A/N: Alright, here we are at the final Despair Arc Chapter! All we have left is the Epilogue tomorrow, and this fic will finally be complete! Please read and review, and let me know your thoughts on Despair Arc overall as well as your thoughts on this chapter specifically. Thank you, and enjoy!
The Ultimate Detective and The Ultimate Hope Gaiden: How I Met Your Mother (And How I Met Your Father)
Despair Arc
Chapter Sixteen: Welcome to Despair!
Present Day
As the three of them got settled, Makoto began "Alright, Kiki, this is the final night of our story. Be sure to brace yourself because the ending is a bit of a rollercoaster, okay?"
Looking at her Father with a curious expression, Kiki cautiously nodded and replied "…Okay, Daddy. So…what happened after your engagement party?"
"Well, your Mother and I had just woken up, and…"
XXX
April 12, 2016
"Wakey wakey…wakey wakey, Kirigiri…"
Makoto groaned, his eyes fluttering open as he yawned. Once his vision came into focus, he looked up to see Kyoko's beaming face, the Ultimate Detective staring down at him lovingly as she stroked his hair.
*Yawn* "Good…good morning, Kyoko…"
His eyes wandered down, then widened at seeing Kyoko's naked breasts pressing against his equally naked chest. Memories of their engagement night rushed through his brain, making him gasp and blush.
"Kami…did we really…last night…?"
Kyoko grinned, glancing to the engagement ring that was sitting on the small table next to their bed as she confirmed "That's correct, Makoto. You proposed to me the other day, and we got engaged. Then our friends threw us a party to celebrate…and we had quite the night…and I've never been happier!"
Makoto smiled softly at his fiancée, then looked over to the engagement ring he had hastily crafted for her before assuring her "Sorry if the ring is a little crude…I promise, once we get out of here I'll buy you a better one…"
Kyoko shook her head and told him "Makoto, I love the ring you gave me just fine; you poured your heart and soul into making it, and that means more to me than any amount of expensive jewelry. If you really want to get me a new one, then I won't stop you, but you don't need to either, because I'm happy with what I've got."
"Kyoko…" Makoto looked back at his fiancée and compromised "I'll…think about it until stores open up again…then I'll make my decision on whether or not to buy you a new ring."
Kyoko smiled, nodding in acceptance before releasing him from her grasp and suggesting "Well…what do you say we get dressed and meet everyone for breakfast?"
Makoto nodded "Sure, that sounds nice."
With that, they slid out of bed and went to get dressed, sneaking some last-minute peeks at each other's naked bodies before they became obscured by their clothes.
XXX
Makoto tapped his foot impatiently as they sat at their usual table in the strangely empty Dining Hall. They had entered an hour ago and were greeted by an empty cafeteria. Although they found it odd, they chalked up the Dining Hall's emptiness to everyone being tired from the Engagement Party and decided to wait for them. Yet even after an hour, nobody showed up, worrying the newly engaged Luckster.
"Man…where is everybody? It's too late for all of them to be sleeping in, and I doubt they all had to go to the bathroom at the same time!"
A feeling of dread rushed through Kyoko's heart, causing her to bite her lip in anxiousness as she started to fear the worst. This didn't go unnoticed by her fiancé, who frowned and looked up at her with worried eyes.
"Kyoko…are you okay?"
Immediately going into Detective mode, Kyoko replaced her anxious expression with the stoic mask that she had gradually abandoned after being saved by Makoto before standing up, startling her fiancé.
"I think we should start searching for our classmates."
Nodding, Makoto stood up and agreed "Yeah…let's start with the dorms…just in case they really did oversleep."
"At the very least, we can discard the possibility if your optimism proves to be false. So, shall we go?"
Not waiting for his response, Kyoko immediately made her way to the doors, throwing them open before walking into the halls.
"Hey, Kyoko, wait up!"
XXX
"You start on this end, Makoto. Ring everyone's doorbells and call their names through the door. I'll do the same thing on the other side. We'll meet in front of Hina's door once you stop at her room."
Makoto nodded, watching as his fiancée run around the corner and out of view. Sighing, he ran over to the first door on the left, ringing the doorbell as he called out.
"Taka? Are you in there? It's Makoto…you're late for breakfast!" Yet not even a peep could be heard from his room, making Makoto sigh "I was sure that'd get him up and moving…"
Realizing that further bell ringing was a lost cause in Taka's case, Makoto zipped back and forth between the doors in the hall, calling out each occupant's name as he rang their doorbells.
"Mondo? Byakuya? Sayaka? Toko? Junko? Mukuro? Celeste? Chihiro?"
Meanwhile, Kyoko had just arrived at Hifumi's door, and after ringing his doorbell, called out "Hifumi? Are you awake?"
Yet not even a peep could be heard from Hifumi's door. Sighing, she proceeded to the next three doors and rang their doorbells while calling out their names as she approached each one.
"Hiro? Leon? Sakura?"
