Chapter 15: Red Flag

Disclaimer: I do not own Persona 3, work at Atlas, or own the myths and legends mentioned in my story

Warning: There will be strong language, graphically detailed violence, crude humor, dark angst-y moments, deep thought, and the occasional feminine joke. The list will potentially change to reflect changes in the story without advance notice. You have been warned.

Snagging some quick grub from a gas station, I headed to class. Learned something new about shell middens and Sengoku era. After class was kinda boring. I wanted to join a sports club, but I sure as hell wasn't going to join basketball, kendo, tennis, or track. If they had soccer, I totally would have been there. But, alas! "Hmm. I guess I'll swing by-"

"Dark-kun?"

Turning around, I watched as Ms. Toriumi approached me with a devious smile. I know she couldn't do anything to me, but all the same, I was readying myself to dive through a window. Smiling back, "Yes Toriumi-sensei? How can I help you?"

"Weeeell. Do you remember how you told me that you were going to see an doctor for your dyslexia?"

"Yes. I told you that the first day."

Nodding with a friendly smile, "That's right. To this day, I still haven't received any results or note. Do you also know how many of my homework assignments you turned in?"

"None."

"Exactly! Now." Placing a hand on my shoulders, I can feel her fingers sealing my escape route, "Have you any idea how that makes me look? Having a student who does no homework but is doing well in all the other classes?"

"Not very well I'd imagine."

"I knew there was a reason I liked you. You are absolutely correct! It's terrible! Normally, by this point, you'd be bringing me a twelve-inch cake. ON THE DIAGONAL! But I'm not going to make you do that. No, do you know why?" Shaking my head side-to-side, I watched as Ms. Toriumi brought her face close to mine, she was attractive, but I'm not so sure I'm ready for a relationship of any sort. Holding my tongue back, I listen intently, "It's because I like you Dark-kun. I like you a lot. So if you do this small favor for me, I'll forget all about your homework problem for the moment." OH SHIT! HERE IT COMES! READY CODE: HEADLESS CHICKEN! HEADLESS CHICKEN IS ABOUT TO GET THE GREENLIGHT! "I need you to join the club I started."

"Dafaq?" ABORT! ABORT!

Clapping her hands in front of herself, "Please Dark-kun! My sport club needs one more member or it'll get shut down! Pleeeease!"

Scrunching up my face a bit I thought about it for a moment before clicking my teeth, "I would love to, I really would. But sports clubs aren't really my thing."

"If you don't join... You'll owe me cake!"

"I'll bake you a new one each day plus a twelve-inch sheet cake by tomorrow."

Taken aback, "Uhh. I'll fail you!"

"Then I'll start studying for tests and going to a shrink. Look, I really don't- Toriumi-sensei?" She had turned her back to me and her shoulders were shaking a bit. Sure, I can say I wasn't fooled. I was pretty sure a grown adult wouldn't-

"BWAAAAAAAAHHH!"

Crap! I was wrong! She was bawling right out in the open! After a few moments of feebly trying to calm her down, I caved, "ALRIGHT! I'LL JOIN YOUR BLOODY SPORTS CLUB!"

"Yay!"

BLOODY CROC TEARS!

So here I am, being accompanied by my teacher to the gym, for god-knows-what. I'm starting to wonder if there is an appropriate time to punch out a female teacher.

{Oroboas: Not unless they are actually doing something to you.}

Crap.

Just outside of the gym, my last chances to flee is now or never! Instead of running, I stood there and watch her open the door to the gym and inside was a group of students wailing on each other with protective gear on.

Smiling proudly, "Welcome Dark-kun to my Martial Arts Enthusiast Sports Club."

"Okay..."

"Isn't it cool!"

"... Is it an excuse for troubled kids to beat the crap out of each other? I only ask because it seems rather unorganized."

Ms. Toriumi responded by nearly ripping my left cheek out. Growling a bit, "Don't be a smart-alec! This is my response to a mix martial arts sports team that some schools have!"

Grumbling a bit, "You do know that mix martial arts doesn't mean a collection of different martial arts but a combination of one form, right." And that dread look told me everything I needed to know.

