Chapter 17: Paint It Black

Insert usual disclaimer. More notes on the bottom.

Squaring off against him, I already had one of my darts sliding down my sleeve and into my hand. Fuck... I'm nervous as all fuck. The dude has a gun in his belt. Six shot revolver. I have a dart at the ready, but my left hand is still a bit clunky. He's within twenty-one feet. I should be able to get to him before he gets me. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck... He'll probably get me! No! I'm not dying. Not today, not this year! Taking in as many slow breaths as I had the chance to...

...

The moment I saw his hand move toward his hip, I snapped the dart at him and immediately sprinted to where he was moving to to dodge the projectile. He had just brought his gun up in time to block my knife. Growling, I quickly switch the grip of my knife to underhand and slid the point upward at his neck. He quickly responded by bobbing his head downwards and rolling with the strike. In return, I tried to slit his throat, but fell short when he Sparta-kicked me in the chest, causing me to back up a bit. The only reason I didn't jam my blade into his sternum was because he has his gun pointed at my face. I'm not sure why, but there was a part of me that wanted to rip his throat out, but at the same time, I wanted to embrace him.

Him? He was not bothered at all. Hell, he just smiled at me and released the hammer to his gun. Holding up his non-gun hand above his head, he just waves it, "We have a tie, what do you say?"

"... Fine..." Even though he stuck his gun back into his belt, my knife lingered for a bit longer. Though, honestly... by the time I started to sheathe the knife, the Dark Hour started to kick in and my action was moot. But, today is just-

"My, my. Today is just full of surprises isn't it?"

Snapping my head up, I was absolutely speechless at the fact that hippie-white-Jesus was standing there smiling at me. As surprised as I was, my instincts worked fine. In my peripherals, I could see something shiny, metal, and fast flying at my head. Snapping out of my stupor, I took a step back and did a half-turn to avoid whatever it was. Around the same moment, something metal, green, and round landed just in front of me. Having no clue what the hell it was, I gave it a sharp kick just as it bounced.

At this point, I'd to take a moment to explain myself. Looking back on it now, I can see how some people would consider what I did stupid. And that would be putting it mildly. The thing is, I have a natural reflex and I would swear on it, that if something falls toward my feet, I would kick it. Thing is, it isn't always suppose to be a kick, sometimes I just want to stick my foot out there to cushion the falling object. But ultimately, that is the honest truth. The kicking reflex has sometimes yielded expected results: popping a falling cell phone upwards for me to catch, letting an expensive external hard drive to gently slide down my leg and onto my foot, etc. Other times... not so much: 'caught' a falling knife with my foot, sent a falling fork into the wall inches above my sister's head, sent can of coke flying into my face, etc. You get the picture.

Anyways, this time, I sent the green, metal ball skywards right before it could explode. Doing a Keanu Reeves 'whoa' for a second, I quickly draw my knife when I heard metal clinking. I have no idea what it was, but when pasty-Jesus pointed behind me, I really should have trusted him. In the moment it took me to decide rather or not to trust him, something bit me in the ass! I mean, sweet fuckin' Jesus! Whatever the fuck it was, bit me square in my right cheek! I mean, I'm sure the back of my thigh took some of the damage, but fuck. It. ALL! My right 'tock! Turning my head to take a look at the little sumabitch shadow that bit me, but my neck touched something cold and metal. The moment I realized it was a chain, I quickly wrapped it around my hand and pulled with everything I had and out popped nothing. Whoever it was, had the good sense to let go. Looking over at gringo-Hey-Zeus, he hasn't moved an inch. Seriously. The guy he threatened to kill and tried to kill him gets hit in the butt and he just stands there with a smile and a very mild look of concern.

That second bit is seriously creeping me out.

A bit of whimpering derails my train of thought. Turning around, I only just realize that the idiot from the gang is not only out of his coffin, but he's leaving a lovely puddle under him as well. Hearing a metallic click, I turn to see Jesus holding his revolver again. Flicking it a few times, "Please move, I have something I need to do with the one behind you and you're in my shot."

Sidestepping, I put myself between them, ""Sorry, but I can't do that."

Letting out an exasperated sigh he actually droops before pointing the gun at me, "You have no idea how annoyed I am now. This was suppose to be a simple job and you have made it very bothersome for me. Do you have any idea how much I dislike self-righteous types like you?"

"You misunderstand me," That caused him to quirk an eyebrow, "I'm not protecting him because it's the right thing to do. I couldn't give a shit what you want to do to him. I'm just protecting him because he's in front of me. He's scum and the world can do with less people like him, but I'm just one of those types who cannot sit by and do nothing. Now, if he was elsewhere, I certainly cannot be held responsible to what may or may not happen to him." I'm sure at this point the poor bastard was trying to cling to me and plead for his life, but I kicked him away the moment Shadows started to show up. Looking back on it, I have no idea what happened to him.

I've been fighting for almost ten minutes now and I'm completely screwed. There's less Shadows out here but the fight outside of the tower is very much like a zombie horde. They just freakin' rush you.

Pushing off my knees, I shoulder ram a Maya only to push aside its arm to expose its chest. Repeatedly stabbing downwards into the Maya's face and chest, I duck under another Maya only to do another barrage of stabs on the one behind my failed attacker. Stepping back to take a breather, I could feel... nevermind, I'm out of references. Biting the bullet, "Hey. You. What's your name?"

