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Persona: Wings of Liberation
Chapter 7
The Alluring Dancer and the Queen of Victory: Part 1
4/15
Kamoshida's Palace
After School
The boys got themselves to a safe room. They had been scouring the first floor on the left side of the building. So far, they had nothing but an incomplete map that had only the first and second floors mapped out. They had been hanging out in this safe room to rest up before continuing on.
"You know, I think we can get used to this sort of thing!" Ryuji said, "But still, I find it unfair that you get to have more than one Persona."
"You have to admit, it's a pretty cool power." Morgana said, "And one that a monkey like you deserves."
"Watch it, brat cat or I'll have you walking the plank after this is over!" Ryuji said.
Yes… that power Ren had. Ren found it pretty surprising that a Shadow would just suddenly become one of his masks, one of his Personas, just from a little negotiation. It made him feel… versatile. Like a Jack of all trades. A wild card. Multiple roles, unlimited possibilities.
The sky's the limit.
He hoped that Kazuya was doing ok in the hospital.
"Let me go, you bastards!"
"Huh?"
"Hey, does that voice sound familiar to anyone?" Morgana asked.
"Why… yeah… it does…" Ren said, "Ann!"
"Takamaki?! How did she—?!"
"We don't have time for that!" Morgana said, "There is a lady in need of rescuing! Come on!"
The boys bolted out of the safe room and headed down to the armory on the first floor.
"Let me go you damn creeps!"
"Come on! We have to hurry!" Ryuji said.
'You don't need to tell me twice!' Ren thought.
He bolted off to the sound of Ann's voice. He didn't know how or when she got back into the Palace, but those were a question for another day. He just had to save her. She didn't have to get involved in this, and yet she got herself involved anyhow.
The boys got to a hallway and turned right. They saw a red door.
"Get your hands off of me!"
"That door! It's coming from there!" Morgana said.
Ren didn't even need to wait. He just bolted right through the door. The minute the three entered, they saw an unbelievable sight.
A bunch of half-naked girls, presumably from
The volleyball team. All of them happen to be moaning and such.
"Man, this is fucked up…" Ryuji said.
'No shit, Ryuji!' Ren thought, 'Ann! Hold on!'
Kazuya slashed the Shadow while Sophia smacked another Shadow with her yo-yos. The Shadows had been defeated. Kazuya went over to Shiho. His Persona faded and his mask returned. He pulls her up as she looks at him in amazement.
"Kazu-chan…" Shiho said, "You…"
"Hey, it's nothing I couldn't handle." Kazuya said, "In fact, it was elementary."
"Wow… you seem immersed in your Persona." Shiho said.
"Or maybe I'm just playing the part of the greatest detective who's not Batman." Kazuya said.
"Ahem." Sophia said.
"Oh yeah… Ann." Kazuya said, "We gotta get her out."
Shiho went over to the door.
"No!" Kazuya said, "Don't open that door!"
"But it's right in front of us."
"And it raises one too many red flags for all the Shadows in the Palace." Kazuya said, "They'd ambush us if we did that."
"So… don't go in through the front door." Shiho said.
"There is an open vent we can use." Sophia said.
"Right…" Shiho said.
Kazuya led Shiho to the vent and the three crawled through. Shiho walked towards the main hall. As she looked around, there were some burn marks here.
"H-Hey, Kazu-chan, did you start a huge fight in here?"
"Shiho, now is not the—"
Wait… a huge fight?
"Ren, Ryuji and Morgana could be looking for Ann at the moment, it would be best to investigate the area." Sophia said.
"I don't know…" Kazuya said, "We can't communicate with each other, so we only have ourselves…"
"It would be best not to leave Shiho all alone." Sophia said.
"Yeah… I know." Kazuya said.
He went over to where Shiho was and—!
There were burn marks over this floor. Someone had gone absolutely nuts in the Palace. He took a whiff of the ashes. The smell would indicate that this fire took place just yesterday. This fire… could it have affected Kamoshida during the rally? Not only that, it looked like a mess. There was a portrait of Kamoshida wearing the armor of a knight.
"Just how inflated is Kamoshida's ego?" Shiho asked.
"I'd say it was blown out of proportions thanks to the Principal." Kazuya said.
"The Principal?" Shiho asked.
"He knew what Kamoshida was doing and turned a blind eye to it all." Kazuya said, "Then, to make sure no one spoke up about it, forced practically everyone to keep silent. I bet that includes you and your parents."
Shiho looked down. She looked back at Kazuya, twiddling her fingers.
"A-Actually…" Shiho said, "My parents knew about the abuse and sexual harassment."
Kazuya breathed a heavy sigh before he tugged at his hat. He looked up for a moment.
"So it's just as I thought." Kazuya said, "They must be very worried considering what has happened. They must also feel powerless to do anything…"
Shiho breathed a heavy sigh.
