Festivities

Author's notes: Hey guys this is a new chapter for this fic. Thanks for your reviews and comments, and enjoy the reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own Persona save for Atlus.

Previously before the ending of the previous chapter…

Naganaki Shrine, night of the 8th

He went towards the shrine where the playground was, exploring the area but found no sign of the Velvet Room anywhere the teenager giving up after around ten minutes of searching before he moved on, the teenager making a mental note to ignore the local park in case of another attack while Leto continued to scan the area for Shadows. Kicking a stone while he gulped down on his MadBull energy drink, the muddy blonde sighed as he felt his body mass feel a little lighter while his head began to clear, the effects of the energy drink kicking in while his vision sharpened Felice taking another swig of the drink while reaching in his bag to grab a cracker snack.

"Hmm, no Igor or Margaret…guess they weren't lying when they told me they couldn't form doors during this hour unless it's necessary. Well great, it's been two freaking months and I don't even know how to approach them at all…what kind of guides are they anyway if they're not going to be around here to give me free advice?" Felice complained chomping on the cracker while he took sips of Madbull the student eventually sighed, this wasn't how he expected it to turn out but the words of Igor rang true about it being hard to conjure the doorway in this time. Knowing it was futile to continue searching aimlessly around the shrine for an impossible thing the boy had decided to skip that objective for another night, he would return to the shrine anytime since it was too soon, however the next stop that he had to go to was the one that took precedence for him Felice eating another cracker while he walked.

Moonlight Bridge, 40 minutes into the Dark Hour

"This place is the next stop." He muttered as he looked around the large bridge that connects Iwatodai to the Port Island mainland, the large wires and lengthy supports towering over the mass of cars which were crowded across the road in scattered lines, the empty hollow spaces in between being the only form of road that he could use to cut across the bridge his eyes noticing the coffins neatly snugged inside. "Sweet dreams, guys...not that you'll ever see something like this unless you're unlucky," he commented as he stuffed the plastic wrap for the crackers along with the empty can of Madbull the clink of metal on the concrete through the bag's layer echoing into the stale air, Felice looking out from the bridge onto the wide open blood red sea the sight giving chills while he shuffled from the rails looking around at the giant structure he was standing on.

"This is the very first step to understanding what happened here. Something was mentioned in the papers too, an accident that caused a city-wide evacuation of the citizens, definitely there must be a clue here for me." He said as he reached into his pocket, the teen pulling out a torn article reading the title for a moment before he sat on the boot of one of the cars kicking his legs into the air. "This is boredom at its finest…of all the clues that could point me somewhere this place is the only interest I can think of," he sighed as he looked at the newspaper clipping in hand, the man thumbing the article.

Death under the Moonlight

The bridge that connected the Port Island to Iwatodai has become the site of an investigation to the unknown traffic accident that happened at the bridge causing the deaths of more than twenty people last night. The bridge's massacre was discovered when early traffic discovered the bridge filled with smoking cars and burnt bodies, with the survivors few and far between. Reporters attempted to question the victims three hours later at the hospital where many suffered traumatic stress and depression soon after, but police were able to rebuff further questioning until the commissioner addresses the public. The conference is scheduled to start at 10am tomorrow…

"Hmm, nothing else could be found when my father told me about this…yet he gave this to me and told me I would know? Why?" The boy asked as he felt a little more confused than ever his eyes tracing the outline of vehicles in his wake, feeling a little sickened by the sight of blood everywhere. Taking the article, he stuffed it inside of his jacket pocket securing it with the clasp as he walked ahead jumping over a car hood to stand at the walkway of the bridge seeing the blood-red sea waves lapping at the edges.

"I…actually feel rather sick seeing this, that's normal isn't it? For a guy to be scared of things like this," he commented after a while holding the human desire to tear his eyes away and hurl the teen sighing as he reached into another pocket, his fingers grasping the object in his palm bringing it up to his face. In it was a small keychain with a lily at the end, scratches barely visible as he twirled it in his fingers spinning the small artifact by the band, "…what's the point of this article if I'm just going to be here all night without answers? What were you trying to tell me, article…tell me your secrets, what do I have to know?" Staring longer at the piece of paper, Felice growled and slammed his fist on the railing as metal met flesh and bone echoing with a dull reverberating thud, Felice inhaling deeply before he retracted his fist.

"What is the point of me coming here if this isn't going to help me know the truth?" He hissed as he stared at the article's contents again.

As far as Felice could recall, his memory of his childhood was like all others fuzzy with pieces of various information from other people and rumors stuck together, in fact the first memory he could remember prominently was waking up in a shelter outside of Port Island according to his father before slipping into a coma for nearly six years before waking…though what happened to his mother wasn't exactly good either, she was placed in a wheelchair unable to speak longer than a word or a nod during that time before she slowly recovered, by the time he had met her . From there life took off for him, his father had gone on to two towns before they stopped at Inaba over the period of three years where he then stayed for the duration of his childhood and into his first year of highschool…he figured he was around five years old when the memory of the shelter came, and according to his father it had been a day before his birthday even a really convenient time for hell to come over them. His father always commented how Felice had actually survived death on that particular day, how for twenty full minutes Felice was medically dead before his heart restarted and the doctors praising it as a miracle from the gods or just a regular miracle. Felice enjoyed the rest of his time in Inaba, he could still remember the sights of the country and the luring of the simple life as well as the enjoyment of steak skewers along the road with his mother who would accompany him on such trips all the while teaching him about general knowledge, her former career as a high school teacher had been helpful in his studies as he managed to earn passable grades in primary and middle school.

