A/N: Hey all, back with another chapter. I apologize for the month's wait, this chapter was actually a little harder to write than before due to the fact that I wanted to take a more realistic approach to it and incorporate a flashback.
So a couple of things about this chapter. Firstly, there's some swearing. I know in Persona there are several characters who swear occasionally but for this scene, I felt that the punks deserved it because it reinforced their image as people not to mess with. I'm not too sure whether or not the f-word and such is valid for a T-rated fic so if anybody knows where the fine line is, I'd appreciate it if you let me know.
Then there's the flashback, or what I like to think of as a Social Link that should have been in the game. It's my first time trying something out like this so I hope it doesn't disrupt the flow of what actually goes down in this chapter.
Anyway, that's enough of me rambling. Enjoy the chapter, and I'll see you next time at Gekkoukan High.
Yukari wasted no time.
The moment class was over, she had dragged both Minato and Junpei from their seats and all the way to the backstreets of Port Island Station; what the latter liked to call 'hell on Earth.' With thick layers of clouds acting as insulators across the melancholic sky and a warm breeze gently brushing his face, Minato thought Junpei's description was a tad exaggerated. But seeing as though Yukari seemed not to care, he kept his mouth shut, his hands in his pockets, and followed her down the maze of corridors that turned this way and that.
Just when he thought Yukari had lost her way and they were wandering around looking for an exit that did not exist, the corridors finally opened into a courtyard. Minato took a quick survey of the area, wondering why Yukari wanted to come here of all places and how anything or anybody here could be of any use. The liquor soaked walls stained with graffiti. The air that was heavy with smoke and stank of sewerage. The unwelcoming stares of the several homeless people scattered around the area. Coming to a place like this in the early evening was more like a suicide mission and the warning signs were so blatant that Minato did not understand how Yukari could just look past them. Surely she had to be uncomfortable as she had been on that train. He knew Junpei was.
Well I guess when you've been this close to meeting death, I suppose a couple of thugs would pose little threat.
"You know Yuka-tan, I still think this is a bad idea," Junpei said, trying to ignore the eyes of the homeless. "How are you afraid of ghosts but not this?"
"It's easy to get freaked out by something you can't see, don't you think?" she replied, keeping her eyes forward.
"Actually, I'm more worried about things I CAN see. Like bats, and knives!"
Yukari glared at Junpei. She appeared ready to retort but instead swallowed the words, let out a sigh, and resumed her inspection of the area, still with great ignorance of the danger they were in.
"Man, it's a good thing you're here," Junpei said, turning to Minato. He did not sound at all relieved. "If it were just me and her, it'd be like walking into a lion's den with a piece of steak strapped to my face."
"To be honest, I think I'd prefer that to this," Minato replied, eyeing the vicinity for anyone whose hunger for trouble was insatiable. "At least you can try and play nice with the lion."
Junpei nodded as they followed Yukari. "Yeah." Then he looked at Minato oddly. "Wait, what? Exactly how-"
"Hey, just what d'you think you're doin' here?" a gruff voice interrupted, causing Yukari to freeze where she was, Junpei to jump with fright, and Minato to clench his fists even tighter.
About a few meters in front of them, stood the person who spoke. Burly, tall, and looking rather disheveled with a host of facial piercings and tattoos on his arms, he approached them in what appeared to be a drunken manner. As he did so, Minato noticed the other punks in the area slowly form a ring around them and cursed in his mind at how they let themselves be surrounded so easily. Instead of panicking however, he took a deep breath, let it out, and assessed the situation with a calm face.
Nine targets.
Three of them.
And out of the three of them, he knew he was the only one who would be able to pose some resistance. It wasn't that he had no faith in Yukari or Junpei's abilities (they were both great assets during exploration in Tartarus) but, this was no fight against Shadows where if something went wrong, you could always bring out that gun and everything would be fine and dandy. It was a much more delicate matter, something that could not be simply solved with arrows and katanas. Given the nature of these people, Minato knew negotiating was a lost cause as well.
