Side story 1: Final Half
April 9/ 09 Afternoon: Gekkoukan High...
*Thump*
The cavern rumbled around us, nearly losing my footing, I grabbed the nearest thing to stop myself from falling, who just happened to be Nyx-senpai.
"…" even without saying anything, the look she is giving me tells what she is saying,
"S-Sorry senpai!" I leaped off of her,
"Never mind that." she motioned her head to her side, there was a fairly large hole. In the other side, there was a giant room with something valuable in the center. "The shaking must of cause main treasure room to open up."
"Seems a bit too easy though." we are not too deep in to the cave and a little shaking opens a hole in the side that reveals the treasure room? How convenient.
"Then feel free to take the long way." without pause, she passed through the hole leaving me behind. I looked at the hole that she passed through light shining through it, and then to the dark main hallway, the 'supposed path'. It took less than a second before a was behind senpai, with my back against the wall shimmying to the center.
*thump*
"Careful, I'm not going after you if you fall." senpai said, not even fazed by the rumbling. Ignoring the fact that even if I fall, the bottomless pit will kill us both if she tried such a thing, unless she can somehow fly.
"Got it."
Eventually, we made it to the side which contains the bridge to the center platform. After reaching the center platform, I reached out to the silver treasure standing on the podium.
"What are you doing?" senpai says behind me,
"I got it." I nonchalantly replied, grabbing the treasure, I spun around and showed it to her, "See? No problem." senpai's eyes widen at the sight before bringing the palm of her hand to her face. "What's wrong?"
"It's... never mind." she sighed, "It's all on you." What does she mean? Before however I had a chance to ask, the room started rumbling, rocks from the ceiling started falling down the bottomless hole below us. "Hey." she called out, I notice her on the other side of the bridge, which was broken by a a huge falling bolder, when did she get over there? "Heads up."
"Huh?" I look up to see a bolder, larger then the platform falling straight down at me, "oh..." faster and faster the bolder plummets straight down until-.
*Thump*
My eyes popped open and I found myself staring at a desk, moving my head up, saw that I was in my classroom.
"A dream huh?" I said to myself, It must be, I had seen enough moves to not fall for something simple like that. The window showing the orange sky and empty classroom suggest that school must of ended.
"So how was it?" a voice rang out as soon as I stepped out into the hallway, Junpei was leaning on the wall a meter away from the door.
"It feels very relaxing." I replied, "I can see why Minato-senpai does it now."
"I know right?" he chuckled, "However the downside is that you might miss out a chance to get smarter or not know something for the test." I shrugged in reply,
"I guess It's good once in a while."
"By the way." he voice got a bit more mischievous, "Minato, huh?"
"Uh yeah, he let me called him that. What seems to-" I stopped mid-sentence, that look in his eyes tells me exactly what he is thinking.
"One day and you guys are already on a first name bases." rising his eyebrows suggestively, "However, his other company seems to be close to him as well. Careful though, you might have some competition."
"I-It's not like that." I stuttered, "He seems not mind who calls him what and besides, I'm sure that-."
"Hey, there is nothing wrong here." he raised his hands on mock surrender, "I mean he is sort of good liking, not really my taste but I could see why girls would like him."
"We address each other the same way as well you know." I added, his eyes widen at the realization.
"Right, I see your point." he nervously chucked. Oh no, I'm not letting him getting away after that.
"Junpei." doing my puppy dog/pouty combo at him, senpai may be immune to it, but I know Junpei isn't... I hope. "Are you saying that I am not pretty enough for you?"
"Nrg." Junpei's trembling, the way he is grabbing his arms shows that he is about to break down right about... "Alright, alright! I'm sorry I brought that up!" he turned his head away. Score one for Hamuko.
We reached to the front door, upon the front gate, there was Minato-senpai and Nyx-senpai talking normally, as is the crowd off to the side looking at them did not exist.
"Must be troubling to be that popular." I said,
"What do you mean?" Junpei asked, "Are you not popular in your last school?"
"I don't think I was." I mean I'm on good terms with everybody in class, even got a few confessions. "Never to this extent anyways, I mean you have all these people wanting to talk to you,but make one wrong move and the next day everybody knows about it."
