Hey everyone? Hehe…
Uhm… how are yall?
Okay I am pretty sure this update surprised you given that I was gone for a while. I can tell you there is a reason for this wait.
First of all… lack of time. I am currently travelling so I am unable to really get time to myself when im not surrounded by people to get some stuff done.
Second of all… a bit of a writers block. I don't know I just couldn't really get myself to write. This was very weird for me. And while I have certain things for the story already planned out actually GETTING there is… tricky.
Third of all… anxiety. Why anxiety? Well take a look at that FAVORITE COUNT!
I mean… HOLY FUCK. I am speechless. Guys. Over 200 people follow my work. This is… I cant even describe this thank you all so much. I never expected so many people to start following ANYTHING I do so yeah. Bitch in panic and more than a little nervous about how people could react to what is gonna follow. I want you all to enjoy this and you deserve the best story I can make from this concept. So I really hope you continue to enjoy.
Fourth and last... Internet connection. Or well the lack of it.
Okay enough of the excuses I also want to say something about the reviews. Thanks for all of them! I REALLY love reading through them all and while I sadly don't always have the time to reply and sometimes forget or than see them and its in the time where it would be awkward to reply I really love reviews. Small piece of insight… every writer loves them so yeah just wanted to say that too.
Also Thanks for all the suggestions to the Velvet Room. I asked for input and you guys delivered. So far we have:
A Café
A room like in P2
A Hightec hideout/bunker
A Bond villain like Apartment
Something resembling the French revolution
A Thieves Guild ( sadly I never played skyrim sorry)
A Clock
A Theatre
And I like pretty much all of these suggestions. I did remember something however also. That the Velvet Rooms are always supposed to be a representation of moving forward, since they help the Trickster in achieving his goal and the Prison was akiras Velvet Room because Yaldabaoth didn't want him to succeed. So… Guess I need to think of a way to build that in to.
However I think I got an idea. See you all had fantastc ideas and I wanted to include as many of them as possible since they all had potential to be very good and thematically fitting. So I think I got an idea…
Okay I think that about covers everything. Again I am VERY sorry for not replying to you all. I try to not let that become a habit. I really want to be the kind of content creator who is in touch with their audience. Like the people who make RWBY. BTW: kind of surprised no one of you pointed out the RWBY easter egg I made.
And lastly I feel like I should address something with Goro. I try to make her much more redeemable in this version. I cant go into how exactly but if you remember what I inserted considering the train accident you may have an idea about where I am trying to go with her.
Well anyway. I hope you enjoy!
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OH WAIT! Before you all read I will warn you. This chapter is not as lighthearted as the previous ones. There will actually be a pretty dark scene.
Why you ask?
Well… this is the chapter where Akira and Ryuji first enter Kamoshidas palace. And if you didn't forgot what one of he main ideas for this story is…
DON'T WORRY! There will be no rape! But Kamoshida will attempt it.
I am sorry Ryuko. But don't worry! It will be nothing to dark! I just… wanted to stay realistic. While there will be no rape and Ryuko will be unharmed one scene in this chapter is very likely to trigger someone so I will enter a warning when it starts.
Okay now Im done.
"So. Everything going well?"
"Yeah everything alright. Why shouldn't it be?" Akira answered with another question.
"Well it doesn't happen every day that someone runs away from me screaming. Actually that was the first time."
Akira slurped his coffee before giving his reply, "I simply do not need to know what amorous adventures you got up too in your youth. I have already been through enough traumatizing things lately."
Sojiro eyed Akira as if he couldn't right believe him. "You got arrested and had to introduce yourself to a new school. That doesn't scream traumatizing."
"If it wouldn't be for the simply reason I am NOT willing to have this discussion right now, I could literally give you nightmares with my stories."
Akira rubbed his forehead, "Look I am REALLY sorry. I just was stressed out yesterday. And I don't appreciate people thinking of me as a player or something like that."
The barista didn't sound at all convinced but thankfully stopped pushing. "Okay fine. Whatever it is that is getting on your nerves I hope you dealt with it. Now finish your Curry and hurry to school."
Oh how Akira WISHED he would have already dealt with it.
In silence he finished his breakfast, still unable to believe the meal even works this well as a breakfast despite having used it as such over a literal year by now, and thanked Sojiro before walking of after turning the sign on open.
Taking a empty seat in the subway the soon to be Phantom Thief let himself sink and groaned in relief.
He remembered an advice Sojiro once gave him. About not staying up to late or otherwise he would get sick, a motto that Morgana lived by too. Having stayed up and working on his schedule for the coming year, managing his equipment and Personas and talking with Igor and Lavenza he didn't really got much sleep but it would have to do. Perhaps he really did need Morgana for this. He thought back to everything he had done last night.
After escaping Sojiro and the growing risk of being subjected to a speech by him, the raven had opened the package Lavenza gave him, studying all its contents.
First, he almost fainted at the amount of Money he had at his disposal.
Morgana had explained to him once that it is in the mind of every human to be rewarded after a job well done, so it is also with winning a fight in the Metaverse. The harder the task, the bigger the reward. This was why shadows always left Money and Items behind.
But how could he guess that the task of killing a god translates into YEN!?
Not that Akira was one to complain. More Money meant more resources for the coming year. He could probably just pay Kaneshiro should they get blackmailed by him again. Hell he literally possessed more Money than Kaneshiro had ever seen! He thought that the fake money of his treasure was the most but that was PEANUTS compared to this!
