Final Pre-Chapter Review Answer Corner GO!

Delta XIII - It was too good a chance to pass up. I had the most evil grin on my face as I posted that chapter.

And now, on with the last chapter!

Rusei didn't fully comprehend where he was. It felt as if he was falling, or perhaps drifting, endlessly. His body wouldn't move, no matter how much he tried. Dread began to fill his heart, till a voice began calling out to him.

"What are you doing? Get up." demanded the voice of Margaret, the Wild Card feeling his 'descent' slow to a stop. "You are not someone allowed to fall here. You must know already... the true nature of bonds, and what they give you. Here... listen closely."

His eyes weakly flickered open, watching the form of Margaret vanish and be replaced with someone else.

"...Can you hear our voices?" asked Marie, standing in a misty white void before him. "Nobody wants a world enveloped in fog. There are times they almost give up, but they still desperately push on. I know you can too, so please... get up! Just once more!"

The young woman disappeared, but one by one the people Rusei had bonded with appeared before him. Kou. Daisuke. Ai. Hisano. Naoki. Yumi.

"C'mon, kid. This can't be where it ends for you."

Kinshiro Morooka.

"I gave you a lot of hell, but you kept going anyways." continued the teacher. "Bad shit happens, but people learn and move on. You're no exception. Besides, don't you got friends waiting for you?"

A small smile tugged at the edge of Rusei's mouth as the specter of Morooka disappeared, a shorter individual appearing in his place.

"You've done so much for so many people..." began Enko. "I can't believe you'd be willing to give up now. You've come so far, and have even farther to go... Please, friend, stand once more..."

A deep chuckle reverberated through the air as someone else took Enko's place.

"This doesn't seem correct to me..." remarked Takuya Narukami. "It was more than an idle comparison when I said you reminded me of Tsubaki. You both possess a quite, stubborn determination not so easily dissuaded. Stand, young man. Your fight is not yet over..."

Rusei felt his feet finally touch solid ground as the principal faded, though he quickly fell to his knees. He still couldn't quite stand up.

"Since when were you one to quit?"

His eyes widened as specters of his parents and brother appeared before him.

"You're like your mother in that regard..." chuckled Hayate Norimoto. "And what you got from me just made it worse."

"Even at your worst, you kept going." added Yoshiro Norimoto.

"You're such a strong boy, Rusei..." Sayaka Norimoto remarked, a gentle smile on her face. "I'm so proud of you."

"We all are." said the Norimoto family in unison, their images vanishing a moment later.

Rusei felt a tear roll down his cheek as his uncle appeared before him.

"What's the matter?" asked the specter. "Isn't it too early to give up? ...You reminded me what a family truly is. I had my hands full just with Nanako when you came rolling in..." he laughed. "I wasn't sure what to do, but then again..." he smiled. "I can get back up as many times as I need to, with you two with me. I'll just grit my teeth, and get back on my feet. A father can be pretty stupid that way, huh?"

To Rusei's surprise, Dojima didn't disappear, the image just slid to one side as someone else appeared.

"Don't go... Everything in my head changed after I met you." said Yosuke. "...I'm glad we met. I wouldn't have made it this far if I hadn't done it with you having my back. You can't let it end this way, right? I know you can keep going..."

"No... Don't leave!" Chie's voice called out, appearing as Yosuke's image moved aside. "I'm scared... I'm such a stubborn, two-faced coward, but you understood me... That's why I can be as strong as I need to..."

Yukiko's form appeared, standing beside her best friend. "Hey... can you hear me? Keep your eyes open..." she smiled. "I'll give you our strength. You're our last hope. We'll help you stand, one more time."

"Yo, Rusei."

A specter of Kanji stepped forward from the indistinct mist.

"How much longer you just gonna sit there?" He asked. "That ain't like you, man. You're not the kinda guy who'd just do nothing. That ain't the Rusei I look up to. Get back up, just one more time. Let me protect you."