"You sound just like Yuka-tan." he sighed "As long you are friendly and don't say any unnecessary things you'll be fine."
"You sound like you had experience." I giggled,
"Hey, I maybe not as popular as those guys are, or even Yuka-tan." he puffed his chest out proudly and closed his eyes with a smile, "However, a lot of people know who I am."
"Right." I replied, while people were passing by looking at Junpei before giving me a knowing smile before walking away. Looks like he was right on the mark.
"Speaking of those guys." he suddenly said, "How was your date with him?"
"It's was not a date." he is persistent, I'll give him that." We simply talked and..."
"Then what?" he urged,
"...He brought me back to the dorms and went on his way." I try to not let my uncertainty slip while I finished.
"That's it?" he was surprised, "Surely there is more to it."
Yeah there was, The last thing I remember was coming back where senpai was with a drink. I assumed he was still in that dark alley so I waited, suddenly a strange glow with many colors illuminated from the alleyway. I waited for a bit, wondering what where those things before I got nervous for senpai's well being headed to where he was. The next thing I know, I was back at my dorm laying on one of the sofas. Yukari told me that senpai said he found me unconscious and brought me here before leaving. I quickly checked myself for anything that was missing or felt off in anyway. Not that I didn't trust senpai or anything like that, but I was worried that anything could happen before he found me. When everything was in place, I sighed in relief before noticing someone other than us two was also in the lobby. There was a middle aged man sitting a bit away from us, a chairman of the school by the name if Shuji Ikutsuki. A friendly man with a strange sense of humor, but something was weird about him. I was having a difficult time reading his eyes, well not as much as Minato-senpai who is able to hide nearly everything, but I have a feeling that Ikutsuki was hiding something big. I get the feeling that they are not going to tell me anything soon, so excused myself and left for bed. Then there was some sort of dream where some old man with a very long nose who calls himself Igor, gave me a key and said I was a welcome guest or something. I never did had time to think about it since I woke up immediately after. That would probably be why I followed Junpei's idea to sleep in class, to try and reach Igor I guess.
"Actually." I said, remembering that Junpei was still expecting something from me. "Senpai did helped me out with something but left before I could say anything."
"Helped you?" he raised one of his brow, "Did you not had enough time or he did not allow you?"
"I was not in an ideal situation to do anything." I sheepishly answered, Junpei seem skeptical but none the less dropped it.
"None the less." he sighed, "Here is your chance to thank hi- nevermind." I turn to see the other two gone.
"I'll just have to wait until another time." I shrugged, Junpei and I parted ways at the gate, Yukari came soon after and wanted to give me a tour to Paulownia Mall, I had been there yesterday but I had no reason to refuse. Besides it's not like I am going fall unconscious anytime soon right? After hanging out with Yukari, we both reached my dorm, I greeted Kirijo-senpai before headed off to bed. Feeling too exhausted to even remove my uniform.
Which was probably a good thing since a loud noise startled me from my slumber, It took me a while to get my bearings to realized that I woke during the creepy time. I was about to fall asleep until banging coming from my door.
"Wake up!" Yukari's voice rang from the other side, "Sorry, I'm coming in!" before I even said anything, she barged in here in a state of panic, yeah I'm glad I did not take off my uniform.
"What's going on?" I asked, getting out of bed.
"I don't have time to explain. We have to get out here now!" I nodded, I still don't have any idea what is going on but I rather listen to someone who does, then ask any questions right now. "Hurry! Downstairs! We'll leave through the back door!"
"Right!" The dorm must be under attacked or something, we both left my room.
"Wait!" Yukari said, and handed me something. "Take this, just in case." It was thin and long with a blade at the end, something I had not seen for a while. Ok, I have to ask.
"Why a naginata?" I now notice she was holding a bow, with quivers of arrows on her back. "Who is attacking that we need something like this?" I showed her the weapon.
"I'll explain later!" she started running. "Just follow me!" I ran after her until we reached the first floor. "Alright, we should be safe now-" strange ringing come out of nowhere.
"Takeba, do you read me!?" Kirijo-senpai voice came soon after, where is it coming from?