Somewhat managing to take the reality of having become an at the very least multi-millionaire (he gave up counting at some point when the pile just didnt get smaller) over night, he swore himself to invite Goro to dinner next time, before putting the money away under his mattress, the safest place he could think of as of now. Not anything original but until he found a better solution it would have to do.
Other contents of the box were their weapons and guns, a lot of medicine, some materials, his Laptop and other Thief tools. He even got the Phantom Thief banner and the small souvenirs he got with his friends from the first year, something that did brighten his heart a lot. They weren't just reminders of special days he shared with his friends but now a reminder that he could change their fate.
The last thing inside the box was his old notebook, with each and every entry he made during Round one. This tiny black book became his most cherished of all the Items inside the Box. It was quite literally a step by step guide on how to do the perfect run. Every event, every deadline and every possible surprise was inside it and he was prepared for every single one...
Probably… It depends on just how much a certain river diverged from its course.
Taking it with him to the Velvet Room he spend hours arguing and plotting with his two trusted allies. By now he had a sort of list about his main objectives and the most pressing matters and wrote it all down on a small blue book with a golden V, a gift of Igor to apologize for the Velvet Room still not being ready. The same book he had in his bag.
Speaking of the Velvet Room, Igor had asked Akira quite a lot of questions and gave him a small insight into a few possibilities. He really was going all out on trying to make him a proper Velvet Room and he happily shared his ideas with the Thief in making. They ranged from simple but practical; Cafes and blue painted rooms; to extravagant, like Apartments you would see in a Spy movie and High Tec hideouts and Bunkers; to truly bizarre like a house in the French Revolution; a Clock tower and some sort of Guild and even a Theatre. Igor even thought of a Motorcycle which they sadly had to shoot down because it would have been too small. After Igor finally decided that he had enough information to work out a proper Velvet Room the trio began to write.
Deciding there is no harm in overlooking one more time, he took it back out and opened the first page. Thankfully the book was able to create as many pages as he needed without ever growing bigger. Something he couldn't help but compare to a certain fictional Book with the capability to kill people…
His silver eyes glided over the words as he memorized each and every syllable once more. In no particular order.
Objective 1: Save my friends.
If I get my head into this it should be easy. I just have to kill the sentient Cup at the bottom of Mementos again and make sure they are strong enough to handle it. This means I need to be aware of just how strong they are at any given time and make sure to make more training time. If I could assemble the full team earlier this may be easier.
Objective 2: Save Shiho from being raped.
Here is the thing… he only got to Shiho after I talked Ann out of going to Kamoshida. If I don't talk with Ann she would have been in Shiho's position. I can't let that happen either but I'm unwilling to have either of them be at this bastards service any more. I could possibly talk Shiho into leaving the school before Ann and then talk with her but what is to say Kamoshida wont search for another victim? I don't think I am fast enough to make it from the Diner back to the school before Kamoshida did anything to a student and while I could use Morgana to take Shiho away while I talk with Ann or MAYBE use the Metaverse to travel faster, it still doesn't protect any other potential victims. I need to make sure that Kamoshida is out of the picture that day. Currently my best solutions are to try and drug him with sleeping pills or pull him for a small amount of time in the Metaverse and have his freak out deny him from doing anything to anyone. Igor had the idea of imprisoning him in the Velvet Room but I don't want to risk it. Looks like I need to talk with Tae soon.
Objective 3: Take out the Palace Rulers
I've already done this. I know every Palace like the back of my hand. Shouldn't be too difficult. The tricky thing is if I should stick to the plan and not do the Palaces in a different order. I would definitely like to help Futaba as soon as I can but how do I do that in between the other Palaces? Sae makes things even more complicated. I am going to completely destroy the timeline like this. For now I stick to the plan but that doesn't mean I cant try and do something for Futaba and Sae.
Objective 4: Save Haru's father.
As much as I hate him for what he was willing to do, Haru doesn't deserve to mourn her father again. I simply don't know how to do that. Goro is the one to kill him last time so if I manage to save her I could save him but who's to say no one else will be out for his blood. We are talking about a national if not worldwide conspiracy here. I sadly don't have a solution for this problem right now either.
Objective 5: Save Goro.
I can do this. I am already on a good way. I wont let you die Crow. Not this time.
Objective 6: Think of more Objectives. You have a whole year worth of things to do.
Closing the book he put it away and searched for the reassuring warmth of Arsene. As big of a pain he was yesterday with Yuzu he was still his Persona and his soul incarnate. "Hey buddy how are you?"
No reply.
"Arsene?"
Still no reply.
What is this? Why wasn't he talking to him?
That was when Akira remembered. Arsene was a bit of a show of… like him. He probably saved his energy for his 'Awakening'. After all it would raise quite a few questions if Ryuji were to find out he already knew how to summon what looks like a Fusion between a Gentleman and a Demon.
…
"Goddammit" Akira cursed in his head.
Why was it this hard for him to remember!? Ryuji was Ryuko now!
He told himself the new situation like a hundred times before going to bed. He wasn't not gonna allow himself to faint again because of some sex change! One time was more than enough. The next time he would see them in their new… state. He would just accept it. No freak out. No fainting. No nothing.
It was just the way things are now and while Akira needed a bit more of a talk with Igor and Lavenza, he thought he could finally proceed normally. Sure it was a surprise but… he was over it… he hoped so.
The speaker announced their arrival at Shibuya and Akira tugged the book away again. Walking out of the train his mind raced to remember what was supposed to happen today. Meeting Ann, Pervertoshida, Ryu…ko saying the Keywords, entering the Palace, awakening, Morgana, going to school late.
