Even though the curtains of Akis window were dark, the window was open ajar so the warm breeze that the afternoon normally caused on the island blew the fabric into the room, causing slivers of sunshine of dance across the sleeping faces of Shinji and Aki. Nothing had disturbed their slumber, except for maybe the quiet chirping of a lone bird outside. It had only been a couple hours or so, but slowly, Aki stirred, his face clenching and his brow furrowing before he blinked his eyes open. He sat up weakly, hearing his bones crack and feeling his muscles ache. Reaching up, he rubbed an eye lazily, blinking and looking down, seeing Shinji. It didn't register in his mind why the other boy was there, or even really that he was there. The sound of knocking made him look up and grunt sleepily in response to whoever was on the other side. "Akihiko," Aigis' calm voice called through the wood, "Are you and Shinjiro awake now?" Aki blinked a bit, then felt his mind and body snap into gear, eyes blinking a million times within a single second as his gaze whipped down to stare at Shinji again. He had been there all night. "Shinji!!" Aki hissed, hitting the brunette on the top of his head, "Did you seriously fucking sleep here all night!?" he asked, watching Shinji slowly stir from his sleep. Blinking open his dark cinnamon eyes, Shinji grunted and sat up, cracking his neck before looking at Aki sleepily, rubbing the back of his head, where Aki had hit him, "Hn...?" he managed to ask. Aki huffed, "Did. You. Sleep. Here. All night?!" the boxing champion asked, hitting him on the side of his head, wincing as he did so. "Hn? Oh...yeah..." Shinji said with a bleary smile, rubbing the spot where Aki had just hit him, "Not like you complained." the punk said with a slight, hoarse and sleepy voice. Aki stared at him a moment, gaping then shutting his mouth and glaring at him, "I fell asleep...!!" he seethed out angrily. Shinji put a hand on his cheek, turning his face from left to right, the crack of his bones echoing throughout the quiet room, "You could have asked Aigis to take me away...or something like that..." At that moment, the robot girl walked into the room without any permission and closed the door quietly behind her. Looking between Aki and Shinji, she blinked her fluorescent blue eyes at them and blinked again before tilting her head to the side, "Are the two of you fully recovered now?" she asked in her polite, quiet and airy voice. Aki crossed his arms and huffed, looking up at Aigis before giving her a curt nod,"Yeah. Never better." he said gruffly, "Hey...where is Misturu right now?" "She is informing everyone of the circumstances of last night. Do you need me to get her...?" the android asked, looking at Shinji. "Nn...no. It's fine...just wondering. You don't need to worry about us anymore. Just do what you want now Aigis." Aki mumbled, glacning at the robot girl before she nodded and turned around quickly, marching out of the room. Shinji looked over his shoulder before sighing and looking back at Aki, "...she tries way too hard..." he said with a huff. Aki narrowed his eyes and glared at Shinji ,"Lighten up on her. Without her, your ass would have been dead." Shinji scoffed and looked at Aki with a bored expression, "She saved your ass too you know." he told him. "You act like I'm gonna deny that fact." Aki said with a snort. "Just reminding you." he said with a smirk. As the two shot insults back and forth at eachother, Aigis stood by the door, smiling to herself. They had always been like this, and Aigis loved listening to them argue. It was refreshing to her. Hearing the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs, Aigis looked over and saw Mitsuru. The red haired teen blinked and headed towards her, smiling tiredly. Aigis smiled back and nodded at Mitsuru when she came within earshot of the two boys arguing in the other room, spitting insults like mad now. Mitsuru felt a sweatdrop forming at the back of her head as she neared the door, "Are they...alright?" Aigis chuckled and nodded, "They are perfectly fine Mitsuru." She said with a nod. "Ah...good." She replied, hearing Shinji string together obscenities, Aki replying with just as many, "They're really going at it...huh?" she asked, wondering what they were arguing about this time. "They are not actually fighting..." Aigis explained, holding up a finger thoughtfully, "They are only making fun of each other due to the presiding factor that they are best friends and care about the other very much." Mitsuru blinked and stared at Aigis a moment, "What...?" she asked, blinking again and tilting her head to one side in confusion. "I sense that