Akira woke up in an empty cell with the entire world colored a light blue. As he stepped forward he noted he wore the black twin tailed coat he had as a thief. Looking around he saw the place just as it had always been with a table seated in the center of the room but there was one thing different. The place was empty.

As he walked through the open cell he walked right up to the desk expecting someone to pop up. It was odd to be here and not have either Igor or Lavenza in this place. His steps echoed as he walked around the desk pulling out Igor's chair before sitting in it. "Huh this is quite comfortable." He said relaxing into the chair before hunching forward. "Welcome to my Velvet Room."

"While you may have decided on the shape of the room I am disappointed to say that it is not your room." A calm sophisticated voice said from behind him. Spinning around Akira came face to mask with a tall human. The the mask covered most of his face except for part of the bottom with the left side having a blue butterfly design. He wore a black turtleneck and black pants that were fastened by a belt. "Now I must say I am quite shocked to have you drop in. But you are the rebel child of the wild cards so it is not far fetched for one surprise to happen."

Akira stayed seated as he observed this man before him. "If you don't mind me asking, who are you."

"Ahh how rude of me. You must forgive me it has been quite awhile since I last did this." Holding a hand up the man took a breath and had a nostalgic smile on his face. "I am Philemon, a dweller in the rift between consciousness and unconsciousness and master of the Velvet Room." Akira blinked upon hearing this. Was this man really the master of the Velvet Room? Then what was Igor? "You seem confused, as is to be expected from anybody. I do not ask for you to believe right away but know that I have not lied or exaggerated."

"It's just one thing…" Akira said relaxing into the chair, it was very comfortable. "If you are the owner of this room, where were you when Yaldabaoth took control of this place?"

Philemon let out a sigh and leaned on a stool that hadn't existed there before. "Ah yes, that… If you can believe it I was prevented from interfering due to a bet with an obnoxious black butterfly. Though it was good to see you pull through." Seeing the look of confusion on Akira's face they let out a smile as a familiar blue butterfly appeared in their hand. "Yes I was there throughout your adventure watching."

As he was about to respond back a loud clanging was heard as a door opened. "Sorry sister it appears I forgot my book. I will be back with it soon." A familiar voice said as a young platinum blonde walked into the area before freezing in place.

"Oh hey Lavenza," Akira said camly raising a hand in greeting with Philemon letting out a chuckle at the girls dumbfounded expression.

"As much fun as it would be to let this play out I'm afraid the walking world calls for you. I have returned your key, feel free to visit soon." As he was saying this Akira felt his connection to the place weaken. "I do not know when we will meet again but stay strong till then." As the trickster vanished the master of the room turned to the warden. "Ah young one it is good to see you again."

Straightening herself out the youngest ruler of power spoke. "It is good to see you to master but I must ask for what reason you have come here."

"A new game is afoot." He answered shocking Lavenza. For a new game to start up so quickly after just finishing one. "Do not worry I shall explain more in do time. But for now I must be off to get a few things ready. I expect you to be prepared to help our guest once again." It was not a question but Lavenza still nodded in answer.

~Reality~

Akira woke up as the sun started its crawl upwards. Looking down he saw both Raphtalia and Morgana asleep. Moving carefully so as not to wake them Akira saw no remains of monsters laying around meaning that after summoning Arsene no more appeared. As he went about making breakfast he thought about what to do next. The obvious answer was to keep grinding so as to be strong enough to take on the approaching wave. But at the same time money was also a pressing matter seeing as how they needed to purchase more equipment. Letting out a hum he decided that whatever decision could wait until later. First he needed to make some food, so with a small thanks to Boss he went about making breakfast.

Raphtalia let out a groan as she woke up to the smell of food. Looking around she saw Morgana slowly crawl over towards Akira who was mixing some things in a pot. With the same slowness she walked over as well before sitting down in front of him. He gave her the same smile he did on the day he bought her making her feel slightly warm. Putting down three plates he dished out more food while humming a small tune. As she took a small bite her eyes flew open at the taste. With great enthusiasm she ate all she could. The food was one the best things she had eaten in a long time.