"Yeah… I guess you're right." Shiho said, "Dad said that the Principal would have me expelled and have my family evicted if he spoke to the police about the abuse and… violations…"
That pretty much confirmed all of Kazuya's suspicions. The Principal knew all about the physical abuses and sexual harassment. He forced everyone to be quiet, but for what reason? Why was he so fervent in keeping it all quiet? He could just fire Kamoshida and hire someone who would replace him and just threaten anyone who knew about it to keep quiet until the memory of his abuses fade out. Better yet, he could sweep it all under the rug by having Kamoshida set up and say that he had no idea about Kamoshida's actions. Heck, he could have pinned a crime on him and Kamoshida would be done for. The school would have its reputation hit, but he felt like it was more than just that.
"Let us go over everything." Sherlock said, "First thing's first, why was the Principal so intent on hiding his involvement with Kamoshida's crimes?"
'Let's see… it's definitely not about his reputation. It must be about the Principal himself and not the school.' Kazuya thought, 'How did a guy like him even get the job in the first place?'
"No, forget about that question." Sherlock said, "In fact, let's forget about who gave him the job to begin with."
'But now what?'
"Now we must ask why he's trying to avoid a scandal." Sherlock said.
'Why avoid a scandal? I guess… he's afraid of being found liable for his actions if it got out that he had some involvement in the scandal.' Kazuya thought, 'Yes, that's it! He's afraid of being exposed and discredited!'
Yes, that all made sense. If the Principal was exposed, he'd lose everything. His reputation, his wealth, all gone from one scandal. It was so obvious he didn't even need to think that hard.
'Alright! Now I just need to tell the others!'
Shadows began to show up one after the other.
'Damn?! How did they find us?!' Kazuya thought, 'Could it because one of the Shadows told Kamoshida about Shiho being here?!'
Ann was put in some restraints. She had been struggling to get out of them for god knows how long.
"It's no use, Takamaki-san."
She looked in the direction of the voice to see—!
'Is that… Kamoshida?!' Ann thought.
The person definitely looked like Kamoshida, but his eyes… they were just like Shiho's when she snapped at her! And he was wearing a cape and a crown over his head. That suddenly got her thinking…
"Who the hell are you?" Ann asked, "No… what the hell are you?"
"Well, I'm Kamoshida. King Kamoshida." Kamoshida said, "And this is the world of my desires."
"The world of your—wait… that's right… the castle is just the school as you see it." Ann said.
"Ah, adapt real quick." Kamoshida said, "Or maybe Kazuya told you."
"Kazuya?"
At that moment, Kamoshida walked over and smacked Ann across the face.
"Don't you dare mention that little shit's name in here." Kamoshida said, "Not a fucking word of him either, got it?"
One of the 'knights' that she had seen earlier came up to Kamoshida. This one though was clad in gold armor and had a plumage on it.
"My lord, we have found Princess Shiho, she is with the Heretic." The knight said.
'Shiho?! And… by 'heretic'... Kazuya?' Ann thought.
"You dolt, Princess Ann was with me the whole time." Kamoshida said, "Get your eyes checked out."
"But what about—"
"Execute that little shit and make an example out of him." Kamoshida said.
Just then she saw Ren, Ryuji, and the monster cat rush to her.
"Ann!" Ren said.
Kamoshida turned to the group.
"Ah, you're just in time to witness a little something important." Kamoshida said, "Men!"
More knights came out and had their swords at the group's throats.
"No!" Ann said.
"Don't bother. They're just worthless peasants who don't know shit." Kamoshida said.
"You bastard…" Ann growled.
"Hey now, you can't just talk back at him~"
She saw a… a clone of herself?! In a risqué bikini outfit?!
"See, at least this version of you is obedient." Kamoshida said.
"You bastard! You just see Ann as some damn sex slave!" Ryuji yelled.
Kamoshida glared at Ryuji.
"Shut it, or I'll have you executed on the spot." Kamoshida said.
"You… You'll pay for what you did to Shiho! You hear me?!" Ann yelled.
"Oh, her? My pet? Well all I did was simply beat her." Kamoshida said.
"And you tried to rape her on top of sexually assaulting her!" Ann said.
"That's because you kept rejecting me at every goddamn turn!" Kamoshida said, "You kept rejecting me over and over and over and I decided to try and have a bit of fun with her as revenge."
Kamoshida looked even more angry.
"And I would have had my way with her if her damn boyfriend hadn't stuck his nose into this!" Kamoshida said, "Shiho was willing to bear it all just for you. But then, I guess it was too much and she tried to kill herself, only for her boyfriend to stick his nose into that too!"
"What?" Ann asked, now shocked, "You mean… Shiho… no…"
"She got pretty lucky that she didn't hit the ground, but that little shit? He got what was coming to him for meddling in my affairs!" Kamoshida said, "It's just a darn shame that even that didn't kill him! And since he's already here, I may as well end his life!"
"Upset that your little pet decided to walk over to someone else for a change?" Ren asked.
Kamoshida glared at Ren before returning his gaze to Ann.
"I'll make you understand your place." Kamoshida said, "Now then, let's get rid of that jacket, it must be hot in there."
He looked to the group.
"Move and she gets executed." Kamoshida said.
"Damnit…" Ryuji said.
