"Yes Akechi. I am President Kobayakawa, ruler of Shujin Nation! The same nation you have terrorized for two whole years." The man yelled, posing with his fist raised, as if he was giving a speech.
"Nation?" Yu asked.
"Of course! Shujin is renowned all over the world as a nation where the best and brightest go in order to be groomed for success. And now, one of it's greatest troublemakers is finally where he belongs: Rotting away, out of sight, and out of mind." Kobayakawa answered.
"You can punish me, but all I ask is that you let Narukami-san go. He's done nothing wrong." Akechi said, hanging his head in defeat and shame.
"Normally, I'd say that being with you is crime enough Akechi, but in this case, you are correct. Narukami is just a poor fool who you were taking advantage of. And this wouldn't be the first time you've lead a citizen astray, and they paid the price for your mistakes, is it?"
Yu felt his blood start to boil. The tone in Kobayakawa's voice showed nothing but haughtiness and pride. Kobayakawa turned to Yu, a snicker on his face.
"Consider yourself lucky young man. None of Akechi's victims had the benefit of being saved before Akechi brainwashed them."
"What are you going to do?" Yu asked, somehow keeping the anger out his voice.
"Simple. You may leave, unharmed. As for the rebel Goro Akechi, he broke the laws of my supreme nation, and the punishment is death."
"W-what? What could he have done to warrant that ?" Yu asked.
"Simple: He tried to oust me, the benevolent -"
Yu heard a crack of a whip at the word, and saw Ann go onto her knees out of the corner of his eye.
"-ruler of Shujin nation. Worse yet, he conscripted citizens into his service, brainwashing them with foolish talk of 'justice'. Hmph. The only justice that matters is the kind that I decree. Here, my word is law. I decide who lives and who dies, because no one else is worthy of that power. But it's hardly their fault that I am naturally superior."
Yu clenched his fist as Kobayakawa prattled on.
"Is that why you blackmail students to do your bidding? Assault and rape their families when they don't cooperate?" Yu interrupted, no longer able to hide his anger.
"Narukami-san, stop. Please. You have the chance to get out without being hurt. Don't waste it. Please, just go, and don't worry about me. It'll be ok. I'll be ok." Akechi pleaded, and judging by the sound of his voice, Yu couldn't tell if Akechi was trying to convince himself, or Yu. But Narukami didn't listen.
"Would a superior person strong-arm a 16 year-old into leaking my record? Would a superior person drive a teenager to suicide just because they were associating with a student the 'superior person' didn't like?!" Yu yelled, his anger welling up inside him.
"Acceptable compromises. I don't expect a rodent like you to understand." Kobayakawa growled.
"Of course they're acceptable to you."
"Narukami-san, please..." Akechi pleaded as the scowl on Kobayakawa's face grew worse and worse.
"You're not superior person, you're just a bully in a costume, doing whatever the hell you want because you enjoy the power trip, all while lying to yourself and saying that it's for the reputation of some overrated academy!"
That had pushed Kobayakawa over the edge. The muscled dictator gave a swift punch to Narukami's gut, knocking all the air out of him, and the crunch of cracking ribs was heard loud and clear. Yu was hunched over on his knees, coughing and gasping for air.
"It seems I was wrong. Akechi truly did get his hooks in you." Kobayakawa said, standing over Yu.
"However-" Kobayakwa said, grabbing Yu by the hair and lifting him off the ground.
"I am a merciful man."
Yu could hear another crack of the whip and another scream from Ann at the word 'merciful'.
"I am willing to strike a bargain with you."
"What the hell can I give you, that you can't simply rip from people's lives?"
"Information. You see, I may have Akechi, but there is one other rebel, one who is just as arrogant and foolish as this so-called 'detective'. Her name is Makoto Niijima. Sound familiar?"
"You stay away from her!" Akechi yelled, prompting another punch from a guard.
"Be silent Akechi. Your life is forfeit." Kobayakawa said, picking up Yu and making sure the young man could stand.
"If you want to get out of here alive, you must, first and foremost, be an upstanding citizen of Shujin Nation. You must obey all the rules, do nothing that could embarrass me, and follow my orders to the letter. Second, you must report any and all incriminating information about Makoto Niijima. In exchange, you get to reap the rewards of being in the best nation known to man. What do you say?" Kobayakawa asked, extending his hand as Yu's anger returned a thousand fold.
