Ten chapters, finally ten chapters in. I can't believe I went this far with a SMT story. Thanks to all who had follow me so far.

Something that I'm going to introduce here is an original concept of mine, mostly to justify future events, plot points and backstory for the three years that happen between nocturne and persona 3.

BTW, I have a special announcement: Rejice Fatum has a space battles forum, where I will post all previous chapters, specials and new chapters alongside with fanfiction. I hope that forum will give us a better communication between us, I'm really forward to hear your opinions and discuss about SMT.

Chapter 10: Duel

He was by far the eldest in his class thanks that he get back one year. Altrough by the eyes of the law he was an adult, but even after being an adult in more than one way, there was something that hasn't change and it was how much he disliked being treat like a child. Oftenly, the teaching staff try to act like this but they suddenly lost all confidence when he talks back. As a matter of fact, a teacher quit his job because of him.

Regardless of what his file said, he wasn't a violent person. Hold it, just because he wasn't violent doesn't mean that he wouldn't break all the bones of a man and burn him to the crisp. If you acted like hot shit, he will beat the shit out of you. Whenever one of those idiots talked down to him and tried to do something stupid, well, you couldn't blame him for what he did.

If there was something that he knew before his transformation was that humans are incompressible stupid. The amount of accidents and tragedies that they whole stupidity caused could fill hundreds of books. That scientist, who can't remember his name, was right when he said that human stupidity was infinite.

He was the Demi-fiend, the being between humans and demons. There was no better description. He had never related to any of the demon's causes but he couldn't bring himself to protect humanity and guide them.

In other words, he was neutral.

His neutrality didn't born because he wanted the world to be back as the way it was, no, if he had to be honest he did it to fuck those people. They are many things that he hates, one of them were those who forced their ideals into him. It gets worse if those ideals were bullshit to begin with.

During his time at the vortex world, the remaining humans tried to "show him" their reasons for the new world. Every single of them were bullshit, they looked so good whenever they did their cheap philosophical speeches but they all were so easy to break apart by the most little scrutiny.

They all acted to strong and rightful, that they and ONLY THEY had the true answer to a perfect word. Guess what? They were so fucking useless that none of them wouldn't be able to reach Kagutsuchi without his help.

His whole assistance and they asking them for their help was the one reason why their goals ultimately fell apart.

Since then, he will do everything in his hand to never being the pawn of someone or something else.

And then the dark hour and all the bullshit happen.

The words of the old man still annoyed him. If there was someone who was able to make him feel small was him. In one second, he was on his knees and puking blood. Being treated like a low creature, feel weak and being at the mercy of someone else was one of the most infuriating thoughts he could ever had.

You know what is worse?

When that person was in the right and he couldn't deny it.

He hated it, he fucking hated it. But he was right. Last night, was the most reckless and stupidest thing to do. Aigis could have being broken beyond repair if it wasn't because of the old man. In a way, his plan succeeded. Her magatama hatch and her powers broke free but the result was just luck. He fucked up badly and he needs to find those remaining demons and who the hell made that domain.

But he had a problem, Aigis will follow him everywhere and he couldn't afford to make more mistakes with her. Should he threaten Kirijo and the others again? No, that will raise suspicions of the high ups and his deal will be on trouble.

"Fuck, I'm in a fucking pinch."

"Kashida! Are you listening?!" His teacher yelled at him, he honestly didn't know his name. Not that he cares anyways. "Can you even tell us what this kanji means?"

"Luxurious"

"You're lucky that you are smart, Kashida." The teacher complained and returned to his chalkboard. Both Sanada and Kirijo were staring at him all day long, definitely didn't like that he took Aigis away from them for one night.

*RRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGG*

The lunchtime bell ringed, the teacher sighed heavily. Why was he the one who wanted to get out?

"Kashida." Great, Kirijo wanted something. "A word."

"You already did."

"I'm not in the mood for jokes, Kashida. We need to talk, in private."

"For what?"

"It's private."

"Hmm, I rather stay here. Thank you."

"You can't talk to Kirijo-san like that!" Suddenly all of his classmates were into him. "When the president ask you for something, you accept."

"She is right! Kirijo-san is the best president we ever had!"

"And you are just a delinquent!"

What the hell was he hearing now? Was this some kind of trash anime or something? He couldn't believe that they were people who talk like this….

"Not only that, you drag Lambos-san with you!"

"What?"

"You told us that you take her to party and get her drunk." Kirijo commented with her arms crossed. "Are you going to make me wait or are you coming with me?"

"Neither." All the students stare at him angrily. He looked at the female robot who was seeing all this in complete silence. He didn't know what he should feel about that.

"Did everyone ever tell you that you're an asshole?" Sanada said. "I'm doing my best to be friendly but I'm starting to get tired of you and your bullshit"

"Language, Akihiko."

"What's so important that you're making a scene?"

"We both know what is about."

"Please, enlighten me." Seeing Kirijo's grown was actually pleasant, he needed a satisfaction after all what happen.

