TARTARUS ● DARK HOUR ● NEW MOON ● HARABAH 185F

"Minako."

"Mhmm."

"Mi-na-ko."

She nonchalantly glanced at him then focused back to walking, "What is it? Found a shadow?"

Minako sounded awfully cold these days that Akihiko was finding it hard to talk to her. He now regrets insisting on coming along to Tartarus with her despite her initial demand on staying away from the dungeon for now having only lesser people to scout when needed. Being their leader, he was prepared to listen to her. But knowing his girlfriend, he knew something was up.

"You don't really want to be with me right now, do you?" He blurted out.

Minako stopped moving making Akihiko almost bumping into her.

She balled her fists, her knuckles white on her Naginata, "Senpai, we should really focus on finding the lost human. Theodore―err, my agent said it'll be around this floor to the next five floors above."

Knowing Akihiko's sense of responsibility, Minako expected him to go along and listen to her. She wasn't in the mood to act all leader-y as of the moment, but having her emotions betraying her everytime they're alone tempted her to act distant and isolate.

Yet, she didn't expect his next move. She didn't move an inch but Akihiko held her shoulders, forcing her to face him abruptly. Her eyes widened as she gazed into a pain-faced Akihiko almost as if pleading to her.

She wasn't sure if she was glad that they were the only one there (other than Fuuka and Koromaru manning the entrance as she requested). A mix of relief and worry overcame her knowing Akihiko would act differently compared to days when they were full force on scouting.

She thought, Why did Yukari have to be sick today of all days?

"You're calling me 'senpai' again." He noted.

Minako's mouth set on a hard line. "You ARE my senior. It's only natural for me to―"

His eyes lowered, "You always call me 'Aki' when we're alone."

Her grip on her weapon loosened. Her jaw tightened as her heart melted. How can this man look as adorable as Koromaru while being so handsome under the cold dim light of Tartarus, she thought. She felt betrayed by her wavering resolve. She wanted to tell him what was bothering her. It was already painful enough performing a restraining order against herself from jumping into his arms and weep like a lost child. Words failed her all the time, and again this time as well.

She gently pushed his hands off of her and forced a smile. "We have to go. Fuuka warned me that Tartarus during the New Moon is more dangerous. We must hurry and find the missing―"

As if on cue, the ground turned into a cellphone on vibrate. Was Tartarus receiving a call?

"An earthquake?" She stuttered.

"No." Akihiko's breathing became rough, "Tartarus is reforming like...last time!"

Hearing him say "last time" made Minako's roast beef from earlier's dinner do a backflip in her stomach. There had been numerous times Tartarus demonstrated having a mind of its own. Surely, it was astounding and all but...reforming mid-scout was most certainly not their favorite showcase of skill.

Minako groaned in frustration. She collected all her thoughts connecting it to their outside communication. "Fuuka!" She yelled to the ceiling. "Fuuka can you hear me?"

Heavy static filled their head. It was about a count to five when a voice replied in a choppy distance.

"Mina―" Static. "I―you" Static. "Are―right?" Static. "Ko―ru barked towards―" Static.

Akihiko turned to her expecting an interpretation of what she had just said.

She waved his question for later. She veered her attention back to the ceiling, "Fuuka listen!" Heavy static beaming aloud. "No time. Escape Route. Now!"

Before Fuuka could even respond, a sound of a line getting cut simultaneously occured in their mind. Minako cursed. This was the reason why she didn't want anybody coming along with her. Theodore had advised her that with all twelve shadows defeated, Tartarus is becoming more conscious and unpredictable.

Minako recalled how she had warned everyone about the treacherous awakenings inside the labyrinth. Rescue missions were supposed to only be done by her with Fuuka and one other preferably Yukari or Junpei keeping watch on the entrance. Sadly Yukari got sick and Junpei was flooded with homework. That idiot. Mitsuru-senpai was so busy with her father's company that she told her to rest for the meantime. Aigis was still malfunctioning so Ken ended up manning the dorm while she took Koromaru with her to help guard Fuuka. They even left the dorm before the clock striked twelve and yet, the person she avoided bringing along to scout had already been waiting for them at the gates long before they arrived.

The tremors became stronger. Minako of all people understood Tartarus. She knew that if they stay put and wait for it to stop, there was no certainty that they won't get trapped. Having no other options left, she reached for her skirt pocket and pulled out a blue chiseled quartz rock with silver trim the size of a fist. Akihiko watched her carefully as she shoved the gem to his chest saying: Use it. Go.

