Skulking her way out of the dorm, Minako made sure not to wake the sleeping Shiba Inu. It was still too early for anyone to be up. Though she was not really fond of waking up too early, she had to if she wanted to be able to go to the tower. She stopped mid-step when she saw the ears of the dog twitch. Like a mantra, she repeated in her mind, "Don't wake up." After seconds of holding still - making sure that Koromaru was asleep - Minako started to tiptoe her way again toward the main door. I really look suspicious now, she thought, remembering of the hidden cameras all over the dorm. Maybe I can ask Aigis to talk to Mitsuru-senpai about it... Nah, they'll really think I'm suspicious. Not that they don't already. Her thoughts halted when she finally reached her goal. As quietly as she can, she opened the door and slipped out.

"I'm finally out," she mumbled, incredulously, herself. She glanced at the door behind her, before running with breakneck speed towards the mall. The wild card was determined to get some answers, to solve this dilemma. She is willing to grind the tower for solutions, even if it meant going up and down the tower over and over again. Though she knew it was rash move to do this alone - that she might pass out any time in the tower for reasons she still has yet to know- she still went up to the tower. Her decision was already engraved in her mind and heart. She will do all that it takes to save Bunkichi and to bring his memories back as soon as possible.

"I can do this."

"Are you sure this hockey stick will suffice?" asked Margaret as she hands the said item to the crimson-eyed girl. "I do not think that this is sturdy enough for battle."

"No, it's good. Thanks." Minako scrutinized the stick in her hands for a while. When she saw that it was still in good condition, she stood. "Well I'm leaving now. Wish me luck..."

"Master Minako, wait." She turned back and saw Igor, gesturing at the three siblings. "Please allow them to accompany you. It is dangerous for you to venture the tower alone. I am sure you know very well that the tower drains your strength, am I not right?" The girl nodded. "Now please, bring them. I am certain that they'd like the adventure."

Minako glanced at the three, and true enough, they were all looking at her expectantly, the younger of the three fidgeting on their spot. She stifled a giggle before nodding to Igor. "Alright. Come one you three."

The moment they stepped out of the room, the youngest beamed and exclaimed, "We're free!"

"Theo, dear," Elizabeth whispered. "The Master can hear you."

The four reached the tower in a rate that Minako never knew was possible. She wasn't sure where they went. All she remembered was jumping from one portal to the other, and as if by magic - which might have been true - they reached the school rooftop in less than ten minutes. I have to ask them how they did that... and how they know.

"So this is what the interior of this edifice looks like," Theodore said in amazement.

"Is this the first time the three of you have been here?"

"Yes," Elizabeth replied. "I never knew it contained so much power. From the Velvet Room, all we could sense where the shadows and humans from within it. But now," the short-haired woman outstretched her arms and twirled. "The power is so overwhelming that I can barely sense Theo!"

"What does that supposed to mean, sister?" the male asked, but his sister ignored him.

"Strange." Minako recalled all the times she used her persona to scan the tower. But in all those time she didn't sense anything, as Elizabeth said, "overwhelming". Even the full moon shadows weren't overpowering. "I don't think it's that much different to Tartarus."

"But it is every bit different in aura! That tower was oozing with the essence of death. While this..." The woman face softened, "It reminds me so much of you and Makoto. Isn't that right, Theo?"

"Yes."

"I see..." The girl glanced away with an unreadable expression on her face.

"I can feel parts of humans' psyche," Margaret said. The brunette looked at her confusedly, waiting for an explanation. "This is only my speculation, Minako, but I believe that it is not just the memories the people lose."

The girl frowned."You think that part of their soul is really in this tower?"

"Possibly." The eldest placed her palm on the wall and closed of eyes. Through her fingertips, she sensed the power surging in the wall of the tower. "Now I know why the Master calls it 'Tower of Memories'." She turned to the three behind her. "This tower is the embodiment of the memories of people."

"Does that mean that this structure is at fault for the loss of humans' memory?" asked Theodore.

"Let us not jump to unsubstantiated conclusions," answered his oldest sister. "Indeed, there are souls and memories in this tower, but we have yet to prove what they do here and why they are here. If we want answers," she held the gaze of the crimson-eyed girl, "then we have to know if there are any connection between that and the ones lost."

"How will we do that?" Minako inquired hopefully.

"Unfortunately, I do not know how. But do not be saddened. Elizabeth, Theodore and I will assist you in this matter."

Minako smiled gratefully and said a soft "Thank you."

They've climbed the tower from the first to the last - which is the 60th - but they were still unable to get any key. Halfway during their ascend, Minako fell to her knees. Elizabeth examined the girl closely, trying to find out the cause of the girl's frequent weakness. But even she wasn't able to know why.

"It must have been your psyche reacting to the tower, " Margaret said while Elizabeth was scrutinizing the girl. "After all, your soul is still in a very fragile condition. With the long exposures to the tower's pressure adding to your weakened soul, you are bound to get exhausted."

"At any rate, we have to get going Margaret," Elizabeth said. "I believe we only have a little over an hour before we are teleported back to the mall. If we do not hurry, we won't finish our reconnaissance."

