This story is a work of fiction.

Any relation to persons, living or dead, as well as events, are purely coincidental.

The author owns none of the characters, or events, that take place here.

The world is not as it should be.

It's filled with distortion, and "ruin" will soon descend.

However...there are those who would challenge fate, in desire for change.

Since time immemorial...they were known as,

"Tricksters."

Persona 5: Hoshi to Bokura to

16th Heist: The First Step

.

.

.

.

.

"I want in."

The three words put them on edge. Ann's face was deadly serious, eyes lit aflame like something fierce. They turned to one another, unsure of what to say. Makoto was the first to speak up, eyes narrowed with soft concern. For both their sakes and hers. "How much did you hear?"

"Enough." Ann replied. Akira could tell by the look on her face that she was angry. "Enough to want to know that sick bastard needs to pay." She clenched her teeth, lowering her head as her shoulders trembled uncontrollably. "Before she passed out from the pain... I heard Shiho mutter his name. And when the teachers told us to go back to class while the paramedics took her away... Mishima told me everything."

The three were surprised. It soon faded in sorrow. Akira looked at Ann, unsure what he could say to make the situation better or how he could alleviate her worries, if it was even possible. After all, she had been told the horrible truth of what had happened to Shiho. What she had to endure for so long. The silence.

No one should have to learn any of this.

What made it even worse was that, deep down, Akira knew he could have somehow stopped this. He had seen the signs. Witnessing Kamoshida's Shadow raping the cognition of the poor girl. Even now the horrible excuse of a human being's cackling laughter rung in his ears, as if to mock him. A soothing wave from Orpheus ceased such depressing thoughts, but it still hurt.

"And..." Ryuji swallowed the lump in his throat. "Did they say...what's happening with Suzui?"

Ann choked, tears openly falling from her face. "I-I got a call from the hospital a few minutes ago." she sobbed, trying and failing to wipe the tears away. They wouldn't stop. "They said her injuries are bad. R-really bad. They...they don't think she might make it through the night."

Makoto gasped in fright, holding a hand to her mouth. Akira and Ryuji were stunned into silence. Her injuries were that severe? Yes, she fell from a three-story building rooftop, but even still...

"...I overheard you guys talking about Kamoshida." Ann said. After a minute, she had finally dried her tears and looked at them with fury burning. A fury that resonated with Akira. A fury that so closely resembled what he felt when he relived the experience that put him under probation. "Whatever you guys have planned, I want in. I want that sick bastard to pay for what he's done!"

Makoto looked at the boys uneasily. Under any other circumstance, they would gladly accept the help. Especially with the task they were undertaking. However, these were not ordinary circumstances. They were going to be in a world of pain, fighting for dear life to expose Kamoshida's crimes. The Castle was a dangerous place where the three of them barely escaped their lives the first time. If Akira hadn't awakened to his Persona and met Morganna, then they would be dead. While the three of them had Personas now, Ann didn't, making it all the more dangerous to her.

Of course, even with Personas, it was still dangerous. Akira was so painfully reminded of that by the soreness in his body - the results of Arsene and Orpheus being pounded and beaten to high heaven.

Ryuji sighed, scratching the back of his head before he looked at Ann. "Look, Takamaki. We get it. You hate Kamoshida just as badly as we do. But what we're going to do...it's way too dangerous."

"I don't care." Ann remained stubborn. "I'm coming with."

"This isn't a game, you know!" Ryuji snapped. "We know what you're going through, but-!"

"You don't know shit what I'm going through!" Ann shouted in retaliation, causing Ryuji's eyes to widen as he backpedaled, startled by her outburst. As a result of her shout, she had also slightly drawn in a few number of students approaching.

"You have no idea what it feels like, Ryuji!" she said as the tears flowed even greater force than before. Her whole body was shaking, shoulders trembling uncontrollably and her coiled fists clutching to the hem of the blazer. "Shiho's in the hospital, fighting for dear life! I don't know if she'll be okay, if she'll even be alright when she wakes up, or-or if she even wakes up at all!" Akira looked on at her as she continued to cry, biting her lip as if trying to stop the tears. "Do you have any idea how that feels? This...helplessness, as your friend is dying and you can't do shit?!"

