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.

Now, one such group of Tricksters has emerged, in order to rise up against this ruin.

They are known simply as…

"The Phantom Thieves of Hearts."

Persona 5: Hoshi to Bokura to

20th Heist: Take Your Heart (I)

.

.

.

.

.

The group had been exhausted. Their battle against the Shadow had been tiring, but they had eventually managed to pull it off. With all three keys in hand, they opened up the path to the upper levels.

Navigating it had been a nightmare, all on its own. Any and all Shadows that they encountered were free of their armor and in their true forms, making battling them slightly more difficult. Progress had been slow as a result, culminating a few days worth of effort.

Still, the experience was of great help. Each battle somehow made them more accustomed to battling the Shadows. They didn't use up much energy as they had before when using their Personas, and their physical abilities seemed to be even stronger.

Stranger still, their newfound physical capabilities were reflecting in the real world. As a sort of real world training session of sorts, Ryuji had asked Akira for help in getting back into shape, with Makoto's help of course. The two had more or less created a schedule for themselves to keep them in peek physical condition. The blonde delinquent did have a bit of trouble, at first, since his leg was busted and usually uncooperative, but otherwise the training sessions were beneficial.

It had also allowed Akira to time to get to know the two of them better. And more of a reason as to why he made sure he never pissed off Makoto anytime soon. The way she punched the living hell out of that training dummy had terrified both him and Ryuji something fierce.

Just how much pent up anger did she have?

Of course, they were hardly the only ones he got to know. As per his promise, once they had made some decent headway after gaining access to the elevators, Akira had spent the rest of the day with Ann.

The trip on the train was done mostly in silence. Ann received a few stares from their classmates, and Akira a few glares, but he otherwise ignored them. Ann was fiddling with her fingers, her face written with worry and nervousness.

He had a pretty good idea where they were going. And about ten minutes later, he was proven correct when they had entered the hospital.

The nurse had been slightly condescending when she saw them, but her tone had changed when Ann asked if it were possible to see Shiho. They weren't allowed to stay for long, since her condition was still critical, but it was enough.

Akira didn't like walking through the halls. It made him feel naked, and the open space in the hallway was slightly unnerving. It reminded him too much of the halls of the courtroom. The way their footsteps and hushed whispers echoed, however faintly, and how uncomfortable the tense silence was.

After a minute of walking, Ann and Akira found the room Shiho was in. She was lying motionless on a bed, strapped to a machine that beeped constantly and wires stuck in her body. A mask was over her face, clearing up and then becoming foggy before becoming clear again.

Ann's face was calm, but it didn't match her eyes. "It's pretty horrible, huh?" Ann asked, her voice shaky. "First time I saw her like this, I thought, she was going to die. The doctors say it's a miracle she's even still alive right now. They don't know if she'll ever wake up, though."

"I'm sorry..." Akira closed his eyes. "I should have done something. I knew something was about to happen to Suzui-san, but I..."

"You couldn't have known, Akira-kun." the girl told him, her eyes never leaving Shiho. "If anything, this was all my fault. Kamoshida was right. I knew what was happening to her, but I just looked the other way. I just pretended and thought it would be easier not to notice." Ann let out a weak laugh. It sounded so pitiful. It didn't suit her. "I'm a real bitch, aren't I?"

Akira's words came quickly, and unintended. "No, you aren't." Ann looked at him, surprised by how strongly he said those words. Even he looked surprised, but didn't let it stop him. "Kamoshida did this. Not you." He put a hand to her shoulder, as if to reassure her that none of this was her fault. "Besides, would a horrible person come see Shiho?"

She was quiet for a moment, but then shook her head. "No… She wouldn't." she said, closing her eyes and sucking in a breath before she pressed a hand to the glass, as if to reach out and touch Shiho's hand. "I swear… I'll make that bastard pay for everything he's done, ten fold." Akira smiled at that. Ann pulled her hand away and smiled at Akira. "Thanks for coming with me. I would have brought Niijima-senpai or Ryuji, but I thought you'd want to see how she was doing. Senpai told me what you saw back in the Palace with Morgana."

"It wasn't a pretty sight, that was for sure." Morgana said, poking his head through the bag. Despite Akira's protests, the cat made it a point to travel with them everywhere they went, since it would be pretty troublesome to keep up with them on foot. That, and he oddly found riding around in his school bag fairly comfortable, along with the added perk of a luxurious home. That being said, both Akira and Makoto both agreed that they should tell Sae about him when they had the opportunity. "Are you sure you'll be okay, Ann-dono?"

Ann smiled and scratched Morgana's head, eliciting a purr from the not-cat creature, much to Akira's amusement. So much for his claims. "That's sweet of you to worry. But I'll be fine. Anyway, there's something I need to ask. It's about taking Kamoshida's Treasure. Will it really be as easy as it sounds?"

"If only..." Morgana sighed. "There are a few steps to take before we can take the Treasure. The first thing is the most obvious, that is to say securing a route to the Treasure. Second is to discover the Treasure's location. The Treasure will appear as a hazy mist of sorts. It's essentially formless. However, this is where the last and most important step comes into play. The most important aspect of a Phantom Thief!"

"What's that?"

"Simple!" Morgana's mouth curled into a grin. "A calling card."