"Senpai... Thanks." began Rise, an image of her appearing alongside the rest of the Investigation Team. "I'm glad I came to this town. When I think back on all the fun I had with you..." she smiled. "Senpai, please stand up. We'll be your strength."

The image of Teddie stepped forward beside Rise. "I'll... I'll protect you, Sensei. You gave me my life... You're important to me. I'm not alone anymore, and neither are you, Sensei. I'm sure together, we can do things that no one could do alone."

A chuckle resounded, a familiar duo materializing from the mist.

"No way this is the end of the line." began the specter of Roy Fortune, a smirk on his face. "You've got too much to do, and too many people counting on you."

"He's right." agreed Aigis. "You can still go on, with all of us supporting you."

"It's no little thing to say a Fool's friends are their World." continued the older Wild Card. "And like Yosuke once said, we're all Fools at heart." he beckoned Rusei. "On your feet. You've got a battle to win."

"Rusei... if you stay down, I won't forgive you."

Naoto now stood before the Wild Card, meeting his gaze.

"You... gave me a reason for me to stay as I am." she continued. "For someone like you to leave me in the dark halfway like this..." she shook her head. "Please stand up, just once more. Let's fight this together." A smile came across the detective's face. "Never fear... We're always together."

One final voice joined the others, standing beside her father.

"Hey... Big Bro!" Nanako called out, a worried look on her face. "Are you going to leave me behind...? I'll be a good girl... So don't go! I don't want you to go... Big Bro..."

On that final word, Rusei finally climbed to his feet.

"I'm not going anywhere." he stated, blue flame flaring up around him. Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto materialized with them, Its form was quickly enveloped in a cocoon of moonlight and emerging with new power a moment later.

'I am thou... and thou art I... From the sea of thy soul, I come...'

A long, black jacket covered its torso, seemingly dotted with stars like a cloudless night. Segmented armor covered its lower legs and arms, an a smooth, faceless helmet was on its head. Prayer beads adorned with the phases of the moon hung from his right wrist, what seemed to be a sword hilt missing a blade in his left hand.

'From the moment of my emergence, beyond my reawakening, I have shed light upon thy path through the night... I am the god of the moon... Tsukuyomi Otoko.'

In an instant, he found himself standing before Izanami once more, even if he was alone.

"I'm... not done with you!" declared the Wild Card, picking his sword back up off the ground.

The goddess shook her head. "What!? Begone!"

Black Hands arose from beneath the Wild Card, but somehow could not touch him.

"Impossible...!"

Izanami waved her hands, a flurry of silver lightning striking Rusei. He shouted in pain... but kept standing, even beginning to walk towards the goddess.

"RUSEI!" A crack formed in the air to his left in tandem with Kanji's shout.

"Rusei!" Naoto's voice rang out, causing a different crack to appear on his right.

"No... How can the will of so few surpass the will of all mankind!?"

Another flurry of lightning struck Rusei. Despite the pain, he kept approaching.

"Senpai, hold on!" Another crack.

"We're with you, Rusei-kun!" Yet another, blue flame leaking from them all as it appeared.

"Sensei!"

More cracks formed, each voice causing another burst of flame.

"Hang in there, Rusei!" Chie.

"We're not giving up without a fight!" Yosuke.

Izanami kept shaking her head, silver energy crackling around her body. "How can your powers rival mine...!?"

"Because... I'm not alone...!"

The goddess unleashed the lightning of Oho Ikazuchi once again, but this time it didn't reach the Wild Card. Takejizaiten had burst forth from one of the cracks, blocking the entire attack with its massive body.

"Damn straight you're not!" bellowed Kanji, stepping out of the hole his Persona had made.

Yamato Sumeragi erupted from the other side of Rusei, Naoto likewise stepping forward.

"He'll never be alone as long as we still have the will to stand!" declared the detective.

Rise and Kouzeon were the next to break through. "We'll always be here for each other!"

An explosion of searing, crimson flame heralded Yukiko and Sumeo-Okami's return to the battlefield.

"You'll have to bring ten times the world's despair if you want to break our spirits!" she shouted, unwavering defiance in her eyes.

