Brian's Group Home

The boy chose to heal himself instead of attack, and the Shadow had no problem with that. Seeing as the box he was hidden within was not destroyed, the Shadow would recover a moderate portion of health. With this done, it would remain hidden from the view of the Persona-User, awaiting its next turn to initiate an attack. Perhaps the Jester was too much for Genji to handle alone. Would both the Persona-User, and the Shadow's doppelgänger meet their end here? Would that be so bad? A Shadow was one's true emotions given form. They were the true self. In a world filled with Shadows there would be no need for lies. Why wouldn't you want the Shadow to continue where you left off? It would allow you to die knowing that the world would see your true colors in the end!

Shadow Brian:

Box Stats 1:

Box Stats 2:

A crimson light filled the arena as the door that led into Limbo would open. Walking into the strange group home would be none other than the silver haired stick in the mud, Tsurinai Naito. He had received Kano Genji's call on the situation, and almost decided not to show. He had no relations with the person tossed into Limbo this time, so he figured it was not his fight. However, here he was on the scene. Not because he came to be a savoir of the person thrown it, but to make sure one of his possessions wasn't lost to a pathetic husk of emotions given form. When his eyes laid upon the scene before him, they narrowed. Apparently Genji was fighting a pair of boxes? Perhaps this was one of the Shadow's tricks. Either way, Naito took confident strides towards the battlefield as the crimson door closed behind him. Extending his left hand, his scabbard and blade would appear within his palm, and he'd grab the hilt of the handle with a firm grip. "Seems like you're having fun here, Kano. Allow me to assist your reckless efforts." Naito's silver eyes never once turned to look at Brian, or Genji himself. Instead, it was focused on the boxes ahead. Focusing on the second box, a glowing card would slowly descend down infront of him with the markings of the "Emperor". "Obey my command!" With a quick draw slash, Tsurinai would slash through the card and cause a powerful burst of power to escape his body. Appearing in all its grandeur would be none other than Jinmu-tennō, the first Emperor of the Japan.

The Persona would shoot forward a single stride before striking out at Box #2 with two consecutive attacks. It had performed a kill rush, and would flip back into the air before vanishing back within Naito's subconscious. The silver haired student, on the other hand, would spin his blade upon his palm before sheathing it back within its scabbard. With the attack complete, Tsurinai would brace himself for combat. He should have know something like this would happen today.

Naito Stats:

As Brian was sitting and watching the battle he noticed that another person had appeared and this one was not someone Brian knew. Either way Brian decided to watch what was going on... surely he would wake up at some point. Other then seeing the new guy Brian noticed that genji did some kind of spell that healed himself and so did the clown. Sighing, Brian continued to watch as attently as possible.

OOC: Hey Blade, if you don't want to post or don't have anything to post for the Awakening, it's your choice not to post, just make sure you say if you're going to let us skip your posts in your next post.

IC:
Genji let out a sigh of relief as Naito jumped into battle. He was so happy to see him there. He could have kissed him, but the jester that was trying to kill him was the only obstacle. Naito wasted no time and Genji watched him attack box number two. Genji would follow suit and attack box number one. The two of them were going to drive this Shadow out, whether it wanted to be or not. He was just so glad that Naito was back. He didn't want to rely on others, but it seemed that it was his only choice. But he liked to battle with Naito. He was serious and controlled. He was an amazing ally to have on his team.

Genji's Stats:

Spoiler:

With the attack from the newcomer and Kano Genji, both boxes would be destroyed and the Jester would once again appear upon the battlefield. Dancing back and forth, a large crooked smile would appear on its face as it stared down towards the two Persona-Users. "Oh ho ho! Purseowners teaming up against little ol me? Snoresville! It's like you're all coming out of the wood works! No fair, No fair!" The Jester would stomp its feet on the ground before raising a hand and snapping it. With this, both Persona-Users would be debuffed, and their defense would be lowered by 30%. The Shadow Jester would laugh at this turn of events, as it continued to dance in place without worry. "How long can you last? One more turn? Two?! Kehe!" The Shadow openly mocked the duo, looking to lower their resolve in the fight. "I'll give you both an option. Turn back now, and leave the burden, and I'll let you live. Stay and keep protecting him, and I'll be sure to give you both a slow death. I mean why even protect him? Kano Genji, I've only met you've like twice. We are not friends. And silver one, we haven't met ONCE, why are you even here?! Where's the logic in protecting someone who's so weak?! I'm supposed to be the Killing Joke here, not you two. You have no purpose in this battle!" The Jester continued on with laughs beneath each breath. "He already thinks he's a burden, so let me dispose of him. It'll be dirt off your hands and my own. Nothing but good could come from his death, and from me replacing him. I am the true Brian King. The one not clouded by lies and despair!"

