Post-Mortem

Junpei Iori

"She kept saying something about falling, and…" tears still stream down my burning cheeks without hiatus, making my sobs interrupt my words, "and love. Then…out of nowhere she…she started freaking out about the time. I left to get the breakfast I had made for her. Then...-" I close my eyes and breathe, in an attempt to fight for my voice.

Mitsuru's elongated, slender fingers rub up and down my back as she speaks to me softly. "Iori, I am so sorry this has happened to you. I can't even imagine what you're feeling."

A sharp sigh escapes my lips as I continue to think. I still can't believe it's Mitsuru who's comforting me. The girl who is normally detached is now the only one who has tried to console me. Her efforts haven't worked so far, though; I feel worse with every second that passes by. It has now been 3 days since…since…

The tears clear up enough for me to look around the room. I am now in my own dorm. Through the sweltering tears, I let my eyes wander about. It is sloppy and unorganized, which is nothing like Chidori's dorm. But soon enough, her things will be cleared out, and her room prepared for another student of Gekkoukan High to inhabit.

Chidori is dead. Chidori is dead.

I have to repeat the words to myself or else I forget they are real. I look at Mitsuru and realize she must have skipped her daily classes to comfort me. She is still in her grey pajamas, and her flaming red hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail. Her usually firm facial features seem to have softened for this occasion.

I can't stop thinking about my last seconds with her. When I held Chidori until she…she…died. I was too shocked to say much of anything. Just as I begin to fall into an endless black pit of despair, He comes into the room. His blue hair adds a splash of happiness to the gloomy dorm. He must be just now returning from classes, because he has yet to change out the mandatory, blue school uniform.

Minato's eyes meet mine immediately and his smile catapults me back to the surface. Of all the students here at Gekkokaun High, he is the only guy who gets me.

"Hey, Jun." And there is nothing else to be said. All he has to provide is his presence to calm me to sanity. With a small pot and chopsticks in his hand, Minato advances towards us slowly. He looks over to Mitsuru, and nods slightly. Her response is a warm smile and a worried glance to me.

"You look awful, Jun." He says with a chuckle, returning his sapphire eyes to me while taking a seat on the bed at my other side. "I thought you might be hungry, so I brought you some Ramen." He sets the pot and eating utensil on the end table next to the bed; the smile never leaving his face.

"Thanks, man." I say softly. Then, there is silence. It is soundless in the room for so long, that when I do speak, the words seem a tad inappropriate. I backhand the remaining tears from my face before I talk.

"Thank you guys for staying with me, but I really just want to be alone now." I say, trying to pack in as much generosity as I can.

"Mitsuru," Minato says, looking around me to see her, "do you mind if I talk to Junpei for a moment, please?"

A soft sigh comes from her, turning into a yawn, as she rises.

"Sure. If you guys need anything, don't hesitate. Alright, Iori?"

"Yeah." I whisper. "Thanks." I try to smile, to show my appreciation, but it just feels wrong. I don't think I'll ever smile properly again.

"Arisato." She says, nodding to the blue haired male next to me.

"Bye Mitsuru." He responds quietly.

After she has gone, Minato and I sit in silence. In the past of our long friendship, we discovered that we don't need words to understand each other. But once he does speak, it feels almost like old times…almost.

"So Yukari wants to see you to offer her condolences."

I can't help but chuckle at the thoughts of our past conversations about her. But Minato doesn't seem satisfied with a chuckle.

"Pinky's got a thing for you." He says, patting me on the back, still obviously proud of the clever nickname he had branded her with long ago.

Laughter escapes from him that adds a lighthearted feeling to the room. Unfortunately, not even he can brighten the dark corners of my mind where death still dwells.

"I can't imagine being-" I begin, before cutting off.

"It's all right, Junpei. You can tell me anything." Minato says, removing his school jacket and throwing it onto my bed.

I look up at him for a moment and think about it. It should be ok, shouldn't it? I decide that I should confide in my best friend.

"I can't imagine being with anyone else. But, I feel like I'm missing something. There is something I feel like I should know, but I don't. Do you get what I'm trying to say?" I'm not even sure if I understand what I am trying to say.

He furrows his brow in confusion, "I'm sorry Junpei, I can't say that I do. Are you referring to Chidori?" He asks.

"Yeah." I whisper.

"Chidori. Chidori."

Just saying her name when I know that she cannot answer feels wrong.

"Chid-" I begin before my own mind cuts me off. Suddenly I am flooded with many images at once.

"Junpei?" Minato asks, looking into my eyes fearfully.

I cannot speak, because the images and words continue to dominate my mind. Suddenly, I remember everything. I don't understand how, and at the same time, I do. I remember everything! The invoker, the persona…the sacrifice.

"Nyx." I whisper to myself, which Minato hears.

"Who's Nyx?" He asks.

"She did this! Nyx wiped my memory of the whole thing!" I declare, standing from the bed. "We have to go at dark hour."

"Junpei, what are you talking about?" He asks me, standing as well.

"You will remember soon enough, Minato." I say, gathering my clothes.

"Where are you going?" He asks, placing a pale hand on my arm.

"When dark hour comes," I say, now making eye contact with him and brushing off his hand, "I am going to Tartarus."

"You're going where?" He asks, worry plastered on his young face.

"Chidori is the seal! She sacrificed herself to save the earth from Nyx and the Shadows, Minato please remember!" I plead, walking across the room to retrieve my shoes.

"Junpei, will you listen to yourself?! You're sounding crazy!" He shouts, then lowers his voice, in obvious fear of someone overhearing.

"Minato," I say, turning to him and looking him dead in the eyes, "please trust me."

I pause, a glimmer of hope shining within me, "I can bring Chidori back."