Note: check the notes at the bottom!
"Will I be trapped inside this hell until I die?"
Guilt.
It was the sound of moving shadows that shot him back to reality. Big black formless shadows appeared out of nowhere as they began to moan a loud inhumane screech; their black sharp claws scraping across the floors, reaching closer towards the lifeless body of Yosuke. Souji eyes slowly blinked once as the memories of how Shirogane got ripped apart by the same shadows filled his mind. The horror of those memories gave him enough strength in his limbs to move.
No, he couldn't let Yosuke be eaten by those things. The brunette had always been a very precious friend to him, and even everything that he done to him… he had forgiven him. They should've stood by together, with their strength and faith in one another, and face Adachi like they had planned earlier.
But now... look at him now...
The teen could feel how his eyes began to burn and soon tears rolled down his cheeks. The multiple and precious memories began to flow with every tear: the first day they met, the welcoming party that made it feel like home for him… as well as the first time fighting with their personas on that bloody playfield. That day, they were more than friends—they became blood brothers.
No matter what would happen from now on, he couldn't let Yosuke be eaten. He could care less what Adachi would do to his next… his mind and body was now broken: all he could think about now was Yosuke. This was going to be his last act of defiance towards that hateful man. Groaning he stood up and limped his way towards the chair with the noose hanging above it. With his good leg he gave the chair a merciless kick and fragile as it was it fell in several pieces. He grabbed ahold of one of the legs of the chair and limped further until he was next to Yosuke's side. His shadow, still standing there, was eying him curiously. The entity showed by the emotions on his face that he didn't see this one coming. He had clearly thought that Souji would have given up, but feelings of love were stronger than those of fear and pain. So instead of going into the attack (because after all, Adachi would clearly disagree on this) he took a few steps backwards and gave the teen all the space he needed. Of course he wasn't going to help, but he was curious at what Souji was trying to accomplish by fighting all those shadows by himself. Was the boy doing this because he wanted to save his face? Or did he do this because he truly wanted to protect that body? Before the shadow knew it he had placed his hand on the place where a heart should be, and he clutched it tightly.
The black formless shadows began to first circle Souji, and then they slowly crept in closer. If they came within striking distance the teen would smack them away. At first it seemed totally useless, because they would immediately go back into the attack.
Even more shadows appeared from the corners of the room, and their thirst for blood attracted them to the bleeding lifeless body.
By now Souji was breathing heavily, and from time to time his sight would go blurry. He had lost a lot of blood, and the pain of his shot wounds were so severe that his limbs threatened to go completely numb. At this rate he was going to lose... Nevertheless he tried to keep the shadows at bay.
It was then that Souji's shadow saw that determined look in the eyes of his other. There was no single hint of hesitation- there was only the steadfast determination of an individual wanting to save someone precious to him. The boy had found the fire back in his heart, and soon it would burn like a raging firestorm. Even though he was in that much pain and in a desperate situation he stayed strong.
The last stand...
The shadow looked over his shadow and found Adachi still sitting on the bed. He hadn't moved an inch since Souji had decided to do this.
Was he planning to let the teen die like this? That was odd since he knew that Adachi had several plans in store for him. Maybe he was waiting for something?
This was it...
He had been so mad at Souji for neglecting his duties and whore himself off to Adachi that he managed to become an individual that could think for himself. He became himself, and Souji became someone else. He had been at peace with that, and he seriously couldn't give a rat's ass about his other half. That's the reason why he raped the boy. After his betrayal the shadow simply lost his respect and didn't want anything to do with Souji. He wanted him dead so he could pay for everything he had done.
But now that he was making his last stand against Adachi and the shadows he showed... atonement. He no longer cared about his own life and he would gladly throw it away for something precious. This touched the shadow to his core and he made his decision.
He turned around and gave the former cop a satisfied smile. Adachi simply gave a nod back in reply, but he didn't seem to stand up and do something soon.
Warm, compassion filled yellow eyes went back to Souji and when their two eyes met it felt like time just froze.
'Is this really ok?' A familiar voice filled Souji's mind. 'Do you have what it takes to continue?'
"I have made a lot of mistakes." Replied Souji. The words that escaped his lips were no harder than a faint whisper. "I was afraid to be hated... I was afraid to die. Now look where those feelings have brought me. I have entered a place of no return, and there is no way I can escape from it. So the least I can do is to keep fighting until there is nothing left in me. I thought it would be easier if I just accepted it and took it all, but that's not life. No one decides for me when I die, that decision is for me to make."
'I see' the voice seemed somewhat satisfied. 'You have found your resolve, and you are no longer perverted by those poisonous dark thoughts of yours. You are finally ready to keep your head up high and bear all of the consequences.'
"Yes." Replied Souji.
'I still highly disapprove with all of your actions this last year. So much that I was about to give up on you and let you be killed. Those feelings will never change, so that means we can never become one anymore. However, we are still connected and I can feel your heartbeat slowing by the minute. So here is my offer; we will join forces and put an end to all this. As things are now you will lose and live the rest of eternity as a slave to that man. You need my power.'
Souji swallowed hard and he knew that the voice was right. As things were now he would probably bleed to death, or Adachi would step in and break him completely. Right now he was still sane and he could still make decisions- It was his last chance.
"Why the change of heart?" Smiled Souji weakly. "You are my shadow, you should hate me for not accepting you."
It stayed silent for a while.
'I am me.' Was the answer. 'I have grown my own consciousness-my own judgment. I will act according to my own free will and if I decide to kill you or aid you I will do so. It all comes down to your decision. If you want to be a slave it's fine by me. If you want to borrow my power and do what you should've done then I will aid you. '
"Why? Why would you do that? You raped me and you helped in killing Yosuke!"