Ryuji turned away. There was no way to answer that. How could anyone hope to answer such a heartbreaking question? Certainly not one of them. Her words were true. None of them had ever watched their closest friend try to commit suicide. The teen knew that her grief was great. Perhaps enough that she might take action on her own. It would be better if they did take her with them. Of course, that would make their job harder, having to fight the Shadows whilst also protecting her. Kamoshida had certainly made it no secret that he was gunning for Ann, but why? More concerning, what would his Shadow do if he ever got his hands on her?

"Akira-kun..." Makoto whispered to him, looking to him for an answer to this situation. She also eyed the group of onlookers wearily. If this continued, they would be attracting some unwanted attention. "What do we do?"

Akira closed his eyes, trying to think. He mulled it over for a few more seconds before he sighed and adjusted his glasses. "...okay. You can come with." Ryuji looked at him as if he were insane. Ann's face brightened almost immediately, a grateful smile spreading across her face while she wiped away the tears on her cheeks. "But you have to stay with us, alright? No running off on your own."

"O-okay. Thank you, Kurusu-kun!"

"H-hey, hey. We sure about this?" the blonde delinquent asked, concerned. "I mean, that place is no joke."

"Don't worry." Morgana chimed as he popped his head out from Akra's bag. This surprised Ann, not expecting him to have a cat in his bag before watching the not-cat creature hop out, leaping on top of a nearby trash can, looking at the three Persona-users. "There's four of us here. So long as this ojou-sama sticks with us, I'm sure it won't be a problem." He then chuckled. "At the very least, having the two of you along will make reaching the treasure all the more easier."

"Oh, right..." Ryuji recalled. "We just gotta take that thing and Kamoshida'll be singing like a jail bird, right?"

Ann tilted her head. "That thing?" she asked, confused. "What are you guys talking about?"

"I suppose you'll find out soon enough." Makoto said. "But, Takamaki-san. Are you sure about this? What we're about to do... I won't lie. It's going to be dangerous. We've almost died a few times because of it. And what you might see, it isn't something anyone should see." Ann's fierce look didn't fade in the least. Makoto wanted to try and convince her further, but even she could only fold her hands in defeat. She shook her head and smiled thinly before turning to Akira. "Well, Akira-kun."

He nodded and took out his phone. Bringing up the app and tapping a few buttons, the world began to twist and warp around them. Soon enough, the Metaverse engulfed reality and them along with it.

TakeYourTime

Ann's reaction - both to Shujin Academy turning into a castle and Morgana in his bipedal form - had been utterly priceless. It had taken a while for her to calm down before they could properly explain the situation to her: starting with how they first discovered this world and meeting Morgana to them obtaining their powers, along with how to bring Kamoshida's crimes to light.

"So, if I get this right..." Ann said slowly, sitting on a crate as she went over the information. "The root of Kamoshida's twisted desires is this thing called the Treasure. And if we steal it, he'll reform? Do I have that right?"

"That is correct, ojou-sama." Morgana nodded. "By stealing his corrupt desires, Kamoshida will undergo a change of heart. And without his corrupt desires to help him justify or hold account of his actions, the guilt will eat away to the point where he will publicly confess his crimes." His eyes then hardened. "However, there's also a chance he'll undergo a mental shutdown, since desires are what keep you functioning properly."

"I see..." Ann said. She was quiet for a moment before she looked at the three. "And, you guys are serious about this?"

Ryuji snorted. "Been waitin' for a chance to get back at Kamoshida since what happened with the Track Team." he said. His eyes turned sad before a moment before his fury returned. "Just wish it were under better circumstances."

"Agreed." Makoto chimed, folding her arms. "We had tried to find other ways of exposing Kamoshida, but Kobayakawa values him too much. Even if we do expose his crimes, the Principal will only suspend him from teaching. Sooner or later, he'll come back. As much as I don't like it...this really is our only option." Sighing heavily, she turned to Akira and Morgana. "So, do you two have an idea where the Treasure might be?"

Akira nodded. "Sort of." he said before raising his hand, pointing to the very back of the castle. "It should be somewhere in the back. Maybe in one of the towers."

"Very astute Joker." Morganna chirped. "Yes. A King would keep his treasury in one of the surrounding towers."

"Really?" Ryuji questioned. "Would have thought that it would be like one of those RPGs and the Treasure would be in the Throne Room or something."

Akira smiled thinly. "Funny you should say that..."

"...oh, you gotta be kidding me!"

"Yep." Morgana grinned cheekily. "Kamoshida's Throne Room is in one of those Towers. Of course, before we can think about investigating them, we need a map of the entire castle. We can't go in blind."

