Important : Why thank you. Truth be told, Minato's sister was supposed to be an off screen OC and Hamuko was supposed to be Sakura in the first place but dammit no way I could make that work.
I'm glad you enjoy the siblings relation. It made the nearly invincible Minato have a weakpoint. If Hamuko really ordered him to kill SEES, he would have done so. That was his state before chapter 65.
Glad you liked it! Hope to hear more from you.
Liker : Let's see, I might make something for you :)
Michelle : Thanks! Glad that came off as emotional.
"Ugh." Minato brushed his bangs across his forehead, "Damn hair, I really need to fix these up." He groggily sat on his bed. Minato blinked twice to make his vision adjusted to the low and dim light.
"2010." Minato whispered. He buried his head into his arms and thought. "So much has happened." The blue haired fool took a deep breath, "But I guess…. everything was worth it."
"It's new year." Minato shouted to no one in particular and stood up from his bed. Last night, he finally came to terms with Ryoji. Death itself cried in front of Minato.
"Just one month left." Minato changed to his usual winter wear, "After that, I'll finally get the long rest I deserve." Grabbing his mp3 and placing it around his neck, Minato made his way down to the lounge.
Minato tip toed his way down the stairs to be greeted by the male members of SEES plus Koromaru.
"Happy new year senpai." Ken greeted.
"Happy new year." Minato smiled and returned the greeting before sitting next to Akihiko. Minato slapped him on the back, driving his forehead to the table.
"Ooops." Minato laughed. "Still, happy new year Akihiko."
"Same to you." The senior smiled.
Junpei came tumbling down the stairs, from the looks of it, he didn't sleep properly last night.
"Man, why I did I overslept?" Junpei groaned, "Why did I end up watching that stupid movie?" He locked his eyes onto the two teens and almost whispered, so that Ken couldn't hear that.
"Did you guys see it? It had these giant Amazon woman running around."
"Why would we watch that?" Minato and Akihiko said in unison.
Feeling that he was being ignored, Ken spoke up, "Hey is anybody going to visit the shrine?"
Minato shook his head, "Meh."
"I don't believe in superstitions." Akihiko answered.
"Me either." Junpei sighed, rubbing his eyes.
"Oh that's too bad, Yukari-san and the others already went ahead, all of them wear kimonos." Minato wasn't sure if Ken was actually trying to bribe Junpei.
"K-Kimonos?" Junpei stuttered with a blush, "I'm going to head to the store." Minato caught his collar.
"We're all going with you… To the shrine." Sure his perverted side left him but it wouldn't be too bad to see the female members of SEES in kimonos.
"Alright, let's go." Junpei cheered as he ran out. Minato chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets, he walked ahead.
"I'm impressed." Minato said aloud as his silver eyes darted from a stall to another. Suffice to say, the new year festival surely attracted a lot of people because of the stunning decoration and the mouth watering food.
"I agree." Akihiko nodded.
"Reminds me when Hamuko-nee took me to festival, although she didn't live long enough to attend a new year." Minato smiled bitterly.
"Sorry." Junpei winced but Minato waved his arms.
"I'm alright. This Minato is 100% guilt free." He said with a grin.
"Well your sister was a real cutie." Junpei blushed.
"How about I send you two out on a date… In heaven." Minato responded with a crazed look in his eye. Junpei visibly flinched and backed away, "N-No, thanks."
"Here they come." Junpei dispelled his fears and allowed a perverted grin to slide onto his lips.
The female members of SEES waved at the males. They walked towards them. Minato smiled, "They sure look beautiful."
Akihiko blushed with embarrassment and awkwardly looked away, "Geez."
Junpei was in heaven, he gawked and cooed over the females, making them uncomfortable. Minato slapped his forehead hard, "Here we go again." Sighing, Minato looked on amused as Junpei complimented each of them.
"Yuka-tan…" Junpei blushed.
"W-What?" Yukari snapped. Junpei tore his his eyes away from Yukari and then focused onto the Ice Queen.
"Mitsuru-senpai, you look hot….oh." Junpei nervously laughed at the glare Mitsuru sent him. Minato felt a vein prop on his forehead, "Is he hitting on Mitsuru?" Minato hissed to himself.
"Stop staring at me." Mitsuru snapped. Junpei flinched at her tone. He focused his eyes on gentle Fuuka who looked like she had trouble breathing.
"Fuuka….you look wow." Junpei cried and poor Fuuka blushed, her pale skin tinged pink. She just stuttered gibberish in reply, hiding behind Yukari.
"Sakura… you look stunning." Junpei gawked at the gray haired girl who blushed and looked away, "T-Thank you… Junpei-kun."