"Heh, you have a strange set of priorities. Asking me that now." Stumbling a bit, the dude bumps into me and leans, back-to-back. Reloading his gun, he fires of two more shots, "The names Takaya. Takaya Sakaki."

"Dark. Nice ta meetcha. 'Cuse me." Leaning against Takaya, I drove my heel into the mask of a charging Maya and followed it up by snapping a dart into the eye of one of those hand-looking shadows. Orobas, why am I losing ground? These are the same ones I fight in the tower and I'm getting my ass whooped!

{Orobas: Sorry, been trying to figure that out for a bit now. Best guess so far? You're like your necromancer from that Diablo game.}

What?!

{Orobas: You're an overlord. Yes, while you can stand toe-to-toe in some situations, you are best when you fight alongside allies. Even more so if it is a horde or mob as your back up.}

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Snarling, I grabbed one of Mayas that got too close and broke it over my knee. Bane-style. Not satisfied, I lifted it over my head bent it in half before hurling like a ninja-star.

"Now, now Dark. No need to lose your composure. I wasn't going to do this, but I don't see any harm now that we are surrounded." Letting out a pained groan, Takaya falls to his knees, clutching his head.

I was seriously about to ditch his dumb ass. You don't go and reassure me and then collapse. Screw that. As that thought began to solidified in my mind, I was shocked to see something form behind him. It was was human in shape, but the color and complexion of a corpse, more gray than pasty. Convulsing violently, red veins surface up to the skin, some even erupt from the spine and begin to weave together to create the shape of the candle-holders used during Hanukkah. A pair of black wings form on the tip and grotesquely holds up the limp body with each flap. I'm sure he gave his persona commands and stuff, but I was too grossed out to really pay too much attention. Yeah, he summoned without an Evoker, whatever, but I after what I just witnessed, I'm glad I stopped sleeping. That was nightmare fuel if I've ever seen nightmare fuel.

Reaching for my Evoker to call in some damage, I stopped only for a moment. It wasn't really anything at first, just a soft buzzing sound. But like all soft buzzing noise, it just grew louder and louder until that was all I could hear. Focusing on what was in front of me, I reached for my Evoker only groan in pain as a boring sensation overwhelmed my senses. I knew what's about to happen and I sure as fuck was not about to let him come out. Placing the cold, metal barrel under my chin. As though responding to what I was about to do, the pain intensified. Growling, "ORPHEUS, I CALL UPON YOU!" Immediately, the familiar figure of my version of Robocop springs into existence and begins burning and smashing the shadows. Trouble is, I neither gave him a command nor did I pull the trigger to summon him. As the boring returns, I watched as Orpheus reels in pain. "ORPHEUS! Orpheus. Bash." It didn't matter the command, I just kept calling out for Orpheus, so long as I did that, he kept his shape and the pain just increased.

Whimpering, I clutched my head and collapsed to my knees and I watched as Orpheus was ripped apart from within and the Undertaker exploded outwards. I could feel a pair of hands come to rest on my shoulders, "Come on now Darky-boy." Hissing a bit, "We need another fighter and Hypnos is getting overwhelmed. Get up and give me a hand here."

"THOU ART I,"

The two of us froze in disbelief and looked at Undertaker.

"AND I AM THOU. FROM THY DARKEST HOUR, I CRY OUT FOR JUSTICE! I AM THANATOS, THE BRINGER OF DEATH! FEAR NOT, FOR NONE OF YOU SHALL DIE ALONE THIS DAY." Thanatos soars across the ground and begins cleaving a path to the dog pile where Hypnos was. Tossing a Shadow into the air and giving it a sharp Falcon Punch, "BEGONE SUBCREATURES! MY KIN'S THREAD HAS NOT RUN ITS COURSE!"

Once cleared of all Shadows, Thanatos just stood there staring at Hypnos. Whatever tearful reunion he thought there might have been was quickly replaced by something, I would define as: soul-crushing. He literally just stood there as Shadows began to surround and wail on him. And I felt every hit. I can't say I know how he felt, but when his trembling hand touched Hypnos's head Thanatos slammed his sword into the ground and let out an eardrum shattering shriek. The very moment he grabs his sword and pulls it out of the ground, skeletal hands burst from the ground and latches onto the shadows around him. Skulls materialize and the moment they sink their teeth into Shadow-flesh, they exploded. I don't mean they burst like a potato in a microwave oven, I mean they kamikazed. Chomp, purple flash, boom! Mushroom cloud and all. Whatever ability Thanatos used, it cleared out a chunk of the shadows attacking him... as well as the ground around him. Also, I feel completely drained. Shit.

The fight raged on a bit longer, not sure how much longer, but the moment I heard Orobas give me the ten minute warning, I knew I was getting close to making out of this alive. I still couldn't give Thanatos any commands, but whatever that skeletal-suicide-bomb attack was, it was costly enough that he didn't try it again. Kind of wish he did. Homestretch being the hardest part of all and it felt like there were more weenie Shadows just trying to do a ling-rush on us. Me and Takaya has long since lost ground and we've been pushed back to the point we have our backs to the wall, literally. I think the wall might belong to a club or something. Point being, we were doing everything we can just to survive the last few minutes of the Dark Hour. I can't believe I'm about to do this, "Thanatos, use what you did earlier. Wipe out as many as you can!" Thanatos just turns to look at me. Rather than burying his sword into the ground and summoning skeletons, he raises his sword to eye-level while keeping it parallel to the ground. Growling at the fact that he wasn't listening to my commands, I was half tempted to let him get his ass kicked, but... screw it.