everything between Akihiko and Shinjiro is in the process of becoming fully mended." Aigis stated in simpler terms, and still Mitsuru blinked. "...Aigis. Do you hear them...?" she asked, mystified. "Yes. And they are getting along perfectly." She responded with a tiny smile. Mitsuru opened her mouth to speak again, but Aigis seemed to be throughly convinced so she shook her head and crossed her arms, "That is not why I am came up here, I need to speak to you about your next mission." she told the robot girl. "I am listening." she responded. Mitsuru nodded, "Since the night before I feel as if something between Akihiko and Shinjiro has come up. I want you to find out what that problem is." she explained, Aigis blinking, now the one confused. "....is there something physically wrong with them? I do not understand what kind of problem you are speaking of." Aigis told the maroon haired senior. "No! No! Nothing physical. I just feel some distance between him and Aragaki; he's trying not to show it, but something happened and Akihiko is trying to hide it. Aigis, we need to find a way to get Aki to tell Shinji what's bothering him. We can not have his problem presenting itself in dire situations like last night." Mitsuru mused halfway to herself, and halfway to Aigis. The blond android stared at her unblinkingly, "I do not understand. How do you plan to accomplish such a thing? I am a bit fuzzy on the following operation is to commence..." "I am getting to that part Aigis," Mitsuru said, watching the robot girl fall quiet under her watchful gaze, "Good. Now. No need to worry, I just need you to do something for me, that's all. Remember how you were able to arrange a meeting between yourself and Aragaki at the cafe? I need you to do the same for Aragaki and Akihiko, but without them knowing who they're going to meet." Aigis blinked and tilted her head to one side, "...shall I ask him out on a date again? I remember being shown by Yukari a similar situation on television one time in a drama show." "No no no no!!" Mitsuru stopped her from speaking anymore, "Don't take Shinjiro on a date; just set up a meeting for the two of them." Aigis nodded in confirmation, "Understood. I will try my best to complete this operation." she told the other girl confidently. Mitsuru nodded and waved her hand, "You are dismissed Aigis." She said as the blond girl walked downstairs, Mitsuru watching her carefully before frowning. Once again, the thoughts of Aigis messing up this mission crossed her mind. That sinking feeling was back.
The sun shone through the windows of the first floor lounge, making the occupants shift and groan as the light disturbed their rest. The night before had been so stressful and full of more excitement then the SEES team was sued to that when they all got home, most of them crashed onto the couches and chairs in the front living room. Minato and Koromaru were curled up together on one couch, Yukari sprawled across one of the chairs. Junpei on the other one, hat over his face as he slept upside down. Shinji took up the entirety of the second couch, his own beanie pulled over his eyes. Yet...he could see see the sun through the stitching and he sat up slowly, ripping the hat off of his head and looking around tiredly. His mind was a bit slow from not only the lack of sleep he felt as if he had (one of the many effects from staying up during the Dark Hour), but he was aching all over. Every move he made caused him to flinch in pain. Even so, he got to his feet and managed to make it to the steps before he had to sit down. Shinji sighed slowly. He'd done pretty stupid things before..but this one really made all the others seem like nothing. "Aragaki." Mitsuru's voice sounded hoarsely from behind him. Shinji craned his neck, hearing it crack with pain, and noticed that she too looked tired as hell. He knew she had to repair Aigis...but had she gotten any sleep, Shinji wondered. "....how is everyone?" Mitsuru asked, sitting down beside him, running a hair through her hair. "Nn...still sleeping..." Shinji grunted out, "Nm...how about Aigis?" he asked then. "She'll be fine...just needs some time to recover..." Mitsuru responded, looking at her feet. A silence fell over the two before Mitsuru glanced at the older teen, "....I think Akihiko will be awake now..." Shinji remained silent. "....he asked for you..." Again, he didn't say anything. "...Aragaki! Are you listen--" Mitsuru was about to snap at him, putting a hand on his shoulder to shake him, but when she looked at him, realized he'd closed his eyes and feel asleep on the steps. She blinked a couple times before smiling gently as the brunette leaned against