Ejji's Homeless Shelter

The one named Ejji Reiguu would find himself lying in the broken living quarters of what appeared to be a rotting building. His attire consisted of ripped and dirty clothes, and his body was covered in what appeared to be filth The room itself was rather small with rotten wooden boards below him, and destroyed furnisher pushed against the walls. Within the room were faceless shadows surrounding the one from the "pretentious" Reiguu family line. Whispers seemed to bounce off the walls of the room, all with one single message behind them.

"How disgusting! Such filth doesn't belong in this society!" What appeared to be a female's voice would echo through the room. "Hopefully he kills over. Do you smell that? Uck, he already smells dead as is. Roll over and die, pig!" One of the faceless shadows in the corner of the room would raise their hands and cover their face, as though trying to hold in vomit. "How the Reiguu family have fallen over the decades. You know it all started with his mother. It's only natural he'd be the one to cause his family to fall under. He's a failure after all, compared to the rest of his prestigious blood line. I even hear she's ashamed of him!"

The whispers continued around the room that held no exit. These faceless shadows towered over the one named Reiguu and simply looked down upon him without any remorse in their words. Throughout the condescending tones, a pool of darkness would begin to form infront of the one named Ejji. For the moment it simply stirred in place.

Ejji had only just seemed to awaken. But instead of finding himself in the comfort of his private room inside the Reiguu Mansion, he was lying on the cold, hard floor of some unknown place. As Ejji's eyes opened and he tried to look around, he could see only a single room in a state of horrible disrepair. He moved to get up, and as he did - he saw the state of dress he was in. It was strange, horrible, incomprehensible! What was happening? He couldn't remember anything leading up to a situation like this, and he felt slightly light-headed, as if everything around him wasn't real... he couldn't be sure right now.

Stumbling up to stand he took a look around, searching for the source of the strange whispers that went on insulting him, seemingly without a care for his reaction and without fear of retaliation. He could not believe his eyes. What was it that he was seeing? A dark room, full of strange human-like shapes... and their hurtful words. Ejji didn't want to hear it, so his first instinct was to try and put his hands to his ears, but he felt like the voices came from all around him, or maybe from inside his head? He couldn't understand - couldn't get a grip on the reality of the situation.

The strangeness was great enough for him to even forget about keeping a neutral face. He cringed. His first words were his first coherent thoughts.

"Where am I? Am I dreaming?"

What the hell was happening? He had to get an answer.

"If only you could be so lucky."

A voice would echo throughout the room that sounded strangely familiar. Suddenly, the whispers would all come to a complete stop, and the faceless shadows would simply focus on the dark mass forming within the room. This darkness reeked of malice like no other. A seething hatred like never before seen, or felt, within the conscious world. Emanating from the dark abyss, a single figure would slowly walk into the clear. The crooked grin, spine tingling yellow hues, and pale skin, almost made the figure unrecognizable. But after focusing on their features abit more, it would become clear who it was: A complete copy of Ejji Reiguu.

"I was born into a bloodline of some of the most prestigious people ever to walk foot in the Ueitawa Region. That means I deserve greatness in my future right? Hahah! As if! I play the role of the social elite, yet truly do I believe I belong above others? Compared to the rest of my family, I'm weak." The doppelganger would shrug his shoulders, keeping his maniacal grin plastered upon its face. "I'm a momma's boy, relying on her to shelter me from the truth. I know deep down inside, she only works so hard to carry the dead weight of having me around. I'm just too insecure and scared to admit this to myself! Hahah! But don't worry, I am you, so there's nothing to hide here!" The Shadow would look down on his double with condescending words and actions.

The faceless shadows began to murmur once again. The foul words began a new, and even if the real Ejji shielded his ears, the words would still leave a nasty sting to his ego. He, after all, didn't live up to his family name. Atleast, that's how the faceless shadows put it. They looked down upon him like a dog who needed to be put down for its atrocious actions in life.

As the strange pool of shadows that Ejji just noticed began rising and forming, only to transform into something that the young man did not even dare imagine in his nightmares. It had not taken on an appearance of a horrible beast, or a physical threat - no. It had shaped itself into a perfect copy of Ejji Reiguu himself. And yet Ejji's keen eyes did not fail to see the differences between the two. The eyes - so inhuman, full of malice and insanity - they were so very alien to him. The young man gasped, feeling something clench in his heart, for the expression on his face was something Ejji would never show in his life. It was so bizzare and out of place, that it made Ejji think harder and clearer, finally somewhat lifting the mist from his mind.

The words though, that the doppelganger spoke were the true horror. They cut, the tore at Ejji's soul, his being. He couldn't take all of this in completely yet. He didn't understand - who was this horrible spirit before him? This was indeed not a dream, like the creature said - it was a true nightmare.
As the Shadow Ejji finished, the Human Ejji could feel the beginning of tears prickle at his eyes. This couldn't be - it was just impossible! Who was this guy?! How dared he?!