"Ann! You're not just going to let him have his way with you, right?!" Ren said, "Kazuya risked his life for Shiho's sake! Are you really going to let everything he did for her be for nothing?!"
"Ren…" Ann said, "This… this is…"
"DON'T YOU DARE SAY ITS FAULT!" Ren yelled.
"Huh?" Ann asked.
"It wasn't your fault at all! It was Kamoshida's! He made her go through all of that!" Ren said, "And Kazuya… he was willing to lay down his life for Shiho! Even so, they wouldn't want you to blame yourself for something he did!"
"Ren…" Ann said.
"Think about Shiho! She was your one and only friend, wasn't she?!" Ren said.
Just then… she felt a fire burn in her heart once more.
"Yeah! Ever since middle school. I would space out in class and she was the only one who'd talk to me." Ann said, "But he did something terrible to her... I'll make him pay! That's right! I won't stay quiet while this scumbag talks shit!"
"My... It's taken far too long."
She felt an intense pain in her head and began to struggle in her restraints. She spasmed as the pain intensified.
"Tell me… who is going to punish him if you don't?" The voice in her head spoke, "Forgiving him was never the option... Such is the scream of the other you that dwells within…"
She began to break out of her restraints with unfeasible amounts of strength.
"I am thou, thou art I... We can finally forge a contract... There you go…" The voice said, "Nothing can be solved by restraining yourself. Understand? Then I'll gladly lend you my strength."
'Yes… I understand…' Ann thought.
A red panther mask formed over her face. She quickly tore it off and a pillar of flame consumed her.
It was then that she obtained the facade to deal with life's hardships.
The Alluring Dancer, Carmen.
When the flames died out, a humanoid woman wearing a black panther mask with black twintails in a red and black dress stoof with two men with heart shaped boxes for heads dangling on vines.
As for Ann, she was wearing a skin-tight red latex catsuit with a cleavage cutout and zippers, pink gloves, dark red thigh-high boots, a clipped on tail on the back of her catsuit. She kicked a sword out of the hands of a Shadow and used it to kill the cognitive copy of herself. Shadow Kamoshida immediately backed away.
"You listen, I'm not just some cheap girl you can toy with, Kamoshida." Ann said.
"Bitch!" Shadow Kamoshida cursed.
"You tried to steal everything from Shiho, you almost destroyed her…" Ann said, "I will rob you of everything!"
The shadows had been knocked away from the boys and they got over to Ann.
"Enough of your insolence!" The golden Shadow said before turning into a demon sitting on a stone chair.
"No. I have enough of you." Ann said, "I won't let anything stop me. Let's go Carmen!"
"Why indeed we shall." Carmen said.
Carmen tossed a fireball at the demon and it instantly fell to the ground. The demon was burning.
"Y-You—!"
"Zorro!" Morgana said, summoning his Persona.
Zorro came forth and summoned a powerful gust of wind that fanned the flames of the burns, hurting the demon more.
"Damn! That did even more damage!" Ryuji said.
"That's what happens when you put certain elements together with different ailments." Morgana said, "Of course you wouldn't get it if it smacked you in the face."
"Hey!"
"T-This is unforgivable…" the demon said, "How dare you reject his highness' love?!"
"Love? That guy just sees women as sexual outlets!" Ann said, "You're finished!"
They launched an all-out attack. They struck viciously until the Shadow was no more. Shadow Kamoshida ran off.
"All bark and no bite!" Ryuji said, "And since that's over…"
"Nice outfit." Ren said.
"Yeah, that." Ryuji said.
"Huh?" Ann asked, the mask now forming over her face.
She suddenly noticed her change in clothes.
Especially the exposed cleavage.
"Gah!" Ann said, "Pervs!"
"Hey!" Ryuji said, "Wait… aren't we forgetting something?"
"Oh shit!" Ann said, "Shiho! She came in here with Kazuya!"
"Kazuya?!" Ryuji said, "No way! He's in the hospital!"
"Then explain why he's with Shiho!" Ann said.
"Let's go!" Ren said.
He picked up Ann, with Ryuji helping him up.
Main Hall
They got to the main hall to see a bunch of Shadows crowding over Kazuya, Sophia, and Shiho. The two were at their limits. Shiho was on her knees.
"Shit, what do we do?!" Ryuji asked.
"There's too many of them! We'll never make it in time!" Morgana said.
Ren was speechless.
"Shiho!" Ann cried out.
In response to that, Shiho stood up and turned.
As she did, the four saw that Shiho had a mask over her face.
"It's ok." Morgana said, "She's got a mask on, and that means only one thing."
"Huh?" Ann asked, "What is that?"
"Just watch." Morgana said with a smile.
'Ann…' Shiho thought, 'It's alright now… I'll be alright now… you don't have to worry about me anymore…'
"Now then, leave them with the bite of your vengeance and wrath." A voice in her head spoke. "Let this first victory over your false self be the first step in your war against injustice, your highness."
"If it's war that you want, then you'll have it..." Shiho said as she touched her mask, "... BOUDICA!"
TO BE CONTINUED