Makoto nodded. "Then that should be our first priority." she said. She then turned to Ann, eyes softening in concern. "Will you be okay, Takamaki-san? Once we go inside, there's no going back."

"I'll be fine." She nodded resolutely. "There's no way I'm going to let a pervert who thinks he's king of the school stop me from avenging Shiho."

"Alright then." Akira bobbed his head while pulling his glove. "The mission begins."

"Wait!" Morgana stopped them before they could advance, causing Akira to stumble and Ryuji to bump into him.

"What now, fur-bucket?" Ryuji snapped.

"We can't go in there just yet. If we're going to be pulling off this heist, then we will need code names!"

"Huh? Why?"

"Why?" Morgana harumphed, putting his paws to his hips. "You do realize that we're walking into Kamoshida's territory, right? If you use your real names, chances are, the Kamoshida in the real world is going to start becoming more antagonistic towards you all. That's why it would be better if you use code names!"

Makoto frowned. "But he already knows who we are, though." she pointed out. "He's already seen our faces."

"True, but therein lies the beauty of your Persona." Morgana said, causing everyone to look at him, confused. "Those masks, along with your costumes, aren't just fashion statements. They're a symbol of rebellion. It also interferes with the Palace ruler's own perception. Even if he knows who you are, your Personas will interfere with his cognition."

Ryuji stared at him flatly. "...in English, cat?"

"It means, so long as we have our Personas, even Kamoshida does know who we are, he can't recognize us." Makoto explained, surprising everyone. "Do I have that right, Morgana?"

"That's correct! I'm glad to see there's someone's following along."

Ryuji growled, glaring at Morgana. "Why you-!"

"Anyway..." Akira interrupted before they could argue. "So what will our code names be?"

"For you, it will be Joker." Morgana stated, looking at him. "Our ace-in-the-hole."

Akira nodded, accepting the nickname. He even began to smile somewhat, noting how fitting it felt. "Okay, so what's mine?" Ryuji asked. "Better not be something stupid, like 'Vandal' or 'Outlaw'."

Ann smirked. "Oh, so does that mean we can't call you 'Thug'?"

"Hell no!"

Morgana sighed, shaking his head. "Then what do you want to be called?"

"Well, if I'm gonna be called anything, then it's gotta be this mask, right?" He gestured to the skeletal mask on his face.

"So...how about Skull?"

"Skull...I like it! Short, sweet, and badass!" Ryuji exclaimed.

"Then what should mine be?" Makoto questioned.

"I got the perfect one!" The blonde male clapped his hands. "Ms. Post-Apocalyptic Raider!"

The student council president frowned, not finding the name the least bit amusing. "...do you want to get smacked?"

The glare she leveled at him was enough to send shivers down his back. For a moment, the poor boy thought he saw the Shinigami behind her, scythe ready to claim his lost soul. Everyone else, however, wondered if Ryuji even had a filter for that mouth of his. Or if he even thought before he spoke his mind.

"Maybe Prez?" Ann offered. "Since you're the Student Council President?"

"Sounds too generic." came the swift surprising response. "Next."

"Spikes?" Morgana offered, looking at the aforementioned decorations on her outfit.

At this reminder of how her costume made her look, Makoto slightly deflated, though she maintained her powerful image. "Next."

"Queen." Makoto blinked and looked at Akira, who was looking at her rather thoughtfully. "Would that work, Niijima-senpai?"

"Queen...yeah. I like it. From now on, I am Queen."

"She does feel like an Empress..." Morgana quipped.

Ryuji bobbed his head in agreement. Makoto gave them a look, and immediately they froze up. "You want to say something?"

"N-nothing, ma'am!" the two replied in sync.

Ann giggled. "She has them whipped."

Akira nodded, smiling in amusement before turning back to the castle. A pulse washed over him, Arsene's presence enveloping him. For a moment, his mask burned azure before it settled. He grinned, sharing his other self's thoughts.

Kamoshida was going to pay.

TakeYourTime

Infiltration had been easy. There were few knights roaming around, but they were rather easy to deal with. Ann had been surprised to see them, especially what happened after they were brutally destroyed and reduced to black-and-red muck. She already figured that they were Shadows, but was still overwhelmed all the same. However, that shock faded when she saw the obvious signs that the castle belonged to Kamoshida, from the statues of voluptuous women to a few books that she found and read out of curiosity as they sat in a room.

It only disgusted her more and more.