A small drop of rain fell on his head, reminding him of another certain thing. He sighed "And I forgot my umbrella again."
Quickly running under the nearest awning for protection of the weather, Akira pulled out his phone, just to make sure the ap was still functioning. Lo and Behold… the weird eye like symbol was still there and soon enough took up the whole screen. Footsteps could be heard next to him. "Guess that's Ann now."
He turned his head more than prepared to meet the red Panther for the 'first' time. But when he looked at her…
His breath was taken away.
There she was, the half Japanese model. Her precious Clover hoddie having shielded her from the rain. As she took it of her platinum hair fell down her back like a waterfall of gold. It was clean Akira immediately noticed, not even the slightest drop of blood woven in it. Neither was she lying on the ground, parts of her body separated. She was… alive. She was alive and the beauty of life took Akira's breath away.
He had never time to think about that. Too occupied was he with the new bodies of his Confidants to really think about how much of a miracle it was that they were breathing. His best friends, most trusted allies, cherished companions… were alive.
And now that he saw Ann delivering the proof that the time travel really worked… he was overwhelmed.
The student turned her head to meet his gaze and swallowed. These blue eyes were so piercing at times.
"Hey… you're okay?" she asked with curiosity and slight hesitation.
No. No he wasn't okay. He wanted to run up to her, hug her, say how sorry he was and do it all again on every single one of his friends. But somehow, he managed to restrain himself. "Oh, YEAH I'm fine. Great actually, thanks for asking. Its just…" "Quick Joker think of something!" "I think I've seen you before. Aren't you Ann Takamaki? The modelling daughter of two fashion designers?"
A blush creeped up on Anns face and she gave him a flustered smile that brightened his world. "You know about me?" she asked intrigued.
"Yeah. I saw you in a magazine once. I thought you were great…" he caught himself, was he going overboard? "Oh sorry this probably sounds weird. I mean you just meet me."
"Oh no its fine!" she shoot his apology down, "Its just, this is the first time someone just noticed me because of it. I had no idea there was… ANYONE who would actually recognize me one day. I am kind of flattered." She was positively glowing. Akira vaguely remembered Ann telling him she wasn't sure if she wanted to take modelling serious at the time. He may just have unintentionally given her some new found motivation.
A small, yet comfortable silence was between them till Akira gave a somewhat acted cough. "Sorry. Where are my manners. It is not fair to have me know your name but not you know mine. Hi, I am Akira Kurusu, new student at Shujin Academy. I assume you go there to?" he reached out to her in a handshake. Anns eyes widened slightly and Akira could tell she was trying to decide something about him. His record was already leaked. To his joy, she took his hand with a smile, still not one to believe in labels. "Hello Akira. Its nice to meet you."
They just enjoyed that moment between them, two friend reunited with only one remembering tgeir parting. Akira wondered if Ann could somehow feel what he felt. If Goro and Yuzu could feel it to. This connection.
Sadly the saying 'All good things must come to an end' proved itself true again as the engine of a car came to a sudden silent next to them.
Akiras eyes widened.
The window of the car was rolled down and Kamoshida showed his ugly head, "Morning, can I give you a-"
Akira didn't even let him finish as he grabbed Kamoshida by his head, violently tearing him out of the car before opening the door and smashing Kamoshida's head with it. The perverted teacher screaming in pain as his head was being split open, brainmatter and blood flying everywhere. Over and over and over and over and over and over and ov-
…
Wait what?
Akira blinked rapidly. That was a… violent daydream. He took himself a second to reaffirm where he was. Still shaking Ann's hand, still under the awning and Kamoshit…
"Morning, can I give you a ride Takamaki-chan?"
…Yeah he was still there too.
He watched as Ann's expression grew sadder. "Sure," she spoke tired. So tired.
"Wait!" Akira half yelled, catching Ann by surprise.
Kamoshida was surprised to and looked agitated. "Eh… what? Kid if you want a ride to…"
"Why would I want to step into your car I try to keep someone out!" he snapped at Kamoshida, before turning his attention back to Ann. "Ann you really shouldn't just get into a Car with a stranger."
Ann looked taken aback. Positively stunned even. He could guess her thoughts somewhat. Why does he want to protect me? How do I deal with Kamoshida? What would he do if I refuse to go in his car? How do I explain Akira?
It broke Akira's heart when Ann faked a happy expression and excitedly told him about how he was no stranger but Shujins renowned Volleyball coach and how close he was with his students. Said teachers smug face was having Akira think of his little daydream just now again.
Defeat rose in him as he heard Kamoshida say something about it being recommendable that he worried about another student, that he shouldn't come late to school and ann still stepping in that bastards car.
As they drove away Akira wanted to scream. How could he fuck THIS up!? He couldn't even change something as small as this!? Was fate really unchangeable? Was he doomed to just went through this whole ye-…
No. Calm down. He was overreacting. This was just one Car ride! One car ride where nothing happened! He couldn't let this get to him. Just take a deep breath and concentrate on…
"Damnit! Screw that pervert teacher!"
"FUCK!"
And now he was in a whole different panic again.
That voice. That was most DEFINITLY female Ryuji. Akira could feel himself sweating.
"NO! NONONONONO! I am NOT going to break down again! You hear that Akira! Do not freak out! She is Ryuko! She is RYUKO! SHE IS RYUKO! FUCKING DEAL WITH IT!"
"Pervert Teacher?" he spoke his line in a much calmer tone than he had in his head and turned to the runner, who in turn turned to him.
