#;fic

He.... understands it. Better than he wants to admit out loud. He's a man with no hope and shattered dreams. Just... nothing. There's nothing in his future but survival. Seifer can see why one would just... give up. This new world was merciless, carving out the weak, leaving those who could still stand and fight. As for the others...

Seifer listens to the sounds of the unholy beasts that threaten their existence. How many of them were once Hunters? They sing a song of hopelessness in their unnatural cries. A dismal orchestra of monsters and once-men. Which one of them is that girl he had tried to save? 

Not far in the shadows, just along the curve of the road walks a Giant, its massive sword burning bright, casting its weak firelight from the flames engulfing its weapon. At least those were easy to see but Seifer's eyes catch something else. A shadow -- and a distinct outline of a shoe -- the very one that slipped off her foot when she started running for the giant that took her. She was so ready. So ready to stop fighting.

Could he do it?Seifer finds himself wondering more and more as each day passes by. Could he give up? Drop his weapon and take that step forward?

--Or would he retreat? Retreat to the safety of the haven where those who still needed the strong relied on them to keep them safe?

Was there still a purpose in this world, then? Had this new world carved out the strong among the weak and set them in the path for the sole purpose of protecting those who had the longing to live on? To see that sunrise...

His hand grips the blade still sheathed and strapped to his outer thigh. He's thinking. No one has taken notice of him deep in his thoughts. That shoe needed retrieved. Every day it was a constant reminder. An option for these weaker few who saw it and thought 'maybe I can too.'

The first step forward and he's alerted the Hunters who were standing watch. It's alright, he waves off, taking another step, and another --

It's five before a pair of goblins take notice. They snarl, teeth glinting and gnashing as they seek out their living prey coming to greet them. That blade on Seifer's thigh is drawn and thrown-- he vanishes before the Hunters can track Seifer -- already to the beast by the time they have the spotlight on him. He grits his teeth as he parries the attack, turning his back to the haven so he's not blinded.  

There's another creature coming for him and the Hunters are now calling for Dave and Kaleb. Why--? He's handling this!

            Oh god! What is he doing...?!              SEIFER, STOP!!!                                      Seifer! Come back--!           Seifer, PLEASE!!                             Don't do this!                                        No!!!         Almasy--!!!

Muscles aching, his lungs burning -- Seifer rips the blade from the daemon's skull and immediately throws it with a sharp grunt-- sending his body forward in quick succession as the sinks the weapon into the base of another daemon's skull. He was good. Fast. Hard to track save for the flurry of ash motes and crystal light left behind in his path. From the darkness, he can be seen -- flitting from point to point until he reaches the shoe just as the Giant turns around to face Seifer head on.

Nope -- not today. Slipping the small shoe into his back pocket Seifer then retrieves his blade to use as a tether -- returning him back to the safe haven-- point to point to point to point --

One final push and he falls in a roll, crossing that invisible barrier of light and dark. Immediately hands surround him, pulling him, dragging him back to the gates. He's alive, he's breathing, he's okay -- he's an idiot. Everyone had their opinions... 

No one is happy. No one is relieved. Yet for the first time in forever, Seifer is smiling. By the time they reach the gate, most of the haven is already there.  They had anticipated the worst. Some were crying. Some were silent as they watched Seifer reach into his back pocket, pulling out the small slip-on shoe he had set out to retrieve.

"There... see?" He raises the shoe up to Dave, to Kaleb and Fortis. This needed to be done. People didn't need to look out into that darkness to see a shoe abandoned on the road. They didn't need to be reminded of those they had lost. 

They didn't need to know that it was that easy.... and neither did Seifer. 

This was for everyone. To everyone who had been calling for him, who thought he had given up. Seifer wasn't oblivious to their suffering, to their shock and fear...

Quite frankly, he never felt better. At least now, there was some purpose. He had done some good. Maybe the rest of the haven could take from this that no one gets left behind. Maybe all they saw was a dumb ex-Glaive, some idiot Niff who risked his life for a stupid shoe. 

“It’s not for anything, I guess!” A dusting of red began to bloom in his cheeks, and he looked away. “It’s just a nice thing that I thought you might like to have. I thought it was pretty and--” 

Renton trailed off.  The young girl regarded her companion for a long moment, tilting her head with an air of puzzlement. 

“But what would I do with it, then?”

To his credit, Renton recovery time was speedy. He sucked in a breath before taking this question with much more ease than the first.