"Man, what is with this room?" Ryuji questioned, noting how the room seemed to shimmer back and form between being a room to a classroom at school. "Is Kamoshida having trouble deciding if he wants this place to even be here or somethin'?"

"Kamoshida's control isn't absolute." Morgana informed him, standing atop the table. "There's obviously going to be small holes that rats can scurry around in. The cognition here is incredibly weak, so the Shadows don't wander in. It makes the perfect place to plan out our assault." The not-cat creature then opened one of his pouches, taking out a folded parchment. As he undid the folds, it revealed itself to be a map. Ryuji sat in one of the chairs, looking it over while Akira and Makoto stood around the table. "Joker and I have covered nearly all of this area...all except for here."

He tapped his paw against one of the areas encircled in red. Ann leaned in, noticing that the area was unfinished, meaning that it was what they had on the map so far.

"Going by the lack of guards, Kamoshida's probably amped up security around this area." he brought up. "In which case, it will be a pain to try and get through."

"So we can't force our way through?" Ryuji frowned. "Then can't we go around 'em?"

"Can't." Akira shook his head. "We didn't find any other route."

Makoto hummed, cupping her chin. "Going by what you guys mapped, our only real option would be to try and avoid them while breaking through the line." she said, scanning the map. "It isn't unfeasible to try and eliminate all the guards, but we'll probably be exhausted from fighting them all. And that isn't for accounting for any reinforcements. And we can't go around, since there isn't any other way. In that case..." She traced her finger around the ballroom, eventually touching one of the maps leading to the lower levels of the castle. "Why not going underground? I noticed that there were a few aqueducts in the dungeon. What if we tried to use them?"

Ryuji stiffened. "Er...you sure that's a good idea, Mako-er, Queen?" he asked, catching his slip up. "I mean, ain't underground where...?"

Ann tilted her head, looking back and forth. She noticed how tense everyone seemed to be at the mention of 'dungeon.' "What's wrong? If that's our only option, we should take it."

"W-well, yeah, but..."

Akira looked at Morgana. "Well, Mona?"

The bipedal feline folded his arms in thought. "...it's a feasible option. We are familiar with the area from your first encounter there and it's possible Kamoshida diverted most of the Shadows patrolling there. That being said, I'm not sure if it's the best place to show Lady Ann."

"What place? Just where are you guys talking about?" She questioned.

The three Persona users glanced at one another, trying to find a way to explain the circumstances to her. In the end, Akira decided to state it bluntly.

"...the underground is where the dungeons are. It's where Kamoshida has cognitions of the students he tortures."

Ann froze. "T-torture...?" she whispered. Images of such vile acts began to play out in her head. A thought then crossed her mind, which caused her heart to freeze. "W-was...was Shiho's...?"

Akira answered her question with silence.

"Oh my god..." Ann gasped. But after a moment, she shook her head. "No. If the dungeons really are the only way, then let's go. I'll be fine."

"You sure?"

The blonde nodded. It was obvious she was not okay, but she was willing to brave it. Akira's face softened, concerned for her wellbeing before taking a breath. He was starting to rethink bringing her with them. But the past is the past.

This would be better than let her act recklessly, anyway. He couldn't imagine what would happen if she were try and confront Kamoshida right now.

TakeYourTime

"Surprise, asswipe!"

That was all the guard heard before Ryuji rammed his foot into its mask, shattering it and destroying the head in the process. It was surprising to see how easily the metal crumpled beneath Ryuji's boot, but given the fragile nature of their weakpoint and that they now had supernatural abilities, Akira wasn't going to dwell on the subject.

Makoto, however, had a few words with the blonde.

"Are you trying to tell Kamoshida we're here?!" she hissed, glaring at Ryuji in disapproval. "I think every guard in the castle heard you! Can't you be a voyeur in silence?!"

Ryuji flinched, recoiling from the intensity of her shout. "S-sorry!"

"Whatever." Makoto dismissed him, shaking her head before giving the blonde male one last glare, promising to talk with him more on the subject before looking around. "Okay. Assuming the guards didn't hear Skull shouting like a moron, we should be able to take them out quietly. Still, how strange. I recall a number of them transforming when we entered the Palace before. These ones don't seem able to."

"Wait, transform?" Ann asked. "You mean they turn into monsters?"

"Shadows aren't just monsters." Morgana explained to them. "They're the deepest, darkest emotions humans bury in their hearts. They're a side of you you pretend doesn't exist, or wouldn't dare show to others. You might even say they're corrupted Personas."

