Chapter 12
Akira was delivering food to one Adachi Tohru, when he spotted Naoto and Kanji-kun yelling at him, and Firefly banging on the window? He saw Firefly get released.
“Uhhhh, I’m delivering to an Adachi Tohru?” he felt a little awkward.
“That’s me.” Adachi-san looked sheepish.
“So what’s the commotion about?” Kanji and Firefly told him not to worry about it, but Naoto, remembering his puzzle solving intellect interrupted them.
“It’s another puzzle, Akira. Say a little girl was told not to open the door and stay away from all entrances, exits, and windows while she was home alone. She still got kidnapped, but how?”
He thought for a minute.
“Okay, I serious doubt this is a puzzle, but, would she open the door if she thought it was her family or…”
At this all their eyes lit up and their brains connected the dots.
“A delivery truck!”
“Thanks, Akira-kun!”
“Wait, Nametame Taro drives a delivery truck, and he’s connected to Mayumi Yamano!” Adachi told them.
“Ohh, this is about the murders!” As they ran off, Akira called out to them. “Hey guys!”
“Yeah?”
“Stay safe, okay? And rescue that little girl!”
“Thanks, random kid.”
“Thanks, buddy.”
“Thank you, Akira.” As they continued running, he turned to Adachi-san, who was grinning to himself. It was honestly kinda really scary.
“So… are you gonna eat this?”
________________________
A month later…
Akira was scared. His mom had been insisting on her, Dad, or the Uncles to stay with him at all times, walking him to school, and Uncle Ryoji had blended in and was watching him at school. Meanwhile, everybody around town except the persona users (who he figured out were the reason his tarot senses were ringing) were all gloomy and stuff. When nobody could watch them, he was in the Velvet Room, or at least with Lavenza. At least Hifumi was coming today.
“Hifumi!”
“Akira! Lavenza!”
As they walked Akira caught her up on what was happening, while her dad went to the Inn.
Suddenly, his mom grabbed them by the hands. Lavenza was summoned back to the Velvet Room.
“Akira. Hifumi-chan. Listen to me, okay? Has Akira told you about the fog?”
Hifumi nodded. Akira and Lavenza told her about the mysterious Velvet Room after she got suspicious, and Akira had sounded really creeped out when he called her.
“Well, there are monsters called Shadows roaming around. Shinji, my brother, and Ryoji are holding them at bay across town, but I need you two to stay with me. Got it?”
They nodded. The three of them were across town, Minako defeating shadows, when they caught up with the other three adult persona users.
Minato suddenly collapsed, groaning in pain.
“Minato!”
“It’s… the Seal-agh! I… need to go back. Protect the kids.”
Ryoji nodded.
“Hold her back for us.”
Then Minato dissolved into light. They split up again, when Minako had to fight a lot of shadows at once.
“Shinji! Help! Ugh, there’s so many!”
One of them managed to get around to the kids, who were being used as a meat shield for some coward civilian.
It struck.
________________________
“Master, they are being targeted, forced to shield some coward adult! I cannot stay here!”
“Lavenza…” Margaret trailed off. Meanwhile, Igor hummed in thought.
“You feel the dedication to your guest this much already? Very well, then. I will let you go, on the account that you do not fight for them. Delay the shadows, only.” he grinned.
“Yes master. Thank you.”
________________________
“Stay here, kids! Protect me!”
“Akira! Hifumi-chan! Let go of them!”
“No!” They both thrashed around as the Shadow approached.
A voice spoke.
Are you simply going to stand here? Will you give up your life for a coward?
“No. I won’t.”
Will you defend yourself?
“Yes!” He started to writhe under the immense pain, and vaguely found himself covered in blue fire.
Very well, then. Let us proceed with the contract.
I am thou, thou art I,
Thou who art willing to perform all sacreligious justice for thine own justice!
Call upon me, and release thy rage!
“Come to me, ARSENE!”
________________________
Akira was screaming, but she hardly noticed. A voice was ringing in her head.
Have you decided to tread the path of strife? Will you rebel against those who choose to use you for their own desires, even if it is your own mother?
“Y-Yes!” She let out one long scream as she was encased in blue fire.
Wonderful. Let us forge a contract.
I am thou, thou art I,
You have chosen to finally see the truth.
Rebel, and never lose it again!
“Go forth, Murasaki!” (based off of Murasaki Shikibu)
________________________
Their clothes changed, Akira into a fancy gray shirt, black slacks, red gloves and a long coat. He had a white, owlish mask with black markings around the eyes. Hifumi had a black outfit, lined with gold, a belt with red flowers, and long, flowing red sleeves at the end. The hairpin Akira gave her transformed into a big red flower, and her mask covered the left side of her face. It had white on the bottom, red in the middle and top, and gold, with a black part where her eye was, giving way to a tiny orb.
Lavenza appeared, pinpointing the shadow’s weaknesses, and sending a bright burst of light whenever the shadows got too close.
And then, as soon as it started, it stopped. Akira and Hifumi’s clothes went back to normal, and they collapsed on the street, barely awake. Minato respawned and also collapsed, leaving Shinjiro, Ryoji, and Minako to carry them back to the house.
Akira dreamed of Marie, telling him something really confusing about why she had to go, and asked him to write her a story. He hugged her goodbye until he woke up.
________________________
“If we continue to be present among you, it may hinder your journey.” Igor spoke.
“Well then, Trickster, we must leave you. When you finish your journey, let’s gossip again, okay?” Margaret smiled.
“Keep up the drawing, kid, got it?” Mr. Painter ruffled his hair.”
“We will miss you and your voice!”
“Do not forget the music, for it is in your soul.”
Lady Donna and Sir Nameless sang.
“Akira! Theo and I will still visit!”
“O-Of course we will!”
Aunt Liz tackled him, and Uncle Theo helped him up.
“Trickster. You have surprised me over and over again. I look forward to you being our guest.”
Igor cast a spell on his Velvet key.
“When you need it, it will come to you. It is infused with a part of each of us, here.”
He handed him a pack of tarot cards.
“Remember your bonds, for they make you stronger.”
Finally, Lavenza. She hugged him.
“You better not forget, okay?”
“I won’t.”
“Tell Hifumi I said hi.”
“Every time?”
“Every time.”
“I’m gonna miss you, cher papillon bleu.” (dear blue butterfly)
“As will I.”
As he stepped backwards, and watched the door to the Velvet Room fade away, he sang the Aria of the Soul, smiling while a tear crept down his cheek.
________________________
As he turned on the Weather Channel, home alone and bored, Akira jumped in surprise. The new weather lady, Mariko Kusumi was… Marie?! And, she had been wearing formal clothes! He raced to the TV station, clutching his story.