“Well, whatever you want, I guess,” he explained, offering a sincere smile even as his face continued to redden. “You could clip it to your lifting gear or maybe put it in a spot that feels too empty.”

Despite her confusion, Eureka couldn’t help but smile, too. It was a gift, after all. It would be wrong not to appreciate a gift. After a short pause, Eureka took the boy’s instruction to heart, nodding sagely.

“I see. In that case, thank you Renton. I’ll put it to good use.”

---

Eureka had never noticed before now how utterly sparse her room was. Nothing on the walls or nightstand. Nothing on the floor or on her bed. Nothing of interest. Just necessities. She turned in every direction as though regarding the space with new eyes.

People had things, didn’t they?

A frown.

Well, of course they did.  So did she, but other people had special things. She could not say the same for herself.

Eureka realized with some modicum of horror that though she possessed a small number of personal items, she had never particularly felt any attachment to things the way others seemed to. She had clothes, and a bed, and a closet. Tools, and food, and a brush and comb...  She bought them with her own stipend, an amount she rarely used even half of, and yet Eureka has never loved those things any more for being hers.

Hey eyes flickered between the shell and the walls.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t put it just anywhere. She could, certainly, but no particular surface felt inviting. Put simply, no part of the room had any character, save for the childrens’ little box of toys by the window. Even that was fairly nondescript without any children nearby. When Renton had offered his advice, Eureka  feared she wouldn’t be able to find a place that felt too empty. Now she was certain there were too many to choose from.

“Mama! Mama, look!!!”

Eureka turned to face the sound of tiny feet pattering against the linoleum. All at once her conundrum faded at the sound of their voices. Maeter reached her first.

“Look Mama! Look what Hilda got me!”

She held out a glittery pink marble just as Linck caught up, brandishing his own green one. Maurice followed through the doorway more slowly, a small sack clutched in his tiny fist. Judging by the sound it made, they had a whole entire set of marbles to play with.  He gave a nod down the hallway to Hilda before joining his siblings, and Eureka guessed that she must have been instructing them to share when their excitement got the better of them.

Eureka smiled and knelt down to see their gifts, but Maeter gave her no time to catch up. She was instantly on top of Eureka, pawing at the shell.

“What’s this, Mama?”

Linck crowded close as well, Maurice following suit. 

“It’s a thing called a shell,” Eureka explained, letting them each inspect it in turn. “There used to be lots of them when the planet was covered in water.”

“It’s pretty, Mama!” Linck’s voice was eager he held the shell toward the window,  watching the light gleam over the smooth surface. The way it glimmered reminded Eureka of the sun shining over the backs of skyfish.

“It’s pretty like you...”

As the oldest, Maurice, had a slightly more nuanced way of calling attention toward himself when his siblings were hogging it all. Eureka put an arm around him and pulled him close.

“Renton got it for me,” Eureka explained. She supposed they must have all stopped in town this morning.

“Eww! It’s from Pukey!?”

Maeter darted backward, knocking the shell to the floor as she furiously wiped her hands against the bottom of her dress. Linck, ever eager to mimic, followed suit. Eureka couldn’t help but chuckle at their antics.

Just then, the door whirred open and Hilda stood on the other side looking severe.

“Did you kids listen to a single thing I said?”  she asked sternly. Maurice rose to the mission instantly.

“Uh, Mama, Miss Hilda said for us to come tell you we should all help set up for dinner.”

He turned toward the door with pleading eyes, earning a sympathetic smile from Hilda.

“Something like that,” she agreed, and Eureka gave a nod. 

“Okay, I’ll be right there.”

As the children spilled out into the hallway, Eureka reached down for the shell, lifting it by the key ring and holding it up to the light again.

Pretty like me...

Some part of her was too terrified to wonder if he had been thinking that as well. But now was no time to worry about that. He had given her a task--use it to make the place less empty.  She scanned the room quickly, eyes settling on a bare nail sticking out from the wall about a foot above her bed frame. If the whole room was equally featureless, she supposed this spot was as good as any. 

Stepping back to survey her work, Eureka decided that she would have to find other nice things to keep in the room if she wanted it to feel any less empty. Barren as the place remained, she found her eyes drawn to the sparkle on the wall. Renton had been right. Having something there did make it feel a bit more full.

The Evoker.

