Warnings: Slight violence. Suicidal implications. Lemon scenes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Persona 3 Portable or any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me
Chapter Four: Knight in Shining Armour
June 08, 2009
Naganaki Shrine
Hariyama Yuuki was gone from the school even before Yukari and Junpei could stop her, making a beeline straight to the Naganaki Shrine, deciding to skip some of her club activities for that day.
The chestnut haired girl had been worried about the elementary school kid that she had been visiting for awhile. The last time that she had seen Maiko, the girl had been literally bawling her eyes out, and was talking about running away from home. Yuuki glanced down at the school satchel by her side, with the coat that that Shinjiro guy had loaned her that fateful night resting among her books.
She still shivered, recalling what had nearly happened that night at the back alley.
True, Yuuki had survived this long on her own, and she knew just how people could be, but that night is actually the first time that she had actually came close to being violated. Akihiko and Mitsuru were both not pleased when they heard what the three juniors have been up to, and Akihiko had given Yukari the most severe talking to that she had actually heard. Yukari had taken it all in her stride however, feeling guilty that it is because of her that Yuuki had nearly gotten raped.
Akihiko had acted quite funny after Yuuki had told him that Shinjiro had saved them from those punks in the back alley. And when she had asked him where she could find Shinjiro, he had told her to try the Hakagure ramen restaurant at the Iwatodai Station, stating that that is where the brunette young man usually hangs out at. The silver haired boxer had also told her that he used to hang out at the back alley, but approximately a month ago, he had stopped hanging around there so much.
It had been nearly two days since that fateful night, and Yuuki had practically combed the entire town for the mysterious senior, but still couldn't find him. Thus, she had taken to carrying around the burgundy pea coat that he had loaned her, in the hopes of returning it to him once she ran into him.
Yuuki had washed the coat by herself the night after the back alley incident, but still, that wash didn't seem to have the ability to wash Shinjiro's scent off from the coat. The brunette senior seems to have a faint scent of spices and cooking oil around him. A rather strange kind of smell for a guy, but somehow, Yuuki feels that it suits him.
"Maiko? Are you here?" Yuuki called out, glancing around the shrine, hoping to see the small elementary school girl, but to no avail.
The chestnut haired girl then frowned, hoping that Maiko didn't do anything foolish. Something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention just then, and she turned only to see the mysterious senior from that night sitting on the bench that Akinari had always occupied every Sunday whenever she came to see him, only just dressed in his black turtleneck shirt and pants. The brunette looked up, almost as if feeling Yuuki's gaze on him, and he flushed lightly, immediately putting away the black notebook that he had been writing in, tucking it into his pants' pocket.
"Hello," said Yuuki with a smile, approaching Shinjiro who grunted and mumbled something that she assumed was a greeting. "Thank you for your help the other day. Here is your coat. I've also washed it for you." And she handed the pea coat to Shinjiro who stared at her for a long while before taking it.
"You can sit down if you wish." Shinjiro muttered, wishing that his heart could stop beating so fast.
Yuuki did so by flopping down next to him, swinging her legs slightly. "I heard from Sanada-sempai that you go to our school too, but I've never seen you there," said Yuuki curiously, cocking her head to one side. "And I've never heard your name come up as well. I'm in the Student Council; Mitsuru-sempai asked me to join back in April." Yuuki added in answer to Shinjiro's unasked question. "Hidetoshi-kun tends to be quite harsh on those students who played truant, and he'll even go to their houses to drag them to school. The names of those students often came up during Student Council meetings, but I've never heard him mention your name."
"Tch. The teachers probably gave up on getting me to attend school." Shinjiro grunted, pulling on his coat, and buttoning it up. He never really did feel right without his coat. Rather like Yuuki who is never seen without those hairpins of hers and her music player, Shinjiro is never seen without his coat and beanie. "I made it to third year only because Aki and Kirijo made me sit for the finals back in junior year. But I never attend class, and it's been such a long time since I've last attended school."
"Why?" Yuuki asked curiously. "And the teachers are okay with it, Aragaki-sempai?"
"They've probably long given up on me attending school again, though it is only due to Kirijo's influence that my name is still on the school's register of students." Shinjiro grunted, slumping in his seat.
That is true in a way, as the Kirijo Group built the school, and as such, is a major shareholder. Mitsuru had used every ounce of her influence to still keep Shinjiro in school, as much like Akihiko, she had still harboured some hope for him returning to school.
