4/18 - Monday

Ryuji wakes up slowly. He feels a light weight on his stomach and his limbs feel so heavy even as he opens his eyes to the sunlight pouring in through the living room window.

"Hey."

Ann is awake. She's curled up on the armchair with a teal blanket draped over her lap. Her hair is still in pigtails but it looks messier than usual. She yawns and leans back in her chair.

"Your mum came home, saw us like this and just kind of...gave me a blanket I suppose," she chuckles and pulls her blanket up to her chin "She hasn't changed."

"She's the same as ever," Ryuji yawns, he looks down and finally notices the weight on his stomach is Ishida's head. Ryuji pushes him off and the boy curls into the arm of the couch instead as Ryuji sits up and glances at the floor where Yusuke is still asleep.

"You have class today," Ann reminds him with another yawn "Don't you?"

"Why don't you?" Ryuji grumbles and pulls his phone out from where it's been digging into the small of his back all night.

"Well we planned on going back home last night but the Metaverse made us all tired," Ann points out "So obviously we're not going to be able to make it back to Tokyo in time for school."

Ryuji rubs at his face and puts his phone down. When he looks up, he notices the silence "Where's Morgana?"

"Don't know, I haven't been awake that long," Ann shrugs "I'm sure he's not far. Probably somewhere with Akira."

Yusuke makes a quiet noise in his sleep, both Ann and Ryuji turn to look at him. Ryuji's mother has put a blanket over Yusuke as well as a pillow underneath his head.

Ann smiles "You know he's never going to admit it, but he misses you both," she states calmly "Starting another school year without you guys around...it hasn't been easy."

Ryuji nods. He only knows that because it wasn't easy for him either. Of course he has absolutely no regrets. He followed Akira down here because he knew it was going to be the best thing he could do. Not only for his friend but for his mother as well. But that didn't make the leaving any easier. Especially when he knew Ann - a loner herself - wouldn't have Makoto or Haru. He tried to comfort himself with the thought that she would have them, that they'd keep in contact but the reality was that they were not the Phantom Thieves anymore, they didn't have that bond keeping them together anymore and Akira wasn't there.

"It's been pretty lonely for you too, huh?" he turns his eyes to Ann and she's so easy to read. She always has been, she's never changed and that was one of things that endeared Ryuji to her in the first place. Maybe in middle school, Ann had tried to fit in with society. She'd tried to be a face in the crowd but she was never going to be one and the second she realised that, she stopped caring and started being herself.

That is when she's at her most beautiful.

"I'll be alright," Ann reassures him with a brave smile "I still have my modelling work and I see Yusuke when we need to hang out and just talk."

Ryuji nods and he knows she's being brave but it won't do any good to call her out on her fears. It's not like he can change them, not when he made the decision to come here on his own and leave her in Shujin Academy by herself.

"It's just one year," Ann tells him "Then after that...graduation," she chuckles softly "Wow, that came really fast."

"Any thoughts on what you'll do when you graduate?" Ryuji asks and turns his gaze back to his fidgeting hands.

"I have my modelling," Ann shrugs "I could go and study something else, go to university but I don't know what I'd study. For now I'm just doing what feels right for me. One step at a time, you know?"

That makes Ryuji smile. One step at a time, Ann has always worked at her own pace and it's another part of her he admires. If only because he does the same thing.

Ann nods to Yusuke "He misses you too."

Ryuji glances at Yusuke and unlike Ann - whom he knows is very likely lonely - it's different with Yusuke. It's not like Ann, Ryuji and Akira were his only friends, he goes to another school so naturally he has to at least have acquaintances. But then Yusuke is weird too, unlike Ann, who walks to her own beat, Yusuke does the same thing but his beat is so different from everyone else that he's just perceived as weird.

Even Ryuji had thought of him as weird at first. It was only after spending time with him, after getting to know him and accept the way Yusuke thinks, that he understood that there was a lot more to him. Yusuke may not show it often enough, but he has the same problems everyone has. He's not that good at making friends, he's terribly blunt and he's so naive sometimes. He'd been sheltered for so long and then just projected out in the world the way he had been, it would have been tough.