However such things didn't last, even with happiness and joy of having a full family there were questions that he soon formed about the reason behind his sudden death though Felice wasn't sure when he was so fascinated with the situation behind it, one day when he was in his home he suddenly had a desire to discover about his hazy past. His parents would naturally keep silent, the two of them shaking their heads with pained expressions as they gave passing answers to his queries all through his late childhood and back then it was taken without a grain of salt.

"You were in Port Island when an accident occurred, you were lucky to be even standing here…" or "You just had an accident that's all" were only a few of the responses followed by a loss of recollection or changing topics to avoid the questions, and for the longest time Felice was a little curious for answers taking in the smallest detail. Eventually the day came where he could finally have some edge over his parents in that regard, the teen doing something that was rather funny when he thought about it.

"I want to go to Tatsumi Port Island while you're both away," the teen announced one day at the dinner table the clattering of chopsticks being the only sound as the sound of eating died immediately, his father shifting his eyes towards the table. "Oh?"

"Yeah, I was planning to study there since they have a better institution…I mean Yasogami High is good, but I wanted to get a better academic background as well for a job." He explained while his mother looked to her husband with a look of concern. "Honey, he's speaking to you. Aren't you going to say anything?"

"Hmm, I wanted to ask you something before I can even grant that kind of request," his father spoke looking up at his son who was smiling thinly as the man sighed his brown hair ruffled under the grip of his hand. "What exactly are you doing this for?"

"I don't know what you're talking about-"

"Don't lie to me son, is it about the story of that time? Are you so unsatisfied with the answers we've been giving, which meant that you were going to Port Island yourself?" Seeing his son's smile fade when he listed it, the father closing his eyes as he shook his head in refusal, the man noticing his wife placing down her fork while her fists clenched already becoming a lot more concerned at the change in atmosphere around the kitchen area as Felice placed his hands under the tablecloth wringing them. "If this is your idea of guising your intention to visit the site where you were nearly dead I would have to oppose that kind of notion or anything related to that place."

"Dad, you and Mother have been avoiding the damn question for too long…so far I can't remember anything besides waking up in a hospital shelter, I was put in a coma for years…six! So just when I ask why you just keep silent and tell me to read the papers for all the information I need when I don't know where you were then, I'm sick of all the dodging and avoidance from both of you. You two have been touchy about it since I started asking."

"Only because as I said before there is a reason why we don't talk about that place…that incident took more than just five years of your life through a damnable coma, it took your mother's mobility and her ability to do things for the rest of her life."

"Then why so defensive about an accident if that's what you two have been playing it off as? As far as I can tell, Mom is doing fine here, she's happy…she's still glad that we're together." Felice answered coldly while his father shook his head, the older man sighing as he stared at Felice. "I'm afraid that whatever you say can't change my mind, you are not going to Port Island and that is final." Felice immediately got up from his seat and left fuming as he did so, turning back to see his father who calmly resumed eating before he moved up the stairs.

The longest months stretched with Felice arguing with his father, although he had sent in the application anyway without his father's permission anyway so eventually the day came when he was accepted into Gekkoukan High school, and by this time a letter was sent to his father along with the acceptance letter privately read by him and Felice was genuinely surprised when his father came downstairs two days later. He had agreed to let him stay in Tatsumi Port Island, but only away from the city center if he could find lodgings for him, and that was that…however it opened up new questions for Felice who saw his father so adamant in his agreement suddenly become rather accepting of the decision in short notice. Then he gave him this article, and told him to go to the Moonlight Bridge whenever he was free to do so, citing the reason as remembering something. That was the last he ever heard of his father speaking of that time again, Felice was given the directions to where he needed to go and said his goodbyes before leaving Inaba for Port Island.

And it seemed he was right. But there was one more thing that began to bother him about the article that was in his hand, the teenager flipping over the clipping to look at one more headings dated around ten years ago. His parents were involved in a large accident but yet something didn't feel right to him, like the answer he was seeking was not satisfactory enough for him to accept, that Tatsumi Port Island was the place where he could reach and feel for the childhood that he enjoyed than sit around and listen to his parents giving him awkward looks and filling in the silence with anything but that time. He would admit there was something wrong if he wanted to revisit the site where he was supposedly dead for twenty minutes, but yet something inside of him drew him to this place just as he met Igor and Margaret for the first (?) time...it all seemed to fit together too perfectly. Was this the destiny and the disaster he would be thrown into again, like how his parents were?

He shook his head and read on.

Moonlight disaster attributed to possible structural failure resulting in burst pipe leaks

At the conference at 10am, city council spokesperson Kariya battled with news reporters on the legitimacy of claims that the Moonlight Bridge had faced structural failures attributing to the discovery of burst pipes on the road of the bridge. The three hour conference descended into near argument before local security along with the police had to hold back the swarm of reporters which had nearly rose in protest against such 'outrageous claims' of falsifying an event, Kariya insisting that such incidents would happen anyway even with preventive measures stating 'nothing is ever so concrete in the terms of building safeties'. Kariya is one of the few council members who sits on the Port Island committee and has ties towards the Kirijo Group who has recently split from the Nanjo Group due to a difference in ideals, certain journalists have criticized the committee spokesperson for giving invalid reports.

"Kirijo...wait a minute, I never noticed this before." Felice narrowed his eyes reading the name of the company, his eyes lighting up.

"You've never heard of the Kirijo Group?"

"Hmm? Why, is there something that I should know or care about this Kirijo Group?"

"…I see, never mind."

