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[After four days of wandering around aimlessly, the inevitable has finally happened. The two Atsuros stand in the middle of Sagittarius district, facing each other down. The Shadow is no longer withdrawn and timid. Bolstered by the promises it had heard, it stares at its counterpart now with a faint smile.]

I really thought you were going to complain about how we've never beaten Hizumi at that stupid drum game.

...

...And the dancing game, come to think of it.

Why do you do that? Whenever there's a problem... that's all you do. Laugh it off.

What? ...You want me to whine about it? Like you?

I want you to face it. All of your friends... All of your friends know how you really feel now. Everything you're afraid of. Everything you try to hide.

[The brown-eyed boy stiffens at this statement and averts his gaze with a slight shrug.]

I don't hide anything from them.

[His doppelganger pauses before calling out in a trembling, petulant, high-pitched tone.]

'They don't really like me... They don't really want me around...... Nano hates me, Midori probably can't wait to get rid of me, and Yuzu... Yuzu just deals with me 'cause she wants to be around Kazuya. ...Kazuya. Perfect hero Kazuya. The guy I stick to like a leech so maybe I feel a little more worthwhile.'

...That's not what I think at all.

'Maybe if I act like a clown, people will like me. Maybe if I make myself try harder, people will have to like me.

.......Maybe if I were a better kid, Mommy and Daddy wouldn't have ditched me like a -- '

Shut up.

[A brilliant flash of light, and the street is suddenly filled to the brim. Two demons, a Persona, and Atsuro himself stand ready on both sides, each facing their counterparts. Four on four. Atsuro clenches a trembling fist tight as his allies ready themselves to fight.]

I've never believed that. I've never believed any of those things.

...Ehehe. The sad thing is.... they all know now. They all know how you really feel, and... they still want to be your friend. -- Oh... sorry. They want to be my friend. Because you were too much of a coward to ever tell them the truth.

...I think we'll be fine without you.

Enki!

((Warning - Atsuro is Level Max, so the Shadow will pack a pretty hefty punch! There will be two threads for fighting with the Shadow and the Persona or fighting with the demons.))

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"A-another one?"

Nano had been so focused on defending Atsuro from his own Shadow that she hadn't even noticed the surprise attacks and defensive spells rolling in unseen from Yurick's Shadow. And now that there are two of them in the mix and the effects of Bastion have ended, she can tell she's going to have to enter the fray in earnest. Things are too dangerous to just keep defending.

"I-I can help! Don't give up, Atsuro-san and everyone!"

The Clock Tower Manager, its job complete, fades back into the shared subconscious between Nano and Atsuro. It is not Geppetto that re-emerges, however, but a beautiful woman with long blonde hair, a blue gown, and fairy wings, bursting forth from the Star Arcana card as Nano shatters it with her keyblade.

"Please help us, Blue Fairy-san!"

The Persona gracefully inclines its head toward Nano before turning toward Atsuro's Shadow and leveling her wand at it. A harsh white light shoots forth from the wand, enveloping the Shadow completely and hopefully inflicting some damage.

[Eyes of God (Inflicts medium Light damage on one enemy with a 20% chance of Fear.)]

Edited (changed my mind) 2013-12-22 16:58 (UTC)

Ow. Even though he's at a distance, the attack is enough to send him to his knees. The damage itself isn't so bad, but the utter lack of pain tolerance leaves him reeling for the moment.

He's sitting this round out, it seems.

"I think... actually... it's just that most of my moves are Hit-All."

Mutters Atsuro to Yuzu as he awkwardly watches the Bastion take the hits for him, because hey, someone has to provide levity to this fight. Nano's Light attack causes Shadow Enki to spasm uncomfortably for a moment or two when it strikes; the Troll's Bufudyne, as before, isn't quite as effective. Shadow Enki definitely seems to be a little pained, now, or perhaps that's simply a reflection of Shadow Atsuro's reversion to its less confident state. The expression on its face has become withdrawn once more.

As Shadow Yurick winds down its speech, he takes a step forward.