As the command formed in my head, it was quickly overridden by new words. Bright, shining, new words. Clutching my aching head with left, I raise my right hand to the air and snapped my fingers, "Let's go! False Death, Eternal Rest! Fusion raid: Sweet Dream!" Even though Thanatos nodded and let out a battle roar, it was, surprisingly, Hypnos soared passed us, into the horde of Shadows. Tracing a path through each Shadow, I could see that some of them had succumbed to Hypnos's influence and just simply fell asleep on the spot. The moment Hypnos returned, Thanatos got his turn and followed the route paved before him. The attack was quick. No more than one strike in my eyes. The Shadows that were asleep simply disintegrated while those few awake shuddered as hundreds of slashes riddled their body. Course, they were no better off. They survived being put to sleep and coup de grace-d, but died anyways from the sheer damage they received.

It was finally over.

The two of us survived. Granted, we are standing about balls deep in mutilated Shadow corpses that is slowly dissolving, leaving behind Shadow goo.

Leaning against a wall, I was running on vapors after that last Sweet Dream thing-y.

Ka-click.

Exhaling sharply, I turn to see Takaya pointing his big, honkin' revolver at my head. I was too tired to draw my knives to defend myself, but he wasn't going to get the satisfaction of shooting the back of my head. Glaring into his face, I was determined to be defiant in my last moments.

He just laughed. Turning the gun over, he places the handle on my chest. Smiling, "Go on, take it. I have plenty more of them. Granted not all of them are this big, but you backed me up. And what kind of brother would I be if I let my own go around with only knives?" As I check the revolver for jams and balance, Takaya lets out a little 'heh' and continues, "It is a fifty-caliber-"

"Five-hundred. Officially known as the Smith & Wesson Model Five-hundred. Fires off five fifty caliber bullets... wait a moment." Swiveling out the cylinder for the second time, I only now notice the lack of bullets. Scoffing in disbelief, I turn to glare at him. He, in turn, just gave me an awkward shrug before rummaging his pockets and placing five bullets into my outstretched palm. "Seriously? Just five? What about that whole thing about being a bro?"

"That maybe true, but those bullets aren't cheap. If I could, I would give you all the fifty cal bullets you will ever need. But as it stands, my suppliers need some form of payment. Look, I like you, I really do. What do you say to twenty-forty-five yen a bullet."

"Two-thousand-forty-five yen. A BULLET?! ... I'm sure if I knew what that was in American dollars, my outrage would have more substance. So, until I do, you have yourself a deal." Just as I started shaking Takaya's hand, some dorky-looking prick with a metal briefcase and the world's nastiest comb-over showed up. Normally I'm not like this, I usually give them a chance to open their mouth before I judge them, but this jack-off shows up on the worst day thus far and gives me the evil-eye? I'm pretty sure I'd be justified in clubbing the ever-loving shit outta him with my shiny, new hand-bazooka.

"Now, now Jin, that's no way to look at a brother."

Shocked I stared at Takaya before turning on Persona-vision. Moros. Hermit. Brother to Thanatos and Hypnos. And what the Hell is Mudo or any of its other attacks? Fuckity-fuck. Breaking out my ever arrogant smirk, "Well, well. Jin is it? So what do you do? Club people over the head with the your man-purse? Or does your hairstyle cause people to go blind at how bad it is?" The moment he pulled out a grenade, I had hand-bazooka pointed at his head with the hammer pulled back, "Yeah, you might not be responsible for the ass assault, but throwing a bomb at me isn't a good way to not get your head blown off."

"Now Dark, I understand that you might be a bit sensitive to the previous attack, but in his defense, he didn't know what your intentions were. I get it, you're tired and a bit sensitive. I have a location nearby where-"

"Sorry dude, but one fight doesn't mean I trust you. I think I'd risk sleeping under a bridge."

"Jin is rather proficient with computers, perhaps if you lowered the gun, he would be delighted in setting up a room for you in a hotel the moment we can access his computer."

"Takaya!"

Calmly, Takaya just looks at Jin, who stows his grenade away. Giving him a moment longer, I lower my gun. Letting out a sigh, Jin scribbled something on a piece of paper (nearly shot him when he went for his pen and said paper). Pressing it into my chest, he told me it was a name and code that I can use to identify myself at any hotel, after he sets up some rooms for me.

Turning my head a bit, I could hear the resonating sounds of footsteps. Cursing under my breath, I just realized that the fight I just had probably got noticed by Mitsuru. Giving Takaya a mildly threatening look, "I'm going to hold you to what you just said. I gotta bounce." Taking off a bit before turning into another alley, I squat down low. I know I can hear a third person speaking but I'm having a really hard time picking up anything but static. Regardless, as my dormies get closer, Takaya and gang took their leave as well.

After a while, I took a chance and peeked around a corner. only to spot Junpei with the Arisato twins surveying the carnage. "Mitsuru? It's Minato, we're on site and something major happened here. I can see craters in the ground as well as cracks on the wall."

"Don't forget about all the dead Shadows onii-san."

"That too. No. I don't think I can say what caused it. No, there are no elemental marks anywhere."

"Dude, you don't think Dark did all this did you?"

"I don't know, man. This was a lot of Shadows. More than any of us have ever fought in a group, let alone solo."

Yukari spoke next, I remember because there was so much concern in her voice, that it actually surprised me, "You don't think... he..."

"No! No, way. Phatiamos-san is smart. There's no way he'd be caught in a fight like this by himself." Oooh, she is going to be pissed when she finds out.

