A/N: Well, I feel a lot better now, so no worries. This chapter was a wee bit delayed because I didn't get started on it as fast as I usually do and I needed some time to clear my head. On that note, it's finally chapter 10! I think I am getting into a groove of having chapters have this amount of length, but things can change of course. My writing time seems to somehow get smaller each chapter though aha. Anyhow, I felt that with the previous chapter covering the timeframe in between the Protags passed out that it was time to move along in the end of the chapter, or else the pacing might get stuck in the mud. There are a lot of apologies in this chapter from the characters... mea culpa anyone? I wasn't really aware of it, but then I was like it just sort of happened. I guess I'm an apologist, but it seems like the original story had a lot of things just go over people's heads and made me say I can't believe people didn't say they were sorry. Like, after Minato or Hamuko first summoned their Persona; why didn't the other members say they were sorry for not helping earlier?! Anyhow, I am still trying to improve each chapter and learn from the feedback from you guys. The dates in the Youtube videos still confuse me to no end, but it isn't a big issue. I will follow the FES dates because I am more familiar with them. What else, what else… I think that may be it. Here's to another chapter in this story and thanks for reading! Onward!

Inevitable Update Placeholder 1: Insert smiley face here!

Final Update: This should be up to snuff now. Thanks rEpose for being my beta reader!

Formatting Update: 7/6/14

Reader Reviews:

sillyfudgemonkeys: Thanks for the continuous reviews and for the awkward stuff check. I am trying to keep all the stuff that hasn't been answered in the back of my head and a listed in the document that I work from. But everything seems like a loose end right now aha! The dorm mother thing was a minor point and I just had an excuse to expand upon it so I did. Yeah, Akihiko sort of realized that his behavior was getting other people in trouble and is not good for the people in the dorm in general. Things are going easy for Mitsuru, but, oh, the conflict that awaits that relationship ;) You'll see Yukari get a bit in this chapter. Yeah, there were a lot of random shout-outs in the previous chapter for some reason. Ikutsuki needs some more screen time! I mean it's really easy to see things in black and white and obviously Ikutsuki is evil, but here's to hoping that I can flesh him out a bit. Not that he would ever be good, but things aren't always so good and evil. And with that, I have no idea what I will do with him... The voice, the Hanged Man card, etc. etc. all linked of course. I think that's all!

ChilledKitsune: Nice to see a review from you, and, yeah, Minato is still really weak. I will be deliberately patient with him getting stronger because the story would be more difficult to craft if he was already uber powerful. That's why Ikutsuki is there; to be irritating.

Yami no Majou077: Thanks for the encouragement, Yami! I tried my best to try and fill the gaps that were in the original story and hopefully it added some value to your reading of it.

Chapter 10: Contradictions

April 11th, Saturday (Patient Ward, Morning)

Minato P.O.V.

The morning sun caused Minato to squint his eyes in discomfort, and he tried to turn sideways to avoid the glare, but found it impossible. Between the sunlight and the smell of the hospital ward, it was game over for him in terms of trying to fall back asleep.

"Well, I guess I'll wake up," he muttered, while sitting up in his bed using his good arm for support. Some of the other patients in the ward had already woken up, causing a ruckus for the nurses and doctors on duty.

"Good morning, Minato-kun," a nurse said, bringing over a tray with hospital food. Minato could see that the hospital had a good assortment of food to chow down on. He saw scrambled eggs, bacon, waffles with maple syrup, and orange juice.

"Wow, thank you. Don't mind if I do," Minato replied, but caught himself before he took the first bite. "Uh, am I allowed to eat all of this?"

"Of course, dear." The nurse gave him a quaint smile while chuckling a bit to herself. "Mitsuru was the one who accompanied you after all, and the hospital is under the Kirijo name."

Minato couldn't help but laugh a little, as he recalled how the Kirijo family seemed to own everything on the island.