"With any luck, you guys will be able to stay here a little longer," Ryuji hums and looks up as the cat wanders into the room and jumps up onto the coffee table.

"Ryuji, you're gonna be late," Morgana scolds him.

Ryuji looks at the door but no one else is there, he frowns "Where's Akira?"

"He left last night, I was too tired to follow him," Morgana replies as he licks his paw "He went to find Akechi. He was pretty worried about him."

"I am too," Ann frowns "You saw the way he left the second he realised we were going back into the Metaverse. He didn't seem to want to have any part of that."

"Can you blame him?" Ryuji stretches his arms out and nudges Ishida "The last time Akechi was in there, he tried to kill us. Then a shadow version of him tried to kill him. Then they tried to kill each other."

Morgana hums "It's still worrying. There's no doubt that Akechi's power would come in handy for us. If he still retains the same power he had before, he would be as valuable as Akira. Both of them could be our wild cards."

Ryuji nudges Ishida again and the boy groans sleepily.

"Oy, Kid," Ryuji grumbles "Time to get up, we gotta go."

"Don't wanna…" Ishida mumbles "Just a little longer mum…"

Ryuji groans and nudges him again. He turns to Ann "When are the others supposed to get here?"

"Haru said she had a morning class and Makoto doesn't have anything on," Ann yawns as she leans back into the armchair "They should be here after school. Maybe they should bring Futaba too."

"Alright," Ryuji stretches one more time and gets up "Hopefully I'll see Akira in class. You two hang around here, kill some time and we'll meet you after school. There's a cafe nearby, I'll message you the name of it later and we'll meet there."

"I'm going in your bag," Morgana tells him "I can just sit in Akira's desk. He's probably gonna be there."

Ryuji rolls his eyes and nudges Ishida again "Get up," he tells him again and pulls out his phone "Seriously."

Ryuji: Yo leader, you awake yet? Coming to school right?

Akira: He'll be there.

Ryuji: 'He'll'? Who's this?

Akira: Akechi. Akira's still asleep. But I'll make sure he comes to school on time.

Ryuji: Dude, what are you doing answering his phone?!

Akira: You asked, I answered.

Ryuji: Ugh, whatever. Tell him the others will be here after school so, cafe as usual.

Akira: Very well.

"Come on then," Morgana says, jumping into Ryuji's bag already "Let's go."

* * *

When Akira wakes, it's to the scent of coffee. He opens his eyes and turns to his side just in time to see Akechi placing a white mug of coffee on his bedside table, next to his glasses.

Akechi notices him and smiles "Good morning."

Akira sits up and rubs at his face. It doesn't feel half as bad as it did the last time he went into the Metaverse, which is good because it means he's getting used to the effects. Hopefully, within time, he'll stop passing out when he comes out of it. He glances at the coffee and watches as Akechi pulls his school blazer on.

"I'm afraid I don't know how to make coffee quite like those at Leblanc," he admits with a small grin "But I figured you might need it this morning. You were pretty out of it last night."

Akira rubs his head. He needs a shower. He needs another set of clothing and he probably needs two cups of coffee if he's being completely honest with himself. But already he feels a little stronger for having endured the Metaverse twice now, his body is slowly getting used to it. He turns his eyes to Akechi and scoots himself to the head of the bed as Akechi comes to sit at the foot.

"You...remember everything, right?" Akechi asks as Akira reaches for the coffee "About last night."

Akira pauses "Which part? The Metaverse part or the Velvet Room part?"

"The latter," Akechi presses calmly "We made a deal with...his name is Igor, right?"

Akira takes a sip and instantly the taste shoots right through his senses. Where Leblanc's coffee is known to be pretty bitter but with a richness in the aroma, the coffee Akechi made is just bitter. But it's enough to kick off the last of the sleepiness that Akira was feeling and he's right: that was just what he'd needed.

"You should know his name," Akira points out as he sets the mug back on the bedside table "Didn't they save you?"

Akechi shakes his head, soft brown locks shifting with the movement "That was Lavenza," he replies calmly "Igor didn't talk to me much. I was slightly out of it too. From what I can recall, Lavenza took my body out of the Metaverse and put me somewhere safe. My mind stayed in the Velvet Room until I was strong enough to take physical form again. I'm sure you've noticed, but the Velvet Room is nothing like the Metaverse. We can't get in there through the Navigator App."

