Chapter 4

The King of Lust

The following day, Ren headed to school as if everything was normal.

The train ride to Shibuya went without incident. But when he boarded the second train, he found himself standing next to the door while a girl sat in one of the seats near him. She wore the Shujin uniform without much modification. She had black leggings on with red loafers and a red ribbon that tied her red hair back into a ponytail. This was Kasumi Yoshizawa.

She was slim and athletic looking which Ren knew was because she was a gymnast. In fact, she was a superb gymnast, being invited to Shujin on scholarship. She was also only one of a few people to enter the Metaverse like the rest of the Phantom Thieves but was never technically a Thief herself. In fact, he knew that she was somewhat against the Phantom Thieves, believing that someone should help themselves rather than rely on somebody else. While he thought it depended on circumstance, he respected her viewpoint. But he was about to help her anyway.

"Please, take my seat," she said, smiling at an elderly woman in front of her. "My station's coming up." As she said this, Ren moved slightly in front of the guy next to him. Ren knew that as soon as Kasumi stepped to the side, this man would take her seat, and while Ren felt bad for the man since he was obviously tired, he was not the one to whom Kasumi offered her seat.

"Oh, well if you're sure then…" the lady answered. Kasumi stepped to the side. Ren could feel the man he was in front of start to move, but it caused the man to accidentally bump into Ren instead. He grunted what might have been an apology or maybe frustration, and went back to where he had been positioned. The woman sat down smiling.

"Thank you," she said to Kasumi. The rest of the train ride went uneventfully, and when they did get off the train, Kasumi walked up to Ren.

"I'm sorry about that," she said slightly bowing.

"About…?" Ren asked. There's no way she noticed me stopping the guy, right?

"When I got out of my seat, the guy next to you tried to move for it, but bumped into you. If I hadn't gotten up, that wouldn't have happened."

"Oh, it's fine. I'm fine." Well, I guess that works. "We should get to school."

"Oh yes, you're right," Kasumi said smiling and began walking off. Ren waited for a few seconds before walking in the same direction. He didn't want to walk next to her mainly because he was starting to think of what would happen later today, and he wanted to be alone with his thoughts.

He managed to get to school on time unlike yesterday. He sat through his morning classes, and even answered a couple of questions correctly when called upon. This was met with students whispering about how they wondered if he was actually pretty smart or if he studied or if he wasn't necessarily a bad person. Of course those were quickly turned into "I'm sure he was just lucky" or "So what if he's smart? He's still a criminal." Ren sighed. There really wasn't anything he could do about them. And this persisted until lunch.

Ren decided to wait for the class to empty as much as it would before he himself left the room. He wanted a crowd in the hallway. After all, the more people that would see the cards, the better. He made sure to do it while the class before lunch was in session. Well, he made sure Morgana did it. This way, suspicion wouldn't fall on him, and he had Morgana time it to where the cat wouldn't be caught.

The plan was simple though it was pretty tiring. He and Morgana had stayed up late the night before making several copies of the Calling Card. The only person he knew of that had a printer was Futaba, but trying to go and ask her would lead to several problems that he did not want to deal with at the moment. They had made fifty hand-crafted cards. He also tried his best at drawing their logo, but it definitely looked amateur at best. The black top-hat was at least some-what obvious that it was a hat. And the white flames that were coming out from under it…well, he wasn't an artist.

He had brought the cards with him to school hidden in his bag before hiding them in his shoe locker which he left slightly open. Just open enough for Morgana to get to them. He left it up to Morgana on how the cat would get into the school. Then Morgana would place one card on each bulletin board around the school. Finally, he had Morgana scatter the rest throughout the hallways. He remembered the conversation they had the prior night about the plan.

"How did we do it last time?" Morgana had asked him while they were making the cards. Ren told the cat how Ryuji had created the cards, and placed them on a bulletin board.

"How is that any different from what we're planning on doing now?"