Placing her hands together like she was praying to me for a favor, "Dark-kun! Please help! I read in your file that you told a lot of different martial arts when you were younger! I really don't want to be laughed at!" Grabbing me by the collar, Ms. Toriumi practically lifts me off the group so we're nose-to-nose, "I have friends in Seven Sisters, Yasogami, and even in St. Hermelin that tell me how weak our sports team and intellectual clubs are! This year is our year! I cannot stand being told how bad we are and if I have to win this year by using your dead body like an puppet. I WILL DO SO!" Thoroughly freaked out, I quickly promised to do my best and is now being introduced to the team. Pulling a whistle from her pocket and blowing on it, she has everyone gather around. "Everyone, I'm sure some of you know who this new recruit is, but all the same, I'm going to introduce him. His name is Dark Phatiamos and he will be joining the sports team."

"Sports team!? I thought you told me this was a club!"

"THIS! Is Yuko, our manager."

Bowing to me is a dark-skinned girl with light black hair, dressed in a track-suit. A blink of my eye later revealed her to be of the strength arcana. "Hello, I'm Yuko Nishiwaki. You're a junior right?"

"That's right."

Smiling, "In that case, you can just call me 'Yuko'."

With my introduction the manger out of the way, Ms. Toriumi turns and shouts into the crowd, "...Hey! Kazushi!" Jeez! Wotta pair of lungs on that woman.

{Lilith: Just imagine what it would sound like when she's calling out your name.}

Choking on air, I immediately started coughing up a lung. Toriumi was patting my back as Kazushi showed up, "Yessir!"

"Dark, this is the future captain of this team. He's got guts, great spirit, and scores well in competitions. You two are in the same class, right? Kazushi, keep an eye on the new guy here, okay?" She gave me a look of concern as she was still patting my back. Kazushi on the other hand was unphased and simply smiled, "You got it." Studying me a bit, "You're the guy who went out with Yukari Takeba on the first day of school, right? The one with the scar in the neck? You're practically famous. I'm Kazushi Miyamoto. You've seen me around right?"

With my coughing in control, I simply nod.

"Awesome! Then, long story short: from now on, you're mine after school. Just because you joined mid-season, don't think I'll go easy on you!"

Time stopped and I was informed about the addition of the Chariot to my list of tattoos on my arm. Yeah, this was my sixth go and I'm already accepting it as part of my life.

When time started up again, Yuko was telling me how I should take it easy since it was my first day and how they'd have a uniform for me at some point. That lasted all of ten minutes before I got up to spar with someone. Honestly, I didn't know his name and I probably won't remember it anyways. Dude was a boxer. The second he threw a jab at me, I was already on my knees with a rising hand-chop. He might have been wearing a cup. Too bad I was that tendon-thing in the thigh and not his groin. The moment he buckled a bit, I stood up, scooped him, and drove him into the mats with an MMA bodyslam. I could have gone with an armbar, but I ended up pinning his arms to the ground with a mount before tapping him once on the forehead.

Needless to say, that little display earned me some respect and some scorn. Apparently, it's frowned upon to try and cripple your opponent with a strike to the leg-nerve. Whatever. They didn't work me out or anything after that spar, but then again, I doubt they could really do anything considering our trips into Tartarus would- Orobas, what are the others doing?

{Orobas: They are off to visit the hospital, Junpei was asked to bring him 2-E's roster, the others just decided to follow because they had nothing better to do.}

Oh god! Was that today? Jesus! How did I forget that today's the first of May?

{Apsaras: You never did have a good sense of time or dates.}

Hush! Speaking of speaking, lilith, what are you doing in my head?

{Lilith: Tee-hee. Uh. Angel and I attuned with you earlier today.}

...

{Lilith: You're not mad are you?}

We'll talk later. Jogging up to the group, "Hey guys, sup?"

"Well, as you know, Akihiko-san's at the hospital getting a checkup. He called me earlier and asked me to bring something to him." Nodding his head with a smug smirk on his face, "Yup, he knows who to count on."

While ever rolls their eyes, Yukari was the only person to say anything, "He only asked you cuz you don't have anything else to do after school."

"H-hey! I resent that!."

Minako just giggles and pats Junpei on the back, "She's just kidding. So, what'd he want you to bring anyways?"

"The class roster for 2-E."

Minato just rubs his chin, "I wonder what he wants the roster for?"

Shrugging, Minako wraps her arms around mine, "We don't have anything to do, so we're going to follow Junpei. Will you join us Dark-san?"

{Every voice in my head: GOOOOO!} Flinching a bit, I smiled and nodded my head.