"Hmm…" Yuuki mused, staring at Shinjiro for a long time with those red eyes of hers that Shinjiro felt quite uncomfortable. "I bet that Junpei will simply love to be you." She giggled. "He practically slept all day in class, and he'll probably never get out of bed in the mornings if Mitsuru-sempai didn't make him."
Shinjiro cracked a small smile. That sounds just like Junpei all right.
"Ah! You smiled!" Yuuki chirped. "This is the first time that I've ever seen you smile! You look nicer when you do that." She peered closer at him, and Shinjiro leaned as far back as he could go, feeling a tad bit uncomfortable at having his personal space invaded so suddenly. Even more so if it's Yuuki. It's currently taking him everything that he could to not jump her right then and now. "You're not really as scary as everyone make you out to be, are you, Aragaki-sempai? You're really nice and kind."
Shinjiro's eyes widened a slight fraction.
You're not really as scary as you want everyone to believe, are you? Sempai is a kind person. I know that. You worry about the others, made us eat our food right, and you worry about me. Sempai is a nice person. You're really nice and kind.
Shinjiro chuckled inwardly. 'Heh. She never changes,' he thought, looking at Yuuki. 'Then and now, it doesn't matter. She is still the same old Yuuki. I'm falling for her all over again.'
"I wonder," said Shinjiro with a slight smile at Yuuki. "Tell me something; is Aki doing okay?"
"'Aki'?" Yuuki echoed before Shinjiro's words rang a bell in her head. "Oh! Sanada-sempai? He's doing fine! After the doctor had given him the all clear, he is enthusiastic about training again!"
Shinjiro smirked. That sounds just like Aki. "And getting all cut up in Tartarus again, I'm sure," he snorted, and he bit back a smile of amusement as Yuuki nearly jumped in fright at his words, and looked at him in slight fear.
"T-Tartarus?" Yuuki stuttered. "How do you know about that?"
"Don't look so surprised." Shinjiro interrupted. "I used to be in SEES as well. In fact, Aki, Kirijo and I made up the original SEES squad before you and your friends came along."
"But Sanada-sempai, Mitsuru-sempai and Ikutsuki-san had never mentioned you before!" Yuuki said, surprised, and Shinjiro had to fight to not let his feelings over Ikutsuki show on his face.
He knew that Yuuki had always been very sharp and intuitive, and particularly sensitive to people's feelings. She always seemed to know when and what to say, and what to do. Shinjiro knew that there is a reason why Mitsuru had chosen Yuuki as SEES's leader, and Shinjiro suspects that it probably has to do with this.
"I…left about two years ago," said Shinjiro hesitantly, not willing to go into details about why he had left. Thankfully, Yuuki never pushed further. "Aki has been pestering me ever since, trying to get me to return."
"You have a Persona then?" Yuuki asked with interest, and Shinjiro nodded. "What's it called?"
"Castor," said Shinjiro, not feeling uncomfortable talking about Castor for the first time. "It's strengths lies in physical attacks, and there isn't any known weaknesses that I know of."
"Hmm…" Yuuki looked at Shinjiro with her crimson eyes. "If you ever return to SEES again, you'll make a great addition. Why wouldn't you return, Aragaki-sempai?"
"Well, I have my reasons." Shinjiro coughed. "Also, drop it with that '-sempai' shit. I ain't your sempai. I hadn't gone back to school for who knows how long. Stop with that formality. It gives me the creeps."
"Then what should I call you?" Yuuki asked, her head cocked to one side.
"Shinji," said Shinjiro, a light flush on his cheeks. It is the name that he only allows Akihiko and Yuuki to call him back then. "Shinji is fine."
"I can't do that!" Yuuki protested. She then blushed, looking away. "T-Then is 'Shinjiro-sempai' all right? I can't stop calling you '-sempai', and just addressing you by your name seems strange." She mumbled.
Shinjiro smirked. That had been Yuuki's first initial reaction as well back then when he had asked her to call him by his name when they have been walking Koromaru. The only time when she had called him 'Shinji' had been the night when they have both made love to each other.
"Whatever makes you feel better, I guess," said Shinjiro. 'Though I'll make you call me by my name soon enough.'