"No problem." Junpei grinned. Glad that one of them didn't give him the cold shoulder.
"Ai-cha." He turned to the newly 'humanized' Aigis. "Considering what you usually wear, that looks even more amazing on you."
"What is this odd sensation I feel?" Aigis replied slowly.
"I'm so glad I came, new year kicks ass." Junpei pumped his fist, "We got to see some great stuff today."
"One more word about Mitsuru and you'll find yourself being castrated by a thousand year old mace with deadly venom straight from a fucking dart frog." Minato snapped.
"I'll be good." Junpei paled.
"Oh that reminds me." Ken spoke up, "Junpei-san told me that you guys wearing anything underneath your kimonos… Aren't you cold?" Ken asked innocently.
"He said what?" Fuuka shrieked.
"I didn't." Junpei yelled but by that point, Yukari already had dug her heel onto his foot and gave him a loud resounding slap.
"Pervert." She snapped.
Minato sighed after a good laughter and looked up to the sky, "January 31, 2010." He whispered to himself, "I can feel it…. I might just die."
He looked over to his team mates who were discussing the fortunes they received, "Isn't the one who hold Death for 10 years destined to die fairly quickly."
"One thing I do know, I still have a connection with Nyx." A flash of disgust appeared on his face, "I don't like it but I have to use every advantage I can get."
…
"What did you wish for Fuuka?" Yukari asked.
"I wish for a great new year." Fuuka replied, "It might be generic but that's what I really want."
"I wished for that too… To prevent the demise." Sakura added in.
"I guess we wished for the same thing then." Mitsuru smiled, "But it wasn't a plea for help, I know that we will be victorious." She smiled at Minato who returned it.
"Heck yeah." Junpei flung his arm around Minato's shoulder, "Death or no Death, Minato will wipe the floor with Nyx."
"Just like he wiped the floor clean with Nyarlathotep." Sakura weakly smiled.
You bet." Minato smiled back. "We should get going."
…
"Get away, run away, fly way ~!" Minato hastily grabbed his cell phone and cringed from embarrassment, "God damn ring tone, I knew it wouldn't be good."
The team looked on awkwardly as Minato answered the call.
"Oh hey, Liz." Minato greeted sweetly, forgetting all about the embarrassing fiasco minutes ago. Mitsuru rose a brow at Minato's sudden change in attitude.
"Marge wants to meet? Next to Tartarus? Sure thanks!" Minato chirped, "Seeya later." He hung up the phone.
"Who was that?" Mitsuru asked skeptically.
"My mentor." Minato replied nonchalantly. "She wants all of us to gather up at a place." Minato announced.
"All right maggots! Let's head to Tartarus, a month is just gonna fly by ya know?" He smiled.
Everyone agreed also they were quiet curious to what 'Liz' had in store for them. Maybe a gigantic room where all the shadows attacked at once? While they had to fight in a battle royal under deadly conditions…. Nah.
Minato graciously walked into Tartarus with a bounce in his step, "Say hello to The Vision Quest." He announced, standing in front of a gigantic door right next to the golden clock.
"Minato, do you think its wis-" Before Mitsuru could say anything else, Minato already smashed the door open and had gone inside.
The redhead sighed, "Honestly, he's such a kid sometimes." She gestured to the rest of the members to follow inside. And they did.
"A desert?" Sakura asked. The place was indeed a desert with several door with various masks on them.
They say Minato chatting with a woman. Junpei blushed as the extreme beauty of Margaret made him heart bounce like crazy. Even someone as dense as Akihiko was blushing.
"Ah." Minato waved to his team and they came over to him.
"This is Margaret." Minato introduced, "She's the one who rules over power so stop gawking or she'll serve Megidolaon right up your ass." Minato snapped, breaking Junpei out of his stupor.
Margaret let out a small cough, "It's a pleasure to meet Minato-sama's friends." She bowed.
"Sama?" Mitsuru glared at Margaret and then Minato.
"She always speaks like that." Minato waved. He turned to the ruler of power, "So what's up?"
"I have heard that you will be fighting an incredible battle in one month." She pointed towards the doors behind her, "I have taken the liberty to prepare a room full of rigorous battles in order to make sure that you are prepared."
She clicked her fingers and suddenly, a huge door manifested in front of them. Towering over the rather smaller ones which were scattered and support by air itself.
"Let's skip the weaklings and get onto the real deal." Margaret announced.
"Deal?" Minato shook his head, "Alright Marge, what are you upto?"
"You shall find out." She turned to the dumb folded SEES, "Do you wish to participate?"
