A/N: This chapter was a bit tricky to write but had fun too. Still in the Madarame Arc that is picking up.

Thank you once again for reading Until the Sun Sets. Feel free to comment. Also I do not own the Persona characters.


Chapter 10

Present Day, 1885

Standing dumbfounded, Ann wasn't sure what to do after these questioned were asked. Yusuke had asked her to be his model for an art piece.

"I can't be a model, I've never done that before."

"I don't have much money, but I can pay you for the job Miss?"

Waving her hands she tries to back away from the exuberant man who keeps insisting she be his model. Getting paid would be a plus but she still doesn't know this man and was starting to get nervous. Feeling herself being backed into a corner. Yusuke's image started to blur between smooth comb hair to wild black hair and crazed eyes.

"Hey! She says she's not interested." Yanking Yusuke back, Ryuji gets between the two and glares at the other man.

"I'm sorry, it was never my intention to startled you. Would you like a glass of water?" Yusuke offered as an apology.

Shaking her head, she grabs Ryuji's arm to calm him down as others around them were starting to look their way. They don't want to make a scene.

"I will be fine. Can I take some time to think about it?"

"Of course, one moment." He goes off to find a pen and paper and writes down his address. "Sensei and I are staying in a small shack not to far from town. If you are still interested, please feel free to stop by."

"Okay."

"If you'll excuse me, I have some other matters to attend to. I hope you enjoy the exhibition, Miss Ann. Mr. Ryuji."

Yusuke vanishes into the crowd as Ryuji and Ann stood in front of the "Sayuri". Ann takes a moment to gather herself. She was safe, away from anything to do with that man.

"Come on Ann, let's go meet up with Ren."

Ren had walked around the first floor twice already and found nothing suspicious. What he did find was Madarame being jovial to all the guests that came his way praising the work. The man had a lot of different styles, enough to fill up a decent size two-story building. He couldn't tell you what each style meant, but he did know artists tend to stick with a particular "look" to market themselves.

In the corner of his eye, he sees Yusuke coming down and walks up to his mentor. They were speaking softly to one another and he couldn't hear what they were discussing. Moving around to a better spot, Ren was able to see Madarame mouth movements.

"I want you to stay here. I'll go in the back." he leaves the younger man and disappears behind a pair of doors with an odd design on it. Ren thinks nothing of it and tries to enjoy the rest of the night. Maybe his mind was getting sick thinking every person they meet is up to something. There were kind folks in the world he had helped and had come across. But he just couldn't shake the feeling. At least the champagne was decent.

"Ren!"

Hearing his name called he looked around and sees the two blondes by the exit, ready to make their way back to camp.

"So did you find anything yourself?" Ryuji had asked the de facto leader.

"Nothing really unusual. Just surprised Madarame has such a wide range of….styles," He offered back.

"I got invited to be his model. He even gave me his current address, says he pay me. We could use the money. Your funds are getting low right Ren?"

"Hmm. I should be okay to cover our expenses for a week or so. Maybe sell some pelts in the meantime while we're visiting. Doesn't hurt to do some odd jobs either."

Thankfully they were able to ride back to the hideout without any ambush from other ruffians in the night. Morgana was the guard left-back in the abandoned house. He was attempting to teach Shiho some card games to pass the time.

"Everything running smoothly Morgana?"

"No intruders near the vicinity. Miss Shiho and I had an early dinner, but we left you some rabbit stew in the kitchen," Morgana said. He went back to his card games as the other three filled their stomachs with lukewarm food.

"Alright! Who wants to play Poker. I want to see if my protege can be matched," the younger sibling snickered.

Morgana and Shiho were mostly getting along as they were the two left behind the most. Morgana to guard the place as Shiho wander about doing odd tasks. She had help straighten the place up in the past few days. Finding a few books left behind that she could read. Other than talking to Ann in their spare time, Shiho tended to keep to herself.

The five of them sat around on the floor playing a few games of Poker. Betting small trinkets like watches or bracelets. Tomorrow was a new day for them.


Elsewhere. 1885

Ace Detective Goro Akechi was finally catching a break. After the failed case with Asmodeus, he picked back up solving other bigger issues. Putting behind bars a gang that was robbing post offices. Siblings that planned to rob one of the banks. Kidnappings, etc. It was nice to be a field agent again, though his suit was drench from the last mission. Cleaned up and in his office once more, he faced another pile of papers.

"Ah Detective, you're still here. Sorry to bother you Sir but we needed you to review these documents and sign off on them. They were some lost papers from the trafficking case that needed to be file away."

"Put them on the chair over there and I'll get to them in a moment," Akechi said. He felt like his hand will fall off after all these signings. Finally getting to the missing papers he would have to go through his desk to find that case again.

The trafficking case with Asmodeus was an odd one. They had gotten an anonymous tip about a barn being used to hide women. Kidnapped women, prostitutes, and children. When Akechi and his men arrived, the women and children were let go after a brief gunfight and the man in charge arrested.