"It's this late already?" Yuuki glanced at her watch before turning back towards Shinjiro. "Sorry, I have to go. I had some fun today. We should do this again someday."
"Yeah." Shinjiro said with a smile as he watched the chestnut haired girl ran off. He then sighed and reached into his pocket, drawing out the small notebook that he had written the timeline in, and flipped it opened, reading the events that had occurred during the month of June.
'So it's tonight, huh?' He mused, closing the notebook with a light snap. 'Maybe I should take this chance to rejoin SEES. I can control Castor with no problem now. I didn't imagine that it's something as simple as just strengthening my resolve, and having something to live for.' Shinjiro then frowned. Well, Personas are the embodiment of the soul after all. 'The poison had mostly been flushed out of my system, and Aki won't freak out if he finds out, though I'll probably still get a punch from him or two.' Shinjiro frowned, remembering just how hard his childhood friend can punch. He had nearly lost a tooth the time when Akihiko had punched him after learning that he had been taking Strega's drugs the last time. 'And the sooner that I rejoin SEES, the better. I can keep an eye on Yuuki and Ikutsuki that way.'
Shinjiro glanced up at the skies only to see that it's slowly darkening. 'Tonight,' he mused.
XXXXXX
Dark Hour
Entrance to Tartarus
"Ugh… Uh…" Mitsuru panted, sweat dripping from her forehead, her Evoker in one hand.
Next to her, Yukari wasn't all that much better as well.
It had all begun so well at first.
SEES had agreed to break into the school that night to try to find Yamagishi Fuuka the same way that she had entered Tartarus. Yuuki had taken Akihiko and Junpei with her, and all three have entered the gym room, and have waited there until midnight when the Dark Hour had begun.
Mitsuru and Yukari have then both waited at the entrance to Tartarus, though with the junior feeling a tad bit worried, as their connection with the other three is breaking up. And all of a sudden, two enormous Shadows have entered Tartarus from the outside, similar to the Shadows that they have encountered during the attack back in April on the dorm, and when they have entered the train a month ago.
Yukari glared up at the two towering Shadows who both seemed rather determined to make them their dinner for that night. "Oh hell no! I'm not letting you make me your dinner for tonight!" Yukari growled as she pointed her Evoker at her temple and pressed the trigger. "Io, Garula!"
The two Arcana Shadows of Emperor and Empress fell down from Yukari's attack, but got back up again, not seemingly affected by her attack at all, and Yukari growled. "What's going on? Nothing's working!"
There was a sudden flash of light from the teleporter behind Mitsuru just then, and both girls turned just in time only to see the three SEES members, along with an additional addition of a pale-faced girl whom Yukari can only assume is Yamagishi Fuuka arriving on the scene. "Sempai—" Yukari had to dodge out of the way of Emperor's attack who had grown tired of waiting.
Akihiko gasped upon seeing the two large towering Shadows. "Mitsuru!" he called out to the redhead.
Fuuka looked scared upon the sight of the two large Shadows whilst Junpei and Yuuki both readied their weapons and Evokers. "What in the world…?" Fuuka gasped at the sight of something that had only existed in fantasy novels. "This must be some kind of bad dream…"
"Unfortunately, it's very much real," said Yuuki grimly, tightening her grip on her naginata.
Junpei narrowed his eyes and turned towards Akihiko. "Sanada-sempai! We gotta distract those Shadows somehow!"
"I know that!" Akihiko snapped. He then turned towards the nearest Shadow. "Hey! If it's a fight you want, we'll give it to you!" He tightened the gloves on his hands. The two Shadows readied their attacks in response. "They're coming!"
"Be careful! Normal attacks won't work on these Shadows!" Mitsuru shouted, trying to catch back her breath.
Yuuki frowned. "They're coming!"
And just as SEES were about to engage the two Shadows in battle, there was the sound of a low creak, and the doors to Tartarus swung opened. Natsuki entered, her eyes unfocused, and seemingly in some sort of trance.
"F-Fuuka…" Natsuki whispered.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Yuuki snapped. She is normally a very patient and cheerful girl. But even there is a limit to her tolerance, and the limit had just been reached; with Akihiko coming to a conclusion about the large Shadows and the full moon earlier, and with all of Pharos' strange warnings of late.
"Watch out!"
There was the sound of a loud explosion somewhere in the direction of Tartarus as Shinjiro urged himself to speed up, with the world blanketed in the familiar eerie green glow of the Dark Hour – the hidden hour.
