towerofanimus | And if it ends today

Entry tags:

And if it ends today

Characters: AU!Miyabi and YOU
Setting: All over the tower
Format: Action, prose, p4-style convo graphics, whatever works!!!
Summary: Miyabi wakes up in the tower, and she's not sure she likes what's going on.
Warning: SHENANIGANS. Eikichi. Shenanigans involving Eikichi? IDK.

Waking up had been an experience- a nerve-wracking, thoroughly uncomfortable experience, what with the way she'd all but fallen out of the bed and then nearly tripped over herself when she saw she wasn't wearing her uniform anymore. The white affair she'd woken up in had been far tighter than anything she'd ever worn, and she was ecstatic when she found her normal clothes in the trunk at the foot of the strange bed in the even stranger room she'd regained consciousness in. Changing had been tricky (and how she'd even gotten into the white jumpsuit was something she didn't want to think about), but soon enough she was re-dressed and feeling much more normal.

Then she'd found the note.

She hadn't wanted to take it seriously at first- mainly because she wasn't exactly sure this was the kind of thing that Nyarlathotep would do for any of them with what they'd had to sacrifice. Did that mean something bigger and more powerful had gotten a hold of her before she'd disappeared completely? Had it gotten a hold of the others too? Jun-san, Tatsuya-san, Maya-san, Lisa-san and...

"...Eikichi-kun."

My Lord, echoed Persephone in the back of her mind, and shebit her lip before standing up, expression resolute.

She set the letter aside on the bed- she'd re-made it out of habit, not liking the messiness nor wanting to be rude- and stood up, rummaging in the trunk once more to find the weapons she'd seen had been in there while she was looking for her clothes. Armed, nervous, and worried as to whether or not she could handle whatever this was on her own, she made her way out of the room. She made a note of what number it was as she did, then made her way further out into the rest of the building, tugging nervously at the hem of her shirt the entire time.

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Another like us approaches.

Persephone's voice caught her attention in time for the sound of someone making their way quickly down a nearby hallway. She followed the sound, turning in time to see a pale blur rush past- and she would have missed who it was were it not for Persephone's gasp of-

My Lord!

-and the familiar shade of blue in that hair. She wasn't entirely sure if she should be glad or worried that he was around, considering everything that Philemon and Nyarlathotep had said, but that was pushed aside by the happiness of seeing him again when she wasn't sure she'd even remember him.

"Ah-! Eikichi-kun is that really you?"

She whirled, moving to start after him- and then noticed everything he wasn't wearing, hands flying to cover her eyes even as her voice rose to call after him again, a note of scandal in her voice.

"E-Eikichi-kun!"

Someone was calling his name, yet it was Hades who responded.

...My Lady!

"Muh? Dude, no." Eikichi rubbed his eyes letting some of the mascara spread and looked at her. "That's not your babe, that's my bab--" Miyabi?! "Miyabi!" Yes thank you, she knew her name, Eikichi.

Time stoppped for a few seconds as a thousand thoughts ran into his mind. Apologizing for having to restart the world, wondering if they'd be together in the next, why was she here it could be dangerous! Yet he felt guilty that he was glad that she was and hoped she wasn't here because he had somehow cased the world to mess up when it restarted, bu...it was...it was...

Both the happiest and saddest moment of his life. His urge to protect her against everything that the tower could throw at them burned along with the fact that she was here. Finally, he managed to blink his eyes one, two, three times, and take a step forward towards her, like she would disappear if he got closer.

It was then he realized that the breeze in the tower was much colder than usual and he looked down in horror...

....

...Shit!

"U-uh I'll be right back!" He ran off so fast one could have sworn there was a smoke trail behind him as he bolted back into his room and grabbed a pair of pants, the screams of swearing as he nearly tore a hole trying to put them on too quickly. He popped out right afterwards...without a shirt.

One out of two wasn't too bad, right?

That, he only found out after he finished running towards her and and grabbed her into a hug. Wow I could really feel the fabric of her shir---aww crap. But honestly, he didn't care at that moment. It was Miyabi in the flesh, and he could run his hand in her hair and feel her heartbeat and her breathing. Worrying about something like that was trivial.

"It's really you!" It was...really her. He could have cried in joy.

That boy of yours...

Miyabi resisted a laugh- though barely- at Persephone's drawl, shaking her head as she watched Eikichi bolt back the way he'd come. She wasn't entirely sure, but she could have sworn his face had been a little pink as he went, and the thought made the giggle escape with a nervous trill to it. It wasn't as if she'd entirely minded the state of him- really, she'd only been surprised, for the most part- but she'd be lying if she said she'd have been able to keep her head on straight talking to him like that. Still, she watched him depart with a fond expression on her face, though Persephone grumbled all the while about not getting to greet Hades properly- something which continued until Eikichi returned- still only half-dressed, but at least more decent.