"Y-Yes! I hear you!" Yukari answered, somehow.
"Be careful! There's more than one enemy!" senpai said, "The one we're fighting isn't the one Akihiko saw!"
"What!?" Yukari shouted, a large bang caught us off guard, it was very near. "L-Let's pull back!" No argument from me.
We headed up to the second floor, then the windows started breaking.
"What was that!?" she shrieked, large rumbling can be heard from outside. "It's getting closer!" as the sound get louder. "K-Keep moving! Hurry!" We went up another flight before being forced to stop. There they were, those black blobs, in the hallway, blocking the rest of the stairs and occasionally bumping into walls and each other. They would have been sort of cute if they weren't wearing those creepy masks and hunting me down during my childhood.
"What are those things?" I whispered to Yukari, this must be the secret they are hiding from me, it is now starting to fall into place, the vagueness, wanting me to sleep early. It's just to stop me from being aware of this, well they are ten years too late.
"Those things." she replied, "Those are what we call shadows." shadows huh?
"What should we do?" I normally just run and hide until creepy time is over, but looks like that is no longer available. I never got an answer since one of those shadows noticed us and is now zeroing in. Yukari is too shocked to do anything and all I have is my headphones which I forgot to remove and... I glanced down at the naginata, it's now or never!
"Hiyaa!" I cried, swinging down at the approaching blob, a sickening crunch cracked though it's mask before the blade slices clean through the fleshy body. the remains collapse in on itself into a black puddle. The noise however alerted the rest of them on the floor.
"H-Hamuko..." I hear Yukari behind me, I didn't have time to respond however as I blocked an arm, heading straight at me, I swung at the attacker but is leaped out of the way. Another one tries to jump on me but I rolled out of the way and swing at it. I managed to knock it back but it is still fine as ever, I jumped back to gain some breathing room. Looks like they recognized me at a threat and no longer dropping their guard. One of them starts charging towards me, I jabbed my weapon towards it and it side stepped out of the way. A smile curled up on my face, I was hoping that it would do that, if I couldn't kill it with my naginata, then I'll let gravity do it for me. With all of my strength, I swing the weapon towards the shadow and sent it flying out of the window. Even if it didn't kill it, it should give me the rest of time to deal with the rest.
I let my body fall into a stance that is comfortable for this weapon and waited the for the rampaging horde. Looking at the black puddle that was my first kill, I wondered if the mask is some sort of weak point. Testing that theory, I let the blade fall down at the first shadow, aiming for the mask this time, the scream it let out proves that I was right, I can do this! Before I could finish it off, another comes at me from the side, unfortunately for it, it was the wrong side. Letting my naginata fly to the shadow, striking it in the mask, I launched it out the window. Looking at the first one, I use its mask as a platform and jumped into the air and swing down the third one, that went down without any issues. Out of my peripheral vision, The last shadow had noticed Yukari, who was frozen in terror. I ready my polearm and charged towards it's back side, it's black viscous flesh easily absorbs the blade and a loud crack can be heard from the other side. Moments later, the shadow melts into another puddle, leaving Yukari a little shaken up, but otherwise fine.
.
"Are you alright?" I asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I-I'm fine." she answered, still shaking. "What about you though? You had fought like six of them!"
"I alright. Didn't let any of them touch me."
"What!? How?" she was naturally surprised, but.
"Don't we have somewhere to go?" I tried to get back to the main subject at hand. Knowing full well I had forgotten about something.
"Right, to the-." she stopped all of a sudden, her eyes widening. "Look out!" she all of a sudden pushed me to the side. By the time I recovered I saw a shadow smacked Yukari, sending her to the wall.
"Yukari!" I shouted, the shadow lunged for me, I can't really do anything laying on the floor so I rolled away from him until I was far enough to stand up. The only thing that was between Yukari and myself was the shadow, one with a cracked mask and a footprint. So I left the job unfinished, I'm not normally the type to do that, I raised my naginata and swung down.