her shoulder, sound asleep and breathing lightly. Mitsuru's eyes also closed gently as she leaned her head against his own, sighing gently. "Aragaki...you really are a fool..." she whispered before dozing off, leaning against her old friend as the two fell into a gentle, normal, slumber.8 8 8 8 8 8 8 "Dude...Senpai..." Junpei's voice broke through Shinji's dreamless slumber, "Did you score with Mitsuru senpai or something?" he asked. Shinji opened his eyes blinking, then looked up to see Mitsuru's sleeping head on top of his. "...G-gah!!" he let out a grunt, scooting away from the red haired senior. He didn't even remember falling asleep, but at least he felt better then before. Junpei stood over them with a goofy grin on his face. "Ugh...what do you want Iori...?" Shinji asked, rubbing his eyes, trying to make up. "....Oh!! Right!" Junpei said, making a face, "Akihiko senpai wants to see you." he reported cheerfully, but Shinji's lips pulled into a frown. It wasn't that he didn't want to see Aki...it's just that, he didn't think he could face his best friend. With great effort, Shinji go to his feet with some help from the hat wearing junior and he started up the stairs alone. Trudging to the boys room, Shinji knocked softly on the door. "...Aki...I'm coming in." he announced, opening the door some and slipping inside quietly. The silver haired boy was sitting up in his bed, bandaged up and staring out towards the window his eyes tired. Shinji frowned and walked quietly over to the bed before sitting down on the side. Aki looked over at him tiredly, face set into a frown. "Aki..." Shinji sighed out, looking at his friend with worry. Aki flinched slightly, blinking at the brown haired boy, "Shin...ji?" he choked out hoarsely. "Nn...yeah...I'm here Aki." Shinji said, glancing away from his wounded comrade. Aki eyed him warily before taking a deep breath, "...How's...Aigis?" he asked quietly. Shinji nodded slowly, "...Mitsuru repaired her last night...she's probably recovering now..." "Ahh..." was the response from the boxer. "...You should be more worried about yourself..." Shinji mentioned, putting a hand on Aki's shoulder. He flinched, shying away from his hand and looking away, "I've been through worse," he whispered, not looking at Shinji, "What about you?" "Mm...sore is all..." Shinji answered. "....and the surpressants...?" Aki asked with his voice barely above a whisper, still not looking at him. Shinji looked at Aki before taking a deep breath a deep frown crossing his features before he looked at the floor, hand reaching into his pocket to grasp the pill box that held his deadly supply of pills. "I can't stop taking them." Aki grunted, before looking at Shinji, "Nn...you're fucking crazy Aragaki." He told him hollowly. "Don't call me that...we're supposed to be friends..." Shinji muttered. "I should have let them kill you when I had the chance." Aki muttered bitterly, as if he hadn't heard Shinji. Shinji looked away, "....do you regret letting me live?" he asked quietly. " ....We all have dreams, Shinji. But apparently you're too fucking out of your mind to be responsible enough to take care of the one SEES has; the one people are depending on us for." Aki spoke, his voice hollow, and still ignoring what Shinji had said. Shinji felt guilt knot his stomach. He deserved that, " ....I...I was trying to protect...the people around me. I don't want the same thing happening...like last time. I...I wanted to protect you..." he told him, voice barely above a whisper. At this rate...he'd loose his voice. "Good feelings...right?" Aki asked. Shinji paused. "...a-aki..." he choked out before Aki began to snap at him. "Stop messing with me Shinji!!" Aki yelled, nearly screamed at the boy. Shinji felt his eyes snap to attention as he stared at Aki. All noise seemed to cease in the dorm as Shinji stared at Akihiko before opening his mouth to speak again, "...w...what?" "You keep playing tricks on my mind! I'm fucking tired of this shit, Shinji! I've had enough!" Aki growled angrily, fury raging in his eyes and across his face. Mind reeling, Shinji didn't have much time to gather his thoughts, "I...i'm not playing Aki!! What the hell made you think that!?" he managed to choke out with an edge to his voice. "Dammit Shinji! You act like this is some fucking game! You come here the next day "apologizing" for a near death situation! You almost got Aigis and yourself killed!" Aki yelled, then lowered his voice into a seething, angrily whisper, "You're taking supressants, you kissed me, you're going insane!" he snapped venomously at his friend. Shinji felt his eyes stinging and strained them to watch his friend. He