"Agreed."

"Can you stand?" Elizabeth asked. Minako tried, only to stumble forward. "So you can't... Theo! Carry her on your back." The male did as told and crouched down. Minako stared at him before settling on his back tiredly. "How does it feel Theo?" his sister inquired. "Does it make your heart flutter like that boy in that manga, or is it Minako with a speeding heart?"

Theodore looked away bashfully. Minako, on the other hand, murmured, "I shouldn't have given her that... gives her weird ideas. I haven't even used the reward money for anything yet..."

When they reached the last floor, they were left with less than ten minutes. Just like the last two, that Minako saw, they were blank as an unused canvas.

"So this floor's appearance will alter on the coming full moon..." Theodore mused aloud. "If I may ask," he glanced over his shoulder to talk to the girl on his back, "how did you know that the moon has an effect on levels such as this?"

"I told everyone that I just thought that the full moon might have some effect to the changes on the floor. But honestly, I just know. I don't know why though..."

"Could it be that you lost some of your memories as well?"

A thoughtful expression passed the girl's face. "That would explain much..."

"You only realized now?" Margaret asked.

"I had my doubts," Minako stated. "I remember meeting Makoto. We were... talking. And then after that was all a blur. Now that I think about it, even before that is not that clear to me anymore."

Elizabeth placed a finger on the girl's forehead. "Your memories are still there. I believe the cloud in your mind is blocking them."

"You can say that by just touching my forehead?"

"I do not possess such power," Elizabeth said, smiling slyly. "I just heard, by chance, the master muttering to himself. If I remember correctly, it is because of the fragility of your soul."

"So, the sooner I fix myself, the sooner I can get answers?"

"Perhaps."

Unknowingly, Minako gripped Theodore's shirt. "I understand."

Once they were back to the TV World mall, Theodore set Minako on one of the benches.

"That last floor was unlike the others," Margaret started. "It has no presence. Though I am not certain why."

"I see..." The crimson-eyed girl leaned back and took a deep breath. She still felt sore all over, she doubt she could walk on her own for a while. "Thank you for helping me."

"Of course," Elizabeth said. "Now as your payment, you are going to take us to a food trip. Come on, let us go!"

"I don't want to," Minako whined. "I'm tired."

"Then you can use Theodore again as a horse. Sister, do you want to go on a food trip as well."

"I would like to try a homemade cooking."

"Doesn't those old couple own a book shop?" Shinjiro asked. "Maybe we could take care of the shop for them.'

"Good idea," Labrys said. She glanced at the clock and then to the stairs. "I wonder why Minako-chan still not here. Featherman R is going to start any minute now."

"She looked tired when she came home last night," Ken said as before taking a sip of his coffee.

The theme of Featherman R began. On cue, the front door burst open. The girl, who they thought was still in bed, was crawling her way to the front of the television. "I made it!"

"What about the home-made meal?" Elizabeth asked almost pleadingly.

"After this is finish!"

Shinjiro turned to the eldest of the siblings. "Why are you here?"

"We encountered her while she was doing a daily morning regimen of most humans."

"Jogging," Minako added, eyes on screen.

"We implored her to allow us to have a taste of your famed cooking." The pony-tailed male stared at her flatly before groaning. He looked down on the plastic bags beside Minako and the ones on the siblings' hands.

"I'll see what I can do later. Hey, Minako. You're gonna help me, whether you want to or not."

"Okay."

"It's almost been four days, and we still haven't found her." Akihiko slammed his palms on the table in frustration. "Where could she be...?"

"Calm down Akihiko," Mitsuru said. "Rise, did you get anything?"

"I'm sorry..."

The older woman sighed. "This is hopeless." A knock was heard. They turned and saw Naoto standing by the door. "Yes?"

"I think her disappearance is connected to the next full moon."

"Care to explain?" Akihiko said, straightening on his seat.

"Just this morning, the guards of Gekkoukan High School found an unconscious woman by the front gate."

"What?!"

"There's more. This woman was also found lying there almost six years ago, right after second-year Fuuka-san went missing."

Mitsuru tapped her chin, contemplating on new information and connecting it with their current dilemma. "Could it be that the past is being recreated?"

"I doubt it," the silver-haired detective said. "The last two barely even reenacted the whole battle."

"Then what does it mean?" Rise murmured.

"Whatever it means, it's the only thing we have that could help us find Fuuka-san. She might be in that tower. Did you check there Rise-san?"

"I did, but I didn't get anything."

Mitsuru's brows furrowed. Her lips formed a thin straight line as she thought of her lost friend. "Does that mean that we have to wait for another full moon?"

When I make things longer, they get worse. That is why I never reached 3k...

Thank you those who made it this far. You guys are great. Please review. I accept criticisms too.

Asahar4: I found out their last name when I was checking who I forgot to save. Turns out Bunkichi as stuck in Tartarus. I only found out when I saw his name on the missing people list in Paulownia Mall (and when the book shop was empty).

Megami Tensei Emperatriz: I don't think you missed anything.