A Trade to Die For

He blinked at how fast that Tomoe came to him. It really took him off guard. Then again, she was a goddess. Something like this shouldn't be surprising. Though, her response to his request caused him to snort at her while letting her hug him. He sighed. It wasn't bad nor unwelcome, but...


"You're a kind one. But foolish, nevertheless. Save those words for someone that hasn't lost everything," he admonished her while flicking a finger at her forehead, "They have no meaning to a walking corpse. Your concern for me is unnecessary."

This world had nothing for him at all anymore in the first place. This time, he really didn't care how this goes. Everything was on Tomoe's shoulders and that should be enough. His purpose is more or less finished or at least close to. But, his 'debt' has yet to be paid off even after all of this.

He looked back towards Yusugi, "Is he in any condition to fulfill his role now?"

There was some concern. Not that he really cared that much, but if they were going to strive for success in this endeavor, they needed to take into consideration of this boy's state. Of course, other than that, there was still someone probably lurking around. Someone that has yet to show up. Jin was ready for him.

"Whatever you're going to do, the rest of us will make sure you won't be interrupted," he said towards the rest of the Kings and then towards Tomoe, "If you're going, do it now."

It was now or never. No more dilly-dallying. It was time to go.

"Enough. Get going. Everyone's hopes here are with you no matter what happens. Let that be the strength that Angra Mainyu never has."

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

Kahn nodded his head, towards Soki, "Alright, that's good to know. Let's get her going then, as we don't have much time." By the time he turned back Tomoe was saying her goodbyes to everyone and he was surprised by a hug. He returned the hug, and looked down at her. His hug was a bit tighter due to his strength. "Everyone's riding on you, you have a lot of pressure on you, but I have no doubt in my mind that you can do this." Kahn said smiling down at her, "I'll be rooting for you, heck we'll all be rooting for you. Everyone here wants you to win, because you helped them see the light at the end of the tunnel. So go kick Yachiru's ass for all of us. Don't hold back!"

Kahn smiled and let go of her, and took a step back allowing her to go on with speaking with the others. This was is the moment of truth, and it was all on his friend. If he could grant her his strength in a more direct way he would, but as of right now...he couldn't. However, no matter what happened he would be with her..every step of the way. He had faith in her, and trusted in her ability to pull through all of this. They would all get through this, and everyone would be for the better. They just had to believe in Tomoe, and know that no matter what...they would all overcome this together no matter how far they were or how far they would go away from each other. Even if the universe sought to divide them, they would overcome the challenges and fight against what stood against them.

He watched as Tomoe left. There were no doubts, she was the only one who could set things right and finally end things. With her gone now, there was only this world’s destruction and soon that would come. Jin welcomed it. If Tomoe granted his wish, the sorely needed rest he wanted would come. It has been long decades since her death. The former teacher clumsily stumbled about like a purposeless fool. It was a rough journey, he won’t disagree with that. His purpose was finished and now was the time to die.

His back bent and chest heaved again as he coughed violently into one hand again. It was almost as if the attacks were timing its return suitably with the end of the world. He felt what was left of his life drench his palm again as he wheezed. Jin looked back at it, while not bothering to hide it now. Why worry about it? They were going to die anyway—or disappear. However the hell Ahura Mazda worded it.


Wet. And this time, there was a whole lot more. Time had passed and there was none left over. This disease wasn’t going to kill him. This world ending would, but he didn’t care which. The end was here, if only temporary for some. He had faith that Tomoe won’t let it be permanent for the others. At least on that part, Somewhere deep inside, there was something about Tomoe that reminded him about what he lost. And it hurt.

As this world would end, Jin closed his eyes and thought back to his previous memories.


He could never do anything right. Not even as a teacher, could he actually protect something or have some semblance of a meaning in his existence. He had failed Lorielle and the students Aburai had killed. Ultimately, he had failed her. Jin was a failure. The former teacher had wondered if there was any purpose to this decaying life. That answer came when the doctor’s results came in. He accepted the inevitable, but fate had a funny way of doing things once the Tower came into being.