Akira had noticed that. Mainly because almost every time he turned up in the Velvet Room, his physical body was doing something like sleeping. There was only that one time and even then he couldn't be sure exactly what had happened to his body.

"Once I was strong enough, I returned to myself," Akechi explains "By the time I got back, you had already turned yourself in. It took me some time to investigate and figure out what had happened in all the time I was gone."

Akira meets his eyes "I kept my promise," he tells him "You told me to take care of your father. I did that."

"I know," Akechi's smiles, his eyes warming kindly "I was glad for it. There were, of course, some moments where I'd wished you'd just killed him but...that wouldn't be the Phantom Thieves I know of, would it?"

Akira shakes his head but he knows Akechi is already aware of what they were going to do to Shido. Even if Akira had every single reason in the world to hate Shido - and he did - the fact was he was no murderer. There was another way to change Shido's heart and killing him would have been unnecessary.

Not to mention, Ann had a point. There are some fates worse than dying and Shido would have to live with himself after everything he'd done. His conscience alone was tormenting him.

Akechi looks troubled for a moment and he keeps his gaze down on his knees whilst Akira takes another sip of his coffee. It only occurs to him then that Akechi doesn't tend to say this much to the others. This honest and often troubled side of his, only Akira himself has witnessed it thus far.

"I agreed to the deal and I will stand by it," Akechi says, bravely lifting his eyes up to look at Akira again "If you need me-"

"I do," Akira tells him firmly.

Akechi smiles and nods "Then, I will join the Phantom Thieves again. Igor and Lavenza seem to think something powerful is coming and if that is the case, we'll all have to get a lot stronger. Not to mention there's the matter of these fake Phantom Thieves. Given what's going on, I wouldn't be surprised if these two incidents were related. But we'll have to discuss this in detail with the others after school."

It feels like a plan. Solid enough for Akira to feel like they finally have some direction.

"Well then," Akechi gets up and checks over his uniform "Finish that coffee, take a shower and we'll get going. We still have to be normal students after all."

Akira watches him, light brown locks glinting under the light, uniform pristine and fitting his slim body and a mind that runs like a well oiled engine. He has so many faces, he can fool even the most critical of skeptics and he lets very few into his real mind.

There's nothing normal about Akechi Goro at all.

* * *

During the afternoon class, Akira starts feeling his attention span waning. He feels the flick of Morgana's tail as the cat hides in his desk and it's actually kind of like having a tiny heater. Kojima is teaching something - he stopped paying attention ten minutes ago - and instead he looks out the window.

It's sunny out, somewhere out there, someone is using their name and he wonders what they're going to do next. They shot the principal in the head, students are getting counselling for what they'd seen and Akira wonders if he needs the same thing for all the shit that he's seen.

Probably.

It's strange but everyone in school is continuing as normal. Classes run just like they always did, there's always gossiping students in the hallways. Nothing has changed and yet when Akira looks close enough, he can see everything has. He's still the new student but even he knows that nobody's okay. Everyone is on edge and they seem to be waiting for something.

For the police to finish their investigations, for the fake Phantom Thieves to strike again, who knows but they're all waiting. Like they know that the next person to receive a blue calling card will end up with a hole in their head just like the late principal.

He feels Akechi's eyes on his back and doesn't dare turn around. Akechi's probably still listening to the class. His phone buzzes in his pocket and just like he's always done before, he takes it out discreetly and looks down at the group chat.

Makoto: We're here. Managed to get a large booth in the cafe Ryuji mentioned.

Ryuji: Dude class ain't out for another hour or so. You might as well walk around.

Futaba: Had enough walking around just getting here. Can't believe this town doesn't use trains unless you're leaving the town altogether. Energy low. Need recharging.

Ryuji: Are you a battery?

Ann: We'll be there soon! Yusuke and I are just walking around.

Yusuke: This town is beautiful...if devoid of anything to do.

Futaba: I saw a lot of old people. Maybe this is a retirement town.

Ryuji: Big city snobs…

Haru: I saw some wonderful gardens on the way. One thing I always loved about smaller towns like these was the space to garden and keep things beautiful.

