Thank you for the reviews once again.

Resistance : Of course he would thrash him! Minato hates backstabbers :D

Nick : Yup remember what Minato did to Ikutsuki when he got backstabbed?

Azure : Thank you and yes Minato hates him way more than Nyarly. Thank you glad to see I improved.

Shadow : Lol truth be told! Ryoji could have wrecked Minato right now but he cant coz he sorta loves him (No yaoi I guarantee that) More like a brotherly love :D


"Death….?" Minato asked himself. The shocking revelation happened just minutes ago. The black haired student was a shadow… Which was sealed inside Minato 10 years ago by the now broken android.

"He was sealed inside me?" Minato asked himself as he supported himself against a pillar "I've had the thing that killed my parents inside me? He was Pharos?"

"God damn it." Minato cursed to the heavens "Just what am I?"

"Minato?" Mitsuru called out and Minato cringed, he didn't want to be near anyone.

"Are you okay?" Mitsuru softly asked and Minato gritted his teeth "Not until that bastard is breathing."

"I'll kill him." Minato started moving up the stairs where Ryoji was knocked out.

"No stop." Mitsuru grabbed him, halting him from doing anything drastic.

"That thing…. He turned my life into a hell." Minato tried to struggle but he was way too drained "I swore that once I find out, I'll kill whoever it was."

"Let me go." Minato screamed, trying to break free.

"Calm down. Acting like this won't help you." Mitsuru scolded, keep a firm grip around Minato.

"Son of a bitch." Minato yelled out "He did it all. He killed my parents and I'll be dammed if I don't avenge them."

"Calm down please." Mitsuru begged and Minato looked at her pleading face. He slowly calmed down, his body was still shaking.

"We have to wait." Mitsuru sighed "I know its hard…. But please just wait until he wakes up."

"Damn it." Minato cursed.

….

Minato barely kept his cool at school. He didn't listen any of the lectures and kept his focus on Ryoji.

"That lying, cheating son of a bitch." Minato cursed.

"Excuse me?" Toriumi asked, apparently she heard him cursing like a sailor.

"Drop it." Minato hissed, planting his feet on the desk. Toriumi strangely nodded and brushed it off.

During break, Yukari and Junpei were trying their the best to cheer Minato up, even though they were quite terrified themselves.

The door opened and every boy in the class gawked at the stunning redhead walking towards the three.

"He's awake now. Let's meet up on the fourth floor." She gave a peck to Minato, instantly making all the boys in the class shake from jealousy.

"Please be calm." Mitsuru whispered and then walked away.

"Calm? I'm tired." Minato whispered and Yukari heard it.

"I'm sorry." Yukari muttered to herself. She couldn't help Minato again.

….

Minato slammed the door to the command room open. Everyone was there sitting like ducks. Minato's heart erupted in hate as he stared at Death sitting on the single couch.

"You bastard." Minato cursed at Ryoji who just kept staring down.

"Minato calm down." Sakura advised and Minato didn't lessen the glare on Ryoji, keeping his eyes fixed on Death, Minato walked towards the couch and sat next to Sakura.

"Are you o—" Fuuka tried to ask Ryoji but Minato cut in.

"That killing psycho is perfectly fine. Answer the damn question! What the fuck is this maternal being?" Minato spat.

Ryoji flinched at his hostility "The maternal being is called Nyx." He answered.

"Nyx?" Minato asked with a rose brow.

"Nyx is the mother of all shadows." Ryoji answered.

"She's getting an ass kicking from me then." Minato swore inside.

"In ancient times, she bestowed Death to this world. If she awakens once again, darkness will cover the land and all live will vanish." The words hit everyone like a ton of bricks. Everyone's spine caught a chill and their heads spun around.

"All life will vanish?" Minato repeated the words, not believing his ears.

"Are you saying everyone will die?" Akihiko demanded.

"It would be more accurate to say that…. Everyone will forget the will to live." Ryoji answered sadly.

Mitsuru gasped "Are you talking about The Lost?" Ryoji weakly nodded.

"The end of mankind." Minato muttered to himself, he couldn't believe it "Is this what Ikutsuki was talking about?" Minato asked himself.

"But its still possible to keep it from happening right?" Yukari asked frantically and Ryoji never lifted his gaze.

"I'm sorry."

"Wait what are you apologizing for? Are you saying its for certain?" Yukari asked with terror in her voice.

"Yes you heard the bells, I'm the Appriser. The Appriser of Death, my existence is the affirmation of The Fall."

"When will it happen?" Minato demanded.

"….I'm afraid you will not live to see spring." Ryoji informed.

"But that's not too far away." Junpei cried.

Suddenly Junpei laughed "What are you guys freaking out about? All we have to do is defeat this Nyx and that won't be a problem because we never lost and Minato would wipe the floor with her." Junpei gave a grin to Minato.

"Can we really defeat something that bestowed Death into this world?" Sakura asked to herself "Even Nyarlathotep was scared…. Now I know why."

"Defeating Nyx is impossible." Ryoji stated "It has nothing to do with strength, ability or power. Just as all living things die and the flow of time in continuous, Nyx CANNOT be defeated."