Kamui-Moshiri blasted through the crack in the air with all the grace of a semi truck, Teddie striding forward behind the Persona.

"Yeah, what Yuki-chan said!"

Haraedo-no-Okami and Takehaya Susano-o smashed their way back to the fight with Chie and Yosuke, at last reuniting the Investigation Team in their stand against Izanami.

"If you want to stop us, try harder!" Chie boasted.

Yosuke took up a combative stance. "We'll never give in, no matter what you do!"

"Why...?"

Another Ikazuchi ripped across the battlefield, tearing away at the assembled Persona Users. They screaming in pain, but kept standing.

"Why don't you understand...?"

Yet another. They refused to fall.

"It's impossible for humans to grasp the truth with their own hands..."

Blue flame arose around Rusei as he slipped off his glasses, deftly tucking them into his pocket in a single swift motion. His hand then rose, a card hovering in his palm. The fire flared brighter as he crushed it, Tsukuyomi Otoko arising behind him.

The Moon God held out his arms, light hovering beside his hands as he traced a single, large circle in the air. Once the shape was complete, it took the form of a full, golden moon and the Persona drew his hands back.

"The perhaps we'll simply have to read it upon the moon."

Tsukuyomi slammed its hands into the center of the lunar image, an explosion of golden light tearing away at Izanami and temporarily blinding everyone. Once it faded, Izanami seemed to be struggling to stand, the oppressive aura about her massive, skeletal form gone.

"This can't be... How could I be defeated?" inquired the goddess, seeming to struggle to stay standing. "How am I the one to... disappear? Instead of an endless struggle, wouldn't it be easier to wrap oneself in lies and live in blissful ignorance...? Isn't that true peace for humans...?"

"How man times do we have to tell you!?" Kanji demanded. "To hell with that shit!"

"Stop assuming you know us!"

Izanami chuckled sadly. "Very well... then try and live your way. Power enough to eclipse my existence... you have already exceeded what I thought humanity capable of. You have lifted the fog in this world, as well as the fog in your own. Whether that will lead to happiness or not..." red lights began to drift off her body as she slowly began to sink into the fog below the platform in front of her. "Rests upon your shoulders."

Rusei shifted uneasily.

"Children of man..." began the defeated goddess, her form beginning to fade as she sank faster. "Well done!"

"NO!"

Rusei bolted forward, heedless of the confused shouting of his friends as he leapt off the platform towards Izanami, disappearing below it along with the goddess. The Investigation Team sprinted over, calling his name... only to find Tsukuyomi Otoko grasping the edge with one hand, and holding Rusei with the other... as Rusei himself held the smaller, human form of Izanami.

"What... what are you doing...?" she asked, confusion in her crimson eyes.

"I swore... no one else would die in this world on my watch...!" answered the Wild Card, holding on with all his might. "That includes... Ngh, you!"

"Holy shit- Help him up, help him up!"

It took a bit of doing, but the team was able to retrieve both Rusei and Izanami, the two of them sitting on the platform and trying to catch their breath.

"Dude... You're CRAZY!" said Yosuke. "After all that, you still went the extra mile..."

Rusei chuckled, pushing himself to his feet. "I've never been the type to shy away from a little extra effort."

"...What am I to do...?"

The teens turned their attention to the goddess, who looked up at them like a lost child.

"You have bested me, yet not banished me..." she noted quietly. "You proved the fog will not bring you happiness, but... I do not know what path to take from here on..."

The Wild Card smiled, offering a hand to Izanami. "Perhaps you'll discover it in due time."

She stared at his hand, cautiously accepting it. "...Perhaps I shall."

As the goddess stood, Rusei's vision changed. Instead of the depths of Yomotsu Hirasaka, he was once more in the Velvet Room. A gleaming card hovered in the are before him, the residents of the room watching him as he claimed it.

"How marvelous." said Igor with a chuckle. "You have driven back a godly being and brought about a new world... This will be the last time we summon you here."

"Soon, the fog will lift, and our destination will be visible." Margaret stated. "We will be arriving shortly."