Well if you can't work things out with someone diplomatically, Akihiko's voice echoed in his mind, then the only thing left is to-
-use your fists Minato finished the thought, smiling as he did so. While jogging had its perks of staying fit and healthy, jogging with Akihiko had...additional perks. As soon as he had asked about how to deal with those pioneering his personal hate club (as well as other school related issues), the boxer had just looked him square in the eye, raised a fist and punched it into the palm of his other hand.
"You're not serious are you?" Minato asked as they arrived at the finishing line of their jogging path, his eyes darting from Akihiko's fist to his stern smirk.
"Oh I'm dead serious," Akihiko replied. "You could negotiate all you want or be a magician with your words but there are times when that just doesn't cut it." He paused, lowered his arms and looked away for a moment. "I've learned that the hard way. Of course, only do it in the ring, where punching people you don't like is legal."
Minato chuckled before tilting his head. "Hard way? What do you mean by that?"
"It's not something I like to go back to or talk about but, if you're taking my advice to deal with those guys, then I suppose you should know where I'm coming from," Akihiko said slowly. He inhaled, let out a breath, and continued, "You know how all those girls that keep hounding me think I'm some boxing prodigy? Well they're wrong. I took it up only because I wasn't strong enough to protect my sister, Miki. Me, her and another friend, Shinjiro, we lived in an orphanage for most of our childhood. It wasn't the greatest place to live – the building and neighborhood were quite old – but back then, it was like a paradise.
"Anyway, things were going well until one night. I was wandering around the building since I couldn't sleep and heard a window being broken. I rushed over to the kitchen, where the sound was, to find someone that I soon learned was a thief and arsonist. Since I'd caught him stealing, he offered me two choices: I either keep my mouth shut and let him go or he would burn the orphanage down. Naturally, I wasn't gonna let him just go quietly so I tried negotiating. Of course, he was having none of it and flicked his lighter on. We had a little brawl for the lighter and even though I managed to snatch it away from him, he knocked it out of my hand and sent it flying into the faulty stove."
"Thus the fire," Minato said.
Akihiko nodded. "The explosion knocked me out so I didn't know what happened until I woke up in hospital and Shinji told me. I took it pretty hard and ever since that day, I vowed I would get stronger to ensure I could protect the people who are important to me."
"That must have been a really rough time," Minato said, taking a step back. "Sorry to hear about your sister."
"No need to apologize for anything," Akihiko replied, waving his hand. "It's all in the past now and I've learned since then. But at least you know why my advice is the way it is. So, you still keen on learning?"
"I don't see why not. Besides, I can't think of another way to convince them that I'm not competing with them for Mitsuru other than by giving them a good smack around. As part of my self defense of course."
Akihiko grinned, widened the gap between them and raised his fists. "Glad you see it my way."
Minato let the memory subside and as he glanced at his friends – Yukari more annoyed than scared and Junpei the complete opposite – he could only think about what a shame it was that the boxer wasn't able to observe or participate in this unavoidable battle. He could have done with some feedback.
And assistance.
Pushing his fears of being outnumbered away, he decided it would be best to just remain on the counteroffensive. There was no point in devoting effort into an all out attack when they were flanked like this. But then, what would he do about Yukari and Junpei? Once the fight was underway, he knew he could not protect them and himself at the same time. So...how?
"We're just looking into something and don't need your permission to be here," Yukari replied, holding the punks' gaze and apparently oblivious to just how dangerous the situation was.
"Hah! Tryin' to pull the tough girl act eh?" the leader said, sneering. "Well I can tell you I've had my way with even the toughest of chicks. So, if you know what's best for you, you better fuckin' leave. You and your pathetic looking boyfriends."
Yukari continued to hold his gaze. "Look, we're not bothering anyone so why don't you just go back to what you were doing?"
"H-Hey! Are you nuts? Take a look around you," Junpei whispered, placing a hand on Yukari's shoulder.
"I'm not blind you know. Come on, you're a guy. Don't be intimidated by these scum!" Yukari replied, not looking at him or the eight other figures standing around them.
The leader walked closer and glared at her. "What was that?"
"She just called us 'scum'," a guy on Minato's left said.
"You oughta learn to shut that trap of yours you little slut," the leader said. He smirked. "But since girls like you never learn, I'll just hafta teach you."