Silver comes out of nowhere, blocking my weapon from striking the weaken shadow and finishing it off. Looking closely at it, the silver is actually a giant metal sword, and the sword is being held by a long black arm. Their boss I presume? With an enormous show of strength, it simply flicked it's sword against my weapon and the next thing I know, my back hurts, I'm at the other end of the hallway across from Yukari and my naginata is embedded in the wall next to me, grazing my left arm enough to bleed. Looking straight ahead, the giant sword removes itself from the hallway, allowing the protected shadow access to me. While the shadow slithers towards me, I try to detach my naginata from the wall, trying to remove my weapon at the angle is pretty difficult to do and I couldn't stand up at the moment. Besides, even if I could, I don't think I could afford to turn my back at an approaching enemy at the moment. Still struggling to remove my only means of defence, I turn to face the shadow who was only a couple meters away from me, raising a fist, preparing to strike!
I manage to remove my weapon on time to shield myself from being hit. I push as hard as I can, stopping the fist from getting any closer, however I can only do as much as I can with a bleeding arm, and hearing splintering from my polearm is not helping at all. My strength eventually gives away as weapon reaches my neck, cutting off my air supply, as my vision fades, I swear I could see a smile somehow forming on the mask. I see, planning to make me suffer for what I did to you huh? Sadistic monster...
!?
The pressure suddenly became less tense, taking advantage of it, I took a deep breath and pushed as hard as I can! The shadow fell over very easily, confused grew on my face as I looked at the fallen foe, the mask had some metal and wood protruding out of it, an arrowhead? Looking across the hallway, I see Yukari leaning against the wall, breathing very heavily, holding a bow. I gave her a thumbs up, showing her my thanks, she responded by doing the same as well. I use the polearm for support to stand up, shadows of a sword move across the window, as if luring me to them. Now, to get the Yukari, I need to somehow bypass the boss-.
A loud piercing screech echoed throughout the hallway, while a bright flare illuminated from outside, the sword comes trashing in swinging wildly in pain. Fire spreads towards the arm, letting go of the sword, it moves out of the window, a crash can be heard a second later. Seeing no movement coming from outside, I take advantage of the fortunate situation and quickly move towards Yukari.
"Thanks." she said after grabbing my extended hand,
"Your welcome." I pulled her up, "Where to?"
"The rooftop. However, if they can climb then it might not be safe."
"They can also climb through the windows, at least on the roof we have more room."
"Nowhere is safe then." she sighed, "Still, it'd still be better than being overrun in a corridor."
Using each other as support, we made our way to the rooftop. The yellow full moon shines it's reflected light over the night sky, making the green scenery more lifeless.
"If only we had more time." Yukari muttered,
"More time?"
"This attack came out of nowhere. We could have been a bit more prepared somewhat." Yukari looked at the full moon. "This is wrong. all wrong."
"What is?" I leaned closer to her. "Did something happened?"
"This whole thing. these shadows, sure they attack anyone that wonders in the Dark Hour, but they would never group up to this degree."
"You think something or someone is leading them?" my mind flashes to that giant sword and the arm that was holding it.
"I don't know. It is a possibility though." she lowered her head. I see something out of the corner of my eye.
"I think their leader is climbing to greet us." I pointed to a black hand on the side. Letting go of Yukari and getting ready for what emerges. A mask raises, not just any mask, a large mask heavily burnt, possibly from that bright flare. Being held up by another hand, it looks around the rooftop until it spots us. I tense when multiple hands showed up, then even more show up with more swords to back it up. The rest of it climbs up to the roof, what I saw was wrong, just plain wrong. Soo many arms moving around if lives of their own, I don't see anything that could be considered a body. Some of the arms are on fire, and some of those are falling off as well. I shudder to think how many arms are there if that flare was not there.
I instantly stepped back when it pointed all it's swords at us, there's no way, no way I can fight this thing off. Even with the damage it took, even if I aim for the damaged mask, there is no way it is possible with just the two of us. No, there has to be some way to beat this shadow!
"I can summon mine." Yukari said beside me, pulling out that same gun from the night before. "I can do it..." Is she doing what I think she is doing!?