"Everything's finally over..." said Marie, a laugh in her voice. "You really did it, Rusei."

He smiled. "I had a lot of help."

"Indeed you did! This journey was a fruitful one, worthy of making a turning point your destiny." remarked Igor, a whimsical joy in his tone. "Many a time along the way did the fog of lies prevent you from moving forth, yet in every instance you overcame the temptation of easy exists and false terminals. In forging bonds with those precious to you, you moved close to the truth, one step at a time. And my heart danced with delight to see you succeed! You have come quite far from the skeptical, closed off person you were in the past, and I am most honored to have borne witness to such a wondrous journey."

The Velvet Room came to a stop, and the door to Rusei's left unlocked.

"Our destination is at hand."

"Well then, we have finally come to your journey's true end. Our contract has been fulfilled." said the Master of the Velvet Room, his perpetual smile seeming both content and somber. "My own duties end here as well... You were truly a remarkable guest."

"And you a far more gracious host than I could have imagined when first we met." said Rusei, stepping across the room and offering a hand to Igor. "Thank you for helping me."

Igor's smile softened as he shook the Wild Card's hand. "You are most welcome, my young friend." he motioned towards the door with his head. "Now go forth, and see with your own eyes. See the world you have won, and the bright, magnificent future it holds."

As Rusei stepped out of the Velvet Room for the last time, he found himself still helping Izanami to her feet as the world around them changed. The black and red stone path and pillars disappeared, the fog fading as well. In its place was a peaceful, beautiful landscape. A cool, gentle breeze passed through the area, gentle rustling the leaves of a few nearby trees.

"The fog is... all gone!"

"Wow..."

Chie smiled, looking out at the scenery. "It's nice. It feels kind of... nostalgic."

"...I know this place." began Teddie. "This scenery... A long, long time ago, everywhere in this world used to look like this."

"So this is the world inside people's hearts..."

"...It has been many years since I last beheld this." remarked Izanami, a sad smile on her face. "...He was with me then. I was fond of the rain, but he loved clear skies..."

A chuckle from behind the group caused them all to turn around, Principal Takuya Narukami slowly approaching the Investigation Team and the Goddess.

"Narukami-sensei!?" sputtered Naoto, looking at the old man in confusion. "H-How did...!?"

"I simply walked." he replied, stopping a few feet from the group. "Even if Minoru-san had to give me a push..."

Izanami stared at Narukami in confusion. "...That voice... No..." she shook her head. "It couldn't be...!"

"It is." stated the principal, his form changing. Instead of an old, bearded man in his sixties was a man who looked no older than thirty, dark silver hair framing his face. Gray eyes gazed sadly at the goddess, a weak smile on his face. "It has been a long time, my dear Izanami."

"I... Izanagi...!"

"Wait, WHAT!?" exclaimed Yosuke.

"But... you..." Izanami was shaking her head, eyes wide with both confusion and sorrow. "You ran...! You left me behind...!"

A heavy sigh escaped Izanagi, seeming to carry the weight of millennia of emotions with it. "...And not a day has passed that I have not regretted what I did, or what I said." He averted his gaze. "...I don't even know what I expect to happen. Wounds such as the ones left upon our hearts and not so easily mended, and yet... I still wish to try." he looked at his wife once more. "If you will let me."

Rusei looked between the two deities, laughter slowly beginning to bubble up out of him. This drew everyone's attention to him, curious looks on their faces.

"Ami, Sosuke, and Tsubaki..." he said, laughter at the edge of his voice. "Amaterasu, Susano-o, and Tsukuyomi. It's so obvious in hindsight... then, the comb..." he quickly reached into his pocket, retrieving the bamboo comb from the card it was held within. "It didn't simply resemble the one you gave to your wife, it IS the one you gave to her...!"

"And here I'd thought Anansi taught me better about telling stories..." sighed the god, shaking his head before looking at his wife again. "That means Marie is your daughter... isn't she? It would explain why she looks so much like you did when you were younger."