When even the Ultimate Martial Artist didn't answer, Kyoko frowned and muttered "That's strange…I'd imagine she'd be the first one up…she always says she gets restless if she doesn't exercise…"
"Hina? Hina, are you there?"
Hearing Makoto's voice, she walked over and saw him calling Hina's name and ringing her doorbell.
"Any luck?" She asked as she approached him, only for him to shake his head.
"No; nobody answered. I don't suppose you got any answers?" Seeing her shake her head, Makoto became visibly distressed as he asked "Kyoko, what's going on here? I can't figure this out! Last night we were all smiling and having fun at our engagement party…and now they've all disappeared!"
All…all… Kyoko's eyes widened as she latched onto Makoto's last sentence, coming to a realization. "No…not all of us were there. Junko and Mukuro were noticeably absent from our engagement party."
His eyes widening in shock, Makoto exclaimed "Wait…you're not suggesting that…"
Nodding, Kyoko elaborated "I thought it was strange that they didn't come…Junko lives for parties like that, and Mukuro follows here like a dog on a leash. But I ignored the alarms because I was so happy about being engaged to you that my…detective instincts were…elsewhere…"
Nodding, Makoto asked hesitantly "So…what do we do?"
Kyoko reached into her jacket and pulled out her skeleton key, swinging the keyring around her finger as she answered "We go and investigate their room."
Gaping, Makoto objected as she started walking "B…but…that's an invasion of privacy!"
Without even turning to look back at him, Kyoko retorted "Makoto, all of our classmates seem to be missing, and right now, Junko and Mukuro's room may provide the only lead we have to find them. Now are you coming to help me investigate or not?"
After hesitating for a moment, Makoto grabbed his head and shrieked "Ohh, I hate this!" before running after his fiancée to catch up with her.
XXX
"What…the…hell?!" Makoto gaped as he took in Junko and Mukuro's room.
The room had two distinct styles, dividing the room in half. On the left sat one bed, decorated with fancy sheets and blankets, with pictures from various photoshoots adorning the walls. On the left side however, sat a much plainer bed with numerous guns, swords, and grenades hanging on the walls. Indeed, the room was reflective of Junko and Mukuro's talents. What caught Makoto's eye however was a treasure chest on Mukuro's side against her closet, and about ten or so statues against Junko's closet.
"Are those…giant teddy bears?"
"…It would…appear so…" Kyoko confirmed as she took in the various bears on Junko's side.
They all shared the same design, black on the left and white on the right. Its mouth grinned on the left side in a Cheshire grin, made even creepier by the red eye just above it that was stylized after Hope's Peak Academy's emblem. Its right side had a completely normal eye and mouth that could be found on any stuffed teddy bear, but this only made them creepier to the Ultimate Lucky Student.
"What are these things? They look really creepy, and why does Junko have them?" Makoto wondered as he approached them, kneeling on the floor in front of one of the bears.
"Somehow, I don't think this is simply Junko's warped sense of humor at work…" Kyoko kneeled next to him and cautiously placed a hand on one of the bears, rubbing it to get a feel for its texture before she concluded "This has a metallic texture…I don't think these are simple plushies or sculptures…in fact, I'd say these were designed as robots."
"R…Robots?! But where did they get robots?!"
"I don't know…" Kyoko admitted as she began to inspect the robots. "Wait…these screws…they have the Hope's Peak Academy logo on them." Kyoko looked to the side and exclaimed "Look, Makoto! There's a wrench and a screwdriver that have the same logo right next to the bear."
Makoto's eyes widened as he exclaimed "Wait! Are you saying that these things were made inside of Hope's Peak?"
Kyoko nodded "Indeed; that's the only way Junko and Mukuro could have these robots in their room."
"B…but where did they get all the parts! I doubt they could have gotten the resources smuggled in from outside, and could they really have made these on the inside?"
Inside…inside… Kyoko's eyes widened as she realized "Makoto, recall a few months ago when Junko suggested we start looking for supplies and create a communal pile for us to share. I don't think she was thinking of the class's welfare when she made that suggestion for us to look for resources every day."
Makoto's eyes widened as he gasped "A…are you saying…?"
Kyoko nodded "If she were the only one gathering these parts, then she would have looked very suspicious hauling them to her room. But by suggesting we all form a communal resource pile to share…she was able to build these bears from the parts we gathered right under our noses."
"B…but why did she need a bunch of robot teddy bears?!"
"I don't know…some further investigation might be required."
Makoto nodded "Right, I think I see a hatch on the back. I'll open it and see what's inside."
"Okay, just be care…"
"UWAAHHHHH!" Makoto screamed as he stumbled backwards, getting as far away from the bear as possible. Before Kyoko could ask what was wrong, Makoto shakily pointed at the bear and shouted "B…B…B…BOMB!"
"What?!" Kyoko gasped before crawling around to its backside and looking at the open hatch.
Surely enough, directly in its center was a large red sphere with a black fuse attached to it, making Kyoko frown as she confirmed "You're right, it is a bomb. Based on its size, it's likely powerful enough to kill someone if they stood in the blast radius. I wouldn't be surprised if there's one in all of these robots."