Yusuke: Precisely.

Makoto: And anyway, aren't you in class right now? You should be paying attention.

Ryuji: You've met me, right? What was I doing all of last year whilst we were in class?

Akira: Makoto, meet Ryuji. Ryuji, meet Makoto.

Ryuji: Sup?

Makoto: Pay attention to your teacher!

Akechi: Speaking as someone enduring the same lecture, I have to side with our leader here. It's pretty boring.

Makoto: Akechi, you're supposed to set an example.

Akechi: Since when?

Futaba: Akechi Goro, delinquent who doesn't pay attention in class. Welcome to the dark side, we have cookies.

Ann: We do?!

Makoto: …

Ryuji: Calories…

Ann: Shut up!

Haru: I'll buy some cookies.

Makoto: Ugh. Anyway, we'll be at the cafe when school lets out.

Futaba: With cookies.

Yusuke: Might I suggest miso soup to go with them?

Ryuji: Eww dude, you don't mix miso soup and cookies, that's just wrong.

Futaba: You know nothing, Inari Snow…

Yusuke: Snow?

Futaba: DO YOU EVER HAVE ANY FUN?!

Akira puts his phone down and he can hear Akechi just barely keeping his laughter in behind him. He looks over his shoulder to see the other hiding his face in his arms, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter and he can't help but grin.

He turns his gaze back to the front of the class and puts his phone back in his pocket. In his desk, Morgana hums quietly.

"Nice to have all the Phantom Thieves together again," he flicks his tail out on Akira's stomach "If all goes well with Ishida, we could have an even bigger group."

Glancing up a few rows, Akira looks at the back of Ishida's head and he's not paying attention either. He's kind of slumped in his seat in such a way that the teacher won't call him out on it but it's obvious he's not listening anymore. It only makes sense to add Ishida to their group. Not only is he directly involved with their new target, but he also unleashed a Persona of his own.

That and with Akechi back and fully on board with this, that raises their total manpower up by two. It's not a bad start considering what they're up against.

For their last class, it's history. Akira can hear Akechi muttering something as Minagawa Shion finally walks into the class to set up. In his pocket, Akira's phone buzzes.

Ryuji: Dude, that's Minagawa

Akechi: Well spotted.

Minagawa looks somewhat different than his shadow version. He's the kind of man who can actually be easily ignored. Dark hair, unassuming form and blue/white checked sweater vest with a white shirt underneath and black pants. The only thing that actually sticks out about him is his ponytail, Akira doesn't know many men with long hair.

In his seat, Ishida visibly tenses and Minagawa starts in on a lecture about ancient Egypt and the crypts they kept in pyramids. It distantly reminds Akira of Futaba's castle but they have a more pressing matter to address.

There's no doubt now that Minagawa is probably a bastard. If he has a castle, he has to be one. From what Akira had already seen, Minagawa was a collector of sorts - that was the only way to explain the golden student statue. In his excavation site, he'd found the students to be of more value than the rocks and diamonds that visibly poked out from the walls.

But then what did that mean? He'd destroyed Ishida because the boy hadn't approved of him fixing baseball matches. Because the boy had refused to bow down to his commands. Akira had a bad feeling he knew what those commands were. He really, really hoped he was wrong.

"We'll figure it out," Akechi promises quietly. It's as though he'd been reading Akira's thoughts but it does make Akira feel a little better. His phone buzzes again.

Ryuji: This guy is goin' down.

Akira looks back at Minagawa and frowns. When Kamoshida was in front of strangers or people who would fight back, he was kind and courteous - even helpful. But when he was around his targets, or people he could hurt he was totally different. It hadn't taken Kamoshida long at all to target Akira himself and force him into a short time limit to change his heart. But Minagawa isn't going to go after Akira. Not if he's after what Akira suspects he's after.

The Minagawa Akira sees here is not the Minagawa he truly is. He's seen his shadow, he's heard his words and it's ugly.

He really, really hopes he's wrong.

* * *

Futaba attacks Akira in a hug the second he comes in through the door. Naturally by now he isn't so surprised with her hugging him these days - she sees him as her big brother if anything - but when this is followed by both Makoto and Haru, Akechi raises an eyebrow.