"Because," Ren replied. "The last time this happened, Ryuji only put them up on the one board. They were seen by Kamoshida, but were quickly confiscated. We're going to scatter it around the entire school. This way more people initially see it, and they have the chance to keep it. The more people that support us in the long run, the better. Hell, we may even get more names on the website this time. Of course, Mishima will have to create the Phan-Site again for us to get those names, but I'm sure he'll do it. After all, he's also a victim, and he created the site to support us after we took down Kamoshida."

"You sure it'll be the same?"

Ren had hesitated before answering, "Yeah, of course I'm sure. He has to." He then went back to creating the cards.

"He has to," Ren muttered to himself as he stepped into the school hallway. He looked at the crowd surrounding the bulletin board by the stairs closest to their classroom. There were a lot of whispers and murmurs until one voice began reading the card aloud. Ren recognized it as Ann's.

"To the Tyrant Kamoshida," she began. "We know of your crimes, and how you use your position to abuse students that can't retaliate. We know of your twisted lustful desires, and we're going to steal those desires. We will make you confess your sins. Signed, The Phantom Thieves of Hearts." When she finished, the whispers only grew louder.

Ren made his way through the crowd trying not to look conspicuous. He headed down the stairs. If anyone were to ask, he was headed for the Student Store to buy some lunch. In actuality, he wanted to gauge other people's reactions. And as far as he could tell, they were acting the same way on the first floor. He had to assume that they'd also be similar on the third.

After a few minutes, he could hear teachers begin trying to corral students and get them under control. The reason Ren did it during lunch was because the teachers couldn't just tell the students to get to class. There weren't really any justifiable places to send them at the moment. But he did notice the teachers beginning to confiscate the cards from the bulletin boards. Of course, there was no way they'd gather them all, and now the cards that were picked up off the floor would be passed around, brought back home, or even posted online. The Phantom Thieves of Hearts cards would be everywhere.

Suddenly one voice stood out among the rest. It was Kamoshida, and he wasn't happy.

"Who's responsible for this?" he yelled from somewhere in the school. "When I find out who it was, I'll make sure you're expelled. Was it you? You?" Ren could only assume Kamoshida was now wildly trying to pin the blame on someone. It didn't matter though.

Ren bought some bread from the store, and started to make his way back to the classroom. As he walked up the stairs, he passed a furious looking Kamoshida who turned and looked at Ren. Kamoshida's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Was it you, delinquent?" he asked through gritted teeth. Ren turned toward him.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ren simply replied before continuing up the stairs.

"I know it was you," Kamoshida called after him. "And I'm going to have you expelled. You're going to regret this." Ren just kept walking.

When he finally managed to sit back down in his chair, he noticed that not a single student looked at him. They were all focused on the cards. As he ate his bread and looked out the window, Ann sat back down in her chair. She was silent for a moment before turning toward him.

"So what do you think about the cards?" she asked quietly.

"Huh?" Ren looked at her, slightly surprised since he wasn't expecting her to talk to him. After a second, he realized he still had a piece of bread in his mouth. He finished it and swallowed before answering.

"Oh the cards," Ren said. "I think that I haven't been here long enough to have a real opinion about the guy. After all, I just moved here a few days ago." He chuckled a little, rubbing his neck. He wasn't technically lying, but it felt like it.

"Oh, that's right," Ann said soft-spoken. "I guess you wouldn't really know all that much. Hey, did you really…" she trailed off.

"Did I what?"

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

"Are you asking if I really committed a crime?" Ren noticed Ann tense up when he asked that.

"You really shouldn't listen to rumors, Takamaki. You of all people should know that." He muttered the second sentence, but it seemed that Ann heard it anyway.

"What do you mean by that?" Ann quickly asked.

"Uh," Ren quickly turned his expression of surprise into one of confusion. "What do I mean by what?"

Ann hesitated, "Nothing, I must've misheard." She turned back to face the front of the class. Ren berated himself within his mind as he finished his bread. Dumbass, you're saying too much.

