Wah! I originally planned for this chapter to be in Ibuki's POV… But then I remembered that Ibuki wasn't on the task force.

She is now.

Don't question me.

Alewar Warinot - That's because Junko makes sense. Junko has motivation. Monaca is just like, actually insane. She's not doing anything for herself, shes just doing it because she wants to, while Junko has 1 boredom problems 2. I'm pretty sure she has several mental illnesses. Monaca just... does shit. Like, when she was trying to make Junko's successor, everyone assumed it would be her. Nope. Komaru. Just because. It's scary. My favourites are Sakura, Ibuki, and Tanaka. So good. I;ve read the first couple of chapters, but I don't have a whole lot of time to read it.

xXPinkMewXx - It's coming. Trust me. Welcome to the new chapter! :D

Mitzuki118 - That's me. What with Halloween candy and all. Happy Halloween! Remembrance Day is next week! Whoot! Eh, she'll throw a bitch fit eventually. This one is sorta long, haha. Welcome~

Ibuki was bored. Like really, really, really bored.

When she heard Baby Gangster talking about going to Towa City to get Makoto, of course, she jumped on board. Actually, she had to sneak into the van they were using… but Ibuki thought those were like, the same thing.

Baby Gangster was mad at her. Ibuki didn't care. Nobody told Ibuki what to do since music was an art form, and body ruled what art was. Not even Baby Gangster… even if he liked to think that he did. Since he was always telling Ibuki what to do with her music.

Do it like this, he always said. Play these notes and these songs. Make Ibuki's fans act like this.

She crossed her arms. Tanaka sent her a look but Ibuki didn't acknowledge it. She was in trouble, yes, but she didn't have to act like she was.

"Ibuki thinks that this is unfair," she grumbled, "Ibuki wants to help find Makoto, too!"

"Stop pouting," Baby Gangster growled. "People who ride in trunks for four hours don't get a fucking opinion."

It wasn't four hours, Ibuki wanted to argue. It was three and a half. Plus, Ibuki only left because she had to pee. Fuyuhiko wasn't the pee police.

She wished she had to guitar, so she could make Fuyuhiko relax. And let her on the task force.

This time, her eyes met with Tanaka's. He looked sad. That set her slightly on edge. Tanaka was usually so… despairful.

Ibuki found that she liked him more like this. Despairful Tanaka was good… but happy Tanaka was better. Ibuki wanted everyone in her family to be happy. Including Fuyuhiko. Including her number one fan, Makoto.

She pouted. The van door slammed as Fuyuhiko, followed by Peko, left. Tanaka stayed beside her, in the back seat.

"Ibuki thinks that Makoto will be okay," she grinned, trying her best to cheer up the animal lover, "You'll find him."

That time her smile grew soft, almost watery. Ibuki didn't really want to admit it, that she could be anything less than cheerful or despairful… but right now she was worried.

Kamu Kamu was strong, yes, but the dangers of Towa City might be stronger.

Tanaka shifted, worried. Ibuki's strong ears caught the pinch in his breathing and her ruby red eyes caught the way his mouth shifted into a frown.

"I have to stay here. With you," Tanaka explained. "My hellhounds are very capable of working on their own. We instead need to defend our current stronghold!"

By stronghold, he meant their van. Parked inside of a dusty and gross warehouse. Ibuki wrinkled her nose. The dog, sitting by her feet, shifted. His nose poked against her kneecap in what she assumed was a reassuring gesture.

The other two dogs were trailing behind Baby Gangster and Peko. The four of them left the warehouse, the door slamming shut and throwing Ibuki and Tanaka into darkness.

She turned her head. Baby Gangster was gone. She was free to say whatever she wanted

How should she word this?

"Ibuki thinks…" she paused, fumbling on her tongue, "That Tanaka only has to stay with Ibuki. And Ibuki doesn't have to stay in the car."