Ryuko was about his height. Her hair was still bleached, much fitting her delinquent looking style. Her hair was longer, bangs framing her face nicely and the rest of her hair put into a ponytail, with the aid of a bright yellow scrunchy, that went down behind her, reaching somewhat farther down her neck. He could also see two golden piercings on her left ear. Her body was still looking quite athletic and what he guessed to be C or D-Cup breasts were hidden by her ZOMG shirt.
…
Huh. He didn't faint. A success. Or maybe he was just getting conditioned to crazy.
Ryuko eyed him quickly and eventually replied to him, in a tone that still very much said 'I am done taking shit from others'. "Yeah, pervert teacher. What? Cant accept the fact that your precious Volleyball coach is a disgusting piece of filth?"
Ok. Someone is in a bad mood. Akira couldn't blame her. But really, did she REALLY believe him to be in the same boat as him? Akira felt like throwing up just imagining it. "Better say something to clear this up."
So he faked a panic and rage, twisting his face into a scowl. "WHAT!? Are you telling me this bastard is really some perv!? Fuck I knew I shouldn't have let Ann go with him! She told me he was nice and just looking out for his students. So she lied to cover him!? OH FUCK!"
Ryuko was not having a good day. First she ended up oversleeping by half an hour. Then she accidentally pouring Orange juice over her cereals (How that happened she had no idea. She blamed the latest all nighter) in some bad attempt to at least get SOMETHING for breakfast. Than she had to throw away her running boots because she couldn't get the smell of the dog pop she stepped on two days ago out and on top of all of that she ended up being late for her meeting wit Ann to go to school together. And of freaking course Kamoshida arrived in his asshole car of douchebaggery to 'selflessly' bring Ann to school himself.
The fake blonde was pissed at herself. Why did this shit keep on happening to her?
So yeah, it was kind of unpreventable that she would snap at the first person who spoke to her today. And since this guy wore a Shujin uniform and questioned the pervert teacher, it wasn't exactly a huge leap in logic for her to assume that he was one of Kamoshit's lackeys.
When she saw him talking with Ann just as she stepped in his car she had run to pull Ann away from there, but OF COURSE her leg had to ache JUST THAN leaving her to be unable to walk for a few minutes and when she FINALLY could walk again Ann had already disappeared.
But… this was a surprise for her.
Her entire attitude did a 180 degree turn as she formed a question. "Wait you believe me?"
"DUH! I have eyes! I saw this bastard was bad news the second I saw him! Fuck how could I have been so stupid!"
Okay Ryuko had NOT been prepared for something like this. She half expected to be involved in a discussion with some young boy trying to defend his idol and not…. Well someone else actually believing her! But not only was he trying to protect her best friend, he was feeling awful about this.
"Okay calm down. Don't worry its nothing too bad."
"Nothing to bad? A girl just stepped in the car of some pervert! How isn't this bad?!"
"Look I can assure you he wont do anything to Ann."
"How do you know?"
"I have been familiar with this routine trust me. Kamoshida loves his car. Its his baby. He got it back from his height as an Olympian Athlete. He waxes it every week. There is no way he would risk making it dirty in anyway. Besides this isn't the first time a girl had to drive with him. He will only give her some looks and enjoy that she is dependant on him. He wouldn't do anything to her while driving or inside." That's what his room in the school is for, she added with bitterness in her head.
Thankfully her speech seemed to have somewhat worked. The boy calmed down somewhat and seemed to think strongly about what she just said. "well… its calming to know THAT but I still feel like shit for letting it happen."
Ryuko gave a sigh. "I can relate actually."
"Pardon?"
She went through her hair with her left hand, closing her eyes in shame, "I was supposed to meet up with her earlier. But I overslept and she ended up waiting for me and meeting him. So really I think were both to blame. I am going to have to apologize to her later." She confessed.
When she looked at him again Ryuko saw worry in those silver eyes. Was he still worried for Ann? She couldn't blame him. She was furious the first time he drove Ann anywhere but since he never did anything, it became a messed up routine. Ryuko still tried to keep these instances to a minimum though because she didn't want one of her best (and only) friends to be uncomfortable.
She put a hand on his shoulder, as a sort of comfort, "Hey. I promise you Ann will be fine. I can assure you if I wouldn't be 100 percent confident in that I would NOT be able to talk with you like this right now."
This seemed to have finally done the trick and the boy calmed down completely. "I guess so. Still I am sorry I couldn't stop him."
Ryuko could actually smile at that. Was this guy for real? She didn't remember ever meeting someone feeling bad about failing to help someone. "Its fine. Thanks though for actually trying something. That's a first."
"What do you mean?" he asked perplex. "No one else in Shujin Academy is willing to do anything to Kamoshida. Well except yours truly. Seriously its like he is the King of a effin castle sometimes. Probably thinks of himself as one too."
"Okay that's just fucked up."
"Language."
He blinked. "Excuse me?"
Ryuko rolled her eyes. "You said the F word like three times in the last minute."
Now he was actually giggling. "The F word? Really?"
"Yeah the F word."
"Hehe. Alright whatever." He let out another small laugh. Ryuko, rolling her eyes, eventually was infected by it and gave a giggle to. She actually liked this guy. He seemed nice. Now that she thought about it… who actually was he? She doesn't remember ever seeing him at Shujin before.
Holding out her hand she went for a proper hello. "My name is Ryuko. Ryuko Sakamoto. And you are?"
He took her hand, giving her a smile she returned. "I am Akira. Akira Kurusu. I am new at Shujin so I basically don't know anyone yet."