"Y-Yukari! I know this not an ideal situation to be in, but there has to be someway get out of this without resorting to drastic measures!" The shadows raises one of its swords, preparing to hack away at Yukari, I step in front the swing to save her to save her from the attack, while I take the blow right? Ha! I watched too many movies to not do something like that. I raised my naginata at an angle so when the sword comes straight at it, it would blunt off as much damage as it can. Sure it would knock us down and will hurt us a lot, but at least it won't kill us, I hope. Sure enough, the sword connects the polearm, saving me from a mortal wound. However, the wooden part of my weapon snaps under pressure, sending the blade half flying off somewhere, while the half I was holding, due to the pressure of the attack, sends Yukari and I colliding into the wall of the ledge.
After gaining most of my senses, I quickly checked on Yukari. Other then she is unconscious, with small cuts over her body, she will be fine, assuming we will live after this encounter. Using the ledge as support, I slowly stand up to face the deadly shadow that is advancing towards us, I looked around for anything that could help. Yukari's bow is near the door, my naginata is broken with half of it gone, and that gun is nowhere to be seen. A shadow covers part of my vision, I look up to see the leader, once again with one of its sword up ready the strike. So this is how I die huh? I close my eyes cause I rather not see any of myself fly away and waited for the inevitable.
I hear the sword flying through the air, then flesh being cut and blood dripping, then finally something impacting the floor. That's it huh? I'm cut down with no chance of surviving this, you know, it is a lot painless then I thought. I now hear the shadow scream, in what sounds like pain for some reason and I feel a chilling air just in front of me. It is when I hear more flesh being cut and the shadow screaming more that I gave in to my curiosity and open my eyes to a shocking imagery. The shadow trapped by icicles, trapping It's arms to the ground preventing it from moving, let alone finish me off. I looked at myself, other than a few injuries, I am perfectly fine, my supposed "execution weapon" is on the ground out of harm's way. The sword was still held on by an arm, an arm that was severed by an icicle. Looking at the angle of the icicles, I turn my head to the left at the source. On a pretty far apartment building, silhouetted by the full moon stood a figure standing on the rooftop of that building, another walker of this creepy time. At this distance, I could only tell that they wore dark pants and their face and the top half was covered by a blue hoodie, I can't even tell their gender, regardless they save my life, I owe my life should we ever meet. They must of notice me, the figure raised it's arm, an icicle shot out of it and hit behind the shadow. Did they miss? No, next to the fired icicle, there was the missing gun, looking back at my savour, they move their hand towards their head and miniked shooting, do they want me to kill myself!? My mine flashed to see Yukari aiming at herself, then the little boy in stripped clothing from that day, doing the same motion that person on the roof.
"Go on..." the boy muttered. Still, I have no other options, I ran towards the shadow, sliding under it and grabbing the gun while passing by. I made it to the other side, standing up to face the still trapped shadow and pressed the barrel to my head. I hesitated, why do they want to do this? Do they want me to die? No, they want something with me, that involves this. Why else would Yukari bring me here after saving me and then just to kill herself? Why would that figure save me as well, and then want me to tell my own life? heck, they could of just killed that thing if they wanted to, but they kept it alive, probably so I could finish it off. The sound of shattering woke me from my mental dilemma, the shadow broke free with one hand and is now working on the rest. no time left! I have to act now!
As I begin to pull the trigger, a word formed if my head and I can't help but to utter it.
"Per. So. Na."
Blue flames surround me, yet I feel no pain nor heat, only power. A robotic figure rose beside me, she had a human like head, with long brown hair and red eyes. On her back there was a harp shaped like heart. She then spoke with a feminine voice:
Thou art I,
And I am thou,
From the Sea of Souls, I am the Mistress of Strings!
Orpheus!
You know, I may not be a master of Greek history, but isn't Orpheus supposed to be male?