"I know Minako-chan, but that bit of blood I slipped in."

"Yukari-san, that doesn't mean anything! It could have been from anything! That might not even have been blood!"

"Um, Minako-chan." I could see Junpei point at something, but I didn't want to stick my head out any further. Though I didn't have to as good ol' Junpei was prone to voicing out the obvious, "Isn't that one of his pocket knives? I know that's one of his spikes. He was here."

WAIT, WHAT DID HE SAY?! Checking the back of my palm there was a decent sized hole where a spike was hidden. I nearly drove my head through the wall when I realized that the attack on my ass also meant that a knife or two slipped out of my ass pocket. Huffing a bit, I decided that I should move on. It wasn't a good time to head back, yet. I didn't want to risk losing my temper again. Not especially now when I have a gun on me.

I was two streets away when I stopped and grabbed chest. Shuffling to the curb, I started to punch myself a few times, it felt like someone was scraping sandpaper over my heart! Before I could start pistol whipping myself, Thanatos exploded into being and he didn't look so good. He could barely hold himself up with his own sword. Clutching his own chest, the Greek incarnation of death seemed to study me a little, before nodding and grunting. Placing a clawed hand on the skeletal helmet, he rips it in half with a roar as his armor cracks and crumbles away. Still shouting, a lean, gangly human stands in Thanatos's place. Wobbling a bit, he falls to his knees.

Thou art I.
And I am thou.
From... from the shadow of your heart?
I am... I am... Who am I?

As the Dark Hour finally came to an end the streetlamp above me flicker to life and I got my first good look at my new persona. He had Thanatos's trench coat wrapped tightly around himself, but he had no face! I don't want to give you the impression that he had no head. It was there, just a mass of black, in the shape of a head. He just didn't have any facial features. Just a mouth and white teeth. Kind of like that creature thing from Full Metal Alchemist, that one guarding the gate. As the persona placed a hand on his head, he just faded away.

Breathing heavily, held my breath as I heard my team walk by, they looked so worried. I'm sure they were talking about something, but my heart was hammering in my chest too loudly for me to hear it. After they had moved a good few feet away, I allowed myself to slide a bit before hopping up and hissing. I forgot about the large gash on my butt! Sighing, I hobble over to the closest hotel I could remember passing by.

"You've gotta be shitting me."

{Orobas: I am not, Summoner.}

"You're telling me, the closest hotel I could stay at is right across the street from CBB?"

{Orobas: Apparently, they thought of a clever way to avoid having to pay for advertisement. Location, location, location.}

"Whatever. I should really consider how I'm going to get to the reception desk to get a room."

"Dark, is that you?"

My body locked up like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Slowly, I turn my head, and there, in the doorway, was the last person I wanted to see with me covered in blood. "H-hello Auntie Cai. Fancy meeting you at this time of the night."

"Yes, that is weird. What are you doing this late?"

"Um. I couldn't sleep, so I decided to take a walk."

"Uh-huh. What about the blood on you." That wasn't a question and I really wasn't sure how I was to answer that. In the end, she just let out a sigh and told me to head inside.

"And that's how I ended up in CBB without pants, with an apron wrapped around my hip."

"Wow. Well, lucky my wife found you. Though I cannot say I wouldn't be interested in what you would have said to get into your room."

"Honestly? Whatever it took." Uncle Cai poured me another cup of tea as Auntie Cai showed up with my underpants in her hands, "I was able to wash them and repaired them to the best of my abilities. Are you sure you don't need me to-" Smiling, I held up my pants and the sturdy needlework I did on the tear. "My, my. You are full of surprises."

"Yup. Ever since I was a kid, I learned as many skills as I could."

"Why is that?"

Placing a hand on my chin with a thoughtful look, "I guess it all started with my grandpa. Always used to tell me as a kid, 'Don't be so full of yourself. You might get one or two things right, but you can't possible know everything there is.' While he maybe true, I was content to learn every little thing I could about everything. It might not be full-knowledge on a given topic, but at least I wasn't ignorant to it."

Huffing, Uncle Cai just smiles at me, "Ever heard of the saying, 'A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.'"

"So is a lot. By Albert Einstein. Though, I believe the first instance of it was by Alexander Pope. Look, in all honesty. I'd rather be the jack-of-all-trades."

"And that's something you're proud of? Being like a cat with only three legs?"

"A cat with three legs is still a cat. You can see it as a flaw, something incomplete. But I see it as something that none of the other cats have. A unique perspective. Even a cripple will start developing something else. In a wheelchair? I'll workout my arms. I can never move anything below my neck? I'll be smartest guy on the planet. I'm not content with just one skill, why should I? Why can't I be the guy that everyone turns to when they locked themselves out of their house or needs to socket a dislocated arm?"

"And all that stemmed from the fact that your grandfather was trying to teach you to be humble?"

Clicking my tongue in annoyance, I was about to say something, but Auntie Cai asked me what I really didn't want to talk about, "So why are you out of you dorm this late in the morning?"

"... I... I nearly brutalized a dormmate." I was ashamed, but I told them everything. I don't know what it is about them, but I didn't hold anything back.

They looked at me with such concern. "Son, I'm not sure which to address first."

"Perhaps it's best to just start from the top, dear."

Letting out a sigh, "That would be best. Dark. Son, how could you let yourself hurt a friend like that."