"Aren't you the ladies man?" Akechi mutters.

"Dude, he always has been," Ryuji grumbles as he comes in after them with Ishida "Don't know what it is but girls love him."

"I've missed you!" Makoto says as she leads the group back to their large booth. Sure enough, Ann and Yusuke are already there. With cookies.

"First of all," Morgana says when everyone is seated and Akira has gently placed his bag beside him "Introductions would be best."

"So this must be Ishida," Makoto turns her sharp eyes on the boy and he shrinks a little where he sits next to Ryuji. Phantom Thief or not, Makoto can be unwittingly intimidating at times.

"I'm Ishida Hikaru," he introduces himself timidly and manages a small bow where he sits "I'm a huge fan of the Phantom Thieves and-"

"And now you're one yourself," Yusuke finishes for him "Well, you have a Persona."

"Hold up, hold up," Ryuji holds up his hand "Kid has a Persona but whether or not he actually joins the Phantom Thieves has yet to be seen."

"I don't see why not," Morgana points out "With the Metaverse up again, we may need all the help we can get. There's also the fact that he knows Minagawa."

"I also want to help," Ishida adds, a little braver this time "I want to help take Minagawa down. If I can get that bastard to have a change of heart, to confess to everything he's done...then that would be enough for me."

Akira thinks about the unassuming and easily forgettable history teacher he'd seen this afternoon and frowns "Before that," he speaks up "I think you better tell us what exactly Minagawa is doing. What did he do to you?"

Ishida shrinks but he must have seen this coming because it doesn't take long for him to answer.

He glances at each member at the table and sighs "Minagawa is a collector," he explains calmly "I don't know exactly what happened after he discovered the Megalan and I don't really care. At best I'm getting the gist that he got famous for a little while."

"He did," Futaba nods "The discovery of the Megalan was a huge deal and it should have set Minagawa up for life. He should have been rolling in the riches from the discovery."

"Why didn't he?" Haru asks quietly.

Futaba starts looking uncomfortable and clears her throat. "I don't know what he was buying but he was sending huge amounts of money out to an unknown account," she tells them "I had to look in the deepweb to figure that out."

"Maybe he was sending that money out to help someone?" Haru suggests optimistically.

"Would such a man really have a castle if he were helping anyone?" Akechi points out coolly "Not to mention, a legitimate transaction wouldn't have to take place in the deepweb."

"Minagawa basically has a system,' Ishida explains "You see, he may be the history teacher but he's always had an interest in 'star' students. Those who do really well in school. They could be really brainy or really sporty but if he takes an interest, it gets bad," he pales and looks down "He starts rigging things. Fixing matches, scaring off opponents to make sure this student he picked will win."

It reminds Akira distantly of Hifumi's mother.

"Then when you win and you start getting really good and all the attention, that's when he hits," Ishida shivers "He made me the captain of the baseball team and we started winning a lot of matches. We were going national, best team in the country. I was starting to get a lot of attention too, both at home and at school and it was great. I didn't know that Minagawa was behind it all, rigging every single game one way or another."

"So when did he start laying his demands?" Yusuke asks carefully.

"Not long before the final match," Ishida says "It could have set my teammates up for life. It was the ultimate chance, there were scouts in that match. I found out about what Minagawa was doing and when I confronted him about it, he told me about how everything was getting good. How we were all getting noticed. He kept saying how we deserved to be noticed at last, we were going to be rich and famous...and if I didn't do what he wanted me to do, he was going to stop rigging the matches. He'd pull his support out and my teammates would lose every chance they had."

Akira can see Ryuji getting angrier. It seems, shitty teachers are everywhere.

"What did he want you to do?" Makoto asks but the look in her eye says she already suspects she knows. Haru has gone quiet, Futaba looks disturbed, Akechi looks resigned. He suspects he knows too. Akira has had his suspicions.

The only people who don't seem to realise it's as bad as it is are Ann, Ryuji and Yusuke. Ryuji is just angry, Yusuke looks worried and Ann mostly seems to be concerned that Ishida is going to collapse at any time.