"Grk!" Before I could think any further, a pain splitting headache struck me like a bowling ball, I fell on my knees and grabbed my head in some vain effort to suppress it. I could see Orpheus struggling in pain as well, a white gloved came out of her mouth, then another one. The hand pushed her already wide mouth apart, eventually the thing got tired and destroy her body from the inside, revealing a terrifying form. The creature had a black cloak, a sword, has a terrifying mask-like headwear and surrounding the thing was some sort of cape made out coffins. It wasted no time flying to the shadow, who was not even halfway free, tearing it's limbs one by one, occasionally squishing one before hitting it's own limbs in the most brutal fashion I have ever seen, I am going to have nightmares about this. Only one limb remain before it was crushed in the palm of the creature and gave off a ear piercing roar. A lot of power that was there, faded when that thing turned back into Orpheus.
"This is... Persona?" I asked Orpheus, who nodded in reply before fading away, back in my mind I presume.
"Nmm." I hear Yukari off in the distance, still unconscious, completely forgotten in the whole thing, but I guess that is a good thing. I was about to head towards her, I heard something, the remains of that shadow was still moving. I was sort of impressed that it was still alive after that beating it took. It form two smaller shadows, ones I have fought before. Although without a weapon this might be difficult and I don't think that summoning Orpheus might not be wise in this condition, especially if they get too close for comfort. Something blue landed right beside me, it was a naginata made out of ice! I turn to see the figure walking away, I guess that means I can handle it on my own. Picking up the naginata, that was not surprisingly chill to the touch, and faced the two shadows.
"Right! Come on then!" I got in to stance. The shadows start charging in, I hit one and sent it to the wall, using the gun, I aimed at myself and pulled the trigger and called out to, "Orpheus!" she appears and uses her herp and bashed the one that was still charging, obliterating it in one hit. I ran after the one that was in the wall and dove the blade in it's mask, it let out a cry before melting. After checking that both of them were dead, I did a little pose for victory, before checking up on Yukari. When I was sure she was okay, I sat down next to her, feeling very exhausted, a little rest should be fine, just before closing my eyes, I was sure I heard the door opening...
My eyes open to a strange room, the Velvet Room was it?
"It's so good to see you again." my attention was brought to an old man with an long nose, suddenly my memories come back.
"Hello Igor!" I greeted him, happy that I was able to meet him again, wait a minute. "How did I get here?"
"You became unconscious after awakening to your 'power'." he chuckled, "I see that it was Orpheus that heeded your calling. Although I don't remember that Orpheus was ever female." His eyes shows confusion and amusement, glad I'm not the only one confused by it.
"Do you know what is the cause of it?"
"I may have an idea." he rubbed his chin, "However, I need to confirm it before I can tell you incase it was wrong."
"That makes sense." I nodded, I rather have my information correct incase I was mislead to something wrong.
"That power is called a Persona. It is a manifestation of your psyche."
"My psyche?"
"A persona is a facet of your personality that surfaces as you react to external stimuli. You can think of it as a mask that protects you as you brave many hardships."
"I see." I nodded, however. "Is the persona an actual being that helps me, or is it just a representation of it?"
"In your case, it is just a representation." That makes sense, I imagine the real Orpheus would be confused why he was the opposite gender. "However, those with exceptional power will call forth the real ones to help them."
"Real ones?" so it's possible to get the real one?
"One example I can give you is that an individual must take up a resolution in his or her heart. Where the persona changes and a different but real one is called in it's place. Their appearance may change from it's original look on how that individual sees that persona but it's real mind is there."
"One method? There is another way?"
"Yes, but the one I gave you if the easiest." he nodded, "The other way requires you to have emence power."
"Is there anyone who has that much power?" What kind of person are they?
"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to say." he shakes his head.
"Alright." Not everything comes easily. "Is there anyway I can be stronger at least?"
"The ability evolves as you develop your Social Links, your emotional ties with others. The stronger your social links, the more powerful your persona ability would be."
"Like being friends with others?"
"That is one type of bond." he nodded. "Now then, Time marches on in your world. I shouldn't keep you here any longer. Next time we meet, you will come here of your own accord."
"How?" Do I say that I want to visit the Velvet Room before I sleep?
"You will know you when you see it. Until then, farewell..."
Now, I can get started on the actual chapter... that was lost... due to the computer... darn it. *sobs*
*ahem*
In response to silgain: You know, I never seen it like that. Then again, that was a different perspective so the possibility was always there I guess. Don't worry your English is fine, not perfect but it's fine.