Round Two

by Rouge Ebony

Joker defeated the false god... but at what price? His friends lay dead around him as he pulled the Trigger to drive Yaldabaoth out of existence. But Fate is kind to the Trickster for once and grants him a Second try to make things right and save those closest to him. Will he succeed? what else has changed in this new game? Akira Kurusu x Harem. lots of genderbent characters.

9. The Child of Death

Dear… fucking… mother of… YALDABITCH.

3 months.

3 FUCKING months.

Jesus Christ what TOOK me this long?

Like I put up a cliffhanger with Minako, a freaking previous Persona protagonist, make this mystery with Rise 'suicide' and just… it took me a fucking quarter year to follow up on this!?

Honestly… life? I guess? Stress. Brainstorming. Just… stuff? Constantly coming up and preventing me from writing? The typical kind of writers hesitation and worry that fills you from occasion when you realize people really read your stuff?

Just… all of the above.

Hnnnng… alright guys look I don't have an excuse. I just REALLY hope this chapter will be a good 'welcome back' for you all. This chapter is meant to give us a bit insight into Akira and answer some questions to things established while bringing in new elements and do a small relationship upgrade. I am kinda worried you all see this as a really… really, REALLY long filler chapter…

Buckle up people. Make yourself comfortable because this is like 23K words all together.

23K what the hell? Seriously WHY does everything just keep getting longer? I started with maybe 2 thousand? 8 chapters later were over 10 times that? These are over 45 pages here.

I am about 80 percent sure that was part of why it took so long.

Now enough of me being self-conscious about time. I really feel like this chapter is necessary when it comes to all of you understanding this 'World' im trying to create here.

I still think it could be better however. There is some stuff that I realized about my writing, like proper balance between drama and comedy for example, that I could do better. But like I said before, I know I will improve as the story goes on.

Okay before we go… you who read this on FF here are the guest answers,

Guest 2: Thank you so much :). I am very glad I am able to make it feel natural and hope to continue in the future. Also happy to manage to prevent it from feeling boring. I am trying to steadily form this AU so good to hear it works and that it gets you hooked :). Now lets take another step into the rabbit hole shall we?

TheB: Well the answer will be revealed now.

Guest: haha thanks! Well your… long, LONG wait is over :)

Guest: Thanks. Don't worry I have no intention at all to stop this train anytime soon. I intend to se this story through.

Guest: Its now buddy :)

Alright I believe that's all of it. Now I hope you enjoy chapter 9! :)

Now if you excuse me I am gonna take a nap or something to allow my brain to rest.

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(Before I let you read this chapter I believe I should give you a trigger warning. This became… surprisingly dark. I don't consider it as dark as Chapter 5 but I still felt the need to give a warning. I didn't wanna put this in the Author notes because I am not sure anymore how many read these.

The following scene and chapter has mentions and showings of severe depression, seriously meant to be unnerving OOC moments for two P3 characters and successful suicide. If you stomached Shiho's suicide attempt in the game you'll probably be fine.

My general policy regarding triggers is anything that goes darker than scenes depicted in the source material is worth a warning and markers.

Given that the game showed us on screen murder, suicide and the like I have not much to trigger in comparison. I don't view what transpires in THIS chapter as darker than what Persona 5 already gave us.

Given the above I also don't feel it necessary to leave something like a note when the scene ends. Again I am going with the assumption that we all stomached the game and I wouldn't call what follows darker than what was shown there.

If anyone feels like I SHOULD mark a certain scene in this chapter however tell me and I will get to it. Keep in mind though it may take a few hours till the new version of the chapter is uploaded. If you just don't feel comfortable either way… the possibly triggering scene is literally right beneath this message. Just scroll till you see another line.

But… well I just wanted to be safe.

It may seem ridiculous to some of you that I write this much warning, for a scene that really isn't THAT bad compared to other stuff (like seriously I view chapter 5 as WAY more disturbing than this) but… I just want that people enjoy themselves while reading this.

This wont be the last dark moment in this story. I am not quite sure how to do this in the future since some of them will be plot relevant and I cant just cut everything out. So maybe ill just leave a note like this one regarding particular upsetting scenes.

Were all clear? Good than I leave you to the chapter.)

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Emptiness.

That was all Mitsuru felt anymore.

She wasn't sure why, but… nothing felt worth it anymore. She couldn't be bothered to work anymore. She only rarely ate anymore. There were days when she couldn't even manage to leave the bed.

But today she did. On Yukari's request she went to Gekkoukan High with her.

This was where it all started. When they met Minako…

This was the roof where she fell asleep forever.

Her legs were dangling of the railing, beneath her the hard cement. A fall of this height could be fatal. It should have worried her, awoken this primal sense of survival that was within all humans. This desire to hold on to life that allowed her to fight against the Shadows. The desire that they had fought to keep.

Now there was only emptiness in its place.

Was this what the people who first called upon Nyx felt like? Who yearned for the arrival of the Fall?

She wasn't alone however. Next to her was Yukari, her own legs mirroring her own Mitsuru's actions. Her gaze was empty, had been for a long time. Ever since they meet up with Yu and his team in Toky-…

Why did they go there? It had something to do with Shadows... maybe?

The only thing she DOES know is that nothing was the same since then.

Elizabeth, Margarette and Marie had suddenly vanished… did they send messages? Did they ask for help? There was no memory for Mitsuru to remember. She had tried her hardest but… it didn't even seem worth remembering why. She only knows they left.

Dreams had plagued her. Of a Blue butterfly calling out for help, its wings only flapping weakly, dying with time. Sometimes it was trapped in a spider's web. Other times it was imprisoned in a cage. The most disturbing dreams were the ones where it was torn in two, a painful scream echoing in her ears.

But these dreams were the normal ones. They weren't revolving around some metal structure reminiscent of a cup.

Mitsuru doesn't even understand why she would dream of something like that. Why that Cup was connected to bloody veins and why inmates chanted like a choir its glory.

But those weren't the worst dreams. They weren't the ones that left her scared, terrified and despairing. Even trying to remember THESE dreams hurt her.

And with every night… this void inside of her grew. She wanted it too end.

It also seemed she wasn't the only one who had these dreams. Yukari had told her she had them too. So had Fuuka. And Aigis. Probably members of the Investigation Team as well.

Then… the deaths followed.

Yu and Naoto had been the first. Some sort of accident?