"...Listen, you! Uh. Me-you. My evil twin. ...You can say whatever you want about me, but you know as well as I do that you're wrong, now." Atsuro glances towards his friends. "Weren't you just telling me? Weren't you just saying that they still wanted me - even after you told them everything I was afraid of?

"..."

"If we only ever say and do things that are convenient... then everyone would have ditched us long ago. Yuzu..." As he says her name, he reaches down to try and help her up. "Yuzu's right. The only reason they're fighting is because they still care. If they didn't fight you... then they wouldn't be our friends. Friendship isn't about letting your friends do whatever they want." A glance towards Midori, a little ways holding back the demons. "It's not about promising empty things you don't mean, so no one's feelings are ever hurt." Nano will receive a smile. "And it definitely isn't about clinging on to something you want because you're afraid you'll lose it." A quick squeeze of Yuzu's hand before he steps away.

"Friendship's not about what you want. And if you want these guys... You're gonna have to go through me."

Yurick will be helped up now, too.

"...Don't listen to him. ...Well. Actually, listen, but. Don't let it get to you. Everything you've ever tried to hide... We don't know what you've gone through, but -- the only way to get these guys to shut up is to accept it. Everyone has these kinds of thoughts. It's easier said than done, but... You've already faced it, a little bit, right?

"You've already let me in."

Atsuro flashes his familiar, bright smile to everyone assembled as Enki comes to the fore once more.

"...OK. Let's take these jokers down. ...You stole Agneyastra and Dual Shadow from me."

The shockwave from before rolls out once again - this time in the direction of the Shadows. ...Except Atsuro's luck isn't quite so good and the Dual doesn't activate.

"............I can't be cool no matter how hard I try, huh...?"

Edited 2013-12-22 22:33 (UTC)

Shadow Yurick's glare settles on Nano when Atsuro's Shadow and its Persona take damage from her Light spell. "You little bitch... I'll show you the meaning of pain!

Cringing at his double's vicious words, Yurick lets himself be pulled up, but he can't bring himself to meet Atsuro's eyes. He turns his face away to the right, hiding the patch.

His Shadow suddenly goes from fury to cackling with snide laughter at the insecurity it sees, turning to Shadow Atsuro with a feral grin. It still hasn't released its fellow's wrist.

"Keep them from me. I will wipe them all out with a single strike."

It lets go of the other Shadow and backs up several steps, the dark stone eye starting to glow with an even greater heat than the yellow of its left. Mana starts to gather slowly around it, crimson rather than wispy white, and Yurick's head snaps up to stare at it in terror.

"No... fire protection or get out of range, quickly! Everyone!" He summons Balor to cast Red Wall on Yuzu. Though his instinct is to protect Atsuro first, experience has taught him the vital importance of guarding the healers before all others. "We only have a minute at best!"

It takes him a moment to gather himself, but Hizumi manages to make it onto his feet again, taking another surreptitious glance at those gathered.

...Ah. That would be another Shadow, wouldn't it?

But first things first. If they try to split their attention too much, they won't be able to defeat either Shadow. He's not entirely sure what the second Shadow is up to, but if they can just take out Atsuro's first...

"Hell Frost."

Itzpalt obligingly sends another punishing ice spell along.

"Fire protection? Okay!"

Although it's a Support type rather than the offensive sort of Persona they need at the moment, Geppetto is the only thing Nano has that innately resists fire. The Blue Fairy disappears as she calls the kindly old puppet master out once again.

"Geppetto-san, please!"

The Persona's eyes flash in response to Nano's plea, and it draws out a large carving knife. Charging forward toward the enemy Shadows, it lashes out with the strongest attack it can muster.

[Vorpal Blade (Inflicts a large amount of Physical damage with a 10% chance of Exhaustion on all enemies.)]

Edited 2013-12-23 01:40 (UTC)

Yuzu smiles as she accepts Atsuro's hand and stands back up. She still feels pretty weak, but she'll be okay. She's really glad that he understands. It had been the hardest decision she'd ever made, choosing to fight against him and Kazuya. But she'd done it anyway, because she cared. And maybe he didn't get the extra strike, but Yuzu privately thinks that Atsuro did look pretty cool just then.

