Chapter 16: Carry On My Wayward Son

Disclaimer: I do not own Persona 3, work at Atlas, or own the myths and legends mentioned in my story. Shoot, what the hell do I own in this?

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.

As Lucifer goes off and washes off the various bodily fluids I "blessed" him with, I was stuck wondering what the Hell I was to do. Here I was, with two attractive, horny, insane, and slightly physically abusive catgirl summons. Granted, one of them has been choked unconscious and the other has been stuffed into a bag.

{Lilim: You can always sleep with them.}

I can do you one better. I can summon you so you can entertain them a bit. Sound good?

{Lilim: I think I can hear someone calling for me. I'll be back in a bit!}

This is why I can't have anything nice. I can't trust anyone to give any bit of reliable advice. Thankfully, Amy patched up my neck, but now I have a few other problems. The first problem, though not the most important, was the fact I am covered in feline saliva and silvervine sake. If this doesn't draw more cats, demon or otherwise toward me on my way back to the dorm, then I'd be lucky. The second, and possibly the most noticeable, in conjunction with my shirt being completely torn, is the fact that I'm covered in blood. And lots of it. I mean, the amount of blood I'm covered with would signify that I either just committed mass murder or I'm from a God of War game... If it was just the color, I could probably pass it off as a stage effect gone wrong, but it fucking smells like blood! Tapping my forehead with a knuckle, I just glare at Lucifer as he returns, "That grin better means there's some good news for me"

"Of course! Neko Shogun, the leader of the Cat-clan is interested in you and is willing to negotiate despite your low 'level'."

"..."

"Oh come on guys! That's great news!"

"Me, Minato, and Junpei had to stuff someone into a burlap sack."
"Yeah"
"And she was clawing at us!"

"Oh, stop bitching! Little Minako choked her's out."

Deadpanning, "Don't forget about the missing chunk of flesh in my neck."

"Boo-hoo. Your subclemital is untouche-"

"It's the carotid artery actually."

"Whatever. Point being, you're fine and now you have two more summons. Chill out, I'll have a chat with Neko Shogun, and see what I can do for you."

Sighing, I bob my head, "I 'preciate that. Actually, I have a favor to ask."

Nodding because Lucifer can probably read my mind, "I already have a guess, I'll send them back to the dorm. That's the least I can do for you." With a poof, Lucifer and the two cat-girls disappear in a puff of black, sulphur-smelling smoke.

For a good while, we just kinda lingered around. Well... that's not exactly true. I had to because I was still trying to figure out how to get back without being spotted and hauled in for murder. Amy was patching up my neck. The others just stayed. Feeling a bit like a burden, "Look, thanks for backing me up today. Who knows how that might have played out otherwise."

After a bit of silence, Junpei spoke up first, "Dude. Minato and I nearly got you killed."

"Don't forget to mention the rape bit there buddy." Added in Minato, in a somewhat helpful manner.

Clearing his throat uncomfortably, "Yeah... that too. If we weren't here, none of this might have happened."

Smirking, "Maybe, maybe not. What's important is what we learned today."

Everyone just looks at me like I had reach some sort of epiphany, "Yeah, what's that?"

"Piss off Minako enough and she will choke the boy outta you and look hot doing it."

As Minako started to blush up a storm, Minato exploded at me like normal, "OI! THAT'S MY SISTER!"

"So? What's your point? I can flirt with her if I want. She's not exactly saying 'no' to me."

"I SAY NO!"

"Fine." Just as he was about to breath a sigh of relief, "I'll flirt with Yukari, then."

"What?"

"You're right. Minako is your sister and therefore you do have some say in the matter. But Yukari is fair game. Actually, everyone else is free game. So, give me a reason to stop."

Hesitating for a moment, Minato smirks and takes a step forward, "Alright, I'll call you're bluff. You can flirt with me."

I have no idea what he was thinking when he leaned in, but when I placed my good hand on the back of his head and started guiding him closer to me, I could feel the hairs on the back of his neck bristle.

At this point, he's probably questioning his life choice.

At this point, he's wondering how far I'm going to go.

And right here, he's wondering if he'll enjoy it.