For some reason, she made it sound much more menacing in her head than it probably was. It was just a tool used to help summon a person’s persona, should they have one. A tool to link you to a being that was a part of you; that essentially was you; a figure of your thoughts and feelings that helped you ward off the dreaded shadows that lurked in humanity’s heart.

Even though, according to Minato, only a select few had such an ability to actually summon up a persona to fight by their side, Kotori figured herself to be one of those few. She was sure that the thought had crossed Minato’s mind too, what with her being able to step into the dark hour like she had on that fateful night when she stumbled upon him raring to fight a massive horde, swords drawn and personas summoned. Of course, the knowledge of such a time and such beings as shadows and personas was certainly something that she couldn’t swallow at first, especially with the added on knowledge that a man she was becoming dear friends with was in the middle of what seemed like such chaos for reasons that pained her so. 

She didn’t want him to go at this alone. She was afraid of him getting as hurt as he did that night, with her so helpless in that protective bubble ( Infinity, he had explained later; a spell that protected her from everything that he was getting hit with ) he formed around her, just watching him slay shadow after shadow, and then collapse from his wounds and strains. She was sure it was a fear that would always haunt her, stalking her in her nightmares...

So she had decided to try her best to carry the burden he made so heavy on himself. Minato seemed completely against it at first, seeing Kotori shivering in fear with a bow she ‘borrowed’ from the archery club, and dressed like she was participating in a roller derby and not a fight for her life against terrible monsters. But she didn’t let his concern nor her own fearful, indecisive thoughts sway her; she stubbornly stayed by his side, she tried her best to fight with him with all the bits of archery training she did with Umi...But ultimately needing Minato to protect her once more. But even if she feared for her safety; even if everything had scared her to tears; even if she felt she could never come close to being the perfect fighter she wanted to be for him...She was still so stubborn and so scared for him more than anything else. She trained when she could: reflexes, archery, muscle building, aerobics and anaerobics, and anything she could think of that would help in her endeavors to become stronger and better and not just another thought weighing on Minato’s mind.

It took awhile, but eventually Minato started to take her seriously. Not like he hadn’t before, but before it was more serious concern than anything else. He must’ve wondered what everyone said when they saw her cuts and bruises, if they saw them underneath a disguise of clothing and well-blended make up. She made up any kind of excuse that came to her head: tried out that rock climbing gym and fell down, started hiking with Minato and tripped up, accident cooking or sewing, ran into corners and doorways, and the list went on and on. Everybody probably thought that she had become the clumsiest person on Earth ( though a couple of certain girls suspected a certain boy of at least being a bad influence ), and both she and Minato were sure that she was running out of lies to tell. And she was sure that he saw the growth in her; how she depended on him less and could start to hold her own well enough, both physically and emotionally, even if he needed to still protect her or cover her back at times. And she was sure he saw how serious she was herself, starting to get used to the fighting and becoming a bit more accustomed with her weapon of choice, and certainly making a point to remind him that she would be back when the next dark hour came around.

So, instead of dissuading her and concerning over every injury, he encouraged her and started to show her better moves and exercises, and step-by-step how he would bandage her up. Of course, the man still fretted over her, not afraid of expressing his concerns or of scolding her when need be, and Kotori thought that maybe he just went along with it for a number of his own reasons besides appealing to her wishes. But she was happy with the change, welcoming his help with open arms, hanging out with him even more than she was already, learning more things from him and more things about him. 

His telling of his past made her more determined than anything, after all the feelings of shock and remorse over an event that she never took part in finally calmed; a life she never took part in ended in such a way, with Minato sacrificing himself for the world and formed-family he now loved. In his telling, she also felt she understood his burden a bit more, or would at least liked to say that she did. Seeing something like this be reborn after having died to make sure it never came back; to be a protector of humanity called back to life over something he thought he eradicated long ago...It must’ve felt strange, at least. Saddening, confusing, maddening, and all so strange. But it must’ve felt natural to take it all on alone. He had protected the world from beings like this with SEES; he had sacrificed himself for humanity and became the Great Seal; it was only natural for him to keep on protecting humanity. He didn’t expect anyone else to, besides the other persona users he’s talked about from time to time, and he didn’t want anyone to be put in harms way. It was his mission; his burden he’s been a part of for so long.

That thought lingered in her mind every time she fought by his side. It popped into her mind randomly even outside the dark hour too; even if he wasn’t around her, her heart was filled a mixture of worry and determination... 

