A/N Hello everyone. I really apologize about this chapter. It was suppose to be much longer at 4k+ words. Everything in the document was saved etc but for some dumb reason, the program thought it would be a good time to crash and corrupt the save file.

By the time I had open up the document again 2/3 OF THE CHAPTER HAD BEEN DELETED! So I was incredibly frustrated by that point and tried by best to rewrite it to the best of my memory but the frustration may show up. The parts that were missing most likely will be added next chapter. I thank you all for your patience and understanding, I do still hope you continue to enjoy Until the Sun Sets. Thank you.

I do not own persona 5 characters.


Chapter 12

Present Day, 1885

Ren rides into the hideout with Shinya on the horse behind him, everyone was already there and accounted for.

"Welcome to our humble abode kid. It's not much but its home for now. Come on, I think we still got some stew leftover."

Ren helps Shinya off the horse as everyone gathered around to meet the new kid.

"Everyone this is Shinya, he will be staying with us for a little bit. Miss Shiho, if you would be so kind as to help him with the food, there is something else I need to handle."

"Of course." She said. Shiho help guide the young boy to the house and help pour a bowl of the left over deer stew.

Ren had walked over to Morgana who was explaining to Ann and Ryuji what he found out back at the exhibit.

".…..Yusuke might be in danger if he doesn't finish that painting of you for Madarame according to what he said. We are not quite sure what has happened to his other students, but it can't be good," The younger Amamiya sibling said.

"Morgana is right, do you think you two can try and talk some sense into him tomorrow? Make him see the man he is working with is not who he thought he was," Ren followed up.

"I can try but I'm not sure if he will listen to us."

"If he doesn't wanna end up like that Natsuhiko fellow he needs to."


Elsewhere.

"Welcome home Sensei, was your visit to the exhibit successful today?" The young artist Yusuke had greeted his teacher by the door. He was task with staying in their shack and looking out for any unwanted visitors lately.

"It was mostly quiet, we did have some disruptions with a homeless child but none of that matters. How is your piece coming along my boy!"

"I'm working very hard on it Sensei and it should be completed tomorrow, I promise. Once this piece is on display, Sensei will find inspiration to paint again right?"

"Of course," Madarame said chuckling lightly under his breath. Why work for yourself when you can farm the talent for you. "You have been very helpful for my time in need. If your mother was still alive, I'm sure she would be just as proud. Shame her own talents couldn't flourish. Such is the harsh reality of the old homeland."

"I understand."

"Never forget Yusuke, you are doing this for the both of us. Once my poor slump is over, you will get your chance. I have never steered you wrong now have I."

"No Sensei. I've been very grateful for you taking me and teaching me not just the sword but to paint as well."

"Good…good. You should get rest now my boy, tomorrow will be a long day I'm sure."


The Next Day, 1885

"Are you sure this plan is going to work Ren?" Ann asked cautiously.

"I'm sure it will. And Ryuji, please make sure to control your temper around him."

"WHAT! I DON'T HAVE A…fine. But if he looks at me funny again he's getting a bullet in his foot."

The two blondes saddle up on Carmen and Kidd and headed towards the rundown shack out East of town. The Amamiya brothers needed a cool-down day after the fiasco in the art exhibit the prior day. The younger wanted to go out and catch more food now that they got more mouths to feed.

Ren stayed behind at their hideout as a watchful eye on things. He saw Shiho washing the sheets in the stream nearby to keep them relatively clean during their stay. Shinya, after getting another hot meal on Ren sat by the horse examining Arsene large but sleek frame.

It was a little odd today for Ren as he was used to doing something at least every day. But he had enough people around him to get the things they needed to get done, done. It felt….nice. Taking a walk around the property midday to make sure no strangers stumbled onto the location, he decides to walk a little further out up the stream. He finds a broken-down cart with one of its wheels dislodge nearby. The items in the open-faced cart had already been ransack some time ago but the actual empty chest could be of use to hold more of their belongings.

All the cart needed was a two manpower at least. One to lift and hold while the other slams the wheel in. It would be good as new. But having a cart with them might slow them down as well. Or having a place to store extra supplies were a plus too. Decisions….


Madarame's House

Ryuji and Ann reached Yusuke and Madarame's shack a little bit before noon. The house still looked like it would tip over if someone blew on it.

Knocking three times, the young artist open the door to welcome the two in.

"Your other friend isn't here today?

"No he had other business to attend to," Ryuji told him.

"I see. Anyhow, let us get started."

Ryuji sat over by the wall out off the way while Yusuke had Ann adjust her pose from last time. Arranging the lighting the best he could and his brushes he began once more. He worked for about an hour or so capturing her beauty. He looked so focus between looking at her and the canvas.

"Um…Mr. Yusuke, can I ask you a question," Ann said trying to sit as still as possible.

"Sure."

"Do you like working under Mr. Madarame. I mean, don't you wanna be your own artist?" Yusuke had put the brush down pondering her question. What an odd thing to ask.

"It's an honor to work under Sensei, he's been a great teacher to me all these years."

"But the paintings at the exhibit, are they really all his creation?"

"Sensei is a great artist…..he's just been having a rough time lately." Yusuke said fighting back.

"Whatta you mean 'having a rough time lately' huh?" Ryuji decided to join in. Trying to dig deeper into Yusuke's doubt.

"THAT is none of your concern. Now if both of your suspicions are done, I would like to continue. This needs to be finished today."