The trip to the hospital was filled with random chatter, most of which I just simply nodded or made random noises as a response. More banter as I register us as visitors for Akihiko. More banter as we head towards the room. The banter dies the moment the door opened and some dude was sitting in Akihiko's room. The dude was wearing one of those pea coats and a beany with a very nasty expression. He simply glares at us and I'm pretty sure we all froze for a bit. And as usual, Junpei found his voice first, "Umm... Is... Akihiko-senpai...?"

The guy looked up and and just glared at us.

Junpei just gulped loudly, "... in this room? By any chance?"

The dude just glared, no words, just that glare. Honestly, I was ready to punch the guy out for playing badass.

{Orobas: Bad idea. Turn on your persona-vision.}

As I closed my eyes and started to concentrate, Akihiko popped up behind us, "What are you guys doing here?"

Yukari turned around and gasped, "We came to see you! But... it doesn't look like anything's wrong with you."

Shrugging, "I'm just here for a check-up."

The Dude, as I will be referring him, stands up and speaks with a voice of a man who gargles marbles, "Is that it Aki?"

"Yeah, thanks." Akihiko replied with a nod.

"Tch... I don't have time for this shit." Getting up to leave, Junpei practically flies out of the way. Me, on the other hand? I obstruct. Granted, having to look up to glare at him was killing the shit out of my intimidation-factor, but fuck if I was going to be pushed around. "Move it."

"..."

"I said move it."

"..." For a while we just glared at each other. The others just reacted like they normally would, Junpei looked like he would shit his pants, Yukari looked like she was going to slap me, Minako was going to bite me, Minato... he's different. He looks like he's ready to fight. Well, anyways, I glared at beany-head for a bit longer and then broke out into a wide Cheshire Cat grin, my voice takes a bit of a child-like sing-song-iness to it, "You didn't say 'please'. I don't like being intimidated to do something." He let out a growl, I let out a 'heh', and before anything could happen Akihiko placed his hands on each of our shoulders. "Shinji! This is Shinji. Shinji, this is Dark."

"... I'd like to go now... please."

Sidestepping with a grin on my face again, "Thank youuuuuuu. Have a nice daaaaaay!"

"DUDE! THE HELL!? ARE YOU INSANE?!"

"Dude, you shouldn't yell in a hospital. Calm down."

At this point, Junpei grabbed me by my collar and lifted me off the ground, "Don't tell me to calm down when you just tried to pick a fight with the big dude."

"Oh please. What's the worst he could have done to me?"

"He could have killed you."

"Couldn't be worst than that first time I got you and Minato to use your persona."

"He's got a fair point there Junpei." The rest of the group just nodded.

Letting out a sigh, Junpei just throws his hands up in defeat, "Fine, whatever. Anyways. Akihiko-senpai, who was that?"

Akihiko just shrugs again, "Just a friend from school... sort of. You know how the number of Apathy Syndrome cases has been going up? Well, he knows a few people who are suffering from it, so I wanted to ask him about it. Hey Junpei, did you bring what I asked?"

Junpei, being Junpei of course, puffs out his chest and presents the folder with a flourish with the proudest look on his face, "Of course, Senpai."

Nodding his head in thanks, Akihiko begins reading the folder, nods his head a few times, intense focus, more reading, more nodding, turns the page... Holy shit is this boring! Finally finished with his reading and apparently satisfied, Akihiko stands up, flexes his arms, and gives the air a few test punches.

Junpei, acting as the caring one, oddly enough, speaks up, "Uh, you shouldn't move your arm..."

Raspberrying his lips, "Ptb. It's nothing. I've wasted enough time already. I need to get back to my training."

Pumping his fist in the air, "Yeah! Gekkoukan's golden boy! He was born to be in a ring!"

"Shhh!"
"Shhh!"
"Shhh!"
"Shhh!"

As Junpei sulks a bit from the unanimous shushing, Akihiko just gives him a sideways look, "Sometimes, I really don't get you."

"I'm his bro/best friend and I still don't get him." Minato and I spoke in a creepy unified fashion. Glaring at each other, we start to clash as Minako tried to play peacemaker. Yukari looks over to Akihiko, "By the way, Senpai, why boxing?"

"You mean, why did I choose that sport? Well... It's not the sport itself I like; I just wanted to learn how to fight. I know what it's like to feel powerless..." That got the twins and I to settle down and look over. We could tell that right now, he wasn't with us in the hospital. He was in the past where this started. We didn't say anything, we just watched as he shook his head and blew all the air out of his lung, "And I don't want to feel that way again. Besides, I'm curious to see how strong I can get. It's like a game, only, I'm playing against myself."