The school day carried on almost like normal save for all of the continued conversation about the lunch incident. Once again, when school was over, Ann seemed to leave as quickly as she could. Ren didn't call out to her this time. He had other business to take care of, and it was a much more pressing matter.

As he left the school, he noticed Kamoshida standing by the front gate eyeing every student that walked past. Ren assumed he was still trying to find the culprit. He tried to walk past him without drawing attention, but the coach noticed him anyway.

"I will get proof it was you, and by this time next week, you'll be gone," Kamoshida threatened.

"I still don't know what you're talking about," Ren replied and walked out of the school gate. He made his way to the same alley that he used the last time he went to the castle, and where he had told Morgana to wait for him. Sure enough, when he arrived, he saw Morgana sitting on top of a trash bin.

"Are you ready?" Ren asked the cat.

"Of course I'm ready," Morgana answered. "I should be asking you that."

Ren put the keywords into the Metaverse app, and the two of them were transported. As soon as they landed in the Metaverse, Ren could tell based on the threatening feeling he was getting: The alarm was definitely raised.

They made their way up the drawbridge and through the front entrance. There were several guards in the entrance hall, so they had to stick to the shadows of the pillars. They moved from shadow to shadow then up the staircase, sticking to the side of it, so that they wouldn't be seen. They jumped through the portrait and found the hallway to be empty. They made their way to the platform where Ren pulled the lever.

"Do you remember the plan?" Ren asked as the platform raised.

"We have to actually get the crown to Kamoshida," Morgana nodded. "That way, he'll transform it into a smaller, wearable crown which will be much easier to steal."

"Careful though. When he puts the crown on, and he will, he'll become a demon. The last time we did this, we had twice the number. My Personas should more than make up for that, but there are a few things we need to do to make sure the fight doesn't last too long. Also, when he becomes the demon, you're in charge of knocking that crown off his head while I distract him. Then we finally beat him for good, and all should be well."

The platform stopped, and the two Thieves hopped off. They made their way up the tower, once again going from hiding place to hiding place. They crossed the bridge which, thankfully, still had the blades deactivated. Up one more flight of stairs, and they finally found themselves in the throne room. It was empty like the last time they were here.

They walked past the throne and up the stairs to the hallway which led to the treasure room. When they opened the large doors, they saw the crown. It was floating where they had seen the gray cloud from last time, and it was massive, almost as tall as Ren. It had a red, satin interior. The base was gold with red heart-shaped jewels inlaid in it. Above each jewel was a female symbol made from gold, and the tops of each symbol stretched their way above the interior where they combined to form a golden heart resting in the top center of the crown.

Ren walked up to it and grabbed it. He forced it to the ground where he turned it on its side. With Morgana's help they began rolling it. It was difficult since it occasionally got stuck and didn't want to roll, but they managed to get it out of the door, down the hall and into the throne room. They got to the top of the stairs, pushed it over the top step, and let gravity do the rest. It barreled down the steps until it crashed into the dais. That was the moment when Kamoshida entered the room.

This was the first time Ren had seen this version of Kamoshida in this timeline. He looked like the real Kamoshida save for what he was wearing…which was barely anything. He had on a red, heart-printed cape and pink underwear along with a small golden crown on his head. And that was it. Clinging on to his left side was Ann, or rather how he saw Ann. She had on a purple leopard-print bikini with fake black and purple cat ears. In between the ears sat a very small crown indicating that Kamoshida saw her as his queen. Ren knew that this Ann was fake, but it still seriously pissed him off.

The two of them walked up to the dais. When they got to the top, Kamoshida held out his right hand. The crown suddenly shot toward him, decreasing in size as it got closer until it was small enough to fit on Kamoshida's head.

"I think it's about time I show you why I'm the King of this Castle," Kamoshida laughed maniacally. He wrapped his arm around Ann and pulled her close. He then began to glow red and transform.