Then… each and every Persona user had slowly given up. On… everything.

She couldn't really remember the exact ways or circumstances, didn't even bother to care, Apathy having its strong hold on her.

She wasn't like this. This wasn't her. Something was wrong.

But there was no one to guide any of them. Not even their Personas would talk with them. No matter how many times they tried. Where they even with them anymore?

"Do you still miss her?" Yukari asked with a broken, empty voice. This wasn't her either. What was going on?

"Everyday." She admitted. There was no explanation needed.

Minako… they loved her. Herself, Yukari, Fuuka, Aigis and Elizabeth. Never in her life would she have imagined to enter such a relationship, but somehow they did.

And it worked. They were happy. It was like their own private paradise. Even after Minako had left they each cared about the others still enough, loved them even. Though without her they always felt like an incomplete puzzle.

Minako gave her life to save the World. This World all of them had no relation to anymore.

So… why were they still in this World? It wouldn't take much to change that. Just one push.

Her head was… dizzy. What was going on?

"Do you want to see her again?" Mitsuru asked.

Yukari only nodded, a small sob escaping her.

They were all that was left. The last two members of SEES. Nobody else. It felt like the end of an Era. She wondered what would come after them. Maybe something good for humanity?

There was something inside her that screamed at her to join them.

"I…" Yukari sniffed; she was scared. The same emptiness that enveloped her mind had engulfed her, but she was scared instead of Apathetic. "I don't want to meet them alone."

Mitsuru took her hand, gently, into her own. It was meant to be reassuring and Yukari clutched it desperate.

This wasn't right.

This wasn't supposed to happen!

"You won't have too." Mitsuru promised.

All words spoken… the two women, once girls that worked to save the World against death, waited.

They waited for midnight to strike. No Dark hour would appear, having long faded into history along with Nyx. But… it just seemed appropriate. For them to meet their own death in the very hour they held it back.

The clock announced midnight.

And they went to join them.

A distant part of Mitsuru's mind, far too distant to hear, still screaming how none of this was right.

---

"Cross Slash!" Yu screamed.

The creator God of Japan, Izanagi-no-Okami, obeyed the Wildcard. Its blade clashed with the spear of Michael, the Apocalyptic Guide. Sparks erupted as the Weapons meet. Slowly, the highest in the hierarchy of angels was being pushed back by the World Personas might. An angel, a 'Zealous Messenger' saw its distress and raised its hand in prayer, a green light leaving its body…

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Yu cursed, running at the Angel with raised Katana. He had to act now, he couldn't allow Michael to heal again, otherwise this would never end.

Pushing it through her stomach, the erupting pain was enough to interrupt the Recarmdra spell, her scream echoing in the tired Narukami's ears.

He lift the blade upwards, cutting through her body like butter. Finally, she faded away. These healings were an annoyance.

Only the Apocalyptic Guide was left.

He turned back to the battle between his Ultimate Persona and the major Archangel.

Izanagi-no-Okami had gotten a good hit in, a deep gush visible in Michael's armour. The angel looked infuriated, glaring at them with downright insanity that reminded him of Adachi years back.

"Perish son of man!"

A wave of ice erupted from his palm, flying towards them. Swirling his gigantic blade, Izanagi-no-Okami deflected the attack barely, some leftover frost clinging on the weapon.

"You are beyond salvation!"

Reality twisted around them, a faint view of the never-ending cosmos before Yu, as he within inches avoided being hit by a powerful blast of energy. What had Rise called it again? Nuclear?

Yu stormed towards Michael, ready to end this long battle, Persona following him swiftly. Deflecting swords and orbs of almighty energy, they advanced, slashing constantly at everything that threatened to stop their advance.

Until Yu finally had an opening!

He rammed the Katana deep within Michael's body, his eyes flaring up gold and his body brimming with electricity.

"THUNDER REIGN!"

Izanagi-no-Okami unleashed the lightning, letting it flood into the blade. Michael screamed in pain as the Zio spell flew through him. And finally… sparks still filling the air he perished, fading away with a shrill scream into a million electrified dark particles.

Yu collapsed, panting in exhaustion.

This was far too much.

It had all started when he had a vision of a blue butterfly calling out for him. Soon after news of Adachi killing himself in prison had reached him. That was the first time he suspected something had gone wrong. Adachi wasn't the type to take his own life, something seemed of.

Next thing he knew Margarete and Marie had vanished and Igor…

He was nowhere to be found.

Something had happened in the Velvet Room. The butterfly, Lavenza she told him was her name, spoke about a new god having formed from the desires of the masses. A threat too powerful for even her Master. Heeding the call the Investigation Team assembled and they meet up with another group called SEES soon after. The butterfly had used what power it still had to give them an entrance to the World of Shadows, not completely unlike the TV World. This was how they found themselves in a subway filled to the brim with shadows.

Sneaking on a train, they went deep into the heart of this realm, a feeling of oppression never leaving them. Theorizing that destroying whatever was at its heart could dissolve this dimension and maybe shed light into what happened to the Velvet Room and its master.

There were so many guards. An entire army worth of them.

They were all strong, exceptionally powerful Persona users, but even they had their limits and their enemies fought with the desperation of enraged cult members.

He was the last man standing. Everyone else was knocked out by the Angels. Thankfully none were dead but they came dangerously close to.

A groan came from his right and he turned his head to see someone forcing themselves to stand up. He smiled at Naoto and taking it as inspiration, he forced himself on his feet as well. "Are you okay?"

The last woman standing meet his gaze, nodding determent. Uriel had gotten to her, giving her a critical hit. "I am fine… just…" she panted but didn't need to elaborate. Yu already understood her. This battle had been hell.

Just how on earth could these Shadows be so protective over this metal thing in front of them? And the constant choir of the inmates in their cells was not encouraging either. It was as if they praised this thing like a god. On the bright side this at least gave them the confirmation that whatever it was, it was the reason for the tragedy that befell the Velvet Room.

The Detective Prince, or Princess to be more accurate made her way towards him, nearly collapsing again as Yu caught her. Their eyes meet and Naoto told him with poison on her tongue, "Finish this."

"She is right Narukami." The creator god of japan spoke, "the Angels have perished, this is our chance to destroy the grail."

Yu GLADLY obliged. Turning towards what the inmates called the 'Holy Grail' he took a deep breath. As soon as they would destroy the core of this new Shadow World, it would fade away. Maybe then they could find Igor and the attendants.