Ishida shivers "Boys who do what he tells them to do are the golden boys," he explains quietly "They get away with anything. They're the best because all of their matches are guaranteed for them to win and the ones who submit must already know that it's all rigged. Nobody would ever suspect Minagawa, he covers his tracks well. In order to graduate from this school and get into anywhere they want, get any scholarship, any university, all they have to do is get on their knees or lie down and let him..."

"Oh," Ann pales immediately "Oh no."

"Disgusting," Yusuke hisses, a flare of anger rushing through him even as he thinks about it.

Ryuji is too angry to talk and the others sort of just look resigned, like their suspicions were unfortunately confirmed.

"Let's change his heart," Haru suggests gently "A man like that cannot be allowed to go free."

"Do you suppose he is connected to the fake Phantom Thieves?" Morgana asks from where he sits, mostly hidden, in Akira's bag.

"Hard to say," Akechi frowns and flags down the waitress for a round of drinks "But if they are involved, we may run into them if we try to change Minagawa's heart."

"We'll have to take extra precautions," Makoto agrees "But there is another problem. Most of us live in Tokyo. Infiltrating the Metaverse would be easier if we were all in one city but we're not, how can we manage this?"

"How long are you down here?" Akechi asks "If everyone is in agreement, we can try and do as much as we can this afternoon and possibly tomorrow. We need at least some idea of how large this castle of his is."

"I'll stay here," Futaba says and looks at Akira "You have room, right?"

Akira thinks of his tiny bed that both he and Akechi have been sleeping on lately. It's not exactly something he wants Futaba to see but for one reason or another, it's just been happening and she might get the wrong idea.

"Spare room," he decides. Akechi twitches and only Akira catches it.

"Good," Futaba brightens "I'll sleep there then. If I follow you into the Metaverse, I can get a clearer idea of what we're dealing with too."

"Haru and I can risk two days at the most," Makoto adds with a wince of regret "I'm sorry. I know the Phantom Thieves should be my first priority but-"

"We can't ask you to let go of your university courses and life for the Phantom Thieves," Akechi points out calmly "It would be unfair on both sides."

"He's right," Ann nods "Let's make the most of the time we have now. Yusuke and I will have to do the same until we can figure something out."

Yusuke looks thoughtful "I could just transfer here."

Ryuji pales and looks at him in horror "Dude no."

"I said 'could'" Yusuke points out calmly "There is no art school here so it would be a shame on my part."

Akira feels Morgana purring next to him and feels a bit of conflict. His friends, their lives are in Tokyo and the problem the Phantom Thieves face is here. The thing is, he can't ask them to forget their lives, their schooling, for this. They can't move here just for this and they can't take time off school and university for it.

The only person who has nothing to lose by joining is Futaba. Even then, Akira gets the nagging feeling he's going to get a semi-angry call from Sojiro later about looking out for her and not getting her into trouble.

It makes Akira wince a little because all he does is get her in trouble. Granted, she does a pretty good job of that all by herself too.

"Speaking of which," Makoto breaches the subject "Since we are staying here a little longer, does everyone have a place to stay?"

Ann, Yusuke and Haru look between Ryuji and Akira.

Ryuji holds up his arms "You guys saw my place, it's tiny. I can't have you guys staying there without putting you guys on the floor."

Akira thinks about his place. His parents didn't mind Akechi and they probably won't mind Futaba if he explains that she was someone who'd practically been like his sister in Tokyo. But the others…

"I saw a hotel not too far from here," Haru speaks up "I'll get us rooms."

"Then we are in agreement?" Yusuke asks, his eyes scanning the entire group "Two days. We explore the castle and get as much done as we possibly can."

"Can we change a heart in two days?" Haru frowns, looking quite doubtful.

Makoto sighs but her eyes are determined "It's possible we can. If we locate the treasure within one day and send out the calling card the following day."

"We need to be on our guard more so than usual," Morgana finally pipes up from Akira's bag, his tail swishes around as he keeps himself semi-hidden "Not only are we dealing with a castle but we are also dealing with another group. If they can get into the Metaverse and if they're at all connected to the reason why the Metaverse exists again...we should be careful, that's all."

Akechi's eyes darken and only Akira notices the way the brunette's eyes flicker to Akira before looking away.