This man was never satisfied. He was willing to all kinds of depraved ends simply to satiate his own gluttonous appetite for power. Staying out of trouble be damned, expulsion be damned, probation be damned, the rigged system be damned, Yu was going to do something about it. Yu looked Kobayakawa straight in the eyes, steely grey meeting unnatural yellow. Kobayakawa saw something in those grey orbs; the fire of rebellion, a fire he had put out many times. But this one was different. In others, the spark was fleeting, destined to go out the moment it encountered any resistance, like a candle in church. But this wasn't a candle. No, this spark would lead to an inferno that couldn't be doused no matter what tried to put it out, and each attempt would only make the flames of defiance return even stronger.
"Do you really think that I would deliver my probation officer's sister to your claws, in exchange for being allowed to simply exist?! You leaked my record and expect me to obey you?! I say this; you can take Shujin's reputation and shove it up your ass!" Yu answered, throwing a punch to Kobayakawa's face with all of his strength. Strength that didn't even manage to turn Kobayakwa's head. The dictator turned to look Yu in the eyes, his face contorting into a snarl.
"You would rather die than submit to your betters? Then so be it!"
Kobayakawa threw another punch, this time it hit Yu straight in the jaw, knocking out a tooth and sending him straight to the ground. As he made impact, Yu knew that would leave a mark, and shortly after, tasted blood. Then, he felt a boot on his face starting to press down.
"This is where worthless scum like you belong. Under the heels of your superiors." Kobayakawa said, stamping his foot hard on Yu.
"Stop it you bastard!" Akechi yelled, trying to force his way out of the guards' grip.
"Hmph. You'll just have to wait your turn Narukami. Guards, hold him and make sure he doesn't turn away. I want him to witness the fate of all who oppose President Kobayakawa. Prepare the firing squad!"
Four soldiers marched in, all with assault rifles. Two more guards forced Yu up and held him in place, making sure he'd watch.
"Put Akechi up against the wall!"
The soldiers dragged Akechi to the concrete wall, removing the cuffs that limited his movement, and placing his arms in chains that forced him to spread his upper body.
"The vermin is secured and ready to be executed on your orders sir."
No. No! I can't let this happen! I have to do something!
Yu started to struggle. Kobayakawa was no better than the man who had him arrested, the man who was willing to assault and most likely rape a woman simply because he thought he was born superior to everyone else. Kobayakawa had ruined so many lives, all for the sake of a school's reputation, just like how that man ruined Yu's life because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Ready!" Kobayakawa ordered, the squad loading their weapons
They were going to kill Akechi. Yu wanted to stop it, he wanted to stop Kobayakawa, he wanted to do something . Yu continued to struggle, but he had to give up, the guards were simply too strong for him.
Then, he heard a voice. It was otherworldly, powerful, and firm.
"Is that truely the extent of your will? A few meager pushes and shoves? They will kill him if you do not act. Is that the kind of man your father raised? A bystander who will let injustice, deceit, and corruption reign?" The spectral voice asked, and Yu could hear himself in the words, as if he was talking through a filter. Judging by how no one else reacted to it, Yu had to guess the voice was coming from in his head. No, it was coming from his soul. And his response came from the same place.
No… that's not me. Dad taught me that being a good person in this world comes with a price, and that it's a price worth paying!
"Is it? What if your actions here become a mistake, like on that night?"
That wasn't a mistake.
"Very well. If that is what you truly believe, then let us seal our contract."
There was a THUMP that echoed through the room, like the heartbeat of a creature brought to life. Yu suddenly felt a skull splitting pain. Had it not been for the guards holding his arms down, he would have grabbed his skull to ease the throbbing.
(Music: watch?v=cjzQXrUXuHk&t=14s)
"I am thou, thou art I . "
Yu screamed, and he screamed louder than he thought possible. He shook against the guards' grip, the two now having to use both of their hands to hold him down, a new strength surging within.
"Aim!" Kobayakawa ordered, both he and his men indifferent to the wails of agony.
The squad pointed their guns at Akechi, who was struggling in vain to break free.
"The time has come. Thou art willing to do any and all acts to obtain the truth and deliver justice upon the wicked. Now, awaken the power within thou and right the wrongs of this world!"
Yu thought his head was going to explode from all the pain. It felt like something was in his skull, and it was clawing desperately to get out, like a diver trying to reach the surface.
"Open thy eyes and call forth what is within!"
There was a sudden burst of energy, knocking all the officers back and even catching Kobayakawa off guard. When the dust settled, Yu felt something on his face, heavy and uncomfortable. He instinctively reached up to touch it, and found it was a mask. It was a masquerade mask, with its nose curved like a hawk's, and Yu's fingers traced a Roman numeral "II" on the forehead. Somehow, he knew what he had to do, what would come after if he did it. And that knowledge made him smile. The firing squad got back up, pointing their guns at Yu and inching closer as he grabbed the edges of his mask.