Ejji's voice, hoarse, even though he did not scream before, tried to sound clear over the murmurs that began anew. "Who are you? Why are you doing this? How can you say these things?!"Ejji adressed the imitation, seemingly ignoring the shadow's last statement. It was impossible - there could be no two people where there was only one. He breathed deep. "They're lies! Nothing what you said is true!"

He almost screamed the last words, trying to fill them with courage, but he only denied the desperation that clutched at his very being - be it his heart or soul.

Naito had been contacted by a mysterious figure on his phone. Apparently the message detailed that Ejji had been sent into Limbo by some unknown force and would need to be rescued before he submitted to his Shadow. In all honesty, Naito was hesitant about jumping into Limbo and facing another Shadow. However, he had a strict rule. Though he didn't particularly see Ejji has a friend, or even an ally, he was still one of his possessions. No Shadow would take a possession of his without permission, and thus the one named Naito traversed within Limbo to bring back his fellow classmate. As he entered a room, a red door would have formed against the wall that allowed him entry. Walking through a crimson light, he found himself within the strange room filled with shadows. There, in the center of the room was Ejji and his doppelganger. Naito tilted his head and remained silent. There was no point in talking at the moment, and he was interested in seeing where this led. However, at a moment's notice, he'd be ready to dive into action with his blade by his side.

"Who am I? Don't you know your own face?!" The Shadow gave a sly laugh as he narrowed his eyes towards the original. Raising his hands up to his face, he'd begin to make childish noises, and weeping noises. "Mommy... Mommy, please spend time with me. I'm too pathetic to look out for myself, so I need you shielding me wherever I go. Wah Wah! Boohoo! Stop crying you piece of trash! You deserve the finer things in life, right? Wrong! Look at you! You're weak. Pathetic... And I'm stronger than you." The Shadow would raise and hand to its frizzled hair. With one sweep of the hand, it'd sweep it back with a crooked grin. The faceless Shadows in the room began to shift and distort. Like bones being broken out of place, large cracking noises could be heard from the Shadow, as it fell to its knees laughing.

A mass of darkness would soon smother the one that looked like Ejji; throwing its voice throughout the room. His body bent over backwards, crushing upon itself before suddenly expanding in an explosion of darkness. Once the transformation was complete, there would be nothing but a demonic being hovering slightly over the real Ejji. It appeared to be an angel, and engraved in its wings were the face of his mother that appeared to be alive.



The Shadow towered over the one named Ejji, and the face of his mother would begin to weep upon the wings. "I am a Shadow... The true self! Without her, I am nothing... But that's okay. As long as I kill you, this weakness that seethes within me will finally be erased!" Spreading his wings, the Shadow of Ejji would prepare to wipe out his original. "I'll show you just how weak you are! Disappear! The Reiguu family line ends with us; the weakest of the bloodline."

Shadow Ejji Stats:

Left Wing of the Weeping Mother:

Right Wing of the Weeping Mother:

Ejji listened to his Shadow talk, not being able to do otherwise. The words seeped through what seemd like every pore in his body and there was no way to block them out. While the creature spoke, Ejji tried the last attempt at making it stop. His own voice - his own words.

"No - no-nonono! Shut up! Please!" his voice almost broke, as he became overtaken with panic. The things the other Him said were true, deep down he knew that, and he resented them, his resented the doppelganger before him. He resented himself.

Ejji didn't even notice that there was a third person in the room, aside from the faceless shadows. He paid no attention to anything but the imitation of himself standing before him. He was thrown out of his frantic chanting when the Shadow Ejji started to transform, and the real young man could only watch, petrified with horror, at the thing that emerged out of the process. It wasn't human - it was a true monster, come out of the darkest pits of Hell to take his soul.

There was nothing he could do. He turly felt it now, that he was helpless to stand before the towering figure. He was going to die. His thoughts were a jumbled mess, and his head hurt - it was hard to think all of a sudden.

"No...." he could only whisper, trying to will his body to move.

And this was Naito's cue to now act. Without hesitation, he'd run up behind Ejji and grab him from the back of his shirt. Pulling him, he'd toss him back behind him to remove him out the way, before facing the Shadow. "I won't lie and say I didn't enjoy that, but you don't have my permission to kill my possessions. And so, I'll be putting an end to you here." A light would shine in his right hand, and his signature blade/scabbard, the Sugari No Ontachi, also known as one of the famous blades of an Emperor, would form in his grasp. Taking his battle stance, he'd waste no time to engage the enemy. "Alright, it's just like before with Justine. If she could defeat my superior Shadow, that means I should be able to defeat any Shadow. I've beaten Ejji before, this should be the same thing right? Heh, of course. Though, this thing looks weird as hell. Look at those wings... Is that a woman crying? This is going to be a pain, but nothing I can't handle." The boy thought this all to himself, as he extended his hand outward and the presence of his tarot card would appear before him. "I won't lose to you. Jinmu-tennō!" Slashing through the card with his blade, a blue mist would erupt from his body before the image of the first Emperor would appear.