"I... Okay, hold on, what the shit is going on here!?" asked Kanji, hand on his head as he tried to comprehend what was going on. "Our principal's a god, Marie's ALSO a god, and Rusei's just... be carrying around something one god gave to another who knows how damn long ago!?"

"...Y'know what. I'm... I'm done. Like, actually done." said Yosuke, beginning to walk away. "You two, just... I dunno, talk it out? I nearly got dragged to like, super hell like ten minutes ago, I need to go home and lay down... I know I said 'grand finale', but this..." he sighed, shaking his head. "I think I get why Roy wanted a vacation from it all so bad..."

"...We do have much to discuss." admitted Izanami.

"Yeah, you two have... fun, I guess?" Rise said, starting to follow Yosuke. "I'm with Yosuke-senpai, I need a nap..."

Rusei let out a heavy sigh of his own, joining the Investigation Team in there slightly odd exodus. "I think we all could use one right about now..."

Despite how strange everything felt as they left the gods to their devices, the team had a sense of satisfaction in their hearts. They took it easy for the remainder of the day, but even then it still seemed to pass by too quickly. The morning of March Twenty-First came, the Investigation Team gathered at Yasoinaba Station to see their leader off.

"Well, this is it." said Yosuke, a slight melancholy in his voice.

"You really are leaving, huh?" asked Chie. "Even though we're right here, it still hasn't really hit me yet..."

Rise wiped away a tear. "N-No more Rusei-senpai from t-tomorrow on..." her statement trailed off as she began to loudly sob.

"Hey, quit crying...!" said Kanji, shaking the Idol's shoulder. "It's way too soon for that!"

"But... but...!" Once more, Rise melted into a sobbing mess.

"Sheesh... Th-That stuff's kinda contagious, y'know..." remarked the bleach blond, rubbing one of his eyes. "You gotta put on a good face."

Nanako darted forward, hugging her cousin. "Big bro.. I don't want you to go away...!"

"Nanako... Didn't you promise that you wouldn't cry?" chuckled Dojima, lightly shaking his head as he gently pulled his daughter off Rusei. "Thanks for everything, Rusei. I'm really glad you came to stay with us."

"And to think, I almost let my parents talk me out of it..." chuckled the charcoal-haired teen.

Kanji sighed, finally seeming to fight back his tears. "Man, Rusei... This town's gonna feel empty without ya."

"...I've only seen this place with Sensei around..." Teddie noted quietly, the gravity of the situation finally seeming to fully dawn on him.

"Um... I can't quite decide what to do." said Naoto, taking a step forward. "At first, I only planned on staying here until the case was completely closed, but..." She blushed, a small smile on her face. "Maybe I should stick to my original plan... and take the train back with you, Rusei."

Rusei arched an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Kidnapping, Naoto? I thought you were above such things..."

"Kidding, of course." she replied with a small chuckle. "I couldn't do something like that. It's not as though we'll never see each other again. I'm sure you'll call anytime, even if there isn't a case to solve."

"I don't feel like saying goodbye either." Yosuke chimed in. "But hey, you got any plans during the long holiday in May? If you're free, come over and visit." he smirked. "With no mysteries to solve, we can have some real fun!"

"Oh, I'll make reservations!" exclaimed Yukiko, her mood brightening. "That way we can stay at the inn!"

Chie bounced in place. "Heh, now I'm more excited than sad!"

"It's almost time." Dojima noted, looking at his watch. "You better get moving."

Rusei nodded, adjusting the bag slung over his shoulder. "I know."

As he started towards the train, another cluster of people drew his attention. He walked their way, a smile on his face.

"Come to see me off as well?" he asked.

Daisuke grinned. "Damn right! Come back anytime you want. We can hit up Aiya, my treat!"

"Me and Daisuke'll definitely come crash at your place someday." added Kou.

"If anything happens, you can always come back here." said Ai. "I still owe you a phone case for last time."

"Thanks for everything, Rusei-san." Naoki said, shaking the Wild Card's hand. "Please take care."

Yumi waved. "As soon as I can look out for myself, I'll go see you."