He concentrated and a blue card manifested in front of him witch he clutched tightly, channelling all his power into the last attack, the same he had used to banish Izanami.

"MYRIAD TRUTHS!"

The card was crushed in his palm and a light erupted from man and Persona. Izanagi-no-Okami fired at the grail, the pure truth of mankind unleashed.

The light filled the prison, engulfing everything in its shine. Yu smiled when it faded.

A smile that was quickly destroyed however.

His expression turned from joy to shock at what was revealed before him. "WHAT!?"

The grail… it was unharmed!

"What is the meaning of this!?" Izanagi-no-Okami demanded to know. Yu's mind raced… how was this possible!? Next to him Naoto mirrored his disbelief, mouth wide open, unable to conceive how the same attack that beat a goddess before had failed.

A deep, sinister laughter echoed through the prison. Both Persona users put their guard up immediately, were there even more Angels!?

"Foolish rebel." The voice spoke, "You dare defy my rule."

Their eyes searched, hunted, for the source of these words, only to turn towards the very thing they had tried to destroy.

"This… the grail is talking!?" Naoto questioned the reality that was unveiled upon them. There was no mistake, the voice did come from that thing.

"There is no illusion for you to shatter truth seeker. What you see in front of you is truth in its purest form. Your powers are nothing to me."

"Just… what the hell are you?" he grit his teeth, as he questioned the mystery in front of him.

The grail obliged, laughter in its voice, "I am the immortal ruler who the masses desire. Their salvation made manifest. A god born from the publics cognition."

"So… you really are like Izanami." Naoto realized, whole body on edge and revolver grasped tightly. A wince escaped her, the pain being to much for her, as Yu catched her barely. Seeing the blood on her, on him, on everyone else. He looked at her warmly, grateful that there was still live left in these eyes.

She was one of the people he loved. Seeing her like this, all of them like this…

The members of SEES being long knocked out…

Igor…

A spark of pure rage ignited inside him. It was unlike the rage he had felt towards Namatame, the kind that clouded his view in his first game. Even unlike the rage he felt towards Adachi once he finally uncovered the truth after a reset. It was akin to the one he had towards Izanami, who had started all of his trials. The rage he felt was specialized for beings that were the root for suffering.

"Do not compare me to that pitiful goddess. I am nothing like her. I am not as careless as she was when she met her opposers."

"What did you do with Igor!?" Yu shouted at the so called god. It only laughed even more boisterous.

"The old fool was an obstacle for my order. He, along with his servants, had to be taken out so they couldn't interfere with the wish of humanity. An Utopia under my watchful eyes."

There was no hint of deceit in that voice. Yu couldn't believe it. His mentor, his guide… had he really been defeated? No. No he wouldn't allow this!

He owed so much to Igor. The guidance, the chances he had given him.

He would not allow this… Shadow with a god complex to get away with what he had done! There was no way humanity could want for something like him.

"Don't be ridiculous!" Naoto screamed in disbelief, mirroring his own. "There is no way humanity would wish for this world! A twisted prison like this could be no ones Utopia!"

"Are you denying what you saw with your own eyes? The Wildcard of truth himself, who lifted the fog of lies, failed to so much as SCRATCH me with the light of truth."

On a primal side of Yu, it had started to dawn that this was no trick.

He had reached out to the truth… and what he grasped was horror.

This could not be happening. Yu cursed beneath his breath, glancing at Izanagi-no-Okami. The Persona still stood but was on the brink of shattering, having put all his energy into that last attack.

Yu's mind raced. There had to be something they could do!

"You Persona users truly are an annoyance. A remnant of times soon to end. But rest assured that me and my chosen Messiah will watch over your kind. You are not needed anymore."

"Messiah? What are you talking about now?!" he demanded to know. Was there another Adachi on the lose? And what does it mean with times about to end?

The grail answered casually, "The man you had investigated. Surely he will take matters into his own hands regarding you both."

The man they had investigated? Wait… it wasn't talking about Masayoshi Shido right?

THAT was supposed to be his Messiah?! If so than the World really was doomed.

"Nonetheless," the so called god spoke again with a tone of finality, "Warning you both is irrelevant. I am going to ensure that none of todays events will be remembered by any of you. May you enjoy your last days on earth. Be it your own psyche that ends you, or my Messiah."

"Is that a threat?" Naoto challenged with a glare. She still had enough willpower left to at least go down defiant.

"It is the decree of thy god. And gods decree is absolute."

Yu had enough. Grunting he stood back on his feet, he REFUSED to die like that. Shido and this grail would rule over this world only over his dead body! The power of the Wildcard kept him going, the one among those chosen to be humanities defender against the monsters that rise from the realm of human consciousness.

He had a thousand curses to throw at the grail, enough to make Izanami envious. He had so much to say, proclaiming that their time was far from over and that they would crush this so called Utopia of his.

But his words didn't leave his mouth fast enough.

The grail charged up a beam of light, ominously converging and firing directly towards the two detectives. Naoto tried to summon Yamato Sumeragi again, Izanagi-no-Okami tried his best to shield the two, the pain of the raw energy burning into Yu through their connection.

The sound of a Persona shattering…

And the Prison was engulfed in Light once more…

---

Minako was not a violent person.

Many words could be used to describe her. Sacrificial, kind, loyal, loving, determent, but violent was not one of these words.

Until now.

Never before in her entire life did she fell this sheer, raw, unbridled rage against a single being. This IMPOSTER wearing the skin of her mentor.

It took a lot of effort to send her consciousness to the 'Core' of the Velvet Room. The place in which its Master resided and when there was a current guest, the Room of said Wildcard. It always took the form of the current Wildcard. But her mind hasn't entered the Limousine of Narukami.

Instead she was surrounded by chains. The realm meant to nurture the human mind had been DEFILED into the home of this heartless abomination. It had become sick due to contact with this INFECTION.

She stood in front of the table belonging to the Prison Master, not speaking, only sending a glare that could make gods fear for their life. But the Prison Master was no god. Only a cheap imitation that believed itself one.

And finally the fake addressed her, with this smug self-serving smile. "Ah! Hello Child of Death. What can I do for you today?"

Her fists clenched repeatedly, her voice was low and tranquil. "Why?"

