A/N Hello everyone again.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: NO NEW CHAPTER NEXT WEEK. I will be taking a short break to catch up on a few things in life. But we should resume our regular schedule programming back on June 26th. Thank you. This is the conclusion of the Madarame arc. Please enjoy
I do not own persona 5 characters
Chapter 13
Unknown Time
A young inspiring artist sat in front of a canvas working on his first artwork. Just a simple still art piece to start. His teacher stood behind him dutifully to make sure the young boy was following the proportions right. Even at a young age, the boy was very talented when he started teaching him. In the morning they would practice the way of the sword and in the evening after chores, art lessons.
His poor mother, a student of his has been left bedridden recently. He has been taking in her son while she recovered. However, her outcome wasn't looking well.
"How does it look Sensei?" The young boy asked.
The older man observed the drawing to see it almost completed. "It's coming along very nicely Yusuke. I'm sure your mother will be impressed when she sees it."
Beaming a smile back to his teacher, the young Yusuke turns back to his work and continued.
"Where are we going Sensei?" A teenage Yusuke asked. His skills had greatly improved over the years since his late mother's passing. He never really did get to show her that painting he was working on.
"I am taking you West, to a new land my business associates told me about. But no worries, in a few more years I'm sure you'll make a name for yourself in the art world boy."
"Sensei, where have the other students gone?" Yusuke questioned now into his adulthood. They have been staying in the same region for a few years now. Mostly staying in the same harbor town for a while. There were many students that wanted to learn from the great Madarame. Many have come and many have gone. One by one they all seem to leave after a while, heartbroken.
"They left on their own merit, my boy. Unfortunately, they didn't have what it takes to be an artist no matter how I try to help them," He said. Yusuke remembers all the times Madarame would look him in the eye and place comforting hands on his shoulders. He would always tell him, "You Yusuke are special."
It made him feel like he could achieve his dream of being a great artist like his Sensei. He had the skills and his teacher's support throughout the years. All those paintings sold in Sensei's name instead. It was only temporary he would keep telling himself. Sensei will come around and promote him, any day now. But the days went on and on. And he started to wonder…
Present Day, 1885
The four of them stopped just outside of the town. The three men guided Yusuke to the exhibition building. They would have to sneak in this time around as it was so late into the night. Even for the artist student to show up at this hour would be just as suspicious.
There were a few windows they could try to enter. Ducking below the window edge to avoid the lights the guards had in hand.
"Alright mask on. Mona, Skull, check around the other side of the building to see if you can find another entrance. Yusuke will stay with me," Ren directed.
The younger brother and gunslinger went around the back to find a different entrance without argument. Ren and Yusuke took the window they were standing below. They waited till the guard pass by before slowly creaking it open and heading in.
Yusuke was very curious now on what his teacher could be hiding. He was just a humble artist, wasn't he?
Ren ushered Yusuke to follow closely behind him as they hid behind walls avoiding the guards and their lanterns. The elder Amamiya sibling had put his own mask up covering the lower half of his face just in case. They had to reach that door on the first floor and show the evidence underneath. Coming through a side window, the two made their way to the center of the building where the room was located.
Ryuji and Morgana were able to find a window to enter closer to the backside and the door they were looking for. They quickly jump behind two separate pillars as a guard just turned down their corner eyeing the window.
"Who left the window open?" The guard had spoken out loud. He temporarily sets down his lantern to go shut it when Morgana rushes up behind him. Covering his mouth to keep the struggle muffled, Ryuji joins in and knocks the guard out with the butt of his gun.
"Thanks, blondie," Mona whisper.
"You're welcome pipsqueak."
The two help hide the guard's body behind some curtains and moved towards the center as quietly as they could. But they had a small dilemma on their hands. Ryuji and Morgana were in the hidden hallway away from the main floor but the door was in sight. Unfortunately, a guard was standing right in front of it unmoving as directed by Madarame. Morgana could use that knock out fluid Futuba gave him and his brother awhile back. But a second guard that walked right in front of the area would see the first guard in front of the door drop. Even Ren and Yusuke couldn't make a move from their angle with the door guard.
Doing things quietly never seems to go their way. They would have to lure out the second patrol guard before catching the door hired henchmen.
"Yusuke back up towards the window, don't move 'til I say so. I hope you don't mind if I break something…"
"WHA—"
"SSSSSHHHHHHHH" Ren had to quickly clamp a hand over Yusuke exclamation.