"I'll be looking forward to it." replied Rusei, walking towards the train platform, only to find one last familiar face.

"You better not forget about me." said Marie, adjusting her hat slightly. "I won't forgive you if you do."

The Wild Card laughed. "I couldn't even if I wanted to."

Marie smirked, shaking her head as she walked away, passing by the Investigation Team and the Dojimas as they joined Rusei on the train platform.

"Well, see ya." said Yosuke.

Yukiko smiled, despite fighting back tears. "Good luck over there, too."

"If anything happens on you end, we'll come running!" Chie stated with confidence.

"Until we meet again, Rusei." said Naoto.

"I'll be waiting for your big comeback." Kanji remarked, a smirk on his face. "Don't keep me waiting, man."

Rise smiled. "See you... and take care."

"I'll be looking forward to seeing you again!" Teddie said brightly despite the sadness in his eyes.

"Well, be careful." Dojima said simply.

"I'll see you, big bro!" Nanako exclaimed, giving Rusei one last hug. "Bye bye!"

Rusei smiled, hugging his cousin back before he turned and stepped onto the train. The door closed behind him, and it began to pull out of the station. Even as it started to pick up speed, his friends kept pace as best they could.

"Thank you for everything!" Yukiko called out, finally having lost the struggle against her tears. "Stay well until we meet again some day!"

"You'll always be my sensei forever!"

"Please don't forget about us over there!"

"I love you, senpai!"

"I'll do my best!" Kanji shouted. "You better not run away either!"

"I'll always remember out time together!"

"Distance doesn't matter to us!" exclaimed Yosuke. "Even if we're separated, we're still friends!"

A content, sad smile settled onto Rusei's face as he watched the station and Inaba fade into the distance. A small chime from his watch alerted him that Naoto's was now out of range. He sighed, striding over to take a seat. He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out two small items.

One was a photo of the Investigation Team, smiling on the hill overlooking Inaba. The other was the printed e-mail from his father he'd shown to Naoto the day before.

-...Perhaps Yumi taught me too well.- he pondered, thinking ahead to what lay in store for him.

Ten days passed from when Rusei left, the Investigation Team adjusting to things without their leader and friend around. It was harder than they thought, but they managed. On April First, however, Kanji called together the group rather suddenly. Apparently a certain someone had called for some assistance.

"Roy's back in town?" asked Yosuke as he walked along with the others. "Why didn't he call ahead?"

"Old Man Daidara said it was kind of a sudden thing." reported Kanji. "Seems he got asked to help some friends of his Senpai move, since well... hard to pass up an Oni for carrying furniture. He kinda over estimated the amount of stuff they got though, and since they were movin' out here..."

Chie laughed. "Yeah, plus it'd be hard to maneuver a couch up stairs by yourself, even if you can carry the whole thing..."

"Wouldn't Chie and Kanji-kun be enough, though?" inquired Yukiko.

"Well, more hands would make things exponentially faster." remarked Naoto, checking her watch.

Rise hummed. "Yeah. Easier to unpack the little stuff that way while someone else brings in the heavy boxes..."

"Oh oh, I can do that!" exclaimed Teddie. "I'm really good at stacking plates!"

"I almost want to tell you no, but after that arrangement you did for that display, I'm willing to give you a chance." said Yosuke.

"What display?"

"We got in some new like, kitchen sets? Pots 'n pans and stuff? Well, somehow, Teddie managed to arrange them on the display shelves in a way that like, almost spot on matched the brand logo on the boxes. Dad was impressed."

The blond puffed his chest proudly. "Like I said, I'm a very dexterous bear!"

"So where's the house at, anyways?" asked Rise.

"Used to belong to Old Lady Kuroda. She was kind of a regular at the shop till she moved away a few weeks ago." stated Kanji, holding up the directions in his hands. "We should be just about there..."

The group rounded a corner, easily spotting the moving truck down the street. They also, however, noticed a familiar car parked nearby, a certain detective and his daughter hopping out.