Hearing a chuckle she looked up to see the man who bought her extending his hand toward her. She flinched back a little as the hand neared old memories rising up in her but was shocked when he instead gave her head a gentle rub. "Eat up Raphtalia we are heading out soon. We need to grab a few more monster parts before returning to town." Akira said going back to cooking a distracted look on his face. Eating quietly she picked the plate clean before passing the plate back. After eating they killed a few more monsters with her master occasionally stopping as if wanting to do something else before stopping. He always seemed to notice something in the forest and would stop what he was in the process of doing. Now in town the strange man who owned her traded in the medicine he bought last night. After buying the excess or unused equipment he lead her toward the exit before jerking her to the side and leading her out a different way.

After awhile of going down seemingly random back alley they found themself at the equipment shop. "That should lose them for awhile." Akira muttered under his breath while walking in. "Hello again old man." Saying his greeting he walked toward the front of the shop.

"Ah, kid good to see your not dead." The old man said nodding toward him. "What do you need today."

"I was wondering if you had any weapon upkeep things? Like grindstones or whetstones?" Akira asked only to get a nod. The nice man came back with what he asked for. After paying for them his shield absorbed them making him happy. Before he left he asked about any places to get money quickly where Akira then learned about a mining town. Giving a nod he scanned around outside for something before asking to duck outside a side exit. So thus after grabbing a bite to eat, Raphtalia was happy to get another kids dish, they went out to the woods to get more parts after ducking behind more allys. After getting aways into the wood Akira seemed happy about something and gave a nod to her.

"Raphtalia I want to show you something, now don't freak out." Raphtalia gave a timid nod as she felt her heart clench as the man before her was covered in blue fire. It was only for a moment before he reappeared covered in different clothes and with a white mask on his face. "Now you might have some questions but for now I only ask that you continue to fight alongside me. If you do we shall continue or deal." The girl gave a timid nod as they turned to fight the mods coming close.

"Cleave!" Ripping off his mask Akira sent Arsene forward. Raphtalia let out a squeak at seeing the other being appear and effortlessly defeat anything that came close. So stunned was she that she didn't notice another rabbit enemy lung toward her.

"Come forth my other self!" A young boyish voice yelled out as another figure came forth. Unlike the one summoned by her master this one was primarily blue with the only other colors being red wings for eyes and gold shoes connected to feathery blue wings. Looking behind her she saw a thing with a large head that was bottom half white and top half black with cat ears sticking out of the mask like top. The eyes that took up most of the front had blue eyes that shone with an inner light. "Are you alright Raphtalia?" How did they know her she asked herself.

"Ah Morgana good to see you back to your old self." Akira said before stopping in front of Raphtalia and letting out a sigh. "Come on we can talk as we walk." A little confused by what he meant she looked down only to start hyperventilating at seeing the blood now on her. "Whoa calm down, calm down." She was quickly picked up and held close to something sturdy as her mind became foggy while she started seeing horrible creatures everywhere.

Looking up Morgana felt a weight on their chest at seeing the racoon girl clutching at Akira. "What happened? Was it something I did? No she was okay with you but then looked down…"

"If I may good sir." Turning Akira and Morgana saw Mercurius lower down and step on the ground. "I believe this furry thing may be at fault." With a flourish they held up the body of the now dead rabbit. "Our dear friend it seems has an aversion to blood. Not a good trait for one who is meant to fight." With careful aim they tossed it at the shield that quickly absorbed it.

"No that is not good." Morgana whispered trying to think of someway to help them get over there fear. "I think if we start small and work our way forward we can help her!" Looking over they saw Akira giving them a flat look. "What, did I say something or are you entranced by my good looks?"

"No, I'm just trying to figure out when Mercurius got so chatty?" He said as said persona disappeared back into Morgana.

"Huh, I never really thought about that." The cat thief admitted thinking about it a little more. "But last night I remember renewing my vow to them just like you did with Arsene. Then bam I'm back like this feeling just like I normally do."