Just as our lips briefly brush into each other, a sudden jolt causes my to lock up in pain. Hissing, I turn to see a red-faced Amy, "S-sorry Darky. I got a bit excited..." Sighing, I turn to see group and laughed. Minato was desperately trying to remain stoic as he just dodged a bullet, the girls are blushing (though I think Minako is a bit confused on her feelings), and the two remaining dudes have no idea what they just saw and is just standing there with their jaws on the ground. Clicking my tongue, "So, the moment's ruined. Amy, how's it going back there?"

Letting out a little 'eep', Amy just fidgets in the air without a word.

"With my shoulder?"

"Huh? OH! Yes. Shoulder. I've fully patched it up."

"Sweetness. And I think I just thought of a way back to the dorm."Smirking, I swiped my right index finger across my face. While I'm sure it was strange to them, I could hear the glass shatter. Switching to the pixie persona, I always feel soo giddy. Smiling, "I'll use pixie to get back. It might take a while, but I'm sure it'll be enjoyable. It'll take a bit, so you guys head back first."

Needless to say, they chose to follow me and the trip back too much longer than it should have, but I'm glad to have the company. We chatted a bit about stuff in between me diving into trees and bushes and such, but with with along, they did help me spot people that I probably would have missed.

All-in-all, not that bad a walk.

That said, I quickly changed back to Orpheus. I don't hate the feelings that I get when I'm using the pixie persona, but waaay to chipper. I'm not against being happy, but...

Anyways. We had just made it to the door, when the door swung open and I was greeted with a very crossed Mitsuru plus rapier. Did I mention the rapier? And the fact that she seems very anger? I hope I did because those seem like very important points. Growling a bit, "Dark! I hope you have a damn good explanation for- GOOD LORD! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!" Lowering the rapier, Mitsuru has this look of shock as she's pointing to my torn, bloodsoaked shirt.

"Before I get into it, how about we all head inside, so I don't get potentially arrested, you can put away the pointy-Frenchy sword, and I'll make us all a nice cup of tea to calm down. I'm sure it was as bad for the others as it was for me."

Cut to me being back in the kitchen, steeping up a nice pot of camermille and toasting some bread. I head out of the kitchen with everything and just started pouring tea for everyone as the others finish recounting the tale.

Mitsuru, being Mitsuru, immediately groans and begins massaging the bridge of her nose, "Dark, why is that whenever something happens, you're both: involved and covered in blood and/or injuries."

"In my defense... those two things are not mutually exclusive."

Slapping the table. HARD. "DO YOU FIND THIS FUNNY!?" Apparently, nodding and mouthing the words 'Yes it is.' made things worst. "HAVE YOU EVER GIVEN A THOUGHT ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES?! HAVE YOU FOR ONE MOMENT CONSIDERED THE DANGER YOU WERE PUTTING THE OTHERS IN?!" The yelling went on for a long while, most of which I spent in my head chatting with lilim and angel through their persona cards.

By the time Mitsuru was done with her rant, I was low on patience. I never liked getting lectured, less so if I didn't do anything wrong. I must have been zoning out for a while because what happened next, I didn't even noticed. The loud, resonating crack of flesh-on-flesh, the sudden jerk of my head, and the burning sensation my cheek told me all I had to know. Shaken out of my thoughts, I didn't move my head, I didn't have to. I could see her glare with my peripherals alone. She was glaring at me with her hand still in position since she struck me. Her voice was as cold as her persona's power as she spoke, "How dare you Phatiamos. You are no longer a child. While you attitude may be something you do in America, you will show proper respect to me here." She might be my senior, with plenty of experience with a rapier, but, as a man, I'm stronger and I knew how to throw my weight.

Since I didn't react to her strike, she never suspected a thing. Jumping out of my seat, I scooped the table up with me and at her, followed quickly by bull-rushing table and all into the wall behind her. Sliding back to let the table drop, my left hand shot out to slam her head at the wall the moment she flinched. By this time, she had enough sense to try and fight back, but I already drew my knife and was pressing it on her throat while my left hand found its way to her wrist and was squeezing it as hard as I can. I didn't care any more. If she draws her rapier, I'll slit her throat, but until then, I'm with crushing her wrist. She wants to be a queen bitch, then let's see how much pain I can inflict.

"KID! STOP!"

With a lurch, I felt as though something picked me up and tossed me. It was my back that slammed into something solid first, then a falling sensation, and then my face felt something solid. Slamming my knife into the ground so I can pull myself up and rip that fucker's throat-

"I said 'stop'. Goddammit, Kid." Once again, I was lifted up only to slam into something and dropped onto something else. I don't remember how many times it was repeated, but I'm sure I was shouting something the whole time.