Spinning its blade in its hand, Jinmu-tennō would raise his palm and call down moderate sized bursts of lightning to strike all three foes before him. Once the attack was complete, he'd fade back into Naito's conscious and await to be summoned by his master once again. During this, Naito would spin his blade in hand before sheathing it back within its scabbard. "Ejji, get on your feet! This monster was born from the dark corners of your heart and will continue to go bad if you keep refusing to accept it... Tch, either way I'll beat it into the ground, but you need to use this time to get your head together. I don't plan on dying for you." Naito spoke with his usual calm demeanor, not turning around to face his fellow classmate once. He couldn't afford to take his eyes off the enemy in question.

Naito Stats:

Relevant Traits:

The Shadow was surprised to see someone defending his other self, and was even more surprised this other person had the power to injure him. "What the hell?! You don't belong here. Pathetic Ejji can't even fight his own battles. Well who the hell cares, i'll crush you first if I have too!" A blazing inferno erupted around the Shadow before a it'd use Agi against the silver haired Persona-user that appeared to protect its weaker double.

The left wing of the weeping mother would extend out in full glory as it performed its own move. Using dia, it'd heal itself and to alittle of the lost HP back from the Persona-user's initial attack. The right wing of the weeping mother would do something entirely different. Letting out a loud shriek that bounced around the confines of the room, it would cast Evil Touch. However, the attack would not succeed.

The weeping wings would begin to cry louder to their "son", the real Ejji. "Honey, don't you want to protect your mother? Help me. Help me, honey." Black tears poured out of their eyes that could be closely resembled to a star like substance. "Mommy's right here, sweeite. So help me. Get rid of this silver haired bastard for mommy." Though distorted, the weeping Shadow did sound like his mother.

Shadow Ejji:

Left Wing of the Weeping Mother:

Right Wing of the Weeping Mother:

Salvation had come, where Ejji thought he would have none. Someone grabbed him by the back of his shirt, or at least what had been given to him as a substitute, and threw his body backwards, forcing him to basically roll over and fall on his ass.
When the young man lifted his face he could see a recent aqcuaintance of his - Tsurinai Naito, who had somehow entered the scene. Was he a part of this nightmare as well? Whatever was happening, it seemed that his fellow student had appearaed to defend him from the twisted, and now unrecognizable version of himself. Now that he had some distance between himself and the Shadow monster Ejji found it a bit easier to think clearly.

He was further shocked by the fact that Naito had managed to summon yet another creature, towering about him, which then proceeded to send electricity. This was so bizzare... and yet the feeling that it was no dream, but a reality was growing stronger in Ejji's mind.

Ejji managed to get on his feet and back away a few more steps, closer to a wall. It was then that he heard his mother's voice. He had seen the bizzare things - faces on the wings - before, but when they spoke he had to grab his head, cluthing at his sanity. The voice was easily recognizable, even if twisted.

"No - you're not my mother!" he found the strength to raise his voice. "She would never want to kill me! She loves me. You're a monster!"

He wouldn't help this thing. It was just a mockery. And he refused to admit it was born of him - if it was mother would never look like this! She was an angel, not a demon joined with a macabre version of a demon. Naito's words were only beginning to register in his brain.

Being hit by the fire based attack caused Naito to bite his lip in annoyance. "Such persistence." He was right... This shadow seemed extremely hooked on causing Ejji pain and suffering. It seemed to want to dominate its other self, which was something similar to what Naito's own Shadow wished to accomplish. Apparently this Shadow didn't understand the two of them together was stronger than them being apart. Well, beating him into submission would be the fastest way to show him this. When the wings of the mother attempted to contact Ejji and turn him against Naito, the silver haired student would narrow his eyes and await a response from his classmate. If Ejji decided to turn on him, he'd have to knock him out with the Shadow, which could be a problem. Luckily, Ejji had a smart enough head on his shoulders to deny the Shadow's attempt at swaying him. This caused Naito to give a sinister smirk and a sort of low toned laugh. "Heh... The weak get hurt. It seems Ejji here is strong enough to see through your lies, Shadow. Perhaps you were wrong about your other half. Perhaps you're the weak one after all! Seems fitting!" Naito summoned his tarot card once again. As it floated before him, he'd unsheath his blade and slash forward and through the card. On contact, it shattered and his Persona erupted from his soul once again. "I'm getting tired of those crying ones. How about we give them an early grave, Jinmu-tennō!" And right on cue, the massive Persona slammed his blade down to the earth and caused it to rain lightning upon its foes.