"Per-" He whispered as he started to pull with all his strength, ignoring the flesh that peeled off with the mask.
"-So-" He pulled again, pain like never before being felt throughout his face and blood splattering everywhere. But he didn't care, he had to get this off.
"-Na!" He yelled, finishing the job, ignoring the pain and blood gushing from his face. The mask fell to the ground as the word he spoke hang in the air like a fog.
He raised his head at the others. His eyes were glowing an unholy yellow, his face was covered with his blood, but the most disturbing feature was his smile. A bizarre, twisted grin was plastered on his face, and soon, a chuckle was heard, but it did not come from Narukami's lips. A blue flame enveloped Yu, devouring the Shujin uniform, and left another outfit in its place. A black tangzhuang shirt with a golden dragon printed on the right side, black dress pants with silver trimmings, black dress shoes with gold scales that would clink whenever he took a step, and white gloves with golden claws attached. Once the flames were done giving Yu this new outfit, they peeled off of him like a second skin and merged to give birth to a new creature.
Hovering behind Yu was a man wearing a uniform, but not one any had ever seen before; a red and black trench coat with a silver vest with a bright white ascot tie and black pants. It wore a white helmet that shone bright yellow eyes behind it and attached behind the helmet where two belts that reached all the way to his feet, which were in sandals that had razor sharp blades for soles. It wore clawed gloves that held a massive naginata with a blade so sharp, it could cleave through any metal like it was warm butter. Yu raised his hand and flung it towards the firing squad, and the creature swung its weapon with one hand in the blink of an eye, instantly beheading them all, and their bodies dissolved into a black fog before they even hit the floor.
"I am the original god of Japan. IZANAGI!" It roared like a crack of thunder.
Yu couldn't suppress his smile even if he wanted to. For the first time since that night, he had the power to control his life. For the first time since that night, he could act without fear of the consequences. For the first time since that night, he was free. He had almost forgotten how good it felt, and he vowed to never forget again.
Akechi could do nothing but stand in awe, while Kobayakawa turned to the two guards.
"Don't just stand there! Kill him! NOW!" He ordered.
Two guards charged forth and soon exploded, melting into black sludge that soon reformed itself into a fairy and a Jack-O-Lantern with a cape, hat, gloves, and lantern. Yu, still smiling, clapped his hands together on instinct, and when he spread them apart, a blue flame was burning between them. He reached his hand through the flame and closed it into a fist. The flame soon evaporated, and in Yu's hand, a two-handed katana with a single phrase engraved in gold on the razor sharp blade; Truth is powerful, and it prevails.
"If you wish to overcome this crisis, you must draw upon your inner strength and use it to destroy those who oppose you!" Izanagi bellowed as Yu looked at his enemies with a wild look in his eyes, while the other soldiers escorted Kobayakawa to safety..
Yu did as Izanagi said, and he heard a voice whisper a word of power in his head.
"Zio!" Yu cried out.
Izanagi spun his weapon around, causing a lightning bolt to shoot out and strike the Jack-O-Lantern, and the fairy stepped in, hitting Izanagi right in the chest with a swift kick. Yu felt a throb in his head, as if he just got a bad headache, but it was gone as soon as it came. Yu regained his resolve, with Izanagi now looking more angry than hurt.
"There are many ways to win your battles. Experiment to satisfy even the faintest curiosity."
"Cleave!" Narukami ordered.
Izanagi grabbed his weapon and skewered the fairy on it. Within moments, she let out a final breath and faded to ash. The Jack-O-Lantern rushed and swung with its lantern, but Yu was too fast. Dodging out of the way, Yu swung the sword in his hand, cutting the Jack-O-Lantern in half. After it faded to ash like the fairy, Yu gave a flick of his blade to remove the black sludge that was the monsters' blood. Izanagi turned to Akechi and with a quick slash, freed him from his chains. And just like that, a blue flame engulfed Yu yet again, and when it vanished, Izanagi vanished with it.
"If you need to call upon your true self again, simply say my name, and I will heed your orders." Izanagi said, before vanishing into thin air.
"Wh-what on God's Earth was that?" Akechi asked, his legs slightly wobbling.
"I… I don't know. All I felt was this mask-"
Yu reached up to touch his mask again, only to find that it had vanished. Not only that, but his clothes had reverted to his uniform. Before either could try to make sense of it, they heard alarms blaring.
"ALERT! ALERT! THE REBEL GORO AKECHI AND HIS ACCOMPLICE YU NARUKAMI ARE FREE! ALL UNITS: REPORT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PRIVATE PRISON! SHOOT ON SIGHT AND SHOOT TO KILL!" the PA system blared.
