Nightlyy: Detailed, eh? Heh.

Detailed... and great for me

Seriously, what's wrong with you?

DarkRai99: You're Not Alone, and Memories of You (by ReachingOutFES). Those are good fluff fics (even if one destroys you emotionally at the end). This? This is the work of an amateur.

Did you just give a free advertisement?

I guess... Eh, they earned it.

Raze Olympus: Hey, it was my first time!

That was directed at me, genius. Did the coughing really throw you off?

Shut it, Makoto.

IAmSoCleverWithMyNameLol: *Spits* And don't come back.

Did you just bite off his-

I do what I have to do to get the point across.

I'm never doing that... never. Not even if you dare me. How do robots even screw each other?

blahblahblech: Hey! What don't you people get about: It was my first time?!

*sigh* Good to know i could invoke that emotion at least.

Ultimate Kuuga: But when and what?

Not soon enough...

SolidShinji104: Who knows? Who knows?

I don't. Seriously, I think next to nothing through. Hell, this fic likely wouldn't be as good as it is if it wasn't for my sorta co-author who still doesn't want to be named.

Sorta co-author?

Guess it depends on your definition of co-author. We bounce ideas off each other and he does help me plan the few things I actually plan out, but i ultimately do all the writing.

Screw you! The co-author is *censored* What the..?!

Did you really think it was that easy?

clevernameeh: He better not!

*whistles*

I can see you plotting there!


Home

Pharos continued to watch with sad eyes as his friend slammed the back off his head against the wall as hard as he could.

BANG

BANG

BANG

It was probably loud enough that a few of the neighbors heard, but none dared to knock given Makoto's rather... unique behavior.

As the boy sat on the floor, Pharos approached his friend and wrapped his arm around him in a desperate effort to calm him down.

Whatever battle that was going on in his head was a mystery even to him, but it needed some form of resolution.

"P-Pharos..." Makoto called out to his friend weakly, still crying but without a single tear "... What do I do?"

It was a strange thing. Despite his clear emotional imbalance, not a single tear fell from his eyes. It was almost as if Makoto's ability to do so died long ago.

Still, to see him crying even if tearless was jarring. In his life, he's lost limbs, been eviscerated, fallen from buildings, and even used to let shadow's attack him to build a pain tolerance, but this...

This was the sort of suffering that began all of this. Every night Makoto had nightmares about what happened which only served to multiply the damage. The nightmares were only staved off when he focused on his life-long quest.

But now? Now they came back full forced; Stronger than ever. All the pain that was slowly driving him mad... When would it end?

And Kotone, she only served to make an already debilitating injury worse. Makoto's resolve was weakening and he was suffering for it.

But he'd also suffer if she was gone, whether he'd admit it or not. It was a good thing Minato had stepped in, otherwise Makoto would've acted on impulse and suffered a pain similar to what he'd been suffering for a decade now.

She'd become something important to him, so unless he removes her himself with a sound mind... She'd only serve to be one of the many things slowly but surely driving him insane.

The blue-haired boy look down at the floor that was covered in broken shards of glass and his own blood "I... I can't keep seeing her, but I..." Makoto slammed his hand down causing several lacerations "Dammit!"

Pharos could only shake his head. He knew Makoto would fall apart if he killed her like he was about to a few moments ago, but he was falling apart now.

What was he supposed to do?

There was nothing in the realm of possibility for him.

Even if he could, killing her would be out of the question as long as Makoto was still conflicted with his own personal demons.

Yet... If nothing was done, would he lose his best friend?

I told you, we don't need to fight anymore. Minato whispered, desperately trying to convince his other side, There doesn't need to be anymore pain from either of us.

"Cheap words from you, inheritor..." Makoto scoffed as the glass that'd been driven into his hand were forced out of his wounds "...You're the one that didn't suffer."


Dorm

"Okay, Okay..." Kotone said to herself as she stood outside her dorm's door, "Just tell 'em that you made up with Makoto-kun. I mean, that is what happened."

Of course, that wasn't the only thing that happened...

Hehe, yeah... Kotone smiled to herself at the mere thought of what her teammates' faces would look like.

As fun as that'd be, I think I'll just keep it to myself. She thought as she gripped the door handle.

Three.

Two.

One! Go!

With that, Kotone took a deep breath and stepped inside her dorm lounge.

As soon as she walked through the door, the redhead was greeted to the sight of Koromaru running around wagging his tail and barking to call everyone down.

"I'm back!" She announced her return loud enough so that the entire dorm could hear.

Like moths to a flame, all the members of SEES plus their guest Ken came running to greet their previously missing leader.