Gaping in shock, Makoto stuttered "B…but…why did Junko put BOMBS in these things anyway? And how did she get BOMBS in the first place?!"
Pondering the question, Kyoko deduced "Whatever these robots are for, she probably didn't want anyone disassembling or destroying them, hence the need for explosives. As for how she got them…Mukuro is probably skilled with making her own grenades from scratch. She probably magnified that talent to create these bombs for Junko."
"B…but why…why would they do that?!"
Shaking her head, Kyoko admitted "I don't know…regardless, the presence of explosives makes further investigation too dangerous to continue with these bears. We'd better leave them alone until we can get someone to safely defuse them."
Makoto nodded, standing up shakily before shifting his gaze towards the treasure chest and remarking "Then the only thing left to investigate is that chest over there…" Walking towards it, he frowned and remarked "It looks like something out of the Legend of Zelda…"
Nodding, Kyoko stood up and approached him, advising "Just be careful, Makoto. We have no idea what's in that chest."
Nodding, Makoto started to sweat nervously as he gripped the sides of the chest, shaking as he bit his lip and, after a moment of hesitation, threw the lid open.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Makoto screamed as he fell on his rear, struck by shock, confusion, and terror.
Kneeling beside him and placing her hand on his shoulder, Kyoko urged "Makoto, what is it? What's inside the chest?"
Makoto shakily pointed at the chest and screamed "C…C…CO…COR…COOOORPPPSSSEEEEE!"
"What?! A corpse?!" Seeing Makoto nod, Kyoko stood up and gingerly approached the chest, peering inside.
True to Makoto's word, Kyoko found a disassembled skeleton lying inside the chest, the bones looking too real and unique to be the mass-produced fake variety found in science classrooms.
"I doubt it's any of our classmates…even if they were dead, decomposition wouldn't have begun so soon. I'd say this corpse is at least months old…Hm?"
Kyoko's eyes widened as she pulled out a simple pink backpack with a kitten head on top facing the back. She turned around and held it up for Makoto to see.
His eyes widened as he exclaimed "Th…that's…that's Chiaki's backpack!"
Closing her eyes for a split second, she gazed towards the chest and concluded "Then there can be no doubt; this is Chiaki's corpse in this chest."
Makoto gasped, his eyes widening in shock as he realized "But…but that means…"
Kyoko nodded solemnly "Yes, Junko and Mukuro murdered Chiaki Nanami, then stashed her corpse in their room. That, combined with the robot bears explains why they never allowed anyone in their room once the Tragedy started. In fact, they're probably the ones who masterminded the Tragedy in the first place."
Makoto's eyes widened in shock as he thought Junko and Mukuro…started the Tragedy?! Shaking his head, Makoto tried to deny "No…there must be some kind of mistake! It has to be a misunderstanding! Junko and Mukuro are our friends! Junko's a fashionista, and yeah, she pulled pranks that went too far a couple years ago, but she helped us get back together! And Mukuro, sure, she's the Ultimate Soldier, but she's not a murderer!"
Kyoko sighed, dreading having to break his faith in his friends as she answered "If you don't believe in my deductions, then perhaps my Father's office will have some clues that will settle things."
Instantly standing up, Makoto nodded "Yeah, your Dad should be able to clear things up! Let's go!"
…If I'm right, he won't be there at all…Kyoko thought with dread as she watched Makoto march out of Junko and Mukuro's room. "For once…please…let my deduction be wrong…" Kyoko prayed before following her boyfriend to her Father's office to settle this mystery once and for all.
XXX
"Wha…what happened in here?!" Makoto gasped as he took in the disheveled office; documents were scattered all across the floor, chairs were turned over, drawers were pulled out of the Headmaster's desk.
"So, as I suspected…Junko and Mukuro got to my Father too…and it appears that they struggled…" Kyoko deduced as she closed her eyes, fighting to reign in her dread and worry over her Father's fate.
"Kyoko…" Makoto uttered, looking at his fiancée with concern as he asked "Are you…"
Brushing off his hand, she told him "…I'm fine. Let's see if my Father left behind any evidence that will speak to Junko and Mukuro's guilt or innocence…"
Reluctantly, Makoto nodded, wandering over to the desk as Kyoko started to comb it for clues.
"Makoto, look at this."
Makoto approached her as she held up a blue binder, looking over her shoulder as he read "Class #78…Student Registry…?"
Kyoko nodded "That's right; it contains profiles for all of us. It's likely formed through a combination of Koichi Kizakura's scouting and my Father's private observations of us. I'm sure you'd be intrigued to know what the Headmaster thought of you, but since we could be on a time limit, let's focus on Mukuro and Junko's profiles."
Seeing him reluctantly nod, Kyoko turned to Mukuro's profile and began to read.