"...I know. But it wasn't fair. I didn't drag the others into it, they chose to follow me. I have done nothing but look out for their best interest!" Slapping the table I bolted out of the chair and began pacing, I know I was getting angrier, but, "Every time we're out there, up that godforsaken tower! It's me." Beating my chest, to further emphasize the point, "ME! Who does everything to make sure everyone comes back. I? I DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR SAFETY? I DON'T CARE ABOUT THEIR WELL-BEING?! I have traded my sanity! My hand. My flesh. MY BLOOD! To make sure they'll be fine. But is that enough for her? No. Nononononono. It's always the little things I'm screwing up on. 'What were you thinking, stabbing yourself like that?' or 'Think of the example you're setting for the others.' I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT IT MITSURU, YOU STUCK-UP BITCH! Does you really think I'm doing this for fun... does she think that I am some sort of uber-man, far above pain and suffering...and being wrong?..."

Wrapping her arms around my shoulders, Auntie Cai guides me back to the table. "Dark. Do you really think she doesn't care. This Mitsuru cannot be much older than you. Perhaps, like you, she was thrust into this life. Perhaps, she is as anxious as you are? Maybe even more so because she cannot be in the field like you. But there must be more than that. I doubt fear would cause you to react the way you did."

"... I used go to a Catholic when I was younger. You ever hear how kids would say their teachers hated them? I wasn't lying when I said mine did. First day of class, I corrected my first grade teacher for teaching us that Columbus discovered America. You know how she took that? She permanently moved my desk in front of the class so I only faced the chalkboard. Then she gave me a note to be signed by my parents, saying how I was rude and disruptive in class. This went on for a bit, up to our first test, where she failed me for cheating. Oh, this note was special, it said that I was cheating, disrespectful, and should be held back a grade. I read it while she started lecturing me on honesty and in the moment she yelled at me for reading something meant for my parents, I stood up and called her a 'horrid bitch'."

"What a terrible woman. But certainly, that does not justify what you did there."

"No. But being sent to the principle's office was the best thing to happen to me. I explained everything to him, took another test in front of him to prove I was as smart as I acted, and showed all the notes I had my parents sign. Three months later, I was practically in his office as he secretary instead of being in class due to the amount of time I was being sent to him, he finally asked me. He said, 'Darky boy. Don't you know when to keep your smart-Alec mouth shut? Just because she's wrong, doesn't mean you should correct her. More importantly, you should not be so proud, she punish you for something you didn't do, you come to me.' I told him that it wasn't pride. If I'm innocent, and I'm suddenly punished for something I didn't do, why should I just accept it? If I'm already punished, why not just commit it anyways? If she writes up a note saying I stole something from her, I'm coming back up to the room at some point and I'm going to empty her purse. If I get blamed for hitting a classmate, I'm just going to go and punch him out right then and there."

"For you, it's not about the pride of the matter but the justice."

"Yes. If my cries of innocence falls on deaf ears and no amount of protest will change it. Why not just be? It's not about decency. If my own classmates won't back me up and only add on to the accusations. Why should I care?"

Auntie Cai places a hand on the back of my head, "I understand now. How betrayed you must have felt when someone like a teacher would do something like that to you. How your fellow students betrayed you when they found it easier to turn a blind eye to your pain. But I think it's time for the wounds of the past to begin healing. Leave those pains behind, in the darkness, and continue on your journey a little light of burden."

I'd say I left CBB with a spring in my step, but that may just be me limping due to the massive canyon where part of my ass used to be. I was glad that Auntie Cai was able quickly sew my pants together so it was at least decent in public. Didn't have time to wash the blood off though. Amy wasn't with me, so I couldn't heal my butt and I really didn't have enough time to head back in the dorm for new pants. ... Turning back around, I asked the Cais for some plastic wrap.

In the end, I was a full hour late, what with me limping and all. And the moment I opened the door and walked into my homeroom, Ms. Toriumi had a fit.

It was after five minutes of yelling about me being tardy, not doing homework, and not being in uniform, all of which I was totally quiet for, when she finally addressed me, "... Well?! What are you still standing out there for?! Get in here and take a seat!"

Leaving heavily on the door, I winced because my calves were shot from all the awkward limping and hopping in place I did. Letting out a pathetic whimper, "I can't. ... Junpei, bro. Mind giving me a hand?" Say what I will about Junpei, but when push comes to shove, the dude is a total bro. So is Kenji. The moment, I asked for help, despite naming Junpei, Kenji bolted up there. Each of them supported me under my arms. Groaning a bit, Junpei just stares at me for a moment, "Dude, what the hell happened to you last night man? You never returned to the dorm."

Mentally preparing the storm I knew was coming, I had just passing the first few rows of desk and could hear the gasps. A row more and Toriumi is going to see my pants. Grunting a bit, "I-I, uh. I got stabbed last night while I was out for my midnight jog." Annnnnd. Now she should see the-

Toriumi actually screamed. Horrified, I could see her point at me, "Phatiamos, what the hell happened to you?!"

At that point, my two Magician buddies stopped carrying me and took a look at my backside. Under the plastic wrap, duct tape and blood, they could make out a clean rip from the back of my thigh to just below my belt.

"DUDE! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED!?"

"Guys, I would really appreciate it if we didn't make a bigger scene than it already is? It's already embarrassing enough."

"Too bad, Phatiamos-kun! You're coming with me to the nurse's office."

"Toriumi-san~. I didn't just limp all the way over here from the shrine, just to be sent home."