"It wouldn't hurt to be prepared." Mitsuru shrugged, "We're in." She spoke on the behalf of everyone.
"Excellent. I wish you the best of luck." Margaret clapped.
"Any sneak peak?" Minato asked curiously and Margaret shook her head.
"Aw, you suck." Minato rolled his eyes. Margaret fumed.
"And you don't stand a chance against me now." Minato added in and Margaret's rage subsided and she smiled.
"Indeed! I heard you even bested Elizabeth." Minato nodded, "Yup after a brutal massacre though." He sighed, "We'll take the challenge. Aigis could use some exercise."
The mechanical maiden nodded. "Indeed."
"Listen then! Minato-sama will go in the large door." She pointed to the newly appeared gigantic door, "While the rest of you shall enter over there." She pointed to a blue colored door at the middle.
"What is exactly going on?" Minato asked Margaret.
"Don't worry, I'll train them properly." Margaret whispered and Minato gulped.
"Don't kill anyone." Minato ordered and Margaret laughed.
"Why's he goin—" Before Yukari could ask anything. Minato already dashed into the large door.
"Alright, my dear persona-users, please follow me." Margaret walked into the door.
"Drill sergeant Margaret will help you." She chuckled and unsurprisingly everyone shuddered.
Minato walked into a place, strangely familiar.
"Dammit! This seems like the place where I fought Margaret before." He mused but then instantly, he projected a sword and turned around.
"Shit! The magician." Minato yelled as the Magician Shadow apparently glided towards him, shoving the multiple swords right onto Minato.
"Archer." Minato summoned the heroic persona.
"Block it all." The magician planted all the swords right onto Minato… But they were blocked by Archer's projected swords that were floating in mid air.
Furious sparks were given off as multiple swords clashed. Minato grinned and projected Cadablog II into his hands.
"Eat this." Through the web like structure of the swords that were clashing. Minato let loose the fake spiral sword, slamming right onto the magician who exploded into bits upon impact.
"Ugh. Damn that Ikutsuki."Minato cursed out as he remembered being played by the bastard who deserves to burn in a thousand fucking hells for eternity.
A horrendous roar welcomed Minato's ear. The fool quickly turned around to see a horde of shadows appearing.
"Tch.. Margaret." He summoned the twin blade and readied himself.
"Empress, Emperor, Lovers, Hierophant and that fucking tank which I didn't battle." Minato whispered as he stared down at the shadows who were advancing towards him.
"Live fast and stand TALL!" He channeled the World into his veins and charged at the shadows at nearly the speed of light.
"Come on!" Minato blocked the gigantic blade of the Emperor and pushed him back easily.
"Duck." He dodged right as an Agidyne decimated the ground.
"Lovers." Minato cursed at the floating heart. Electricity cackled in the sky and Minato quickly down the raining bolts courtesy of the Hierophant.
"Damnit! Thor." Minato summoned one of his most powerful persona. The Norse God slammed his hammer onto the ground, creating a shockwave that blasted each of the shadows away.
"Hahaha You're in front of the world greatest." Minato boasted as he taunted the shadows to get up.
The Lovers launched another deadly ball of fire. Minato smirked and switched to Apollo. He jumped up and flew right into the scorching flames. Easily flying through the flames, Minato readied his swords. The Lovers backed away but Minato jumped right onto its body.
Charging his blades with a Megidola, Minato slammed it right onto the heart shaped body.
"My work is done." He jumped off as the shadow exploded into pieces.
"GOD'S HAND!" Minato summoned Vishnu in mid air. The golden fist plummeted downwards the ground, creating yet another quake that made the shadows fall flat on their backs.
The Emperor came charging at Minato, swinging the sword.
"Telos." The reawakened Orpheus blocked the sword with his lyre quite easily. Still holding onto the lyre, Telos played an incredible melody which made the emperor quickly back away… But it was too late.
"Weak to Ice." Minato smirked as Telos launched a liquid that entirely froze the Emperor, completely halting it from moving.
Minato dodged the Garudyne sent his way by the Empress. Minato made the pot bellied shadow his next target. Quickly avoiding another bolt of electricity, Minato dashed towards the empress and summoned Gae Bolg. He jumped up and slammed the lance right onto the slim throat. The shadow released a screech as it staggered back.
"Power charge." Minato casted a Power-Charge right onto fist and drove it through the belly of the shadow. Minato cringed as his hand was contaminated by Ichor.
"Disgusting." Minato spat as he channeled the World once again. The Empress was one large shadow but Minato thanks to the raw power, lifted her up with both of his hands.