"Mukuro reappeared suddenly, and in the background an entity floats, close but just out of reach. The entity known as…the Ultimate Despair. Right now, I can't be sure if this is a single person, or some kind of group. Whatever it is, Mukuro definitely has some sort of connection to it. I have a bad feeling about this. I need to push forward with my research into the Ultimate Despair."
"The…the Ultimate Despair?!"
Kyoko nodded at Makoto and answered "It makes sense; the Tragedy started at Hope's Peak Academy, and since Despair is the antithesis of Hope, it would make sense for a group wanting to destroy Hope's Peak Academy to call themselves Despair. Mukuro's connection to it must be Junko; she's the only person she regularly interacts with after all."
As Makoto struggled to process this new information, Kyoko continued to read.
"And I need to pay attention to Mukuro's behavior, too. This is just my gut feeling, but I think she's dangerous. Despite the countless battles she must have gone through as a member of Fenrir…when she entered Hope's Peak, she didn't display any signs of battle wounds or scars. That fact alone proves her tremendous skill in battle. Naturally, I want to believe in her. She's one of my students, after all. But if I decide she's a danger to the other students…I will be forced to take all reasonable measures."
Tremendous skill in battle…yes, that much is true… Kyoko thought, pulling out her handbook and a pen from her jacket as she began to write in it while reflecting back on their spars over the past few months. If I'm right, and she is partially responsible for the Tragedy, then I…I may not be strong enough…to defend Makoto or any of the others.
Kyoko's worries about her capabilities against Mukuro were interrupted as she heard Makoto's knees give out, the boy collapsing on his rear as his face turned pale.
"I…I can't believe it…this…this is…"
Kyoko sighed and reluctantly turned to face her distraught boyfriend, putting her notebook and pen away before she explained "Makoto, think about it. Even my Father had suspicions; he knew that Mukuro had a connection to this Ultimate Despair, and knowing that she largely interacts only with her sister makes it likely that Junko is this connection."
"Th…that's not enough to…"
"The Tragedy had to be started by more than one person, at least two." Kyoko continued, cutting Makoto off "Even with her skill in battle, Mukuro couldn't start a war against Hope's Peak by herself. She needed someone with such natural charisma and persuasive capabilities that could convince the entire Reserve Course to rebel and riot against the Main Course and the faculty of Hope's Peak Academy."
"That's likely where Junko came in. Given her allure as the Ultimate Fashionista and her ability to change personalities, that made her perfect for stirring up resentment and creating the Tragedy. In fact…I think it's safe to say that she was the Mastermind behind this, while Mukuro likely served as the muscle she needed."
Makoto gasped as he realized "S…so then…when she helped us get back together…"
Nodding, Kyoko confirmed "It wasn't because she was concerned about us. She wanted to ensure I was too distracted with my relationship with you in order to watch her objectively. It was to prevent me from being a thorn in her side. And that's not the only time she manipulated us…Makoto, do you remember when she convinced us to talk about our loved ones on the outside, or how she tricked us into divulging our secrets?"
Makoto turned completely pale, gripping his knees as he whispered "So she…she…she…"
"Junko probably did that to use our secrets and our loved ones against us for who knows what…she manipulated all of us, and we fell for it because we considered her a friend."
"So our…our families…they're in danger…because of ME?!"
Kyoko's eyes widened as she spun around to face the boy she loved. Makoto was beyond distraught, tears streaming down his eyes as he hugged his legs while he buried his face in his knees and cried.
"I trusted her…I was the first one to trust her…I always gave her the benefit of the doubt…and she manipulated me into convincing everyone else to trust her! And now…all of our families are in danger! Your Father's in danger! Our classmates are in danger! It's all my fault, Kyoko! I'm a terrible friend! I'm a horrible son! I'm the worst big brother imaginable! And I'm a wretch of a fiancé who doesn't deserve to marry you!"
No, you're not! You're the greatest friend there is! You're a wonderful son, to both of our parents! You're an incredibly kind brother to Komaru! And most importantly of all, you, my love, are the best boyfriend and future husband any girl could ask for! Junko violated your trust! She manipulated your faith in your friends for her own selfish schemes! You're not to blame, my love!
That was what Kyoko wanted to say to her sobbing fiancé at that moment. She just wanted to drop everything, to hug him in her arms and let him cry into her shoulder. She wanted to rock him in her lap and whisper words of encouragement in her ear until his self-confidence was restored. But she knew that they were potentially on a time limit, and that the longer they stayed, the greater chance there was that they, her Father, and their friends could end up dead. So she settled by kneeling before him and squeezing his shoulders.
The teary-eyed Makoto sniffled as he looked up at her before she said "Now's no time to wallow in your depression. If we can rescue my Father and our other classmates, then we still have a chance to rally our forces and stop Junko and Mukuro. But for that to happen, we have to get moving, now. If you really want to make them pay for what they've done, you need to let go of your guilt for now."
Makoto looked into her eyes, latching onto her words like an anchor before nodding. Letting go of his shoulders, Kyoko watched as Makoto stood up, wiping the tears from his eyes on the sleeve on his hoodie.