"But will you be okay after today Mr. Yusuke?"

The young artist paused again mid brushstroke. His Sensei had promised him that he will get his name out once the slump was over. But this was also going on for a few years now. His pieces were still being signed by Madarame. Yusuke shakes his head to get these doubts out. No, Sensei was kind to him. Yusuke would get his chance just like he was promised.

"I am fine Miss. Ann, but please drop this conversation," He continued to work for a few more hours finishing his new piece without the distractions. The blonde hair man was surprisingly quiet during the rest of the session but seem bored more than anything.

"It is done. Would you like to see it Miss. Ann?"

"I would love to." Stretching out her body from sitting almost all day, she turns to look at the beautiful painting. The colors blending together so smoothly. You couldn't tell where one started and ended, "It looks absolutely beautiful. I love it. Will this be shown in the current exhibition?"

".…I'm not sure."

"Regardless of what anyone says, I think you are an amazing artist Mr. Yusuke. I hope one day we are able to see an entire exhibition of just your art."

"I appreciate that Miss. Ann, your comments are very refreshing. And as promised I have the second half of your payment for modeling. I hope we come across each others paths once more," He said handing her the second payment of $50 and escorts them to the door.

"What if we had a way to prove it," Ryuji said abruptly turning around.

"Excuse me?"

"Your Sensei. What if we had a way to prove he is not really who he says he is."

"Enough of these accusation!"

"If you wanna stay blinded then fine. But we are trying to help you out! If you really wanna know the truth, find us 5 miles West of here, there is a rundown house by a stream." And with that Ryuji got on his own horse and rode off with Ann leaving Yusuke with conflicting feelings the rest of the evening.


"WHAT THE HELL BLONDIE! You don't go off telling people where we are hiding!" Morgana had given Ryuji an earful when they got back to the broken-down house.

"I thought we were trying to help him, what was I suppose to do pipsqueak!"

"NOT giving away our position."

"I would like the two of you to quit your arguing and help me with this cartwheel," Ren yelled at his companions as he spent most of the day moving the cart closer to the house without the wheel on. Not the brightest idea he's had.

Shinya was holding on to the wheel itself mostly, trying to help out where he could.

The two quit their arguing for now and moved to the cart to help. Ryuji and Ren lifted the cart up enough to place the wheel in a stable position. Morgana used a large rock they found to hammer it in until it was stable on all four.

"Excellent. Now we'll have some extra space to store what we can't on the horses. When we leave, we'll pack up the blankets and sheets from this house and other essentials. Does that work for everyone?"

Murmurs of agreement could be heard around the group. The six of them sat around the fire for the evening finishing up the deer meat Morgana had hunted earlier. Ryuji probably ate the most, next to Shinya who Ren had to tell on multiple occasions to take his time. Eating something earlier in the day, Morgana decided to start his watch early and walk around the perimeter.

The nights were getting warmer as Spring was ending and Summer was starting. But the nights still had a cool atmosphere to them.

"BROTHER!" He heard Morgana yell 30 minutes later. Ren and Ryuji both pulled out their sidearms while Ann and Shiho grabbed Shinya behind them.

"Stay here Ryuji, I'll check it out." Ren had followed Morgana voice further into the tree line where he was able to see his younger brother with his rifle raised. The other person in attendance had his hand raised to show he was not a threat. Grabbing the small lantern Morgana had attached to his belt, Ren raises it to reveal Yusuke's face.

"So you do want answers, Mr. Yusuke," Ren said.

"I want these accusations to end."

"That's a little bit hard when he steals from others and makes them his own. Did you tell him where you were going?" The younger Amamiya brother said. Rifle still aimed at the poor artist.

"No, I came on my own once he fell asleep. To be frank I almost got lost trying to find this place.

"I see. Mona, please lower your gun." Morgana aims his rifle downward but still keeps a grip on it, just in case the artist tried something funny.

"Are you hungry?" Ren offered to the dark-haired man. Guiding him back to the fire pit in a friendly gesture.

"Thank you for the offer, but I am fine," Yusuke declined just before his stomach made a loud grumble.

"Are you sure, you did come all this way. The least I can offer a stranger is something to eat."

Yusuke stomach grumbled again at the thought of food and hesitantly nodded his head. Eating the last bit of their deer meat, the men and Ann stuck around the fire while Shiho help put Shinya to sleep back in the house. It was getting very late into the night.

"The trip to the art exhibition was merely a coincidence, but we didn't become accusatory until we ran into a former student of his a few days ago; Natsuhiko Nakanohara." Ren explained to Yusuke.

"That's impossible. Sensei said that Natsuhiko had left and died in a robbery."

"He is still alive and living in the same town. Surprising you two never saw each other after that." Yusuke was feeling very conflicted now, why would Sensei lie about one of his former students. What reason was it for these strangers to lie to him, they have nothing to gain from it?

"We had talked to him. He was having troublesome issues himself, but he was also worried about you as well."

"He was?" The artist ask back to the elder brother.

"Yes. But Natushiko is the least of your worries. There is something more important you need to see."

Yusuke needed to know, he needed answers to the lingering doubts in the back of his mind from the past few years. Taking the leap, he joins them on a midnight ride back into town.


A/N The Madarame Arc will reach its conclusion soon. I guess I also gotta make sure to save double check and then save again so something like this doesn't happen. I understand PC issues happen it just sucks.

Feel free to comment. Thank you again for reading. See ya next week.