She wasn't prepared for the hug that followed- though experience should have let her know that she should be expecting it- and for a moment she merely stood there, startled and shy. It took his voice to make her react, and she did so by throwing her arms around him and pressing as close as she dared, taking in the solid warmth of him eagerly. It felt good, knowing he was here, that he was real- that somehow, like her, he still remembered how she felt about him and how she hoped he felt about her. Her hands pressed into his back, mindful as she could be of the fact that he was shirtless still, and nuzzled against him, taking a deep breath. He smelled like she remembered, the small detail making the embrace that much better even as she sighed and let her arms slip to settle a bit above his waist.

"You're okay..." She spoke into his shoulder, not caring if her words were muffled, her arms wrapping tighter still around his slim frame. "You're okay and you remember- oh Eikichi-kun, I was so worried...!"

He hadn't realized how much he had missed her until she said his name again and couldn't help but grin so widely he was sure his face would fall off at any moment. Suddenly, it was like he didn't care what the tower might bring him, she was here with him and he ran his hand up and down her back, just content to enjoy at this minute of peace.

"I was worried about you too," he admitted, almost choking at his own words, but tightening his grasp. "When it happened, I kept repeating your name over and over to make sure we'd be together but I was afraid we'd--"

Listen to me! Hade's annoyed voice rang inside him before he could continue. Do you not feel the melodic hum of another like you? Was this not the reason I woke you up for?!

"Wha--"

Yes! Now you understand. Within her is Persephone, my-- Eikichi didn't quite hear the rest as he moved away from Miyabi for a second, one eye closed as if he was scanning her for the first time, his hands still on her shoulders as he moved closer to her face, whispering.

"Miyabi. Uh...Babe, I don't panic but....I think you have a Persona."

Hades facepalmed.

HADES.

FACEPALMED.

"Oh, Eikichi-kun..."

His admittance made her flush and try to nuzzle closer, warmth radiating in her chest as he admitted to hoping they'd be together again- because she'd done the same, eyes closed and fingers laced tight. There was no one to pray to, not really, but she'd been hoping that her desperation might be enough to help the outcome in their favor. To hear that she hadn't been the only one made her happier than she could even put into words, and she took another deep breath, enjoying the feeling of having him so close.

I see attempts at subtlety are still completely useless- as is being straightforward.

Persephone's voice cut through her pleasant reverie, and she jerked back as she blinked ins surprise- first at her Persona, and then at Eikichi.

"I... well yeah, of course I do. Oh geez, you don't have like that selective amnesia or something, do you? That just seems like the kind of thing Philemon would pull..."

He looked back at her if she was speaking crazy talk.

"W-what? Hell no! Why would have have selective amnesia?! I swear, the last time I saw you, it was at the Scorpion temple when I fought the shadow me and we...hugged and then I left with the others to finish what we started. You said you'd wait for me..."

This will get us nowhere. I apologize for my other self, but he is unfortunately correct. My lady, your presence was not in this child before.

Yes, thank you Hades. Eikichi could only give a feeble nod at him, still pretty confused.

I was not? The child and I have been one for quite some time, My Lord- that is quite impossible, unless there is something I am missing?

Miyabi half-ignored Persephone for the moment and shook her head, frowning a little in worry- then paused, surprise evident on her face, at what was relayed to her.

"She... wasn't with me? But she was...! That- that's why I followed after you, after you left. I got worried, after we fought our Shadows, that you'd be in too much trouble for just the five of you, so I did my best to help. We both did, Persephone and I..."

She shook her head again, heart picking up as she pulled back enough to look up at him properly, hands settling on his arms, fingers tightening around them a little harder than she meant to.

"Are you telling me... that didn't happen?"

He could feel those nails digging into his arms but didn't protest at all, still confused by the entire situation himself...until Ken's words came back to his mind.

"Different worlds..." he began, looking at her.

Ahh! We understand now. It would appear, then, that we are both from different realities. In ours, my other self and I have walked the path alone. I am...delighted to know that somewhere else you were there, my Queen.

God you two, that was getting a bit creepy as far as Eikichi was concerned. He closed his eyes, thinking about it. This wasn't his Miyabi. Well, she was, but not quite. Technically.