"With pleasure." Out of nowhere, Sanada punch him in the face in front of everybody. He heard a collective gasp when it happen. Naoki looked at Sanada's face, punching him was a bad idea, his body was more durable than a car even at this state. Altrough he had to admit, Sanada was holding up the massive pain on his hand, maybe he was stronger than he thought he would be. Or at the very least, he was very good at acting tough.

"Akihiko!" Obviously as uptight she is, Kirijo Mitsuru will overreact as she witness a murder.

"Sanada-san, please stop" Aigis reacted immediately. "There's no need to recur to violence."

"She is right. That was uncalled for, Akihiko."

"Sorry, but he kinda deserve it." Sanada was massaging his hand, trying his best to hold on the pain.

"Sanada-san, are you ok?"

"Do you need us to take you to the infirmary?" All of the sudden, all the girls were surrounding the white haired boy. That gave the demi-fiend the opportunity to escape this shit. It was a fraction of a second, too fast for the human eye to detect.

Before they realized, he was already out of the classroom.

Well, where to go now?

This was one of the biggest problems he had with school, outside classes he had nothing to do. A club was out of options, his skills are so outstanding that it will make every club activity incredible boring.

He wasn't hungry, so cafeteria was out.

"I should start to bring something to read." Perhaps a long book could work for him. Maybe Stephen King or Lovecraft.

"E-E-Excuse me…"

Next time he will bring his mp3 player as well, the rooftop is a cliché but is nice to see the sky in such high place.

"Kashida-sempai?"

The problem with be Aigis, she will be on his toes more intensely than ever. And with what happen last night, she will be more annoying than ever.

"A-are you listening?"

"Hmm?" Naoki turned his head back and saw a girl who was standing behind him. She looked frighten for some reason. "Who are you?"

"I-I'm Yamagishi Fuuka, we-We met the other day!"

"Don't remember."

"Y-You grab the other day!"

"Don't say those things aloud!"

"But is true!"

He honestly wanted to punch her. He hated the clumsy and timid type.

"What you want from me?"

"E-mmm, you see…." Fuck, she was so generic timid that it wanted to puke. "Are you lunching by your own?"

"No."

"O-Oh, I see…"

"Kashida-san!" Naoki's eyes were directed at the blonde robot girl who seemed upset. "Why you run away from Kirijo-san?" Aigis realized that there was someone else talking to him. "Forgive me, but I need to talk with him."

"D-Don't worry, I was-"

"We were going to lunch together." Yagamishi opened her eyes in surprise for what he said. "Say to-"

"You're lying."

"What?"

"You lie to me just now." She was staring at him with her blue eyes. "I don't have to analyze you. It far too obvious."

"Well, look at you being so cocky."

"I'm just staying the truth, Kashida-san." He had to give her credit, she was starting to have some will of her own. "Kirijo-san wants to talk with you."

"Tell her, I'm busy."

"Doing what?"

"None of your business" She wasn't Kirijo but he was starting to enjoy her anger.

"Y-You can't to her, like that!" Both demon and robot turned their eyes to the human girl. "I-I mean, if-if the president wants to talk with you then it m-must be something important. A-A-All I'm saying is that you should listen to her before going away!"

"Excuse me, who you might be?"

"Forgive me! My name is Yagamishi Fuuka, I'm from 2-E. A pleasure to meet you, Sempai!"

"You're a second year student. How do you know Kashida Naoki?"

"H-He help me and Natsuki-chan with some…."

"You did?"

"I did?"

"Y-Yes! It was at Tatsumi Plaza! Natsuki-chan was going with some boys to a dangerous place. B-but you stop them from doing!" Naoki tried to remember what she was talking about.

"Wait…were you with those idiots I beat up the other day?"

"Y-You fight civilians?"

"It was self-defense." Aigis started at him. "I mean it. He attack me first."

"What those people wanted to take your friend?"

"To a party outside town." Naoki was surprised for what she just said to them. It was a hell of a coincidence, no pun intended.

But the robot at his side didn't seem to take it well. She wasn't very subtle of her upsetting. Was she scared?

Interesting.

"I-"

"You were right to be worried. Those parties aren't for girls to go alone." Thankfully, he was here to cover her up. "Me and Aigis went to one last night. There were all kind of illegals things. Your friend will most likely end up drugged and raped by twenty guys."

"H-How could you say something like that?!"

"It's the truth. Those are dangerous places were scum of all kind come together."

"W-Wait, i-if that's-"

"The police already knowns about that stuff, Yagamishi. They only look the other way."

"Why?"

"What you think?" The girl swallowed her words in frustration. "Anyways, whatever you heard don't go to those parties and don't let your friend go either."

"W-What about you?"

"You see what I did to those guys personally. I can take care of myself." He walk away without saying goodbye.

Who wouldn't thought that beating those idiots was what saved their lives? That Yagamishi girl….was she following him? This was the second time she look for him, didn't she get when she treat her?

Fuck, he hopes that she didn't have a crush on him. That will be too annoying.

"Didn't you get what I said to you, Aigis?"