TakeYourTime

True to Morgana's words, when they reached the Treasure Room – a stockpile of golden goods and coins sitting behind the Throne Room, the Treasure appeared as a mist. It was intangible at the moment, but Morgana had explained the basics to make it take on a physical shape. That was to say, they had to make Kamoshida aware that the core of his reality was to be taken. This would be reflected in the Metaverse and force his Palace on high alert. On the positive side, however, the Treasure would take on a physical form, which would allow the thieves to rob it without worry.

Ryuji had expressed the utmost excitement for the calling card and fervently requested he'd be the one to write it. Naturally, Makoto had more or less demanded that she proof read it to ensure it wasn't too vulgar. Ann and Akira agreed to the plan and made sure to prepare for the upcoming heist.

This led to the current events, where Mishima looked at the bulletin board with the rest of onlookers. Gently sliding through the crowd, he pulled off one of the calling cards and read its contents.

"Dear Suguru Kamoshida, the king of lust." the calling card read. "You abuse your position of power and treat your students as if they are slaves. Members of your volleyball team are punished with beatings and female students are treated as little more than playthings. Therefore, we have decided to Take Your Heart. We will make you confess your sins with your own mouth. Sincerely yours, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts."

Mishima wasn't sure what to think of it. It seemed like a prank, and the logo left more than a little to be desired. 'But nobody would try to call out Kamoshida-sensei like this.' he thought. 'Especially where everyone could see it. Who could've done this?' He looked around, noting how some looked excited, others troubled and the rest simply bored or unimpressed. They obviously wrote it off as if it were some kind of hoax.

Perhaps that was why he could easily find Akira Kurusu, Makoto Niijima, Ryuji Sakamoto and Ann Takamaki hanging around near the stairs, looking at the gathered crowd with smirks on their faces.

It took him a moment to realize it – that they were the ones who put these calling cards up. To say that he was amazed by their boldness would be an understatement, but why would they do this? This would surely just-

"Hey, what the hell is going on over here?"

Immediately, Mishima fled, pocketing the calling card into his pocket for later use and made his way to his classroom. Kamoshida, meanwhile, looked at the gathered crowd in confusion before he looked at the bulletin board and read the calling cards.

His expression was priceless.

"Who the fuck did this?!"

TakeYourTime

"God damn he's pissed." Ryuji said with a snicker as they walked up the stairs, satisfied with the results. With how furious Kamoshida was, there could be no doubt that he had taken the warning very seriously. "So, his Treasure should be easy for the taking, right?"

"Definitely." Morgana flicked his tail. "By the way, nice work on the calling card. I don't believe we couldn't have done it any better."

Makoto sighed. "I had to proofread it six times." she said, much to Ryuji's chagrin when Ann shot him a look. "Ryuji-kun was trying too hard to sound like an adult. We would have done the logo better, but we were running short on time as is."

"It's fine." Akira replied, his eyes dancing with mischief. "Let's meet after school. Time we robbed the king blind."

Ryuji laughed. "Amen to that!"

TakeYourTime

"Those goddamn brats… Fine! Steal it if you can!"

TakeYourTime

(play: Persona 5 OST – Life Will Change)

The Metaverse had become overwhelming violent and angry, visible through a pulsating red tinge that seemed to pulse throughout the castle. The Shadows were more than agitated. It seemed as if they were like wild animals, making them harder to avoid. Even their surroundings had changed. The walls had become cracked, the lavish furniture seemingly torn apart and ripped to shreds and smashed to hell. A red tinge dyed the atmosphere, as if signifying how the world had become.

The thieves knew, with the utmost certainty, that they had royally pissed off Kamoshida.

Finding their way back to the Throne Room was easier said than done, even if the shortcuts they managed to establish on their way. They were often accosted by Shadows, forcing them to deal with the matter as quickly as they could. They had no time to waste on the Shadows, not when a much bigger target was waiting for them.

After a few setbacks, they finally arrived back at the Throne Room. To their confusion, however, the doors were wide open, as if awaiting their arrival. "What the…?" Makoto furrowed her brow as they cautiously stepped inside, weapons gripped tightly. "The doors are open, the throne is empty, and there's not a single person here."

"Think it could be a trap?" Ryuji asked, glancing around.

"Could be." she admitted. "Keep your guard up. For now, let's go steal the Treasure!"

They all nodded and rushed up the steps past the throne. They entered the treasury, and found it largely unchanged. There were still gold coins and other valuables, but the most eye catching of them all had to be the giant floating crown, sitting in the middle of the air and dazzling in the light.

"Is that it?" Akira asked as they approached. Looking closely, he saw that the gold metal used to surround and decorate the red cloth was decorated in gemstones. It looked quite expensive, worth a lot of money. He couldn't help but wonder what the look on Iwai's face would be if he tried to sell this to him.

"Has to be." Makoto agreed with him before a troubled look formed on her face. "But, it's a lot bigger than I was expecting it to be. How are we supposed to carry this out and protect ourselves?!"

Anne nodded. "Yeah! It's way too big!" She then looked to Morgana, hoping he had some answer. "Mona, how do we..." she trailed off when she found the not-cat creature staring at the Treasure with starry eyes, drool hanging from its mouth. "Uh, M-Mona? Are you feeling alright?"

"T-Treasure..." Morgana slurred. He sounded as if he was drunk or high before his body sprung forward, latching onto the Treasure and began to rub himself against it, cheek nuzzling against a gemstone. "Meeeeeoooooow~"

Ryuji blinked. "...okay, who fed him catnip?" he asked. "No, seriously."