The Prison Master seemed amused at that question, answering with the arrogance of a King talking to a toddler. "To achieve true order ANY possible disruptions must be eliminated."

This was the same answer he gave her every time she asked. Every… SINGLE… time she had demanded a justification and THAT was it!? They disrupted his idea of order!? "They were innocent."

"There is no innocence in embracing sin. Especially in the ultimate sin of threatening their Go-."

"YOU ARE NOT GOD YALDABAOTH!" Minako snapped, violent intent consuming her. Slamming her fists down on the table between them she fletched her teeth like a dog ready to maul its prey. "YOU ARE JUST A SHADOW GONE ROGUE! YOU ARE NOTHING! ONLY AN IMPOSTER! A MONSTER! YOU SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN BORN!"

"What right do you have to deny my existence, you have none. The difference in the positions between us are telling enough. Me, a god wished for by humanity. You, a mere mortal, who has none left." He replied, his smile getting just a bit more sickening.

Their screams… she could still hear them in her head. The moment her friends had been beaten, their Personas destroyed. They weren't just shattered they were DESTROYED. Sealed away behind whatever Yaldabaoth did to their minds. Returned to their Shadow forms by his meddling with their consciousness, inducing so much mental trauma in them they were reduced to shells.

It wasn't about killing them for Yaldabaoth. He could have simply done so in the Prison of regression.

No. He took pleasure in this. He ENJOYED seeing how the only ones that could stop him slowly broke through his hold on their minds, hearts and souls.

Minako… she had to watch from the seal how they all died. Driven over the edge because this… control freak thought he had the right to decide who lives and who dies. Infected their minds with misery and depression.

And she was powerless to stop it.

"I could destroy you." She repeated for the untempt time. It would be easy. Summon Orpheus and let him be consumed by fire from the Master of strings. Bring forth an Armageddon with Satan and Helel.

Even MESSIAH, the most loving of all her Personas, wanted to do nothing more than PULVERIZE him!

While she wasn't the target of his utter violation of their psyche, she felt just as affected. Orpheus, a calm force in her mind for so long, had started to only talk in animalistic roars, mirroring her own pent up hatred.

"You could and yet you can't. You and you're powers are bound to the seal. Even if leaving was an option it would mean condemning humanity to Nyx. Billions of lives would be snuffed out like candleflames in a blizzard."

Sadly, this was true. She couldn't leave the seal. It took all her power to keep Nyx at bay. Every fibre of her being wanted to destroy Yaldabaoth with the ease she could.

Not that she had much way of a choice in that matter anyway. You couldn't just open the seal back up.

And even if she would have the option to break out completely, powers intact, she couldn't do it.

It revolted against who she was.

She could never let someone die, let alone billions of people.

She could never go through with it. She swore a blood oath to herself, to not let Nyx wipe out all life.

It would only be a Pyrrhic Victory at best. An unreachable temptation that was more appalling than appealing under all circumstances. A rotten apple that would poison your body.

All she could do was attack him with this projection of a body, but that as she found out, only resulted in her hand phasing through him, not being real.

Both of them knew that and Yaldabaoth SAVOURED it. He savoured how powerless she was to change fate this time. It was distasteful. She was a Wildcard! She once decided the fate of the whole World! And yet…

Just how long had he planned this? How much preparation went into this attack?

Why was she doing this to herself? Constantly coming back here. A part of her wanted Yaldabaoth to always remember she could end him. Though all her threats came with the same knowledge of emptiness.

"You truly are a useful tool."

Minako could fell her right eye twitch. That was all she was. A tool! Child of Death. Wielder of the Universe. Shield of humanity against the embodiment of death. All to become a TOOL for a god the very same humanity thought up. A cruel irony.

She wanted to say something, spell out countless curses but her throat was numb, and no words would come out. She didn't have anything.

Yaldabaoth waited for her answer, but as none came, he grew tired. As if remembering something he perked up, "Well then as much as I enjoyed our talks, I am afraid it is time to say goodbye. I am awaiting a guest to arrive."

"Do wannabe gods have tea parties?" she snapped at him. Yaldabaoth only gave a chuckle, "No… but another prisoner will be joining MY realm soon."

He didn't need to call it his. He only did so to spite her further.

But… another prisoner? Did he need any more!? Wasn't he already deriving enough sadistic pleasure from her, the attendants and Igor?!

The question seemed to be obvious on her face, so Yaldabaoth answered swiftly, "I intend to show your foolish Master once and for all why my order is absolute. I am afraid this also means I cannot allow you to step foot outside your part of my Velvet Room again. Enjoy your endlessly ascending elevator. Or the darkness of the seal. I am generously enough to allow my tool this much freedom."

THAT was freedom!? Being allowed to choose what solitary cell to root in!?

Finishing their conversation, he waved his hand casually.

Her consciousness was being thrown back as the new Master of the Velvet Room cast her out for the hundredth time. Minako never realized how strongly Igor could affect this realm. But with this imitation in his place it became all too apparent.

Here she sat again, alone in this elevator that had guided her through her journey to save the World. A fragment of the Velvet Room. It was were her mind resided while everything else was locked alongside Nyx. The only place alongside the seal she could still see.

How could this place she had grown to feel comfort in become her Prison? It felt like a sick joke.

But the worst part was the loneliness. She was all alone. Her Personas could provide comfort, enough to not go completely insane, but the pressure was affecting them already, to a point where any talk they had would sooner or later devolve into hate speech towards this 'GOD'. Nowadays they just settled on sending a warm feeling from her heart to not let her lose what little sanity she had managed to keep.

It was just them and her memories.

SEES. Her home. Her friends. Her found family. Those she had sacrificed herself for.

Her lovers.

Yukari…Mitsuru…Fuuka…Aigis…Elizabeth.

These five woman had her heart. And they all perished.

She couldn't even fathom how Elizabeth had passed. That woman was among the strongest rulers of Power the Velvet Room had. True no one who left the Velvet Room permanently would keep all of their strength but it should still have been enough.

But she had caught sight of the others desperate battle against the Angels and the aftermath, consisting of them slowly falling into despair.

Yu, her successor, and Naoto were the ones who managed to hold themselves together the most. They even tried, in spite of lost memories regarding the grail, to bring Shido down. But they died… and it was the beginning of the end.

Then Rise succumbed. Then Akihiko. One after another every Persona user left succumbed to despair.

Until one year ago, when Mitsuru and Yukari succumbed as well.

