The girls receive another interruption

(Chapter originally by faith on writing.com)

Minako was lost in her delirium of sexual frustration and shame. She only gradually became aware that someone was talking to her. Blinking she turned and gasped in surprise to see Theo standing before her, dressed in the prim and proper attire of the velvet room, his eyes politely averted and his stance waiting patiently to draw her attention. Minako's surprise quickly became embarrassed as she once again remembered her state of dress (as well as noticing that as much as Theo was attempting to look away he couldn't help but occasionally take a glance at her exposed charms). She quickly covered herself as much as possible with her hands. Theo contritely turned his back.

"Th-Theo? What are you doing here?" Minako gasped.

"My apologies. I was asked to deliver a message on behalf of my siblings." Theo said.

"You mean Elizabeth...and Margaret? Why didn't they come themselves? Did...did something happen to them? Did Igor hurt them last night?" Minako asked with sudden worry.

"Hurt? Goodness no. My master is strict, but he is not cruel. They have indeed been disciplined. But they are perfectly healthy. Just...well..." Theo cleared his throat. "It is difficult to explain."

"So what's the message?" Minako asked.

"Please meet them after school in the courtyard near the Persimmon Tree. More or less the entire message." Theo said.

"Why didn't Elizabeth mention this herself? She could have just called me." Minako asked.

"That was not an option. My sisters have sadly been banished from the Velvet Room for the time being. Their ability to contact you directly was largely dependent on the will of my master. Without access, they would have to make use of the mundane ways of communication you humans rely upon. And...well, as you might expect, our faculty for such devices is...limited." Theo said.

"That still doesn't explain why Elizabeth isn't here now....Theo, what did Igor really do to them? This makes no sense, and its starting to scare me..." Minako said.

Theo sighed. "Perhaps they can explain it in person. If you will follow me?"

Yukari, Mitsuru, and Fuuka were watching the exchange after noticing that Minako had fallen behind. Mitsuru was watching in confusion, Yukari stared on with a mix of consternation and jealousy, and Fuuka with a growing sense of utter terror.

"Okay, who the heck is Mr. Beefcake over there?" Yukari hissed to Mitsuru.

"I have no idea. Another close friend of our leader, I presume." Mitsuru said.

"She seems to get around a lot." Yukari said darkly. "So how long does she expect us to stand around here completely NAKED while she chats with her little boyfriend over there?"

"Her boyfriend? I was fairly certain she wasn't seeing anyone in that capacity since...well, not we lost Shinjiro. Until yesterday, of course." Mitsuru said.

"Huh. Then who the heck IS he?" Yukari said.

"I don't think he's human." Fuuka finally spoke up.

"....Wait, what?" Yukari and Mitsuru said together.

"I...can feel his power. Even without my persona, I can sense it! He's much more dangerous than he appears to be! And..." Fuuka pointed at a pillar near the staircase leading out of the station. "He's not alone. There's someone here even stronger....no, two people!"

".....That's it, I'm going over there." Yukari said.

"Do you think that's-" Mitsuru began.

"The LAST time we left her by herself she got zapped by that creepy Temptation guy! I'm not just gonna stand around when there's a potential threat!" Yukari snapped, turning her head back to glare at the other two.

Fuuka visibly blanched and hung her head at her friend's declaration. Yukari bit her lip, remembering too late who exactly at done the 'abandoning' that began this whole nightmare. Momentarily struggling to formulate an apology, Yukari closed her eyes and sighed.

"You two just go on ahead to school, okay? I'll keep an eye on Minako and we'll catch up as we can. Our leader seems to know this guy, so there's probably nothing to worry about. And if trouble breaks out I'll make sure we make it out in one piece." Yukari said quickly, turning her back on her two nude friends and running after her leader.

Mitsuru glanced as Fuuka, who in turn watched Yukari retreat off into the distance. She shook her head. Usually, Takeba's boundless energy and ability to express her emotions so easily was a point the icy Kirijo girl admired. On the other hand, there was something to be said for tact and nuance as well. Placing a hand on Fuuka's shoulder, Mitsuru whispered. "She doesn't mean to imply anything. None of us blame you for this. She's just being overly protective of our leader."