...She would carry it with him. Even if it was just a small amount; Kotori Minami would help carry the burden of the world’s protector. She was given a chance to do such a thing by being able to step into the dark hour and by merely being graced with the opportunity to be a part of his new life, and she wouldn’t let that life be filled with worry and exhaustion and injury after injury. She would give him as much happiness and love as she could muster for him, and she would be by his side when he needed her.

It had appeared on her doorstep one day. The outer box had been plain for shipping, save for the label on top of the tape holding it closed, fancy border around it and italicized words. Her mother had discovered it first and was overjoyed, thinking that maybe her daughter was once again being scouted by high ranking people. Though the woman didn’t know exactly what the Kirijo Group would want her daughter to have...

She knew that some connection was bound to happen eventually, but it just...Caught her off guard.

Seeing the name though instantly had made her tense a bit. Her vague knowledge of Mitsuru was all from Minato; she had never thought that the woman would ever try to reach out to Kotori herself, let alone have the time to with all of the business things she certainly must’ve been busy with. But Minato had said that he kept in occasional contact with everyone from his previous life; those friends who helped him see that the world was so dear; the people he wanted to protect more than anything...

She had taken the box up to her room as soon as she could, giving the excuse that she wanted to surprise her mother with whatever laid inside for her. It wasn’t an overly large box anyways, so her mother certainly didn’t complain or object, thinking that maybe her daughter had something up her sleeve. Don’t tell me you signed up for an internship without my knowledge? The woman had asked, her joking tone carrying a serious edge, brow quirked as her daughter let out a nervous laugh, adding onto her excuse by affirming that suspicion and saying that she didn’t think the corporation would’ve responded so fast.

The box didn’t contain any cute collared shirts or arm bands with the word “Intern” stitched in, though. What was in the box instead, underneath a letter and wrapped in blue silk, was what she had figured it would be.

The Evoker.

The specialty gun shined brilliantly at her, even though it looked like it had been through some wear and tear, S.E.E.S. engraved into it and everything...

She was almost too afraid to pick it up, knowing the significance of the small weapon. Knowing what exactly it could do. Minato had told her of it’s significance, describing what it looked like with much detail and what had happened once the trigger was pulled. His first experience getting his first persona was a hot, scorching pain, the voice of his inner self calling to him and the contract they formed instant with how interwoven they were, and then another, more violent persona exploding from the original’s body, the fight chaotic and then it was suddenly over, and then darkness...

Kotori had never thought about it, but now she wondered with anxious thoughts if that was what awaited her, or much worse...At least, once she tried it.

Picking up the letter and actually reading it, Kotori felt like Mitsuru could already sniff out her current feelings from a mile away, gulping just after the first sentence:

Dear Minami,

Even with you being Minato’s friend, since we haven’t met it feels only necessary to be somewhat formal with you. In short, Minato has talked briefly about you in our occasional talks with one another, but in enough detail for you to know why I have decided to contact you now. I’m sorry we can’t meet in person; my schedule became too booked for me to take even the shortest visit to Akihabara, though I still felt this to be too important to not speak of now.

Minato might have not said much of the topic, but we both believe there is a chance of you being able to wield a persona. I’m sure you’ve thought this too. And while I’m unsure how much of a chance there is, with the growth Minato’s told me you’ve made, I’m positive that it’s at least a good chance. How good is...Debatable. Not to lessen your spirits or determination, which Minato has said you’ve gotten more of over these months as well, but just that and the ability to be awake in the dark hour is not enough. A different component is there when you wield the evoker; a different feeling that you might’ve never felt before that transcends determination and makes you gather every ounce of your will to pull the trigger. 

I’ll admit to you now that both he and I are somewhat skeptical of this, but I’ve started to believe more in the fact that you already possess that feeling. The inciting action has just yet to take place. Whether or not such an action ever takes place is unknown, and whether you will truly gain that feeling and act upon it is unknown as well, but I believe something will occur one day. Hence, this gift, now yours to do whatever you wish. 

Whatever choice you make is your own, and no choice is wrong. I’m sure Minato would certainly never force you to choose what to do with your life, even with his concerns, and I’m not trying to force a choice on you. Just presenting the fact that this choice is there.

Regards, Mitsuru Kirijo

P.S. Under this package are internship forms for the Kirijo Group’s latest fashion assets. Minato informed me that you’re looking for future opportunities in the field, and also that you’re living happily with your mother right now. Think of this as hitting two birds with one stone, and maybe a chance for us to formally meet in the future.