Being the best friends they are, the junior girls of sees shared one big hug between them filled with the standard questions of how she was doing and such.

The male members of the group simply stood by with relieved looks on their faces. While they might not have liked to show it, they did like to worry about their leader at times.

Aigis stayed silent, but in her own way she was just as glad that their leader returned as the rest of them.

Mitsuru stood by with both a smile and a look of relief on her face "Glad to see you're back, Shiomi."

Kotone suddenly felt the mood go from happy to uncomfortable as she remembered how she left a few days ago, "Yeah~, sorry 'bout that."

"No need to apologize, Kotone." Akihiko assured his kohai.

"Yeah, we're a team aren't we?" Junpei said with his usual Junpei eccentricity "How'd it go? All goes to one or something..?"

Yukari facepalmed at Junpei's complete failure at providing assurance "That's not how it goes at all! And how it that even appropriate?!"

"Hey! Least I'm tryin'." Junpei desperately attempted to defend his actions.

Yukari rolled her eyes, completely unfazed by the defence "Yeah, trying to show off what a Stupei you are."

Kotone, however laughed at her friends' brief little quarrel. There was certainly nothing better than screw ups to bring people together.

"Ha ha, you guys are too much at times!" Kotone laughed out before shaking her head "But really, I'm all better now, I promise."

"But, where did you go?" Fuuka asked the biggest question on everyone's minds.

"Well..." Faint traces of pink began to form on the redhead's face as she scratched the back of her head "... Let's just say Makoto-kun and I are on better terms now, too."

"Oh, that guy, huh?" Junpei groaned, it wasn't a secret that Makoto wasn't on the best of terms with... almost everyone, "Does that guy almost has to be such an ass?"

"Eh, he likes to act all tough." Kotone said before changing her voice to sound a bit more cartoon-ish "But inside he's just a cuddly teddy bear."

Fuuka gasped the moment she heard that "Kotone-chan, you cuddled with him?!"

Aigis armed her weapons instantly "Requesting permission to eliminate him."

"No and hell no!" Kotone screamed at the top of her lungs as her cheeks continued to redden, "Seriously, what goes on in your guy's brains?"

Aigis instantly disarmed her weaponry "Understood, I will remain on stand by until further notice."

"Well what else were we supposed to think?" Yukari followed up in reference to Fuuka's question "You were gone for two nights without so much as a peep and chat! Do you know how worried we were?!"

"I know, I know..." Kotone sighed, in hindsight she really should've told them where she was and that she was taking a few nights to get herself back together, "Look, I'm back now, alright? Let's just make the most of it."

Mitsuru nodded "Agreed, shall we go to Tartarus tonight?"

"Sure, we've slacked off long enough" Kotone agreed with her senior "Questions?"

"Uh, Ko-tan..." Junpei called out weakly as he pointed at his leader "What's that?"

Everyone followed Junpei's finger and saw exactly what he was referring to. If you looked down, just beneath her collarbone one could see the edges of a red mark.

Rather than blush, Kotone suddenly had a furious look in her eyes "It's a rash... You won't think anything else."

Junpei gulped and nodded up and down "Y-Yes ma'am!"

Aigis, however took a moment to analyze the mark "It seems that various small blood vessels beneath your skin have ruptured..." she said as she took a step forward "From the area on the mark and taking into account your health, it would seem you've acquired what is commonly referred to as: A hickey!"

"A hickey!" Everyone squeaked at once as they looked at their leader in shock. Did Makoto and her really..?

"Goddammit, Aigis..." Kotone mumbled under her breath as she looked at her comrades. It was obvious what was going on in their minds.

"No, we didn't." She spoke firmly as she looked at everyone with the eyes of a predator "And no, I don't. It's a rash... It'll go away."

"It's a rash... It'll go away." Everyone slowly repeated as they took another step back, afraid of just what their leader had in mind for them if they didn't comply.

"Good. Now be ready for Tartarus." She laid out he orders before going up the stairs. She'd gone far too long without her MP3 player.

A bead of sweat fell over the entire team as they looked at each other awkwardly. They might never be able to look at their leader the same again after today.


Streets

"Hurry the fuck up, will ya?" Makoto muttered as he leaned against the wall of an alley.

He's going to betray her... Minato whispered, once again adding his opinion where it was unwanted.

It was a known fact to both of the sides that Ikutsuki fully intended to betray SEES after what he saw at Yakushima. Over and over Minato tried to warn them when he could, but Makoto's grip was too strong and to try when he was in control meant losing it in a moments notice due to the Prince's rather strong hold on the body.