The brief playback roughly played out in his head, the little snippet coming to mind confusing him slightly before he recalled the words whispered to him upon meeting the council president.

Do not trust.

What reason had he to suddenly not trust a girl who he just met out of the blue, and had a power similar to his? The answer was still obscured to him, and he didn't have much time to think it over as he decided to walk back home, his mood for exploration dying when he had gone over that particular train of thought. He had to look up the internet, or outright ask that Kirijo girl about that Group she was affiliated with…perhaps then he would find some form of answer to the questions that he held for himself. The moment his feet left the bridge, the green skies and bloodied marks vanished from sight replaced by the sea of carlights that zoomed by him as he walked home, the boy having much to think about to care while he walked forward ignoring the resuming passage of time.

9th April, Midnight

Like the previous night Felice had decided it was time to go to the Naganaki Shrine to find that door again but like the previous night it had been to no avail.

"Well that sucks, they're not even here anymore…wherever they are I bet they're biding their time until the right moment comes for me to meet them or something, then again that is what those guys would do when I think about it. I've never seen such unnatural people before, after that meeting even I have no idea what they are supposed to be if they aren't human." Felice felt his mind go into a full circle as he fingered his headphones, the wire still connected to a small player which was shoved in his shirt chest pocket the black plugin invisible in the night as he tugged the headphones.

"…Speaking of relics from the past, there's the matter of having these." He wondered aloud as he toyed with the headphones removing them from the scruff of his neck, his hands caressing the item in the grasp of his palms the teen tracing the design his rough fingers touching the smooth surface of the band going to the main components on either side. "I feel like I had these on me my whole life, but yet something tells me otherwise…who am I kidding here, asking questions to a headphone set and player?" Bringing the headphones over his neck, the teenager made his way over towards the Moonlight Bridge his determination steeling his focus from the confusing feelings rising in his mind.

"Who's out there? Hey!" Felice jolted upwards as he heard someone from behind calling out at his back with the sound of pattering shoes smacking against the concrete sidewalk, the youth walking onward without pause while Leto came to his side ready for his orders as if she had sensed the approaching presence from afar. The teen decided to walk faster, doing his best to ignore the approaching presence before he finally turned around out of curiosity coming face to face with a sight of silver white hair and a red sweater vest with pants along with the white shirt which was strange for Felice to tag as a school uniform, the teenager giving off the air of a senior as he held a leather gloved hand up.

"Hey, you…I wanted to talk to you!" The teen caught up to Felice who had his hood feature on, the darkness obscuring Felice's face while he stood head cocked to the side as a precaution against the silver-haired teen who was attempting to shift his head in seeing his face while he took short practiced breaths, the sweater vest wearing boy giving a neutral expression at the strange figure. "Hey, what are you doing out here by yourself at this time of night?"

Felice blinked as he gave a small gasp of surprise, the expression change unseen by the teen as he put on the best act he could pull taking a step back from the silver-haired guy. "Hey just to ask, you're…human aren't you? Not like one of those things out there right?"

"One of those things…" The silver-haired teen placed a hand over his mouth while Felice carried on with his 'scared guy' act, the teen tugging at his collar lightly between his pinching fingers the boy looking away at the concrete ground. "Look, I don't know what's going on! I've been looking around here for the past minute and all I've seen is the damn coffins and splotches of red blood everywhere while screams are happening all around," Felice replied putting a bit of emphasis on the damning features of the Dark Hour while he waved his hands out at the silver-haired teen. "What is going on out here? What is this?"

The silver haired senior wanted to reply before the scraping of steel suddenly echoed in the midst of the conversation, the duo pausing as Felice himself felt Leto stir within him bristling with caution and warning to the muddy blonde teen who was already preparing to get away before something from the corner of his left eye from the alleyway caused him to freeze, the senior seeming to notice this too as he followed his gaze and too froze at a very large abyssal presence staring at them, a faint light from the moon hitting the alley to give a blue glint Felice inwardly gasping when he noticed what the item was.

Crap, another big Shadow?

The sound of steel screeching against concrete was the last thing he heard before the senior tackled him to the ground a whizz of steel and the flash of light sliced cleanly into the tar road behind them another sword sticking itself into the concrete sidewalk leaving a fine cut. The two scrambled to their feet, the senior clicking his tongue as he looked back at Felice who was still staring dumbfounded by the large creature before he used one of his hands to shove Felice away from him as the senior reached for a waist holster strapped to his thigh unhooking the flap to bring out a pistol.

"Huh? Wait a minute there man, you can't just shoot something like that can you?" Felice called out in terror behind the silver-haired teen who ignored his moment of doubt before he replied confidently, his eyes narrowed in focus against the creature that was slithering out of the alley with a forest of hands and arms crept and grabbed at the edges of the buildings pushing itself out onto the street. "The pistol isn't for shooting that thing."

"What do you-hey hey hey, what the hell are you trying to do?!" Felice yelled out in surprise and internal shock as he saw the teen take the pistol…and place it against his forehead directly without skipping a beat or hesitance shown, the teenager was already ready to spring into action before the senior called out to him stopping Felice in his tracks to 'help' him. "Hey, get out of here kid if you don't wanna get caught in the crossfire when Polydeuces comes out! Go, run for it!"

Polydeuces? Felice thought as he continued with his act his hand throwing the wind in front of him aside. "Don't be stupid, I'm not to just leave you-!"

*Bang*

Change of POV

Akihiko didn't know what to think or feel as he stared down the abyssal monstrosity with many arms however a glance back at the innocent who was screaming at him while he held the gun to his forehead told him that if he didn't do this quick there will be someone getting hurt…and he wasn't about to let this damn monster take a life while he could do anything about it.