Furiously, she slammed her right fist over and over again on the table in front of her. Pulling at her hair, dreadfully screaming her frustration and rage out. She was panting by the time she was done, gaze firmly on the fist that would likely be bleeding if her current body wasn't anything but a simple projection of her mind. There was no more rage left for her to let out.

She was only left with dread… and no way to burn it.

"It is rare to see you this troubled my dear."

That voice.

She turned her gaze upwards, meeting the eyes of the gentleman that had guided her, all of them, for so long.

His expression was sombre, mourning himself the misery that befall all of them. Eyes brimmed kind, such a difference to the one the copy had. He sat on the chair she used to sit in, chains at his hands and feet.

Igor, the man who had grown to her like a father, looked just as defeated as she was.

Something broke inside Minako at seeing him for the first time since Yaldabaoth usurped their realm. Only pain and despair was left in her and it started to come out.

A soft sob started it and it soon escalated into more powerful ones. Igor, always one to notice others distress, gave her a soft smile and stretched out his arms as much as he could.

Minako took the offer, crushing into him and clinging to his body, sobbing into his shoulder reminiscent of a child desperately crying for help.

"Igor… I… it… I don't know what to do!" that was all she could manage.

She had seen darkness. She had faced death. She prevailed in the dark hour that threatened humanity.

But THIS, this might just be the darkest hour in the history of the Velvet Room.

Igor simply tried his best to soothe her. "I am sorry my dear."

"HOW!? How could this happen!?" she screamed, demanding an answer not from Igor but from fate itself. 8 years! 8 years of having to be a door for THIS!? So, she would have front row seats to her friends and humanities demise till the end of time!?

"If I knew the answer I would tell you child." Igor spoke truthfully. "This was a chain of events I never could have foreseen. Not even Nyarlathotep had ever managed to usurp us. I didn't even believe it to be possible."

"Where is Philemon!?" she demanded once more. Just where WAS Igor's master? Why hadn't he come to save them!? Didn't he care about humanity!? Didn't he believe wholeheartedly they could ascend to a higher destiny!? Why wasn't he interfering!? Granted his bet with Nyarlathotep long ago was infuriating as well but she had long run out of straws to grasp and with Philemon you could at least be assured that all he did was for humanity and that he cared.

Care in a form that doesn't involve locking you away into a Cell.

"The events with Nyarlathotep's banishing had left him drained of his power. You know that child. I am certain he is watching us now and being as distraught as you."

"Its…" another sob as she pulled back from her father figure, wiping away her tears, far to slow however as they didn't stop, she closed her eyes giving up on trying to stop the stream, "It's not fair…"

A gloved hand wiped away a tear from closed eyelids, making her open them again and meet the ones of Igor. To her great confusion, his look wasn't one of defeat.

"Not all hope is lost."

…

What?

"W-What?" she told him her thoughts. What did he mean? The Velvet Room was gone. SEES was gone. The Investigation Team was gone. Where did Igor still pull hope from?

The look he gave her reminded her of a wise man, about to explain a pupil one of his favourite lessons. "A new Wildcard is rising."

She blinked rapidly at this news. Another Wildcard? Years ago, it may have filled her with pride and eagerness to encounter them but in the state, she was now, it only added to her pessimism.

"A new victim for Yaldabaoth?" Minako questioned darkly, shoulders hanging.

A knowing sigh came from the gentleman. "I understand how you feel truly I do but…"

"But what!?" she snapped once more, "It's not like they can bring them back!"

Igor's reaction… was a smile.

…

Wait. Did… could they?!

"Igor?" she questioned, what could cause him to smile in a time like this? The only thing she could think of was-

"You do know of my gift, don't you?" Igor asked in return. Minako nodded of course she knew.

Igor could, to a small degree, manipulate the flow of time. To do so there had to be a great distortion in the human subconscious. Those distortions on the human mind would be at their strongest in events surrounding 'Gods'. Those superior to the normal gods through their strong connection to basic human desires, giving them a control over fate.

One of a World Personas duties, if in complete state, was to shield the World from any explosive damage the death or banishment of one of these 'Gods' could have on fate and humanity.

Igor's power, as he told her once, was a parting gift from Philemon when he felt his powers fade, though it was FAR from the same level as his own. Philemon himself could manipulate and erase even entire timelines, even if it came with the cost of memory as last time proved. Igor could only do a year at best and only when reality already received enough 'cracks' for lack of better term, due to whatever god was being fought now.

It also wasn't perfect. Fate would have some changes every time he did it. Most easily you could compare Philemon's and Igor's control over time with a deity and a human trying to breathe life into someone. One could simply create a new human, while the other would stitch one together in a Frankenstein like fashion, the eventual body having obvious signs of the procedure.

The implications of Igor started to dawn on her, though it only served to shatter what little hope that smile may have brought. She sat down on the table opposing Igor, head sunk. "So what?"

"Isn't it obvious dear? In the event of Yaldabaoth's defeat, I could, together with the new Trickster, prepare to prevent their demise."

Yaldabaoth's defeat.

"There is the problem in that idea. What makes you think that Trickster can beat him?"

"Are you of all people starting to doubt humanities potential?"

"Can you blame me?"

The long-nosed man shrugged, "I suppose not given what you had to see. Though I recommend not giving up hope just yet. Allow me to elaborate on what is bound to come won't you?"

She assumed she could at least her him out. Maybe than this proposition of his wouldn't sound so unrealistic. Or maybe it was just her desire to finally find a ray of light in this. Minako nodded, the sign for Igor to explain.

"Pride is by many seen as the ultimate sin for a reason. Too much pride is hubris and hubris has been the downfall of many individuals throughout history. It makes those with it belief they are above all consequences, yes above god themselves even. The very thing has befallen our enemy. The malevolent god may think he is above all human weaknesses, yet he blissfully ignores his own pride. The pride that will seal his fate in the game."

"Game?"

"Yes. A game. The treasure of the masses wants to prove his order is absolute. As such we have started a bet. His Champion and Messiah against my champion, the very Trickster who will soon rise. While he will give false guidance to the Trickster he hopes to see him fall."

"What makes you so certain he won't?"

Igor patted her hanging head, smiling gently. "It is because I have in the many years of my existence seen time and time again what your kind is capable of. No matter how severe the opponent, how harsh the road ahead, you HAVE the power to go on and emerge victorious."