"For someone who says he's not a cat, he sure does act like one." Akira commented before he walked over and grabbed Morgana by the scruff of his neck, pulling him off the crown. That seemed to snap the cat out of it as he blinked rapidly, as if just now noticing where they were. "Back with us?"

For his part, Morgana seemed slightly ashamed of himself as Akira set him down. "I apologize for that… I have no idea what came over me!" he said.

"Well, it was certainly weird." Makoto hummed. "But moving that aside, Morgana. How do we get this outside? It's quite large, and we're likely to attract some attention while we're moving it."

"Not to worry about that." Morgana said before he hopped up and put his paw against the enormous crown. The crown seemed to shudder and quiver before it's form suddenly shrunk down. In seconds, it looked like a regular sized crown that bounced against the floor. "The wonders of cognition."

"Fancy." Ann said as she scooped up the crown. "In that case, let's get out of here quick!"

TakeYourTime

Unfortunately, the group didn't make it out very far. They had just stepped out into the Throne Room and were promptly met by opposition. The only exit leading out of the Throne Room was now barred by several golden knights. And at the head was Kamoshida's Shadow, his golden eyes far more fiercer and full of rage than they had ever been previously. His otherwise handsome mug was marred by a spite-filled scowl. And at his side was the cognitive version of Ann Takamaki, still scantily clad.

"You thieves must have a lot of nerve, daring to break into my throne and stealing my Treasure." Kamoshida said, each word laced with venom. "Where do you shitty brats get off, taking what is rightfully mine?!"

"Oh, like we give a shit!" Ryuji snarled as he cracked his fists. "Like we told you earlier, Kamoshida! We're taking the Treasure, and you're gonna own up for what you did!"

"Ignorant brats, the lot of you." the Shadow hissed. "That crown is my right of rule! It's very existence means that I am king! Everyone at Shujin Academy knows what I bring to the table! If it weren't for me, it never would have gained the recognition and fame it has been these last two years!"

Makoto bared her fangs, fingers curling and forming into a tight fist. "You think that excuses what you've done?!" she shot back angrily. "Do you know how many people who you've hurt? How many people who looked up to you, and had their dreams broken?! Do you even care about the consequences?!"

The "king" scoffed and waved off her words. "They all knew what they were getting themselves into! It isn't my fault they can't take the hint. Besides, isn't it better to just lie down and accept that you're a loser for the rest of your life? They could never hope to accomplish what I have! I'm a Gold Olympic sportsman! One of Japan's very best." He narrowed his eyes and leered at the group of thieves in front of him. "What makes you think any of you ever had any hope of succeeding me?! I'm a cut above all the rest! I am KING!"

"No, you're not." Akira cut in. His face was calm, but there was a fire in his eyes. "All you are is a washed up volleyball player who's clinging to the past."

The look of absolute fury on Kamoshida's face was enough to raise their spirits. Ann nodded strongly. "Got that right. In a way, it's almost pitiful. Almost." She narrowed her eyes, her hand crawling up to her mask. Blue embers began to flake from her face. "You're not some god, or a king. You're just a sick, twisted demon with perverted desires! And we will take all there is to you!"

"Damn straight!" Ryuji grinned wickedly. "We're gonna Take Your Heart!"

"Y-you..." Kamoshida's face contorted. Veins started to bulge beneath his skin. His yellow eyes began to bulge, glowing like fire. The cognitive Ann Takamaki backed away, intimidated by the sudden dark aura that began to flow out from his body. The sight alarmed the thieves and readied themselves, grasping their weapons tightly. "You goddamn, shitty thieving brats! Do you understand who I am?! I am Suguru Kamoshida! I am King of this castle! I am King of Shujin Academy! I-I am… I am…!"

He threw his head back and screamed from the top of his throat, the dark aura expanding and swallowing the entire front entrance.

"I AM KING! ! !"

Ferocious winds pushed the thieves back, forcing them to shield their faces. "Mona, the hell's going on?!" Ryuji demanded.

"I don't know…!" Morgana gritted his teeth, trying his best to keep his feet on the ground. "But this isn't normal! The distortion around Kamoshida's suddenly spiked!"

The front entrance to the Throne Room was covered in black, writhing mass. It looked hazy, but as the winds died down, it began to take on a physical form. The first thing that formed from the clump of darkness was a head, utterly demonic with jagged fangs for lips and an elongated, saliva soaked tongue with horns sprouting from its forehead. A crown sat atop its head. Compared to the head, however, the rest of its body was nowhere as large. Pink flesh and a rotund belly and tiny legs, but sporting two sets of arms. One set wielded golden utensils like a fork and knife, and the other set held a wine glass with the cognitive Ann Takamaki inside. In its free hand was a riding crop.

"What the fuck is that?" Ryuji gasped. "Is-is that Kamoshida?!"

Morgana nodded gravely. "Yes… His distortion's reached the point where even his own Shadow has been affected. Worse, he's fused with the other Shadows. Be careful! This won't be like all the others!"

Bulging, red-shot eyes quivered, searching the room before they finally landed on the group. A warped screech ripped from Suguru Kamoshida's Shadow, Asmodeus, before it suddenly lunged at them, fork and knife raised. "Scatter!" Akira shouted. Immediately, everyone moved out of the way and dodged the pounce. The Shadow hit the ground with such force that the entire area shuddered. They swiftly recovered and rounded on the Shadow, weapons in hand. "Something tells me he won't let us go easily."

"Seems like." Morgana nodded. "Alright, rookie! Eyes up!"