"Get ready," Ren said to Morgana who was staring wide-eyed and open-mouthed at the transforming tyrant. Oh right, Ren thought. This is the first time Morgana has seen him. Ugh, this time traveling stuff is complicated.

Kamoshida grew larger and larger until he was eye level with the two Thieves who were still on the second floor. He had pink skin, and was now naked save for a red cape that had multiple medals hidden with it, and the crown that he had just grabbed was resting on his head. He had a purple tongue almost as long as he was sticking out of his mouth. He also had four arms, each holding something different. In his top left hand, he held a riding crop while his bottom held a giant golden fork. His top right hand held a wine glass that was three-fourths of the way full with red wine and had Ann floating in it. His bottom right hand held a giant golden knife. In front of him was a trophy that reached his stomach in height and dangling out of the inside of it were female legs.

He sat on a large throne with the top of the back of it having a living eye that continuously looked around the room. On either side of the throne was one giant golden ball with chained slaves that resembled Shujin students.

"I'll distract him, you get the crown, Mona," Ren said. Then he ran to the balcony to his left. He pointed his Cocytus pistol at Kamoshida and shot once, bringing the monstrosity's attention toward him.

"Hit him!" the tyrant yelled and cracked his whip at the students. They began throwing volleyballs at high velocity toward Ren who was about to be at the end of the balcony. He hopped off as volleyballs pelted the wall where he was just standing. They hit so hard, cracks formed. He used his grappling hook on the rail of the balcony to safely land on the floor.

Why is taking Morgana so long? He looked over at the other balcony and saw Morgana dodging the giant knife that Kamoshida was holding. Ah, that explains it. Kamoshida laughed and then began taking a drink of his wine. Ren knew that that just made him stronger. Ren also knew that the trophy with the legs was the more pressing issue. Kamoshida could heal himself by eating a pair of those legs, and as far as Ren knew, he wouldn't run out as long as the trophy was still there. Also if he targeted the trophy, it could get Kamoshida's full attention.

He aimed his pistol at the trophy, but he had to keep running and dodging volleyballs which meant he couldn't get a clear shot. He didn't want to, but he was going to have to use a Persona even if it tired him out.

"Yoshitsune!" He called out, and a man with long black hair and clad in red samurai armor appeared behind Ren. The man had a pale white face save for his red lips and a red vertical line that went across the middle of each eye. He held a katana in his right hand and a wakizashi in his left. As soon as the man appeared, Ren could feel the increase in his own evasion capabilities.

The volleyballs were still being shot at him, but Ren found it much easier to dodge them now. He was now able to aim his pistol at the trophy with no problem. He fired his seven remaining rounds into the trophy which shattered and disappeared.

"NO!" Kamoshida roared. "Why aren't you hitting him? Do I have to do everything myself? Slave, my ball."

Ren watched as a student ran up to Kamoshida carrying a ball. He had spiky blue-tinted black hair and dark eyes. He wore the normal Shujin uniform, but without the blazer. The student was this world's Mishima Yuuki, and he looked exactly the same as in the real world. Although, in the real world, Mishima was a second-year student on the volleyball team, and someone who Kamoshida constantly abused. Come on Morgana, this is your chance. He glanced up and saw Morgana in position to pounce on the crown.

"Charge," Ren commanded Yoshitsune. Yoshitsune closed his eyes and began concentrating.

"Throw it!" Kamoshida shouted.

Then three things happened. First, Mishima tossed up the ball. Second, Morgana pounced, knocking the crown off Kamoshida's head which made him lose focus out of shock, and the ball sailed over him. Finally, Yoshitsune attacked.

"Brave Blade!" Ren shouted and he felt himself stagger a little as pain shot through him. Yoshitsune moved almost quicker than Ren could keep up with as he slashed Kamoshida diagonally from the top left to the bottom right. The king howled in pain and he slumped over. Ren dismissed Yoshitsune as Kamoshida began to transform back into his old self.