"Come…Polydeuces!" The echo of the gun shooting his temple brought forth the sound of glass breaking in the window of his psyche, the familiar influx of power filling his veins as he watched a metallic figure immediately jump into the fray clashing with the multitude of swords that the Shadow held in its many hands the mask falling back to the center as four arms with their blades blocked the monotone metal face while a small growl of joy was heard from the Shadow, prompting Akihiko to glare dangerously at it.

"Okay, let's see how you like this!" The teen watched as Polydeuces delivered a stunning blow to the assaulting weapons repelling their attacks away however the momentary victory was bittersweet as another five hands with blades sliced at Polydeuces causing Akihiko to take a few steps back the senior calling his Persona back while he changed his approach.

"Try this then!" Zio!

The flash of lightning smashed onto the large Shadow, enveloping it in a stream of blue light for a second before the creature tore through the small delay as ten swords sent Polydeuces crashing onto the ground disappearing back to its owner. Akihiko looked down at Polydeuces and then back at the Shadow for a split second the man turning on his heel and ran, his eyes barely noticing that Felice was already a distance away from him the senior reasoning that he was fleeing out of fear the teen about to catch up to the scared teenager a collection of five swords stabbed the ground in front of him forcing him to take a detour into the alleyway, the boy placing the pistol to his temple.

"Polydeuces!" The metallic Persona charged again exchanging blows as Akihiko exited the alleyway escaping across the road and towards the dorm his mind remembering the scared teen causing him to hesitate for a second.

"Damn, I should be protecting him…not running away like a coward!" He said before he summoned Polydeuces who barely blocked a wide swing at Akihiko's general direction, the boy however unable to see an arm grab him wrapping itself around his body as Akihiko struggled however his strength wasn't even enough for resisting before the hand threw him against the wall the sickening crunch of his left arm against the wall behind his back causing him to yell in pain as he crumpled, falling flat on the ground before the teen using his other arm to bring himself up to his feet as Polydeuces' endurance and strength allowed him to withstand the attack head on. However, even as Akihiko grabbed his weapon and glared at the Shadow internally his rational half was already agreeing that this fight was something not worth continuing, Akihiko staring at his broken arm with disdain as he bit his lower lip.

Damnit, at least the innocent is out of the way but I have to make sure. Follow me, monster! Akihiko immediately dug his feet into the asphalt and launched his legs off into the opposite direction of the large mass of hands stiffening for a second before five arms launched themselves towards their fleeing prey intent to kill while Akihiko turned the corner silently hoping that the creature did not do so at all.

"That's no way to fight," a voice called out to the Shadow as the swords found themselves being swallowed into the dark before the Shadow mask fell upon the sight of a boy who stood up from the darkness, a woman in robes at his side towering him. "I won't let you kill him so easily," Felice spoke as he stared after where Akihiko had disappeared the boy closing his eyes as he looked back at the Shadow his hand reaching for the knife at his side before he retracted it Leto charging up a Garu spell at the approaching mass of hands glaring dangerously.

"Let's go at it." The Shadow sent five swords coming at him as Leto sent out a Garu, hiding Felice in the floor as the creature barely flinched stabbing into the road relentlessly where the boy was. Seeing that the attack had no effect, the Shadow looking around while Felice appeared behind it Leto preparing a different tactic.

"Over here." The boy said as a Bufu riddled the Shadow with the shards of ice but instead of being hurt, the Shadow had completely stood still taking the hit like it was nothing. Clenching his teeth, Felice threw another series of Bufu and Garu at the Shadow which didn't seem affected by the attack the boy keeping his distance his mind racing already.

"Crap." Don't tell me this thing is resistant to elemental loadouts? Sensing hesitation, the Shadow quickly took advantage and threw two of its blades from its multiple arms the blades acting as spears as it buried itself a step from him while he ran in a zigzagged trail. The Shadow however grew restless and began to throw five to ten in a simultaneous barrage as Felice bit his tongue, the teenager stopping in his tracks as he threw out his hand.

"Grrr…Toíchos." The swords flew around him while a direct sword smashed against the solid invisible wall the blade barely touching his head as it clattered to the ground, the echo of the steel ringing in his ears from the shockwave while he felt his body tire the exhaustion straining his body. The Shadow staggered back from the sudden repulsion of its attacks, roaring in anger that the insignificant prey had not been eliminated from that move as the mass rushed the tired Persona-user.

"…" Felice looked down at his body which had froze due to a bout of tiredness and the shockwave turning his legs to jelly before a large black hand grabbed him and threw him across the street the student smashing against the side of a car and fell down onto the road Felice coughing out blood as he spat it throwing a Garu at the mass, earning the same result as the Shadow walked through the magic barrage unaffected. Looking down on its defenseless victim who was already showing signs of weakness, the Shadow was showing more confidence in its attacks immediately following it up with a large fist aiming to crush the teen. Felice barely brought up the counter wall before he was punched into the vehicle and the road his vision blackened as he felt something grab him however his fading consciousness could barely register it while the Shadow encased the student in the grasp of its hand staring at the limb as though fascinated by something, the creature turning its attention away to see the silver-haired boy from earlier staring at him. Seconds earlier Akihiko had only just made three blocks away from the short skirmish between Felice and the Shadow, the silver-haired fighter turning around to see the Shadow coming around the corner near a broken vehicle which had been smashed by something, the black mass looking at its hand before he caught its attention the Shadow's mask leaning forwards as a forest of arms dragged the large mass along the road stabbing the road with several blades while two others whizzed through the air in wild untamed arcs Akihiko using Polydeuces to deflect a blow from entering a building as he fled.