(cue: Blooming Villain)

Asmodeus let out another ear-piercing roar as it swung its arms, the knife ripping across stone in an attempt to cut down Makoto. The brunette rolled out of the way and broke into a sprint before she leaped off the railing. Her mask dissolved into flame and Johanna appeared beneath her. She then hit the ground and sped away as the Shadow attempted to skewer her with its next attempt, aiming its fork at her. Once she was out of its range, she swerved and came to a full 180 stop, then proceeded to rev up the engine before speeding straight for Kamoshida's Shadow. A blue light began to swell in the tires.

"Heads up!" Ryuji shouted, proceeding to deliver covering fire as his Persona emerged into the air. In an attempt to deliver covering fire, it released several rounds of thunder bolts down upon Asmodeus, all aimed at its exposed back. It didn't seem to do much, however, as the Shadow merely shrugged off the attack before rearing its head back, eyes set on the blonde.

A fatal mistake for its part, as Makoto slammed Johanna straight into its neck. The energy in the wheels released and exploded straight into the exposed Adam's Apple. Asmodeus chocked and fell onto its back, flailing wildly before it flipped onto its stomach. Shaking it off, it soon set its sights on Makoto and bounced up, proceeding to latch itself to the ceiling and then pounce on her. Eyes widening, Makoto skidded and fell into a slide, narrowly avoiding the attack.

Akira moved in quickly, one hand on his mask and the other holding his pistol. With a quick pull of the trigger, bullets were flying and Arsene with them. He aimed straight for the Shadow's eyeballs, hoping to inflict some impaired vision onto it. Malicious aura seeped around its claws as it moved in for the kill, only to find the way barred by a mere kitchen knife. The bullets that Akira shot merely just sank into the Shadow's body, as if being swallowed up. Clicking his tongue, Akira ordered Arsene to continue. Claws clashed against the golden utensil before Asmodeus thrusted the fork. With a flap of wings, Arsene evaded and kicked the fork away before going in again. It just managed to reach Asmodeus' side when it was swatted out of the air, courtesy of the riding crop and sent smashing right into the floor.

Akira gritted his teeth, feeling his body tremble in pain. He stumbled, but he persevered and glared. "Time for a change, then. Orpheus!" Arsene vanished in a flourish of flames, and in the gentleman thief's place stood the master of strings. Asmodeus seemed unconcerned with the change and instead flicked its tongue forward, as if aiming to grab the Persona and swallow it whole. Orpheus knocked the tongue away with its lyre, then strummed the strings and released a series of fireballs, all exploding into the Shadow's stomach.

Seizing the opportunity, Captain Kidd rammed its ship into Asmodeus' head, stunning it and then taking aim once more. This time, it charged up the shot and then released it, creating a giant bolt of thunder that struck the Shadow in the shoulder. The arm holding the knife suddenly went limp and the Shadow released a god-awful scream. "Alright, one down!" Ryuji cheered. Then his face paled as the Shadow suddenly bounced back up into the ceiling, then jumped straight at him. "Aw, shi-!"

Makoto snatched him as she drove past and pull ed him close to Johanna. Asmodeus smashed into the upper level, squirming in the pile of rubble before it pulled itself out, shaking off the debris. It looked over it shoulder and found itself being pushed further into the wall by another barrage of flames, courtesy of Ann. "Burn up!" she growled as Carmen summond forth another volley.

Morgana aided her as Zorro appeared next to him. Wind danced around its blade as it cut its way forward, managing to slice off the limb carrying the riding crop. In response for its troubles, Zorro was pierced in the abdomen and forced into the ground. "Argh!" Morgana cried, clutching his chest as he fell to his knees. Zorro squirmed, trying to pry itself free. However, Asmodeus kept it pinned and loomed over it, licking its jaws. "It...hurts…!"

"Mona!"

Asmodeus opened its maw, aiming to bite off the Persona's head. Carmen, however, wouldn't allow it as it whipped one of its peons forward, wrapping the bindings around the Shadow's neck. It pulled and Asmodeus was yanked away, grip loosened on its fork. Makoto yelled a battle cry as she pushed Johanna to the metal, riding right off the railing and slamming her Persona right into the Shadow's face. Her Persona was dismissed and she was sent flying through the air while Asmodeus clutched its face, yelling out in pain and being forced down. With a groan, Zorro pulled the fork out and was recalled back into Morgana, who was pulled away by Ann. Captain Kidd rushed and grabbed Makoto while she was in mid-air, pulling her close to its side before setting it down on the ground.

"Are you okay, Morgana?" Ann asked. The not-cat creature nodded, albeit with a pained expression.

Ryuji grimaced. "He's just flailing around!" he said, watching Asmodeus pull itself up, growling and snarling as it grabbed its limp arm and pushed it inward, snapping it back into place. It cried out in pain, but then leveled a hate-filled glare at the thieves that dared to try and steal its Treasure. "We gotta find a way to ground him!"

To prove his point, Asmodeus bounced away, moving as far as possible from them. It latched on to the front entrance, as if guarding it before it raised its wine glass, drinking its contents and swallowing the cognitive Ann Takamki whole. Red liquid dribbled down the corner of its maw before it gulped down the contents, releasing a content sigh. The stump that once held its riding crop shuddered, then expanded into a fresh, new limb.