...she was Miyabi. And Eikichi had told her once, it wasn't his appearance that interested him. It was her big heart. If that big heart came from a different world entirely? Hell to that too! It was still Miyabi. In the span of five seconds he went from confusion, to worry, to pretty much not giving a shit about where she had come from. He grabbed her again pulling her into another hug and laughed.

"I missed you." It hadn't been to long, but admittedly twelve days alone in the tower had seemed like more.

"Different worlds? What...?"

Such a thing is possible in this place? Curious, that it seems to hold so much... promise.

The way she said 'promise' didn't sound good to Miyabi's ears, but once again, she was focused on Eikichi. On the fact that this wasn't the boy she'd fought with- fought for. Not really. He seemed to be almost identical, of course- after all, he'd known about leaving her at the Scorpio temple, and their reunion... But the difference lay with her, in this instance, didn't it? Not him- his role had been the same in both their 'worlds', it would seem. At least, if this thing about near-identical worlds was true. If she was what was wrong, did she even deserve to have him be so glad to see her, and not the Miyabi he knew? Or was it that she should be glad to see him too?

"Missed me? But if we're from different worlds then I'm not-!" She wasn't the Miyabi he'd been missing- and he wasn't the Eikichi she'd fought for... But did that really matter so much, in the end? Would it be a betrayal to her version of the boy she loved to accept this one in his stead? Eikichi was still Eikichi, wasn't he?

"Eikichi-kun..."

Such a complicated thing to think about, when all she wanted was to settle into his arms and not leave for a good long time. She looked at him, his smile, his laugh, and felt herself wonder if being happy he even still cared was reason enough to set aside the business of them not being the ones who 'belonged' to each other. She smiled as she was pulled close once again, sighing against his skin.

"You're always able to handle things so easily."

"Well uh..." he began, realizing he was going to admit something really dorky about him. "I watched a lot of Star Trek on Laserdisc growing up. They talked about different parallel universes all the time. I guess that's why I'm not too worried...as long as neither of us--I mean if I end up goatee, we'll be fine."

WOW WHAT A NERD. He took a few seconds just to appreciate the fact she was close to him, and maybe shoo some of that nerdiness away. He might have been blushing a bit too.

"I-i'm not sure how to say this without sounding all weird but...you might not be exactly as I remember you with a Persona, but you're still...you. And Hades seemed really happy...it's like this warmth that I haven't felt before from him just radiating. I'll continue to like you, no matter what." Yet at the same time..."I don't want you to feel like it's as simple as that either...if you want some time to think, or if you'd rather just say no right now, I'll understand."

Regardless of where she came from, he would respect her wishes. It wouldn't be fair to everyone involved if he didn't. Yet his aching heart did wish upon one answer, and the fear if she simply said no...

She wasn't sure whether to giggle or not at the admission, though the fact that he'd so readily say something like that to her made her realize that he really was just like the Eikichi she knew.

"Goatee?" She queried, honestly not sure what he meant for a moment- but then he continued and she blinked silently up at him, eyes welling at what he said. Of course Eikichi would see it like that- just like she'd been thinking that Eikichi was still Eikichi and it would probably be alright, he'd already decided that it didn't matter so long as she was still Miyabi.

Honestly, what was she even supposed to do with a boy like this?

"It's... really not that simple- though I wish it was. But... I won't say no, not yet, so- I guess I'll take some time to think about it. Because... it's not like I don't love you, Eikichi-kun. Or, the Eikichi-kun at home... and he loved me too, before we decided to forget things, so..."

So she wanted that back- and if he was willing to share the love he had for his Miyabi with hers, she couldn't very well not do the same. But she had to make sure it was what she wanted to do. She sighed, and hesitantly reached up to settle her hand against his cheek, pushing up to kiss the corner of his mouth gently.

"I hope you don't mind waiting a little longer?"

It was both hard to not scream out 'of course I mind!' but he didn't want to do that. That was just his heart speaking out in silent pain and as much as he loved her, no matter from which universe she might have come from, she was right. They needed time. It was...rather the adult thing to do, and the fact he accepted it easily it surprised even himself. Was he growing up?

When she kissed him and he could have stayed there forever. He couldn't help but take his hand around her head and deepen it a little before releasing his own grip himself, grinning.

"I-i...of course not. I waited seven years for us to grow up. What's a little more?" He was just glad she was here. He didn't care if she had come with three or four hands.

She was still Miyabi.

He is rather head of heals for her, Hades told Persephone where only the two could hear each other. For all his faults, it is perhaps the most noble trait he carries.

"You still...want me to show you around anyway?" He hoped he didn't sound desperate. "I'll understand if you just want me to go away for now too...I just...at least make sure you eat the oatmeal first, alright?"