Ryuji gawked. "For real?!" he questioned. "So, let me get this straight. We've been fighting other people's Personas?!"

"Yes...and no." the creature waved a hand. "I'll explain later. Let's find the aqueduct." He took out the map again, his blue eyes scanning the parchment. "Let's see...it should be on the second level, right near the entrance."

"Is it away from the Training Hall?" Akira asked, giving Ann a brief glance. Thankfully, Morgana shook his head. "Okay. Let's go."

He was grateful for that little fact. The less Ann had to see, the better. No use traumatizing her with more of Kamoshida's deplorable acts. The group then continued to move. Along the way, Ann saw the people trapped in the cages. She couldn't see their faces very well, but each of them was battered and wrapped in gauze. She also noticed the clothes that they wore.

Volleyball team uniforms.

'The team Shiho was on...'

She shook her head again. She couldn't stop now. She had to keep moving onward. Even so, every time she looked at each of them, she envisioned Shiho in their place. Beaten. Broken. Pitiful.

Her hands balled into trembling fists and her teeth gnashed together in anger. In the depths of her heart, she wanted nothing more than see Kamoshida in Shiho's position. She LONGED for that day to come. If stealing his Treasure would break him in such a humiliating way, she would take that option.

'Don't worry, Shiho.' she solemnly promised her friend, praying she would be alright. 'I will make that sick freak pay for what he's done!'

"Hey guys, I think I see it!" Skull proclaimed as they neared their destination.

Ann snapped out of it and returned to reality. She was in the middle of a corridor, and behind her was a staircase. 'How long have I been out of it?' she wondered idly. Ryuji stood over a small opening in the ground, barely big enough to fit the average adult inside. Naturally, it was filled with water.

"Looks like a tight fit." Ann said, joining the others. She then looked at Morgana. "Will you be okay, Mona?"

"Eh? Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, since you're a cat and all, I thought..."

"I'm not a cat!" Morgana snapped back instinctively.

"But...you look like a cat though..."

Akira shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Oh boy...here we go again."

TakeYourTime

Meanwhile, in the castle, Shadow Kamoshida sat in his throne rather leisurely, slouching upon his seat with one leg propped on the armrest, and the other supporting his chin. Before him was a golden knight: one of his most trusted lieutenants. A noticeable feature about it, compared to the previous ones, was that it was slightly larger than the others with a menacing red aura around it.

"Have you captured the thieves yet?" the King questioned. In spite of his casual posture, there was a stern and overall dangerous look in his golden eyes. "More importantly, have you killed them?"

"Nay, Sire." the knight responded with regret. "They have not shown themselves since their previous attempts yesterday. Lord Berith was slain, though he was able to significantly wound them. However, one of our captains has begun to increase security here in the Tower and has taken one of the Eyes of Wonder with him as a precaution. I was chosen to guard the second Eye. Should the knaves attempt to infiltrate the Castle again, they will need to defeat us both to enter the Throne Room."

"See to it that you do. Otherwise I will be extremely disappointed."

"Of course, sire." The knight bowed, well aware of what that meant. "We have also increased security in the upper levels. Should the knaves continue this foolish endeavor of theirs, they will not find their quest so easy. We have tasked two of our men with protecting the Sanctuary. A group of Incubus and Succubus protect the Gardens. The captain intends to guard the Library, given that the key to the Tower lies there."

Shadow Kamoshida chuckled. "I see...not bad!" he praised, lifting a hand. "I'll make sure you're greatly rewarded."

"Many thanks, Your Majesty!"

"SIRE! SIRE!"

Suddenly, the doors threw open as a plain gray knight rushed in. Shadow Kamoshida raised an eyebrow, watching the knight fumble in its approach before hastily kneeling before him. "S-Sire, I bring dire news! The thieves have been reported to have returned!"

"So they came back, huh?" the King huffed. "They must be gluttons for punishment."

"T-that isn't all! The Princess is with them!"

For a moment, Shadow Kamoshida looked stunned. His golden eyes widened greatly, shifting in his seat before a cold smile touched his face. Slowly, that smile grew sickening, morphing into a toothy grin.

TakeYourTime

"You okay, Ann?" Makoto asked as she pulled the blonde girl out of the aqueduct. "We should probably find something to dry you off. Last thing we need is for you getting sick."

"N-no, I'm fine." Ann assured her, though her body betrayed her words as a slight shiver ran down her back. "S-seriously, I'm fine."