The man raised a nonexistence eyebrow. He reached down to scratch the German shepherd behind the ear - a nervous tick. "What is it that you mean, heathen?" he asked, yet the anger was left out.

"Ibuki means that if Ibuki left, and Tanak left with Ibuki… then Ibuki and Tanaka wouldn't be breaking any rules."

His hand stopped scratching the dog. His crimson orbs met hers.

This time, her orbs were stinging, and she caught a small piece of her reflection in the rearview mirror.

His eyes narrowed, "What are you suggesting, demon? What would the purpose of our departure be?"

They were magenta. Her eyes. Sometimes they did that, turned from red to magenta. Fuyuhiko hated it.

For some reason… Ibuki liked it.

She liked when her eyes were magenta.

She liked with Tanaka's eyes were grey. She liked when Fuyuhiko's were yellow.

She liked how Makoto's were green.

"Ibuki has an idea."

Pekoyama Peko didn't know why she asked to join the task force. She didn't know why she was currently trudging through Towa City wearing a baggy cloak and a hood that kept getting in her line of sight.

What she did know, though, was that it wasn't because of her master.

For what might have been the first time in her life, Peko had made a decision regardless of what he master wanted.

She chose to come here. To find Naegi?

Why? Peko didn't fully understand it, and probably never would. Perhaps that would be for the best because, in all actuality, she didn't need to understand it.

Maybe this was hope. She hadn't felt it in a long time. Not since her master had fallen to despair, leaving Peko alone in the world between. On the line. She had been so close to falling over. So close to falling into despair.

Then he came. Naegi. Then Naegi promised to save her. Master. The rest of their classmates.

She believed in him. That was her hope.

That was why she was here.

"This is how I will protect my master," she whispered under her breath, spine straightening.

If master heard her, he gave no indication. Peko decided that it was probably a good thing.

The three of them ventured towards the city's landmark, Towa Hills.

"If they're anywhere in this city, they're here." the young master grumbled, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

Mikan, who had barely even been a presence within Peko's mind, gave a timid nod. She looked more confident than before, Peko knew, and it must have been due to Naegi. Yet, something was off about her.

Deranged, maybe. Or maybe not. She had been like that since Junk arrived in their lives.

Now… it was a different kind of crazy.

Thinking back to the mission at hand, Peko rested her hand on her sword's handle. Towa Monaca. She was almost, if not more, devilish than Junko herself. What business would Kamukura have with her?

What business would Naegi have with her?

It just… didn't make any sense.

The three of them stepped into the building. It provided a warm air in contrast to the crisp night outside their doors. It was getting late. Kamukura and Naegi would have to find shelter for the night, which would either make things exceedingly easy for her or extremely difficult.

Master walked over to the receptionist's desk, shortly followed by Mikan. Peko didn't quite catch the whispered threat, but she didn't need to. She could read her master like a book. The receptionist picked up a phone, probably summing somebody.

The doors swished open after a few patient minutes. A man, whom she recognized to be Towa Haiji, stepped out. He looked… visibly upset.

"Who are you?" his eyebrows pinched together.

Peko tugged her hood further down her face, silently requesting that her master do the same. He didn't, being as stubborn and proud as he was. Instead, he marched over and whispered a threat into the man's ear.

Haiji's eyes met Peko's. He must have noticed their colour. Not that they were like that because of despair, as Peko's eyes were born red… but red irises was a sign of Ultimate Despair. A sign of danger.

She wondered briefly how Kamukura had gotten pas this man. No doubt he had some kind of solution. He had a solution for everything.

Then, Peko noticed the gun in master's hand. It was partially concealed by his cloak, but Peko's sharp eyes instantly caught onto it. The barrel pushed against the Towa heir's stomach. A threat. Fuyuhiko said his command.

Haiji complied, and lead them to a safer, separate room. Peko's eyes immediately sized it up. No visible cameras or microphones, no blatantly hidden ones. Unless Towa was actually competent at hiding their security measures (which she doubted), they were safe to talk.