The guard heard the unusual noise and went to check it out.
"Hide," Ren whispered quickly. He ducks behind a bench while Yusuke opted for the floor-length curtains in this room. It was mostly used for one of the few larger paintings.
The patrol guard walks in with his light raised high checking for intruders. He was certain he heard a noise just moments ago. All the while Ren was doing his best to remain silent. He was able to locate his blowgun in his satchel and one of the darts. Dipping quickly, he loaded the dart in and shot the guard in his neck just as the light turned on him.
The patrol guard tried to yell for back-up only to have his words mumble incoherently before passing out. He must have put too much on it this time Ren thought.
But that didn't matter now, they needed to move. Grabbing Yusuke from behind the curtain, the older brother took a peek around again. He sees Morgana taking out the door guard with his own paralyzing formula in the form of a syringe.
With the door still being broken, it was easier to walk into the room. The brothers learned their lesson from the last time of leaving to much evidence and moved the unconscious guards into the room with them.
"So what is so important that I needed to see?" The young artist asked.
"All of this," Ren had removed the cloth that sat on top of the replica paintings. Yusuke was in awe as he went through the copied pieces. He recognized some of them, the artwork he's seen the other students work on years prior.
"Why would he have these?"
"People pay top dollar for "rare" things. The first time we found this, we notice they were different than the ones displayed on the main floor right."
Even with a second look, Yusuke was able to clearly see the difference. They all lack that flair that appears on almost all of Sensei's pieces. His teacher had taken the work of those former students and made them his after they ran off. This can't be right. These other men had to be lying, they had to be setting his Sensei up.
"This can't be true. My Sensei would never do this! He is—"
"He's doing it right now, isn't he. Taking credit for something he doesn't deserve," Ryuji claimed butting in.
"As I told you….he's in a rough spot now. I am just helping him out."
"Then what about you Yusuke, are you sure you're okay with this. Is this how you want to live the rest of your life. Living in his shadow?" Ren asked.
No, he didn't want to always be in Madarame's shadow. He wanted to be his own artist to express his passion and love. He wanted to paint the beautiful trees as they bloom in the spring, the cold and treacherous mountains, the deadly rainstorm moving through the rolling hills he heard so much about.
"I want to be an artist, but I am indebted to Sensei. I'm sure he will come around soon."
"You don't believe that I know you don't," The elder brother said.
Yusuke doesn't know what to believe in anymore but he feels like his standing ground is crumbling.
"I think it's best I head back home before I am discovered missing. Thank you for your time gentlemen."
"Wait a minute! Don't you wanna know what's behind this safe, I've almost cracked it." Morgana was messing with the safe from before. He was able to get past the first two numbers again but was listening carefully for the last one. Spinning left and right to the left again he heard the third click; it was unlocked. "Got it!"
Opening the safe revealed a portrait size painting partially wrapped in white cloth and framed in a golden pallet. Lifting it up, the four of them were able to see that the painting consisted of a few brush strokes in the shape of a silly face.
"What the fuck is this garbage!?" Ryuji complained. All that trouble with picking the door lock and safe lock for a cheap piece of work. It was now starting to feel like a waste of time.
"Henohenomoheji"
"Huh?" The three other men express in confusion.
"Henohenomoheji, it was something I learned when I was a young child, back in my homeland. But why would Sensei consider this important enough to lock away?"
"Why indeed?"
The four men turned around to see none other than Madarame and his hired guns behind them. One of the guards was holding a similar size gold plated frame themselves.
"Good job luring them here Yusuke, you always were a loyal student to me," Madarame said chuckling. Yusuke felt uncomfortable, this wasn't the Sensei that he knew.
"This wasn't my intention, I wasn't trying to lure you all here. I swear"
"Don't be so modest now my boy, that was your intention all along wasn't it. After all, you have zero reasons to go behind my back." His voice held a malicious tone as he spoke to his student. Yusuke was in trouble.
"Cut the shit old man, we know you're lying."
"And what will you do about it, as far as I'm concerned you're all outnumbered and cornered."
"Is it true Sensei? That the paintings display is nothing but fakes. All the work I did for you, were you always going to string me along or let me be my own person? Please tell me they're lying, tell me that these copies here are not what I think they are. Please Sensei, tell me the truth…."
