7/24 Fri, Tartarus, Floor 70 Dark Hour
I was breathing intensely as I was trying to fend off these attacks that were coming towards my direction...
"Kazuki-kun, watch out!" "Huh!?" I was looking at my 12 as I saw something coming towards my face; a fist! "Rukukaja!" As I was buffed with a defense skill, I blocked with my sword to lessen the damage. "GAAAHH!' None the less, the impact was still painful... "Thanks, Junpei!" "No sweat!" Junpei was caught off guard taking in the compliment. "Junpei, look out!" "Huh?" A giant shadow punched Junpei on one half of his body. "ARGGHH!" Junpei was sent flying, and he was in intense pain.
"Shit, Yukari, heal him!" "On it!" "Aigis, follow my lead!" I shall not obey." "Aigis, please, I need your help! We need to work together as a team!" "Aigis, listen to Kazuki, He is field leader." Mitsuru butted-in to help. "As you command, Mitsuru-san..."
Aigis was running behind me with her weapons drawn. "Aigis, sync up!" "Roger." I began to do my summoning process while Aigis did her own... "Skeith!" "Palladion!" Both of our Personas were flying in towards the enemy. "Fuuka, I need your insight!" "On it...!" Our Personas hit one of the shadows; Skeith was punching and Palladion was using Kill rush. "The attack was a failure," I said with some aggression.
"Everyone, the weakness is ice attacks!" "Aigis hit em with this...!" I threw a block of contained ice. "When I give the signal, throw it!" "Understood...' I had my sword drawn and ready. "Oi, everyone gets out of the way!" I was gonna use Ocean's stream on these wrestler-looking shadows. "Kazuki-kun, are you sure about using that!?" "It'll be fine." "If you say-so." I charged my attack, and the shadows were heading for me...
"Aigis, now!" Aigis threw the ice cube at the enemy, resulting in her hitting all the enemies. "Kazuki-kun has an opening! Everyone, get out of the way of Kazuki-kun's attack!" Everyone, as instructed, got out of the way. I wasn't gonna waste any time, so I was gonna launch it off until...
"GAAHHH" "Hey~, mind if I butt in for a bit?" "Yes!" "Aww, you suck, Kazu-chan." "Be quiet!" "Kazuki-kun, what's wrong!?" "Yeah, Kazuki-kun, what's wrong?" With all the willpower I can muster, I was holding back the thing in my head. "Nothing is wrong!" And without trying to drag this out, I used ocean's stream on the enemy...
"*Pant* *Pant* *Pant*" All the shadows seem to have been destroyed. "Fuuka, did that do it?" "Yes, the shadows are eliminated." "Oh thank god..." I was panting like crazy. Every time I took a breath, my head would spin out of control.
"Kazuki-kun, are you okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine." I'm far from fine right now, but I didn't want to worry her. "Whoa, how did you do that Kazu!?" "I just can." "Is that all there is to it," Yuka-chan said as if I'm lying. "Yeah, nothing major..." Yeah, nothing my ass." "You say something Jun?" "Nothing."
I started walking for the transporter... I looked at the damage I did to this floor, only for it to be repaired. like it never happened.
The lobby of Tartarus, Dark Hour
We all transported back to the lobby, I was still kinda dizzy from using up SP... "Welcome back, leader," Minako chimed. "Hey, Kei, you look exhausted." Yukari points out. "Yeah, you wouldn't believe how tired I am." I yawned loud enough to make an echo. "I'm sorry, Kazuki, but we need to save those people stuck inside of Tartarus," Mitsu-chan said as she started moving for the staircase. "Arisato, Akihiko, and Shizuka, all of you are on me." Shizuka isn't an official member yet. However, she revealed that she was a Persona user while we were on the boat. She had no choice but to. What is she doing here? Well, she told Mitsu-chan that whenever we were going to Tartarus, I would inform her; and inform her I did. "Finally, some action," Kio said while he drove his hand into his other hand. "At least Akihiko-senpai is hyped." Kio seemed excited from what I see, but Minako... I just can't get a proper read on her anymore.