He's going to betray you, too. Minato continued, trying desperately to appeal to his other self. If he wouldn't do it for her, one would think he'd at least do it for himself or something.

He needs to die. Minato finished, his will still unyielding to the Prince's who now had to fight for his own body.

But he was never going to let it happen easily. When Minato was cast aside, he was simply put in what seemed like a movie in a theater. All he could do was watch whatever Makoto did while whispering in his ear until he had the chance to gain control.

Makoto wasn't so lucky. It was almost as if his consciousness seemed to split; A part of him was experiencing the same thing while another part of him was literally sent to relive an old nightmare over and over on loop. Perhaps it was due to him being essentially half asleep and being the only one that suffers those nightmares?

"Not while he's useful." Makoto continued to insist, unwilling to let his only worm inside Kirijo go just yet. He didn't know how, but he knew a parasite like Ikutsuki was going to try and worm his way out of this somehow.

He was likely telling him the bare minimum as well; Enough to keep him alive, but not enough that he couldn't be further used for later. It was for reasons like this that Makoto began to doubt the old clown's use.

What wasn't Ikutsuki telling him? Where did Ikutsuki get his information? What does SEES know in comparison? Why was he even playing them to begin with? Did he hold a grudge like Makoto, or was there something else?

Regardless, the parasite still had some use left and it was enough to keep him alive for now.

"He's coming." Pharos alerted the bluenette who turned in the direction of the approaching turn-coat.

"Took you long enough, old clown." Makoto performed his usual habit of insulting his elder who approaching with several papers "Don't bother explaining anything, just give me the damn papers."

"As you wish." Ikutsuki complied with a somewhat uneasy expression "I-I should warn you, this was the only version I was able to-"

"Half this is blacked out!" Makoto exclaimed as he crushed the papers in his hand "Do you want to die?! Is that it?!"

"I'm not a miracle worker!" Ikutsuki tried to defend his actions, but nothing could hide the slight trembling in his lips, "What I've given you is still a wealth of information of what the Kirijo group were able to learn about the Plumes of Dusk."

"But why is it blacked out..." Makoto asked as he narrowed his eyes. What was this old clown trying to hide from him? What could be so important to him that he'd risk his life trying to protect it?

"How would I know?!" Ikutsuki asked back "This is all I could find!"

"You better have something else..." Makoto said as he took a step forward "Or did you think what I said about your face was just a joke?"

Ikutsuki gulped as he looked at the boy whose hostility was rapidly ascending, and Ikutsuki couldn't help but shiver as the summer air felt as if it was replaced with the coldest day of winter's.

"S-SEES will be venturing into Tartarus tonight!" Ikutsuki announced, desperate for anything that could by him his life.

"So we have all night together?" Makoto asked as he chuckled and took a step forward, "Wonderful."

"I-I also have something else!" Ikutsuki said as he reached into his coat and pulled out more papers to give to the boy.

"What's this..?" Makoto thought out loud as he read the papers.

Apparently, Kirijo had also collected a few artifacts as well to experiment and run test on. There were swords, knives, and many other weapons that were far stronger than anything that should exist in this world.

Among these objects were several masks, each with a different design and abilities. The main issue about these were that no one could actually wear them lest something terrible happen.

Best case? The wearer would have their brain completely fry and they'd die in a pool of their own blood. Worst? They'd become possessed by what could only be described as as gods until the wearer was killed.

Luckily, Kirijo only sent in people with the same device Sakuya had as to prevent anything from getting out of control, but the raw power in the things was beyond concerning.

Most of the mask have been reported as missing or destroyed, but there was quite a collection before the incident ten years ago.

A Snow Queen mask, A Faceless mask, and many, many more to the point they might've even been able to fill an entire gallery with them.

There was one that was theorized to exist, but there was no proper evidence to support it dubbed 'The Prince's mask'. Due to its existence being nothing more than a theory, no one knew anything about that mask. Not even the reason as to why the mask's existence was theorized to begin with was stated, but it is believe that it is either out there somewhere or yet to be made.

"Hmph, good enough." Makoto said as he turned around and began walking away, "You should run home now, Ikutsuki! It's dangerous at night!"

Ikutsuki sighed in relief as the bluenette left the area and the old air vanished as quickly as it came.

It was then that Ikutsuki couldn't help but wonder: if his persona specialized in fire, then how and why did it suddenly feel like the middle of winter when he started to get angry?

...

...

...

Burn my dread~... Burn my dread~ The song played through Makoto's earphones as he kept his head down and walked home. Even without the Dark Hour, Iwatodai became a very different place at night.