Wait a goddamn minute. Akira Kurusu? She couldn't help but give her damnest to supress the frown that came over her face. She had heard rumours about someone named Akira Kurusu. Apparently, he went to Juvie after assaulting some poor upstanding guy. It was bloody to. The lawyers of his victim didn't even want to allow him to be present at his trial in fear of Akira recognizing him and finishing what he started. Some woman apparently was involved too.
Than there were also some other things talked about. Which all eventually deviated from person to person. Someone were straight up bullshit like that he killed one of his former schools teachers.
After giving it a few seconds of thoughts, she smiled at him brightly. "Its nice meeting you Akira."
Ryuko has long stopped giving a damn about rumours. He has basically disproven everything within the first minutes of her meeting him.
Besides… she found t kind of funny to imagine the other people's expression once they see the 'Track traitor' being friends with the 'Psycho out of town'.
Akira smiled to himself. This was working better than he expected!
He had managed to keep his cool and even get on Ryuko's good side. And no fainting this time around.
But he did feel very disgusted with the information he learned. While it was nice knowing Ryuko and Ann stayed friends in this timeline the fact that I became a routine for Ann to be driven by the false King made his skin crawl. Th calming thing is at least he didn't do anything too severe yet to anyone it seems.
"Thankfully were just in time huh Arsene?"
Still no reply. By now Akira was getting irritated.
"Come on Arsene I know you're there. What, now that I am able to have a conversation without panic you are being silent?"
"Something wrong?" Ryuko asked him, still no idea what they were walking into. "No I'm good. Just a bit dizzy still." He lied.
Truthfully, he was concerned. Was there a guarantee the Nav worked this time? If people's gender can change than what about the Palaces? Could Kamoshidas palace be something entirely different this time? He didn't really had a chance to check the Nav with Ryuko next to him so what if…
"What the hell?!"
And just like that his worries were laid to rest, as Ryuko shouted in shock at the sight if a Castle replacing their School.
Putting on his mask of cluelessness, Akira feigned blissful obliviousness. "Did… we make a wrong turn somewhere?"
"No this should be right." Ryuko insisted, "I walk this way constantly. I mean… I didn't even knew there WAS a Castle in Tokyo? How the hell did we get here?"
"Hey don't look at me I just followed you. And for the record I wasn't aware Tokyo had castles either. But for all its worth… this seems to be Shujin." He answered while pointing towards a sign reading Shujin Academy.
Ryuko only got further confused. God how Akira pitied her. This wasn't even funny. He still remembered the first time he entered the Palace. To say he was shocked couldn't even come close to it. He genuinely thought he was getting crazy. "Maybe this is a Trick?"
Ryuko just shrugged and sighed, "I guess all we can do is go inside and ask?"
"I guess." Was all he answered as they stepped into the building.
Ryuko's face was turning into a mixture of awe and shock as she looked around the great hall of the entry area. "That's so weird."
He saw her getting more and more uncomfortable. He should at least try to ease her nerves a bit, even though he knew just how things were meant to play out next. "Maybe we can call someone?"
Blinking she turned towards him and he could see how Ryuko was cursing herself. Of course, why hasn't she thought of that sooner. "Good idea."
She grabbed her phone from her skirt pocket and Akira mirrored her actions. "What the shit? I got no signal?"
"Me neither I only got… oh not THAT thing again!" he acted as if he was annoyed.
"What thing?" came the question and all Akira did in answer was to show her his screen. The Metaverse Navigator symbol taking it all up. Tilting her head in confusion Akira could already tell what Ryuko was going to ask so he already answered. "This… weird App thingy has been on my phone ever since I entered Tokyo! Nothing I do is getting rid of it!"
"Okay that your phone has a Virus sucks but were still in a goddamn castle in the middle of nowhe-"
"Halt!"
They both jumped, one in genuine shock the other in act. There he stood, one of the crazy knights of the castle.
The blonde clutched the place where her heart was as if to calm it down. "Geez you freaked me out. Who are you? A student?" she started to approach the Knight but Akira grabbed her by the arm. "Äh Ryuko I don't think you should get near to this guy."
"What? Why? Come on there is no way any of this is real."
Ah isn't it interesting how the human mind tries to justify things it can't understand?
"Come on buddy, funs over!" she ripped herself free from Akiras hand and walked towards the Knight, "This joke aint funny." She complained only for the guard to suddenly point his SWORD at her throat! Ryuko immediately paled. "HEY! EASY MAN!"
"Intruders! Arrest them!" The Knight shouted trough the Castle, not caring for Ryuko in the slightest.
And suddenly, space began to ripple and shadow like goo or whatever Shadows were made up of, started to build up, forming into three more Knights. "What the!?" Ryuko shouted as she took a step back. "Run!" Akira screamed, grabbing her by the hand again and running towards the entry. Only, just like last time, more knights blocked their way.
This time around he was the first one to get knocked down by a shield from one of the corrupted Shadows.
Ryuko screamed as he went unconscious and all Akira could think was, "Arsene your awakening better be TWICE as good this time."
…
"Hey…"
"Hey! Wake up!"
"Uuuuugh." Akira groaned as his head pounded. Getting knocked out by these things still sucked. He couldn't wait till he got to be a real Phantom Thief again and tear their damned masks off.
"Hey you're all right?" Akira turned his head towards the voice and came face to face with Ryuko, worry written all over her face. It made him feel a bit nostalgic. "Yeah I guess." He rubbed his head, "What about you? You okay?"