"Kazuki-kun, over here." I walked over to Fuuka when she called me over. "Yo." "Are you sure you are okay?" "Yeah, I'm totally fine! Although, I am tired..." "Then, do want to sleep inside of Lucia for a bit?" "Sure." When I entered inside Fuuka's Persona, I was surrounded by a relaxing feeling. "Are you comfortable Kazuki-kun?" "Mm-hmm, I'm feeling great!" There is something about being inside Fuuka's Persona that makes you feel so much better.
"*Yawn* Goodnight, Fu-chan..." "I'll wake you up when it's time to leave." "Okay..." I laid down on the floor trying to find the perfect spot for me to rest on...
7/25 Sa, Iwatodai Dormitory, Kazuki/Fuuka's room, Early in the morning
I was awoken by a weird sound... When I opened my eyes, and all I saw was Kazuki-kun's face. "Nothing out of the ordinary." I was ready to fall back to sleep until... *Glass moving* "Huh?" I pick my head up from the bed to see who's here. "What the...?" I saw the intruder... But what made me more surprised than anything else was the person inside of our room.
"(Hushed) Shizuka-chan, what are you doing here?" "Oh...hi." I was staring at her with a surprised expression on my face. Shizuka had a bottle in her hand. "Can you pretend that I was never here?" "You're raiding our fridge!" "Not necessarily." "Then how would you describe it!?" "...As borrowing from a neighbor." "Huh, what do you mean by that?" I looked up where Shizuka was pointing to. The roof had an open hole in it. "When did you make that hole?" "I didn't make it, I moved it." "You moved a roof tile!" "Yes." Wait, why did she go through the roof if she is capable pick-lock the door...?
"Shizuka-chan, why did you enter through the roof?" "I live up there." "WHAT!?" "Of course I was, you didn't notice?" "NO!?" "Good, because I was kidding..."
I felt a sort of a headache coming in... This was really confusing to me.
"Why are you here anyway?" "...To get a drink." "There are vending machines outside." "Cost money to get a drink from those." "..." I am too tired for this. "Shizuka-chan, I'm too tired for this. Can we pick this up after school tomorrow?" "Fine.."
Shizuka then climbs back up into the roof and takes the tile up with her. "Night," Shizuka says as she fits the tile back into place. I put my head back into place after she went back into the roof. Kazuki was still asleep - he must be really tired after fighting in Tartarus. I got closer to Kazuki-kun and I closed my eyes...
Gekkoukan high, class 2-E, after school
I was so exhausted to the point where I wasn't able to move my body like I usually am able to... "Kazuki, we need to head back to the dorm." "Why for?" "For training." "Oh...really, because-" "Drink this then." M.G. threw energy drink my way. "An energy drink...?" "Yes, it helps you with your fatigue. Plus, it's good for your health." "Umm...thanks. That's awfully considerate of you."
I got my things together, and I made my way to the exit of the class. "Wait, I was waiting for Fuuka to come back here." I told her to meet us at the entrance of the school." "Oh, let's go then." We both made our leave for the entrance...
"So, where are we training?" "You'll see."
Iwatodai dormitory, rooftop, Evening
It's been a couple of hours since we came up to the roof and began sparring... "All right, let's take a break." "Finally!" Kazuki plopped himself onto the floor with sweat dripping from his body... "Are you okay to go another round?" "Yeah, as soon as I'm feeling better." "...Then I might as well take a break as well." I sat down on the floor, too. "Rin..." "Yeah." "I feel like I made improvements, do you think so, too?" "Well... You still need to improve your combat abilities, but you are making improvements, I'll give you that." "Really, thanks." Although, he isn't improving on what I want him to... Getting that shadow under control. If he isn't able to control it soon, things will get worse. I need to tell him the truth about the shadow inside him...