"W-What? That's bullshit!" Junpei stomped the ground.

"An undefeatable enemy?" Minato asked himself "What good is my power then?"

"Why is this happening?" Ken cried, looking at each of the teens.

"No." Sakura whispered "What on earth could we possibly do." Everyone was at a lost for words, but Ryoji suddenly stood up.

"I was born from a collection of shadows but now I have a human form so I can talk with you, laugh with you and cry with, all gifts I received because I was inside of him… So I can give you a choice."

"A choice?" Yukari asked hopefully.

"Nyx's coming cannot be avoided but it is possible to live in peace until she arrives." Ryoji took a deep breath "You have to kill me…" Everyone let out a small gasp.

"Are you mocking me Death?" Minato snarled "What I wouldn't give to kill you. You make my skin crawl." He spat.

Ryoji flinched again "Listen please. If I were to disappear then all the memories of the dark hour will disappear with me, as would any recollection of the fate that awaits you. You won't remember anything. The coming of the Fall will be instantaneous... and you will not suffer."

"You'll be able to return to your normal lives. And in doing so, the time until the Fall will be slightly delayed. In essence, I am the same as Nyx and cannot be killed. But thanks to him, there's a part of me that's"human". So, if death comes from his hands, I think it may be possible." Ryoji told everyone.

"Fuck this." Minato cut him off "I ain't losing my memories, not ever!"

"The only thing that awaits you now is despair." Ryoji weakly replied.

"Oh you care about that? You shoved this all on us and now you're sorry about it?" Minato spat "I don't care who Nyx is. I'm gonna wipe the floor with that slut."

Ryoji's helpless look shifted into something dark "Oh can you really do that?"

"You can bet you're ass I can." Everyone braced themselves as a fight appeared to be on the horizon.

"Don't you remember?" Ryoji glared at Minato who returned it "When Nyarlathotep transformed into Hamuko?"

"Don't you dare utter a single word about Hamuko from you're blasted mouth." Minato snarled, getting in front of his face.

Ryoji gritted his teeth, Minato's hostility was certainly strong "You were getting beaten left and right… Until I saved you."

Minato's eyes opened wide "Saved me? That thing was you?"

Ryoji nodded "That was me! Even though I was incomplete and lost several fragments of myself, Chaos himself was nothing in front and do you remember how much you went through when you fought her?" He pointed at Sakura.

Minato gritted his teeth "Nyx is that strong?" Minato asked himself.

"You always wondered why wasn't the supposed shadow of you didn't know you're weakness. He wasn't. Nobody can replicate Death itself." Ryoji grabbed Minato's shoulder.

"You were Death yourself for 10 years…" Minato began sweating at his words but he maintained his stance.

"You always wondered how you become so powerful and fearless? Well let me tell you! You harnessed Death itself when Hamuko died." Minato gasped.

"Without it you're nothing more than a scared boy who lost his family." Ryoji shouted.

"Let me tell you! I am you're shadow! I know all that goes in the head of yours." Ryoji came closer to Minato's face.

"You're scared of being powerless!" Minato nearly triped at his words… That was actually true.

"Even since Hamuko died, you've been running for power… So that you wouldn't have to go through that again." Minato wanted to speak but the words got lost in his throat.

"Nyx isn't something you can defeat no matter how powerful you become. She isn't Nyarlathotep."

"Something even worse?" Sakura shivered. Minato kept looking down "…..Nee-san, please help me." He muttered to himself as his eyes began to feel a little wet but he held that in.

Ryoji let go off Minato's shoulder and faced everyone "You don't have to decide right now. You have until December 31st, New Year's Eve, to think about it. After that, I'll dissolve into the blackness of the Dark Hour and become intangible."

"Ryoji?" Junepi asked.

"I will disappear with the coming of Nyx anyway so don't worry about me… I'll be back on New years eve." Ryoji said and walked out leaving an almost broken Minato behind.

"That is true! I'm scared… scared as hell to be powerless again… But I am just that right now." Minato muttered to himself.

"Ryoji-kun is gone, I no longer sense his presence." Fuuka informed to the shaken members of the team.

"We will see him again." Mitsuru replied, looking worriedly at Minato "Are you okay?"

"The world will perish? The destiny of us is extinction? The Appriser waits for me… How can I chose? How can I chose the way we die?" Minato yelled out loud.

"Minato." Sakura whispered.

"I want my Nee-san back!" Minato cried and quietly walked upstairs.

"…Nee-san?" Yukari was shocked, she never heard Minato so weak and broken before.

"He's just this close for a breakdown." Sakura spoke "He never really gets a break. He's gonna blame himself for this all."


"I…. scared." Minato muttered to himself. Whenever he was scared a certain someone was always there to give him a warm hug that made him forget all about the dread…. But right now she wasn't there.

He slowly slid down "…..Maybe I should kill him?"

Muahaha Minato at his most weakest right now! I guess you guys finally understood why Minato's shadow was no where dominating him like the others did. Death cant be replicated so yup Ryoji is Minato's shadow! So how will Minato get over this? Answers please (No one from SEES will help him) Take a guess guys :D Review as always Toodles!