The battle was finally over. After awakening to her Persona, Shinku made quick work of Gruffydd with a Zio spell, defeating the last of the possessed classmates of theirs. Saito and Johnathan, too, have found the inner strength required to awaken their Persona as well. Thanks to their combined efforts with no small part from Dai and Masako, the six of them successfully rescued the others. Then, something incredible occurred. Sensing the growing power within the others, Kazuo looked around and noticed the outlines of various figures appearing above his classmates: their Persona. It seems the rest of his classmates are now awakening to their own inner self. A relieved smile formed on Kazuo's face. He watched quietly, with content, as everyone reacted to acquiring their newly-found strength. If they had doubts about rescuing Ms. Sasaki before, surely those doubts can be cast aside now.

Right as Kazuo is about to approach the others, he noticed something out of the corners of his eyes: the shadows that his classmates expunged from their bodies began to twitch wildly; then, in an instant, they raced down the street, passed the group - an attempted escape it looks like. "Persona!" Kazuo tried to stop the shadows with an Agi spell but the something moved in the way and blocked the attack, allowing the shadows to retreat behind it. When Kazuo finally looked at the figure, he was shocked to see Sigurd: a black-clad, twisted version of his Persona anyways. [color=a0410d]"HeheheHAHAHA!"[/color] A twisted - almost crazed - sinister laugh emanated from down the street behind the other Sigurd. The laughing stopped when the other Sigurd disappeared. Walking into plain view was... Kazuo? This one had the same ominous yellow eyes as Kazuo's possessed classmates did. Kazuo's shadow... The real Kazuo kept quiet and just stared calmly at his shadow.

[color=a0410d]"You know who I am, right? It's been a while since last I've seen you. My... We've grown haven't we? Heh, I talk as if you've always knew I existed. You don't mind me showing up now, right?"[/color]

"Fine with me... I already know you're me."

Shadow Kazuo points to the group. [color=a0410d]"Ten points for Gryffindor! But... seriously, how about you drop the 'too-cool-for-school' act? Now, I could kill all of you where you stand but that's not what I came for."[/color] Shadow Kazuo looked to the shadows that gathered around him. Each one of them possessed a mask that looked exactly like the faces of Kazuo's classmates and, on their foreheads, Roman numeral numbers can be seen. Shadow Kazuo kneeled down and petted some of the shadows on their heads. [color=a0410d]"I came for these guys. It'd be such a waste for them to die. I mean, you have teammates now. Why shouldn't I?"[/color] Shadow Kazuo stood back up. [color=a0410d]"When they're big and strong, we'll come and find you all again. For now? Later..."[/color]

"I won't let you run away," Kazuo told his shadow.

Shadow Kazuo sighed. [color=a0410d]"Honestly... How could you be me...? You 'won't' let me? You talk as if you have the power to stop me. None of you do. Not in your current pathetic state. I'm giving you the opportunity to live and fight another day. Don't be dumbasses by squandering it. Persona."[/color] The other Sigurd appeared and created a massive wall of fire that blocked off the street. [color=a0410d]"We'll see you all very soon, hehehe..."[/color] Shadow Kazuo's voice faded into the distance. Kazuo calmly walked up to the wall created by the other Sigurd and examined it, wondering if the wall is weak enough to be destroyed.

[color=000000]"I wouldn't bother if I were you,"[/color] A deep, masculine voice seemingly emanating from nowhere said to Kazuo. Kazuo and the others looked around to pinpoint the position of the voice. A strange figure hidden in the shadows of a nearby alley stepped out to greet the group, and he is a strange one. Dressed in a dark red waistcoat, white long-sleeved dress shirt, black tie, white leather gloves, and black slacks with matching dress shoes, a slender man - six feet in height - bowed in a gentlemanly manner to the group. But that's not what makes him unusual. It's the fact that he wears a white rabbit mask that envelops his entire head and neck that is odd. But, hey, maybe after everything the group has seen, this may qualify as normal now. Someone from the group asked the man his name (anyone will do). [color=000000]"My name...?"[/color] The man seemed confused as he scratched the side of his mask as if it were his real head. [color=000000]"I don't have one,"[/color] he bluntly stated.

He then removed a pocket watch from his waistcoat's pocket and showed it to the group, pointing at the time while he does it. [color=000000]"You're going to be late,"[/color] he said. Kazuo asks what they were going to be late for. [color=000000]"The woman you came here with. The one the shadows took. If you don't come with me now, it'll be too late to save her,"[/color] he replied. This man saw where the shadow monster took Ms. Sasaki? Is this true? Kazuo is iffy on whether to trust this man or not.