"Kazuki, you-" "Excuse me, Kazuki-san, Shizuka-san." "Amada!?" "Oh, Ken..." Amada, apparently he had been moved to this dorm after Ikutsuki had informed Kirijo that he was a Persona-user; although, he doesn't know anything about the shadows.
"You need something Amada?" "I was gonna ask how you take your coffee." "Why?" "I think he's making coffee for you." "Huh, no, I just wanted to know how adults take their coffee." "Yeah, but you don't want to drink what she drinks." "Why?" "Let's just say...she's weird." "Oh, I see... Okay." I increased the intensity of my stare that I was giving him before. "But, I would take it with sugar and cream." "That's for children," Amada replied. "But it's so good!" Amada seems too conflicted by Kazuki's response.
"Drink it black." "Huh?" "Drink it black and you'll be drinking coffee the way you want to." "Oh, thank you Shizuka-san." "Your welcome." Amada then makes his leave, but not before asking something else. "Oh, why are you guys up here anyway?" "(Kazuki and Shizuka) Nothing..."
8/6 Thu, Dark Hour, Weapons Depot
Tonight was the night of the operation. We all went to where Fuuka said she found the shadow. The trail ran cold at an old weapons Depot; this would be cool if I didn't know what they were for...
"Ohhh, I feel them..." "Them?" "THEM!" I felt like the shadow was trying to force it's way for control again. "To hell with you! You aren't gaining control!" "I can take control whenever I want! ...But I'll do it when something interesting happens." I was enraged by the gull of this thing...
"Looks like all the guest are here..." "Huh?" I turned around to the entrance to find two others there. "Who are you?" "How did they slip past Lucia's web?" They somehow slipped past Fuuka's Persona; they must have the ability to hide their presence like M.G. can...
"Why do you wish to end the Dark Hour?" "What!?" How do you know about the Dark Hour?" "Why don't you use that pretty head of yours for a change." "Wait, don't tell me..." Mitsuru arrives at the conclusion that I arrived at as well...
"Tell me, do you all wish to return to your boring and pathetic lives...?" Everyone seems to have been affected by that question. (Except for M.G.) "I don't enjoy this one bit," Fuuka said with her head down.
Screw these guys! I ran towards them... "You're the first idiot to try and fight us, huh...?" The kid with blue hair readied himself for me. "Come here, then!" I summoned Skeith to my side... "That's nothing! Moros!" He put an Evoker to his head and pulled the trigger. *BANG* An Agi spell was heading my way. I cut it in half, but that was only the tip of the iceberg. *Thump* "UGH!" "Kazuki-kun!" The kid closed the distance between us after he cast the Agi spell, and he was ready to kick me below the chin. "Well, that was boring." "I ain't finished yet!" "Well, looks like we have a fighter here..." The shirtless man brought out a gun. "This is your salvation..." "Summon, summon, summon, SUMMON!" I summoned Skeith out of annoyance. "What a joke, Hypnos..." He summoned his Persona without an Evoker; it looked like he forced it out. A Garu spell was heading my way. I sidestepped to my left, and I made my way to them again.
"I think our time is up," The shirtless man said "Yeah looks like you're gonna be busy for a bit. But we'll leave you with this..." The two were surrounded by red SP. "Combination attack: Fire Dome!" They both used different spells like Garu and an Agi spell... The flames started to surround me like it had a mind of its own.
"Kazuki!" I heard everyone's voices while they summoned their Personas...
"Oh my god, you had your chance, and you blew it... So it's my turn to pick up your slack..." "No, wait!"
...
Everyone is trying their best to rid the flames around him...
"It's summer, you shouldn't be making it hotter than it already is, ass hat!" "Huh?" "Was that Kei-kun," Yukari-chan asked. "No, everyone, get away, now," Shizuka-chan yelled out in a commanding way.