"Let's do this!" Ryuji says a lot louder than he probably intended to "Let's change this bastards heart!"

Ishida smiles and Ann tilts her head at him.

"And Ishida?" she grins "Welcome to the Phantom Thieves."

* * *

Ann: So...turns out that the only hotel in this town is a love hotel…

Ryuji: Seriously?!

Ann: Yeah we looked for other options but there is literally only one hotel here and it's a love hotel so now that's where we're staying.

Ryuji: Akira did you know that?!

Akira: Yes.

Ann: Why didn't you warn us!?

Akira: Because it's funny.

Ann: THERE ARE CONDOMS IN MY ROOM! IT'S THEMED LIKE A DUNGEON!

Yusuke: You got the dungeon room? I got the waterbed fantasy…

Haru: It's like Russian Roulette with hotel rooms!

Makoto: Of course it's all thanks to you, Haru, that we have somewhere to stay. Thank you for putting us up for two nights.

Haru: If there had been other options…

Makoto: But there weren't so this will do.

Haru: My bed vibrates…

Akechi: I'm amazed they let you stay in the love hotel - given that two of you are high school students.

Haru: I had a word with management.

Akechi: Of course you did.

Makoto: On the plus hand, they give out presents here! Did you guys get a Mickey Mouse toy? It's kind of cute. It's got the Mickey Mouse head and a really long neck...I think it's a massager because it's got a button.

Yusuke: No.

Ann: I don't see one.

Haru: Um, Makoto…

Makoto: Oh. It's not a kids toy…

Futaba: O_O

Akechi: I think Akira had the right idea in not warning you guys about the love hotel thing.

Makoto: So when my sister calls me and asks me where I'm staying…

Futaba: You turn off the vibrator and make sure the mood music isn't playing when you answer.

Yusuke: How does anyone sleep on a waterbed?

Ann: Don't break it.

Yusuke: Can you break waterbeds?

Ann: I don't know but don't do it!

Ryuji: Akechi's right, Akira was thinking ahead in not warning you guys.

Ann: Hey! I got a Mickey Mouse toy too!

Makoto: …

Akechi: Should I tell her?

Ann: Tell me what?

Makoto: No, let her keep that innocence.

Ann: Hey it vibrates! This will do wonders for my back.

Futaba: And so my night is now complete.

Yusuke: I think I broke the waterbed…

Futaba: I stand corrected. NOW my night is complete.

* * *

Akira's parents accepted Futaba without much trouble. He took her home, explained the situation and his father gave this kind of non-committal shrug before hiding behind his newspaper again, leaving his mother to set up the spare room for her.

"Your parents are…" Futaba begins and struggles to think of a word "...distant."

Akechi had delicately tried to find a word to describe them as well but the truth was that Akira's parents were distant. They had been ever since he'd been arrested. They hadn't even talked about it and Akira didn't know how to start.

"If there's nothing else you need," he says "I'll head to bed."

"I'm good," Futaba grins, clicking away on her computer after she'd quickly set it up again "We're gonna have to get ready. We'll have a lot to do tomorrow after you guys finish school."

Akira wonders if it would be easier if they just skipped school altogether but that would risk not only Minagawa finding out but also the chance that the fake Phantom Thieves could put the pieces together. There's more risk now than ever.

It's like they're all fighting blind. A lot like the first time they went into a palace with only Morgana's guidance. Futaba will be able to sense danger near them but they'll have to prepare for the unexpected and be ready for whatever will hit them.

Akira doesn't like the odds and he's probably not the only one. Makoto had seemed concerned as well, Akechi hadn't said a single word, even Morgana was more quiet than usual.

He heads back into his room where Morgana is already cleaning himself as he sits down on his bed and lies down.

"Tomorrow's going to be a big day," Morgana says, jumping up onto the end of the bed and padding closer to Akira "We'd better get some rest."

Akira nods, he gets dressed, brushes his teeth, slides under the blankets and feels Morgana's weight near his legs but when he closes his eyes and tries to sleep, he can't. He used to be able to just fall asleep, but tonight he just can't.