"I also wanted to tell you that the doctor will be with you in around half an hour. You recovered faster than the initial prognosis indicated."

"Thank you for letting me know," Minato said. This was good news, since he was already tired of being stuck in the hospital all day. It wasn't like he was unconscious like Hamuko and the time would just fly by. The nurse walked away holding his chart information.

Minato used his chopsticks with his left hand the best he could, but it was a frustrating experience. What he wouldn't pay for being ambidextrous right now after he failed to pick up the bacon for the fifth time in a row. After a while, he was finally starting to get a hang of it and did not see the doctor approach.

"Ahem, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but we need to fit you for your sling now." The doctor seemed rather impatient today, tapping his foot as he said this.

"Sure, the faster I get out of here the better," Minato responded. He put his tray to the side and a couple of hours later was signing some papers in preparation for being discharged from the hospital. The sling on his right shoulder was quite an annoyance, along with the stitches covered by a large bandage under his clothes. Minato signed his name in handwriting that could easily be mistaken for someone in elementary school.

With that, Minato was free to leave and go back to the dorm. It was too bad that school had started already, since it would be a hassle to catch up with things. At this point, Minato thought that he should check up on Hamuko. It would still be a while before she woke up, but Minato didn't see the harm in going to see how she was.

The receptionist at the front desk was kind enough to tell him what room she was in and Minato leisurely strolled the hospital hallways, the tapping of his heel deafened by all the people moving around him.

"Well, this is it," Minato said, looking at the room number 235E labeled in neat, black letters. Just for the sake of privacy, he gave a gentle knock twice, and when there was no response pulled the door open. Hamuko was in bed, not that Minato had expected anything else. Her room lacked any type of decoration and everything was in a tone of white with the only exception being a bouquet of flowers placed on a side table. Yukari was probably the one that had brought the flowers Minato thought. Hamuko looked frail and, Minato wondered if this was what he had looked like when he had passed out after summoning his Persona the first time. Regardless, Hamuko was a pitiful sight for the eyes, looking rather emaciated, and Minato felt rather empathetic.

Later on Minato still wouldn't be able to recall what triggered it, but what he said to Hamuko at the hospital was probably the most honest stuff he had said to anyone in a long time.

Minato checked the hallway to see if anyone was coming and closed the door behind him. He pulled up a chair and sat with his hands folded together, ruminating over where to start.

"Well, it's sort of good that you can't hear me," Minato began to say. "I guess from the beginning I didn't really know who you were or why you arrived to this island, but with the way things have gone I think it's becoming obvious that you are meant to take my place." He paused deliberately wondering if Hamuko could hear him somehow, but persisted with his pseudo soliloquy. His feelings of guilt bubbled to the surface, as he could not bear the fact that this girl would die for him. What had she done to deserve this fate? Was it his fault that he had returned and not done his duty? He wanted to wash his hands of the matter, but it was not so simple that he could wish Hamuko would be safe and the world would be saved from impending doom.

"Look at you, so weak and fragile. How can someone like you be the one to take my place as the martyr of humanity's sin?" Minato spoke sarcastically, yet his voice was breaking at the same time. "Your feelings of compassion and empathy, what good will they do when you die? Those people who you called your dearest friends will all forget your existence. Would you still be willing to do it then? Isn't that worse than dying?"

Minato paused unable to continue. What the heck was he thinking, saying all of this now?

"I could spew some chivalrous garbage about protecting you no matter what happens, but then I would just be lying," Minato mockingly said. He stood up and without looking back quietly said, "I'm not sure why I'm here, but I know I will do things that you won't like. You'll understand later, and even if you don't, maybe you'll use some of that boundless compassion and empathy to forgive me."

Minato walked out, leaving the door ajar.

(Gekkoukan High Entrance, After School)

Minato P.O.V.