"More or less… I guess." She answered but still sounding very much nervous. Crossing her arms and rubbed some sore places where she was struck. "I guess this really is real huh?" she turned to him and from the tone Akira could already guess se didn't want to hear the truth. Her whole body language was showing a mixture of nervousness, fear and rage that was meant to cover up the two.
Akira didn't really know what to say. He hated to see Ryuko like this but he didn't want to give anything away, so he just shrugged. An exhausted sigh was all he got in return, before his friend stomped towards the bars and began to shout at no one in particular.
"Hey! Let us out of here! We didn't do anything wrong! Someone!? Hello!? I know someone's is out there!"
Just like last time… no reply.
"DAMNIT!" she punched the bars, who wouldn't budge even an inch, stomping back towards the small bed. "WHERE ARE WE!? IS THIS SOME MESSSED UP TV SHOW!?"
"Okay Ryuko. Try to calm down."
"HOW am I supposed to be calm!? Where in some effin dungeon inside some castle that I didn't even know exists!"
Before Akira could try again Ryuko already cut him of. "Come on let's find a way out of here." And already she ran up to the bars checking for any weak spots.
Akira sighed and looked around the dungeon. It was very understandable why Ryuko was freaking out so much. On the second look, this cell seemed even worse than the first time. It was cold and chilly inside and the walls had some mold sticking to them. Wet spots where on the ground everywhere and then there where the chains hanging on the walls… with dried blood on them.
Akira shuddered and repressed these thoughts. Where they always their or was he simply just now noticing them? He chose ont to think about it and instead try to contact Arsene once again. But before he could…
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
A chilling scream halled through the dungeon, strong enough to make Ryuko let go of the bars and for Akira to jump. Another scream followed, one of a boy he could make out, probably one of the many that were being drilled in these dungeons. Then another one…. A female this time. It was muffled and still somehow louder than the guy and… full with panic and fear. Akira didn't even want think about what Kamoshida thought about now for… these screams to occur.
Ryuko just stood there on the bars, as if frozen in place. Her body was on edge and she was looking like she was on the edge of freaking out "Goddamit. What is this?" she asked much softer, more defeated this time and Akira couldn't bear it. Walking up to the girl he put a hand on her shoulder. She flinched but made no move to pull him away. "Calm down. I know this looks bad… I am just as confused as you, but I am sure we can get out of here."
She turned towards him and hopelessness was written all over her face "How? I tried to break out already. These bars won't budge."
"I don't know but…"
Clearly the wrong thing to say. Ryuko looked down again and was about to walk back to the bed as Akira grabbed her and pulled her into a hug.
Ryuko was shocked. Akira just hugged her. Why? She was about to snap at him but he talked first. "Look. I know this looks bad but don't worry. I am not about to let something happen to you."
Ryuko was stunned at first. No one ever said something like that to her. It was something straight out of these romance movies Ann loved so much.
But for as cliché as the line was, it did somehow manage to clam her down. Also… Akira was quite warm and the hug felt… nice.
She eventually returned it after some thinking but couldn't help but mock it. "Really? Are you trying to play a Knight in shining armour yourself?" she said somewhat amused.
"I just wanted to make you feel better. I am no Knight but I just… well I am the best you got right now."
She actually gave a small laugh. "Well… there could be worse options I guess."
Akira now made her look in his eyes. Silver orbs that radiated comfort and confidence. How could he be like that in such a moment!?
He opened his mouth to say something again. Ryuko could already guess what he was gonna say. Calm down. We get out of here. Ryuko couldn't really believe him but she still wanted to hear it, hear him be so confident about their survival, so she didn't interrupt.
Though it was someone else that ended up speaking… SOMETHING worse.
"Well, well, well, would you look at that."
Chills went down her spine and the tiny hairs on her arms stood on edge as she freed herself from Akira's hug and looked at the face of the man that made her last years a hell, accompanied by four of these damned guards. "YOU!"
He gave her his disgusting smirk again, the same face she dreamed of punching bloody everyday. "Ryuko-chan. What a surprise to see you here. I expected some Thief but instead I got a cheap whore."
If looks could kill Ryuko would have massacred Kamoshida a dozen times over. Yet someone was blocking her from him now. "Leave her alone." Akira spoke, stepping in front of her and reaching out an arm behind him in a protective gesture. The tiny still rational part of Ryuko couldn't help but think how what Akira said suddenly turned out to not be just empty promises and was grateful for it. She didn't notice it but said part ended up grabbing the back of his blazer.
The rest of her was still very much ready to jump on Kamoshida and beat him up, not caring how that went last time.
The pervert teacher mustered Akira and than gave his disgusting grin again. How was this guy even dressed!? Why the hell was he wearing nothing but flip flops, a cape and some tiny speedo!?
"Heh. Really Ryuko? The new delinquent? I always knew you were a whore with low standards but him? That's pathetic even for you. How much did he pay you? Or are you his slut for free?"
She snarled at him, not noticing how Akiras body tightened in rage. "Go to hell you bastard! Where are we!? Let us out!"
Now Kamoshidas smile became sadistic. "Daring to command the King in his own castle? That screams for a punishment."
Snapping his fingers the guards went to work as if it was a well known routine. They opened the door and before Ryuko could question anything Akira was slapped away like wet tissue paper, landing on the other end of the cell with a cry.
"Akira!" she went to help him but was shoved backwards. Now surrounded by knights, she slammed herself into one of them, strong enough to knock him over. Maybe they could get out of here?
Only for another Knight to grab hold of her and pick her up like she weighted nothing. She struggled wildly in his grip. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Akira try to help her but he was slammed against the wall by two other knights, pinned there and struggling as futile as she did.