When my whole body was paralyzed with pain, I felt something cradle my face, "-on! C'mon, Kid! Wake up. There we go. Come on. Head towards the light. There we go. It's okay. It's your ol' buddy Lucifer. Come on back all the way now."

"Lucifer? Wha-" A deep guttural cough and lots of blood came out of my mouth.

"Calm down. You have some internal damage. I still have some healing left, I can patch that up..."

I placed my hand over his and got up. I didn't care. Not anymore. I hope it hurts. I hope it hurts a lot. Staggering my way to the door, I yanked my duster from the coat hook. Just as I was about to reach the doorknob, I could a fluttering behind me. "Darky! Darky, wait for me!"

[...]

She looked deflated. Like a leaf falling from a tree. How strange...

I'm not sure how long I've been walking and I don't know where I am. It seems like I'm in an alleyway of some sort. Looking around and seeing nothing familiar, I just followed the path to see where it'll lead me. But just as I reached an opening, I can't describe it exactly, but it was very much like a deep yearning combined with a tugging of the soul. I just stood there scanning the area around me. I'm not sure why, but I know I had to find who was giving me that feeling. It was familiar. Too familiar. I tried find it, I really did. But I was just chasing a ghost.

"Well well well. What do we have here?"

Letting out a groan, I could easily have guessed who was talking. No one on this planet would saying something like that in such a tasteless fashion. Turning around, I was greeted with a sorry lot. As usual, the smallest one, the one with something to prove started to move towards me. "Hey punk. Didn't yo hear him? Huh?"

Sighing, "I'm sorry, but I was out wandering in a sudden fit of wanderlust, I happen to find myself turned around. If you could kindly redirect me back to the nearest public transportation, I would be very appreciative." Smirking at the idiot's confused look, decided to keep messing around. Holding a hand like I was trying to calm him down, I clear my throat and proceeded to do a very poor imitation of his voice, "Yo, check this out. First of all, you throwing too many big words at me. And since I failed preschool and don't understand a word coming outta yo mouth, Imma take it as disrespect."

Turning around to look at the others, "Yo guys! Yo believe this guy?" Scoffing, he cocks his arm back and tries for a wild and wide haymaker as he turns to face me, "Let's see how pretty yo face is after I-" Blocking with my left, I immediately bitchslapped him. As he recovers, I pulled my butterfly knife from my pocket. Instantly the fun is gone, everyone is tense. Holding the handle out to the moron, "Come on now. Take the blade, you'll need it. What? Too scared- Don't go looking back at your boss. What? You need your boss's permission to be a man. Come on! Your balls'll have to drop for you to be a man." I guess mocking his height was the right button, he reached out, I fluttered the knife away and backhanded him. "Moron." Spitting on the floor, I sudden felt the sensation again. Just as I was about to scanning, a slow clap to my left saved me the trouble.

"My my. That was quite an impressive display." Emerging from the shadow was a thin man, shirtless, sleeve tats on both arms, and a big honkin' revolver tucked into the belt of his torn jeans. His yellow eyes reminded me of Theo and Lizzy. But his overall look reminded me of those portraits of Jesus. Something about him wasn't right. Just him being there made the alleyway feel like it was something on a stage. When he stopped clapping and spoke, I actually had a hard time not concentrating on what he was saying. It wasn't like it had any form of beauty, but it was very much like a siren's call, I couldn't help myself. "This is a surprise. I don't usually make it a habit to take a weakened target, but I'm also not one for witnesses either." Slowly drawing his revolver and pointing it my way, "Sorry, but I'm going to have to kill you too."

Author's note: Wow, has it really been that long already? This new job is really messing with my ability to tell time. That and Dragon's Crown, Saints Row IV, writer's block, and some like soap opera crap. Well, enough of that. Let's get this back on track! Oh, and before I forget, it's not that I haven't been checking on my messages, I was just hoping to answer them all in one go. Regarding to the odd titles for each chapter: yes, they are in fact song titles. I try to find a song that would apply to the overall chapter, Admittedly, it is getting pretty difficult to do so, but I did somehow plan out the titles for the last four-or-so chapters in this. Please read and try to enjoy!