Toriumi walked toward me with all the authority of the leader of a pack. Kenji and Junpei practically dove back into their seats. Traitors! "Well, that's where I have some good news for you Phatiamos-kun, you're not going home right away. I'm going to take you to the hospital as soon as Mr. Edogawa cleans you up and gives me the okay."

"Like Hell you are!" Okay, I admit it. I panicked, took a step back, and instinctively got into a loose fighting stance. In my defense, I really do not like hospitals. The sucky part? Ms. Toriumi looked me up and down and smirked. Aw, shit. She just sized me up. She got close enough to grab a handful of my shirt, I put my hand on her shoulder to push her back. At some point in the middle, the back of our hands met and the situation devolved. If you've ever seen the old Chinese wire-fu movies, there's always fight scene where the two kung-fu masters have their arms locked into a sort of pushing/deflecting contest. That, my children is the basics of Wing-Chung and that is what my homeroom teacher and I ended up doing. For a few moments, we were just using one arm a piece. Pushing, giving, deflecting, all that good stuff. For a while it was a stalemate.

Ultimately, I decided I was done fooling around, I waited for another deflection before I grabbed her arm. Pulling it foward to shift her balance, I quickly push her away.

I never expected her to used that moment the snake her around mine, trapping my arm, and pulling me close. Smirking at me again, (GOD! IS THAT WHAT IT FEELS LIKE WHENEVER I DO THAT TO SOMEONE?!) She places her palm on my stomach and simultaneously pushes me away while lifting me up. My landing was crap, but by the time I recovered, I was three desks back and she was rolling up her sleeves. "Phatiamos-kun, I like you, but like I said, you're coming with me to the nurse's office and then the hospital. Even if that means I'm going to be the one to put you there. There's a reason I'm the head of the Mixed Martial Arts Club."

Oh, it was on! Judging from the force of the push, she was definitely a seasoned fighter, but she didn't know a thing about me. I'm a dirty fighter and she's a woman. I knew the path I must take. Shaking out my right hand, I realized how quiet the class got and how quickly they cleared out of the blast radius.

The moment Toriumi dashed at me, I raised my hand, "I SURRENDER AND VOLUNTEER FOR TREASON!" Even though her palm-strike didn't connect with my chin, for a brief moment, it felt like someone placed a high-powered fan under my jaw and switched it on high. Of course, being a seasoned fighter, Toriumi did not put her hand down or relax her guard right away. Giving me a rather sideways look, "Seriously? You're giving up?"

"Yup."

"So you're going to come with me to the nurse's office?"

"Indeed."

"Then the hospital?"

"I'd rather walk in front of a bus."

"I'm not sure you understand, you are going to the hospital."

"And I'm telling you, that I will chew my arm off like a trapped coyote." Slowly holding up my gloved left hand, "Last time I was in a hospital due to physical injury, I got to buy a lot of left gloves." While the rest of the class was confused on that bit, I knew that a few, select females knew what I was talking about.

{Orobas: Ah. Implied psychological trauma. Incredibly dirty tactics there.}

Dirty as it maybe, but not all fights need be physical. And a win is a win.

While Toriumi just pursed her lips while weighing her options, it was time for me to nail this coffin shut. Sighing and deflating a bit for effect, "Alright, I'll give a call to my doctor, I'm sure he can find someone to swing by the dorm to do a physical or something like that for me. Would that put your mind at ease there, teach?"

Rolling her neck uncomfortably, "Alright. In that case, Junpei and Minato, you two carry Dark back to the dorm. I'll tell the other teachers it was an emergency."

With a bumpy start out of the way, I found myself practically being manhandled by my two buddies as they tried to hustle me back to the dorm.

After quite a bit of silence, "Hey bro, what really happened? You didn't really get mugged did you?"

"No, I didn't. ... No seriously, I didn't get mugged. Alright! If you two stop looking at me like that, I'll tell you what happened! ...I left the dorm, big gray area, ended up in an alleyway with a bunch of punks, they started a fight, Free-time hit, and a shadow got a lucky shot in."

Minato, being the party-pooper that he is, "You expect us to believe that you have no memory of what happened up until the alleyway and then you took on a mass amount of shadows?"

My eyebrows furled and I turned to look at Minato, "I didn't mention memory issues nor did I mention more than one shadow."

"Uh-huh, like you needed to. I doubt you would take an injury like that from just one shadow-"

"Nice try on the snow job, what the hell is going on? First, you get clever and start figuring on stuff. Next thing, I'm standing inside of the dorm and no one is greeting me. What the hell is going on?" Taking off my duster and hanging it up, I turn to glare at the two of them. After a period of silence, something clicked in my head, "Lucifer... He told you something, didn't he?"

"..."
"..."

"That bastard threaten you didn't he. Son of a bitch!" Grabbing my duster, I started hobbling towards the door when the two of them hoisted me off the ground by my armpits. "Let me go! I got something I needs setting straight. Nobody threatens my friends and gets away with it. Son of Perdition or not!"

"No. Bro, it's not like that."

"Seriously, Dark. It's nothing like that."

"Oh? Then tell me what it's like. You two got nothing to fear. You tell me what he said, set me down, and I'll have the bastard in the electric nutgrind in seconds.

The two of the winced but carefully set me down before taking their place by the door. Actually, Minato took the front door, Junpei headed 'round back to block the rear exit. "Alright, you want to know what Lucifer told us? He told us that you're not alright in the head." Holding up his hand to stop me before I could start, "He told us that you are bound to explosive emotions because to have a lot of memories causing you pain and until you deal with them, you explode and then forget hours at a time."