He tries keeping his eyes closed, tries turning off his mind but he can't. Sleep doesn't come and after an hour, Akira opens his eyes again and looks down. Morgana is snoring away on his leg. He flops his head back on his pillow and stares up at the ceiling wondering what's wrong.

It's not like he isn't tired. He is. But something is wrong, something's missing. Maybe he's thinking too much about what's going to happen tomorrow - or what could happen. Maybe the worry of having something they know nothing about possibly threatening them is throwing him off.

He almost feels like he's missing something even though sleeping with Morgana near his leg is what he's most used to now.

He rolls onto his side, earning a sleepy protest from Morgana, and tries to concentrate on sleeping. It's harder than it's ever been before and he doesn't understand why.

* * *

Ryuji sighs as he grabs a towel from the laundry basket and goes to the bathroom where the shower is running. He places it on the sink and glances at the shadowy figure inside his shower.

"Seriously," he groans "Love Hotel or not, it would have had a shower."

"I was uncomfortable in there," Yusuke says over the hot spray of the shower "Not to mention I broke the waterbed. I don't think the staff were very happy about that. It's their fault for having such a flimsy bed, nobody sleeps on water."

Ryuji rolls his eyes but lets the other have it. He leaves the bathroom and goes to his room. When Yusuke finally comes out, Ryuji is sitting on the end of his bed with his phone, researching the Megalan that Minagawa had discovered.

He looks up. Yusuke's dark blue locks are still a little damp and he smells quite sweet. Strange that the same shampoo doesn't last on Ryuji but Yusuke somehow manages to make the scent linger. Ryuji is vaguely reminded that he's never seen Yusuke right after a shower.

Somehow the guy manages to look good wet and it makes Ryuji really uncomfortable.

"Thanks for letting me stay," Yusuke yawns as he pads over to join Ryuji on his bed.

Ryuji frowns. He'd opened the door to a soaking wet Yusuke who had walked all the way from the Love Hotel he'd been staying in. Whilst Ryuji had agreed to let Yusuke use his shower, he said nothing about letting the other stay.

"Hey," he protests as Yusuke lies down "I've only got one bed, man!"

"Mmhmm," Yusuke mumbles sleepily, he's not listening and Ryuji suddenly realises one of them is going to have to sleep on the floor.

Yusuke curls up on the bed and Ryuji groans. He'll have to take the couch, he's done it before but his back still aches from last night. But then Yusuke makes this noise and his arm flops over the side of the bed like he's gone to sleep and Ryuji realises he doesn't have a choice.

Grudgingly, he gets up and throws the blanket over Yusuke's form. He's just about to head to the door when Yusuke reaches out and grabs his wrist. Ryuji feels a jolt as he looks down and realises the other boy is really only half awake.

"Stay," Yusuke pleads.

"There's one bed and it's tiny," Ryuji reminds him.

"I missed you," Yusuke says and Ryuji wonders if he drank the complimentary alcohol in his room.

Yusuke pulls him towards the bed and Ryuji follows until the other has pulled him down to lie next to him. The bed is tiny, the two of them are cramped and it doesn't help that Yusuke is taller so his feet hang off the edge but Yusuke's arm closes around Ryuji's middle and it confuses the shit out of him.

If Akira had done this to him, Ryuji would have kicked him off already. But Yusuke is warm and Ryuji's chest starts feeling really tight, almost like he can't breathe and he's surprised how much he doesn't want to move.

"You're warm," Yusuke whispers, his breath ghosting on Ryuji's ear.

Ryuji feels his face burning up and closes his eyes "Sh...shut up," he tries to sound more masculine than he feels "This doesn't go back to Akira or any of the others."

"Mmhm," Yusuke mumbles. His fingers at Ryuji's stomach slip a little lower and Ryuji jumps from the feeling of Yusuke's fingertips brushing against his bare stomach.

Yusuke's breath brushes against the back of Ryuji's neck and it's driving him crazy but he doesn't move. Instead he closes his eyes and lets Yusuke drag the blanket over both of them. Ryuji's heart is beating really fast, he's all over the place and Yusuke's warm fingers are still resting on his bare stomach. It's almost more than he can take but somehow he manages to sleep.

"I really missed you," Yusuke mumbles right before Ryuji falls asleep.