"Let me just get rid of THIS!" Kazuki-kun destroyed the dome around him with the flick of his wrist. "There, much better." He began to sweep off the dust from his shoulders. "How did you survive that!?" "That puny-ass attack couldn't hurt someone like me." "Then how about this...!" The boy with blue hair summoned his Persona again to cast a Mudo spell... "Get that weak shit outta here!" He broke the circle in front of him like it was nothing." "Takaya, this guy isn't going down!" "I see that Jin..." The one named Takaya shot a couple bullets in Kazuki-kun's way. "That should do it. Such a miserable end, but all well..." "Do you really think it's over?" He stood up and he let go bullets he caught."What are you," Takaya asked with finger still on the trigger. "A God!" In the blink of an eye, Kazuki-kun bolted towards Takaya and grabbed a hold of his face. "Go for a little ride..." He went over to Jin and threw Takaya at him. "UGH!" "Thunder Reign!" I was familiar with that spell... "Shizuka-chan!" "I know... It's 'him'." The Zio skill hits the two, and in turn, they both started screaming out in pain.
"When was Kei ever able to do that?" "I don't know?" Mitsuru-senpai and Akihiko-senpai were confused by the new abilities that Kazuki-kun is using. "The threat level has increased to the maximum! I will have to take action!" Aigis was gearing up to fight...
"You bastards tried to roast me raw, now, you bitches get to feel the burn!" Kazuki-kun's hand was being lit on fire... "Time to die! Infern-" "Orgia mode!" Aigis was zooming through us, to Kazuki-kun. "Kill rush!" "Bitch, you just fucked up!" He blocks Aigis's attack with one-hand, and he kicks her to the side. "You goddamn losers beat it! ...This robotic bitch is mine!" "You are a thr-" "Shut the hell up!" He cast a Zio spell again; he knew that was her weakness. "Dodge successful." "Don't be so sure of that." He began to throw lightning at Aigis and she was dodging them.
"What the...?" I felt something coming moving away from our position. "Everyone, the shadow is getting farther away from our position!"
Mitsuru-senpai stood in front of all of us. "Everyone, I don't know what's going on, but right now we need to fight the shadow!" "(Everyone) Right." "Arisato, can you help Aigis?" "On it..." Minako seemed like she didn't care one bit for this. "Kazuki... You want to someone worth a damn, then fight me." The shadow lets go of Aigis's neck and he paid more attention to Minako. "You're a real cocky, for a chick." "Cocky, I could kill you if I wanted to." "Sure you could ..."
He darted right over to Minako... "Brave blade." Minako's Persona had hit the shadow on the shoulder. "ARGGHH! Not bad... You know what, let's fight for a bit longer!"
Minako Tries to stab the shadow with her spear... "Shoot Meruga." She threw her spear at him, but he dodged out of the way. "Your aim sucks!" "..." She was just smiling, and I know why she is... "Time to wring that neck of yours!" *Thud* He had her pinned to the ground, with his hand on her neck. "So motionless, why is that?" "Look behind you and you'll see." He turned around to find the spear ripping through the sky, to his side. *Slice* "AHHH! You son of a bitch!" He then slammed her to the floor and he jumped in midair just to stomp on her solar plexus. "ACK!" "Hurts doesn't it bitch!" "Vorpal blade!" Slashes were traveling around Kazuki-kun and cutting him up. "Shit!" He caught the Persona's sword and used it to destroy her Persona. "Damn it!" "Not as confident as you were before?" "You haven't seen anything yet!" "I did, and I have to say: it was boring."
Minako's hand start to spark... "Here...!" She placed her hands on his neck and began to electrocute him. "ARRGGH!" I was watching Kazuki-kun get electrified. I was worried about Kazuki-kun, but the person who's talking with his voice isn't him...
"Yamagishi, we encountered the shadow!' "Okay, Mitsuru-senpai, I'll try to support you the best I can." "No need; I'll be providing support for this enemy... Just help Arisato." "Okay." I was conflicted for what I should do...