The leader suddenly pushed Yukari into one of his cronies and punched Junpei hard in the stomach. Junpei let out a grunt and collapsed, clutching his side in pain.
The leader then swiftly turned and yanked Yukari by her hair, pulling her head towards his. She let out a sharp cry and tried to lash out at him but could not for her arms and legs were held back by three other thugs. As the leader began to close the gap between her head and his, Yukari shot forward and bit him on the nose. The leader recoiled in pain and in anger, backhanded her in the face.
It went by so fast that by the time Minato realized what was happening, it had already happened. With the five remaining thugs closing in around him, he could only watch in disgust as Yukari was brutally beat up. With her stockings torn and some of the buttons on her blouse undone, he knew what the punks were going to do to her. But she would have to hold out just a little longer. He needed to eliminate these five idiots first. He focused and felt the rush of adrenaline kick into motion, blocking out Yukari's screams and multiplying his drive to fight. Before it could take off though, an unfamiliar voice pierced through the noise.
"That's enough!"
All eyes turned to the source of the voice. From the gaps between the thugs surrounding him, Minato could see a tall figure walking towards them. As the figure neared, it was hard to judge whether he was here to help. The combination of his shifty eyes and his attire of a maroon pea coat, dark pants and a black beanie signaled that he was also a punk of some sort. But something about him seemed off. If he was also a punk, then why would he intervene?
"Let the girl go," he said, not raising his already menacing tone. "These guys didn't know what they were getting into. I'll make sure they leave. Alright?"
The leader turned to face him and let go of Yukari, who was still pinned down by the thugs. "You trying to stop me from having my fun or somethin'? I thought you were one of us Shinjiro."
Minato's eyes widened. Shinjiro? The one Akihiko calls Shinji? He had heard of Akihiko's anecdotes regarding how well Shinjiro handled himself in combat. If that's really him then maybe we have a chance.
"What gave you that idea? I don't remember swearing a blood oath," Shinjiro replied.
"Heh, acting like a cocky son of a bitch eh? Well then boys, let's show this asshole just what happens to traitors!" the leader snarled before hurling a fist at him.
The attack was telegraphed so blatantly that Shinjiro caught the incoming punch with ease before retaliating with his own. A loud smack reverberated off the walls of the courtyard, the blow stunning the leader. He retreated, trying to regain his focus, but Shinjiro gave him no reprieve and knocked him out with a forceful head butt.
With all the remaining thugs in shock at their fallen leader, Minato decided it was time. He whipped his hands out of his pockets and lunged at the thug nearest to him. Caught unaware, the poor fellow was out after a jab to the throat and by the time the others realized their comrade was down, Minato had struck down another.
Witnessing two more of their own fall, the thugs holding onto Yukari released her and joined with the three that escaped Minato's sudden attack. Shinjiro rushed over to join Minato, and the two sides eyed each other like a pair of cowboys in a quick draw duel.
A trickle of sweat slid down Minato's right cheek and dropped to the sticky floor as he watched for where the next attack would spawn. The breeze that occupied the courtyard earlier had dissipated, the remnants of the sun's rays were now obscured by clouds, and if not for Junpei's occasional groan and Yukari's heavy breathing, all was at a standstill.
That is, until one of the thugs could no longer hold back his rage, or patience, and charged forward with a shout, the others following him. It would have looked rather inspiring, and something out of an epic fantasy novel had they been on a great battlefield but alas, this was no battlefield but a rundown courtyard, and they were not respected warriors but useless drunkards who only cared about having a bottle in one hand, and a girl's bottom in the other.
As tempting as it was to run forward, Minato instead waited for them. Eyed their movements. Heard Shinjiro move a little to the left. Then when they were within range, he moved.
Ducking an incoming fist, he lashed out with his left hand and felt it connect into the stomach of the thug who missed. His opponent stiffened and crumpled to the ground but there was no time to judge whether he was truly out as Minato was already searching for the next attack.
From the right? Or the left?
