The sky was overcast. Rain pattered on the ground. Leaves were swirling in the gale. A teenage boy's footsteps could be heard as he rushed home from the rain. Each step he took caused a splash. Running through the safety of his doorstep, he slammed the door behind him, taking a moment to catch his breath. Akira Kurusu was finally home, in his hometown to which he returned a few months ago. Before that, he lived in Yongen Jaya as the leader of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts where he was on probation because of a crime he did not commit. They had saved the world from distortion and corrupt men who seek for their gain, embodying the rebellious spirit. But he had to leave because he cannot stay there forever. It was a shame, he made friends, a family, and the best memories there, but as the saying goes, all good things must end. He still it contact with his friends through SNS, but it was not the same as meeting them everyday. He especially missed his girlfriend, Futaba Sakura, who he spent the last few months in most company with, she managed to find his address just by hacking it from his phone. Yet, one he still has someone to talk to about his previous life. A certain black and white ball was curling at his feet, sneezing from the cold. He was really grateful that his beloved pet Morgana was able to follow him home. Despite all this, Joker wished that he could spend one more time in their company as the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. Little did he know that new problems could mend old wounds.
His parents were out for a dinner date, and he would have been at the lake fishing (and Morgana would keep devouring his catches), had it not been for the rain. In fact, it has been raining a lot lately, causing many accidents on the road. Morgana started to sneeze again. "Hey Joker, it's so cold! And wet! I demand sushi! SUSHI!" Joker chuckled, his friend will never change no matter where he is. He checked his SNS. No new messages, in fact there hasn't been any for a few days. Akira was starting to get worried, his friends promised to contact each other everyday since he left and yet there was no soul to be found online on the chat. He shook his head, thinking maybe they were out of town, and didn't have reception. With that thought implanted, he fed Morgana some leftover Sushi from the fridge, made himself a cup of coffee, and sat legs crossed in front of the TV with Morgana on his lap. A news report came through after bursts of static:
"-Interrupt your daily programme for breaking news. Another tragedy because of the late storms. A group of five driving down Kyoto highway that were killed by a falling tree struck by lightning was found this morning. Autopsy results identify them as former members of the intrepid Phantom Thie-"
Joker spews out coffee.
"WHAT?!"
...
Pit was in a frenzy. He had to fight the forces of nature, command his centurions, try to protect the humans and help Palutena on her missions. All in a days work as an angel and the commander of Palutena's army. But really he was not up for this battle. This is the work of Viridi, Goddess of Nature. Pit was stopping her from unleashing her absolute wrath upon the humans. He has been fighting nonstop for days, weeks with no sign of the battle ending. He needed help. Right know he was in front of Palutena, requesting a favour. "I really need help with controlling Viridi, Lady Palutena! She's wreaking havoc upon the humans! Many are dying in the process!"
This was the first time in all her years knowing Pit had Palutena seen him so panicked and flustered. Normally he goofy and lighthearted, but because his favourite species was under siege, he has taken this very seriously. "Very well," she said after much begging from Pit in a exasperated sigh, "Come with me to the viewing fountain, we will find the best men to assist you for the job."
With that, they went to the viewing fountain. Palutena swirled its contents with her staff, murmuring words of a spell. Soon, the fountain was filled with a light, and then died down to reveal a burning tree and scraps of metal around it. A crimson red liquid oozed around it...
"Soo... the best man for the job... is a dead metal tree?"
Now it was Palutena's turn to panic.
"Oh no... Oh no nonono..."
"What is it, Lady Palutena?"
"The group that I want to ask for help was this group, The Phantom Thieves of Hearts..."
"Oh! I've heard of them! They're a teenage group of rebels from Yongen-Jaya, Japan, who recently saved the world from corruptio..."
At this point Pit noticed Palutena's quelling look and shut up.
Palutena sighed, "That's nice that you have been up to date with the recent up and comings, Pit. But I am afraid that they are of no help. Viridi's storm had struck a tree and caused it to crash into their car... Three of them died in the impact and two more are bleeding to death.
"But... but... can't we do something?"
"I'm afraid not Pit, even if we did go down to help it would probably be to late."
"Can't you resurrect them?"
"I could try, but even resurrecting one of them would drain me of almost all my power and I would not be able to provide you your powers."
"Sigh... it really seems there is no hope for humanity after a- WAIT WHAT'S THAT LINE?!"
Palutena focused her attention on a bloody trail that was either leading towards or away from the car...
"Sharp eye, Pit! Maybe at least one of the Phantom Thieves survived after all!"
"I feel so sorry for the guy, having to abandon his friends just because he can't do anything about it... I can relate to it..."
