are we supposed to win?"

"We've beaten gods before." Kanji said confidently. "We faced three of them on earth and then Tuonen Piika. We kicked all their asses; we'll kick Tuoni's too."

"You're too confident." Blake said. "Tuonen Piika almost killed you all." She looked directly at Kanji. "You were knocked out early in the fight if I remember correctly." Kanji frowned. "We've got to be very careful. Defeating Tuoni, who or whatever he is will not be easy. We need to be ready. I'm sure that psychologically we're not ready. After what we just faced, none of us are okay."

"She's right." Yu said. "We need to be at our best, and there's no way we're there now. I'm really worried about everyone, but Aigis and Ruby more than the rest. They've lost those closest to them before, and they were forced to relive that pain. We need to be there for them."

Yu changed into his sleeping clothes, just a ratty old t-shirt and sweat pants, with the intention of getting some much needed rest. The others went to keep an eye on Ruby, Yang, Aigis and Labrys, all of whom were still unconscious. If Naoto woke up, he would be there to help, so they could just leave him alone to sleep. It was pointless. Yu could not even begin to sleep. He just lay on his side, staring at Naoto in the bed across the room. They say you never know what you had until it's gone. Yu was feeling that for sure. He needed to get serious with their relationship before it was too late. Maybe it was time to break it off with the others, even if that would hurt them more than his original plan. He was letting them down easy, slowly over time. By the time he said anything; they would see it coming and hopefully be ready. He would still be around, still be a friend. Now his plan seemed so selfish. Was he doing it for them or so he could have some fun? It was not fair to any of them.

Yu snapped out of his train of thought as Naoto's eyes blinked open. She groaned and sat up. "Where am I?" She asked. "What happened?" Yu did not say anything; he was not sure what to say. She rubbed her eyes and looked around, halting her gaze on Yu. "Either heaven has drastically relaxed its dress code or I'm alive." She said. Yu chuckled; it was easily the best joke she had ever told. "I really thought I was dead." She added. "What happened?"

"I'd like to ask the same thing." Yu finally said. "I watched you die. The others saw too."

"It was weird." Naoto said. "I was in my body, but not in control. Everything I said, everything I did, I had no control. I was just a passenger. When Adachi shot me, I didn't even feel it. I could just feel my life fading. I felt so bad for you, to have to watch that without being able to do anything. I didn't even care about myself, just how you and everyone else would feel."

"It was hard for all of us, but you were the one dying." Yu said. "That's not the time to be unselfish."

"We both know I'm not so keen on me." Naoto laughed. "I'd much rather it be me than you or any of the others."

"Don't say that." Yu said seriously. He walked over and sat on the edge of her bed. "You're amazing. The world's a much better place with you in it."

"That's just like you." Naoto smiled. "You always say exactly what I need to hear. I just wonder if you really mean it." She frowned. "Those things you said while I was dying, like how you wanted to spend your life with me, did you really mean it? I know how the other girls feel about you, and I'm sure life with them would be a lot more fun. Would you really want to be with me?"

"More than anything." Yu said. They stared into each other's eyes for a long moment and embraced.

"Now kiss!" Teddie shouted, standing at the door. Yu and Naoto pushed each other away and Yu tumbled off the bed to the ground. He scrambled back to his feet and faced Teddie, standing there with a carefree smile on his stupid bear face.

"How long were you there?" Naoto asked.

"Long enough to see you two getting all lovey-dovey." Teddie replied. He made kissy noises for emphasis.

Yu stomped over to Teddie and grabbed him by the zipper, lifting him off the ground and holding him right against his face. "If you tell anyone what you saw, I will personally tear every inch of fur off of you." Yu growled with fire in his eyes.

"Then I'll use you for target practice." Naoto added angrily.

Teddie's smile disappeared and he quaked with fear. "Sensei…" He said shakily before he fainted in terror. Yu dropped him and he rocked back and forth on the floor before coming to a rest leaning against one of his arms.

"Was I scary?" Yu asked Naoto with a smile.

"You were terrifying." Naoto laughed. "I was so embarrassed but I don't think he'll say a word."

"Yeah, I think our secret is safe." Yu chuckled. Yu rolled Teddie out into the hallway and closed the door.

Ruby woke up sobbing hysterically and saying something unintelligible about Yang. Luckily, Yang was right there, already awake. "Calm down Ruby, I'm right here." Yang said, hugging Ruby tightly. For once, Ruby did not mind.

"I thought you were dead." Ruby sobbed, a little calmer.

"You and me both." Yang said. "I didn't have control over anything I said or did. I was like a passenger in my own body, but I saw it all. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"I'm just so happy you're okay." Ruby said, wiping away her tears as new ones quickly took their place. "I don't think I can go on without you."

"I won't be here forever." Yang sighed. "I know you care about me, but you have to be able to keep going when I'm gone. You were able to keep going after we lost mom, and you have to if you lose me."

"But you're the only reason I could keep going after mom died." Ruby cried. "You kept me going. Without you, what's the point?"