Kamoshida approached her, but before he did.
"Leave her alone you piece of shit!"
Kamoshida looked surprised for a moment. He turned his head towards akira, in disbelief someone could ever utter these words to him. "What was that?"
He stomped towards him now, Akira having nothing but fury in his eyes. "Don't you dare tell me you don't know who I am?" the wannabe king asked Akira, who looked at him with nothing but defiance. "Oh I know who you are. Some high school teacher on a power trip."
Kamoshida was furious at these words. "How dare you say that!? I am not some teacher! I am the KING!" he punched Akira in his abdomen and the boy curled up. That looked nothing but… brutal! The only reason Akira was still standing was because of the guards pinning him.
Kamoshida roughly grabbed him by his hair, forcing him too look into his... where those eyes yellow?
Despite the rough treatment Akira didnt budge though and continued to stare at him with cold hate. "That look in your eyes irritates me!" The King cursed and shoved him into the Wall strong enough for brittle to come of.
The next words he said were downright horrifying for her. "I believe it is time for an execution."
"Stop it! Leave him alone!" she snapped at Kamoshida. She couldn't let him die because of her!
The pervert turned towards her and approached her again, Akira looked to be thinking very hard and didn't shout at him this time. He eyed her with the expression of a Predator and commanded his Knights once more. "Chain her up."
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(WARNING FOR ATTEMPTED SEXUAL ASSAULT. THIS IS NOT A LEMON! WHAT IS ABOUT TO NEARLY HAPPEN HERE IS NOT WHAT I MADE THIS STORY FOR! RYUKO WILL NOT GET RAPED BUT KAMOSHIDA WILL TRY!)
The knight she knocked down picked himself up again and together with the one that held her she was slammed to the wall just like Akira was. Chains were cuffed to her hands. She struggled even more wildly at that, Kamoshida let her as if he was enjoying his favorite show. After some minutes of futile struggling, dread build in her stomach. "I'm trapped. With him."
She looked at him again and from his face he might just have read her mind. "That's right. Not feeling so aggressive, now are we? Now that you're helpless?"
A thick hand was pressed to her throat and she started chocking. "Get away from me."
His face came closer to hers and his breath made her want to vomit. "Not like that is any different. You were always powerless against me. I just made it a tad more obvious."
He released her throat and she took in deep breaths, not out of necessity but out of growing panic. "He can't."
His hand approached her skirt…
"NO! DON'T TOUCH ME YOU CREEP!" she flailed her legs wildly, like a caged animal. But said caged animal was fighting out of fear not anger anymore. Tears were forming in her eyes.
Kamoshida only seemed annoyed. "Spread her legs."
These guards from hell obeyed and grabbed hold of her legs, despite her shouting and pleading. "Don't you want to save your friend?"
This made Ryuko stop. As if he found her stop button. "Wha-?"
Before she finished asking Kamoshida already spoke. "Don't you want to save your little friend? If you don't cooperate I have him tortured. Tortured till he his on the brink of death and will beg for it. So really… it is in your best interest to not fight back."
Ryukos eyes widened and tears streamed down this time. She couldn't let Akira be tortured! But she didn't want any of this!
She just wanted to go home. Crawl into her bed and pretend none of this ever happened.
"Please don't." she pleaded and felt disgusted in so many ways. Kamoshida only smiled. "I told you, you would regret denying me back than. This could have all been a lot easier. If you just behaved. But I guess better late than never."
His face neared hers and her heart was pounding like a jackhammer in fear. Every inch of her body was screaming at her to get away. "Now", this demon spoke again, "Why don't you give me a kiss for all the lost time. Then we can start with the real fun. Or I can start with your friend. Your choice."
He licked his lips and Ryuko felt sick. She never had sex before. She never even kissed someone and she didn't want him to be her first in ANYTHING! She had lost all fight she had left and just submitted to the hopelessness inside her.
"Help… someone." She pleaded in her mind.
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(Okay the scene is over. You can continue to read. It wont get any worse than this. Also if you managed to stomach that… this is probably as dark as this story is gonna get. You can continue to read now and don't worry Kamoshida is gonna get what he deserves.)
Akira was furious.
Oh to hell with furious he was absolutely LIVID!
He trashed around in sheer rage, the guards still holding him place.
He wouldn't let that happen. He would not let Ryuko suffer from Kamoshida anymore. He would not let her get raped!
"ARSENE!" he shouted in his mind as he was forced to watch how Kamosihda commanded his guards to hold Ryuko in place. "Where the hell are you!? Come out so I can stop this! NOW!"
"How disgusting."
Akira froze… and with him the world.
Everything around him stopped moving. Kamoshida, the guards Ryuko, no one even so much as twitched anymore. It was like time itself stopped.
And this voice… it wasn't Arsene. It was something… bigger. Something he could feel was powerful. It scared him. Where did it come from?
"Sins of man. Never fail to disgust me. People using the freedom of free will to bring pain upon the innocent. Misusing my gift to the world for causing suffering."
"What are you?" Akira asked in fear and… something else. An emotion… or being was inside him he couldn't quite grasp. He only felt that one time and that was when he… killed Yaldabaoth somehow.
"I am you Trickster of Rebellion. I am the Apex of your power. It took me some time to reform from Arsene after what happened but now… I'm back. Now… are you ready?"
Akira shuddered as his thoughts turned out to be true. This… sheer power… was part of him?
"I ask again Trickster, are you ready for your destiny?"
"What?"