Kotori had almost missed the afterthought Mitsuru left in her letter, taking the box the evoker was in out of the standard packaging to reveal exactly as she stated. Multiple forms for different companies the Kirijo name was now attached to, and Kotori couldn’t be happier that her lie was now a potential truth...

...But the evoker and it’s box was the heavier weight, both in her mind and in her other hand. 

She pulled it out and held it in her hand. Cold metal made a chill go up her spine, and just holding it felt like something even more heavy was placed upon her now...A responsibility? A sense of duty, now that she was ever closer to learning something she deeply wanted to know; a step to further her resolve in the dark hour? Maybe all of the above...Or maybe just the thought of Minato ever finding out that the choice was now right in the palm of her hand.

Of course she’d want to tell him this, how excited she was to see if it worked and how it would help them --- The huge dragon above him and the other two persona appear in her mind at the thought. But there’s still the feeling weighing her down, more of Minato’s words echoing in her head as she rereads Mitsuru’s letter.

No, this wasn’t something to get excited about, and she knew that. This was a choice. A serious choice. And even if Mitsuru didn’t mean to, the pressure of making her final decision now increased tenfold...

Of course Minato and the girls in u’s would get word of her intern and tour papers. Her mother was so proud when she found the whole stack; Honoka’s mother was sure to hear the grand news the next day, and Honoka had a motor mouth like no tomorrow sometimes...

Of course Minato didn’t seem convinced that it was just forms, but Kotori reassured him the best she could that it was all it was: She had placed an entry for one online, Mitsuru caught sight of it, recognized the name through him and had a strike of good will. It didn’t guarantee her any jobs or even any positions in what she signed up for, but it was good that an old partner of his was being so nice, right? Maybe they could all hang out, go see a few places in Iwatodai; it sounded fun and exciting ---

Of course he didn’t want to worry Kotori or rile her up, so with a pat on her head he gave her a smile, calming her own fast-paced words. It all sounded fun; maybe they could do that once she actually did get one of those internships...

Of course the thought didn’t leave his mind, and she could tell, but she shut her mouth and smiled, happy about something exciting in their future.

Of course she hid the evoker in her clothing, making things in such a way that it’d never just slip out. 

Of course Minato probably knew something doing with persona and whatnot was afoot, but at least she didn’t want to worry him by just flashing it every night as if it was some grand prize. She knew what it was, she knew how important it was; she knew what it could do ---

Of course, she never knew if she would ever use it. But if the time arose...

She needed to be ready. He always told her to be ready for anything.

“Minato!” His name is screeched as soon as she could finally see him over the swarm she’s dealing with at the moment. A full moon was always the indicator of a rough night ahead, Kotori getting a calender that showed the moon phases ( new, half, full, half, repeat ) on which days in each month, so she could prepare ahead of time. But nothing prepared her for the total onslaught they were dealing with right now; wave upon never ending wave of shadows seemed to pour in around them. Of course, that could’ve just been her exaggeration on the whole ordeal, though even Minato seemed a bit too overwhelmed.

At hearing her scream, though, his eyes instantly lock with hers, before trying to hack and slash his way towards her. Likewise, she shot arrow after arrow to defend the both of them, getting as many shadows as she could from behind him while also trying to deal with the ones in front of her. But she didn’t have eyes everywhere, a blob of darkness looming behind her, with her only catching sight of it as it went down on her shoulder ---

The glimmer of a blade caught her eye just as she gasped, darkness cleanly cut away when she was inches away from being swallowed whole. Blue locks caught her eye next, then the red down his cheek from a fresh cut, and then ---

“Look out!” A yelled command, drawing an arrow but then just thrusting it into the shadow that dared to try and leap onto Minato. Her back was instantly on his after that, arrow then knocked to shoot through other creatures, while Minato continued to slash away an opponent who stood before him. Heavy breaths but no time for breaks; sweat drenching them but they couldn’t pause to wipe their brows. It was an all out assault on them, and if the shadows didn’t let up then neither would they, so the counter-attack would continue to fight against it. 

But, of course, it was a full moon. Things were never easy with a full moon.

It howled as it grew in the light of the huge moon in the sky.