"You gonna do anything Kazuki?" "(Grunting) I'll kill you!" "Cute..." She was still electrocuting him. But when she wasn't looking, he put his hand on her head and he cast a Garu spell... "Look out!" "AHHHHH!" "You feeling it now, bitch!" Minako was bleeding by the ear. She hits him in the face with the butt of her spear. "Son of a whore!" "Ziodyne!" Lightning came crashing down above Kazuki-kun's head. "I ain't pathetic to get hit by that!" Kazuki-kun used his sword to redirect the lightning to the other side of the room. "Petty, now then, let's have some fun..." He then drives his fist to her gut. "UGH!" "Not done yet..." He turns her around to face the wall, and he then slams her face into the wall over and over again. "You hit like a bitch." "Say whatever you like because..." The shadow threw her to the ground and raised his foot above her left hand. *Thump* *Crack* "AHHHHHH!" "My mistake, did I break some of your fingers?" He was smiling while he was watching her grip her hand tightly... I can't let this go on.
"Stop this!" "Huh" "What did you just say to me!?" "I said stop!" "Well look at you, thinking you're tough. ...Let's change that." He started walking towards me. He was swinging his sword to intimidate me. "I'm not scared of you!" "Sure you aren't. I'm pretty sure you aren't scared that you have to wait until I kill you while I wear your boyfriend like a meat bag," He was trying to get a rise out of me, but I won't give him the satisfaction. "Say somethin' will ya!" "He'll come back, I know it!" "Screw this, time for me to finish what I started..." He slashed his sword in my direction... "Tetrakarn!" A shield surrounded me and the attack that was heading my way was reflected back to the shadow."ARGGGHHH" The attack reflected back to him with the amount of force he put into it.
"You little bitch!" "Tricked you." He was bleeding from his chest... "Do you get it, I'm better than you." "You want to see better, I'll show you better!" He began to swing the blade around... "Prepare your ass!" He was hitting Minako with the blade, and she was blocking his attacks with her Persona.
"Thunder Reign!" "Ziodyne!" The two electrical attacks collided and released electrical waves of energy throughout the area. "Yamagishi, what is happening up there!?" "Minako and Kazuki-kun are battling it out!" "What is wrong with Kazuki!?" "I...don't know... I'm sorry" "It's okay, we're almost done here anyway." "Okay, I'll continue to support Minako!"
In the lower part of the weapons depot, Dark Hour
I was in the process of healing both Iori and Sanada. I saw Takeba and Kirijo holding there own against the two shadows... "Shizuka I need to ask a favor of you!" "That would be...?" "I need you to back up to where Kazuki and Yamagishi are!" "Will you all be fine on your own?" "We fought in worse conditions than this. So go," Sanada told me with all the confidants he could muster.
"All right, just be careful!" "We will," Takeba told me while firing off a Garu spell. I nod my head and I began to run for the upper levels. I need to hurry before Kazuki destroys the whole mine...
Back at the top of the weapon depot, Dark Hour
The battle between Minako and Kazuki was still going on... The depot was starting to crumble.
"You getting tired yet?" "Not really." "Then let me amp this up a notch!" He began to pour out SP into his sword... "Let's aim for that other eye." "Screw you, asshole!" Minako pulled back here spear, readying herself to throw it. "The both you need to stop this!" "Or what? You gonna do something about it, huh!?" I couldn't respond, I didn't know what to say. "That's what I thought..."
The shadow was ready to shoot out the energy he was storing. "The show is about to come to an end." "I know, so let's make sure we end this in a fashionable way." "Preaching to the damn cho-" Out of nowhere, someone was behind Kazuki-kun. "Who the hell!" He tried to swing the sword at the hooded person behind him, but he stopped it with his own blade. "Yare yare daze, why do I have to deal with this...?" "Who the hell are you!?" "Does that really?" "No, it doesn't! Because, when I'm done with you, you won't be recognizable!" "Try then..."
The shadow was swinging Kazuki-kun's sword at him, but he was just casually dodging the attacks. "You're putting me to sleep..." "Then this should wake you up... Thunder Reign!" The thunderbolt came crashing down on top of the hooded man's head at full force.
"Hahaha, how was that, gratifying enough for you?" "If that was your best, then color me unimpressed." "What?"