"Nice that you're sentimental about it, but I think you got the gender wrong, Pit."
"What! It's a girl?!"
"Hang on, I'm picking up more phantom thieves! I'm getting a visual!"
The fountain changed the image; instead of a gruesome crash site, it was displaying a teenage boy sitting in front of a dark liquid stained TV, watching a news report of the accident, cradling a cup of earlier said dark liquid (if it's chocolate, I like him already, Pit thought) and a cat on his lap.
"Pit! These three are our last hope for humans! You must bring them over now!"
"Three? There is only this dude and the girl who survi-"
"NO TIME FOR QUESTIONS! GO NOW!"
...
"I... I c-can't believe th-this..." Morgana sobbed.
Akira knew how he felt, losing all your friends because of a car crash...
Wait, did he lose all of them? The report only said five...
"DING DONG"
"Coming!" Akira yelled.
He went to the door, opened it...
To find a blood stained Futaba Sakura.
...
"Fu- Futaba?!" Akira stuttered, "No, nononono, the universe is playing a sick prank on me. Futaba... Futaba died... she died in the c-c-car cr-crash...".
Futaba managed a weak smile, or maybe it's a grimace.
"Joker, I-I mean, Akira Kurusu... It's me..."
"NO! NO IT CAN'T BE! GO AWAY DEMON! LEAVE ME BE!"
With that, he slammed the door, or, he tried to, Futaba held it by putting her foot between the door and the frame. If it weren't for her sturdy boots, her foot would have been chopped off. Still, she could feel the force of his slam. "Please," Joker pleaded, leave me alone..." He was really looking quite deranged. His cute face was wet with tears, he was now pulling tufts of his frizzy hair, he was looking down, not wanting to meet her eyes... She winced, her heart was broken that he didn't believe her, even more so when Joker called her a demon, and now this, it split her heart cleanly in two. At this rate, he was going to have a palace soon, his mind was getting very distorted. Is this the Joker she knows? Joker, who was normally so composed. Joker, the heart, soul and embodiment of the Phantom Thieves. Joker, the adorkable boy she has fallen in love with...
She can't take this torture. She wanted the real Akira Kurusu back.
"JOKER! WAKE UP!" With her good hand, she slapped him hard across the face. Joker stumbled. "ARRGGHH!" Her hand and arm was stinging from the force she used in that slap, but she didn't care, she has got his attention, even if for moments. "Akira Kurusu! It's me! Futaba Sakura! Adopted daughter of Sojiro Sakura! You, as Joker, stole my heart and my treasure with the Phantom thieves and saved me from my palace! You are my boyfriend! What more proof do you want Inari?!" Her face was wet again with fresh tears. Then, looking back at what she said, she turned away, not wanting him to see her blush. I can't believe I just shouted out loud that I'm his girlfriend!, she thought.
Akira was at a lost for words, he had made Futaba Sakura cry. If this was a crime, he would have a death sentence. All his disbelief at Futaba was gone. It was replaced with guilt. Of all the crimes he had committed, he had never experienced any thing like this before. She turned around. Was she going to leave him? He could not bear let her go again.
He wrapped his arms around her. She emitted a little squeak of surprise. She was damp from the rain, sticky from her blood, but he did not care. All he cared about was that this cute girl in his arms is his girlfriend, and that's all that matters. He whispered into her ear. "Well, there is one more proof you can show me..." He turned her around. "... Do your kisses taste the same?" His lips met hers, and he placed his hand behind her head and used a little force to push. As if on autopilot, she put her hands on his shoulders and tiptoed to gain more height (she is a lot shorter that him, after all). He slid his tongue into her mouth, and when it touched hers, she let out a little moan of delight. All earlier anger at Akira had evaporated, now all that mattered was this kiss. She pulled away reluctantly and spoke to him, "Did... did I pass the test?" Akira looked at her big, soulful eyes and thought, she looks really cute when flustered. "Of course you did, Sakura." All her emotions had welled up in her, losing her friends, enduring a painful journey to his hometown to find help, experiencing her earlier rejection from him and now being kissed by him, it made her feel like when her Mom died; confused and stressed. She needed a shoulder to cry on, and luckily, Akira offered his.
"A...After the... accident... I... I was so... so scared... I... didn't... think I see you again" Futaba whimpered, "The... the... others died... because... I COULDN'T HELP THEM!" She immediately started crying hard into his shoulder, letting his hand stroke her. She was grateful for the sympathy that he gave her. She missed it so much when he left Yongen-Jaya, when he left the Phantom Thieves, when he left her...