Amaterasu is immune to fire damage, so she's okay. She's tossing out another maragidyne, because with magic yang up, there is mp to spare. The Troll is going with mow down, so it can also do damage to both of those shadows. Yuzu is going to muster her strength and try a maziodyne. The extra protection against fire is appreciated. That might just get her through this.

The Hell Frost encases it in a glacier, the Vorpal Blade shatters it, Maziodyne pins it in place with its momentarily shocking paralysis while the Mow Down bowls it; Maragidyne sets it aflame while it lies on the floor. One attack lands after another, and whether it is due to Atsuro's Rousing Speech as these things tend to go in fiction or simply due to finally becoming overwhelmed, Atsuro's Shadow cries out in pain for the first time. Shadow Enki sinks to its knees, ripples of dark energy running up and down its body - Atsuro's as well as glowing cracks seem to appear on its facade.

"They'll leave you. They won't stay. People will always leave, in the end."

"'Better to have loved and...' blah blah, however that goes."

"You're just going to get hurt."

"...Are you really going to make me go through more cliches?"

"You... You don't deserve any -- "

"Does anyone?"

"..............................Hrrragggghh! You... You... You really think being clever... is what it's going to take?! You still don't understand!"

Atsuro himself has done very little to defend himself against the attack that's coming from Shadow Yurick, the idea being the same as the hidden Hizumi's. If they could get rid of his first...

He does not count on his Shadow letting loose one final scream as another shockwave runs out from the Persona to try and fell everyone - the Shadow itself shakes loose from Shadow Yurick's grip and launches forward, fists aglow with a deep crimson light that lashes out towards Atsuro and those standing closest to him - Yuzu and Yurick.

Edited 2013-12-23 02:56 (UTC)

The shockwave bashes the mage again, almost sending him to his knees. Shadow Balor takes the Maziodyne for its master, and the Maragidyne actually invigorates Shadow Yurick, healing its wounds as the flames boost the gathering mana. Yurick sees it through wavering vision as he draws his dagger, and as he rushes forward to block Shadow Atsuro's fists with it a frantic thought explodes in his desperate mind.

If fire heals his double, does it heal him now as well? It's a huge gamble, but he has no choice. It's not like he can cast under the assault of Deathbound.

"Get back!" he screams at the others, ready to take the brunt of the fiery magic wielded by his double.

His Shadow howls with insane laughter and flings the energy outward. Several massive fireballs arc up and forward like fast missiles, a rush of impossible heat preceding them. Yurick holds his ground against both Deathbound and Big Bang, scrunches his eye shut, and prays someone can revive him if this fails. If only Zael was here with the power of the Outsider to help them.

The fire that hits him... feels warm, soothing. The aches throughout his body fade and his grip on the dagger steadies. He nearly relaxes his guard until he remembers the others with him might not be so lucky. Gritting his teeth he tries to shove Shadow Atsuro back.

"DAMN YOU! Why won't you just DIE?!" His Shadow drops back to the ground, drawing its own dagger and running toward them in a maddened bull rush.

Edited 2013-12-23 03:37 (UTC)

Nano bears the damage from the Shadow's Big Bang attack admirably with the aid of Geppetto's natural Fire resistance, and in fact bounces the Agneyastra right back in Shadow Atsuro's face thanks to its ability to reflect Physical damage. She's definitely more than a little singed, but the little robot has seen her share of fights by this point and is determined to see things through. Gritting her teeth, she and her Persona decide to do what they do best - aid and support the others with stronger attacks. A soft light washes over the group of heroes even as the two Shadows continue to face them down, bolstering their stats for what will hopefully be their final barrage against at least one of their opponents.

[World Revolution (Triples all allies' Attack/Defense/Agility for 2 turns.)]

Edited (sorry for all the edits orz) 2013-12-23 04:11 (UTC)

The pain is intense this time, and without that red wall from before, Yuzu probably wouldn't have made it through this barrage. She grits her teeth and manages to stay on her feet. Barely.