Haiji, respectfully enough, held his ground, "How did you get here?"

Peko narrowed her eyes. He had figured it out.

Her katana slid out of its sheath in a satisfying swish. Before the heir could even blink, the blade was pressed close to his throat. A sliver of blood ran down his neck; warning.

Time to start the interrogation.

"Monaca. Did she receive any visitors today? A man with long black hair accompanied by Naegi Makoto. I'm sure you recognized him."

Haiji started to sweat under her death hold. He was wise enough not to move.

"Y-yes," he croaked out, "I was told they were ambassadors for the Future Foundation. Towa Group has been trying to form an alliance with them…"

Peko narrowed her eyes. She was about to ask another question when the nurse jumped in.

"Makoto belongs to Ultimate Despair."

Peko whipped her head around. Mikan's spine was straight and her shoulders squared. She looked taller than she had even been in her entire life.

She sucked in a breath, a sudden bout of anxiety, "He-he's one of us. Part of our family. We wouldn't ever let the Future Foundation have him."

Haiji's eyes widened. "So… the people I let in…were Ultimate Despair?"

This time, it was Fuyuhiko who responded. A crackling, aged laughed.

"Not quite."

Peko understood it. Mikan did, too. Haiji, on the other hand, looked confused. Nobody was going to explain it to him.

Naegi hadn't fallen in into despair. Kamukura hadn't either. Not really.

Peko, too, was one of them. A member, but not quite there. Not like the others were. She didn't praise Junko, nor did she relish in despair. It was just something that accompanied her everyday life. Accompanied her master.

So, she would accept it.

The young master stepped forward, an evil glint in his lone crimson eye. Peko realized it just then. That Fuyuhiko was all the yakuza boss that he had been raised to be.

She didn't like it.

But she would accept it.

For now.

"Now," Fuyuhiko grinned, "Tell us just where you sent them."

The doors slammed open. Mikan whimpered, feeling the distinct urge to hide behind her arms and away from the loud sounds. The fighting.

When she opened her eyes, she saw that the room was empty. It was a lab, like the one they had just passed through. It had one door. One exit. Expect… it was empty.

"Nobody had seen them leave…" Haiji, the man guiding them, placed a hand on his forehead, "I-I swear! They were here the last time I saw them!"

Kuzuryuu looked upset. Mikan, too, felt worried. What if Makoto had gotten hurt? He would need her!

(But Kamukura was with him, wasn't he? Kamukura could treat him better. He was better at everything.)

(Makoto doesn't need you. Why did you even come?)

(Just go home.)

She shook her head an entered the room. There had to be something here. Something that gave away the truth. A clue. Just like Makoto during the killings games, expect… this time it was her turn.

Makoto said to be nicer to herself. Makoto said that she was good. That she didn't need Junko in order to be good, and useful, and worth living.

She… she would believe him.

(That was her hope.)

Something felt… off. Mikan looked at the wall. It was… out of place for some reason. Discoloured, slightly. INdented, only by a few millimetres, if she could tell.

Mikan ran her hand on the surface. It felt different from the rest of the wall.

"I-I.. um, I think I might have, uh, found something," she mumbled, turning to look KUzuryuu in the eye.

He grinned.

He… he trusted her! He trusted that she would find the clue! Mikan felt her chest grow warm and her heart grow fond. She had done something good.

She was a good girl.

Right… Junko?

Wait. No. She wasn't supposed to do that anymore. That was bad. Junko was gone. She had left Mikan. Yet, her memory was still alive.

Alive in Makoto.

Who they had to find.

Click.

The wall slid from under her hands. Mikan squeaked, looking up to see Peko fiddling with some remote.

"A passageway," the swordsman examined, "Naegi and Kamukura must have been taken this way."

The group moved down the hall. Mikan was slow but tried her best to keep up with the rest of the group. She could be useful, too! She would be useful.

