Persona - Mask of Origins

Yuki was unusually happy today. Her personality had taken Toji by surprise as they went on a date.

 

Callen returned to Toji's home. Softly instructing Ari, "Zain will be your master now, okay? Sensei isn't leaving you, but giving you the opportunity to learn from Zain, okay? He is your Sensei for the time being." She sniffed and nodded, "Okay...Callen-sama. I'll see you again, soon. Ari will not let Sensei be hurt." He smiled, patted her head and left. Ari nuzzled her way up to Zain's neck, "Ari needs blood to track Sensei." She bit into him and cuddled closer to him, feeding on him as he slept.

 

Yuki enjoyed her time with Toji.

"I haven't felt like this in ages." She said.

 

Ari's long drinks from Zain woke him. "Ah, wh-what are you doing? In my bed and drinking from me?!" "Callen-sama told Ari to watch Sensei. Keep Sensei safe, so Ari was feeding on Sensei to know you better. Don't hit Ari." she cringed. For a shadow she sure was odd. "I'm not going to hit you. You surprised me, is all. Don't feed on me when I'm asleep. You could've killed me."

 

Yuki and Toji returned after a while. Yuki yawned and fell asleep on the couch.

 

Zain went back to sleep and Ari curled close to him.

 

Toji covered Yuki up and went to his room to sleep.

 

Ari stopped Toji just outside his room, "You asked Sensei if he was the first. Why are you asking such questions?" Ari's monotone voice was hushed for Zain's sake, but she was always quiet.

 

"Call it scientific curiosity."

 

"Ari...doesn't remember much. What questions do you have left for Sensei?"

 

"I can't remember. I'm too tired at the moment."

 

Ari's dull eyes bore into him, but she stepped aside, "At the moment...Sensei will be back tomorrow, with Zero and Ari will stay with Zain-Sensei. Goodnight...Toji...." She returned to Zain's room without a sound.

 

Toji flopped down on the bed and fell asleep.

 

Early morning, just as Ari had said Callen and Zero were back. Zain made breakfast, feeling better than the world. "Zain, take it easy. You've drank a lot of my blood with the cure. You're running a fever." He lookd up, "Huh? No I'm not. I feel fine." "Ari." Ari touched her hand to Zain's forehead and nodded, "Zain-Sensei is hot. Fever." Zain touched his own head and sighed, "What d'ya know. I guess I do. Well I feel fine. I've got breakfast to make anyway. You said Toji has more questions for you? What kind of questions?" "If we knew that, don't you think we'd just write down the answers and leave?" Zain scowled at him, "Alright then."

 

Toji walked downstairs and stretched.

 

Everyone turned to look at him. Callen smiled, Zero scowled at him, muttering something about filthy humans again and Ari gave him the exact same blank look she always did. Zain waved food in front of his face, "Breafast's ready. Please don't ask how they got here. I don't even remember getting up." "Morning Toji."

 

"Morning." Toji said before eating quickly.

Yuki yawned as she got up from the couch.

 

Zain kept eating as he cooked. The shadows stared at Toji as he ate. Callen seemed only interested in the person while Ari seemed fasignated by how he ate. "Ari, don't stare like that, it's rude!" Zero snapped. Ari ignored him and poked Toji's face, "Eat..."

 

"Cut that out." Toji said.

 

Callen gave her a look and she shifted back in her chair. "I hope Ari hasn't bothered you like this before. She seems to have taken an interest in you Toji." Zain snorted, "Be grateful she doesn't want to chomp on you. Callen, she's new to being a shadow isn't she?" He looked surprised, "Ah, no. She's been a shadow longer than I have, in truth."