felt so many emotions boiling around his heart. Anger, and sadness and everything in between and above whirled through his mind, " I...I...You think I wanted things to end up this way Aki!!?? I never wanted you to find you from those bastards!! You should have left me to die...!!!" Aki felt his face fall from anger to shock, opening his mouth to speak again, but Shinji was finished and glared at him, "I didn't want Aigis or you to get hurt!!" he paused again before looking down at the floor,"Your such an ass you know that...you never could understand me..." he muttered harshly as Aki stared in disbelief. Aki's shock faded as he looked way from Shinji, his anger building up again at an alarming rate, " I've tried Shinji! God dammit I've tried so many times! But you never open up! And then you pull crazy ass shit on me and I don't know what to think! ...or who to trust..." Shinji still stared at the floor, his eyes stinging still, "Damn it!! It's hard Aki!! I don't even trust myself anymore!! I just...I want you to be there for me...no matter what I do...or much of an ass I am!!" He snapped, angst filling his voice as he buried his head in his hands, "I'm sorry you feel this way Aki...you always seem to make me do stupid things...I just...I...can't think straight when your around.." Aki's eyes widened before he turned to stare at Shinji, mouth open, gaping. His features softened as he blinked at Shinji slowly, guilt filling his face, "Shinji...." he whispered, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder. Shinji pushed his hand away before standing up and heading to the door, "You obviously don't care...I'll leave you alone from now and on Aki. You'll be better off.." he muttered just loud enough for the other boy to hear before he opened the door and left, then shut it. "S...shinji!" Aki called, yelling through the door. Shinji's footsteps stopped. "P..please wait.." he called quietly. "...what is it Aki?" Shinji asked, leaning against the door. "...Alright, so you can be an ass but you act like I haven't been one either..." Aki said, biting his lip angerily. "...what are you trying to say Aki?" he asked quietly. The silver haired boy let out a heavy sigh, " Dammit Shinji, you're making this hard... -grits teeth- W-What I'm trying to say is...I don't want you to leave me alone.." Shinji paused before opening the door ajar, "...you don't?" "...n...no..." Aki whispered, swallowing hard, "...want to...you know...talk...?" Quietly, Shinji opened the door fully and walked inside, sitting down on his bed before swallowing and nodding at him, "...talk..." Aki opened his mouth to talk, but everything seemed to fly out of his mind. The only thing he could think of was the first thing he said, "What'd you tell them?" he blurted out. "What they wanted to hear..." Shinji responded simply. "....which was?" "..nothing about you..." "I would have preferred it was about me." "If I had said anything about you, you would have been killed on the spot Aki!" Shinji told him, desperation in his voice. "Shinji...you know me though. I'm always up for a challenge." Aki said, smirking before laughing lightly, "Better me then you, you know?" "Aki...I'm dying anyway. What's it matter if it's a little bit earlier?" "Don't you fucking say tha- Ow! S...shit..." Aki grunted as he jumped to sit up too quickly, pain lancing through him. Shinji sighed and laid him back down gently, frowning. "Don't do that...you'll hurt yourself more then you already have..." he said before frowning, "You can't deny the truth Aki..." "Damn it...I'll deny what I feel like denying! I risked my life to keep your ass alive and, shit, that's the way it's going to stay!" "And I risked my life to keep you alive and kicking as well! So don't preach to me! I don't give a shit about me. Neither should you..." "The same goes for you, you know! If I couldn't give a damn about myself, why should you?!" "Because! I'm going to die before you! I'd rather you stay alive in my lifetime thank you very much! Besides! I might as well go down protecting someone I care about...not in my sleep like some half assed drama!!" Shinji huffed with anger and glared at Aki, who laid down looking just as mad. It was true that neither of them would give up this fight. But they were damn well gonna try and Aki crossed his arms slowing, looking away from his chocolate haired friend. "You're going to be that weak, huh? Just give up like that? Well if you want to do some protecting and do me a favor, protect yourself; I'm alive to protect you, if you were dead then what point would there to be alive, huh?" He growled out, glaring at the wall as he did so. Shinji frowned and turned