Interrogating the man, they found he was just a middle spot in line for this whole thing. The women from the barn came from who they called Asmodeus: the distributor and point A. Asmodeus sold women to the middle man who then traffics them out to other places getting paid. That money would then go back to the distributor. One was already dead and another soon to be hanged. Case closed….right?

But the money during all of this, someone was funding them and some of the women in the barn was still missing. So why were his higher-ups so quick to shut it down?

Getting up from his chair he leaves his office and walks down to the basement where the prisoners were held. Akechi knew who he wanted to talk to. Stopping by a particular cell, the Detective sees a heavy set man sitting on the bed propped from the wall. His head bald as the day he was born.

"Kobayakawa."

"...Detective."

"I have some more questions to ask you."

"What for. I am to be hanged anyhow," The hairless man replied back disgruntled.

"If you answer truthfully, I can see if your neck can stay in place a few more days."

"And I already told you everything I know. Why don't you ask Asmodeus for information."

Leaning back on the jail bars, Akechi was keeping his patience the best he could. "I'm afraid Asmodeus is dead. You're my last witness currently. You mentioned that you received the women and children from him. At your station, you shuffled them away to other locations and received the money in return. A portion you sent back to the Brothel owner. Where does the money come from?"

"I don't know!"

"Do I have to bring Loki down here again?"

"PLEASE NO! I'LL TALK!"

"Okay then. What about the funds, where did you receive it from."

Already sweating down his neck, Kobayakawa was a dead man walking already. Even if all he got out of this was a few more days to live.

"The money sometimes comes from two different places. The women usually go to another point and shuffle some more. Sometimes I get money to fund things from the other dealer. We know him as Azazel, probably Southwest of here. But I swear that's really all I-"

A loud bang was heard behind Kobayakawa as the wall was torn apart and Akechi sent flying back into the cell wall behind him. Dazed, confused, and bleeding he gets up to check the prisoner only to find him on the ground with debris shards lodge in his back and head.

"Damnit!" Akechi cursed, now both men, in this case, were dead. But not before he found a slight lead. He could still feel his ears ringing and a headache forming from the blood rush. Someone knew Kobayakawa was entrapped here waiting for the execution. Someone who wasn't afraid to attack a Detective and Security agency outright from the outside.

"Detective Akechi!" He heard a few voices coming down the stairs, the clerk from earlier was the first to arrive. "What the hell happen here!?"

"An assassination it seems." The young ace said, kneeling to catch his breath. "Get a medic down here and three men. Make sure they are ready to leave once I get bandaged."

"Where will you be going, Sir?"

"To re-open this case."


Oakwood Ridge, 1885 Present Day

Walking up to a worn-down shack outside of the town, the runaway, outlaw, and gunslinger stood by the entrance deciding who should knock.

"You sure you wanna do this Ann?" Ryuji asked.

"I'll be okay with it as long as you two are nearby." Ann goes to knock on the door of the address Yusuke had given her the other day. Muffle footsteps could be heard coming to the door.

"Whoever it is Sensei is not in at the moment. Please come back at anoth-"

"Um Mr. Yusuke this is Ann. You ask me to stop by to model." The front door open so fast it startled the three of them.

"Miss Ann, I am glad you could make it….with the others. "

"Don't look so down, pretty boy. We're here to keep an eye on you. Think of us as statues in the corners of the room," Ryuji said.

"Very well. Please come in. Sensei is out at the moment. Now would be a good time to start without too many distractions." Yusuke had let them into the worn shack. They worried that the slightest hint of guest would topple it over.

Walking up to his studio, Yusuke arranges the room how he wanted the lighting to go and set up the canvas.

"Well then let us get started."

Ann was seated in a chair trying her best not to move. The other men sat in the corner. Waiting for the piece to be done. The dark hair artist seems frustrated during the first half-hour as he made outlines on the canvas.

"This doesn't seem to be working." Yusuke sighs two hours later. No matter how he alters it, it wasn't turning out how he wanted.

"I'm sorry. Is…it my fault?"

"No Miss Ann, it's not you. I'm just having a bit of trouble focusing. Do you think you can come back another time to finish?"

"What! After making us wait all that time." Ryuji was dead bored the entire time they were there.

"Nevertheless." Yusuke interrupted Ryuji and his attitude. "I did promise I would pay you, Miss. I can offer you 50 right now and will provide the other half the next time. If that is okay?"

"That would be great. Thank you. I hope you will be feeling better next time. Same time and day?" She offered.

"Of course. And I imagine I will be seeing the two of you as well again."

"You know it pretty boy."

Taking the 50 dollars with her, the three of them trotted back into town for supplies. Ren on his own horse with Ann sharing with Ryuji.

"Hey Ren, I was wondering if we could stop by the stables while we're still here? I wanted to purchase something."

"I guess we can take a break."