"J-j-Joker? C-can I ask a favour?" She stopped her tiptoe, and wrapped her hands hard around him. Akira was surprised at this sudden affection. "Don't leave me alone ever again..." Futaba whispered before she lost consciousness, "I love you, Akira Kurusu".
…
Akira came out of the shower, aching from bandaging Futaba's injuries. She had broken her arm and leg, and would take days to recover. Morgana was shocked to see Futaba at the doorway, also thinking that she was a casualty of the accident. He helped him lay her on his bed (which isn't saying much considering he's a cat).
He also helped with treating some of the wounds, moving as if he had done it many times before. (looks like someone has been learning from Tae).
Tired from taking care of her,
Futaba gained consciousness after several hours. But she was so sleepy she didn't want to open her eyes. She turned to her right side to relieve her left leg, and collided into something warm. She felt it, it's a very familiar touch, but she can't remember where she touched it before… It reminded her of her Akira dakimakura back home, her personal security item every time she went to bed. She wrapped her arm around it, bringing it closer to her. A slight protrusion was digging into her G-spot. Letting out a little moan of satisfaction, she started to mumble "Uhh… come inside me, Akira…"
"Um… are you awake Futaba?"
She immediately shot open her eyes. What she had earlier perceived to be a dakimakura turned out to be Akira's shirtless body, fresh out of the shower, based on how wet his body was. And that "protrusion" turned out to be his "dagger" (it isn't a weapon ;P). "AKIRA! How… How much did you hear?!"
"Eh, a few things. You really have a dakimakura of me?"
"N-no…" She turned a very bright shade of red.
Akira moved his head closer to her, whispering into her ear, "You look so cute when you're blushing", causing her to look as if her whole head was on fire.
In an attempt to move away from this awkward topic, she stuttered, "Where… where are we?"
"Oh, welcome to my bedroom!", Joker replies.
"Y-YOUR BEDROOM?! Wha- what if your parents se-se-see us now?!"
"It's ok, they're out until tomorrow, god knows why. But we're not the only ones in the house now." At this, Morgana jumped onto Futaba's lap. "Nice to see you awake, Futaba!"
"Mona!" She sat up to pet the cat, or at least she tried. Her spine was stiff and sore, her left leg was tied to a splint and her right arm was in a cast. She was dressed in clothing not belonging to her, a shirt larger than her, a bra and panties not her size.
"Uhh… what happened to me?"
"That's what we wanted to ask you. How did you survive the crash?"
Her mind was foggy, she tried her hardest to remember what happened in the crash. She didn't want to bring it up, even trying to caused her great pain. Akira noticed, and said, "I know it's painful Futaba, but it would only get worse if you don't open up. Mona and I want to help, but we need you to tell us so that we can help. Be brave Futaba, we're here for you." She sniffed, took a deep breath, and recollected.
...
"WHAT THE HECK, VIRIDI! STOP THIS!" Pit navigated through the storms, winds and disasters the goddess of nature conjured. But trapping him in a hurricane? That just crossed the line. Pit was trying to reach the home of the last surviving phantom thieves, but was proving quite the challenge what with all the problems Viridi put his way. "Lady Palutena, if you're listening, I want a pay rise when all this is done! I'm supposed to be having my rest day today! I didn't expect to fly through a freaking tornado!"
Palutena's calm laugh flooded his ear. Of course she could hear, how else could she communicate with Pit on his missions? Long used to her best commander and surrogate "Son"'s insistent whining, she managed to keep her ground. "Alright Pit, that's if you bring the three of them back here in one piece, and yourself nonetheless."
"Three? There was only the frizzy-haired dude and the half-dead redhead! Who's the third?"
"Don't tell me you didn't see the cat, Pit."
"Yeah I did! But where's the- oh... HOW CAN A CAT BE A THIEF? IT'S ONLY A CAT!"
"Well that's what my sources told me, and since when have you questioned my judgement?"
"I- I... not questioning... sigh, sorry Lady Palutena."
"Ok I get that you're- LOOK OUT FOR THE TREE!"
"Wha tree- ARRGGHH!"
The impact of the tree, fueled by the strength of Viridi's hurricane and Pit's momentum, caused Pit to be flung far from Skyworld into a portal to the Overworld. Pit tried to use his Wings of Pegasus, but experienced excruciating pain; the tree had damaged his left wing.
"MAYDAY! MAYDAY! I'M SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL! ARRGGHH! I NEVER LEARNED HOW TO REEAAADDDD!"
Palutena could only watch her best lieutenant spiral through the air like a malfunctioning plane, and couldn't do anything as he saw him fly towards a rural countryside town...
"PIT!"
...