His body flickered as he finished that sentence, groaning exhausted. It was enough to snap Minako into reality, "Igor?" she questioned worried.

The overthrown master gave a weak grin in response. "Oh my. It seems that Yaldabaoth's machinations are draining me more than I had expected. It becomes really difficult to leave my Cell." Rubbing his temples, he collected himself, before holding out his right palm. Inside his gloved hand formed a sphere, building up and shaping into what looked like a small portal.

"Sit back down will you?"

Minako, slightly confused, obeyed regardless and sat back on the couch as Igor placed the miniature portal on the table. Now it almost resembled a TV of sorts, in the case that it was starting to show pictures. They were still blurry but steadily gaining more and more form.

The Child of Death looked in slight awe at this phenomenon as Igor spoke up once more.

"I do not think I will be able to fulfil my duty as overseer this time around. This is why I want you to watch our new guest. Something that should also help to keep you… sane in your confinement."

Igor's body was now starting to light up, becoming more transparent, "Igor where are you going?" came the hasty question.

His reply was spoken sombrely. "I truly am sorry things have come to this Child of Death. Please do not give way to despair. Believe in humanity. Believe in our new Trickster and one day things will be returned to the way they should be."

These words were all Igor managed to force out as his strength gave in, only small orbs of lights evidence of his presence at all, till they too faded away.

Minako was now alone again in her ever-ascending elevator. So, Igor still had one last Ace in his hand.

There were a lot of emotions she felt and still felt. Most of them negative but now a new one had made its way into her.

Trust.

She trusted Igor with her life. If he was this certain of their new guest they must still have a chance. Though while she was a fool, she didn't dare to be a foolish enough to hope. Yaldabaoth was an opponent unlike any other and he would actively mislead them and work against them.

Tricksters were among the most capable humanity had to offer but could this one do it? With all these odds?

Wiping away some stray tears she focused on the picture in the portal. If there was a chance to save everyone, she had to believe. It was unfortunately all she could do.

The portal showed its first clear picture, a young man with frizzy, raven black hair and silver eyes on his way home from cram school it seems. He looked like your familiar high school student. Something seemed to bother him but other than that he seemed rather passive. Sighing, she resigned herself to a position as a watcher. "Good luck boy. You will need it." She spoke to herself, a habit she had never bothered to unlearn.

Then a voice came from the portal.

"Just get in the car."

It made Minako's insides revolt. Shido…

Next came a scream…

"Stop it!"

And that was something the new Trickster seemed to note. Those silver eyes opened slightly, as if awoken from a dream and focused. His head turned to the direction from where the scream came from and he sprinted without so much as a second thought…

---

"And from there on I was put in the very same position Igor was for many years. An observer, someone who couldn't interfere. For over a year I sat here, watching someone else play his game, against an opponent who I didn't think could be defeated."

A smile graced Minako's face after those words were spoken, "Yet to my surprise the Trickster who succeeded me was proving himself a lot more capable than expected. In spite of all odds thrown in his way, he survived, thrived even, in his battle against sinners and gods. I am not one easily impressed but being spectator to the newest Trickster did amaze me more often than not. Even when he lay beaten and broken before him… somehow the Trickster managed to gather what will, rage and bonds he had left to summon what could save the World, a feat many of us didn't even consider possible."

Her eyes looked right into him, "Somehow… you won. You truly proved yourself a rebellious soul and have stood up against Yaldabaoth and come this far, granted my friends a second chance… and…"

She reached over the table to grab a hold of his hands, something that startled the young rebel a little after becoming so emerged with her tale.

"I am truly grateful. Thank you."

Akira was taken aback to say the least.

He knew of Yaldabaoth's machinations regarding the Velvet Room but he had no idea just how much death and despair the false god caused.

As if he needed any more reason to hate that thing!

Aside from that there was much more information shown to him. The existence of other Persona users aside from him and the Thieves, the circumstances of Igor's time travelling ability (even if that unfortunately already sunk the request, he wanted to make of have him redo the day. He REALLY would have liked to be able to prevent Kamoshida… getting as close to Ryuko as he did today).

It DID weird him slightly out that this woman basically watched his life like a TV show but given that she didn't have much else to do in this elevator shaped cell and Yaldabaoth did the exact same thing with more malevolent intention, he wasn't about to criticise her for it. He was actually amazed she managed to keep herself sane this long with no human or Velvet contact.

Blinking rapidly to get his mind made clear again, he gave a reply with dry throat. "It was nothing. You don't need to thank me."

"Well I wanted to." She spoke on that, smile still lasting. Her hands separated from his and they both sat once more comfortably on the couch and chair respectively. "It was why I wanted to speak with you. It is not everyday that I get to speak to a fellow Trickster after all."

Both slightly chuckled, any sense of animosity long gone. It was no wonder Satanael felt this at ease around this woman. Though that of course opened up some questions.

"Please go ahead."

"Huh?" he raised an eyebrow.

Minako, quite amused, leaned back in her couch, "I can almost see the question marks around your face. Please do not hesitate to ask me whatever you like."

Well with this set up. Why shouldn't he ask?

"I just don't really know where to start really." Akira admitted, while going through his cat like hair with his hand. "I mean… I won't pass up a chance to ask about someone else's game but what was your God like? What were your Personas? What was your outfit? Any other tips? Did you have a second try? Did you experience anyone changing their gender?"

Her red eyes shone with life at all these questions, eager to answer them probably. She complied with an ever-present curled lip.

"My game was a bit complicated, but it basically involved beings known as Erebus and Nyx who tried to kill humanity through something known as 'the Fall' because they kept asking for it. This is basically the same thing for every major god that threatens our world. Our kind just has a knack for wishing harm upon themselves.

"That's a… depressing thing to think about."

Sighing she shrugged her shoulders, expression now tired and… to be frank just done. "I know right? Seriously if humanity would just stop screwing themselves over it would be very appreciated. Me and my team had to also fight against powerful Shadows based on Arcanas every full moon that all were connected to death. We would sit here for weeks if I would tell you all in detail so forgive me for not telling you everything."

"Fine by me. What was your ultimate Persona?"

"His name is Messiah."

Akira blinked.

"I… I am sorry but your Persona is Jesus?"

Giggling she nodded her head, "I like to think it is quite fitting for someone who sealed herself away to save others."