It was important to seem both threatening and unassuming at the same time. If you're too ordinary, then you've the mark to be easy prey. If you're too threatening, like moths to a flame even more trouble would come until their strength in numbers overwhelms you.

Granted, none of this was much of a concern for Makoto all things considered. Anything they dished out, he could give ten times harder. If that wasn't enough, then he could call upon Thanatos to tear them to pieces.

On the plus side, most of the ones out here were nothing more than thrill seekers wanting nothing more than to commit a few acts of vandalism and then go home with a story that'll be with them for many years later.

Of course, delinquents weren't the only things out here in Iwatodai tonight...

Just like many times before, Makoto could feel the sensation of a Plume approaching. It seemed like the puppet wanted to play as well.

Come to think of it, Sakuya would've had no way to know where he was...

First time could've been blamed on pure chance or him being on the way to Tartarus while the other meeting was obviously due to it being a full moon, but not this time. Even if he knew where Makoto lived, then he could've just waited there and killed him in his sleep or fight outside if he enjoyed fighting like he seemed too.

No, this time he knew where he was going to be.

Makoto chuckled to himself as a small almost impressed smile formed on his face, "Not bad. Not bad at all, Ikutsuki..." he complimented, there was no other person who could've told Sakuya. He had to admit, at least Ikutsuki sent someone who was formidable. Not many could say they faced Thanatos and live to tell the tale.

Still, Ikutsuki didn't know that he knew of his treachery. All he had to do was kill the damn brunette, and he could pretend as if nothing ever happened.

"You can come out now!" Makoto announced as he took his earphones off "Dark Hour or not, I can still sense your ass."

"God-fucking-dammit!" A loud curse could be heard as the boy revealed himself from the shadows with a noticeable frown on his face "Outside the Dark Hour?! C'mon, what kinda bullshit is this?!"

Makoto chuckled again as he shook his head slowly "And to think, a short-tempered brat like you almost did me in."

"And to think, a sonuva whore like you managed to survive." Sakuya shot back with a sneer on his face

Makoto's eyes instantly narrowed "So Ikutsuki's your little puppet master, right?" He asked for confirmation on his theory.

Sakuya clapped slowly "Congrats, you figured it all out!" he congratulated before quickly switching to a dead-serious attitude "Yeah, that's right. That old fuck kidnapped me and Sho, and used us as if we were his own personal play toys. Bastard threw away my brother and is ready to kill me the moment he doesn't need me."

"Wow, that'd be funny if it wasn't so pathetic." Makoto scoffed, "You're the puppet's puppet; A slave and nothing more."

"You little-" Sakuya cut himself off as something about what he had just said struck him.

"A slave and nothing more."

"And you were waiting for me... like the slave you are."

"What's wrong?" Makoto asked with a confident smirk on his face, "You know... I'm glad you showed your ugly ass scar-face back here."

Makoto prepared himself, in just a few seconds the Dark Hour was going to settle and it'd be him and the puppet again.

"I've had a really shitty week so far, so killing will be nothing short of therapeutic..." Makoto continued as he summoned a blade in his right hand as the boy in front of him did the same, "... Don't worry. Once I'm done with him, I'll kill the old clown too; You can rest easy on that."

"Good, I win either way" The boy laughed, he held no love for Ikutsuki and his death by anyone's hands would be more than satisfying.

"Round two?" Sakuya asked as he prepared to fight again. It hadn't been that long since his last battle, but it was more than enough time for him to fight.

I wish... Makoto thought as the Dark Hour settle "Come and get me."


Well this took more space than I thought. Sorry to leave you on this since not a lot happened, but blame the technical difficulties that occur when the word number gets too high! Hell, I'm convinced that even now I still get those in the form of words disappearing or something.

Christ, they fight a lot, don't they?

He is literally the only guy capable of hurting Makoto... Plus, Strega is off trying to take care of SEES since they threaten the Dark Hour and Makoto is just a typical job that had several unforeseen complications. Besides, they've already been paid in advance.

Why do I get the feeling that something other than just a fight is going to happen next chapter?

If he told you, it'd be a spoiler.

If I do what I currently plan to do (which could change), you're going to see a small fraction of something that'll be coming later down the line... Or will it? AT readers know I like lying too. Ain't that right guys?! Remember what I said about Thanny that one time and fooled you all? Ha!

Also: Here's a bonus...

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

We wish you a Merry Christmas!

We wish you a Merry Christmas..!

And A happy new year! I know it's late, but Merry fucking goddamn Christmas guys and gals!

Do you just like to swear?

Actually, I do. I don't do it to look cool, I just like the way they sound.