Aki to face him, his face filled with a gentle seriousness, "....I can't do that Aki. I can't choose myself over you. That's impossible...it's like...asking Minato to smile...it won't happen...ever," he said, lightening the air around them some, Aki cracking a small smile at the comment, " I want you to stay alive...you deserve it. More then I do at least." Aki let out a soft, weak chuckle, "Well you've got one thing right; that kid will never change facial expressions. But...this isn't about who "deserves" life; you can't say that. Life is just as random as death; as random as who gets to be a Persona user and who doesn't. You can't control it, there's no point in trying.So...please stop worrying about me Shinjiro..." Shinji paused and clenched a fist before swallowing and looking at Aki with worry, "I killed someone...and I didn't mean to Aki. Her son...is outside...he deserves life. You...you deserve life...you have things you want to do...I can't do shit anymore. I can't even control Castor properly. I was given the potential for a reason..and I fucked up. That does not sound like someone who deserves life..." he whispered slowly, staring away from the other boy as Akihiko did stare at him. A moment of silence passed over the two as they thought of the night that Shinji first lost control of Castor. Aki, usually very sympathetic though, felt an anger burning in his chest. He sat up weakly and looked at Shinjiro, growling. "Don't you get it?! We've all fucked up at one time or another! I still beat myself over Miki's death every night...but I can't dwell in the past and neither can you. Life is only good based on the people you have in it and dammit Shinji if you were to die.... "he started to say, but trailed off quietly. Shinji stared at Aki before clenching a fist and resting his forehead on the edge of Akis bed, whispering, "I'm...so...sorry...I...I didn't realize...you cared...so much..." he told the other boy quietly, not looking up at him. Feeling his face flush a dark red, Aki looked away from Shinji before putting a hand on his friends head gently, frowning ignorantly, "I don't care about you. I just know that finding a replacement would be a hassle." Aki grumbled. Shinji let out a snort and looked up at the silver haired boy,"Oh don't gimme that shit. You found a persona using dog for fucks sake. You can find someone else. Garunteeded." Aki paused before looking at the other boy, smirking slightly, "Yeah well...probably not one with an annoying ass beanie like you." Shinji chuckled, "I'll let that one slide...until morning." he told him before yawning. Aki blinked, "You tired? Geez...go to your room then..." he told the other boy, yawning himself. "I don't want to...your bed is more comfortable." Shinji told him, wrapping his arms around his head, settling himself into a more comfortable sleeping position. "Get off...!!" Aki whined, trying to push his friends head weakly off, but winced as he didn't budge. "No. I don't want to move..." he responded sleepily. "My bed is currently in use thank you very much...!!" Aki whined again, still trying to push the muscled punk away, but when he did, Shinji let out a sleepy grunt. Looking closely, Aki blinked and saw his friend asleep, breathing lightly, lips slightly parted and brown hair shaggily covering his eyes some, his beanie slumped to one side so it covered one eye more then the other. The silver haired boxing champion smiled softly before laying down weakly in his bed, head next to Shinji's. They hadn't slept like this since they were kids, and it was notsolgic; bringing Aki to a memory from long ago when we her got beat up, Miki worriedly sleeping where Shinji was, and Shinji, with short cropped hair and a cuter face, had fallen asleep in a chair in the corner of the room. He couldn't help but smile, thinking of their happy family, and as he closed his eyes, he tried to pretend that Miki was this time in the corner, asleep, watching over the two as he also drifted into into a dreamless, throbbing slumber.
