Persona - Mask of Origins

Cara screamed, "Zain!?"

Zain's breathing started again with a gasp, his fangs were still there but he no longer felt a prickling sensation on his spine and the ringing had stopped. "You should've let me become what I was meant to be." he said softly, he meant no harm to her. HIs craving for the dark liquid had dulled considerably, "I saw...my parents for a second there."

 

"You were never meant to be a shadow, Zain."

 

"So you're saying, if I did become a shadow, you'd never forgive me. Hmph, figures...you sound just like mom." He remembered the kind, soft woman standing in the light with her arms open telling him to choose, light or twilight. "Forgive me mother for chooosing light."

 

Toji sighed.

"Too bad it wasn't a full cure, but I'm glad it was at least enough to break his dependence. I'll work on making a better cure."

 

Zain sighed, "Don't bother Toji, if your next "cure" kills me, I'm choosing twilight. I can live with this. I don't need that toxin but it'd be nice to have and I don't think I'm growing spines anymore." he managed a small laugh.

 

"The cure only hurt cause it was conflicting with that damned toxin that you drank. You're only in this state cause I forced the cure down your throat." Yuki said.

 

"Yeah, and you call me insane. Mmh, Orphan?" he looked around for his Persona.

Orphan slithered weakly into view, "Yesssss ssssir? You called? You'll forgive me, I don't feel ssso...normal."

 

"Weird, Orphan isn't as snarky as he usually is."

 

Zain reached a hand out to him and Orphan dropped his head on his hand, "Ssssir, I think it may be the toxin. It'ssss affected me too. If I change in the night, sssswear you won't abandon me." Zain smiled, his fangs pricking his lip, "I promise Orphan, get some rest buddy. We both should." He stood, staggered and picked Orphan up, unsteadily heading up the stairs.

 

Yuki sighed and collapsed on the couch, falling asleep.

Toji carried her to her room and laid her on the bed before going home.

 

Zain was tired but he let Orphan sleep and sharped his lance, "There isn't a way in hell to reverse this completely. I will do what I can to kill Lady Shiv, for you Orphan."

 

Yuki screamed and awoke from her nightmares. She went downstairs and started brewing coffee.

 

Toya was in his mansion's garden and was making a bouquet of Sakuya's favorite flower. He sighed and looked at a bush, growing on it was Yuki's favorite flower. He remembered when he gave one to her.

 

Zain rubbed his eyes as morning sun came in through his window and he stood, stretching. Orphan had changed. He frowned as he examined the gem-like purple scales on his body and...was he growing something on his side? Zain wanted to scream but he held it in and touched Orphan's new scales.

 

Yuki sat at the kitchen table, already downing the pot of coffee.

 

Toya walked to Yuki's house and left a flower at her window.

 

Yuki walked outside to get the mail and saw the flower.

"Oh, Toya...." She said to herself, musing over their old relationship.

 

Toya was back at his room, staring at the flower he had picked from the garnde.

 

Yuki yawned as she flipped through the paper.

 

Zain picked up Orphan, slinging him over his shoulders, he came down the stairs with his lance firmly in his hand, intent on killing Lady Shiv completely this time.