*Sniff* "Y…you're right…sorry about that, Kyoko." Makoto's eyes narrowed as a fire of determination blazed within his normally gentle green orbs as he exclaimed "Come on; we've got to save Dad and the others! They've got to be around here somewhere! We just have to find them!"
There's my Makoto!
Kyoko nodded, allowing a small smile before settling her stoic mask back in place as she followed Makoto to search the school for their classmates and their Father.
Don't worry, Dad! We'll save you and the others! Just hang on!
XXX
Present Day
"B…but…why…?" Kiki breathed, her face becoming as pale as her Father that day. "Why…would Junko do that?! She sounded…nice…and fun…? And Mukuro…why would she help her? I thought she liked Daddy!"
Makoto frowned, worried about how his daughter would take the truth about Junko, while Kyoko hummed before explaining "That just goes to show how manipulative Junko really was. We told you at the beginning that Junko wasn't a good person, and now you know why. She manipulated your Father's kind heart to distract the rest of us from her plans, she manipulated me by using my love for your Father to distract me from investigating her. And she likely manipulated Mukuro into obeying her every command."
"B…but…her feelings for Daddy…"
"Mukuro liked your Father, but for reasons I still don't know, she was still loyal to Junko, and she abused that loyalty and trust to persuade her to help begin the Tragedy and put us all in danger."
"I…" Tears fell from Kiki's face as she muttered "I…can barely believe it…why…why didn't I see this coming? Why didn't I predict this…after she sent those bullies after Daddy?"
Makoto wrapped his arms around his daughter, pulling her against his front in a comforting hug while Kyoko explained "Because you're your Father's daughter. The both of you like to believe the best in everyone, to give them the benefit of the doubt. And normally that's a quality that I admire. But…there are times when it can leave you open to being manipulated, as your Father can attest to."
Makoto nodded, then said soothingly "But Kiki…I don't ever want you to lose that quality of yours…it's part of what makes you Kiki. It's okay to trust in others, just…be mindful of those who might try to take advantage of you, okay?"
Kiki sniffled, then nodded as she wiped her eyes "O…okay, Daddy…"
Frowning, Makoto offered "…Do you want to stop, pumpkin? I don't blame you if you want to stop, and your Mother wouldn't blame you either…"
Kiki shook her head, rejecting "N…no…I promised that I'd hear this story to the end, and Kiki Naegi doesn't break a promise."
"…Okay, pumpkin." Makoto leaned down to kiss her head, then turned to his wife and asked "Kyoko, would you care to continue the story?"
Reluctantly nodding, Kyoko continued "After your Father found his resolve, we began to search the rest of the fourth floor. Eventually we came across the Data Center, and when we got inside…"
XXX
April 12, 2016
"What the…this wasn't here before…" Makoto pointed out, baffled at the door on the inside of the Data Center.
"Indeed…Junko must have added it in secret…though I doubt she could build a whole new room behind it. She probably repurposed it from whatever function it used to serve…" Kyoko commented as she scrutinized the door, stylized after the bears that they had found in Junko and Mukuro's room.
"Do you…do you think…your Dad and our classmates might be in there?" Makoto asked hopefully.
Kyoko nodded "It's possible; we won't know for sure until we get inside."
"Alright, well then…here goes nothing…" Makoto started as he reached for the doorknob, only for it to barely budge as he tried to turn it. "No, it's locked! I can't get it open!"
Kyoko sighed and walked up, ordering "Move." as she took out her skeleton key and inserted it inside the lock. To her dismay however, the key refused to budge, causing her to curse as she replaced the key "Damn, Junko must have changed the lock on this door. My key won't work on it!"
Makoto bit his lip before asking "So…what do we do…?"
Sighing, Kyoko admitted "…Our only option right now is to track down Junko and Mukuro and get them to open the door. It's dangerous, but right now we don't have any other choice." And a confrontation will inevitably follow. Can I really outwit Mukuro in a fight?
Her worries were interrupted as Makoto nodded "You're right…come on, let's find Junko and Mukuro. If we're lucky, maybe we can at least get Mukuro to switch sides and help us save everyone before it's too late?!"
Despite the situation, Kyoko couldn't help but smile softly as she shook her head and remarked "Forever the optimist, I see…"
Makoto smiled and tried to tease "Isn't that why you agreed to marry me?"
"…One of many reasons…alright, we'll try to sway Mukuro. First though, we have to find them. Let's get to work."
Makoto nodded, following his fiancée as they continued to comb the school for the Ultimate Despair.
XXX
"We've checked every floor except the first. Junko and Mukuro have to be on this one!" Makoto declared as they walked down the stairs.
"Either that or they've returned to their dorm room. In which case we might be able to catch them by…surprise…"
Hearing Kyoko's voice trail off and seeing her stop with a wide-eyed expression on her face, Makoto asked "Kyoko? Why did you stop…Whoa!" Makoto exclaimed as he looked in the direction that Kyoko was facing and saw a set of double red doors about ten feet in front of them. "Where…where did these come from? I've never seen these doors in my life! Didn't there used to be a regular old wall in here?!"