Movement out of the corner of his eye made him swivel to the right and react with a punch. Which missed its target. A careless error and by the time Minato realized it was a ploy, it was already too late. He lost his center. His balance. But instead of being rewarded with a bleeding nose, he watched his attacker fall to the ground. Then another. And another. He was confused as to how the thugs were dropping like flies until he looked up to see Shinjiro standing in front of him and facing the last two punks.
"So, are we done here?" Shinjiro asked in that same low voice.
The two punks exchanged glances, unable to fathom that high school students of all people were able to fight like this. They backed away, one step at a time, before turning around and running off into a nearby alleyway.
Shinjiro scoffed as they left and looked at Minato quizzically, extending a hand as he did so. Minato took it, and trying to get over what Akihiko would say about that sloppy fighting, he walked over to the others.
"How...How did you guys take them all out?" Junpei asked as they approached, an arm around Yukari. Her hair was ruffled and she had a couple of bruises here and there but she looked fine as far as Minato could tell.
Minato glanced at Shinjiro who was avoiding his gaze. Then he turned to Junpei. "We did what needed to be done."
"Hmph. You're lucky to have trained under Aki," Shinjiro said, eyeing Minato. "But that doesn't mean you can just waltz into places like these. What the hell were you thinking? Did Aki tell you to come here?"
"Akihiko-senpai had nothing to do with this. We came here on our own to investigate that ghost story," Minato explained.
Shinjiro moved over to a nearby set of stairs and sat down. "Well, I can tell you that the story is just a rumor. Those girls who wound up in the hospital were here talkin' shit every night, about all the things they'd done to some girl named Fuuka. People are saying it's Fuuka's spirit that made them like that. I heard it's all over the net too."
"Fuuka's spirit?" Yukari repeated. "What do you mean by that?"
Her voice was a little weak from the beating she had taken but it still had that drive of determination. Minato resisted a smile. She's a tough girl alright.
"You guys don't know?" Shinjiro said, raising an eyebrow. "This Fuuka girl might be dead. She hasn't been home in over a week. Don't you guys go to school? How do you not know this?"
Minato exchanged glances with Junpei and Yukari, who were unable to answer, and turned Shinjiro's words over in his mind Hasn't been home in over a week? Might be dead? Her spirit? His eyes began to widen as the epiphany hit him. That was it. Ghosts hadn't kidnapped Fuuka and terrorized her bullies. Shadows had. He was about to enlighten everyone but hesitated, knowing that speaking of such matters in front of someone like Shinjiro might not be prudent. Shinjiro would probably think they were an even weirder bunch of fools.
With everyone remaining silent, Shinjiro stood up, his eyes focused on the ground. "I get it Aki. Still trying to make up for the past," he muttered. "It's you who can't let go."
"Did you say something senpai?" Minato asked.
"Nothing," Shinjiro said, still standing with his back to them. "That's all I know. Satisfied?"
"Yes, thank you," Yukari said with a bow, gesturing for Minato and Junpei to do the same.
"Whatever. Just don't come here again."
Without another word, he rounded a corner and blended into the darkness of the alleyways.
"Man, so much for the ghost story," Junpei said as they made their way back to the dorm. He turned to Yukari. "Hey Yuka-tan, Ekoda-sensei is the homeroom teacher for 2-E right?" When she nodded, he continued, "You think we should go ask him on Monday to see if he knows anything?"
"That sounds like a good idea," Yukari replied, looking at Minato. "We'll have to go a little later since I'm busy with the Archery Club right after last class. Is that okay?"
"Yeah that's fine. I've got Student Council then anyway," Minato replied.
"Oh that's right. I forgot you joined," Junpei remarked, scratching his chin. "Didn't I tell you not to get caught up in that mess?"
Minato left his question unanswered. He hadn't been expecting to find any leads from this field trip but as Shinjiro's words once again bounced around in his mind, he now had little reason to doubt their theory of Fuuka being lost in Tartarus. Glancing at his exhausted friends, he decided it would be best to tell everyone tomorrow. Or perhaps when Yukari and Junpei looked well enough so that their senpai would not ask any questions about the bruises and damaged uniforms. He smiled at the thought of having to explain themselves to their senpai and then frowned as another thought struck him.
How were they going to find Fuuka?