"It fits like a glove for sure."

"Yep!" cheerfully she proceeded with the answers. "Though I did not get to wear stylish outfits like you and your friends. The means to summon a Persona can vary from person to person."

He wasn't about to question that.

"Regarding tips… I don't think I can give you much more than you already know. Form bonds with your confidants, allow your Power to grow accordingly. And with your last two questions…"

Her face turned neutral now. "Yes, I did have a time reset. So far so did everyone after me too."

When the answer was given, the air in the elevator became more sombre. The fact that she needed a reset… gave some unfortunate implications.

And just like that Akira felt slightly ashamed, "I am sorry for-"

"Don't be." She shut his apology down, "It… took me more time to realize what I had to do to stop Nyx once and for all. I lost people before the final battle but even than I wasn't ready to do what had to be done the first time… but afterwards", her smile thankfully returned, "I was more than prepared. And I managed to do it knowing I saved everyone I could save."

The determination in her eyes, speaking of a tale long gone by, resonated within the Thief. This was one of the only people in the World who could possibly empathize with his situation… and she succeeded as well. It made him a bit more optimistic. "Good to hear."

Minako nodded, casually continuing to talk, "I even got to do it in a body I like."

"Well that's even…" Akira started before the meaning of THAT settled in. "Wait, body you like?"

Minako nodded again, slightly laughing. "Yep. That answers your last question by the way."

"Huh. Interesting."

"You don't seem surprised."

"Its not exactly the first time I hear about gender changes appearing because of time travel fate changes or whatever."

He leaned back into his chair more, enjoying the comfortable leather. "I am more surprised you're this cool with it. I know I would freak out if I would have suddenly found myself in the body of a girl."

"Well it helped that I actually wanted something like that."

She wanted that? Well wasn't that an interesting piece of information. One that actually made his eyes widen slightly. "Wait does that mean you're…"

"Trans?" She finished, "Yep. To be frank I am boy to girl, since we are on that topic, I am also lesbian. Time resetting was basically a cheap sex change operation."

"Wow. Well good for you."

"Thanks." Minako voiced, once more very casually. "Igor and my attendant were surprised when that happened too and had no really idea as to why. I have the theory that it has something to do with my Persona."

"Your Persona changed your body?"

"Not intentionally. What I actually meant was that my Persona helped me get a better idea for myself. Personas are connected to our soul, they can take whatever shape they want and give us a better understanding and introspection. I have the theory that when time was reset, because I had awoken to my Persona and became aware of what I felt like, this feeling and awareness maybe mixed with my old body and changed it in the new timeline accordingly, so I could be who I really was."

"Huh… well I can't say much else than wow." Akira admitted, though as this thought became processed by his brain, it gave him a sudden revelation…

"Wait a second. Does that mean Ryuji, Yusuke and Goro are trans?"

This theory suddenly started to make a whole lot of sense. But why in the World had he never noticed… ANYTHING? He prided himself in knowing how people felt and being able to see through masks but three of his friends were trans and he had never so much as noticed?

"It could be." Minako stated, "It IS still a theory but given how your friends bodies changed I assume they were but just… really good at hiding it."

In an odd way that left him feeling rather… sombre. Why didn't they ever tell him? Granted he and Goro had more baggage but he could talk about just about anything with Ryuji and Yusuke. Why did they never feel comfortable enough to talk with him about it? They knew he wouldn't find it weird… right?

Did they worry he would reject them or something?

Why hadn't he ever noticed anything?

Great… one more regret from the last timeline. He hoped this would be the last.

Well at the very least it meant his friends could now enjoy themselves more… and also gave a possible answer to a mystery that had greatly frustrated him.

Now all that was left to find out was how Mishima suddenly had a twin.

"Do you mind if I ask you something to?" the other Trickster asked him, pulling him out of that brief moment of lamentation.

"Oh. Of course not, go ahead."

What followed upon that was not something Akira had expected, something that threw him for a loop and took his breath away.

And in that instance, something changed about Minako. Hr posture became straight, hands folded in professional manner. Red orbs downright burned into him… with an intensity he was unfamiliar with, uncomfortable with even.

There was the sinking gut feeling that whatever Minako was going to ask him would be like the judging of his soul.

"Akira…" she spoke with clarity, "Why did you became a Phantom Thief?"

---

"What's the matter…? Are you simply going to watch? Are you forsaking him to save yourself?"

"W-What? Who is that?!"

"Not important, focus your mind on the matter at hand. Death awaits him if you do nothing."

"Sakamoto? I… I know but I can't do anything! This King, the Knights…"

"So quick to give up already?"

"I am not giving up but there is no other option! I don't want this boy to die, I don't want to die but there is no way out!"

"But you have given up… you have given up on the values you hold. Eyes clouded and unable to see escape. What happened to the Akira that jumped at any display of injustice? The Akira that couldn't rest knowing those undeserving suffered? Where has your sense of Justice gone too?!"

"What does that have to do with anything?!"

"Answer the question! Where has your Justice gone too?! What happened to the dream you held, of changing this World?! Of leaving an impact on this World and help those in need?!"

"…It's gone… just some fools errand. Why should I still care about others? It only ends with me suffering for it. I vowed to myself to stop giving a damn when I came to Tokyo."

"Some vows need to be broken when the time arrives. A vow made through bitterness like yours is one of them. Why cling to a mask that you don't even want or NEED to wear? I know you… you could never actually believe in selfishness and letting others suffer for your own survival."

"How could you know that?!"

"Would you have been able to let that woman suffer?!"

"…I…"

"The you who you pretend to be would have left her to her fate, helpless against someone ruled by twisted desires! Would you have been able to life knowing that would happen, ignoring a cry for help? Would you have been able to life with yourself, apathetic to others suffering, embracing sloth!?"

"No…"

"Was your previous decision a mistake then?!"

"…No… no it wasn't."

"Louder."

"It wasn't."

"Louder!"

"IT WASN'T! It was not a mistake! It never could have been! I am not the one who is wrong!"

"Then who is?!"

"This… this World is! What I did was Just! If no one else can see it than they are wrong! If they all believe in the lies of some bald bastard with a lawyer army why should I care?! I did the right thing! And I would do it again! And again! And how many times it takes in this rotten, apathetic, eat or be eaten World! Consequences be damned!"

"Hahaha… BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"

A demonic laughter filled his head.

"So, you have regained your justice?"