Akira felt a shudder of revulsion. That...was just disgusting and horrifying to see, in all sense of the word. And the worst part was that it was merely a cognitive existence of Ann Takamki. He glanced at the real Ann, shuddering to imagine what could possibly happen if he were to do that to the real thing. Unwilling to let that happen, Orpheus showed its user's resolve and attempted to knock Asmodeus down, sending out another volley of flames its way. Asmodeus let out a defiant roar, and dodged the incoming assault, leaping to the upper level of the throne room.

Ryuji summoned Captain Kidd, attempting to stage another assault and charged forward. Orpheus moved in alongside him, harp raised and ready for combat. Asmodeus, in turn, reacted with violence and lashed out, grabbing Orpheus and threw it aside before swinging at Captain Kidd. The Persona narrowedly avoided the attack, but couldn't see the incoming fist heading it sway. As a result, it was knocked right out of the way. Ryuji yelped as his feet were lifted from the ground, and his back smacked up against the wall.

"Son of a…!" he hissed as he slumped to his feet, his Persona dispersing back into his mask.

Makoto narrowed her eyes and aimed her gun, attempting to shoot at one of its eyes like Akira had done before. She managed to get two shots off, but one missed. The other merely hit below the eye, making her scowl as the Shadow's attention was directed to her. Quickly, she hopped on Johanna and charged away as Asmodeus gave chase.

Recovering somewhat, Morgana stumbled up to his feet. "Hold on, Queen..." he muttered as Ann let him go. Zorro appeared beside him, eyes narrowed and fueled with anger, desperately looking for some payback. And the not-cat creature was more than happy to oblige. The burly Persona wished its sword about and launched scythes of wind forward, each lashing out at different angles. They curved through the air before they struck their target. One scythe of wind slashed into its back, creating a gash that spewed black fluids and another struck its tiny leg.

Asmodeus skidded to a stop, using its instruments to halt its retreat before it released a terrifying howl. It bounced up and latched itself into the ceiling, glaring daggers at the thieves, tongue wishing about before fell back to the ground, where it proceeded to rise to its legs and toss aside its instruments, hands all gathered around its chest. Energy suddenly began to swell in its grasp.

"Watch out!" Makoto shouted. "Something's coming!"

Everyone immediately recalled their Personas and took cover. With a roar, Asmodeus launched back into the air and slammed the ball of energy into the ground, mimicking Kamoshida's famous spike in the real world. As soon as it struck, the ground broke apart and shockwaves tore away at the stone. The aftershock that followed as enough to cause the entire castle to tremble. The pillars Ryuji and Ann hid behind cracked, looking ready to fall apart any minute. Morgana clinged to the railing for dear life, lest he be thrown aside. Makoto clung to the ground at her feet, fingers digging in as best she could.

Akira was not so fortunate, as he was sent sailing through the air. His body twirled around, eyes searching for anything to help him stop, and immediately found his way towards a nearby chandelier. With impressive dexterity that would make even an acrobat jealous, he twisted his body at an angle and grabbed hold of the chain, swinging himself on top of the chandelier. Panting, he looked down at the throne room.

It was utterly wrecked. Debris and smoke were beginning to fill into the area. The upper level had been demolished, leaving behind only a few walkways. The ground looked as if it had been gouged out with a giant knife. And the stairs leading up to the treasury were utterly demolished. Even the walls that separated both rooms were destroyed, allowing gold to spill into the room. The twisted parody of the sky and outside world could be seen as well.

"Talk about a redecoration." Akira said as he looked back at Asmodeus, who was howling and roaring as if wanting someone to challenge its rule. "One more hit like that, and we're done for. Skull was right, we have to ground him."

And he had a good idea how. All he needed was bait. And luckily, he already had it.

"Hey, Kamoshida!" he shouted. Asmodeus ceased its roars and whipped its head, finding him atop the chandelier. With a cheeky grin, he held up the Treasure. The Shadow's eyes widened and locked on to the object, completely ignoring everything else. "You want this? Then come and get it!"

"Joker!" Morgana cried in dismay. "What are you doing?!"

Asmodeus acted faster than anyone else, lunging straight at Akira. He waited until the Shadow was right in front of him before he whipped out his knife and, with one swift cut, severed one of the chains. His mask erupted into flame and Orpheus appeared behind him, harp held firmly in hand. Asmodeus reached out to grab him and snatch the Treasure, but Orpheus struck first, slamming its harp into the chandelier at full force. The result was the chandelier being slammed right into the Shadow, ramming into its solar plexus. The strain behind the strike also knocked some of the bolts on the remaining chains lose. With a wide swing, the chandelier threw Asmodeus into the ceiling, leaving it pinned there. Akira abandoned ship and jumped back down to the ground, landing flawlessly beside Makoto.

"What did you think?"

Makoto smiled at him. It didn't reach her eyes, however. "We are going to have a long talk after this, I hope you know." she said sweetly, in spite of the chill her words brought down his spine.

An Iron Maiden, indeed.

Asmodeus grunted, pushing the chandelier off of its body and fell back to the ground. The earth shuddered as a result. It fumbled as it tried to get back up on its feet, clearly dazed. The first to take advantage of this was Ryuji, who had Captain Kidd go charging at the Shadow at full speed, shooting thunder bolts. They seemed to do more damage than they had previously, perhaps a sign that the Shadow had weakened somehow before it slammed its ship into Asmodeus' face, tearing off a good chunk of its jaw in the process.