"My task is to watch you 24/7, Kashida Naoki. And I told you that Kirijo-san wants to talk with you."

"You seriously need to get maintenance, you sound like a broken recorder."

"What you're going to do?"

"It's not of your-"

"It is!" Naoki turned his head back to her, surprised by her sudden scream. "What happen….I can't stop thinking about it. Ever since yesterday, I'm being…..feeling. I know what feeling are, I have the knowledge of nerve systems and mental states….why is this shivering I always have when I think about that place….What happen to me that night?"

"Fear."

"…"

"For the first time of your existence, you feel fear. You, who function only on logic, the fact of experience something as powerful as fear is overwhelming." Naoki stared at her blue eyes, she seem like a scared little girl. "You think that a Sabbath is nightmarish? That's just a taste of my live….I know and see things that will make you lost your mind. I fought being outside your understanding. I walk in places you never thought. I speak tongues that no one can't heard. So, let met act like broken recorder and repeat to you: forget about this. Not only for your sake but for your companions as well."

"How-How do live like this?"

"I crawl."

"What?"

"It's all I do. Well, is not like I can do more than that…." Shit, he was saying too much. "Tell, Ki-¡!" Then he felt something, something outside school. Calling for him. "Tell Kirijo that I wouldn't be able to go to Tartarus tonight." Naoki sprint toward the entrance, at the entrance was a giant man, he had old Japanese clothes and his head was covered by a white hood

"Hitoshura…." That was the name that Japanese warriors tend to call them. "I challenge you." He show him a green cylindrical tube that was on his right hand.

"Where and when?"

"An hour from now, there's a Shrine in this town. The Naganaki Shrine. You may choose our judge as a courtesy." Then the man disappeared.

Shit, he didn't expected that they will know about his location so quickly. He expected a month or so, maybe his participation on the Sabbath spread faster than he thought.

Now, who will he ask to-?

"Who was that being?" Once again, the robot girl follow him without caring about his warnings. "He…He wasn't a human, I can tell."

"You're right."

"Are you going to fight him?"

"Is not that I have any other choice."

"You could refuse."

"As a matter of fact, I can't."

"What does that means?"

"It's too long and complicated…Say, you need to be at my side all the time?"

"It's my task."

"Then, you wouldn't mind to be a judge?"

"We shouldn't be outside school."

"We shouldn't."

"Then we must return to the School."

"We already far from it."

"The staff could reprehend us."

"I have a deal with Kirijo, I can skip classes. Besides, I already tell your owners that this kind of situations will happen, so I'm not doing nothing out of norm."

"And the Sabbath was a well?"

"Think of it as plague control."

"But those people…"

"We're doom from the start, even if one managed to survive it will have either turn into a demon or be so traumatized that they wouldn't be able to talk."

"You should have infor-"

"They wouldn't be able to do nothing. Even if they shot down that place, they will most likely find another place. This things are organized, they are not improvised. You heard what Yagamishi said, it was planned before I learn about it. Shit, the one who made that Sabbath could be preparing a new one."

"And why aren't you investigating?"

"Because is not my problem. And neither is yours." He chuckled. "Or are you going to hunt down demons like an exorcist? Focus on your so call task, let the demons to me."

"Then why you take to that….place yesterday?"

"You know why." The two reached a stone stairway. "We're here."

"I don't detect that man."

"It's because he put on a barrier. Duels are between two persons, we can't have any outside interference."

"Then why you need my help?"

"You're not helping any of us. You are out judge, you will determinate the victor of this duel."

"How will I do that?"

"The one that doesn't die it's the winner."

"You're going to fight to the death?"

"Most likely." The black haired teen step into the barrier, completely disappearing from Aigis's eyes. She froze where she was, she wasn't able to detect him anymore. Then, his head appear between the street and the stairs. "You coming or not?"

Aigis hesitated for a second and decided to step in, the moment she enter the barrier the world around her completely change. The sky turned red and the wind stopped, suddenly she could detect both demon presences.

She walked being Kashida up to the shrine. At the middle of the temple, the Japanese demon was waiting for him.

"You came early."

"I can go if you want."

"No need. We can start early." The demon looked at her with curiosity. "That young lady behind you is our judge?"

"Any problems?"

"As long she doesn't interfere with us and respect our duel."

"And she will." Naoki give a look to her. She didn't say nothing, she started to walk away to get distance. "By the way, you never tell me your name."

"Forgive me, my name is Saitō Musashibō Benkei."

"So I'm fighting a legend, huh? If the stories I read about you are right then you are tough bastard."

"Hahaha! I like your spirit, Hitoshura!" From his back, the immense Benkei bring out a naginata while Naoki took off his shirt and made his tattoos appear. "Whenever you tell us, young lady!"

Aigis turn her eyes to her classmate, he didn't say anything and he seem ready to fight. So one word came from her mouth: "Begin"

The second she said those words, Benkei disappeared and so did Naoki. When she was able to see them again, what she saw was the giant man impaling the demi-fiend.