"Hmmmmm?" Fuuka said, breaking her intense stare placed upon Yukari and blinking at Mitsuru before blushing from head to toe. "Oh. Yes. What she said. I'm all right. It wasn't...ummm...well, I wasn't dwelling on it or anything!"

"Then why were you...." Mitsuru studied the shorter girl for a moment before laughing with understanding. "I see. Yes. I also find it difficult not to stare when she leave. Her derriere is a thing of beauty, especially in motion."

Fuuka nodded and blushed. "And...she's not the only one! I just can't stop staring at...at any of you! You all look so graceful and beautiful! It makes no sense, senpai! How can I have lived with all of you for so long and only now...appreciate this!"

"I don't know. It appears that bi-sexuality and heightened promiscuity are a universal trait among victims of 'Eden's Syndrome'. And yet, what I feel...first towards Minako-chan, and now for Yukari-chan and you feels far too genuine to be implanted by a shadow. Perhaps working together for so long, routinely barring our souls as Persona, perhaps we developed these feelings on our own and Temptation has merely swept aside our inhibitions and doubts so that they could fully take root? In any case...I admit the obscene thoughts that keep entering my mind and the sight of all of you can be...distracting. And embarrassing. But the feelings themselves? I refuse to feel ashamed of them! You all have your flaws and quirks, but you are each beautiful and passionate in your own way. My...recent interest is simply a new way of appreciating that truth." Mitsuru mused.

"Mitsuru-senpai." Fuuka said softly in admiration.

"Shall we go?" Mitsuru said, offering the younger girl an arm which Fuuka happily took.

"Okay...what on Earth is going on here?" Minako asked.

"Theo...you are an idiot." Elizabeth declared, hiding what appeared to be her naked body behind the pillar of the train station.

"I told you this was a foolish plan." Margaret said sternly, hiding behind both the pillar and her younger sister with her arms clasped against her body, likewise naked.

"My master has decided to teach my sisters a lesson in humility. For the duration of your...curse neither Elizabeth nor Margaret is allowed to enter the Velvet Room nor adorn themselves with any form of clothing." Theo said.

"I still do not see why I had to suffer the same fate." Elizabeth said in consternation.

"What's done is done, sister. We will need to find a way to...perform our duties despite the circumstances." Margaret said.

"Is that a blush? Theo, look! I think she's blushing! Could it be that our cool headed elder sister has learned the ways of human emotion at last!" Elizabeth taunted.

Minako sighed in relief and exasperation. The denizens of the Velvet Room were perfectly all right. Merely placed in a similar situation as herself and up to their usual chaotic shenanigans.

"All right. That's enough. Thank you for the message. I'm glad your both safe. Sorry for your...punishment, even if I was only tangentially responsible. I'll meet you all tonight. Oh, and Margaret?" Minako said.

"Yes?" Margaret snapped, turning her attention away from bickering with her sister.

"Its kind of a lost cause trying to hide like that. People will see it all eventually. They get all kinds of little glimpses even while you try to hide it. With breasts as big as yours its pretty much impossible to hide. By the way....very nice. I'm sure your client is a lucky guy. Or girl." Minako said.

Margaret turned a scarlet hue that easily surpassed her sister's blushes. "That's not..!..we aren't..."

"It was a compliment, sister! Take it as such!" Elizabeth said. "Although the implication doesn't amuse me."

"I didn't mean to implying anything, Elizabeth. I've always thought your breasts were fantastic." Minako said.

"Very well! I withdraw my complaint." Elizabeth nodded with satisfaction, then slowly began to blush as if only realizing the implications of the statement in retrospect.

"Anyway, see you later!" Minako said.

"Hey, there you are!" Yukari said. "Everything all right?"

"Yep. Never better. Just making sure things are coming together." Minako said with a smile. The Velvet trio had vanished behind her.