"Damn! Am I too late?" He wondered, putting on an extra burst of speed, concentrating as he did so in order to reach Castor.
Shinjiro had found out that he could summon Castor without an Evoker about a month back when he was trying to control his Persona. He is able to summon Castor without his Evoker that is currently back with Akihiko, but it takes up a lot more energy and stamina than it usually does to summon his Persona using one. But at this point in time, he can't really afford to be picky.
"Please let me make it in time…"
"Oh man, you've got to be kidding…!" Yuuki groaned as she dodged a magic attack launched by Empress, and had to twist her body in several different ways in order to dodge a follow-up attack by Emperor.
And just what are the rest of SEES doing? Tending to a downed Mitsuru, with Fuuka still communicating with her newly discovered Persona, Lucia.
"Hello! Some help here would be very much appreciated…if it isn't too much trouble!" Yuuki screamed as she narrowly dodged a fireball launched from the Empress, and rolled out of the way of the Emperor's attack.
At her scream, all of SEES looked up, even Fuuka, whose Lucia had just finished it's necessary introduction into it's abilities and skills. "Shit!" Akihiko cursed upon seeing that the two large Shadows had Yuuki cornered, and the chestnut haired girl isn't looking exactly that great as it is, with wounds covering her from head to toe, and with Yuuki looking as if she is on her last legs. The silver haired boxer grabbed his Evoker, but even he knew that he would never make it in time.
"No! Yuuki!" Yukari screamed in fear.
"Castor! Fatal End!"
A new voice roared out just then, and a new Persona appeared, looking rather like that of an armoured man with long blonde hair sitting on a black horse. Yuuki passed out just then from exhaustion, only to be caught in the arms of none other than Aragaki Shinjiro himself.
"Shinji…?" Akihiko blinked, wondering if his eyes are playing tricks on him as he saw his best friend.
The Empress that had been the Shadow nearest to Yuuki, and thus, had been the first one that Shinjiro had targeted went down immediately with Castor's attack, thus obliterating to pieces. Shinjiro breathed heavily as he adjusted his hold on Yuuki in his arms.
Fuuka called out to the members of SEES just then. "Guys! The Emperor is weak against magical attacks, but he is immune to physical attacks! Finish him off!"
"Magical attacks, huh? That's right up my alley!" Yukari grinned before she pointed her Evoker at her head and summoned Io once more. "Io, Garula!"
Akihiko followed Yukari's example by summoning his Persona as well. "Polydeuces, Ziodyne!"
The two attacks from Akihiko and Yukari respectively hit the Emperor simultaneously, with the Emperor disappearing in a bright flash of light, shattering like glass. A very long silence fell after that, and the SEES members sighed in relief. Akihiko and Yukari then both ran over to Shinjiro who is still holding Yuuki.
"Yuuki!" Yukari called out in concern.
"Don't worry, she's just fainted from exhaustion." Shinjiro reassured the worried junior.
Yukari looked relieved at that, but Akihiko was looking at his best friend as if he can't believe his eyes that Shinjiro is there. "Shinji? What are you doing here?" he asked carefully.
"I saw that girl heading towards Tartarus, and I got a little worried." Shinjiro lied, jerking his thumb towards Natsuki who seemed to be staring at Fuuka in disbelief as the latter walked over to her on shaky legs after having dismissed her Persona.
"A-Are you alright?"
Natsuki nodded her head. "Yeah…"
"Thank goodness…" Fuuka smiled in relief before slumping over to the ground, unconscious. Natsuki caught Fuuka just before she could hit the floor, and panicked when she saw that Fuuka isn't moving.
"Fuuka?"
"It's alright, she's just exhausted." Mitsuru reassured Natsuki who burst into tears upon hearing that.
"Um, what are we going to do?" Yukari asked nervously. "About Natsuki." She glanced at the girl in mention. "She saw everything. The Dark Hour and the Shadows."
"That girl is not like us. She doesn't have the potential, so she probably won't remember any of it." Shinjiro grunted. "But I'm surprised that she is able to move about during the Dark Hour though." He muttered, glancing at Natsuki.
"Won't remember? Do you mean that she'll forget that Fuuka saved her life?" Yukari asked, and Shinjiro nodded. Yukari frowned. "That doesn't seem fair."