A shrill scream ripped from Asmodeus' throat, clutching its ruined mug. Black-and-red muck flowed down betwixt its clawed fingers before its eyes widened, finding Carmen sending a volley of flames its way. It quickly leaped out of the way, but one of the Persona's lackies whipped out and snatched it by the leg, pulling it right back into the line of fire. The explosions further rattled it, allowing Morgana a clean shot of another of its limbs. Zorro moved in, faster this time, and slashed its rapier. Two arms fell, one holding the wine glass and the other one of its free arms.

Asmodeus attempted to counter by pummeling the burly Persona, but its fist was demolished, courtesy of Johanna grinding its tire into its hand, laced with Frei all the while. Orpheus was the last to strike, delivering a brutal beatdown with its harp. Each blow was harder than the last, and the beating proceeded to get faster and faster until the movements became a blur. The flurry of blows reached a crescendo when Orpheus pulled its harp back as far as it could, then swung.

Suguru Kamoshida's Shadow was sent flying through the air, and slammed harshly back into the ground. Weakly, and groaning in pain, it stumbled and attempted to rise back up to its feet.

"It's weakened!" Morgana cheered. "Let's wrap this up, guys!"

Makoto nodded, eyes blazing. "Gun it, Johanna!" She revved up her Persona. The engine roared as power coiled around the wheels before she took off like a bullet, tearing up the ground like a bulldozer. Asmodeus saw her approaching, and feebly, grabbed the golden knife at its side, attempting to take her down with a thrust. Makoto skidded to a stop and pulled, Johanna grinding on top of its front wheel while the rest of it took to the air. The back wheel struck against the gold utensil and obliterated it, the Frei shattering it to pieces. The shockwave that followed caused Asmodeus to fall to its rear.

Ryuji quickly ran up, intending to finally make Kamoshida pay for all that he did. Makoto grinned and held up her hand. The blonde delinquent returned it in kind with a high five, then jumped. His body went up higher than he thought possible, even with the limp in his leg. He raised his club and slammed it right down on top of Asmodeus' noggin'. Pink flesh rippled before it split, but Ryuji wasn't done. "Captain!" The ship-riding Persona darted out from Ryuji's back while the latter jumped away, having stunned the Shadow. With what little energy it had left, Captain Kidd unleashed a barrage of lightning upon the Shadow. Some struck it, others missed. But the amount of bolts was something to behold.

Ryuji smacked his hand against Ann's, who's mask had already burned away into flames. "Dance, Carmen!" she said, eyes vengeful. Carmen gave a razor-thin smile before it sent out both of its lovers, wrapping their bondage around Asmodeus' neck before proceeding to toss it around like a rag doll, slamming it against the ceiling and walls before it tossed it up into the air, leaving it vulnerable to a giant ball of flame that exploded right in its face. Asmodeus flew through the air before it smashed against the metal doors that led to its treasure. The walls caved in around it, burying it underneath the rubble.

"Let's finish this!" Morgana said as he exchanged a high five with Ann also. His eyes glittered in joy, having done such an act with the woman of his fancy before Zorro emerged in a beautiful flourish of azure flame. Asmodeus demonstrated what little strength it had left by pushing itself out from underneath the rubble and tore its way straight at him, its eyes deranged. It was getting desperate. It couldn't let this continue. Not when its life was at stake. But Morgana's lit passion beat its desperate attempts as Zorro delivered an uppercut that would make a boxer green with envy, stunning the Shadow before it promptly had its last two arms cut off, then knocked back to the steps, leading just up to the throne where Kamoshida's Shadow once sat.

Akira approached, tugging at his gloves. Orpheus had receded back into his mind, slipping away while his other self released a pulse. A low chuckle rumbled through his mind, bringing a smile to his face. "You wanna finish this up, Joker?"

Morgana didn't even need to ask as the former exchanged the baton.

Asmodeus had one last trick up its sleeve, however. Despite all the damage it had received, it was not out of the game just yet. With a manic roar, its long tongue lashed out, aiming right for Akira. It almost touched him when a sharp stiletto heel, nothing more than a mere dagger, stabbed into the tongue and pinned it to the ground. Arsene gave the Shadow a menacing, flaming grin that promised it nothing but pain. It was then that Asmodeus began to shake, for Akira stepped past his Persona, sharing its expression. Worse, somehow, the frizzy-haired teen's eyes had become crimson red. Malevolent and vicious

Eyes like those of a demon.

"I've taken it." he announced with a wicked, toothy grin as Arsene grabbed hold of the tongue, grasping it tightly before it yanked the Shadow forward. It reared its claw back, vicious black energy swarming around its claws and begging to be released. To tear and rip the Shadow apart until there was nothing left. "The arrogance in your heart!"

Arsene thrusted its arm forward, and the power was released. Claws of jet black tore flesh asunder, and Asmodeus screamed as its body was torn straight into two pieces, losing shape and reduced to mere black puddy that splashed against the floor. Little more than stains on the ground. Inside that muck was Kamoshida's Shadow, lying in it while the black-and-red sludge slid off of its body.

Arsene let out a demonic laugh, having achieved victory over the Palace ruler of lust and receded back into Akira's mask. He took a deep breath, then exhaled as he ran his gloved hand through his locks of hair. This had been nothing short of tiresome, yet somehow, he felt excited. Kamoshida was down for the count, or so it looked. Even if this was not the real Kamoshida, this was still the one who ruined any and all chances of him getting a second shot at a normal life. And he'd probably never get it back.

The tension slowly left his body, and he eased up, turning back to his comrades. All of whom were smiling, reveling in their victory.

