Persona - Mask of Origins

"I'm glad. I didn't know how close I was to making a good cure."

 

Glancing up, he'd lost what remained of any human trace in his eyes and stared at him with blank red eyes, "Don't make it such a big deal. You never would've figured out what you were missing. Shadow blood from the subjects I need will be difficult to obtain and the herbs I've ordered will take a while to boil out what I need to complete it. What's worse is getting the herbs will be the easy part. The Shadows had a deal with Daieko, not me. I have to take their blood by force."

 

"I'll leave you to it then."

 

"That'd be best." Taking a slight interest in Toji and Yuki to distract himself from the mess he'd be making later, "So what are your intentions with my sister?"

 

"She and I are just dating right now. I really don't want to take it any further until she wants to."

 

Zain grunted as if he didn't like the answer and yet slightly smiled at Yuki. "If I do fail at this cure, and I do turn into a shadow for the rest of my life....I want you to take care of Yuki. She means the world to me now and I couldn't bear to live, even as a monster, knowing she was hurt." His red eyes closed and he dog-eared and closed the book, setting it down. He looked exhausted, not having slept in a while. "I want you to promise this to me Toji. If you are as trustworthy as Yuki makes me believe. You shall promise you'll take care of her when I'm gone. If not...I might just have to rip you to pieces."

 

"I swear it on my life."

 

Grinning a fanged smile at him, "Good. Now that that's settled, Toji, who are you really?" His red eyes narrowed on him, fighting off his exhaustion.

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"I mean, you're not fazed by how I look or the things I say. You don't feel normal to me. You can't say that this is all you do and yet investigating a cure to being turned into a shadow is completely normal for you." Zain's smile fell away and a dark wave washed over his vision. His red eyes glowing for a minute. His hunger and exhaustion was getting the better of him. He'd have to leave soon.

 

"My father has been experimenting on shadows. I've seen the work he's done in his lab and I wanted to try and find some way to stop what he's doing."

 

Zain suppressed a growl, "Your father....and he would be?" he wondered if Toji's father knew Lady Shiv. Though she was a shadow herself, she had hid in the world as a human being, the experiments must have come from someone else's mind, not hers.

 

"His name is Keiji. I believe he had been working with someone named Shiv, but he came up with all the experiments."

 

Zain growled, "Sh-shiv? Keniji huh? Did...did your father ever create the experiment of turning children into shadows? Such as...orphan children?"

 

"That was one of them, yes. That's the main reason I've been working to undo his work."

 

"Then it's best you're working with me. I am the result of Lady Shiv's continued experiment on the orphans. Me and my...old friend Orphan, were her experiments. I guess your father's experiment was a success. Without that cure, I'll be a shadow in a matter of days."

 

"I'll do my best to help you, then. Not only for you, but for Yuki as well. You're practically the only family she has, and it would kill her to lose you."

 

He adjusted his clothes, night was still falling. "Good then. I must be off for the night then. Before my hunger gets the better of me and I do something foolish. Goodnight Yuki, Toji, I'll see you both in the morning." He left the house and hurried himself out into the woods in search of fresh meat.

 

Toji sat down with Yuki on the couch.

"You mind if I stay the night, Toji?" Yuki asked.

"I don't mind. You can use my room while I sleep on the couch." Toji said.

 

Zain's shadow was a lot harder to control after feeding. He kept his distance from Toji's home and pummeled himself against the wall of the Orphanage. The Shadow willing him to leave and yet unable to grasp the concept of the doorknob. After beating himself to a pulp, he slid down the wall, tired and bleeding from the forehead where he'd repeatedly smashed his head into the door. "Ow...stupid thing. Once the cure is done....I'll be alright. If this gets too bad...well at least I won't have killed anyone...... Cara..."