"Oh no, it's coming!" He uttered as he continued to sprint madly, using a mixture of pauses in between sprints for summoning Polydeuces to hold back the swarm of blades while he raced across the pavement tapping into his earpiece hearing nothing but static, the silver-haired fighter growling in irritation while he winced from his arm. "Come on damnit pick up already…Mitsuru, Mitsuru!"

"What is it, Akihiko?!" The sound of his teammate brought him relief as he sighed out in relief though the lack of air due to his running let him gasp out as he tried to take another deep breath. "Well, bad news…I'm being chased by a really large Shadow, it's not even showing signs of giving up."

"What?" Akihiko couldn't really explain as he stumbled the teen feeling the pain in his left arm spike up again causing him to hiss though he managed to suppress it, the senior speaking first before any elaboration could be needed from his teammate as he ran for his life. "Look I can't really explain but I have to get to the dorm, be ready to fight when I arrive there," Akihiko ordered as he carried on his dash ignoring the reply from Mitsuru while he tried to navigate himself around the neighbourhood, the Shadow still hot on his tail.

Rooftop, present

"So…*hah*, you gonna finish it…or not?" Felice spoke as he sat on his knees bleeding heavily while the two dumbstruck teenagers stared at him, his arms aching sore from the heavy attack he faced earlier taking its toll as he watched Yukari shift herself to stand in front of both males as she took out the gun at her thigh the girl bringing it to her head as Yuki felt his emotions go into haywire mode, the action of her placing the weapon against her head was the last thing he needed to see as he moved towards her.

"Stop, don't come any closer to me Makoto-kun!" Yukari's voice became a stern command as Yuki stopped the sword still in his hand. Turning back to cast her eyes on the large Shadow, Yukari continued to grip the gun to her head shuddering as her eyes found themselves unable to tear away from the looming chamber of the gun, the sight terrifying her.

Come on, pull the trigger! It's not real, it's not real…

Felice meanwhile had already noticed the girl's hesitation, the wounded teen attempting to call on Leto before his concentration broke from the pain in his ribcage causing him to kneel over with his elbows propped against the floor to support his upper body nearly collapsing from the overwhelming pain. "Damnit…" he echoed out as the Shadow had taken notice of the two newcomers and at Yukari before it growled, one of its hands shooting out like a bullet and slapped the girl aside relinquishing her of the gun letting it slide across towards Yuki who couldn't catch the hand's movement at all, the boy looking in shock as Yukari slid across the floor unconscious from the blow and leaving all three at the mercy of the large Shadow creeping onto the rooftop, the black mass slowly dragging its way over to Yuki who was still in shock.

Change of POV

Yuki was drawing absolute blanks in his head, the boy staring ahead at the creature which had thrown out the other transfer student from its grasp while Yukari was frozen. Then upon seeing her draw the gun she had trained on him and placed it right at her temple did the boy snap out of his shock, immediately rushing to get her away from the dangerous weapon.

"Stop right there! Don't get any closer to me, Makoto-kun!" That made him pause, her grip was tightly enclosed on the trigger and that small reaction to him made him stop completely so to ensure she didn't do anything reckless. As the girl tried her best to pull the trigger, he could hear Felice letting out a frustrated grunt just before a black hand snapped out and slapped the girl across the face and sprawled over the floor while Felice struggled to move, Yuki feeling a piece of metal hit his shoe toe as he stared downward at the small metallic gun at his feet.

Go on…

Picking it up with his right hand, he unknowingly traced the barrel of the gun noticing there wasn't a cock on it, no magazine holder save for the trigger which he touched with his index but not pulling it. The more he looked at it, something in his mind was asking him to place it to his head like the girl, the flash of the boy in the criminal outfit smiling at him as his hand brought the weapon to his head.

Why so hesitant?

Yuki felt panic as he held the weapon firmly to the side of his temple, the boy barely paying attention as he stared at the monstrosity which was crawling slowly towards them the dragging of swords onto the concrete creating sparks as two hovered over Felice's body the weapons dangling with precision and lethal intent.

You know how to use it…

But what point did this serve? Why was he just doing it…wouldn't he die from this even if there was no magazine? The logical questions were being drowned out as white noise overcame his instincts as he trembled slightly, the reality that he was pointing a real life gun to his head was the one fact that was preventing him from pulling the trigger like Yukari was. However though, what difference would it make if he did?

This boy is a monster…

He survived while his parents died, what makes him so special?

What rotten luck that a son should live while his parents die…

His mental health is at risk, we shouldn't let him into any institution of education.

What choice does he have if you take away his life?

"P-P…"

Isn't he taking his parents' death so well?

"Per…"

Why wouldn't he, a person like that…

"..so…"

Tell me something Yuki…why do you keep on going like this?

Isn't this what you've always wanted?

At that point, a split second from that point onward Yuki Makoto let out the biggest grin that he had never done in his entire life since his parents died, the image of the blue-haired boy in the striped outfit looking at him while playing with his long sleeves smiling at him as Yuki gave a light nod. In that instant he wrapped the trigger with his index in a semi-circular grip, as time stopped at that moment before he made the decision.

"…na."

He heard the gun echoing with a loud bang.