The troll isn't so lucky. But Amaterasu has recarmloss for a reason. The troll is brought back as quickly as it fell. And Yuzu casts mediarahan, healing both herself and her allies.

And caught unprepared, Atsuro takes the barrage of Agneyastra, Deathbound, and Big Bang simultaneously and dies, gracefully allowing his Shadow to take his place here in Hinoto-Ri and dooming his own world to destruction by being overrun by demons because he never got around to going home and actually beating Babel.

...Alternatively, he's readily smashed around for a bit, and this scenario briefly flashes through his mind before he decides that it isn't quite time for the Bad End yet.

He had never thought being punched by himself would be much of an issue given his intensely unathletic nature, but apparently, the Harmonizer on that COMP worked wonders for him. There is pain coming from every part of his body, to the extent that he isn't quite sure where exactly he is hit.

"...I do understand."

The Shadow is shoved back, but has simply reared back to deck Yurick again. But it stops in its tracks upon hearing these words, even as Shadow Yurick barrels towards them with the dagger.

"Everything you said is true. Maybe... not that true. But... if I said I'd never thought any of these things, ever... that would be the real lie."

He is half-whispering as he lies on his back, charred and exhausted.

"That's what you're trying to tell me, right? 'The only difference between the two of us is that I've admitted my flaws.' ...OK. Then I'm afraid of losing people. I'm afraid of being alone. I live on the Internet so I can get constant attention. I surround myself with people so I can think that maybe, someone really cares about me. I think Mom and Dad don't really love me or need me that much, so... I sort of doubt anyone else does."

"So now we're the same."

Around now is when Yuzu's convenient Mediarahan washes over him, and he breathes a slight sigh of relief as he clambers to his feet.

"You're me. And I'm you. ...Now that we've settled that. I think it's time for you to go."

The Shadow stares in disbelief at the hand stretched out towards it.

"..............You're cribbing this off of Last Phantasm IV with the whole Dark Knight/Paladin thing."

"Shut up and let me be cool. ...Hurry up, geez; we're not the only ones who need therapy here."

The Shadow shrugs. It does not take the hand.

...It might therefore be a little alarming when it suddenly freezes over and shatters into a thousand pieces of ice that hang in the air. The shards hover for a few moment before they dissolve into droplets of water, a stream of liquid that rushes towards Atsuro and spirals around him for a few moments before sinking into him.

Behind the Shadow, the Shadow Persona erupts in a brilliant flare of light.

".............Ah -- "

There's not really any time to rejoice or anything, since there's still someone coming at them with a knife. Hopefully the sudden flood will help.

One Shadow down, but the other is all the more enraged by the apparent defeat of its compatriot. When Atsuro's Shadow vanishes, Yurick's lets loose with a wild shriek, the last semblance of sanity gone as it slashes wildly through anyone standing between it and the mage who still refuses to accept it. The blade is sharp and the spikes on the grip are wicked but the weapon is wielded by a hand more accustomed to magic. The cuts tear through clothing and send little flicks of blood flying where they hit, but it's nothing compared to what the Shadow had done before with the flames.

The dagger crashes into its twin, knocking Yurick's guard aside, and before the mage can recover the Shadow plunges the blade into his shoulder. Yurick screams in pain and swings his errant weapon back, driving it into the Shadow's shoulder in turn. Both blades yank free, both combatants down an arm now, and they lunge at each other again in a flurry of reckless, wild blows. They're cutting each other up, nothing truly lethal yet but there's blood everywhere.

"You know I'm right! The world hates you as much as you hate it, otherwise he'd be here! He followed you into the ship, saved your life, and now that you owe him he's forgotten you!"

"He's trying to find Calista--!"

"She's not here and he knows it! He's looking for an excuse to ditch you! And sooner or later, so will the rest!" It lays open Yurick's cheek, almost blinding his good eye.

"They're not like that--!"

"You blind fool! You latched onto Atsuro the same way! How long before he tires of you?!"