Against his better judgment, Minato had decided that he would stop by school to find out the work that he needed to make up. From his previous experience, he knew that Ms. Toriumi did not like students who were absent for long stretches of time. Personally, Minato thought it would be best to catch up with his schoolwork, so that he could rub it in Hamuko's face when she woke up.

Minato arrived at the school gates with his right arm in the sling and some curious stares in his direction, which he ignored. It really was a pain not having the use of his dominant hand and it didn't help how clumsy he was. By the time he arrived class was almost over, so Minato decided to loiter in the hallway outside of his normal classroom. Soon after, the bell rung and there was a mass exodus of students streaming out. Minato spotted Yukari and Junpei leaving together and they walked towards him.

"Oi, its Minato!" Junpei said, exuberantly. "Yuka-tan made it sound like you and Hamuko would be out for days. I guess she was only exaggerating as usual, huh?"

"As if, Junpei. Still it's really good to see that you're on your feet again, Minato," Yukari said, warmly. "I didn't think you would recover so quickly."

"Hey, what happened to your arm, dude?" Junpei had noticed the sling Minato was wearing over his uniform.

Yukari's expression seemed to stiffen at Junpei's inquiry and Minato knew she was nervous about what response he would give to Junpei.

"I just had a freak accident, you know? I slipped and fell where there was some broken glass and lost a lot of blood. Other than that I'm good."

"Whoa, if that happened to me I would've skipped a lot more days of class. Ah well, you snooze, you lose, because here comes Toriumi-san. I'll see you two tomorrow!" Junpei was off with his carefree attitude rubbing off a bit on Minato. Ms. Toriumi had walked out of the classroom, after seeing the three students bantering among themselves.

"Minato, I did not expect to see you today. I heard that you injured yourself, I hope you are feeling better."

"Yes, thank you for asking, Ms. Toriumi," Minato said, suavely. In his head, he had replaced Ms. Toriumi with Maya, but he did not want to cause her any undue stress so early in the year.

"And I thought that manners were lost in your generation," Ms. Toriumi seemed rather flattered and let out a soft giggle. Yukari had a hard time deciding whether she should leave immediately or just spectate the conversation.

"Well, I suppose you are here to discuss the assignments that you missed today," Ms. Toriumi said, regaining her usual demeanor.

"Yes, I hope I didn't miss too much material," Minato replied. Yukari looked like she was going to blanch.

Afterwards, Yukari and Minato walked outside of the school and Yukari said that she was going to the hospital to check up on Hamuko, even though Minato had told her that she was still out cold earlier in the day. It was then that Minato saw a swarm of female students all fawning over the same student. Akihiko seemed unperturbed by the chaos that was threatening to envelop him and called Minato over when he saw him.

"Mitsuru said that you may get out of the hospital today, but what are you doing at school?" Akihiko seemed glad to see him up and about.

"I just wanted to make sure not to fall behind my studies, Akihiko-senpai," Minato shouted so that Akihiko could hear him above the din of the girls surrounding them.

"Well, why don't we go grab a bowl of ramen on the way home, my treat," was his reply.

"Sure, senpai, but what about all these girls?"

"Ooooo, Akihiko-senpai, take us too!" chimed one of the girls in Akihiko's fanclub.

"Who? I don't even know any of their names. Let's go before the rush gets there."

With that, Akihiko and Minato arrived at Hagakure where Akihiko ordered them beef bowls.

"So, how's your shoulder, Minato?" Akihiko said, in between mouthfuls of the delicious ramen.

"I've felt better, but I'll manage. I'll be in a sling for a while though, according to the doctor." Minato was trying his best to use his chopsticks, but resigned himself to using a spoon to collect the noodles.

"That's good news then. I was really worried about how bad your injury was. I know I've already said this, but I'm sorry." Minato thought Akihiko looked a bit comical, since he had said this between mouthfuls and started choking afterwards.

"You don't need to keep apologizing, you know," Minato replied.

After a sip of water, Akihiko asked Minato a peculiar question that he did not really want to hear.