She couldn't help the way she leaned into the kiss when he deepened it, mouth pressing gently back against his. When he pulled away, so did she, though not without a degree of hesitation in her movements.

His devotion and persistence are nothing if not utterly admirable... The smile in her voice was almost palpable. Much like someone else I know.

"Thank you for understanding, Eikichi-kun..."

She could see the way he looked at her- the way he seemed to want nothing more than to keep her with him as long as she could. She supposed it couldn't hurt, to let him show her around- especially not since he seemed better acquainted with the tower than her.

"I'd like it if you showed me around- I probably couldn't ask for a better guide..."

"...C'mon let's go!" he replied without hesitation the second those words left her lips, grabbing her hand and gently pulling her towards the closest pair of stairs as they began their climb down. "There's a lot to see."

And the cafeteria was on the first floor, he realized. They could save that for last.

"Just gonna warn ya, some of these floors are really dangerous. I know you have a Persona..." that still felt odd to say, "...but don't step off the stairs. We don't really know what's lurking in there."

Floor Thirty-Eight, the lounge. He pointed to the beanbag chairs and the sofas, with the walls of glass giving a view outside, covered in fog.

"It's sorta relaxing. I don't spend much time here..." Unconsciously, he held on to her hand a light tighter. "The next few ones are really dangerous. The floor below is just darkness and after that I forget how many floors down but...our Persona powers won't work. So let's just go down those quickly until we can here them again, alright?" He never really liked that part, suddenly having static in his head, even just for a few floor, made him shiver.

"Wow- it looks so fancy..."

The second they reached the lounge, Miyabi was trying hard not to move forward and have a look at everything. It all seemed so neat and shiny and just sleek in a way she hadn't seen before. And those squishy-looking chairs seemed pretty comfortable from where she was standing. Her fingers tightened around Eikichi's hand in return, and she tilted her head toward his in a smile that wavered slightly as she heard about the other floors.

"This place can do that? Make it so we can't use them in some places?"

It was distressing to hear, even though she'd only had Persephone for a short while- the idea of having her suddenly gone at someone else's whim was... well. Frightening, really.

"We should... we should move as fast as we can, then." She grimaced a little, and moved closer to his side. "I don't want to think about what happens to them when we can't hear them."

"It's like...taking a deep breath and holding on to it for a while," he explained, trying not to smile at the fact she was leaning closer to him. "Y'know you're supposed to exhale and breathe again but something's missing." With a firm grip, he nodded at her. The first time was always really weird. At least she wasn't alone like the first it had happened to him.

"The next set of stairs are pretty dangerous, so watch your footing. We'll stop going down as soon as we feel our Personas again, got it?"

He took one step down, waiting for her signal. In the hopes of calming her down, and to give himself his usual confidence boost, he grinned at her.

"Ready when you are."

To be fair, it was hard for her to keep from smiling too as being close to him was making her more than a little giddy. She nodded at his explanation, more or less understanding what he meant by it. Persephone's trepidation rang loudly in the back of her mind, but she reassured her silently, and gave Eikichi's hand another squeeze.

"Okay- let's go!"

He gave her a nod.

"Let's do this!"

I will be with thee again soon my other--"

And off they went. It was like shutting a light-bulb as they ran down the levels, dodging the steps, and the strange noises from some of the darkened mysterious corridors, until the hum of Hades and his abilities returned again..and then he kept going for two more floors. The first was too dark anyway, and it sounded more like a terrible trap if they stepped off. The twenty-ninth looked nice, but he'd gotten off once and stuck in that maze...he didn't want that to happen right now showing her around. As they ran, he explained the floors to her, from the knowledge he had gained, still holding on to her hand to make sure she didn't fall.

So when they did stop, it was on the twenty-eighth floor. Which was...the music room. How convenient.

"...and the instruments here have a tendancy to play on their own."

She had to run a little faster than usual to keep up with Eikichi's gait, but she didn't mind in the least- it made for excellent exercise. Not to mention that getting through those few too-silent floors as quickly as possible was definitely a bonus. She tuned back into Eikichi's description of the floor they were currently on in time to catch the part about the instruments playing themselves and gave a slight shiver.

"That's... a little creepy."

Not as creepy as the dark floor though, and definitely not as creepy as any of the floors where she couldn't hear Persephone's usual low drawl in the back of her mind. She looked around at all the instruments and then cocked her head with a smile, head motioning to a space with a few guitars and a microphone.

"Are you planning on spending a lot of time here, Eikichi-kun?"

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And if it ends today

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