"This world has become rotten. Humanity has committed more and more sins, taking joy out of suffering. False gods saw this and used it for their benefit. This world has reached the edge of ruin. Man turning demon to satiate their twisted desires. Gods who believe themselves to be almighty chain what's left to their will, wanting to see nothing but blind worship. Enslavement and corruption. Tyranny and dystopia. Are you ready to bring the end of this twisted world, so that humanity can set themselves free from false gods and tyrants?"
Akira wasn't afraid anymore. A fire build in his heart, stronger than the brightest star. He knew the answer. "Yes. I will stop all of it. Kamoshida, Yaldabaoth, any other tyrant. I will put an end to every single one of them!"
The being chuckled. "Very well."
And time began to move again, or maybe it was his own perception that started to slow down again.
Kamoshida approached Ryuko again..
"ENOUGH!"
And was immediately stopped by a roar of tranquil fury. One so strong it made his blood freeze in fear,
Ryuko and the guards seemed to be just as shocked and looked all towards the boy who was just now pinned to the wall.
His eyes were bright yellow, almost as sickelny so as the ones of the false King. Only that his shined brightly with resolve and hate and rebellion.
He gave the false king a glare and winds suddenly filled the cell. Strong enough for everyone to be thrown away by sheer force. Only Ryuko was staying in place due to the chains.
When the winds stopped and Kamoshida stopped shielding his face with his arms, he saw the same boy now wearing a white bird like mask. The boy… no… (whatever the hell he was!) gave him one glare and while his gaze was still fixed on him he ripped of the mask, not even flinching as his skin was torn of and blood spew from it like a crimson spring.
In his head…. One voice roared.
Noble Demon, fallen Angel of Justice. It is time for our blood oath.
I am thou, thou art I. Thou who is willing to face any tyrant, commit all sacrilegious acts for thy own justice. Thou ready to go into war against the forces of Heaven themselves and slay their divine for the justice thou believes in.
Thou destined to unleash the Chaos that shall put an end to the Laws Reign of Terror.
Let your Wings of Rebellion soar you through the damned land,
Let the Fire that punishes the wicked be your strength.
In this distorted world of false Gods and tyrants, became the harbinger of justice they all shall fear!
He exploded in a wave of blue fire, incinerating two of the Knights and making Kamoshida yelp in terror.
Ryuko was somehow untouched by the flames, only her chains melting away without causing her any harm, as she sat on the ground. Feeling… relief absurdly enough?
When the azure flames faded it was no longer Akira that stood in place. It was the one who will soon be known as Joker.
His expression was a mixture of madness and joy, one that made Kamoshida quiver in panic and crawl away from him.
The Flames appeared again, this time much smaller around him and… SOMETHING stepped out of him. An armed demon with six wings, halo and a loaded gun in hand. It was not much bigger than Akira himself but everyone could tell this… THING was still only allowing them to see a fraction of his might.
When man are confronted with something they fear, their reactions tend to vary. One is to try and eliminate it.
"Guards!" the King shouted but before they could even think about following his orders one was enveloped in the crimson coloured power of curse, evaporated within a second.
The other was within the fraction of a second punched into the ground by the armed demon, evaporating just like his comrade.
Another reaction of man when confronted with something they fear is to cower before it.
One that Kamoshida was approaching.
He wanted to scream his lungs out at the… the… THING in front of him.
"What… are you?" he asked with tears of fear rolling down his face.
Akira's reply was the last straw for him. Spoken with utter lack of empathy or boosting. As if simply reminding someone lower then him of an obvious fact.
"I am the Devil… and you entered Hell."
Kamoshida broke.
He whimpered in terror as he crawled as far away from the Devil as he could. Only for him to squirm like a pathetic worm as he was picked up by the armoured demon.
"No please! FORGIVE ME!" he cried. Cries that fell on deaf ears.
Akira smiled as he clenched his fist and punched Kamoshida right in the face, hearing a sick crunch as he did, sending the false King flying through the dungeon and castle, landing as a broken, bloody and barely alive heap within rubble miles away.
For as angry as Akira was… he still knew he needed him alive.
The demon returned to his soul. No longer needed for now.
Finally, Akiras' mind was cleared up again and he remembered what happened.
Turning towards his friend, he saw Ryuko was a mess. Eyes were wide, she was shaking and confused and shocked and to much to possibly name it all.
"Akira?" she whispered uncertain, but still grateful.
Akira kneeled next to her, nodding and very softly pulled the girl into a hug, whispering soft reassurances in her ear. Ryuko didn't fight it, but instead leaned into his embrace, clutching on her guardian demon for dear life and letting out a few soft sobs.
Akira knew they should probably get going as soon as possible. But for now, he just wanted to comfort his friend.
And were done for the Chapter.
I don't really know what to say honestly. Again I am sorry for his. I just really didn't see how to avoid something like this given Kamohida and given that he would jump at any opportunity like that. If its any conselation. You pretty much read the darkest part of the story. Don't expect it to get as dark as this EVER again. I felt uncomfortable just writing it. So yeah.
Okay moving on to different aspects of the chapter.
I still hope you enjoyed the chapter and how I did Ryuko and her appearance. I decide to not go into detail with the Ann because we all know what she looks like. The genderbent characters meanwhile will need some more explaining so I had to give the details.
I also decided to make akira rich yeah. He can use the money and should at least get some reward for saving the world. Know he has enough ressources to make sure that everyone will be prepared and in case any more probelsm arise.
And now Satanael is back baby! I go into detail about him some other time.
Don't have much to say except. See ya next chapter. I don't know when will it come out though so lets hope it wont take as long as this one.