Morgana came to stand by Ren's side as the transformation ended. In front of them was a fearful looking Kamoshida grasping the crown in his hands. He started to back up, looking from Morgana to Ren and back again.

"Please, this isn't fair," he yelled. "I did everything they asked me to. All their expectations were placed on me, and I came through for them. All I wanted was a reward. Was that too much to ask for? I shouldn't be killed for that."

"Not fair?" Ren shouted. "Don't talk about what's not fair. What wasn't fair was how you treated the students you were responsible for. All the girls you harassed or worse. All the guys that you put through torture. Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you here and now?"

"Wait, wait…I'm sorry…I'm sorry. Please forgive me? I'll do anything." He glanced at the crown. "This. This is what you wanted, right? Just take it. You've defeated me, so you don't have to kill me. Please." He tossed the crown over to Ren who caught it. Ren handed it off to Morgana before moving toward Kamoshida, his Misericorde in hand. Kamoshida backed up until he was against a wall with nowhere to go. As Ren got closer, the tyrant looked away and closed his eyes out of obvious fear. Ren slammed the blade into the wall next to Kamoshida's head.

"You will confess your sins. All of them. First to the school, then the police. Understand?" Ren said, and while Ren was a good head shorter than Kamoshida, he definitely had the more threatening aura.

"Yes, yes, I understand. Please don't kill me." Kamoshida cried as he slumped to the floor. Ren pulled the knife out of the wall.

"Let's go," he said to Morgana. At that moment, the entire palace started shaking. Ren almost forgot that palaces would collapse after you stole the treasure from within. Dust fell from the ceiling followed by bits of the ceiling itself. They both began to run for the exit, dodging debris. They ran down hall after hall, having to take the long way since Ren assumed the platforms would most likely be inoperable right now. They managed to get to the entrance hall and jumped out of the castle right as the ground floor caved in sending a cloud of dust and debris that surrounded them as they exited. This was followed by them hitting the ground facefirst.

Ren coughed and lifted himself up. He discovered that he was in the alley that they were in before entering the Metaverse. To his side was Mona who was also picking himself up. Around Mona's neck was an olympic gold medal. Ren knew that it was a replica, but he could still sell it…to the right buyer.

"Are you okay?" Ren asked.

"I think so," Morgana answered. "Huh?" He looked down at the medal. "Hey check it out, I'm a star athlete." Ren couldn't help but laugh at the dumb joke.

"Let's get back to Leblanc," Ren said after his laughter subsided. He picked himself up and staggered a little, realizing that he was starving and exhausted. "That was a little more tiring than I remember it being." He picked up his bag.

"Probably because there were two more of us last time," Morgana replied as they began walking in the direction of the cafe.

"That's probably it."

They made it back to the cafe without incident, and walked right in the door. Luckily only Sojiro was there. Unluckily, Ren forgot that Sojiro didn't know about Morgana and saw the cat walk right inside the restaurant with Ren.

"Hey!" he shouted which made Ren take a step back in surprise. "This is a cafe. Why is there a cat behind you?"

"Oh," Ren looked back at Morgana and then back at Sojiro. "He kind of followed me home. I was going to ask if I could keep him."

Sojiro rubbed the back of his head in irritation. "I guess a pet would give you some responsibility. Just make sure he stays upstairs when we're open."

"Thank you, I understand," Ren said slightly bowing.

While Sojiro grumbled, Ren and Morgana headed upstairs where Ren promptly dropped his bag and fell onto his bed. He laid there for a few minutes, barely even noticing when Sojiro came up with a plate of thinly sliced meat chunks for Morgana. The sight of it made him hungry as well so he went downstairs and managed to find some leftover curry. He ate it, washed his and Morgana's dishes then went straight upstairs to bed.

He was wondering what tomorrow would be like at school as he drifted off to sleep.