"What is this?" He said wearily holding the rock.

"I saved that for emergency purposes. It's an auto escape gem sold at the Shinshou―know what? That's not the point. It activates by the summon of its name. Hold it close to you so I could activate it."

"Will this also take you?" His eyes fixed to hers. Unconsciously, her eyes answered for her.

"No." He said pushing the gem back to her. "We're running for the nearest access point."

"Don't be stupid!" She yelped, irritation bubbling in her chest. "No." She said in gritted teeth. "We haven't scouted this floor properly. That'll take forever. We can't waste time. You better use this,"―lacing his fingers around the gem then shoving it back at him―"and leave before you get sucked in."

"And abandon you?" He exclaimed. His eyes glossing in disbelief.

As intense as Akihiko's voice, the floor shook harder now more instense as if replicating the great Tokyo Earthquake back in the 20s. Cracks began to form around them. They were arguing for so long that they failed to consider the time they spent bickering versus the time they have left.

Beneath her, she could feel the floor becoming thin. She had always been the only one other than Fuuka to completely understand Tartarus' turmoils, sensing whenever the dungeon felt abnormal. Useless was an understatement of how she felt right now failing to sense the unstoppable crumbling underneath them.

She stared intently into Akihiko, "Listen. The floor beneath us? Yeah. It's becoming thin as ice on a winter lake. One wrong move and we're a goner. We can't run."

Her words hit him like an unexpected uppercut. His eyes slowly widened, mouth slightly opened. Minako didn't know what to do with his silence. She could see the fear creeping in his face. But she didn't have time to feel fear. Instead, she clasped her hands unto Akihiko's, holding the gem tightly against his chest, sharply breathing in the malice and agitation in the air. Death.

"Ready?" She said, brushing her thumb against his. "You go down and come back up when it settles down."

His face slacked, "Minako you can't be serious."

"We have less than a minute." Her eyelids drooped. "Do you trust me?"

She felt his grip tighten. That was all he needed to do to tell her: I do.

There were no words to describe Akihiko. Even before they started dating, she had seen his soft side. Who would have thought the tough jock had a taste when it comes to girly stuff. Yes, he's definitely the manliest of all men in her eyes, but he always had the eyes for good gifts and making her feel special. He's always guided her may it be in keeping her health in good shape and the secrets in battling shadows. Not to mention she saw him get wounded on their first major shadow on her first full moon.

For Minako, her being the leader was plainly convenient selection. Because she could switch into different Personas at will, they elected her into position. But it wasn't all that. For her being a leader meant inspiring others to become strong. Inspiring others not to give up. Inspiring others even when nobody recognizes you for it. That was Akihiko for her.

A crevice began to form between her feet. Akihiko wanted to pull her away from it but she held his arm and shook her head.

"It's okay." She insisted. "Just a little more and I'll bust you out of here."

He winced. "How can you be so calm?"

She sensed agitation in his voice. She wasn't sure if he was getting affected by the miasma around them or he was plainly exercising his overprotective nature. Minako chuckled.

"Oh now you're laughing at me?" He complained.

"I'm not, dummy." She smirked. "Honest? My knees are turning to overcooked noodles and my skin feels like it's crawling with fire ants. I know you don't see it as clearly as I do but the miasma from the crevices are seeping out and it's making my head turn to cotton."

He grimaced. "Then why―"

"Why I look confident? Sound so sure? Unfazed?"

His shoulders slumped. "Fearless." He supplied.

Minako shrugged. "I got you. That's more than enough reason for me to survive."

Akihiko was about to hug her when she held her hand up to stop him.

"Besides," She added, "Tartarus might recognize me as what used to be the container of all twelve shadows and some part of Nyx. The dungeon might spare me from whatever it plans to do."

The floor ten feet away began to separate into several tectonic plates. Talk about seeing a representation of the splitting of Pangaea.

"I don't like your plan." He frowned.

She gave him a side smile. "Did you ever?"

The crack beneath them opened, rocking them off balance. A swirl of black smoke escaped, wrapping around their ankles, pulling them into the shadows. They both fought back but they knew where this was going.

Minako took one last glance at Akihiko and their eyes locked at each other. She mouthed: I love you, and he closed his eyes shut knowing what she was about to do.

Minako mustered a silent prayer and all at once she pushed Akihiko to higher ground as she yelled, "Traesto!" and a warp of light engulfed the boy as she plunged into darkness.