"We need to go." Yu said.
"But how? The only way out is that ramp!" Akechi yelled back.
Yu looked around, trying to see something that could help them. A hiding spot, a secondary route, anything. In the distance and through the alarms, he could hear footsteps. A lot of footsteps.
Think Narukami, think. No prison would ever have just one way in or out. That's just poor design and begging for a disaster to happen. Think. You didn't see any other ramps on the way down, just doors to other cells. There was only one cell down here, and there was nothing out of the ordinary, just metal walls and…
Yu turned to the slab of concrete that Akechi was previously chained to. Why would they use this rather than a metal wall? Running to the edge of the concrete, Yu found a crack between the slab and the metal wall behind it. Through that crack, he felt a draft. The footsteps were getting louder.
"Akechi, help me tip this thing over!" Yu ordered, pulling at the crack.
With Akechi's help, the two were able to tip the slab over like a stage prop. It fell with a THUD , revealing just what Yu hoped: An exit in the form of a heavy metal door.
"An emergency exit hidden behind a slab of concrete? Not bad." Akechi said.
"Run for our lives now, admire prison design later." Yu replied, opening the door.
The two stepped through. As Yu turned around to close the door, he saw a guard reach the bottom of the ramp, one with an RPG. Everything seemed to go in slow motion as the soldier loaded his weapon while Yu stood like a deer stuck in headlights. Then Yu felt a shove, and Akechi stepped in front of him, pistol drawn. A gunshot rang out as the guard fell backwards just as he pulled the trigger, his RPG tilted by his sudden movement, pointing at the ramp, now full of several guards. Yu saw the explosion tear through steel and heard screams as the cops on the ramp were vaporized by the explosion, and saw that they didn't bleed blood, but black sludge, just like those monsters from before. Akechi closed the door and locked it.
"Nice shot." Yu said, impressed.
"Run for our lives now, admire my shooting skills later."
Yu simply nodded, and turned around. In front of him was what looked like another prison, but this time, it looked like an actual prison, rather than a spiral/drill. There were hundreds, if not thousands of cells, all of them empty and made of glass, creating a silence that was more disturbing than calming.
"ALERT! ALERT! AKECHI AND NARUKAMI ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PUBLIC PRISON! ALL UNITS, REPORT THERE IMMEDIATELY! SHOOT ON SIGHT, AND SHOOT TO KILL!" The PA system roared, and just like before, the alarms flashed and blared, and Yu and Akechi took that as their cue to run.
Due to the fact that this place had the layout of a real life prison made it easier to navigate away and hide from incoming guards, evasion that was made easier by the silence of the prison. Before, the cries of anguish was all they could hear, but now, the quiet was more eerie than comforting. The feeling was made even worse by the fact that the only form of navigation the two had was Yu's phone as they tried desperately to reach the purple circle. But they were running in circles and getting tired. The two turned at a hallway back into the main prison section. By now, the noise of the alarm had died down, and only the flashing lights served to remind them that they were still being hunted by Kobayakawa's private police.
"This isn't working. We have to find another way." Yu said leaning against a rail, catching his breath.
"Agreed, but what else can we do?" Akechi asked, leaning on the rail as well. If they turned around, they would see that the cell behind them was occupied. They heard footsteps and instinctively went back the way they came, hiding behind a wall as a squad approached.
"Any sign of the rebel and his accomplice?"
"None sir."
"Then spread out!"
"That way! They went that way!" An unknown and feminine voice declared.
"Which way?"
"That way! Across the bridge!" The voice's owner answered, pointing at the direction away from Akechi and Yu. The two held their breath as footsteps thundered pass them and slowly faded into nothing.
"It's clear. You two can come out now." The voice said.
The two came out of their hiding spot, looking at the voice's source: The occupant of the glass cell, and perhaps the only occupant of the whole 'Public Prison'.
Akechi and Yu looked at the person. It was a woman, slightly shorter than Yu, a slim but toned body, with shoulder-length straight raven black hair, and azure eyes slightly darker than Ann's. She wore a skintight catsuit, with white gloves that went past the wrist, white boots, a yellow scarf, and had what looked like a utility belt around her waist, with a scimitar attached to her back and a whistle around her neck. Yu's eyes focused on one particular detail on the belt, a blue disk that acted as the buckle. A disk with a golden 'V' imprinted on it.
"Thank you… miss… ?" Yu asked, wondering what her name was.
"Pleased to meet you, fellow Trickster. I am Morgana."