Kotori tensed at the immense sound instantly, arrow flying and just barely hitting her target as darkness crept over the pair, though all the shadows were making a tactical retreat. She could hear Minato turn his heel to look in her direction, even through heavy breaths making out an annoyed sigh, his hand squeezing her shoulder making her come out of her shock to look at him. He glowed ever so slightly. Of course he did. She would laugh at that if the multi-armed monstrosity that now loomed over them didn’t preoccupy her thoughts. But it was both of those things that made her grip her bow even tighter, remembering her first dark hour again, and before Minato could say anything ---

“I’ll cover you. Make sure the smaller guys don’t give you any trouble. O-Okay?” Her expression conveying every ounce of seriousness that oozed from her words, Minato looking a bit taken aback. But then a small grin graced his face, and another sigh, before he gave her a nod.

“Okay. Just keep an eye on your surroundings, and be prepared for things to get a lot messier.” A slight pause that let her give an affirming nod, before patting her head, “...I’m counting on you.”

She seemed to glow herself at that. Not that this was a moment of too much reprieve or merriment, but hearing those words from him seemed to solidify how far she had come. No longer in that protective bubble, but helping be a protector for life on Earth...Helping him. Some of her anxieties melted away at the thought as she nodded again. “I’ve got your back, Minato.”

Seeing his back crash into the ground, his body almost skipping like a rock against the asphalt, made all the air suddenly disappear. 

The great dragon had made a reappearance, and then some help from Jack Frost and Orpheus, and Minato seemed like he’d win against the massive shadow easily. Kotori shot down all the smaller enemies that she could, her arrows flying over the terrain or being grabbed to simple stab the ones that ran towards her. Keep Minato covered; keep yourself safe. She repeated it in her head over and over, making it her personal mantra, and pledging to herself to live to it. She had to. 

She paid attention to Minato, but not to the sky above. That was until sparkles of blue exploded like a large firework, prompting her to look up and gaze at the remnants of the great dragon that once flew there. The instance that that registered in her mind her eyes darted to Minato, taking a knee and gasping for breath, staring up at the large shadow with a strained but determined expression. She almost shouted for him with darkness invaded her vision, prompting her to frantically stab the darkness away, heart now racing even faster than before as fear consumed her. She continued to fire arrows while trying to make a path for them, either for him to come to her, or for her to come to him. It would have to be the latter, and of course she knew that. He wouldn’t run over to her and risk endangering her life like that, since the large shadow was after him and his personas. She knew that. She had to get to him.

Jack Frost was crushed out of existence shortly after, the small blue sparkles barely gaining her attention as she picked up old arrows as her quiver got too light for comfort. Orpheus bellowed and charged at the shadow full force as she tried to take out a small shadow army. Minato let out an audible scream as a stray arm on the mangled monster swept him up, Kotori turning towards the sound to watch Minato skid down the block, bouncing slightly on his back, curling up once he halted. Coughing, trying to prop himself up, shiny red trickling from his lips ---

No. Oh god no.

“Minato!” She screamed his name, panicked desperation coursing through her as she shot rapid fire into the shadows around her. She could hear him shout something back, but her mind couldn’t focus on it, now just on the simple mission of getting to him. Her accuracy ranged from total misses to getting triple kills, making whatever sort of path she could to get to him. She couldn’t let him die.

She tripped over a pothole in the road, smacking hard into the asphalt, clearly hearing Minato scream her name before Orpheus screamed in demise. She scrambled to pick herself up, pain now gushing from her nose and pounding at her head, but the explosion of blue sent a windy shockwave that brought her to her knees. She looked up at the fading remnants of the persona, glittering beautifully in the moonlight, the sight giving her pause...A thought giving her more purpose.

She stabbed the enemies in front of her with arrows in one hand, bow still gripped in the other while it struggled with the weapon so hidden in her jacket; almost woven into the fabric. The sight of the silver gun in her hands gave her pause again, but she quickly started to head towards Minato again. Even if it didn’t work, she’d buy him time to summon another of his own. Even if he was to injured to do so, she could carry him away to someplace safe. Even if shadows attacked them from every angle until her last breath. 

Even if...It had to work. She needed to protect him.

She skidded in front of him, almost losing her footing but catching herself, before kneeling by his side for a quick once over. He was injured, but she didn’t know how much, but seeing the blood on his lips instantly made him ignore when his eyes widened at the sight of the gun. Bruises and cuts that had formed made her harshly rip herself away from his grasp. The strain in his voice made her try to force it out of her head, pressing the barrel to her forehead and shutting her eyes ---

Scorching pain. An internal explosion. Darkness.