The three of them stop by the stables as Ann wanted to use the money she just earned to purchase a mare of her own. Ren had waited off to the side for Ann while Ryuji decided to check out some other things in the Market. By the time she decided on a horse, the saddle, and other knick-knacks that went with it, she still had around 15 bucks left.

"So what are you going to name it?" Ren asked. Ann had picked a smaller horse similar in red coating like Arsene. Not too fast and not bulky to carry a carriage. But it fit her.

"I think I'm going to name her Carmen." She said giving the horse a light pat. He helped her get on and lead the horse outside the stable and around for a bit so it can get familiar to the added weight.

"You feel comfortable enough to take the reins?"

"I think so. So far she seems calm enough," Ann offers the horse some hay to keep it calm.

Ren suggests she trots around the stable area herself once more before heading out in the road. Leaning on the fence, he sees Ryuji making his way back checking behind his shoulders.

"What got you spooked Ryuji?"

"I just heard something interesting in the Marketplace. I overheard this lady talking to some friends about this guy that's been stalking her. It seems there break up didn't end to well. She was mentioning how he was having a rough time at his job, some bank teller. This could be a perfect side job, Ren. Image us swooping in saving the day."

"There's a problem with that Ryuji, we don't know what this guy looks like or even his name."

"Now I know I ain't too smart but I have been learning these past few weeks. The lady's other friend mentioned a Natsuhiko. Works a bunch of night shifts. How's THAT for recon."

"How's what for recon?" Ann said walking up to them leading her new horse.

"Ryuji might have found us a side job to do tonight. We'll walk you back to the house and then stake out this place."

Taking their time back to the hideout, the group took a small break for dinner, finishing up the last of the stew. Ryuji and Ren would set out on their own back to town to examine this woman's complaint.

"Why am I stuck babysitting the hideout again!"

"Cause you're the youngest. Besides I don't want others to associated us together in case I need you for something different."

"Oh don't be so down Morgana. You have Shiho and me here," Ann added.

"On second thought, you two go right ahead. I must keep my utmost focus to protect Lady Ann and Miss Shiho." Morgana said changing his tune. Ren openly laughed at his younger brother's antics. Always trying to impress the ladies.

Ryuji and Ren went back to the town. Locating the bank they looked through one of the side windows they were able to see two tellers on duty; one male and one female. Maybe a third in the back. Peaking through the window, Ryuji was able to see the makings of a nameplate but couldn't tell the name.

"I can't see the names, should one of us go in?" Ryuji said.

"No, if we walk in and identify him now and follow him later, he'll recognize our clothing and voice. Let's wait for now."

They waited another half hour before the bank closed. The tellers from the front leaving first.

"Goodnight Natsuhiko. I hope things get better for you." The women said before walking in the opposite direction. Their target stood in the middle of the road, with a bowl cut hair and wrinkled suit. His head down in defeat started walking past them to an alleyway. He really was making this easy for them.

Following a reasonable distance behind making sure he wasn't alerted but enough to keep an eye on him. The two shadowed him to a housing complex near the edge of the city.

"So how do you want to do this?"

"Why the hell are you asking me, Ren?"

"Cause you're the one who found out about it. Your call."

"I say put the mask on and scare him a little. Get the message across that his stalking is not wanted." Ryuji suggested. Tying the scarves around their lower faces and pulling out the side arms, they rounded the corner to the complex and kicked Natsuhiko door open.

"HANDS UP AND AND DON'T MOVE!" Ren ordered the frighten bank teller. Aiming his revolver up to the defenseless man, he quivers in his corner in fear.

"Take the money, any valuables, but please don't shoot!" he cried back.

"We're not here for the money. We want you to leave her alone," Ren had said.

"What?"

"You're girlfriend asshole. If we find out you are still bothering her, you'll get more than a warning ya hear." Ryuji cocks back his pistol for the effect.

Natushiko went from cowering to having an angry look on his face.

"None of that is my fault, she never listens to me. After everything I worked for, she didn't want to hear it."

"That doesn't give you the right to stalk her!"

"I was stressed." He tried to use it as an excuse.

"None of that matters. You need to leave your ex-girlfriend alone or else." Ren calmly stated trying to keep everything in order.

Still cornered in fear, he stood up straight and stared at his intruders.

"All everyone does is patronizes me for what I do. You're no better than that bastard Madarame. Telling me to do better this and better that. Only to sign his own name over it."

Surprised Ren lowered his gun from his threatening position shocked to hear Madarame name coming out of this stranger.

"What did you just say?"

"Madarame, the artist and his stupid exhibition. He's nothing but a lying cheat, stealing others' hard work for his own. Dammit, I had the talent too! But no one will ever hear my name be utter in fame. I just hope Yusuke can get out in time."

Ryuji and Ren were stuck in an awkward situation. Looking at each other as similar thoughts ran across their mind.

Shit….


A/N: One of the alternative line for Ryuji if he kicked the door" Surprise Motherfucker!"

So now our gunslingers know that Madarame may not be as jovial and nice as we all think he is. As always thank you for ready and feel free to review. See ya next week.