"How dare you!" Takaya screeched, "Don't interrupt this business meeting!!" he yelled in his rage. "How dare I?!" Aki asked, with a laugh, "How dare you! You're the bastards trying to weasel your way out of a deal. There's one thing I can't stand in this fucking world...and it's bitches like you that go back on their word! So you're going down!" He snapped angrily, hand whipping out to catch his evoker as Shinji tossed it back to the silver haired boxer. Aki smirked as Aigis stepped up beside him, "I will assist you in this battle, Akihiko." she said quietly, glancing at the senior who nodded his thanks. "Hmph...what a poor sense of judgement." Takaya muttered, cracking his hand back into place, letting out a growl of intense pain as he did so. Aki frowned, watching Shinji as Jin stepped up beside Takaya, smirking and pulling out his evoker from his pocket, ready for the upcoming battle. Aigis grimaced and Aki glanced at her, worry knotting his stomach. Somehow this didn't feel right. Something in the back of his mind told him to turn and run. But he wouldn't leave without Shinji. He couldn't. "Stop the lollygagging! Moros!" Jin snapped, pulling the trigger of his evoker against his temple, "Mudo!" he growled, the deep purple circle appearing beneath Aigis before she lept out of the way swfitly, Aki dodging to the side as well. Takaya grinned, spreading his palm wide glaring at Aki. "You should just die, boy!" he seethed, "Bufudyne!" he ordered, his Persona appearing. Aki's eyes widened side stepping quickly, but not quick enough as he felt his right arm and leg engulfed in ice, then shattering painfully, making him stumble and fall to the ground weakly. Why he had to attack with Aki's only weakness was a myestery for a moment. The boxing champ cursed his bad luck. Aigis' gaze shot towards Aki calling his name before flames errupted around her and she let out a shreik of surprise. Takaya smirked, stepping towards the faller senior, "Hmph...I told you not to underestimate us...didn't I?" Aki's only answer was a low grunt of pain. "That's what I thought...BUFUDYNE!" Takaya screamed, once again Hypnos appearing beside him, the temptuature in the area around Akihiko falling fast. He closed his eyes, awaiting the attack, until he felt hands pushing him out of the way, and a yelp of pain and then the sound of shattering ice. Hitting the wall, Aki opened his eyes wide and saw his robotic companion on her knees, frost caked between her joints. His eyes widened, that realization that she had just saved his life settling into the back of his mind. "Ai...Aigis!!" Aki choked out, sitting up, then flinching as he grabbed his arm in pain. Aigis looked at him smiling weakly, "Ak...aki...hi..hi...hi..koo..." Aigis tried to say, but her voice jumped before her eyes closed and she collapsed, her system shutting down from the ice that must have invaded her circuits. "Aigis!!" Shinji called, standing up, but before he could rush towards the fallen roboto girl, Jin shoved him to the ground furiously. "Tch...we've taken care of one of them..." Jin chuckled out. "Now for the other..." Takaya sneered. Shinji stared at Aki from his place on the ground as Jin held him in place, "A...aki!! Run!" He shouted out before getting kicked in the face by an angry Jin. "Aki! Get out! Stop being acting tough and just run!" He snapped before Takaya turned around, striking him across the face with his foot, blood running down the side of his face. "Heh...I guess I do act tough sometimes..." Aki groaned out, trying to stand up, but collapsed against the wall weakly, hearing the click of Takaya's pistol. "Hmph...it's time to end this Sanada." the Strega leader told the boy calmly, "Isn't this a wonderful day Aragaki?" he asked the beaten punk. Shinji struggled against Jin, but the hacker took out a knife and pressed it against his cheek threateningly, making Shinji freeze, eyes widening in horror as Takaya stalked towards Aki, gun pointed at his head. The older man cackled wickledly, cocking his gun and finger twitching on the trigger teasingly. Grinning at Aki, he leaned down and chuckled again, "I hope you have a good time in he-" "WAIT!" The word echoed around the allyway, causing all the commotion to cease and all eyes to go onto Shinji. He stared at Takaya, huffing, eyes wide as he breathed heavily. He couldn't sit on the sidelines any longer. "KILL ME! Spare Aki...please!!" Silence. "...KILL ME!!" Not even Aki could say a word. "Please...leave Aki of this...I...I'm begging you Takaya...this is between you and me...please...let them go..." he whispered in defeat, Takaya looking over his shoulder with an even more wicked smile then before. "Fine," he said, putting the pistol away, "I won't kill him..but perhaps--" "SCREW THIS SHIT! I'm ENDING this! AGILIO!" Jin screamed angerily, summong his persona, aiming the attack at Aki, who tried to move, but couldn't. Shinji let out a scream and pushing Jin off of him, standing up in a second and pushing Takaya out of the way and then finally, covering Aki with himself, the flames covering him and Akihiko, both of them letting out screams of pain as the flames burned into their flesh. Collapsing on top of Aki, Shinji gave him a weak smile, and Shinji stared at him in horror. "Shinji!! Shinji!!!" Aki screeched, sitting up and staring down