"Honeymoon!" She shouted, throwing the pot bellied empress right onto the frozen emperor. The two collided, sending million of ice shards everywhere. Minato switched to Skadi and stood still, he watched with amusement as the remaining shadows screamed from getting hit.
"That annoying tank and the wanna-be king." He thought for a second, "I hope they beat Margaret." Minato back flipped away from a bullet aimed towards him from the tank.
Still in mid air, Minato was blasted right on the back with something…. Hard. He collapsed onto the ground and saw one of the wooden guards of the Hierophant, right in the air.
"Damn thing." In a fit of rage, Minato summoned Thanatos who flew up and literally crushed the wooden right between his jaws. Thanatos's mouth glowed purple. He blasted the guard with a Megidola at point blank range, reducing it to ashes.
Minato rubbed his back from the pain, "Can't let small things get out of vision. " Setting his sights on the other remaining shadow, Minato charged towards it and drove the twin blade right up the body, effectively killing it.
He jumped back to avoid being crushed by the tank which threw its whole body downwards. The distraction was enough to make the other shadow fire another bolt. Minato cringed as the electricity drilled right into his body, almost numbing his limbs.
"I've become so numb." Minato choked out as the torture ended, "Tch, that was as strong as the Hermit." Speaking of, "Where are the rest of those bastards?"
He immediately dodged another bullet, "Tch, no use worrying about it now." Switching to Lucifer, Minato dashed and tackled the Hierophant right in the stomach. The shadow went flying thanks to the The World which was still in effect.
"Ragonark." Minato yelled as the summoned Apollo exploded into flames that ravaged the battlefield.
"Let's play with fire eh?" Minato smirked at the shadows obviously didn't have fire resistance, like he does.
"Hmph." Minato's featured hardened and she charged again. He jumped upto in the air and summoned Archer.
"Let it loose." He commanded as millions of blades, glowing blue, rained down from the sky, skewering the two remaining shadows. Ichor splattered on the ground, intensifying the flames.
"Die you sumbitches." Minato yelled. He jumped right on the tank and with his bare hands, tore the justice shadow from the base. The little pest screeched and blasted Minato right on the face with a bullet.
Minato felt pain but he gritted his teeth and swallowed it, he snapped the barrel clean off the mouth and threw it away.
"Taste this." He channeled a Morning Star right into Justice and dropped it back on the place where it rested, that is on the top of Chariot. Minato furiously stomped until it plummeted downwards. Chariot suddenly did a backflip, aiming to crush Minato but the bluenette jumped away.
The Chariot landed on the ground, backwards. Minato smirked as a bright light exploded from within, reducing it into small mechanical pieces.
Minato, with a smile, turned towards the Hierophant which was literally shaking, since all of the shadows were destroyed, rather easily but Minato was still wondering, what happened to the last 4?
Shrugging it off, Minato charged at the last once, he switched to Lucifer which gave him immunity to the constant bolts. He traveled right through it and crushed The World. His pace increased tenfold, with the effects of the power up still present. Minato drove right into the chest of the shadows. The shadow screeched in pain as Minato probably melted whatever kidneys or things it had.
Minato blasted his way out and cringed, "Ichor." He turned around to see the shadow dissolving into mist…. Until it finally disappeared.
Minato still kept his guard for a few more minutes, since another of those special shadows could come but they didn't. Minato cleaned himself with an Aquadyne and cleared the still present flames away and then walked out of the door.
He was greeted by SEES, smiling proudly. Minato smiled at Margaret who smiled back.
"Yes, they defeated me." She announced.
"Great." Minato clapped, he still knew Margaret held back of them, since her Slime's almighty attack could have shaken the whole place apart.
"We did it!" Junpei cheered.
"That was rather tiring." Sakura panted.
"No kidding." Yukari rubbed her sides and lessened the pain.
"You still have one more door left." She pointed to another one, "You shall face something that you already faced before." Margaret commented cryptically.
"We'll take it! We need to be ready for Nyx." Minato said and he received nods in return.
"Let's go and whoop all kinds of asses." Minato slammed the door open and walked inside with the rest of the team.
"Shinji?"
"Chidori?"
"Nyarlathotep?"
The next part will take a while but still! Read and Review guys! I really want this to reach 400 by the end so help me.
Margaret was defeated but like stated, she held back. I intended for whole of SEES to fight but seriously speaking, being limited to one persona does not make the battle seem that interesting, esp when its a battle royal but still the next one WILL BE AN ALL OUT BATTLE ROYAL!
Toodles for now. Oh and be sure to take a guess at the last lines of the chapter.