"Nicely done." Morgana said with a smirk. "You're proving your chops. I knew there was a reason I chose you, rookie."

"You still got the Treasure?" Ryuji asked. Akira nodded and pulled the downsized crown out of his pocket. With this, they had succeeded in their objective. Now, all they had to do was leave the Palace, and Kamoshida would repent for his actions. And with any luck, the bastard would spend the rest of his life behind bars. "Alright, then let's book it."

"Give..."

The group stopped cold and turned around. Kamoshida's Shadow pitifully stood up, its face showing exhaustion and fear. There was no longer a trace of the proud and accomplished gold medalist. All that was left was a terrified man, who feebly reached out to reclaim his crown.

"Give that back..." Kamoshida's Shadow begged pitifully. "That's mine. I need that!"

Makoto scowled. "After all this, you still think have any right to make demands?" she spat angrily. "We're taking this Treasure back with us to the real world. And you will repent for your crimes, Kamoshida."

"But you can't! Without that, those hyenas will eat me alive!" the Shadow cried fearfully. "If I can't continue bringing Shujin fame, I'm nothing! I'll be kicked to the curb! I'll have nothing!"

It was pathetic. Akira couldn't help but see all of this as pathetic. And perhaps a little sad. Kamoshida was just making excuses, but the fear was real. All he really had to his name was a gold medal and the fame that came with it. And all he could do to preserve it was this job here at Shujin Academy. Without either of those, he'd just quickly become forgotten by society. A nameless athlete. And that was going to be his fate, along with what little fame he had being dragged through the mud once his crimes came to light.

Akira was about to turn away and leave, but Ann seemed to have other ideas. The fire hadn't left her eyes at all. In fact, they only seemed to grow. Her whole body was shaking, but it wasn't because they had just escaped a brutal battle. It was out of anger.

"Panther…?"

"You think you have any right to beg, after all this?" Ann asked, her voice quiet yet full of anger. She stepped away from the Phantom Thieves and towards Kamoshida. "After everything you've done? To me? To everyone at our school? To Shiho?"

Her Persona emerged. Makoto's eyes widened fearfully. "Ann!"

Carmen grabbed Kamoshida by the throat, the bindings attached to one of her lovers digging into his neck before the King suddenly found himself danging over the edge, created in the midst of his rampage. Below him waited the castle grounds, yet from this height, he would surely die.

"Ann!" Ryuji cried out. "Don't do it!"

"N-No! No!" Kamosida's Shadow whimpered, tears running down its face as it struggled. "I-I-I don't wanna die! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I don't want to die! Don't kill me! Please!"

"Why shouldn't I?" Ann shot back. "You nearly killed Shiho just a few days ago. She's still in ICU. The doctors don't even know if she'll even wake up." A tear rolled down her face. Carmen narrowed its eyes and held up a hand, flames burning in its grasp. "And this is what she looked at. This same view, right before she tried to kill herself. And she almost succeeded, too."

The moment seemed to go on forever. The air was tense. Akira wasn't sure if he was still breathing or not. They were all frozen in place, fearful of what Ann was about to do. Akira was about to move in, to try and stop her, but to his relief, Ann didn't go through with it. The flames in Carmen's hand spluttered out of existence and pulled Kamoshida back, throwing him back to the floor. The Shadow whimpered, finding itself on its hands and knees as it looked up, finding a vengeful Ann looming over him as if she were the Yama.

"But she's still alive. Even if she doesn't want to be alive, she is. And killing you isn't going to make me feel better." she growled. She glared at him, hoping that maybe he'd just spontaneously combust. But he was still alive. Alive and willing to pay. "You don't get to die. Not until you've atoned for everything you've done. Do we have an understand, you son of a bitch?!"

Numbly, Kamoshida's Shadow nodded. "Y...yes, I understand." he said before a remorseful smile formed across its face. To the party's surprise, motes of light began to surround the Shadow as its body began to break away. "I will make sure that I..."

It's sentence was left unfinished as it soon vanished away, form dispersing into the last particles of light that soon faded away from existence.

"What..." Makoto said, surprised. "What was that?"

"The Shadow's returned to their original self." Morgana informed them. "It's forfeited any and all control over the Palace now." The ground beneath their feet began to shake. "And that means it's our cue to leave! We've the Treasure, now move!"

The Phantom Thieves nodded. They darted out of the Throne Room, leaving it behind. All around them, the castle began to break apart and fall into ruin. It all came crumbling down, for it no longer served a purpose. It's king had abdicated its throne and removed all desires. It's purpose was no longer required.

And so it fell, fading away and being devoured by the expanse that was known as the Metaverse.

TakeYourTime

[The destination has been deleted. Thank you for hard work.]

Akira panted, his back falling against the wall behind him. His legs gave out and he fell to the ground. Ann leaned against the wall for support as she attempted to catch her breath. Makoto was much the same, except she was slightly more in shape and only doubled over with her hands on her knees. Ryuji was by far the most exhausted, with his leg in agonizing pain and laid flat over the ground.

"Too...much...fucking...running..." he gasped for breath, taking in large gulps of air. "God, I haven't felt this exhausted since the Track Meet last year!"

"We're back in reality, so that's a plus..." Makoto said with a shaky smile. As she regained her strength, she stood back up, albeit shaking all over. "H-hahaha… I'm still trembling."

"Same here." Ann said with a small smile of her own. "I think I'm still high on adrenaline."

"How 'bout you, Akira?" Ryuji called from the floor. "You doin' okay?"