"Well, too late, already got something." Ryuji replied as he brought a blanket over.

"Where did you get that?"

"Found it in one of the crates." he said, gesturing to one of the many boxes in the room. Thankfully, the aqueduct apparently connected to another room that was not under Kamoshida's control, if the shimmering was of any indication. "Here ya go."

"Thanks..." Seeing no point in refusing his offer, the model gratefully accepted the blanket, wrapping it around her body. Hugging it closely to her body, she looked over to see Akira and Morgana over by the door. "Is something wrong?"

"Guards." Morgana replied. "Lots of 'em. From the looks of it, this is where most of the security is." The not-cat frowned heavily, glancing away in thought and muttering aloud. "But why? What's so special about the upper area?"

"Should we wait for it to thin?" Akira questioned.

"We don't really have any other choice. But who knows how long they will stay before dispersing?"

"Can we maybe take them out one by one?" Makoto asked as she approached, peeking through the door with Akira. She counted at least four different knights, marching together as a unit passing through the hallway. "Morgana, when you mentioned the Shadows, you said they were like Corrupted Personas? Does that have to do why some of them change forms?"

"Sort of. They aren't exactly Personas in the sense you're thinking of. They're more like a pile of negative emotions that are kept buried deep beneath. In the Metaverse, the stronger the negative emotions, the more powerful the Shadow. Hence why some rid themselves of what the Palace Rulers bind them too."

"What they're bound to? What do you mean by that?" Makoto inquired.

Akira was the first to reach the answer. "The armor."

"You caught on quick, Joker." Morgana smirked while the others looked at them in confusion. "The Shadows are bound to those armors by Kamoshida. The stronger ones can temporarily return to their true form, but they're otherwise obedient to Kamoshida. The weaker Shadows, however, can't remove the armors."

"So that explains why some of the Shadows we fought threw away their armor on their own, while we had to forcibly remove it ourselves via their masks." Makoto realized.

"Exactly. Of course, the weaker Shadows will be destroyed once they lose the only thing that keeps them corporeal: their armor. The stronger ones, meanwhile, can exist in their true forms and release their full power."

"So, basically..." Ryuji scratched his head. "The scrubs are easy to take down because they can't go full power, but the others that can get rid of the armor are stronger?"

"Correct."

Ann frowned. "Shadows...Personas...cognition..." she muttered, shaking her head. "This all so much to take in at once...a-and you guys only found this out a few days ago?"

"Yeah." Makoto nodded, a sheepish grin on her face. "Very strange, isn't it?"

"That's putting it mildly, Niijima-senpai."

"Well, its really all due to Morgana that we were able to get this far."

Morgana puffed his chest proudly, folding his arms. Akira rolled his eyes. It was painfully obvious how prideful he was and how he soaked up the praise. He returned his attention to the door and leaned in. His eyes narrowed when he noticed something as another patrol passed by.

A golden knight.

'Another one of those guys.' he thought. 'That means it's someone powerful.'

"Hurry up and find them!" the golden knight growled. "We must find the Princess at all costs!"

He blinked. "...princess?"

Before he could find out any more, the knights dispersed in different directions. He turned to face his friends.

"What was that about a Princess?"

"Who the hell knows?" Ryuji shook his head, shrugging his shoulders. "Then again, since we're inside Kamoshida's head, maybe it's someone he's gunning for?"

"Someone he's gunning for..." Akira said in thought. Then his eyes widened in realization as he snapped over to Ann.

The others reached the same conclusion, looking at her in both fright and horror.

It should have obvious. Why hadn't they seen it before? Kamoshida's advances... He had made it pretty obvious that he was interested in Ann. Akira remembered the times he found them together. The first when he arrived at Shujin Academy, and the second when he had attempted to coerce Ann into coming with him sometime afterwards.

Ann realized why everyone was staring at her. Her stomach dropped and her body began to quiver uncontrollably. "N-no..."

"That sick bastard!" Ryuji slammed his fist on the table. "He'll never stop to get what he wants!"

"Skull." Makoto hissed. "Calm down. Getting angry isn't going to do any good!"

"But-!"

She held up a hand, stopping him. Her face was set in stone, but one could obviously see that she was equally, if not moreso disgusted by Kamoshida than before. "I know...don't worry." She turned back to Morgana, who kept his eyes on the door. "Mona. How are things looking outside?"