Regaining her stoic mask, Kyoko deduced "Junko probably had these installed some time ago, and simply kept the wall as camouflage. I had heard rumors of Hope's Peak Academy having a hidden basement, but I could never find it during our sheltering. Obviously Junko and Mukuro found it and made use of it."
"…You think…they might be down there?"
Nodding, Kyoko deduced "Considering that none of us knew about this, it's likely that they made the basement their hiding place…" Kyoko sighed and advised "We should be cautious…there's no telling what's behind these doors."
Makoto nodded as they approached the doors, each of them grabbing one doorknob and pushing as the doors swung open, the engaged couple cautiously walking inside and observing the dull room inside.
"…It's a lobby…and that must be the elevator to the basement!"
Kyoko followed Makoto's pointing finger to the gate over the elevator shaft and agreed "You're right; that elevator must be the only way in or out of the basement…Let's go…"
Kyoko walked up to the elevator and pressed the button on the wall to the side, leaving Makoto to approach her as the elevator sped up and arrived on the first floor with a soft *ding* sound. Turning to each other, they uneasily nodded as the elevator door opened before walking inside, Kyoko pressing the single button on the inside. The doors closed with a soft *thud* before they felt the elevator taking them downwards.
Makoto took a deep breath, anxious about what lay underneath their feet as he wondered Can I…can I really do it? Can I help save Dad and the others from Junko and Mukuro? What if Luck isn't enough to do it?!
Makoto looked to his left and saw Kyoko's eyes downcast, worry swirling in her purple pools as she bit her lip.
She must be terrified right now…not only are our friends' lives on the line…but her Dad's too! Her Dad that she just got back in her life…she's terrified of losing him again! I have to reassure her that things are gonna turn out okay!
Forcing a smile on his face, he reached over and threaded their fingers together, causing her to gasp and look up at her fiancé, her stoic mask as good as gone as her fear and anxiety were written on her face like an open book.
Makoto squeezed her hand and assured her "I promise, we'll save Dad and the others, Kyoko…we'll do it TOGETHER!"
"Makoto…" Filled with renewed hope, Kyoko gave him a small smile and nodded, squeezing his hand as she took a deep breath, a single *ding* informing them that they had arrived at their destination. "Let's go!" She declared, letting go of his hand as the elevator door opened, the engaged couple steeling themselves for what stood behind it.
XXX
"DAD!" Kyoko cried as she and Makoto ran up, blocked off by a sturdy iron gate, their eyes widened fearfully at the sight.
On one side of the room was their Father, Jin Kirigiri, tied to a wooden chair with a blindfold around his eyes.
"Kyoko, look! It's one of Junko's bears!"
Kyoko looked towards the other side of the room. Sure enough, an exact replica of said robot bear was sitting across from Jin on the other side of the room, a big, shiny red button right in front of it.
As Kyoko was taking in the sight before her, Jin gasped, turning his head in their direction as he called out "Kyoko? Makoto?"
"Dad!" Kyoko called out frantically "Dad! We're gonna get you out of there! Makoto, help me tug open this gate!"
Makoto nodded and grasped part of the gate, groaning as he tugged at the gate with all his might, Kyoko doing the same as she grit her teeth, a determined fire blazing in her eyes. Yet for all their struggle, the gate wouldn't budge.
Finally giving up, Makoto released his section and called out to the still struggling Detective "Kyoko, it won't budge! We're not strong enough to pull it off ourselves!"
Undeterred, Kyoko decided "Then we'll unlock it! Makoto, help me find a lock!"
"Right!" Makoto frantically searched along the surface of the gate before his eyes widened in shock as he called out "Kyoko, this gate doesn't have a lock! I think it's automatic! I don't think…"
"NO!" Kyoko yelled "I'M NOT LEAVING HIM! I'LL GET HIM OUT OF THIS EVEN IF I HAVE TO KICK THIS GATE DOWN MYSELF!"
"Kyoko."
Kyoko gasped, freezing mid-kick as Jin turned his head to face her, a warm smile across his face as tears streamed down his cheeks, the man clearly accepting his fate as he told her "I'm so proud of you, my baby girl."
"Da…Daddy…?" Kyoko breathed as she clung to the gate.
Keeping his warm smile, Jin called out "Makoto?" Sensing that he had gained his son-in-law's attention, Jin told him "Protect my baby girl…won't you?"
Gaping, Makoto called back "Dad…what are you saying?! We're gonna…"
"Promise me, son. Promise me you'll protect Kyoko with your life."
No, Daddy…don't…
Kyoko's pained thoughts were interrupted when Makoto gulped, swallowing his own tears as he shakily nodded, vowing "I…I promise, Father. I'll protect Kyoko…"
With Jin giving one last sigh, all three of them turned their attention back to the robot bear. Dread made itself apparent on Makoto and Kyoko's faces as the bear raised its right paw and slammed it down on the button, Kyoko and Makoto clutching onto the gate tightly. Their eyes widened as a mini rocket ship with the bear's head sculpted on the top burst from the floor, opening its hatch to reveal a compartment just spacious enough for a single occupant.