He could only offer a nod. Morgana looked at the group, sitting atop a trash can with a slight grin. "Well done, all of you." he said with earnest praise and appreciation. "Congratulations on your first successful heists as the phantom thieves."

"Speaking of which, what about the Treasure?" Makoto asked. If they had lost it amid the chaos, then all of their efforts would likely have been for nothing. Akira dug in his pocket, then paused. "Hm? What's wrong, Akira-kun?"

The frizzy-haired teen was puzzled. The shape felt different. It was thinner, more round now. Flat. And there was something connected to it. He grabbed hold of the cloth that connected to the Treasure, then pulled it out from his pocket. To the group's shock, it was not a crown Akira had pulled out from his pocket, but rather a medal. An Olympic gold medal, to be precise.

"A medal?" Ryuji asked, slack-jawed. "But-but what about the crown?!"

"That's the true Treasure." Morgana told them. "In the Metaverse, the object that began their twisted desires will take on an entirely different form. For Kamoshida, his desire to cling to his past fame became the symbol of his rule here at Shujin. That medal, to him, was his crown."

Makoto hummed. "I see..." she said, nodding in understanding. "So, the medal was what caused his desires to distort in the first place. But is this the same one he has in his possession?"

"Nope. It's a fake, but it's the closest you'll ever get to the genuine article." the not-cat creature told them.

Akira pocketed the medal away and stood back up. His legs were a bit shaky, and he was still short of breath, but he was calming down. Adjusting his glasses, he looked at the school with some wariness. Nobody had seemed to notice them suddenly appearing in the middle of an alley, though they were beginning to receive a few odd stares and hushed whispers.

"Hey, what about Kamoshida?" Ryuji asked urgently, still remembering that his and Akira's futures were at stake. "His heart's been changed, yeah?"

"It should have."

"Should?! Y-you damn cat! Our lives our at stake here!"

"Calm down, Ryuji!" Makoto snapped at him, hushing the blonde delinquent. "I don't think the change of heart will be instant. If anything, it'll take time for it to occur." He clearly didn't like the response and opened his mouth to complain, but she shushed him then and there. "I know you don't like it, but we have to wait and see how things go from here. If Kamoshida hasn't undergone a full change of heart by the time the deadline hits, I'll see if I can try and smooth things over with Kobayakawa."

Ann frowned. "You sure that'll work?"

"Of course it would. Admittedly, though, I'll have to bring up sis' name in conversation, but it should be enough of an incentive for the Principal to do something." Makoto said. The man had made it no secret that he was proud to have the Niijima family attending his academy, especially considering how successful Sae and their father had been. It was blind favoritism, but it would be enough to work in their favor. "By the way, Ann, about what happened earlier..."

The girl winced and sighed heavily. "I know. I'm sorry. It's just..." she sucked in a breath and shook her head. "Hearing him spout all that bullshit. It really made me angry. I kept thinking back to what happened with Shiho, and I just..."

"It's fine. Admittedly, I think anyone would react similarly in that sort of situation." the brunette told her, holding her shoulder in reassurance. "I'm just glad you didn't stoop to his level."

"...yeah."

"In any case, let's head home for the day. If we stay here any longer, we're bound to attract some more unwanted attention."

Akira nodded. Morgana meowed and hopped back into his back, and the group set off for home. They could not deny the excitement and joy that rumbled in their hearts over their victory against Kamoshida. The person that had been a threat in their lives at this school was finally gone. Or so they hoped, at the very least. They could only hope that the change of heart took effect soon. It would be worrying if all they did turned out to be for nothing. However, admittedly, Akira felt that if Kamoshida had changed and he still would have been expelled from Shujin, he would have been happy, since it meant his friends would be okay.

Friends. Now that he thought about it, he never realized it until now. Makoto, Ryuji, Morgana and Ann. All of them were the first real friends he had made in Tokyo. The people who accepted him and his baggage.

And for the first time in a very, very long while, the Trickster smiled a true smile.

TO BE CONTINUED…?

Confidants

Ann Takamaki - the LOVERS: [A girl with a quarter of American blood, giving her an exotic look compared to other students. Awakened to the power of Persona in order to make Kamoshida pay for his role in Shiho's attempted suicide. One of the few people to accept Akira when he arrived at Shujin.]

A/N: Whew, my long string of updates are finished! I finally got around to them, partially thanks to my internet taking a shit.

Huh. Never thought I'd thank my shitty wifi for that. The things you start to learn in life.

Anyway, with this, the Kamoshida Arc is now finished. For those who have chosen to stick around for this long, from the bottom of my heart, I thank all of you. Special thanks go to everyone who has helped bring this story to where it is now!

However, that being said, I should also tell you guys that this story, along with all of my other ones, will be on hiatus. Here's the reason why:

One of the first stories I published on this site was a code geass story, and the one that more or less kicked me off into where I am now here on this community. "Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R-eset." It has been near completion for quite a while, but I've been either burned out on completing it, procrastinating or just couldn't find the will to write.

But, around the time I left for Seattle to go visit a friend, I checked a poll I had up for a while, asking you guys if you enjoyed my content. A lot of you said you did, and there were more than a few people who said "meh." But not a single one of you guys told me you hated what I wrote.

Hence, it's only fair I repay such kindness by finishing R-eset.

So, for now, our merry band of phantom thieves' journey will end on a cliffhanger. But rest assured, dear guests…

...the game is not yet over.

See You~