Back to normal general POV

"What…the…shit?" Felice echoed his thoughts aloud as he spied the blue-haired boy who had taken the pistol and without another moment's hesitation fired the gun a loud banging sound making him squeeze his eyes shut for a moment, wincing before he heard the Shadow halt in its destructive tracks the large mass of black stopping short glaring at Yuki. Felice cracked his eye open then, his consciousness starting to return to him while Yukari cracked open her eyes spying the back of Yuki standing tall in front of her while Felice laid in front staring up at the boy, shock coming to her. Floating above him was a metallic being holding a harp while a red scarf was draped around its neck a head of silver hair flowing in the night illuminating the darkness, Yukari almost rubbing her eyes to make sure she was seeing things clearly while Felice let out a snort.

"Heh *cough*…flashy."

"…Makoto…kun?"

"I am Orpheus, the master of strings…I have emerged from the very depths of your soul." The robotic being announced as it unhooked its lute from its back ready for battle, its master staring up at the Persona with surprise before Yuki shuddered a sickening feeling beginning to stir in his stomach. A sudden jerk from the teen caused him to clutch his head a sharp pain in his head, Yuki letting out a sharp cry of pain while he stumbled backwards the ringing becoming louder while both teens realized it wasn't just Yuki who was being affected. Orpheus was shaking and jittering almost like a puppet with its strings cut, the Persona letting out a sharp cry which both teens could attribute to pain before the most disgusting sight followed starting with Orpheus' head leaning back and two hands tore their way out of its throat as its metallic body began to tear apart.

"W-What the hell is this? Orpheus is…" Yukari gasped as the Persona's ripped body fell away to reveal a large intimidating beast of a creature with a skull like helmet and a semi-circle of shields resembling coffins bound by a chainlink standing tall behind its master. Howling a deathly roar, the newly formed Persona charged towards the large Shadow as it shook out of its hesitation and brought its swords raining down on the Persona while the two swords above Felice fell upon him simultaneously the Shadow aiming to fulfil its objective of taking at least one of the teenagers down.

"Damn it *cough*…Shadow Haven." He uttered as he felt the last of his strength die out with his elbows, Leto appearing above him with a look of concern at the wounded student. Waving a hand over him she coated him with darkness before he sank into the floor and reappeared safely beside Yukari who was unable to speak or notice as she watched the Persona tear the large Shadow's arms with a bare hand and finally slicing the large mask in half, causing the massive black creature to disappear in a hiss of reddish black particles while letting out a final chilling death scream. The creature howled towards the moon before it vanished soon after as Orpheus replaced the monster and came to the side of a kneeling Yuki shortly before disappearing into thin air again, the boy feeling his head grow dizzy from the sudden wave of nausea upon summoning that…thing while he tightened the grip on his head the rapier lying at his side.

"Makoto-kun, look out!" Yukari warned as two Mayas crawled out of the concrete floor their masks glinting in the moonlight while they charged at Yuki the boy glancing upward as he didn't flinch putting the gun to his head and fired again Orpheus answering his master's call while Yuki snatched the handle of the rapier getting to his feet to run. "Agi!" The master of strings didn't hesitate as it strummed the lyre the hollow note sent out a burst of fire stunning a Maya before he jumped slicing the mask of the second Maya clean off as it disappeared the remaining Maya charging again at Yuki, the bluenette calling Orpheus to attack with its lyre smashing the instrument atop of the Maya crushing the mask into pieces as peace soon fell upon the rooftop, the fight ending quickly.

"Orpheus…" Yuki muttered as the master of strings disappeared, the blue-haired boy feeling faint while Yukari felt blood return to her feet the girl looking in disbelief at what had happened as she took a cautionary step towards Yuki. "Makoto-kun?"

Turning around, the blue-haired boy gave her a wide smile his grip loosening on the rapier as it fell to the floor clattering and rolling aside, his vision blurred due to a lack of focus as he blinked once, his expression showing genuine concern for the girl. "Yukari-san, are you alright?" Seeing Yukari nod with a small tremble Yuki closed his eyes breathing out a breath of relief his shoulders completely loosened from the tension while he felt like he was about to fly. "Good…"

*thump*

"Makoto-kun!" Yukari ran to Yuki as he fell on his back unable to listen further as his consciousness left him, the gun joining him on the floor before the door to the roof opened to usher Akihiko, Mitsuru and Ikutsuki who rushed onto the scene seeing Yukari holding the unconscious Yuki who had gone into sleep. "Takeba!"

"Yukari, are you alright?" Akihiko asked as he joined Mitsuru who had gone to see Yuki's still body his left arm hanging limply while his right arm supported it at the shoulder, Yuki breathing lightly with his eyes closed while Akihiko couldn't help but crack a smile seeing that everything was alright. "Wow, what amazing power…he is an interesting guy if he can shoot himself with the Evoker without much trouble," Akihiko praised the unconscious boy while Mitsuru fell into thinking about something before she dismissed it the girl pushing her thoughts aside for a slight shed of joy that things had not gone out of hand if not for Yuki's…interesting intervention. The Kirijo heiress made a mental note to ask Yuki about SEES soon when he had recovered, Ikutsuki in the meantime had already retreated to the inside of the building with the intent of calling in the nearby hospital to take the casualties in.

"Mitsuru," Akihiko called out to Mitsuru who turned to her right seeing her fellow high school senior staring at the fallen figure of Felice who was out cold with dried blood crusting on his forehead and upper face his body sprawled out on his back, the Kirijo heiress almost withholding her urge to blanch at the blood before she replied her arms still crossed. "The chairman is in the communications room contacting the doctors there, the Dark Hour is about to end so there should be no problems in quick transportation…how is he?"