"Hey, I've been wondering, but how did you know that the huge Shadow was where it was? You were tailing me that night, right? So, that means you were behind me the whole time," Akihiko whispered, looking around to make sure no one was listening in.

Minato had an inkling to yell, "Check please!" and leave the restaurant. However, he wondered what kind of answer he could cook up this time.

"Well, I've thought about it too, senpai, but I'm not really sure. I mean, it's a bit crazy to think I could sense Shadows right?" Minato tried his best to laugh his statement off, but Akihiko began to look more serious and had that gleam in his eye.

"If you could sense Shadows without even seeing them that would be a great asset in battle. But then again, you didn't even have your Persona out at the time right? So, it must have been a fluke."

Minato quickly agreed with Akihiko, but inside he wondered why he had been able to sense the Magician Shadow so easily. It wasn't like he was Fuuka or even Mitsuru, and as Akihiko said, he had not activated his Persona by then. And of course, Minato never had any knack for sensing Shadows with any of the Personas he previously had. It was really just running around Tartarus and fighting Shadows whether they lurked around the corner, dropped from the ceiling, or any other number of ways.

April 15th, Wednesday (Gekkoukan High, After School)

Mitsuru P.O.V.

Mitsuru had waited patiently for the week to pass by and called her father's residence after school had ended. She called him on the way home because she didn't want anyone at the dorm wondering who she was talking to.

"Mitsuru, what did you want to talk about? Keep it brief; I don't have much time to talk," Takeharu Kirijo told his daughter.

Mitsuru knew what she wanted to say, but always found it difficult to talk with her father, especially when they weren't face to face. His strict nature and the fact that he was always busy made it hard for her to really say what was on her mind. Still, she knew that her father loved her and decided that she needed to confront the issue on her mind.

"Father, I wanted to discuss with you about a specific incident in the Kirijo family's past," she said, in a steady tone. Her statement induced silence on the other end of the phone, but she pushed through.

"I know that there was an experiment conducted by the scientists at the time involving young children and their ability to use artificial Persona," Mitsuru added.

"I already realize that you know this, Mitsuru. You had checked classified files around a week ago and I chose not to ask you about it," her father said. "Your grandfather's actions have no bearing on you, yet you are left to clean up his mess. I just wish my daughter had not been dragged into this."

Her father's voice teemed with sadness.

"I still have to know what happened, father. There is someone who shares the same name as one of the children in the experiment, but his file said that he died." Mitsuru vain curiosity made it hard for her to stop talking; she just had to know who Minato Arisato actually was.

"Mitsuru, there were no mistakes in the log file you looked at. If it said that he died, then that's what happened," Takeharu said, bluntly.

"But, are you saying that it's only a coincidence that he looks so similar to the boy in the old photograph?"

"Not all things can easily be understood, Mitsuru. I wouldn't have believed in the Dark Hour and Shadows if I hadn't watched the disaster myself. Regardless, I want you to promise me that you will not continue to dig through the old files. You have enough to worry about as it is."

"Yes, I understand. I apologize that I brought this up to you."

"Don't be; I am always glad to talk to you." Her father hung up and Mitsuru was left to ponder how much she didn't know about the Dark Hour and the people who had their lives changed by it.

April 17th, Friday (Tatsumi Memorial Hospital, After School)

Minato P.O.V.

Minato knew that this was the day Hamuko was to wake up, but had to pretend that he had no idea what was going to happen. It was almost the end of the school week and Minato had enough of people offering to help him carry his stuff around. It wasn't like he was permanently like this, but the attention he was getting started to annoy him.

Minato had noticed Yukari was stopping by every day to the hospital after school and wondered how in the world he would get some time alone with Hamuko. He wanted the first word with Hamuko just to see if she subconsciously picked up on anything he said and because Minato liked being first in everything. So, it was with this goal in mind that Minato fell violently ill with about an hour left in class. Ms. Toriumi, not wanting to question one of her favorite students in the class allowed him to go to the nurse's office, which Minato took as an opportunity to leave school and head to the hospital before Yukari.