Once the attack was complete, the Persona would fade back within Naito's subconscious, and the student would spin his blade upon his palm before sheathing it back within its scabbard. "Alright, Emperor. You've done well. But I think it's about time I finished this myself." Naito spoke to himself, as he held the hilt of his blade and awaited the Shadows next move.

Naito Stats:

"You son of a-!" The Shadow Ejji cursed as his double refused to listen to the words of the weeping mothers. Though, he truly didn't have time to squander on such trivial matters, as the cocky one named Naito began to speak. "I'm not the weak one! I'm the stronger Ejji! I'm the one strong enough to endure the condescending tones of those around me! I'm the one who will lead the Reiguu family line into greatness like my mother before me. I am the strongest! I am NOT weak!" Being called weak obviously got under the Shadow's skin, as he didn't wish to be compared to the original Ejji whatsoever. He despised his other self! With the boy's next attack, the wings would be destroyed, causing the hovering Shadow to fall flat on its face and remained staggered, unable to attack. This was symbolization that without his mother, his pillar of support crumbled and he could do nothing but lay beneath the heels of others. Being defenseless, the Shadow would repeatedly tell itself. "I am not weak! I am not weak! I am not weak! I am not weak!" Trying to reclaim its footing, the Shadow attempted to lift himself from the ground.

His gaze couldn't help but look pass Naito and to his true self...

Shadow Ejji:

Left Wing of the Weeping Mother:

Right Wing of the Weeping Mother:

Ejji kept standing in place. As the wings were destroyed the Shadow Monster fell down, unable to recover from losing the mother-wing-faces. It seemed that Naito was winning this battle and things were looking up. The fact made a visible change for Ejji himself, as he had gathered more courage, seeing that even a thing that his doppelganger had become could be defeated, even if with the help of this... "Jinmu-tennō" thing that was summoned by Naito. The tall figure encased in armor did not speak, and it's motives remained unclear to Ejji, who still had no idea what was all of this happening here.

The only thing he knew for sure, that his life was in danger - real danger. He would surely thank his savior once the situation was dealt with.

Ejji proceeded to listen to his Shadow as it spoke about being not weak. It made him think about this, and he realized that it had been right in at least one aspect. It seemed to be a part of him, or at least think in the same way as the real Ejji did. He hated weakness, being seen as weak. It was painful to hear it, being chanted so angrily, so desperately. Even with the voice distorted, Ejji could hear himself chant the same words in his mind so many times before when he was a child. His training, the studies, the meetings he was allowed to attend. All he did was stand and listen, but he could feel the piercing stares directed at him. Mocking him, judging him, testing him. He was "not weak!" he kept repeating in his mind at the time.

Ejji looked at his Shadow, just as it did look at him.

As the Shadow attempted to recover from the lost of its wings, Naito give a slight smirk at the situation. "Jackpot!" Dashing towards the beast, Naito would draw his blade and slash horizontally up into the Shadow's head. Keeping the momentum, he'd spin the twist his wrist to bring the blade back down into the Shadow's neck. And with one last move, the silver haired student would spin his entirely body and give a wide horizontal slash across the Shadows face to finish it off. With his back now facing the Shadow, he wouldn't turn to see his opponent's last moments. Instead, he'd spin his blade upon the palm of his hand with complete finesse before striking down towards the floor to clean any access gunk that could have been on it after the attack. Once doing this, he'd place it back within its scabbard and let out a sigh. "And that's that. Like I said, you didn't have my permission to touch Ejji. However, you do have my permission to grovel at the fact you were too weak to defeat me without him." Naito spoke with a blunt tone, as his face returned to its normal calm expression. With the battle, his hair would fall down over his face like usual. His attention right now was on the real Ejji that he had pushed back earlier.

"I hope you understand this thing has been inside you all this time. You need to face this problem, or it'll keep coming back to haunt you." Naito's blade would vanish from his hand, and once this happened he'd do his signature arms crossed pose. "Everyone has a weakness in their hearts. No one is exempt from this, not even myself. But the true strength comes from facing this weakness head on, without waver. That's when you unlock the strength to help you face such hardships in your life." With that said, Naito would walk towards the wall of the room and leave the two Ejjis to have their talk. After all, that little speech he gave almost caused him to vomit.

Naito Stats:

With its defeat, the Shadow's massive form would disperse, and all that would be remaining would be the figure of Ejji. It stayed on its knees with both hands glued to the floor to try and stay steady. Unlike earlier where it had nothing but a crooked grin, he instead seemed more indifferent and upset. ". . ." There was nothing to be said at this point. The dark half of Ejji simply looked at his original.