Akihiko shrugged, the man looking at the ground in some measure of guilt. "Well it's not looking good. He's broken a rib or two besides the concussion and a sprained ankle, but it doesn't change the fact that he is banged up pretty bad. It would take at least a month or more before he can make such a recovery in that time even when I used Dia to get the cuts on his head sealed up." He reported as he looked at the knocked out boy for a second before he shook his head his leather gloved hands squeezing tightly, "if only I had just stayed with him then none of this would have happened then. How did I not see that this guy was a Persona user or that he had powers if he could have walked around the place so freely?"

"Hm." The heiress didn't reply in full, the redhead giving Akihiko a softer gaze than her usual stern expression the girl holding her elbow in her arm. "Akihiko the fault wasn't yours if you couldn't make it to him, but what matters is that he is still alive and everything worked out fine in the end…we're all alive, that's what matters. Though I would admit," she turned to gesture at the muddy blonde still covered in blood with a contemplative look on her face, "he would be a valuable team member of SEES since he showed that he has control over the power of Persona to an unknown extent."

"Well, you're right but I think we should worry about both of them getting medical attention right now. I'll go get first aid and bandages for him," Akihiko advised as he walked towards the door to the rooftop his body's slight slant to the left being the only indication his arm was broken in the fight, the boy letting out a soft hiss on his way out but stiffened his body before leaving Mitsuru to watch Felice with a troubled look on her face and back at where Akihiko had disappeared to. Seeing the transfer student on the floor was worrying for her regarding his case as it stood, for him to move around for the majority of the Dark Hour without succumbing to the effects of Apathy Syndrome or turning into a Shadow he had shown qualities relating to that of a Persona user and combine that with the fact he had walked around the entire school with her during that last day of term too made her feel a pang of guilt for not noticing anything off about him. With such qualities and the fact his little display of power was witnessed by all three of them in the control room, there was no doubt in her mind that Ikutsuki would be willing to get him as a team member to SEES and she would have to agree as well.

"Senpai…" Yukari had walked over to Mitsuru's side before she looked down at the second injured body of the battle. "Isn't he that new guy from class 2-E?"

"It seems so." Mitsuru replied as she withdrew from him, Yukari lost in thought as she barely heard Mitsuru's words behind her as the heiress briskly made her way to the exit. "I will be going to look for Akihiko, no doubt he wants to strain himself despite the damage to his arm…take care of them, Takeba."

April 13th, unknown

"Welcome, dear guest." Felice awoke to a familiar voice greeting him with friendliness, the muddy blonde wiping the sleep from his eyes before he found himself in a very familiar room with clock faces upon the wall, his head spinning from the rough sleep he had been getting while he exhaled, Igor gesturing to him with a wave of his hand on the opposite side of the table. "Do not worry, you're fast asleep in the real world…I have summoned you here through your dreams."

"Ugh…" Felice replied while he tried to stabilize his vision, Igor patiently waiting while Margaret sat on an armchair her hand enclosed on the book staring at something within the pages, the student massaging his forehead. "Igor, it's been two long months since we last talked. So where were you guys?"

"We're always in here," Igor gestured to the Velvet Room while seeing his guest scowl. "But I know you didn't come here to be subjected to more riddles, I summoned you here to speak to you about your power, Persona." Igor stated while Felice ruffled his hair with a hand the teen's eyes shifted towards the clocks on the walls to notice that unlike before the clock hands on every one had stopped abruptly, the room was full of silence other than the echoes of the occupants' voices. Noticing his eyes wandering Igor took a glance around the room while chuckling in amusement, his bulging eyes brimming with interest while Margaret continued to read paying no attention to the other two in the room. "Yes, it seems that a change has affected the room as well, the clocks stopped exactly the moment you had arrived here and have not moved a twitch. Things like these symbolize and craft an intimate pictorial insight into the soul, don't you agree so too dear guest?"

"Why am I here?"

"Straight as ever, I see. Do you still believe that you have the power to see through your destiny? Or has that night changed you to believe in otherwise?" Igor wondered aloud to himself making sure that Felice could hear his thoughts as the teenager shifted in his seat the boy clenching a fist before he stared up at Igor giving him a deathglare. "I promised upon the contract that I would uphold the responsibilities of the mistakes and the decisions that I have and yet to make in the course of my journey. In such a contract's face I have my doubts but I believe that the person who signed this contract was probably looking out for my well-being. With that in mind how can I walk away," he recited for Igor the man seemingly smiling as he nodded in response towards his answer the man waving a hand to spread out a row of cards.

"Excellent news, I am glad that you have found your way. Now about why I summoned you…there seems to be a very special circumstance that has occurred to your contract when you had accepted the terms and its conditions, I would much rather like you to know about that," Igor's words made Felice lift his head the teenager tuning in on his words as the man flipped out two blank cards in front of him Igor tenting his fingers after he had shown the cards. "You desire to be stronger, a desire stemming from conviction that was given to you however...you do not have access to the Wild Card as a result of something that caused you and the contract to restrain it from your grasp, perhaps in the hands of fate there is a reason for such an unfavorable result in your power."

"Wild Card…?" The name rolled off his tongue yet for some reason he felt animosity towards this power though he couldn't pinpoint why.

"Yes, guests are bestowed the gift of Personas with the authority to enter this room and access the Wild Card which opens up a universe of possibilities, the beginning of new roads and from these roads more potential can be revealed to the contractor as he finds and experiences new turns in his road." Igor explained as he pointed a creepy long finger towards Felice who felt a little apprehensive from the sudden action of his jerking finger Igor keeping the grin plastered permanently on his face. "However it seems you are not able to tap into that power, but yet there is potential for you to develop the small stream of possibilities given to you…a most interesting outcome is it not?"