Once he arrived to Hamuko's room he could see that she was still not awake. He waited patiently watching the clock tick by, wondering what Yukari would say to him if she found out about his ruse. With only about 15 minutes left until the end of school, Hamuko started to show signs of consciousness.

(Hospital Room)

Hamuko P.O.V.

A blank ceiling began to swim across Hamuko's eyes. It was a bland color that seemed rather murky, but became clearer as her eyes began to focus, along with some awareness of her surroundings. She felt that someone was watching her movements and began trying to sit up from the bed she was in, but a gentle pair of hands reached over and put her back to bed.

"It's about time you woke up, Hamuko," Minato said, with a look on his face that Hamuko wouldn't have believed possible, until now.

"Where am I?" she asked. "What are you doing here, anyways?" Hamuko tried to make sure that she wasn't having another random dream and that she really had woken up.

"You're in a hospital, obviously, Hamuko. You've been unconscious for quite a while and I'm here because I knew you would wake up today, around this time," Minato said, in a rather nonchalant manner while not meeting her eyes.

Minato's reply and reaction to her question seemed a bit off, but Hamuko just let it pass by thinking that he was just here by coincidence.

"Nice joke, I guess. As if you could've known that I would wake up today. But what's with the look on your face? You make it seem like someone died while I was taking a nap." Hamuko was trying to gauge how much time had passed since she had passed out. Looking over at a calendar hung up on the wall, shocked to see that it was Friday, the 17th.

"I don't know, maybe I actually felt a little sorry for you," Minato replied, while adjusting the sling on his injured shoulder.

"When did you get out of the hospital? I'm guessing that sling is for where you got injured. Does it still hurt?" Hamuko didn't like the fact that it seemed like Minato had been back for a while, but she was just waking up now. It made her feel irritated that he had gotten a physical injury and was fine, but she was gone for a week after summoning a Persona.

"I got out on the eleventh, so you're six days late," he chided. "And well, I dunno, why shouldn't it still hurt Hamuko?" Hamuko could tell that he was joking from the sarcastic tone he was taking. For some reason, that tone sounded rather familiar and Hamuko racked her brain wondering why that was the case.

"Anyhow, you're going to have a lot of work to make up for school. Toriumi is crying out for your blood!" he added, cracking a sinister smile. Minato seemed happy about the doom Hamuko faced.

"Noooo! It's too soon for that, Minato!" Hamuko covered her ears, hoping the prospect of an avalanche of homework to make up would go away.

"In all seriousness, I'm glad to see you awake. Yukari will be stopping by soon. I just wanted to greet you first," Minato said, while standing up from his chair.

"Why?" Hamuko replied, hoping he would give an honest answer. She tried to stare him into submission, but he avoided the questions and her tactics.

"Now, Yukari will be here and I don't want to stick around for her sob story." Minato stood up looking rather eager to leave and changing the subject.

"That isn't fair! Why do I have to stay here and listen to a sob story?!" Hamuko tried to get on her feet, but felt a bit dizzy.

"That's why, silly," Minato responded, as he helped her lay back down. "You need to take it easier, Hamuko."

"I'll get you for this, Minato!" Hamuko said, half-heartedly.

"I'm sure you will, but until then make sure to get better." He gave her a small wave and walked out of the room.

Hamuko P.O.V.

Unfortunately, Minato had been right, and Yukari soon entered her room a couple of minutes after.

"Hamuko!" Yukari said, letting her school belongings get strewn on the floor, while going in for the uncomfortable and awkward hug.

"Yeah, good to see you too, Yukari. If you don't mind…" Hamuko replied, trying not to get choked by the stranglehold Yukari had across her neck.

"I'm sorry, I just didn't expect to see you awake. I've come here every day after school and there was never any change." Yukari stepped a few feet back and put her hands behind her back, looking like a child who had gotten caught putting their hand in a cookie jar.