at his friend in horror, tears welling in his eyes, shaking the brunette, "I...I told you to run the fuck away...you're s-such...an idiot..." he whimpered, crying quietly. Shinji's hand reached up and pinched Aki's cheek before sitting up painfully, smirking at him, "Aki...I'm fine...don't cry," he whispered, wiping the other boys tears away, "I need you...to take Aigis..and go. I've started this...and now I have to finish this!" he grunted and stood up with great effort, turning to face Takaya and Jin. Aki tried to stand up, also but fell back down again, eyes fluttering closed as he fell unconscious. Jin scoffed angerily and Takaya frowned. "How dissapointing...now we only have to deal with Aragaki now." the grey haired man said with false sadness. Shinji struggled to remain standing as he watched the two, trying to keep his eyes open at the same time, "H-heh...I guess...I should ask you to leave Aki and Aigis alone...but like you'll follow through," Shinji deducted aloud, watching Takaya grin wider, "Heh...then...make this clean...will you?" he requested, falling to one knee. Takaya aimed his gun grinning, "Of course." Closing his eyes, Shini began to smile, Miki...I can't wait to see your smile again...he told himself, trying to make this situation all the much better. Too bad the knot in his stomach didn't untie. "Mabufula!" a voice snapped suddenly, cracking through the silence with the sound of frost shattering around the area, causing Jin and Takaya to let out screams of pain. Shinji turned his head weakly, knowing exactly who was the source of the voice. He'd know it anywhere. Mitsuru. "You will fall by my hand!" the dark red haired senior shouted crossly, as she stepped into the ally, evoker clutched to the side of her head and eyes narrowed into deadly slits. The rest of the SEES team stepped up beside her, and Shini felt his eyes widen as he spotted Minato, one word crossing across his mind as he stared into the dark haired transfer student, No...!! "Aragaki, " Minato said, "You alright?" he asked quietly, glancing toward the boy then at Strega. "Nn...yeah..." he managed to grunt out, falling to one knee weakly, "But...Aki and...Ai--" "Don't speak Shinjiro," Mitsuru advised, "We'll take care of everything. Don't wor--" "Oh shut up!" Jin snapped irritably, interrupting the senior and pulling out a grenade, smirking, "Like you'll get the chance!" He growled, pulling the pin and then grabbing Takaya, throwing the weapon down in a cloud of thick black smoke. Mitsuru gasped, rushing into the smoke to try to catch them, but Minato grabbed her, holding her back as the smoke cleared and the two Strega team members were gone from sight. "Mitsuru...they're gone..." Minato muttered before letting her go. She frowned and looked back at him, "..I know..." she sighed with obvious disappointment. The dark haired junior walked over to where Shinji was and frowned at him before raising a hand and putting it on his shoulder, "Nn...good job..." "Don't praise him! He almost got them killed!" "He bought us time." "But..." "...." "...if you say so Minato..." The argument lasted only a moment as Minato stooped over Aigis fallen form and tapping her side a couple times before her eyes opened, zooming in and out as her system restarted, jumping to her feet. The robot girl looking around, trying to recall where her memory bank had left off and spotted Aki, eyes widening. "Akihiko!" she choked out, taking a step toward him before wincing as her joints creaked against each other. Minato frowned and stood up walking over to Aki and helping the boy up without much effort at all and Shinji wondered in the boy really was a robot and never told anyone. Shinji too stood up slowly and this time Aigis caught his body as it swayed perilously close to falling over again. "I...am sorry...this is all my fault..." Aigis said, as Shinji leaned against her. "It's okay Aigis. Don't beat yourself up over this..." Shinji muttered, exhausted. "He's right Aigis. This was unexpected for all of us," Mitsuru started to say as she nodded at Minato who was carrying Aki out of the ally, Yukari rushing to his side in worry as they left the scene. She then turned to Shinji and Aigis, "Any bodily damage Aragaki?" Shinji paused then sighed, looking away quietly. Mitsuru took this as her answer and turned around, walking out. Aigis turned to look at Shinji frowning as she started to follow the dark haired girl, "Shinjiro...I--" He held up a hand, "We'll talk about this later Aigis...let's just get out of here.." he said weakly, then smiled up at the android girl. She blinked once, then slowly, a smile crept up onto her flawless metallic features.