The older man looked at his student, the emotion behind the younger man's eyes almost look like it would break. But Madarame never cared. "Yusuke, you always did put silly ideas in your head, but your skills were so useful. You're not like these riff-raffs over here. You're much more important, you are special." Madarame walks up to Yusuke, placing both hands on his shoulders just like he used to. "You're my prized cash cow. You honestly thought I took you in out of the goodness of my heart? With your mother proving to be a failure of her own, I needed someone new. And there you were ripe for the taken. You were a natural boy, and as long as you stay out of this, I'll make sure you'll still get to see the light of day."
Feeling Madarame grip on his shoulders tighten, Yusuke slaps them away, walking as far away as the room could allow him.
"So that's how it's going to be boy. Then let your fate be tied with the others, your usefulness was coming to an end one way or another. But I'll show you one last parting gift." Snapping his fingers the guard holding the other golden frame turned the portrait around to the others.
".…..Mother?" It was the 'Sayuri' but not. It looked different to Yusuke compared to the one displayed on the second floor. Instead of staring off into the abyss, the women in the painting had a baby in her arms as she looked down lovingly.
"It was very fortunate luck obtaining this "maiden" artwork of mine. Shame really, she was such a good student but was frequently sick. If only her medicine wasn't washed away in the river. For all the world knows she never even exist. What's mine is mine now," Madarame said letting off a boisterous laugh.
The man really loved to talk about himself it seems, but it did give them the advantage to get them out of here. During his speech, the two brothers position themselves on both sides of the cloth, throwing it at Madarame and his men. Ryuji took a running start before throwing the fake portrait at the former teacher knocking him out the doorway. Finally, some more breathing room, they needed to leave. The three gunslingers went into the fighting while Yusuke just wanted that painting back.
Ren and Morgana went and disarm two of the guards. The guns falling on the floor. The younger sibling took a fist to the gut but followed up with a left hook. His opponent was slightly bigger than him, but that's how he likes it. He grabs and trip him down to the floor and gets in three more jabs before being knocked off. The guard Mona was fighting was getting up to continue before being knocked down by the guard Ren was handling. Ren had the upper hand for their fight. Dodging two right jabs and a left. He landed an uppercut before kicking the second guard into the first guard.
Yusuke had his own mess to deal with. He was struggling with the third guard who still had the "Sayuri" in his hand. Both trying to rip it from the other. He'll be damn if he lets Madarame keep this one piece of his past left.
"Let the painting go!"
"NO! This doesn't belong to Sens…..Madarame anymore."
Being a stronger man, he tries to throw Yusuke off swinging the frame harshly. But Yusuke keep his grip as tight as he could. There was only one way to get the guard to let go. Reaching into his left pocket where he carried some art supplies at all times, Yusuke grabs his sharping tool and stabs the guard in his hand.
Screaming in pain, he lets go to examine his hand, Yusuke yanks the painting back closer to him. Some blood did make it onto the golden frame, but the image itself was perfectly preserved. He could always clean the frame later on.
Ryuji was closest to the doorway taking on the last guard. They were hoping they could finish this before the previous guards would wake up. The blonde young man dodges a right hook and returns a jab to the ribs. He goes for another punch to the face that was block. The guard in turn slammed into him with his headbutt stunning Ryuji. He feels a three punch combo to his stomach before being slammed to the ground. The guard goes to get the jump on him but the blonde gunslinger kicks midair and tosses him into the replicas. Gathering his footing, Ryuji drops a right hook to keep the guard on the ground. He grabs one of the fake paintings and uses it to slam it on the guard's head, its canvas being torn in the middle of the impact knocking him out.
Yanking the sharping tool out of his hand, the guard goes after Yusuke once more. With no weapon to defend himself and unwilling to let this "Sayuri" have any further damage he was left defenseless. The brothers were busy with their own fights at the moment, but where was Ryuji…
"HYAAAAAAAAH!" A canvas came flying at the third guard with a harsh rotation hitting him in the stomach effectively putting him out of commission indefinitely.
"Couldn't you have taken him down another way without damaging priceless artwork?"
"Hey, I just saved your life pretty boy, a 'Thank You' would've suffice. And if you think those dumb paintings are light and easy to swing you try doing it!"
Down to the final two guards, the brothers were finishing their own fight with knockouts. No thrown painting necessary. "That should be all of them, Mona. Let's get the hell out of here."