"You didn't have to do that you know, but I do appreciate the fact that you did," Hamuko said, giving her a warm smile. "Who knows? Maybe all the attention you were giving me made me wake up faster!"

"Haha, maybe," Yukari said, weakly. "Um, I wanted to talk to you if you don't mind. I know that sounds a bit selfish, after what you've been through."

Oh no, here it comes Hamuko thought. There wasn't really a nice way of avoiding this so Hamuko resigned herself that she would have to listen.

"Sure, Yukari," Hamuko said, in the most cheerful voice she could muster up. "What's up?"

"I wanted to start off by saying that I'm sorry, Hamuko." Yukari looked pretty self-loathing and continued on. "I was so useless back there, yet you were the one to save us both. Your power was so amazing; I was speechless."

"I couldn't really control my power, so I'm not sure I was much better honestly, but thanks, I appreciate it. What were those things anyways? You said they were Shadows, right?"

"I'm surprised you remembered that," Yukari nodded in affirmation. "Yes, those things are called Shadows and it's our job to fight them. The power you used… We called it Persona."

Persona was the word Hamuko had used just before pulling the trigger. She had no idea what had triggered her to say the term, but maybe it was just pure instinct. And what did Yukari mean by it was our job to fight them? Well, at least Hamuko's intuition had been correct, that the people in the dormitory had a secret that they had purposely avoided letting her in on.

"I'm sorry that we didn't tell you earlier, but we'll explain everything once you're out of the hospital. That sounds fair right?" Yukari had that smile plastered on her face again and Hamuko had a hard time not telling her that it looked a bit phony. Regardless, she nodded her head and hoped that was the end of Yukari's story, but had a feeling that the worst had not passed. Yukari stood up and walked a couple of paces away before turning her back towards Hamuko.

She took a deep breath and said, "I, uh…"

"What is it Yukari?"

"I wanted to tell you that… I'm sorta like you," she said.

Hamuko felt a bit let down, as she had expected a bit more of a punch line.

"What do you mean, Yukari?" Hamuko felt she was just repeating the same question over and over.

"My dad died in an accident when I was little, and my mom and I aren't exactly on good terms. You're all alone too right?" Yukari gave Hamuko a furtive look, almost pleading to her that they were alike.

Except, they weren't all that alike in Hamuko's opinion.

"Well, I guess I am alone, but I never knew my real parents," Hamuko replied in a dull tone. "The only couple that truly cared for me adopted me, and both of them died in an incident on this island."

Hamuko did not want to sound unduly harsh, but maybe she didn't like how Yukari was lumping them together as the same. At least Yukari could talk to her mother if she wanted and knew who her father was. Hamuko had never known her real parents, and the people who had saved her from the orphanage had perished. Honestly, she had a hard time feeling that sorry for Yukari. Perhaps Hamuko's facial expression betrayed her, but Yukari seemed hesitant to continue and Hamuko did not encourage her. A silence pervaded the room, which had been so warm and inviting a couple of minutes ago. Finally, Hamuko decided there was no point in dragging out this conversation.

"Look, I'm not angry or anything. It's just a sensitive issue for me, as I'm sure is the same in your case. I'm sorry if I sounded a bit ticked off." Hamuko tried to sound apologetic and forgiving at the same time.

Yukari heaved a sigh and said, "I probably shouldn't have brought this up just after you woke up. I guess we'll talk another time then, Hamuko. Bye." Yukari left without a second glance in Hamuko's direction.

This was all Minato's fault, no doubt about it. But, then again how was Hamuko supposed to react to Yukari wanting to spill her heart out all of a sudden? Hamuko had been honest in thinking that her situation was more morbid than Yukari's ever could be. Maybe that was selfish, maybe it wasn't, but at the end of the day, Hamuko was going to stick with the stuff she believed in.