"He won't!" Yurick's attention drifts just for a second, desperately seeking to meet his friend's eyes, and the Shadow kicks him to the ground with a boot to the gut.

"Not before I kill you, at least!" And it raises the dagger, ready to stab the mage through the face.

"Stop it!"

Nano's voice rings out through the air as Yurick's Shadow gets ready to finish his counterpart off. She doesn't know him personally and was originally only here for Atsuro, but Nano has never been the type to abandon someone in need - she's going to see this through to the end. There will be time for heartfelt words between friends once everyone is safe.

Once again unconsciously responding to the little robot's will, Geppetto raises his knife into the air. A blinding white light briefly fills the area before coalescing into the tip of the blade, and is then fired toward the Shadow in a powerful beam. Nano knows by now that only Yurick can get rid of his own Shadow for good, but at least she thinks this might help while he gathers his courage.

[Nirvana (Decreases one enemy's HP by 50% from the power of Light.)]

It's good that everyone is healed, or Hizumi probably would have been out of the fight entirely. Those attacks are outright punishing, and once again the pain was enough to make his muscles seize up, leaving him biting back a scream of pain until his wounds were healed.

Not that he's got much left to spend in this battle anyway. His mana is almost spent; he's got enough for maybe one or two more spells before he'd have to rely on close combat, and that's precisely what he's trying to avoid here.

Keeping in mind the fire attack from before, Hizumi tries the closest thing he has to the opposite element. It's time to see if Shadow Yurick can stand getting hit by a glacier, too.

Okay, Yuzu really doesn't know anything about the underlying issues between Yurick and his shadow. But she's still mad at his shadow for what it said earlier. This is going down, one way or another. So, holy dance. And while we're at it, the Troll can aim a piercing hit at the shadow. And even though Yurick is the only one damaged, Amaterasu can heal again, just for good measure.

It's not very dignified, but all Atsuro can think to do as the Shadow rears back with its dagger is to leap on its back and try to send it crashing to the floor. In the event that it remains standing... Deathbound still works even if it's just him trying really hard to smash Shadow Yurick in the crotch with his heel, right.

"The only thing I'm tired of is you."

He doesn't know anything about Yurick's issues, either, but he figures there's probably no chance to deal with them if there's a dagger sticking out the front of his face.

"No one decides whether or not they come here - or whether or not they leave." Atsuro grunts a bit as he struggles. "Kazuya... -- That's my best friend. He left us, too. ...Back to somewhere I can't follow.

"I can't promise I'll never disappear, but if I do, I can promise it won't be because I got tired of anyone."

Hammered by spells and attacks from all sides, the Shadow crashes to the ground with a rather pitiful but still angry cry. It tries its best to grapple with Atsuro until the programmer's kick knocks the wind right out of it. With its good eye streaming pained tears, it simply lays under the other boy, gasping.

Yurick picks himself up, healed by Yuzu's spells but still aching inside somehow, and approaches where Atsuro has his double pinned. Looking down into its face still makes him ill. It stares back in mute challenge, chest heaving, expression still crumpled with pain and wrath.

"I...." Yurick falters, his voice cracking. He's always been intensely private, and to have all these witnesses... even just Atsuro witnessing this is nearly too much to bear. He hugs himself protectively, shivering. "I-- it's true. I've lost more than I can bear. Opening up is more frightening than anything I've ever done. I'm still not sure why I did it with you, Atsuro...." He withers under the Shadow's increasingly piercing stare. "... I... didn't want to feel alone. It feels like Zael is drifting away. If he can do that after all the years we fought together, what's going to stop anyone else from doing the same?"

"You hate people when they leave, and you know they always do."

"Yes... but I know they can't help it. It's not their fault... it's mine, for being weak. Too weak to protect Mum, so weak I sacrificed my eye for power, and now...." He takes a deep, shaking breath. "I know you're me and it still makes me want to vomit. How could anyone want to be my-- our friend?" He looks to Nano and Yuzu before his attention drifts to Atsuro.

Edited 2014-01-01 05:47 (UTC)

U-um...