The new arrivals hoodie was torn, so I was able to get a good look at his face. "Damn, I just snagged that hoodie too. All well, it's not like I bought it, anyway." The man who endured the attack had brown hair and a pair of goggles were sitting on his forehead.
"You gonna sit there all night, or are we gonna get this over?" "You think you can match up to me!?" "...Sure do." "RAGGGHH!" The shadow lunged towards goggles wearing man. "Sukukaja..." A green aura was surrounding him...
The shadow was moving faster than he was before; I don't think a Sukukaja spell will be able to help him. "Prep yourself, bitch!" "Kid, you really need to calm down" The goggles wearing man disappeared... "Where in the-" *Thumb* In an instant, the goggles man was behind Kazuki-kun, and he did something to knock him out.
*Thud* "Kazuki-kun!" He was on the floor, motionless. "What did you do to him?" "Don't worry little lady, I just hit the back of his neck with the back of my blade; he'll wake up eventually. Plus, when he does wake up, he'll be the guy you know." "Really!?" "Yup..."
He began to walk towards the exit of the mine. "Wait!" "Yeah?" I bowed my head. "Thank you! Thank you for helping him!" "You don't have to thank me, just make sure he doesn't let that thing take control again; it might prove fatal..." Those words alone froze me up a bit.
"Well, goodbye." He sticks his hand in his pocket and started to walk away.
"Wait, who are you," Minako asked, "Whoa, what's up with the eye patch?" "Answer the damn question!" "Jeez, alright, fine... I'm Brown, nice to meet ya." After saying that, he disappeared in the blink of an eye.
"Brown...? That's not a real damn name!" I put my knees to the ground right next to his head, and I put his head on them.
"Is everyone all right?" I looked behind me to find Shizuka-chan behind us all. "Rin is everyone else all right!?" "Yes...they are. What happened to Kazuki?" "Someone came in here and knocked him out for me." "Someone who was able to overwhelm him..."
Shizuka-chan thought about what Minako just told her. "Yamagishi, summon Lucia." "Okay."
I summoned Lucia and I began to check up on everyone else. "They seem to be coming back up here." "That means they won." When Shizuka stated that, I was relieved...
I put away Lucia and I just watched Kazuki-kun sleep... "I wasn't able to do anything again..."
Iwatodai dormitory, Kazuki/Fuuka's room, late at night
When we got back, Akihiko-senpai put Kazuki-kun on the bed. "Thank you senpai." "No problem. but, what the hell happened to him?" "I...don't know." "I see. Well, just make sure it doesn't happen again." "Okay." He left the room without saying anything else...
"Are you okay, Yamagishi?" I turned around to find Shizuka-chan at our doorway. "Yes, I'm all right." "Good..."
She was staring at Kazuki-kun... I was thinking about something while we were making our way back here.
"Shizuka." "Is something the matter?" "I need a favor from you." "Depends. What is it...?" I ball up my hand. "I need to be able to protect Kazuki-kun in battle." "Yamagishi, I'm afraid I can't teach you how to fight effectively since your Persona-" "I didn't mean how to fight, but how I can improve my Persona. I need to be more useful!"
Shizuka-chan didn't say anything after that... "Fine, I'll help you make your Persona more support oriented ." "Thank you." "But first..." She looked over at Kazuki-kun again. "...We need to get the shadow out of the way first."
This chapter was kinda all over the place in some aspects, but whatever, right...? Anyway, as always, follow the series if you want to know when a chapter has been uploaded, and leave what you thought about this chapter, chapters before, and future chapters. As all ways, until the next chapter; see ya...
New note: I have updated all the chapters during the time I wasn't uploading any new chapters. But, I didn't just make corrections, I added more things to the chapters, new scenarios. For example, I changed how the fight on the monorail went. So, if you're curious, I suggest reading the chapters over again. (I did make major changes to the dialogue in this fic, so that's another reason to go back.) With that being said, I hope you enjoyed this, and the other chapters to come.