Minato’s description of his first persona summoning ringed in her ears, her own erratic breathing becoming apparent to her, feeling every inch of her body quake. She...She was so scared. The responsibility of life or death in her hands, and she felt as frightened as she did when those realities stared her in the face before, knees feeling so weak and incomprehensible sounds leaving her throat. Hearing the large shadow begin to charge her way made her all the more terrified; she had to protect him from this; she wouldn’t hide anymore and have him die for her; so why was she ---

‘It’s okay. Just breathe. Don’t be scared.’ 

Kotori’s erratic breathing got caught in her throat as words played in her head. A familiar voice...It soothed her a tad even with all of the chaos around her.

‘Look the enemy in the eye...’

Kotori forced her eyes open as in large creature inched ever closer, vision blurred with tears that welled up in her eyes but then going into focus.

‘Calm yourself as much as you can. Focus on them...’

She took a few deep breath, the barrel of the evoker moving from her forehead to her temple so she could stare the shadow down.

‘Take aim with your arrow. Get a sight for your bow soon, remember that, but right just aim with the arrowhead...Account for wind...’

The wind around the started to pick up a bit, little droplets from the sky pecking at her. She noticed but also didn’t. The world to her stood still except for the monstrosity racing towards her.

‘Pull...’

She had to focus. 

“Kotori --- !”

She had to focus.

‘Fire.’

She had to save him. 

                                                 “PERSONA!”

A deafening call on par with the shadow’s roar, filled with a mix of determination and heated strength in her tone, not heeding any of Minato’s shouts as she pulled the trigger ---

‘No matter what, I’ll have your back, okay? I won’t let anything happen to you.’

--- Glass shattering. For a split second she thinks it’s the massive shadow destroying a building as it’s attack descended upon them. But then her mind goes blank, a weight feeling lifted off of and out of her chest, the shattering echoes in her brain; her brain...Feeling pierced with hot needles. A scorching pain; her eyes shot open to see the white and blue aura swirling around her, akin to flames with how she felt, and hearing a scream --- Her voice piercing the shadow with a ear-splitting scream. She could barely hear Minato, barely noticed the smaller shadows’ murmurs as they were wiped from existence, nor the biggest’s shadow’s growl ---

Her voice silenced her own. Kotori knew she was still screaming, hands holding her head as if to keep it together so it wouldn’t explode, but she silenced her hearing. Only her voice reverberated in her head.

I am thou. Thou art I.

A beautiful voice. A voice filled with every emotion, but at once none, but with such a soft and melodic tone.

Thou hast formed a covenant with me. Another seeker of the arts wanting to perform a masterful play, yet wishing to eradicate the tragedy within it instead of invoking the tragedy from me...Very well.

The voice had a form. She knew it did, but she can’t bring herself to look at it, the sharp winds helping it take shape right above her pounding head. But she felt like she knew who the being was; no, what the being was. A beautiful giantess of her own unique design; a symbol with a presence so strong that even just her voice tugged at the heartstrings. Her tears ---

Once the Muse of Singing, now the Muse of Tragedy, Melpomene!

Kotori finally registered the light rainfall that had started, hearing her own screams again, and Minato’s own voice --- She had her focus though. The wave of pain and sadness she could put in a person’s mind that could help them write famous tragedies like no tomorrow, her tears streaming down her face briefly cooling Kotori’s mind. The muse raising one of her hands up to the sky, either to present or to call upon otherworldly help, light flashing ---

We shall rewrite these tragic tales anew, or die tragic heroes ourselves; whatever fate dictates!

--- A bow and quiver full of arrows appeared from the light, and at the muse’s decree everything was quickly prepared for her to take the first shot. The large shadow at first seemed intimidated by the whole display, being pushed back by the winds and watching from a safe distance. But it finally let out a roar, almost to show that it wasn’t threatened by a mere light show, the amalgamation of humanity’s sorrow making a mad dash towards the trio that stood before it.

The large arrow flew as the beast took its first charging step, piercing a dark essence arm and making the creature scream. Still it charged, and still Melpomene unloaded her arrows onto it, the rapid succession of the firing a huge blur that only strengthened the pain in Kotori’s head. Once it closed in on them, Melpomene drew the club slung on her waist and slammed it into the shadow’s head, collapsing it into the street and sending a shockwave through their surroundings. And the fight continued to rage on with such violence: Hits with a club, stabs or shots from arrows, strangling the creature with the bow and coursing lightning through its string. There was no end to the onslaught...And there was no end to Kotori’s pain.