"NO!" Kyoko screamed as Jin's eyes widened from under his blindfold and he let out a scream of terror as the hatch closed around him, ensnaring him inside the rocket before twin propulsors popped out from the sides and a giant screen hanging from the gate lit up, temporarily blinding Makoto an dKyoko before it dimmed and displayed a black background with white font.
BLAST OFF?! WHAT THE HELL?!
Before they could even process the absurd sight, the propulsors activated, blasting the rocket through the roof of the school. Makoto and Kyoko's dread-filled eyes glued to the screen, showing the rocket blasting up through the atmosphere and into the stars.
This can't be happening…THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?! Kyoko panicked as she saw the rocket's propulsors shut down, causing the rocket to tip in a semi-circle before falling down to earth.
The screen shut down as the rocket crashed back into the classroom, landing upside down. The force of the impact rang in Makoto and Kyoko's ears as the vibrations forced them to briefly turn away. When they were able to look back at the rocket ship, they watched as the hatch swung open, showing an empty compartment.
Where is he? Where's Daddy?!
Kyoko's panicked question was answered a split second later as a disassembled skeleton fell from the floor of the rocket onto the floor of the basement.
No! Makoto thought trembling with wide eyes, tears streaming down his cheeks as he processed what he just saw, realizing Dad…he's dead…Junko killed Dad! She killed Kyoko's Father!
As if to confirm Makoto's realization, the bear started to let out a high-pitched giggle that reminded him of his nightmare from months ago. That giggle soon erupted into a gleeful cackle, causing Kyoko's knees to buckle as she finally collapsed, Makoto rushing over to kneel behind and wrap his arms around his fiancée.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Kyoko cried as she broke down, waterfalls of tears streaming down her cheeks as she sobbed "DAAAAAADDYYYYYYYY!"
Makoto sniffled as they both grieved for the Father that was stolen from them right before their eyes. A few seconds into their grief, the gate finally retracted with a groan, sliding past Kyoko's weakened grip. Gasping, she looked up and desperately crawled out of Makoto's grasp before stumbling to her feet, dashing to Jin's disassembled skeleton before falling to her knees.
"DADDY! DADDY!" She cried as she picked up his skull, sobbing once more as she hugged it against her chest. "DADDY! DADDY! DADDY! DADDY! DADDY! WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Tears streaming down his own cheeks as he walked over to her, Makoto kneeled behind Kyoko once more, cradling her in his arms as he rocked them back and forth, trying his best to soothe her in her grief like she had done for him.
Eventually, Kyoko's sobs subsided, her grief turning into rage-filled hate as she grit her teeth, looking down at Jin's skull as she growled "…Junko…Junko Enoshima…I'll kill her for this…I'LL FUCKING KILL JUNKO ENOSHIMA FOR WHAT SHE DID TO YOU, DADDY! YOU HEAR ME, JUNKO?! YOU'LL PAY FOR TAKING MY DADDY AWAY FROM ME!"
"Kyoko…" Makoto muttered as he started to truly become terrified of his fiancée's hateful threats, despite his own grief and righteous fury towards the Fashionista he once considered his friend. In an attempt to bring her back to her senses, Makoto squeezed her tighter and urged in her ear "Kyoko, I know how you feel, believe me. Jin Kirigiri was a Father to me too, and I can never forgive Junko for what she did."
"What's your point, Makoto?!" Kyoko growled, her normal patience evaporated in the face of her grief.
Taking a deep breath, Makoto explained "We need to find the others and regroup so we can figure out how to beat Junko. But to do that, we have to get out of here, now. If you really want to make Junko pay for what she did, you have to let it go for now so we can stand a chance!"
Kyoko began to hyperventilate, her thirst for Junko's blood at war with her objective Detective instincts. Eventually, her Detective instincts, combined with Makoto's warm, soothing presence embracing her, won out. Sensing that she was back to normal, Makoto released Kyoko from his grasp as she placed Jin's skull back with the rest of his bones before standing up, sighing.
"You…you're right, Makoto. My apologies…" The two of them turned back in the direction of the elevator as she urged "Let's get back to the elevator and…"
*Clang*
A single metallic ball rolled in front of their feet, making Kyoko's eyes widen. Before she could even utter a word or move a muscle, the ball doused them with a grey gas, making them cough as they covered their mouths too late.
A smoke grenade?! But what…
Kyoko's thought went unfinished as her eyes closed against her will, the world around her going black as she stumbled woozily.
"Kyoko!" Makoto managed to call out before the gas started to affect him too. "What…" was all he managed to utter before his eyes also forced themselves to close, the boy losing consciousness along with Kyoko as they both woozily collapsed face-first on the floor.
The impact caused Kyoko's engagement ring to dislodge itself from her gloved finger, rolling along the floor until it fell over a few feet from where they lay.