That was a promise that she had made to Makoto, who loved her. Loved her like Junko.

(That was a promise she had made to herself.)

(She loved herself.)

They entered a new room. A conference room of some kind. This one wasn't empty. Instead, a young girl was here. One with long pink hair and a pair of devil horns attached to her head. Mikan liked her. She was cute.

She crouched down, being the first person to reach the little girl, "U-um, hi?" she gave a watery smile, "I-I'm looking for a friend of mine. N-Na-Naegi Makoto. You, um, might know him."

The girl nodded, giving her the biggest grin in the universe, "That cutie was just here! He went with Monaca, though."

Mikan turned around, sending a big I'm-almost-in-tears-smile to her group. That Haiji guy was gone, but Mikan didn't care that much.

They had a lead! She was just like Makoto when he was investigating the murders.

(She should rewatch the broadcast highlights sometime. Maybe she and Makoto could have a movie night… like the one he had with Tanaka. She was jealous of that but too shy to ask if she could join.)

Fuyuhiko grinned. Peko gave a sharp nod, strutting forward, "Take us to her." she commanded.

The little girl winked, puffed out her skirt, "Of course! You may be demons, but I'm okay with ignoring that… since you're all so cute!"

Mikan blushed. The cute little girl thought she was cute.

They followed her out of the room and into another. This one was… scary. Very scary. It had dark walls, and a pentagram was drawn onto the flooring. Shadows clung to the corners a little too well for Mikan to be comfortable.

She hugged closer to Peko. The swordsman looked annoyed but didn't say anything, silently comforting. Mikan liked the way her sword's hilt glinted in the light, a reminder that they were armed.

Then, she saw something that made her feel a little better. It was the back of another little girl, this one with bright green hair tied up in a red ribbon.

She was in a wheelchair.

The girl turned around. Her dress showed off her legs. Mikan's eyes narrowed. She didn't recognize the girl, but apparently, Peko and Fuyuhiko did. The yakuza started talking to her and Peko braced herself.

Though, there was something Mikan noticed that the others probably didn't.

Her legs. They didn't look right. Not in the she-needs-a-wheelchair-way. No. In the super-healthy-and-strong-looking-way.

Nobody in a wheelchair had legs like that. Mikan could tell.

Was she… faking?

Mikan opened her mouth, feeling a sudden courage overtake her, "Wh-where's Makoto?!" she balled her hands into fists.

The girl smiled. It… it disturbed her. Despair. Too much despair. Not at all like Junko, not at all like hers, for Fuyuhiko's, or Makoto's.

(She wanted Makoto's smile instead.)

The girl giggled, "He's not here right now. Actually, he just left."

Brrr! Brr!

Mikan almost fainted at the sound of the alarm.

I'm trying my best to really show the development of the despairs. Show that they're coming to terms with having hope. And not being evil.

And all that good stuff.

(CoughINeedToDevelopThemNowBeforeClimaxesHappenCough)

I know I said there would be another like, two arcs after this, but I may or may not have lied. There's like, an arc and a half after this. We're approaching climax zone.

I went through all of the old chapters and actually established a timeline. (I mean, I skimmed through them, so this might be a day or two off.)

Chapters 1-2, Day 1

Chapters 3-5, Day2

Chapter 6, Day 3

Chapter 7, Day 4

Chapters 8-9, Day 5

Chapter 10, Days 6-7

Chapters 11-13, Day 8

Chapters 14-18, Day 9

Chapters 19-20, Day 10

Chapter 21, Days 11-13

Chapters 22-24, Days 14

Chapters 25-27, Day 15

Chapters 28-34, Day 16

Chapters 35-37, Day 16

Chapters 38-?, Day 17

So the entire story has been over the course of two and a half weeks. Maybe a couple more days, if I ever missed an indication that several days had passed while I was skimming.

I did this to make sure my guestimate of 3 weeks was right… and it was. For the most part. Yay?

Next time:

Byakuya is here, too.