Shadow Brian:

Tsurinai listened to the Shadow's words for only a couple of seconds before slamming the tip of his scabbard down onto the ground to make a large smashing noise. "Silence!" The silver haired student would raise his voice to the Shadow as if it was talking to an annoying child. "In our world, having such weakness is what makes us human. You Shadows have no place on your own. You deserve to be in our hearts and make us stay on our toes. Humanity has lasted so long because we're so resilient, even when we contemplate against ourselves. A being created from raw negative emotion would never understand such a thing." Naito's words to the Shadow were condescending if not scathing all the same. Though as he spoke, his face was rather indifferent, if not entirely calm and collected. Even after losing his defense, thanks to the Shadow's annoying tactics, Tsurinai seemed not to care much. Instead, a single card would flow down before him. Lifting his right hand, he'd crush the card in his palm and cause a blue mist to erupt from his body. On his command, his Persona would dash out into existence and head straight towards the Jester. Launching itself into the air, it'd come down with a vertical slash into the Shadow's head before following up with a horizontal slash, performing a two hit Kill Rush. Once the attack was complete, the First Emperor Persona would fade back within Naito's subconscious, as the silver haired prince would narrow his eyes. Now the Shadow would most likely try to hide in his box again, after Genji's assault, or attack them directly. If he were to hide in the box, that meant he'd be trying to regain his health. That couldn't be allowed. This probably would be a good encounter to have a support user assist with. But oh well, Tsurinai would have to be enough.

Tsurinai Stats:

The Shadow took the attacks head on without waver, simply out of irritation and anger from the human's words. With a snap of the finger, clouds of thunder would appear above the two Persona Users. Two moderate bolts of lighting would strike down from the sky on both of them at once in a bright flash. The Jester danced around at the display of the attack and laughed loud enough for its distorted voice to echo within the room. "I may be a Shadow, so maybe you're right about not understanding how pathetic you humans are. But I know one thing, no matter how long you last, a Shadow will always be there. And the moment you start to doubt yourself, we'll be back ready to kill you! KeHAAHAH!" The Shadow Jester was obviously damaged from the attacks, but it seemed content on being an antagonist to humanity, no matter how long it was tamed. All Shadows were like this, even the ones who became Personas. All it took was for a User to start doubting themselves. A Shadow was another part of a human wished away, so in the end they could never be destroyed completely.

Shadow Brian:

Tsurinai would take on the bolt of lightning with a smile. Though it was painful, it was nowhere near fatal for someone like him. If he could, he'd take Zio skills all day. With his Persona's resistances, such attacks were nothing but child's play. Hell, the silver haired student would even raise a hand and brush off his shoulder in a nonchalant manner. "Pathetic! You had bad luck running into me, Clown." As Naito spoke his confident lines, his signature tarot card would slowly hover down before him. Drawing his blade, he'd slice through the card and cause his inner power to erupt outward. In that eruption, Jinmu-tennō would shoot forward with dual slashes, hitting the Shadow with enough force to slam it down into the ground. At this time, Naito would look towards Genji with a narrowed eye look. "Don't hesitate. Finish it so I can get out of here!" He barked his orders towards Genji as his Persona faded back within his subconscious. Once Jinmu-tennō disappeared, Tsurinai would spin his blade on the palm of his hand before sheathing it in style. "I'll leave the rest to you, Kano. I don't know this one, so I have nothing to say to him." Harsh words when referring to the one named Brian, but Naito was never known to be the type to mince words. Infact, he was rather cruel with his words. What the Shadow said was bothering him, and perhaps he was taking this irritation out on the other Persona-Users around him. Or maybe he was just tired of protecting people who weren't his possessions. Either way, these team activities would end after this one last time. From then on, Tsurinai would work alone with the one person who he knew understood him. Which was his Persona, which meant ultimately himself.