'Because I will it. Now stop asking these worthless questions and make your decision.'
He sighed.
"Yes, let's finish this nightmare."
'Spoken like a true leader.'
The shadow vanished and before Souji appeared a single cards. Breathing heavily the youth reached for it with his good hand and crushed the card between his fingers. Almost immediately Izanagi appeared before him and with his one sweep with his great lance he killed all the formless shadows.
The sound of clapping hands filled the room and a laughing Adachi stood up from the bed. His eyes were wide open and he had such a malicious smile on his face that it send a shiver down Souji's spine.
"So you decided to fight me? Fine. I would've spared you and let you live as my sex toy, but if you want to be ripped in a million pieces then I won't deny you a slow painful death. What do you hope to accomplish? You are already at death's door."
"You know..." Began Souji, limping forward into Adachi's direction. "I... don't care anymore. I don't have anything to lose anymore." His thoughts went to Dojima who might still be alive, but he didn't dare to mention that to Adachi. I will die, yes. Izanagi doesn't know any healing spells, so I can't save myself. But do you know what I can do? I can bring you down together with me!"
The boy lunged forward and bumped roughly into the former cop. Adachi totally didn't see that one coming so he didn't have time to raise his gun. They both fell down on the ground with Souji on top and soon they began to wrestle for dominance. In the distance Izanagi was battling a handful of shadows. For each enemy he defeated at least three would return, and that prevented him to be at his other's side.
From time to time Adachi would try to summon his own persona, but the teen would make damn sure he never got the chance to do it. However, with only one good hand there was so much a person could do. He couldn't stop Adachi from grabbing his gun and firing in his stomach. Souji groaned and while sitting on the cop's lap he reached for his belly. His white shirt became red in an instant and he could feel the blood streaming out of his fresh wound.
This was it... He couldn't resist anymore. His hands and feet were almost completely cold and numb, and he felt so light in his head that he had the hardest time to keep his eyes open. He was at death's door...
With narrowed eyes he watched the man beneath him and a certain thought appeared in his head. He bend forward and embraced the man tightly.
'Izanagi' Said Souji mentally. 'I can't keep this up... you know what to do...'
Since they were connected, Izanagi could feel what the boy was planning.
'Yes. I am proud of you.'
Adachi, trying to break loose of the tight embrace probably knew what was going to happen next. He tried to trash around but Souji held him so tight that it was impossible to escape.
"It's over… this nightmare is finally over." Whispered the boy in his ear. His voice was broken and devoid of life.
Adachi wanted to open his mouth to stay something, but a sudden intense pain stopped him. He blinked several times and looked down to his chest.
Izanagi had teleported himself behind Souji and had stabbed him through the back. The lance went through the boy, the cop, and all the way into the ground.
Adachi stared for a second into the boys' eyes and before long they could no longer see anything. With a few soft gurgles his breath came to a stop. Izanagi quickly retreated his lance and threw it on the ground so he could catch and hold his other half closely to his chest. There was such a happy and warm smile on the face of the boy that it could even warm the coldest of ice. It seemed like he was completely at peace.
'You did well.'
Whispered the Personae when he gently removed some hair out of Souji's eyes.
"I am... so sorry..." Wept the teen softly. "I'm... sorry..."
'Rest. It's over now'
His mind went one last time to his uncle, and then he closed his eyes.
And then... Nothing...
...
...
...
For a short moment he felt warm, safe, and at complete peace. But a sudden sharp blue light made his eyes blink in surprise, and when he blinked several times he found himself in a very familiar face.
"Welcome... in the velvet room." Said an even more familiar voice.
Igor was staring at the teen on the other side of the bench and his gaze looked rather... curious.
"What a pleasant surprise." Said the tiny man with his long nose. "It seems like your tale isn't over yet."
Souji's hands went to his stomach, and he noticed that all of his wounds were gone.
"The universe is willing to give you a second choice." Continued Igor, pointing to a card in front of them on the blue table. "You threatened to stray from the correct path, but at the last moment you managed to crawl back. So you have earned a second chance. The question is; will you take it? "
"I will be able to set things right?"
No answer, and no matter what questions he was going to ask he wouldn't get a response. If he was going to say no, he was going to stay dead. But if he said yes… then maybe he could change things for the better...
Yes... He was going to say 'yes'... He owed Yosuke, his uncle, and the rest of the gang that much.
"Yes." Said Souji finally. "Bring me back."
Igor nodded in satisfaction.
The boy closed his eyes and yet again he fell in darkness...
...
...
...
"Souji... hey Souji! Do you hear me?"
The teen opened his eyes and he startled a little when he felt something cold touching his nose. A single small snowflake had fallen on his nose.
"Come on man! Stay with us. So, do you have any idea who the culprit might be?"
The silver-head found himself standing outside of the restaurant with Shirogane and Yosuke. He remembered this scene very well. The last time he stood here he kept his mouth shut.
But this time... he would do things differently...
The end~~~
Note: And here it is... the end of the story. This is only the second story I have finished in my life, and I must say I am very proud of myself. I've begun this story somewhere in January, and now it's October... So many things has happened. I must say I find it hard that I've finally finished it... It feels like I've raised a kid and I have to let go of him now...
Well, it was fun you guys! I've learned a lot from this story, and I will certainly continue with writing them! I am already busy writing a new adachi/souji! Can't wait to publish the first chapter of that story. by the way if one of you readers want to write a Persona story together with me, be sure to PM me.
Well then, see you all around and please leave a kudos or comment and share your thoughts about this story =) cheers!