"You will not be going anywhere." Madarame had taken one of the fallen guard guns and raised it at Yusuke. The old artist was clutching his stomach in pain as small driblet of blood ran down his mouth. "No one steals from the great Madarame. You are an ungrateful child after everything I did for you."
".…You let my mother die. You stole from others just to keep yourself relevant. You lied to me for years, you were like a Fath—No. You stole from my family, I'm merely taking back what was mine. I'm not afraid of your Madarame, I almost feel sorry for how low you have fallen. But these past few days, these few weeks have opened my eyes to see how despicable you are."
"The world is a harsh place, I did what I had to do to survive for us!"
"YOU DID IT FOR YOURSELF! I will no longer let my eyes be clouded." Madarame's own eyes were filled with rage towards his last student. He cocks back the gun and prepares to shoot only to have the gunshot out of his own hand.
"This inspiring artist is under the protection of the Phantom Thieves, we won't let you harm him," Ren said under his mask. Madarame tries to reach for the gun again but the elder brother shoots at Madarame's hand. "I wouldn't reach for it if I were you. Mona, Skull, tie this has been and his henchman up," He orders keeping the revolver trained on the supposed artist
Gathering them in a group, they use the rope from the exhibit cue lines to tie up Madarame. The rest were tied and muffled with rope and cloth.
"You all will pay for this, I have friends in high places who will hunt you down like dogs. The man in the black mask will always find his targets, I'll make sure of it. He'll never forgive a sleight against him and his associates!"
Ren was ready to leave the old man stuck rotting until he spoke.
"You can tell your boss we'll be ready. Skull, shut him up please." Ripping more of the leftover cloth from the storage room, he ties it around Madarame mouth.
"Better."
Leaving through the front door this time, Yusuke held firmly to the canvas that carried his Mother's legacy, riding back to the hideout in the early wanes of the morning.
"Thank you for saving my life Akira." The black-haired artist uttered back at camp.
"You're welcome Yusuke. And my name is actually Ren, I'm sorry for being deceitful in the beginning, I have to be cautious with who I meet."
"I understand. Feels like the people you thought you knew is someone completely different." He voiced sadly. Yusuke felt like his life had been a lie up to this point. "Akira…I mean Ren there was something you mention back there something about the Phantom Thieves. What did you mean by that?"
He had a feeling this was going to come up eventually. "I guess you can say we are a gang of outlaws, a group of rejects that don't conform with society. Two of us are wanted men, and some are just people trying to live their life however they can. We're not cold-blooded murders, we just want to help those less unfortunate."
"I see."
"There is someone we are after, one that had trampled on the lower backs of others. Just like I told Ryuji, Ann, and Shiho, there is no obligation with us. I'm not forcing you to stay. If you like we'll be happy to drop you off at the nearest train station or town."
Helping others less fortunate he said. It didn't take long for Yusuke to see that when he walked into the camp. It wasn't much but Ren tried to make it a temporary home for his companions. Even the small child had a glow to him. "I would like to join you all if you don't mind?"
"Are you sure, it might get dangerous as you saw back there."
"I'm afraid I'm not very familiar with a gun but that man did train me a little in the way of the sword. I believe I am also proficient in the throwing knife if you'll have me."
"I think we got a spot for you." Ren guided the artist closer to the run-down house as the rest of the group started to pack things away for their next destination.
A few days later…
Madarame was beyond pissed. He and his men were still stuck in the blasted back room for who knows how long beaten and sore. People had to wonder why the exhibit was closed abruptly without his appearance. Maybe two days pass before the door was busted open from the outside. They appeared to be Lawmen based on their clothing. He was roughly picked up and dragged all the way to the station. They took him to a back room where it was just two chairs and a table.
He had to wait another 30 minutes before anyone came in. A young man in a pristine suit walked in with some folders in hand. He carried a small bandage on his head and left hand.
"I apologize if my men were rough with you, it seems you've had a rough couple of days yourself. Mr. Ichiryusai Madarame I presume."
"Yes, that's me."
"I am Detective Goro Akechi, I have a few questions for you…."
A/N As mention no new chapter next week. Chapter 14 should be released June 26th.
Also yes for those who are wondering that was a line referencing another game. I could resist XD
As always thank you for reading Until the Sun Set and feel free to review. Till next time