Whatever I expected him to tell me, it wasn't that and I was totally mortified, "I-I... That... That's not true! I have a temper. That's all! Lucifer is a bastard, telling-telling lies like that."

Taking a breath and looking away, Minato looked like he was going to regret something... Taking another deep breath, "What did you say, right before you left the dorm last night?"

I have no idea how long I stood there with my mouth flapping, but it was long enough for me to realize that I was racking my brain to recall a memory I didn't have. Shuffling towards a chair at the table, "I-I..."

Placing a hand on my shoulder, "It's alright. He told us you went through a lot pain, things he can't tell us, but you will when you're ready. I'm not doing this because Apollo wants to. Like it or not, you've bailed me and my sister out of a lot, even if I think you're a jerk, I'm not going to mess with you when you're like this. There's nothing to be ashamed, Lucifer told us to give you some time to work things out. And to tell you something in honesty. Here's mine: despite the fact that you may be completely insane, I know you'll take good care of me and my sister and for that, I will have your back." Smirking he places a hand on my shoulder and something strange happened. Time stopped like usual, but instead of a social link thingy, I saw Minato's moon arcana. It was worn and tattered and covered with grime. Lots of grime. Before my eyes, the tatter edge was slowly mending.

Popping out from a corner, "Hey bro, we good over there? Things just got quiet."

"Yeah dude, I'm good...ish. I guess I should start cooking something for you guys for lunch before you head back."

"Aww, come on dude! You can't expect us to-"

Holding up my hand, I hold up two fingers and tick them off with each word, "Mitsuru. Execution."

One quick lunch later, I was showing the boys out before heading back for the dishes when Junpei grabbed my arm with a serious looking on his face, "Go to your room, do whatever you need to do." Nodding, the two of them leave while I just stood at the doorway, confused as all hell.

I worked on the dishes for a bit, but what Junpei said was really starting to get to me. Shaking my head with a groan, I back to my room after fetching my duster.

Opening the door, I'm not sure what I was expecting, but since nothing exploded and my room wasn't burned out, I was good.

Stepping through the threshold, I quickly and quietly scanned the room and I finally saw it.

There, on my bed, was Amy, lying face down on top of my teddy bear and clinging on to it like it was the only thing keep her afloat. Something I know all too well.

Quietly entering the room and hanging up my duster, I tiptoe over to my bed to take a seat and I saw Amy bristle up. After a moment of silence, "Amy?"

"..."

"Amy?"

"..." Peeking up from my teddy, I could see that's she's been crying. A lot. Reaching out to place my hand on her back, she immediately shied from my hand. I was very confused and worried. Before I could say anything, "You don't need to worry about me."

"Why would you say that? Why shouldn't I worry about my friends?"

"... Because I'm just an annoying gnat..."

I think she said something else, but I'm not sure what it was. I was busy snagging my bowie and pocketing my new gun. By the time I had my duster on, I was headed towards the door.

It wasn't until Amy actually punched me dead-on in my eyeball did I actually stop. Stomping in midair and throwing a fit, "What do you think you were doing?

As soon as my eye stopped watering (but still violently twitching), I placed a hand on my chin, "Hmm. I was thinking of going to see Lucifer and then serving his balls on a platter to him. Who the hell does he thinks he is?! No one says that about my friends and gets away with it!"

Punching my other eyeball before I can take another step, I quickly found myself squatting on the ground with both of my hands covering my eyes while I hissed in pain. "Darky... Please don't blame Lucifer. He didn't say that too me..."

"Ah... dammit that hurts...tssss...hah... Then... who did? Who said that to you?" I couldn't see her, what with my eyes watering like mad, but I could feel how uncomfortable she was at answering it. Exhaling loudly out of my nose, "Look, you don't have to answer right away. I'm sure you will in time. I just want you to know. You are my friend and I trust you to tell me someday."

That was really that. Though, a lack of thought on my end in terms of phrasing ended with Amy bobbing in the air erratically with her face rather red. Running what I just said a few times in my head, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that! Well- yes. I mean- I do need you to take a look at my butt, but not like that- I mean-."

{Lilim: Awww, Master likes small girls? I'm kinda crushed.} Cooed lilim's voice in my head.

The only thing I could think of was slowly crushing her windpipes.

{Lilim: Erotic asphyxiation. Kinky. I like it.}

Okay, they can see mental images and apparently, judging from how red Amy is getting, mental broadcasts transmits to me and my summons... Fuck...

After a bit, we got the awkwardness cleared up and I got a crash course about demon-slash-persona healing. Apparently, I forgot the difference. Persona healing was pretty much a cure-all, so long as the wound in question was received during the Dark Hour. If it came before or after the Dark Hour, dia was a no-go. On the flip side, demon healing could be used whenever... buuuut... it was less like healing magic and more like a combination between localized time acceleration and flesh warping.

And it is hella painful.

Fuck me sideways.

To explain...

"So, Amy, that's the story of what happened last night. Or at least what I can remember. And that's why I'm home so early. Would you mind patching me up?"

"My pleasure Darky. Please take off your pants and lie down on the bed."

The smile on her face while she said that, absolutely terrified me.

{She's gonna be your cellmate, Bubba.}

The two of us decided to ignore lilim. I dropped trow and belly flopped onto my bed. I could feel Amy land on my thigh, "Alright Darky. Get ready."

...

FUCK! HOW THE FUCK DID I FORGET HOW THIS FELT!?