"This whole Princess business has gotten them riled. They're all over the place." he replied as he turned to face her with a grin on his face. "Thankfully, they aren't as many guards as before."

"Good. Think we can take them out before anyone notices?"

"I'd say so."

Makoto's eyes hardened as she approached, hands balled into tight fists. "Then let's go." Everyone nodded and crowded the door. Akira peered out from the small crack, counting the number of guards. Five, six. Maybe seven guards in total. Unless a few of them could transform, they should be able to get rid of them easily. "On three. One."

He held a hand over his mask as Arsene's laughter rung in his head. The avian mask became wreathed in azure flames. Ryuji cracked his knuckles and shoulders, looking forward to releasing some stress. Morgana brandished what looked to be a cartoonish scimitar, but still possessing a deadly sharp edge of the traces of black muck were of any indication.

"Two."

Makoto's own mask burned azure. Ann stayed behind the group, nervous but otherwise determined. She couldn't falter now. Not when she made up her mind.

They were going to make Kamoshida pay!

"Three!"

The masks vanished as they burst through the door. The Shadows, stunned, brandished their swords. Their resistance was futile as the sound of an engine at full throttle, along with the demonic visage of Arsene, overwhelmed them with Ryuji and Morgana drawing first blood, bashing the head of one guard and slicing the other in half.

Then the hallway exploded into conflict.

TakeYourTime

"Milord!" a knight reported, rushing up the King. "The thieves have breached the upper levels of the castle!"

"What?!" the golden knight snarled. "How is that possible? We sealed off the only way into the upper levels! And the guard stationed there reported no signs of them!"

Shadow Kamoshida chuckled in amusement. "It seems they're a resourceful bunch." he remarked as he craned his head to the knights. "And my 'princess' is with them?"

"Yes. It seems she is with them, Lord Kamoshida!"

If possible, the smile on the horrid man's face grew to unearthly proportions. "Good. I suppose it's time to go greet them." he said before turning to the scantily-clad woman next to him, who purred as he rubbed her chin. "Don't you think so too, my dear?"

"Of course, Kamoshida-sama." the girl breathed, eyes glassy and voice monotone with hardly any emotion. "Will you execute them?"

"A foolish question. Anyone who obeys me will die." His golden eyes burned with malice as the smile turned into a sickening leer. "And I'll make sure these fools die a most painful one!"

TakeYourTime

"Hurry it up!" Morgana shouted as he ran ahead of them. "If we dillydally, the Shadows will find us!"

"Shut it, cat!" Ryuji snapped angrily as they rounded the corner. "Dammit! We really must have pissed Kamoshida off back there! These guys won't quit!"

"What did you expect would happen?!" the not-cat creature shot back. "Of course he'd be pissed when you all but challenged his authority!"

"Well, we're pissed at him too. Next time I see him, I'm punching in him the face!"

Akira remained silent.

He was more focused on the objective while staying close to Ann. A few Shadows had managed to get close, creating a few small wear and tears along her uniform. There were also a few minor bruises, but those were easily fixed by Orpheus and a few strums of his lyre. Morgana had been correct in his prowess, it seemed. Arsene could rip apart Shadows with its bare hands and its darkness, whereas Orpheus' specialty lay with healing and defensive abilities. Of course, that didn't mean the mechanical Persona couldn't deliver a good beat down with the oversized instrument.

'It really is too dangerous for Ann to be here.' the phantom thief thought worriedly. 'Kamoshida is after her in reality, and after what happened to Suzui-san's cognition...'

He shut his eyes, not wanting to think what the Shadow of the man would do to her if she was ever caught.

'Still...what is this feeling of apprehension I'm getting?'

The group eventually turned around another corner. A guard was in their way, sword already brandished. "Halt! In the name of-!"

"Eff off!" Ryuji interrupted as he charged at the Shadow. He ducked beneath a swing before headbutting the knight in the face, knocking it to the ground. Before it could get up, he slammed his foot down and crushed the head with ease, reducing it to a shapeless puddle of ooze. "And stay down!"

'We need to find a place to rest, soon.' Akira grimaced. 'Ryuji's leg is starting to act up.'

As much as the blonde male tried to hide it, Akira noticed his friend's leg shake every now and then. He was forcing himself to continue and not say anything to prevent the others from worrying.

If need be, he would have them retreat. There was no need to risk two people. Especially when one was crippled.