Naito:

The Shadow would take the attacks head on, and would give a laughter. Falling face first to the ground, it would remain there for a few seconds, quiet. However, this was all an act, as it would begin to kick its feet and lift and finger with one final snap. "Stupid humans! HAHAHAH!" Moderate bolts of lightning rained down on both opponents, as the Shadow pressed itself to its feet and staggered back and forth. Obviously it was barely hanging on now, and basically a gust of wind could knock it out. But as long as the trickster Shadow took one of the Persona-Users with him, he was A-OK. The silver haired pain in the ass spoke of how Humans were oh so superior, yet he was hurting pretty bad right now thanks to this one Shadow's work. "You humans overestimate your own use. In reality, you're all just food for us Shadows to devour! HAHAH! I may not get you today, but don't count this as a win!" The Shadow Jester continued to laugh like a madman at the current circumstances, even when its health was lower than low.

Shadow Brian:

Naito would take the hit and would stagger in stance. He cursed under his breath at how persistent this Shadow truly was. However, what took him by even more of a surprise was Genji hitting the ground so suddenly. The silver haired student would look towards him with wide eyes, and a surprised look. "W-What the hell? Oi, Kano? Kano, get up!" Tsurinai yelled towards the second Persona-User that seemed to be unconscious, if not dead. Tch, to this he'd let someone fall under his watch! Tsurinai couldn't stand it! "You're a real pain in my ass!" The self proclaimed Emperor would shoot forward in a dash towards the Shadow. He wouldn't even summon his Persona this time around. No, this Shadow deserved a different kind of humiliation. Drawing his blade, the Iaido Champion would jump into the air and come down with a stab into the Shadow's stomach. Using gravity and his own weight, he'd slash vertically down through the clown before reaching the ground and once again taking back his blade. Once his attack was complete, he'd back away from the Shadow and clean any gunk off his blade. Once doing this simple action, Tsurinai would sheath his blade and narrow his eyes towards the Shadow. "Stay the hell down, and know your place." With Genji down, that meant Naito would have to be the.. emotional ... support for this Brian fellow. Great. The Silver haired boy would de-summon his weapon and walk to the side of Genji. Kneeling down, he'd take the student's arm and help him to his feet, basically carrying him by his left arm. "I wonder what would have happened if I didn't show up.. Maybe working alone, isn't the best option for any of us. Anyway Brian, come face this thing. It's a part of you, and you need to accept it to keep it from coming back to kill you." Poor Naito wasn't that good with explaining things to people he had no connections too. "This Shadow is a part of you. Something you wished away. Even though it's twisting your emotions, it's still you. You need to accept it or it'll continue to harass you... and me."

With the final strike, the Jester would give a few more nervous laughs before falling down on its backside. The darkness that coated its skin would burst like a balloon, leaving just the smaller frame of Brian's doppelganger that looked exactly like him, save the minor difference in eye color. The Shadow of Brian King would remained sitting on the ground, injured from the fight, but still strong enough to keep its form. "Well, wasn't that just great. Maybe I was the burden after all.." The Shadow scoffed to itself as it let its head hang low in despair. For something that was talking so much before, it was becoming quite quiet at the current situation.

(OOC: Feel free to pitch in now, Shadow Master.)

Brian got up from where he was and crotched down looking down at his shadowy form. "Seems you might be me after all," Brian said condensendingly. "At that time back then I was convinced I was a burden. I tried to work hard, make good grades, and did what ever I did to make myself an easier kid to raise... hell I even kept fun things like field trips and extra activities so no money would be spent on me. For years I tried to convince myself that no I wasn't a burden, hell everyone around me has told me multiple times.... and I guess I couldn't accept it." Brian placed his arms on Shadow Brian. " But I have one last question.... If you are my true self.... Where can I buy fried chicken?"