Junpei, by the virtue of being Junpei, crosses his arms and nods with an all-knowing looking on his face, "That's an interesting way of looking at it." Grinning and patting Akihiko on the back, "Ya know, I'm into games too..."

Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, scoffs and takes a dig. "Yeah, video games." "Don't forget about arcade games, Yukari-san." "Or the slacker game, Nii-san." "Or even the no homework game, guys."

"Hey! No fair ganging up on me! 'Cept Yukari, you guys are suppose to be my friends and bros."

Looking at the twins, I turn to Junpei with a wink, "We only mock you because we love you."

"HOW IS THAT LOVE!"

"Look, if we didn't love you, we wouldn't say anything. By pointing out all your flaws, we give you a chance to grow. Think of it another way: by not saying anything, we are discriminating against you. What kinds of friends would we be if we discriminate against our own friends?"

We could see him try and come up with a comeback and just simply deflate, "... Goddammit, dude. I ever tell you how much I hate your reasoning?"

My cell going off effectively cuts off my response, so I just give him a wink and mouth the words 'I love you too, bro.' Flipping open my cell, I could see it's a text from Lucifer, "Let's see, 'Your next two summons are at the Temple. Get some miso.'? Huh? Oh, wait, there's another. 'Nevermind the miso. Got you covered. It'll be on the step in the middle. Think Alice in Wonderland.' Okay. Looks like I'm off. Later."

"Phatiamos-san?"

"Yes?"

"May I come along and see what you do?"

"You lot will just follow me if I say 'no', anyways. Just stay behind me and get ready to fight."

"Don't you mean 'run'?"

Offering my weakest, sarcastic laugh, "Don't be a dumbass Minato. Of course I want you guys to fight. Like hell I'm gonna get killed."

The trip to the temple was much more subdued, no banter, just a nervousness. No sooner did we arrive at the temple did I feel a bit... worried. I have no idea what I'm up against and now I have my unarmed team with me. I quickly split them up to take up flanking positions on either sides of me. Granted, they were something like ten steps back, but knowing they were there was good enough. About halfway up, I ended up kicking over a bottle of sake(?) with a label ' attached it. I still can't read very well, but opening it and taking a sniff told me was indeed sake. "Heh. Sorry Lucifer, I don't drink- YYEEEEEEEOOOOOWWW!" My thoughts were cut off as something cold was poured over me. Shivering, I turned to see Minato and Junpei holding a very large pot between them. I am talking ten-gallons at least. As my glare slowly started to match those of Minako, Yukari and the missing Mitsuru, the familiar odor of sake floating into my nose. Before I could jump the two traitorous bastards, they both hold up a familiar labels: 'Pour on him.' 'Or die.'

Accepting my current predicament, I just marched up the steps. Whatever was open there no doubt heard me, being stealth no longer matters. That. And the sun was starting to set.

As soon as I was in the middle of the temple and saw nothing, I was cursing and stomping up a storm. But nothing happened until a wind blew past me, towards the inner parts of the temple. I stood for a moment or two before I got tackled to the ground. Pinned down, my eyes were screwed closed as a mouth opened inches from my face and started hissing at me. A deep, throaty growl/purr made it's way into my ears, as something started to bite my shoulders. The pain was broken by something like a tingly, soft sandpaper started licking my neck. I opened my eyes when I felt something grinding against my leg.

SURPRISE BITCH!

"WHAT THE FUCK LUCIFER!"

Imagine my surprise when I opened my eyes and it wasn't some horrific monster trying to eat me. No. Nope. Instead I spy a pair of rather gorgeous beings. The one sinking her teeth into my shoulder was wearing those wide bamboo hats monks and mystics wore way back when, she also had a furry coat that looked like it was made from snow leopard-skin. I couldn't really say what she's wearing down below because as soon as I started looking at her, she stopped her biting long enough to look me in the eyes... her yellow, uber-dilated. cat eyes... before drooling on my face. To her credit, she immediately started licking it clean like she was trying to clean the pores off me.

The other being looked a bit like Felicia from Darkstalkers, except with really dilated pupils, white fur all over, an expression of overwhelming bliss, and the light purple hair. Standing up, she properly mounts my leg and begins grinding against it. Funny thing, the yellow sports bra thing she wearing? Totally not doing what it was suppose to other than covering up her boobs. I'm just saying. Before I could further admire the impressive size of her breasts, she planted her hands on my chest and buried her claws into my flesh.

