Chapter 18: Small Reunion

Somewhere in Iwatodai District

"Elizabeth!?"

"Theodore!?"

An awkward silence, then Theo spoke, "It's good to see you well, Master Minako. But for now, it isn't a time for casual reunions."

"What?"

"Like he said," Elizabeth said, "We've got much more important things to discuss—which is not good to talk about here."

After Elizabeth finishes her sentence, she grabbed Minato's hand and dashed off, Theo did the same.

They ran and ran, all the way reaching Paulownia mall's back area. The two didn't answer why there were running or what the heck is even going on, even how they appeared at that very moment. They stopped in front of an empty wall, a dead end.

"Hold on, this is—"Minato was cut off from his words as Elizabeth shushed him. She then pulled out a key from her pocket.

"We'll explain everything we can once we enter here."

Velvet Room

The Velvet Room returned as well, it's been a while since Minato returned here. Minako had been here only twice—one from her dream, and one from inside Tartatus.

"What's the meaning of this?" Minato asked. "I thought this place was gone. Though to be honest I last saw the door when we returned to Tartarus."

"That's is incorrect," Theo replied, "Master Igor did not mention that this place was to disappear as you have completed your duty. It was just merely left as it is. I recall Master saying you've noticed the door's presence once."

"Who're you, by the way? You seem to know me too."

"I am Theodore, her younger brother.," said Theo while pointing at Elizabeth, "I was already attending to your sister from when she first discovered her Persona and entered here. I know you because I'm also a resident here."

"Huh. Well, thanks for looking after her. Wait, so this is your guardian?"

"Yeah, but we've only been together a few times before we had that first major battle together. I was surprised that he suddenly disappeared. Oh, but I call him guardian because I like to." She grinned.

"What kind of people were your foster family, sis?"

"They're really nice! But, like I've said earlier, I'm usually alone…they're good people, really, but they're both workaholics. After the Dark Hour incident 10 years ago, where we got separated, they found me unconscious alone after that time and took me in. They have no children so they adopted me. My memories then were hazy but I managed to remember little bit by bit."

"Huh, so that's why."

"I told them I have a twin brother, you. They were concerned but they said that you might be dead as well and we didn't really have the time to search through records. So yeah, I got by myself like that. But I didn't gave up on believing we'd meet again."

Minato embraced her tightly, she did too. Theo pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe little tears from his eyes as he watched the sibling bond. Elizabeth wiped a tear from her eye as well, then clapped a little, "Now then, let's tell of the past some other time. We're quite aware that you two and your friends are confused."

They sat down at the center table, only the missing part is that Igor's not with them. Elizabeth tells them that Igor's at another place with their older sister, attending to another guest.

Minako frowned, "Please tell us what made time rewind and everything's mixed up and topsy-turvy. And you, Theo, you suddenly disappeared right after you told me to go to this island."

"We're just about to, let me explain," Theo said calmly, but then he seem to pout, "Before that, you forgot about me until earlier, didn't you?"

"Ehh uh… Haha."

"Master Minako …" Theo sighed.

"Ahem!" Elizabeth pretended to clear her throat, "If you don't mind, I'll explain it myself."

"No, I want to!"

"Silly boy, you're probably going to mess up."

"Guh…"

"This is cute, seeing them like this," Minako smiled.

"I have to agree," Minato nodded.

"Excuse us, we're just doing what siblings do," Theo chuckled. "Again, I will explain. The reason we have brought you two here is because there is another being who had been watching everything and will probably interfere had we not come here."

"You mean there's another one?" Minako said, "But we haven't seen anyone, have we, Minato?"

"Yes."

"That is because he is waiting for the right time. Rather, he will make it so."

"Huh? How?" the two asked in unison.

"The being who is interfering right now is the keeper of time, Chronos. He had always been watching over all, and making sure of everything needs to be in check," said Theo. "He is also responsible for making you two forget about us by hiding our presence."

"Is that even possible? But why is this Chronos guy here and suddenly appeared?" asked Minato, "We haven't encountered that guy ever. Then he's now messing with our timeline."

"Chronos is a solemn one," said Elizabeth, "but if something interests him, he will see to it. Though we haven't actually met him; Master Igor just told us some stories about him."

"I really wonder why," Minako sighed, "I don't think we've done anything wrong so why mess with us?"

"We'll ask that straight at his face when we meet him, Minako."

"By the way, you two," said Minako, "why did both of you suddenly appeared as well? You were also scared for us to rush to talk in here. Why here?"