It felt as if every stab was attacking her brain, all of her items dropped to the ground as she continued to grip her head, wanting the shadow defeated but also wanting the pain to stop. A slash on Melpomene made her scream more ear-piercing, and slam into a building made her knees finally buckle and sent her to the ground as Melpomene crashed into the Earth, a coughing fit mixing with her howls. But still Kotori couldn’t take her eyes off the scene, propping herself back up, getting to her knees as Melpomene stood, her voice practically shot as Melpomene made a decisive swing that sent the shadow flying down the end of the street. She would see to it that this fight ended. She would protect Minato with all the life she had ---

“Kotori.”

His voice right next to her head has her focus away from the fight for the first time since Melpomene appeared, gaze jerked to the direction of it, his face so close to hers. Looking so worn out, panting but blood almost dried on his chin, keeping himself up with one of his swords stabbed on the ground and a hand on her shoulder. The fight seemed to disappear as he looked over her. Her pained screaming quieted somewhat against the now pouring rain, both of the starting to get drenched but neither caring about it. She waited for him to say more, but he pressed his lips into a thin line as if to not say anything he would regret later. He shifted so that his forearm was on her shoulder, ever so gently cupping her cheek in his hand, staring into her bloodshot eyes.

“...You made the choice.” He said it matter-of-factly, but it wasn’t filled with disappointment or sadness like she feared. His voice was filled the ting of the determination a leader full of experience should have, but it was mostly covered with a soft, comforting tone. “I figured you had one, but you made the choice to bring it forth. Of course I figured Mitsuru helped somehow,” He strained to pick up her evoker at the statement, staring at it for a moment before placing it in one of her hands, “But you knew that I knew, didn’t you?” He paused then, staring into honey hues, Kotori wanting to stop screaming but the pain in her head to great even as it started to cool in the rain. “I'm...” He paused again, as if searching for the right words in her expression, his own turning slightly pained. “...I'm sorry.”

She stared into deep blue eyes, Minato’s voice being a call to action even if he had more to say. The pain in her now mixing with determination and something so light but at the same time so heavy in her chest...Maybe that was the feeling Mitsuru talked about all along. The choice she made, the burdening thought that came with it, but the thought of it being a burden vanishing once she...Of course. 

Melpomene’s influence over her seemed to grow, tears continuing to stream down Kotori’s cheeks, but now screams morphing into a sob ---

“Don’t say sorry. The people who love me shouldn’t apologize for me loving them back.”

She could endure all the pain that came with this. Even if it happened again and again with every time she called her persona, she would bare it. And she didn’t fear a future of being a tragic hero. Not if it was for him.

--- Lightning struck Melpomene as more light and winds swirled around Kotori, and then both of their bows glowed as one. Kotori’s so light, tinted blue with the aura surrounding it, a calm-looking presence on the ground despite the quaking hand that picked up. She quaked from the sobs jumbling her speech and racking her body, holding the bow close to her chest as if it were her most precious possession. But then she stared at the one she treasured most, his look of shock blurred in her eyes, but she could still see it change to one of acceptance. It made her attempt a smile for him, sobbing into the hand that caressed her cheek, before turning it away to slowly reach for an arrow. The lightning that had hit Melpomene transformed into her own arrows, eight exact knocked onto her bow. Kotori held one to make it nine, the arrow also seeming to eerily glow as she lifted one knee to rest her arm on. Both looked down the arrow’s tip and aimed, Kotori’s glow intensifying while Melpomene’s electric arrows were at once chaotically pulsing and one complete form. Kotori took a deep breath...

“A Muse’s...Lament.”

Kotori’s arrow soared and struck a straggler smaller shadow that hadn’t already been eradicated. Melpomene’s arrows were shot with such intensity, the string sounding like the loudest thunderclap in the world, and the arrows piercing the shadow with an erratic but also pinpoint accuracy. Its mask shattered into a million pieces, it’s limbs pinned to a building, it’s scream barely heard over Melpomene’s sobbing. And then it all faded. The shadow washing away into nothingness, Melpomene fading into a soft blue shower after her job was done, and the awful green tint of the world being replaced by the real world’s own soft hue.

The rain continued to pound on the couple as the sat there, silent saved for the pants from how exhausted they were. Kotori’s sobs and screams no more, Minato’s hand placed again on her shoulder, the girl looking over at the man who couldn’t have looked more relieved. She gave him a warm, soft smile that they both needed, turning to embrace him ---