"A guest who does not have the Wild Card is most special indeed, normally those who have signed the contract and have access to our services have the advantage of tapping into the power of the Wild Card to aid them on their journey. Such a thing like yours is unheard of," Margaret explained as she shut the book in her hands leaving it on her lap. "Your circumstances have added a specific condition within the contract that accepts you being restrained from using the Wild Card and cannot be revoked over the course of your journey."

"So…what do you mean by possibilities? Why call me now?" Felice questioned as Igor lowered his hands on the table where the cards laid. "I've called you for the express purpose to say that despite your restrictions there are a few paths open to you where you may develop your Persona's power. I have consulted which Arcana would be the paths you can take in developing their talent and creating new Personas in that field." Igor added as he set the two blank cards aside and threw out two other cards which were face down the similar masks were staring up at Felice who was leaning a little forward.

"Now shall we look at your potential?" Igor asked as he reached for the card on the left and flipped it over. On it was a sight of a man who was upside down with an orb of light around the circumference of the man's head the expression on the man's face was stoic and meditative while a rugged cross hung behind him. "The Hanged man..." Another card flipped over to reveal the familiar skull with two scythes in front of a door, Felice raising a brow as he felt his mind becoming unsettled by the imagery before Igor's voice cut through his discomfort. "And Death, these are the extent of your potential."

"Two huh…?" Felice took the card of Death in his hand the teen looking at the fine detail of the card's picture before nodding. "I see, if that is what I've been given I may as well just use it then," Felice declared.

"I'm sure that even where your power is limited, your decisions will ultimately steer the course you've set yourself on," Igor said eagerly as the card disappeared from the table leaving the surface occupied with the two blank cards on the table, Igor pushing one of them towards him while Felice looked on confused. "This is a Persona card…cast your finger on it."

"Huh, what does this do for me?" Felice questioned as he looked at the blank card and then at Igor and Margaret, the boy turning back to the card hesitant in following through. Felice had a feeling that Margaret sensed it because after an extended period of time he heard her address him intently. "Is there something wrong with what we request of you?"

"Uh, no, not at all but I just can't see the reason behind doing such a ridiculous thing." Felice said hurriedly coming up with an excuse before Margaret sighed. "Truly you are being difficult unable to try something that is unknown to you, where is that, how your world calls it, 'spring of youth' that all young people crave?" Margaret asked as Felice felt his head get heavier, the student withdrawing his outstretched finger from the card.

"There is no way I will be doing anything unless there is a valid reason behind it," he stated firmly as Igor pushed the card towards him by a margin the man waiting patiently while Felice continued to stay rooted into his seat his finger close to his chest while he stared at Igor ignoring Margaret as best he could. Igor eventually broke the stalemate of silence without any sign of irritation or annoyance at the delay, his smile sticking to his lips like super glue. "We can sit here all day, unlike your days which are numbered we residents of the Velvet Room do not truly know the value of age."

I already knew that, Felice's mind lied on the spot though his expression was contrary to the thought before he raised his finger and slowly inched it towards the card, the teen feeling the intense stares upon his isolated finger the fleshy extension of his limb quivering out of discomfort at the unseen attention while his mind was starting to self-pressure itself. "Argh…"

Tap. The soft surface of the card met his fingertip as an eerie calm settled on the room, Felice feeling his eyes blink only once before he had touched it the stares from the other two were intensifying the longer he held his finger in place, Felice squirming in his seat while his finger stayed perfectly still refusing to leave the safety bubble of the card that it had constructed around itself to shield the stares. Hearing the silence digging into his ear while he sat there, Felice eventually pulled his finger away his face becoming stern as he stared at the card intently.

"Nothing happened."

Igor shrugged. "Well, that is all I needed to know. Now time marches on in your world and I am afraid we've overstayed your welcome into this room, so we will be taking our leave. But before we do, hold onto this." With a wave of his hand Igor produced a small velvet key in the air floating down onto Felice's hands giving him the trademark smile as he closed his eyes. "The next time you'll come here will be out of your own free will…until then develop your power and increase your potential, farewell."

"Wait a minute, the next time? What do you-"

"-mean…" Felice's eyes shot open just as the Velvet Room cut to black and reformed with a burst of color and light in his shining red orbs, the muddy blonde locks shifting comfortably in the bed while he looked side to side his neck relaxed in the burrows of the hospital pillow exploring his surroundings which meant that he was back in reality. Felice noted the whitewashed walls and the ceiling above settling to the window on his left where a glass vase of artificial flowers were stuffed in the contents and water filled half of the container sitting atop a small end table with a clipboard hung over the rail of the bed Felice not needing to think twice to know he was officially placed in a hospital, the white drapes of the curtains fluttering as the wind entered the warm room cooling it down while Felice felt the prickling of the rough patient uniform against his neck and chest, the muddy blonde shifting his body only to freeze up in unbearable pain.

"Gah! My chest…" He looked down lifting the covers to see a strip of white, forcing his body in place as he felt stiff prompting him to lie back onto the bed with his hands going numb.

*click*

"H-Huh…who's…" Felice slowly spoke out trembling at the immobility of his body as his ribs strained in protest from moving too much just as his visitor came into the room stopping short of the corner while Felice tried to piece together his thoughts as the aftereffects of sun exposure and sleep were still lingering on his focus Felice attempting to incline his head towards the doorway to catch sight of pink.

"Hey…you're that girl, aren't you?"

End