"Huh? The Dojima's are here...?" asked Yosuke, the whole team picking up the pace.

"Hi!" Nanako called out, waving at the group.

Teddie waved back. "Hi, Nana-chan! Why're you and pops here?"

"LISTEN." came Roy's voice as he slowly pulled an entire couch out of the back of the moving truck. "They have like three entire sofas and I don't understand why!"

"There's only one sofa, Roy," Aigis sighed, coming out the front door and jogging over to him. "The other two are love seats."

The redhead sighed. "Whatever! Just... direct me, please? I can't see with this thing half on my head..."

"So who're you helping move, Big Red?" asked Kanji.

"Some relatives of the Boss. Nice people, their kid's pretty cool." Roy answered, slowly making his way into the building with Aigis guiding him. "Hayate-san! Where you want this thing?"

A voice called back that the team didn't recognize, giving some half-muffled directions. A moment later, and a woman who looked roughly four months pregnant stepped out.

"Oh, are you the ones Roy-san called to help?" inquired the charcoal-haired woman, a soft smile on her face. "Just a moment!" she turned and headed back into the building. "Rusei! Your other friends are here! And you didn't tell me your girlfriend was that cute!"

Confused, surprised looks were exchanged by most of the teens and Nanako, knowing smirks curling onto the faces of both Dojima and Naoto. The sound of a familiar voice calling back drew their attention, an equally familiar face stepping past his mother and out the front door of his new home.

"Glad you all could make it." said Rusei Norimoto, a wide smile on his face. "Just... be careful in the kitchen? Marie slipped and dropped a few plates, and she's still trying to clean it up..."

Confusion gave away to joy, the Investigation Team crowding around their leader in a happy cacophony of voices.

"It's not a dream... You're actually here!" Yosuke laughed, shaking Rusei's shoulder.

"Senpai, you jerk!" Rise wailed. "Why didn't you tell us!?"

The Wild Card shrugged. "I wanted it to be a surprise! Mother having a third child certainly was, and she wanted to get back to a more peaceful environment..."

"And he had such strong ties to Inaba, moving here was only natural." remarked Naoto, adjusting her cap slightly. Immediately, several accusing gazes turned towards the detective.

"...Why do you sound like you knew about this?" Chie asked, narrowing her eyes.

"He... Told me the day before he had to leave." she answered, a faint blush on her face.

Dojima nervously rubbed his neck. "His mom told me about it the week before then..."

"So... Big bro can stay...?" asked Nanako, looking up at her father from beside her cousin.

"Of course. He has a house out here now..." chuckled the detective. "Just let them get all moved in first, then you can ask your aunt and uncle if you can spend the night, okay?"

Her eyes lit up. "Okay! I'm gonna help!"

She scurried off into the house, loudly asking if either of her relatives needed help.

"Well, guess that means we can move up those plans for May, huh?" Yosuke said with a chuckle.

"Perhaps." answered Rusei, looking at the large moving truck. "I don't suppose you'd all be opposed to helping us move in? I'm... honestly surprised at how much we have..."

Yukiko shook her head. "Of course not!"

"Ha, you kiddin'?" asked Kanji. "Anything for a friend!"

"Thank you." he said, smiling at the Investigation Team. "It's good to be back."

Happy conversation filled the air as the Persona Users set about helping Rusei's family unload the moving truck, discussing plans for the future now that he was here to stay.

Author Notes - And there we are. Book's closed on the Journey of one Rusei Norimoto, it's time to move on. Been pretty fun! Glad I finally got to put this ending here... Had it planned since the original version of this story, which was... god, literally like, almost eight or nine years ago at this point? I need to get better at wrangling this damn writing muse of mine...

I'd like to thank all of you for reading this other silly Persona fanfic of mine, and also the amazing friends of mine who've helped me along the way. Tori, Sharkie, Enko, Aly... Really couldn't have done it without you guys. And a lot of really, really good music, but mostly you guys.

And that's all I wrote. I'll see you guys in the Ultimax Arena.

-MagnusRagnar, aka TheMagnusIgnis.