Elizabeth sighed, "That is because Chronos can't enter here. He's not to interfere with this place. Master Igor told us that he won't know anything that goes in here. Once you two leave here, you'll be under his eyes again."

"Okay," Minako nodded, "so now what you two?"

"This timeline had prevented us to make contact with either of you, so we waited until we had sensed even a slight further disruption." Theo said. "That could be a reason why you two were surprised to see us again now."

"Actually, we've been with you both since you've met again," said Elizabeth, "but because of our situation, our existence had been 'hidden'. What the reason is, we don't know, but maybe because we're just residents here. Chronos probably thought we're nuisances."

"But you could've just entered the Velvet Room on your own, right?"

"We could but we wanted to make contact with you first," Elizabeth smiled, "Because if we didn't, you wouldn't notice us."

Minato shrugged his shoulders, "So what do you think caused that disruption?"

"I believe it was when the moment everyone remembered to realized that this had been just a repeat year with slight changes," said Theo, "After all, everyone had been enjoying themselves despite the troubles you've faced and are facing right now. But also maybe Chronos had allowed it."

"Right, you two were with us…wait." Minako's eyes suddenly fierce, "If you were with us the whole time, you could've…"

"No, no, no!" Theo flailed, "I could not do such a horrible thing, whatever you might be thinking, Master Minako!"

"Really?" Minato shot the same look at Elizabeth.

"Oh my, so looking at your wonderful sleeping faces was a crime?" she smirked.

"Yes, it is! You're trespassing on our privacy! We appreciate the 'watching over us' part, but come on, you're both as persistent as Aigis like that!" the twins argued at them.

Elizabeth laughed while Theo chuckled softly, though they can't deny that they've already seen their sleeping faces or the times when they felt they need to be silly and an idiot, yup all those derp times as well.

"So what now?" Minako said. "Chronos could come at us anytime. But the nagging question is: what does he want from us?"

"Let's find him and make him tell us."

"Such a hasty suggestion, Master Minato."

"Anyways, I bet you two know why?"

"Master Minato, you must have known it as well?" Elizabeth grimaced. "No? Hmm… I suppose we can't hide it… We do…"

"Tell us, Elizabeth," Minato said.

"That's for you to find out. We may have already known since then, but you need to know it."

Minato sighed and doesn't want to ask some more, probably because he's grown tired from the mental stress.

"In any case, we'll be right here. The disruption seems to have been restored, but we've safely returned here in the Velvet Room. Theodore and I cannot go back out there now as we'll just be 'erased' again. So our assistance has been limited inside this place."

"We'll see each other again."

Outside Paulownia Mall

"At least we know now who's behind all this," Minako sighed.

"Yeah…" so did Minato.

"Let's tell the others right away."

"…Is it me or ever since those two mentioned Chronos, now I've been feeling someone is watching us."

"So you've finally learned who's behind this…"

The two turned to the direction of the voice—it was from Ryoji, standing firm near them but he's not aware of the Velvet Room, so he has no idea how they know.

"Ryoji-kun…"

"Why are you here, Ryoji?"

"Just…wandering around… I've got nothing better to do anyway aside from seeing this timeline to the end."

"What do you mean? You look like you knew from the start."

"Well…kind of like that…"

"Ryoji-kun, don't hide anything from us anymore…please. Everyone's been hiding something…it hurts…" she frowned.

"I'm sorry, Minako-chan, but Minato-san has to figure it out. He's a key player in this."

"Me again? Not you too… Damn you, I've already hit rock bottom, don't make it worse… How can I know what it is when I don't even remember?"

"Your memories were affected…that explains it."

Minato dashed and held up Ryoji by his collar, Minako managed to stop him from gripping him too much. He released his grip and took a deep breath, Ryoji smoothed out the wrinkles.

"I'm really, really sorry, but you have to. I'll come back to the dorm soon. For now, please try to remember. Until then, please prepare yourselves as much as you can…there are still some things that are inevitable…"

With that, Ryoji turns his back and walked away. His face showed great sadness and that he's fully aware of what's been happening. Though he wanted to help, he can't, and Minato has to remember, he could be a cause. At least now the twins had learned of another being responsible. The existence of the Velvet Room returns when they've met with the attendants again. The one in Tartarus may have as well. But now's the time to face an even difficult opponent.

Chapter 18 End.

-Continued...

Note: I swear on myself that at this point on, I have no idea how I'm going to complete this fanfic... ( ; w ; )
Thanks for keeping up with this -confusing- story! ( Q w Q )