"If you can turn into that form then do you think…?" Akira started before turning and starting walking back into the forest.

"Think what? And don't walk off like that, it makes you seem rude!" Following close behind the leader Morgana rolloded their head before gaining a look of realization. "Oh you mean my other form!? I haven't really tried turning into it yet. I mean I was kinda trying not to draw too much attention to our area."

"Makes sense," Akira said stopping to move Raphtalia, who was starting to settle down, before looking around. "So out of curiosity have you noticed anyone following us?" As he asked Arsene reappeared to cut down a few monsters that had gotten to close.

Morgana perked up as they gained a hardened look. "Yeah, I started noticing them a few days ago. They are quite adept at staying hidden but it will take quite a bit more work to trick a great thief like me! The last I saw was when we entered the forest, we seemed to have lost them though." Nodding his head Akira felt good knowing he wasn't imagining things, or that his attempts weren't in vain. "By the way what were you working on last night." Morgana asked as Akira put Raphtalia down near a river.

"Oh you didn't figure it out?" After making sure the slave girl would be fine Akira showed his work to the infiltration expert. In his hand were various tools that Morgana had helped him create not that long ago. Hearing Raphtalia turning around he put them into the shield unlocking more options. "I think you know what I'm going to do next."

"Are you sure about what you're doing? I'm not trying to dissuade you but it is very dangerous."

"In case you forgot, we always chose to live dangerously." With his trademark grin on his face he felt something tug on his coattails. Looking he saw Raphtalia looking down ashamed. "What can I do for you?" He heard her mumbling something while shaking. "Can you please repeat that?"

"Please don't get rid of me!" The demi-human said quietly, now shaking a little. Akira lowered himself as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm not getting rid of you." Akira said with convection as he tried to hold eye contact with her. "But we need to do something about your fear of blood. As we fight we are going to come across more things that bleed so we need to help you get over your fears. Okay?"

Raphtalia gave a weak nod as she felt the hand leave her shoulder. Thus she found how she spent the rest of her day. They continued farther into the forest as they found more and more things to fight. As time pressed on Akira prepared Lunch while returning back to normal and pressing the bandit cat to do the same. As it turned out the cat was the same she met yesterday. The form it and her master took apparently drained them somewhat of their energy. So conserve stamina they decided to stay out of them the rest of the day. By the end they had became stronger and went back to town to celebrate. After selling the various goods they found an inn to stay at, getting a special room due to her night terrors. This went on for a few days with them heading out to the forest to kill monsters and gather parts to sell then returning to the hotel to sleep. Occasionally they would come across more of the rabbits which allowed her to work out her fear of blood, Akira bought her a special meal to celebrate.

As Raphtalia laid down in the bed Akira worked on a few things, as he usually did every night. He had given her some medicine he assured would help her with her sleep and was now finishing something. Laying down her head she saw Akira close the curtains as the blue flames surrounded him. Within a moment the call of dreams drew her in. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Mogana asked as he watched the slave girl curl into a ball.

"I have quite a few things I need back." Akira said as he looked out the window using his third eye to spot the people keeping watch. "You remember the plan right?"

"Who do you think I am? Skull?" The cat thief asked sounding offended. "Just stay safe out there."

With a nod Joker slid out a side exit he had discovered while walking the city. With practiced ease he maneuvered around the city towards his destination. Hopping the wall Joker set his sights on the castle. "Hope you kept my things safe Malty cause I'm here to pick them back up."

AN: Alright ending it there, because I can. I know not much happened but after the next chapter or the next one we should arrive at the wave. Alright time to address a few things. One I will keep trying to get one chapter out per week but I don't know if I can. Second: as for his knife, no the shield can not absorb other weapons as far as I know. Yes people have made such things IRL but as far as the anime and LN are concerned it is impossible to due. Not sure about the gun though, I mean it would be wrong to separate Akira from the weapon he used to kill god. Third: I will post the Yu-Gi-Oh story at some point since some of you seem to like it.