The World Beyond (A Yosuke Hanamura Love Story)

A New Persona User

Yosuke's POV:

''Ahhhhhh!!!" Ayame screamed, she fell to the floor terrified.

The black smoke dissipated leaving behind a powerful shadow. It looked like a large white snake with skull patterns on its scales, razor sharp fangs and the usual golden eyes.

"Ayame! Get behind us now!" I shouted running over to her and pulling her behind me.

"Persona!" Kanji and Naoto shouted together as their persona's appeared behind them before they ran towards the shadow. Ayame was shaking I turned to her and smiled gently,

"Its okay I will protect you I promise, once all this is done I need to speak to you okay?" I say to her softly she nods slowly as I take a step forward,

"Jiraiya" I shout as my persona comes to form behind me, I looked back to see Ayame, though still scared staring at Kanji, Naoto and I in amazement. I was so busy looking at her that I didn't notice shadow Ayame attack me from behind. Ayame's eyes widened as she ran towards me I looked to her slightly confused and worried, 'what is she doing!?'

''Yosuke sempai look out!'' she shouted before pushing me away from her before a large tail swung around hitting her hard. She was knocked backwards and straight into Naoto, bringing them both to the ground. Yu, Yukiko, Chie and Rise all came running into the room with their persona's following them they took over as Kanji and I ran towards Naoto and Ayame.

''Naoto are you okay?'' Kanji asked helping her up, she fixed her glasses and smiled to him as they made their way over to where I was.

''Ayame....Ayame! Open your eyes'' I said frantically pulling her body on to my lap, she opened her eyes and smiled at me gently. I sighed in relief as Naoto and Kanji kneeled down next to us.

''I guess, I can be brave when people I care about are in danger huh?'' she said laughing slightly Naoto just shook her head and punched her shoulder gently making them both laugh. Naoto nodded her head and looked Ayame straight in the eyes.

''You have always been brave Ayame, your braver then me. The only reason I can be who I am today is because you asked to be my friend that day it made me so happy that you wanted to be my friend, nothing and no-one will ever replace that bond'' she said Ayame's eyes widened before she stood up and looked over to her shadow,

''That's me? (sigh) I guess I always knew I had a part of me exactly like that'' she said looking down, the shadow screeched in pain at her words then, Yu and Yukiko finished it off, returning it to its original form. Ayame walked over to it and held out her hands, the shadow took them and stood up.

''I'm sorry, you were right I was and still am afraid. I'm afraid that Naoto and the others will all leave me if I had told them how much I had wanted to die I did want that for a while but I was also scared of death. After what my father had tried to do to me I was terrified of any and every human even myself the only people I could trust were my mother and Naoto. She had saved me that day and continued to save and protect me from then onwards. When she left the city I was scared again my protection and my best friend had left me alone but I wasn't mad just........well scared. I knew you weren't lying I was just too ashamed to admit the truth. You are me and I am you, you have always been inside of my heart and you always will be I accept that now'' Ayame said,

''I have a reason to live now, I never want to think about dying again'' her shadow said looking over Ayame's shoulder and smiling to me before being enveloped in a bright light and turning into her persona, Lilith. Lilith transformed into the devil arcana, tarot card and floated into Ayame's hand who then returned it to her heart. She turned towards us with a big smile on her face but when she started to walk towards us she wobbled before falling forwards.

''Ayame!'' I said running forwards and catching her in my arms she placed her hand on my cheek making me blush,

''thank you for rescuing me.......Yosuke'' she said. Hearing her call me by my first name made my heart race. She then closed her eyes and fell asleep, I looked to Naoto and saw her smiling softly as I picked up Ayame bridal style and started to walk with the others towards the exit. After getting to the exit Naoto and I started to walk towards her grandpa's house.

''Lie her down here Yosuke'' Naoto said standing next to a futon in her room I nodded and placed her down. She shifted a little in her sleep I knew Naoto would take good care of her until she recovered, since her mom was still in hospital I kissed the top of her head softly before standing up. Naoto smiled and walked me to the door.

''Yosuke may I ask a favour?'' she asked I turned around and nodded my head, ''When Ayame is feeling better.......take care of her. When you ask her to be yours I know what her answer will be and I know you will look after her, but promise me anyway okay?'' my eyes widened a little, did she really just say what I thought she did. I smiled and nodded my head but only said one thing before leaving,

''You have my word.''