"Actually, I don't think that it'll matter," said Mitsuru with a secret smile, glancing at Natsuki who is crying over Fuuka, apologizing over and over again. The redhead senior then smiled, turning back towards Yukari. "I think that she's learned her lesson."
Shinjiro sighed before glancing at Mitsuru. "Then we can get down to why I'm actually here," he said briskly, glancing at Mitsuru. "Kirijo, is my room still available?" Mitsuru raised a brow but nodded. "Good. But I hope that you had at least kept it clean even when I'm not occupying it. And I need my Evoker back."
Akihiko gasped. "Shinji, does this means that…?" He trailed off hopefully, and Shinjiro smirked and nodded.
"Yeah. You can stop your nagging now. I'm coming back," said Shinjiro, getting to his feet, and lifting Yuuki in his arms. "We should get going now. The Dark Hour is about to end. I'll take her back to the dorm, so you should hurry and get back as well."
"Yeah, we should do that. Akihiko, take Yamagishi and Moriyama to the hospital. They both need to rest. The rest of us will go back to the dorm, and I'll prepare Aragaki's room for him as well." Mitsuru ordered.
Shinjiro waited until the rest of SEES had left Tartarus, though he didn't like that look on that idiot Junpei's face as he eyed Shinjiro carrying Yuuki, and Yukari was staring on curiously, but said nothing. The brunette then turned to stare at the glowing blue door that definitely wasn't here the last time that he was in Tartarus.
"What the hell is that?" Shinjiro frowned.
"It's been awhile." A voice rang out, and Shinjiro almost jumped as Theodore stepped out of the door. "It looks like you had been adjusting well, Aragaki Shinjiro." Theodore gestured towards the door. "Like Yuuki-sama, you are the only one able to see the entrance to the Velvet Room apart from her now."
"Velvet Room?" Shinjiro frowned, wondering what on earth is that.
"A place that only the Wild Cards can enter to fulfill their destiny." Theodore smiled sadly at the girl in Shinjiro's arms. "I see that you've been progressing well. But like what I've said before; do be very careful. Time travel is a tricky thing."
"I know," said Shinjiro with a sigh. "I just have a question: does Yuuki knows about me being from the past, or future in this sense?" Theodore shook his head. "I see. Keep it that way. Don't tell her anything about this." Shinjiro stated before turning to leave Tartarus before the Dark Hour ends.
"Aragaki Shinjiro." Theodore called out, and Shinjiro stopped in his tracks. "Just remember one thing. Your life isn't just your own. If anything happens to you, it will hurt Yuuki-sama as well. Keeping yourself safe and healthy is also the best way to help Yuuki-sama."
"Don't worry. I don't plan on dying anytime soon."
XXXXXX
The Next Morning
Gekkoukan High School
In classroom 3-B of Gekkoukan High School, Akihiko was nearly dozing off as his teacher drone on and on. This unfortunately always happens to nearly all members of SEES the day after a major operation, or when they've gone to Tartarus. Thankfully, there are always a few members among them that could somehow manage to keep awake despite all that.
The silver haired boxer was jolted awake as the classroom door slid opened, and the entire class fell silent. Even the teacher who was explaining something about the Edo era paused, the textbook in one hand as he stared in disbelief at the sight of the student standing at the entrance of the classroom.
Akihiko stared as well.
He hadn't seen his best friend since this morning, but had assumed that Shinjiro was merely catching up on his sleep, as he simply can't remember when is the last time that he had seen Shinjiro sleeping in an actual bed. Cleaning Shinjiro's room took only a matter of hours for them, with Akihiko dragging Junpei to help as Shinjiro took Yuuki to her room, something that he is quite uncomfortable with. With the two years that the room had been left vacant, a large amount of dust had been left lying in there, that it is not until nearly three in the morning before they were finally able to go to sleep.
So this explains just why Shinjiro was nowhere to be seen as the SEES members set off for school that morning, with Yuuki looking a little paler than normal, but otherwise seems to be fine.
Dressed in the Gekkoukan High School uniform, only with his blazer left opened, and his tie hanging loosely around the collar, with the collar at the neck left opened, Aragaki Shinjiro grunted, for once having left his beanie off, his school bag tucked under one arm.
"Sorry that I'm late," he grunted.
Akihiko can only stare.
Okay, this is officially turning out to be the weirdest day in all his life.