For a moment I found myself back in my memory palace. I was on... which ever floor I put the all the memories I stored away. Oddly enough, I was standing in front of a television set, an old medkit and a DVD box of House made me deadpan. "Could the hint to this memory be any more obvious?" Shaking my head with a sigh at my own lack of imagination. Pushing in the first disc and pressing play, I was taken back to the night I fought the Magician a second time and found out I could rage. It was so surreal to watch it happen in an outsider's perspective.

...

...Pulling the trigger twice, a ghostly version of pixie appeared and showered me with sparkles. [I could feel a strange tingling around my ribs. Giving the area a tender prod, I immediately hissed in agony]... Clicking my teeth, I pull the trigger again and this time, [I was watching my fingernails reattach themselves and the subsequent feeling gave me violent willies. I tried to patch up my hand, but the damage was too severe for dia to heal.]

...

The scene fast-forwarded to the meeting in the dorm and Lucifer had just entered the room

...

...

[...Lucifer took my hand and carefully removed the strip of cloth that was being used as a bandage, "Yeah, I'm glad to see you healed up nicely. Well. Except this missing chunk right hee-ya." The moment he gave it a poke to emphasize his point, was the moment I withdrew my hand in pain. Shrugging nonchalantly, he pulls a flap of something from his pocket, "Here you go, fillet-o-Dark. And it's still warm, kiddo." Popping the wet flap of flesh up and down on his palm while wagging his eyebrows.

"No way, is that's what's been bleeding in your pocket?"

Looking a bit hurt with the edge of disgust I had in my voice, "It was an act of kindness. If everyone was out of spiritual energy to use healing spells, you could always have it grafted on." Pointing to Akihiro, "I'm sure you've figured by now, but if you haven't let me tell you. Wounds sustained during the Dark Hour can only be healed by personas. N-"

"Personae." I corrected.

"Really? Now? You pick now? ... I should have dipped my hand in lemon juice and then encrusted it with salt. Anyways. Your persona can only heal injures during that specific time, not a minute before or after. Odd, considering their passive abilities and some of their stats bleed into you on a regular basis. But I digress. Demons can heal anytime, anyplace."

"Awesome. What's the hitch?"

"Dia is far too weak to mend broken bones or bone erosion and there is no healing spell to restore bloodloss. The inherent magic within blood makes it near impossible to be replicated by anything sort of god-like or nature."

"Okay."

"Furthermore. It's going to be painful. Demonic healing, as a whole, is less like conjuration in D&D, where the cleric just creates new flesh over the wound... It's more like necromancy and time magic together. The demon animates the surrounding tissue and causes them to knit together. Achieving what could have been done in days or weeks in a matter of seconds or minutes."

"Okay. But why did you have to retrieve my scrap of flesh?"

Bobbing his head a bit, "It's like I said earlier. Dia is still a novice-grade spell. If you tell the pixie-"

"Amy."

"... Amy... To heal your hand now, it would create a massive mess of a scar." Nodding to my massive mess of a scar that is my left arm. "But with this scrap, that I've kept alive, by the way, she can simply animate both tissues and just have them knit together. No scars."

"Just horrific pain during."

"And after. Even after all the nerves and blood vessels are connected, it's still gonna suck for you for at least a few hours."

And that's how I found myself pinned to the floor by my team. Taking in a few deep breaths to steady my nerves, I nod my head as Lucifer places a rolled up tower in my mouth. Nodding to Amy who pats my head sadly, "I'll focus hard so I can finish it quickly, Darky." Deciding not to turn my head away, I watched as Amy cast the spell over both pieces of flesh. The ragged ends on both sprouted long tendrils that buried itself into my flesh. I watched in horror as thin red gossamer weaved together within. In time, the two halves weaved itself together as the tendrils knit and sewed together. The paid... was like being stitched together with flaming needles that used dental floss made of salt. And I could feel all of it.]

Pulling myself out of it, I couldn't believe how different things were from how I remembered it. Picking up the box and opening it, I could see two other discs. Wiping a tear from my eye, I popped in the second disc and it brought me back to yesterday where I got chomped on my neck. The amount of screaming despite biting down on a branch turned my stomach. Ejecting the disc, I stared at the two memories. Grabbing the opposite end of it awkwardly with my other hand I began to bend them before stopping. Shaking my head, "No. Not like this. I will get stronger." Carefully pocketing the DVDs, I headed out the door and back into reality.

Amy stopped when I went quiet thinking I might have slipped into shock. Bless her. Sniffing a bit, I had her continue. After another five minutes of raising my pain threshold, I was good to go. Fluffing my pillow to distract myself a bit, I understood that I couldn't put it off much longer. Hopping into the shower and changing into a new pair of jeans, I quietly waited in the lounge. I was wrong and I was going to apologize to Mitsuru and that was the end of the matter.

Author's note: Wow. It's been a long while hasn't it. Not gonna lie, I got my desktop back about a month ago. The old hard drive is dead and the clone failed, meaning I lost everything on it. I wanted to write, I really did, but I got distracted with Danganronpa and Watch Dogs and my friends got Borderlands 2 and I got writer's block and then I lost motivation to write. In the end, a friend quite literally Bright-slapped me back.

It's a bit longer, hopefully I'll be able to crank out another chapter that's actually following the story rather than a tangent. What with being threatened with another literal Bright-slap and all.

Thanks for reading!

Oh and I discovered a nearby gun range and has been having waaaay too much fun there.