[Nano, for her part, politely but awkwardly averts her eyes. She knows this must be pretty embarrassing for Yurick, exposing himself like that in front of people he doesn't even know.]

"..."

Atsuro is silent for a brief moment - he doesn't feel like he has any right to play psychologist when his own problems were so similar to Yurick's, but... if he keeps silent now... who knew what would happen with this Shadow? He tries to ignore the fact that he's still clinging to the Shadow like a limpet as he clears his throat slightly.

"Isn't it obvious already?"

He manages an embarrassed smile.

"Everyone... has the same doubts, don't they? Is there anyone who's really confident enough to think 'everyone should be my friend because I'm awesome'? ...Actually, if someone like that exists... wouldn't people prefer not to be their friend? We all have our own problems, so... no one is judging anyone's value based on things like that."

Really, Atsuro... you don't need to cling anymore, not when the Shadow is half-dead and mentally subdued. It tries to look at him but its attention is drawn back to its counterpart when Yurick uncoils and lays a hand on its shoulder.

"He's right. You can't say he doesn't know how we feel, we heard it directly from him."

"But Zael--"

"I'll speak with Zael, I promise, but this has to stop now. There's no point in fighting our friends when they've done us no wrong." He takes a deep breath. "I promise you... no, I promise myself... one way or another, everything will be fine."

The Shadow glances at Nano and Yuzu, the hostility wiped away by an expression that's actually a little apologetic. It reaches up, briefly squeezing Atsuro's forearm in a gesture that's likely familiar to him now, before it nods at Yurick. The static-shot form becomes a blue fire without heat that leaps from the ground (dropping Atsuro to the pavement in the process) to the mage, ruffling his hair and clothes briefly before vanishing into him.

Yurick's face crumples with exhaustion and he covers his eyes with a hand. "Everyone... I'm so sorry for that."

...Looks like that settles it, then. And about time, too. Hizumi dismisses his own Persona, checking once more around the corner before slipping away from the fight, figuring the group will be too occupied to even notice.

Now then, let's see if he can find that other one...

Atsuro promptly smacks his face into the ground, which is more painful than he thought it would be despite him being a foot or so above the pavement. There is a slight sigh of relief, nonetheless.

"...I think I'm ready to not Persona-fight again for the rest of my life."

There is time, at last, to check if he's permanently damaged anything and so for a moment or two, Atsuro continues to lie facedown while wiggling his limbs to see if everything is still attached.

Wincing at Atsuro's less than graceful landing, Yurick crouches to help his friend sit up.

"You mad fool." There's no bite in the words, only a soft sadness. "I can't believe you'd grapple with that thing. Are you hurt?" He looks to Yuzu, hoping the girl still has energy to provide healing if need be.

These people could've left him to fight alone but they didn't. Atsuro's Shadow had drained them but they didn't simply cut and run. He owes all of them. Another life debt, just like he owed Zael, and somehow he's sure they won't hold him to it.

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Persona Skill: Eyes of God

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Yurick: Red Wall > Yuzu | Shadow > charging for Big Bang (2 turns)

Hell Frost > Shadow Atsuro

Persona Change: Blue Fairy -> Geppetto | Persona Skill: Vorpal Blade

Yuzu>Maziodyne>Both Shadows | Troll>Mow Down>Both Shadows | Amaterasu>Maragidyne>Both Shadows

Agneyastra > All, Deathbound > Atsuro, Yuzu, Yurick

Shadow: Big Bang | Yurick: Defend from Mortal Blow

Persona Skill: World Revolution

Amaterasu>Recarmloss>Troll | Yuzu>Mediarahan>All Allies

Water Dance (Large Water 2-3x) > Shadow Yurick

Shadow: Running Slash > minor damage > close-proximity bystanders, all hell breaks loose > Yurick

Persona Skill: Nirvana

Hell Frost > Shadow Yurick

Yuzu>Holy Dance>Shadow Yurick | Troll>Piercing Hit>Shadow Yurick | Amaterasu>Mediarahan>All allies

Atsuro > ??? > Shadow Yurick

Re: Atsuro > ??? > Shadow Yurick

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