He came there to die, to make up for the mistakes. And that’s all that mattered for him. What’s left for him was to disappear. But, even with all this inside of him… something was there. Something that smiled.


Was it his imagination? He couldn’t tell. Jin popped his eyes open again. He was back in the Courtyard. She wasn’t there anymore. But, he didn’t care. It would all end and perhaps with less of a morbid acceptance of an end and more a satisfied smile growing on his face. It would all end and he was fine with it.

Weakness:

Kahn watched as the one person holding this reality together leave, without her everything would come apart. He had a choice not long ago to leave this reality, perhaps save himself from this destruction and fate. He saw that more of a test, to see whether or not he truly deserved the power of the world. He had chosen to stay with the people around him, and he would happily make that decision one-hundred times over. Because looking around, there was no way to escape the coming destruction by running away. Him, Destiny, Naito, and Hibiki were the ones who could have run away from all this destruction...all this chaos.

But by that same token, they were also the ones who had the freedom to stay. They chose to stay and face the difficulties head on, even if the face of hopeless odds. Perhaps that is what all persona users have to do, they always have to take the hardest path. The metaphorical high road is the path of the persona user...no matter how hard or how idealistic or naive the goal. That's what persona users move toward...and right now they could only put their faith in Tomoe and that she would be able to save them all. Well that seemed pretty idealistic, but if there was one person that could save them all that would be Tomoe. He'd just have to have faith in her, and maybe once all this was over...he could see a very old friend.

Kahn's only recent regret is that he never asked who his son's mother was. Well not that it mattered, it was another reality, right? There wasn't anyway it was the person he was thinking of, her personality would have rubbed off some way. Kahn had no doubt that his son took way too much after him, and perhaps...that wasn't exactly a good thing. Oh well...he'd make his own destiny in the new reality....he wondered...if he'd even remember all this...oh well. It is what it is...the most important thing is that Tomoe was going to get them through this...he'd bet on it.

Naomi would blush as a smile crossed her face. The little girl said she was looking at Yata with love. Was it really that obvious, even to a child? When the girl put herself between Naomi and Yata, she would sigh. She would bend down to a squat and look straight at the girl. It wasn’t an uncomfortable position, but it was how she naturally spoke to children, “Nice to meet you. My name is Naomi and I’m someone that Yata knew from his old world.” She would look up at Yata, searching for any sign that it was alright to tell this girl what their relationship to one another was and if this was Yata’s friend. She assumed that was the case. How could she not after that greeting between them? Also, given how protective the girl seemed to be, their relationship couldn't be anything else. Her head tilted slightly as she smiled at the girl, “Thank you for being with him.”

It seemed Yata and Ree were needed, however. They gathered with three of the others that were there and… somehow summed a black hole? That strangely made about as much sense as anything else that was happening. Anything could happen when it came to the supernatural, it seemed, but that was a general rule.

Her attention would turn toward the radiant woman. She was different than the rest of them, and they made it sound like the world was resting on her shoulders. Naomi didn’t know her, but she did now someone like her once. Someone who would go off to save the world… and would never come back. She was just like him. She didn’t know the woman, but she knew what she probably had to go through. She wouldn’t say anything, but would only nod before the woman was gone. She didn’t know her, and so couldn’t say goodbye from the heart. The most she could do was thank her, but for what she wasn't entirely sure.

She took a look at the other that were there now that the one woman was gone. Their moods seemed to change as well. She ignored the feeling crawling down her spine. It creeped over her like ice water, and slithered its way beneath her skin. She stood up and looked at Yata, the only person here that she truly knew, and waited. She would inch closer to him, not trying to pose a threat to the girl, but just wanting to be with him. The feeling crawling over her was one she knew all too well after a year back home. It was one she hated, and she wanted to be close to him to try and push it away. Even so, she knew it would remain. She meekly held her hand out to him. She wanted to hold his and feel happiness instead of dread. The kind she had tried so hard to fight against back home, but still persisted. She didn't even know where it came from. Maybe from experience. Maybe a new sense she had. Maybe from paranoia. Whatever it was, it wouldn’t fade.

Someway, somehow, death was coming.