"Don't say that." Yang said. "You've got lots of great friends that need you. Even if I'm gone, they'll be there. Whatever happens to me, I just want you to be happy. The day will come when we're separated, whether it's by distance or death, and I don't want you to just mope around. You've got to live your life. That's all that matters."

"But…" Ruby protested.

"But nothing." Yang stopped her. "I'll be here with you as long as I can, but nothing is forever."

"I'm sorry." Ruby said. "I just can't imagine losing anyone else, whether it's you or one of our friends. I almost killed myself to bring you back."

"What!?" Yang was shocked.

"A boy showed up after I saw you die." Ruby explained. "He said he was Tuoni, the god of death and that if I killed myself to give him my Persona powers, he would bring you back to life. I had Crescent Rose at my throat before I changed my mind. I knew how sad you'd be, and I didn't want you or anyone to have my sadness."

Yang grabbed Ruby by both shoulders and held her tightly at arms' length. "Don't ever sacrifice anything on my account." Yang commanded, looking Ruby straight in the eyes. "That's the last thing I want. I'm not worth it."

"But you are worth it." Ruby said. "You're not perfect, but no one is. You've been a great sister and friend to me and I would do anything for you. It just felt selfish to bring you back by dooming Remnant. That's what Tuoni wanted. He said he'd let all of you leave, but that then the world would be his. If it was a one-for-one trade, me for you, I would have done it without a second thought. I just couldn't sacrifice the world I want to protect."

"Who is Tuoni exactly?" Yang asked.

"We think he's somehow connected to Tuonen Piika." Weiss said. "We don't really know much though. He told Yu he was behind all this, so it's safe to say Tuoni's our enemy."

"I'm sorry Yang." Ruby frowned.

"Don't be sorry." Yang encouraged her. "I can't imagine what you had to go through. You made the right choice in the end. We're both here and that's what really matters."

Aigis' systems were attempting to come back online but Aigis fought them at every turn. She did not want to wake up. She was not ready to face life without Labrys. She was not ready to be that alone again. Still, her systems were insistent and she was finally unable to delay them any longer. Her eyes activated and she could see that she was inside a Beacon dorm room. She could hear others talking. They were not as sad as she had expected, but everyone has a different reaction to grief. She sat up and simultaneously shifted her body to sit on the edge of the bed.

To her shock, Aigis came face-to-face with Labrys. She was talking and laughing with the others. "Labrys!" Aigis shouted. "How are…were you…I…"

Noticing Aigis' confusion, Jaune stepped in. "It was another trick." Pyrrha explained. "We all saw Labrys die, but it didn't really happen."

"Yeah, I was in that body and aware of what was happenin', but I had no control." Labrys said. "It wasn't really me though."

"I must be dreaming." Aigis said, still unable to believe her eyes.

"I promise this is real." Labrys said.

"I am so happy you are alright." Aigis said, crying tearlessly and joyfully. "I thought I was going to be alone again."

"You'll never be alone." Pyrrha admonished. "How many times do we have to tell you? We're all here for you, no matter what."

"I am so sorry to all of you." Aigis frowned. "That was my world. I put you through all that. Labrys, I am so sorry you had to suffer."

"I didn't suffer." Labrys said. "I was just suddenly unconscious. I woke up here a little while ago. You're the one I'm worried about. You had to see me die. You must have been crushed."

"Like you would not believe." Aigis admitted.

"So, did Tuoni ask you to kill yourself too?" Blake asked. "In return for bringing Labrys back?"

"How did you know that?" Aigis asked.

"We all watched Labrys die, but then the monitor cut out." Blake said. "The same happened with Yu and Naoto, and Ruby and Yang. Yu and Ruby both told us someone, in Minato's form, showed up. He offered to bring the other back in return for that individual's suicide."

"Yes, he called himself death and wanted my Persona abilities." Aigis confirmed. "He was not a shadow and not human. I sensed tremendous power and I fear he may be a god, much like Nyx."

"We think so too." Weiss said. "We think this incident may be related to the previous one with Tuonen Piika. The name is similar to Tuoni and they seem to have at least similar goals. Tuonen Piika was strong, but unlike Nyx, we could defeat her. Hopefully Tuoni will be like that too."

"I hope so too." Aigis said. She looked profoundly depressed. "If Tuoni is like Nyx, a similar sacrifice may be required to stop him. I do not think I could go through that again."

"I'm sure we can beat him." Nora said. "If he's so tough, he would have the guts to just fight us! The tricks show he's weak and afraid!" Nora's determination was somewhat disturbing but at the same time refreshing. Tuoni might be strong but Nora was right, Nyx never resorted to such ruses.

"You are right." Aigis declared. "With the help of all of you, I am sure we can defeat Tuoni." It was a lie, but it was something that needed to be said. Even if Aigis was not sure, morale was important and saying Tuoni could be defeated would provide a valuable lift. Minato never said much, but when SEES needed a lift, he always said exactly what they needed to hear. Aigis was determined to be the leader he would have wanted her to be.