As they ran, they eventually came to a stop inside a large room. It looked very similar to the grand hall from before, though it appeared to be slightly more grand in comparison to the one before it. It looked more like some kind of dance hall, given the elaborate decorations and red fabric that ran across the walls and the ampitheatre above them. Supporting it were pillars, though much to their disgust, the pillars were not mere columns but busts of the female torso, with emphasized rears and chest proportions. They had no arms, only having legs up to the thighs and wearing a gym attire consisting of a white shirt and red bloomer pants.

And before them were an array of guards.

"Ah, shit..." Ryuji cursed. He put a hand over his mask, ready to call on his Persona. "Out of the way, assholes! We're going through!"

"Tsk, tsk...you never learn, do you, Track Traitor?"

Everyone stood still as the knights parted, revealing a familiar face. One that repulsed them to no end. The greatest reaction to him, however, was from Ann, who's features lit up with unrestrained rage, eyes burning with fury and stepping ahead of Makoto and Ryuji who stood in front of her in order to protect her in case the Shadows got too close.

"Kamoshida...!"

"You pitiful fools never learn, do you?" Shadow Kamoshida shook his head, a disgusting smirk on his face all the while. "Do you want to die that badly?"

Ryuji scoffed. "You weren't so high and mighty when you got your ass handed to you when me and Queen beat the shit out of your guards."

"Don't push your luck, brat." the King warned him. "Your execution is going to be painful enough as is." He paused, then his grin grew. "Though it would bring me satisfaction to see you squirm a bit more before you die."

"You can act tough all you want. You were the one acting like a sniveling coward when we whooped your ass." Skull did not back down. When dealing with this asshole, he was never going to back off again. "Isn't a King supposed to lead his subjects? All you do is run away when the going gets tough. If you ask me, you're no king. You're just a shit-tier villain!"

Shadow Kamoshida snarled. "You really want me to break your other leg, don't you, you defiant piece of garbage?!"

"Y-you...!" All eyes turned to Ann, who's body continued to shake while staring at Kamoshida in anger. For a while, Akira was worried she might rush in and strike at him. "How dare you...act all smug...after what you did to Shiho, you bastard?!"

"Hm? Ah, Ann-chan! So you've come to greet me personally!" The King sneered. "How wonderful~"

"Shut it, you son of a bitch!" the girl responded harshly. Akira slowly inched closer to her, ready to pull her away in case she did something rash. "I won't let you get away with what you did to Shiho!"

"Shiho?" Shadow Kamoshida cocked his head quizically, as if unfamiliar. He rubbed his chin, looking up at the ceiling in thought. "Hm, where have I heard that name before...?"

"Y-you..." For a moment, Ann was utterly shocked. They couldn't blame her. The man was all but admitting that Shiho was just another face to him. Someone for him to abuse. "Y-you don't remember her?! She was the girl who you beat and raped the other day! The one who tried to kill herself because of you!"

The King snapped his fingers. "Oooh, her. Yes, the little dunce. I admit, she was my favorite for a while...but really, you honestly expect me to remember the face of every concubine?"

Makoto grounded her teeth, tempted to punch him in the face. "So that's all women are to you? Objects?!"

"Hmhmhm...I'll leave that to your imagination, little miss Student Council President." Shadow Kamoshida responded before turning his attention back to Ann. "Still, how violent. I would have expected a lot more from you, Ann-chan." He then craned his head, looking at someone who was approaching from behind. "Don't you think so too, my princess?"

A soft giggle could be heard from behind the man, eventually stepping into view. Akira's eyes widened, and soon he found Arsene throbbing in fury. Ryuji's scowl grew ever more fierce and Makoto's fingers curled into tight fists. Ann, however, was stunned by what she saw, taking a step back. Appearing next to Shadow Kamoshida was a woman in her teens, wearing a rather skimpy attire that looked more like lingerie than anything else and left virtually nothing to the imagination. Her skin was flawless and her form was slender, possessing a rather impressive bust and large hips that sauntered and swayed with great attention before latching her thin arms around the King's burly shoulder. Atop her blonde hair were a pair of fake cat ears.

The most startling feature, however, was her face.

"N-no way..." Ann gaped. "That's...me?!"

TO BE CONTINUED...

A/N: I am not sorry for the late update, nor the lack of fighting. I got sick, gaming, and college shit.

Special thanks to Daemon of Wrath for helping me with this chapter. You are the best, man.

Also, you're not dreaming. There is another chapter up. And that chapter was done DAYS ago. Me and Daemon JUST got done with this thing.

As always, please review.