*CRACK*
A black military boot landed on top of it, crushed into dust by its owner's heel as they walked over, stopping right in front of the drugged Ultimates. The assailant wore a standard gas mask, their grey eyes staring down with equal parts victory and remorse at the successful subduing of their targets.
XXX
Present Day
"After Mukuro knocked us out, she took us away and Junko stole all of our memories of the last two years, and your Mother's memories of being a Detective. When we and the others woke up again, we didn't know that we had been classmates for the past two years."
Kiki gasped as she processed her Father's ending to their story, tears streaming down her cheeks as she asked "How…how could Junko do that?! She killed Grandpa Jin and took away your memories?! She…She's worse than the villains in Aunt Toko's books!"
Kyoko nodded "Yes, she was. You'll…learn more about what happened after we woke up…and how we regained our lost memories when you're older, Kiki. But trust me…you're not ready to hear that yet."
Kiki nodded solemnly in agreement, not wanting to put up a fight after the horrific ending she just heard. Even thinking about Junko and what she had done to her family made her shiver in fear.
"Kiki…?" Kyoko asked hesitantly "…Are you okay…oof!"
Kyoko winced as Kiki turned around and slammed into her Mother, hugging her as much as her little arms would allow as she pleaded into Kyoko's nightgown "Will you…will you please stay with me tonight?" She looked up at her Father and asked "You too, Daddy? I'm a little…I'm a little scared of…"
Nodding, Makoto and Kyoko moved to hug their daughter, the five-year-old girl clinging to their pajamas as her Father assured her "Of course, Kiki…and we promise, Junko isn't going to hurt you, okay?"
"…Okay…"
Smiling lovingly at their scared little girl, Makoto and Kyoko wiggled under the blankets, embracing their daughter so that she was snuggled between their chests, their twin heartbeats soothing the young girl.
Kyoko stroked her hair as she assured her "Mommy will protect you…you trust Mommy, don't you?"
"…Of course I trust you, Mommy…I love you Mommy…you too, Daddy!"
Makoto smiled, kissing the top of her hair as he returned "We love you too, Kiki. Now, try and get some sleep. Mommy and Daddy will keep the big bad nightmares away, alright pumpkin?"
"Okay…good night, Mommy…good night, Daddy…" Kiki yawned before falling asleep.
Her parents smiled at her before looking up to face each other, Kyoko frowning as she asked "…Makoto…do you regret it? Telling Kiki about our past?"
Makoto frowned, admitting "…I wish we didn't have to tell her the ending…but she would have found out eventually, with the Tragedy being taught in middle school. And…" Makoto smiled as he confessed "I kind of liked…remembering all the fun times from our first two years together…they're some of my most treasured memories."
Kyoko smiled wistfully as she admitted "Yeah, me too…" She looked down at her daughter and frowned before confessing "I just wished I could have protected her from the pain of hearing the bad parts…"
Makoto smiled at his wife and advised her "I know you want to protect her, honey, but we can't protect Kiki from the world forever. The best we can do is prepare her for it, and I think we've managed to teach her a number of life lessons through this story that she'll take to heart before she goes out into the world."
Kyoko smiled and nodded "You're right, it's just…" Kyoko glanced down at her five-year-old daughter again and admitted "She's growing up so fast, Makoto. In a couple months, she'll be starting school. It still feels like yesterday that she was clinging to my leg, calling "Mama, Mama"…"
Makoto leaned forward to kiss his wife's nose, smiling as he assured her "They all have to grow up sometime, Kyoko…and besides, she's still only five, so we've still got at least thirteen more years with her before she even thinks of moving out."
"Don't remind me…" she sighed as she playfully slapped his arm. "I just want to hold her like this and keep her safe against me."
Makoto smiled as he told her "Then hold her, at least for tonight. She's counting on us to keep the big bad boogeyman away after all."
Kyoko giggled, admitting "You're right; what would I ever do without you, Makoto?"
"Run a Detective agency and Hope's Peak at the same time?"
Again, Kyoko slapped him playfully before chastising "Hush, now go to sleep."
Makoto nodded, smiling as he embraced his wife and daughter, yawning as he muttered "Good night, Kyoko…I love you…"
"Good night, Makoto…I love you too…" Kyoko returned before their eyes closed and they fell into slumber with their daughter.
So exhausted were they that they failed to notice a purple-haired spirit materialize at the foot of Kiki's bed. Smiling, he rested a ghostly hand on both of their cheeks, causing them to unconsciously grin in their sleep. Removing his touch from them, he then rested one of them against Kiki's head, stroking her hair and down her back, repeating this last cycle until Kiki's scared frown changed to a peaceful smile.
The spirit smiled, satisfied with the completion of his task as he whispered too softly for any of them to hear "Good night, Kiki…my beautiful granddaughter. Good night Makoto, you've made me proud, as my successor…and as my son-in-law. Good night Kyoko Naegi, my baby girl. Daddy's so proud of you…"
He then snapped his fingers and vanished, as though he was never there in the first place.