In the Crimson Room:

"There! All down." Plopping down in his chair, Lucifer looks over to Igor with a smirk, "Just set up the sake made with silvervine, the kid shouldn't have any problems dealing with the nekomata and senri at the temple." Igor just simply closed his eyes and nodded. "Um. Overlor-"

"Please lilim, I'm just Lucifer here. Just called me that."

Bowing her head, "Of course. Um. Lucifer...wh... what's this I hear about silvervine and the cat-clan?"

Smiling proudly, "I just sent the kid a text for his next summons. I was going to tell him to get some mangos, but I found some silvervine sake. A lot of in fact. So, I set a bottle down where he'd find it and a bucket full for his friends to douse him in if he doesn't drink it."

"...Oh..."

Sighing, "Silvervine is like catnip and induces euphoria."

"Oh, I know that. I was just wondering something."

"What's that?"

"How does Master Dark getting molested and, probably, sodomized figure into your plan?" Igor's eye practically explodes from his head, Lucifer's head turn fast enough to cause whiplash, Elizabeth blushes, and Theo is just trying hard not to laugh out loud. As Lucifer grabs lilim's arms and lift her off the ground, "What the hell was that?"

"I'm sorry! I really am! I didn't mean to speak out-"

"NEVERMIND ABOUT THAT!" roars the Prince of Perdition, "What was that about him getting sodomized?"

"Silvervine causes euphoria, but depending on amount and other pheromones, like that produce in males, it could very well drive them into heat."

The Room is silent until lilim squeaks when her butt hits the floor. Lucifer grabs his hat and practically zooms out the room, "SORRY!GOTTAGOBYE!"

Struggling to pull the claws out of my chest, I was rather defenseless as the one licking my face found her way to my mouth. Honestly, it was less a kiss and more her tongue cleaning my teeth. Course, this also meant I didn't expect her to suddenly pull away and chomp down onto the left-side of my neck. "GACK!"

"STOP RAPING PHATIAMOS-SAN!"

A flash of red and the lack of grinding on my leg told me that Minako tackled the nice one off me. Pushing off my toes, I roll off my back and onto my knees, but the Cat-in-the-Hat rolled with me, her teeth still in my neck. She placed a hand on my stomach and effortlessly flipped me back on my back. As we land, I could feel her teeth clench and meet. Letting go, I was vaguely aware she started to circle me, but I was busy putting as much pressure on my neck as I could. Flipping me over with her foot, she forcibly pulled a hand away and began licking the blood off of my fingers. Before she could anything else, like biting off my fingers, a bag was placed over her and I watched as Yukari, Junpei and Minato was struggling to hold it down as Akihiko was trying to use his belt to tie it closed.

Minako, having just choked the other catgirl into unconsciousness, came over to help me stop the bleeding.

A solid five minutes of applying pressure and the fact that I haven't passed out or died yet, meant I was probably going to be okay. I was a bit shaky, but still manage to ask one of the guys to check my neck as I lean my head towards the right side. Junpei, bless him, found a fresh branch for me to chomp down on. I could hear someone hiss and there was quite a bit of gagging, but the results was good. A big chunk of my neck was gone and they were basically seeing muscles, but since I wasn't spurting blood, my vein or artery was untouched. Spitting out the branch, I was just about to summon someone, but Amy, who was hiding in my backpack since class, fluttered over, and started patching me up.

"Oh! Thank goodness nothing happened." Jogging up the steps was Lucifer. Catching his breath a bit, he saunters over towards me, "I was worried that something might have happened, but it looks like you have it all well-in-hand."

Amy fluttered up in a huff, apparently forgetting that while my neck wound was not fatal, it was in fact, still bleeding, "Well-in-hand? Are you nuts! Two members of the feline-clan nearly tore Darky into shreds! Nevermind the emotional damage they did!"

Waving her off, "Oh please. You're over exaggerating. I'm sure there was nothing he couldn't have handled."

Holding up a hand to settle both Amy and Minako, I slowly shuffled up and towards Lucifer. Cupping my right hand over the wound, I start to study the amount of blood gathered in my hand. Lucifer follows my gaze for a moment, "Wha-" Without another word, I quickly place my bloody hand on his forehand and dragged it from one side to the other.

Giving him the most haunted and creepiest looks I could muster in this moment, I growled out, "SIMBA!"

Author's note: Sorry for the really long dry-spell. New job and writer's block really does kill my chances to write anything. Thanks for waiting.