"I have."

"And you vow to never lose sight of it again?"

"Yes. And that's a vow I will not break. And…"

"And what?"

"And I don't know how, but I will save Sakamoto and I will STOP THIS BASTARD KING!"

"Very well I have heeded your resolve."

Pain exploded inside of him. He felt something… dark, cursed boiling and growing, ready to erupt and destroy everything.

"Vow to me.

I am thou, thou art I

Thou who art willing to perform all sacrilegious acts for thine own justice!

Call upon my name and release thy rage!

Show the strength of thy will to ascertain all on thine own, though thou be chained to Hell itself!"

"EXECUTE HIM!" the King said.

"I WILL STOP YOU!"

His declaration of war made the King pause, disbelief visible on his face., Sakamoto being left alone for now, "What was that?"

Little did he know this was not just a declaration to stop him.

It was a declaration of war to the entire World.

Everything happened so quick then. The King focusing on him, the guard ready to kill him, a violent wind erupting, the desire to rip of a mask, the agony it caused him, the flamed that danced around him, the darkness exploding and manifesting.

The sheer deranged and chaotic happiness it brought him.

He never felt like this before!

The being introduced himself as the King crawled away in fear. Pillager of Twilight? Arsene? He liked that name. He liked that Demon. It felt right standing next to it.

His rebellious soul? Power? Sounds perfect!

"Give me your Power!"

An amused chuckle of someone who expected this answer. "Very well."

"Who the hell are you!?"

Who he was?

He turned to the false King, raw energy inside him ready to be unleashed. Words came from his lips that were curled in a sinister smirk, their source his heart.

"People like you make me sick. Feeding on others, on those who can't fight back, thinking you are above everything and can get away with all the pain and suffering you cause! But guess what, those days are over! I'll make it my personal mission to stop all of you. Every single tyrant, I will drag you out and make you pay for everything! Not a single person will be suffering by your hand when I'm done!"

A Knife formed in his hands, it felt right to wield it as he pointed it towards his first target, "I will plunge you all to hell with my bare hands I have to! You want to know who I am? I am the Demon that is gonna haunt you and turn your life into a living hell!"

The pure fear on the Kings face, their source being witness to his speech, was a delicious treat to him. He called out for his man to kill him and they transported into Jack-o-Lanterns. How cute that he thinks that would stop him!

"No more moping around! I see my Justice through to the end! Ravage them… ARSENE!"

And the Carnage unfolded…

---

"Because I am sick of this World." He stated, the beginning of a speech. Silver eyes steely glinting like the blade he awoke with.

"Day in, day out, people are suffering. Every day, selfish, twisted bastards abuse their power just to satiate their own ego. Just because they can. Because they don't care if they hurt others, or enjoy it when they do. I always… was frustrated by these things. Every time I heard about someone suffering or some rotten adult it angers me to my core. A serial Killer in Inaba? I see red. A man killing his wife in some drunken rage? My fists clench. Hell, not just these bigger crimes. A bully at school? Not anymore once I dealt with it."

"It… disgusts me. Innocent people suffering, monsters simply obeying their desires running wild. Whenever I could… I did something to change it. I was always the first one to stand up and act when someone needed it. But it just was never enough for me."

"It was depressing really. I wanted to CHANGE this. I wanted to help, I wanted to bring justice. This World, it is infested with the kind of scum I saw over the year and I wanted to cure it. But I didn't know how."

"In Fiction it always seemed easy. I idolized these Heroes. I wanted to be like them. But of course I knew that was a stupid thought, there are no superheroes or powers in real life. I was stuck with a desire that could never be fulfilled, just some daydream to indulge in but never realize it. There simply was no way for me to change anything and I felt helpless and depressed because of it. Then… I awoke to Arsene. And it changed EVERYTHING."

"I had SOMETHING to use. With the Power of Persona I finally had the means to fight. To protect. To change. Becoming a Phantom Thief was my dream come true! I was given a chance and I was going to use it. When I first thought about it I got lightheaded. The people I could help, the criminals I could bring to justice, the good I could do. I was going to finally show the World my Justice. THAT is why I became a Phantom Thief and I will see it through to the end."

…

His words rang through the ever-ascending elevator, spoken and released from him it was like lifting a gigantic weight from him.

He sat there, eyes determent and unflinching meeting with those of the previous Trickster.

And the female Trickster… smiled contently.

"That was a very good answer. Just the one I wanted to hear. Though what will you do in the face of the God of Control?"

He frowned at the mention of IT.

"Yaldabaoth… Yaldabaoth beat me. Even if I killed him it didn't leave me with anything. My friends… they died. I led them to deaths door. I couldn't prevent it. If I would have chosen a World of his rule, they would have survived. Though I chose free will over order and I feel no shame in that. I was ready to give up being a Phantom Thief when it was all done but the Phantom THIEVES? No… never them. Every choice I made lead me to that skyscraper, winning but failing at the same time. Becoming a Phantom Thief as the best thing that ever happened to me… even if it turned out to be a curse in some way. I had no idea how in over my head I really was and when I finally did… it was too late. But not again. I was given a second chance, a second chance to right every wrong, fix every mistake, save as many as I can. And I WILL use it. This time I protect all of them. I WILL save everyone…I…can. Yaldabaoth will never see it coming."

His voice was cold and spoke with clear, unwavering, determination. Minako took note and respected that.

"So, you are willing to do whatever it takes?"

"I am."

"Even if it would mean giving up your own life?"

"I would do it in a heartbeat." There was no hesitation in that sentence.

The Child of Death finished her evaluation, approval written all over her face.

"Perfect. My thoughts were confirmed. That means I don't have any need to withhold this anymore."

That caused an eyebrow to raise, "Withhold what?"

Minako smiled at his expression, "Akira do you know the story of Orpheus by any chance?"

"Äh… yes? The Greek master of strings, he went to the underworld to bring his wife Eurydice back but looked back because of his anxiety during the ascend, losing her forever."

"A tragic tale of someone trying to save someone dear to them and failing." She summarized the tale.

"Yeah but what does that have to do with anything?"

There was something cheeky in her eyes as she put her hand under the table…

And put a Gun to her head.

Shock filled him. What the hell!?

"Hey wait!"

She fired.

But… was still alive?

This was unexpected to say the least, even more when something had started to leave her body! Sparks of some sort, manifesting above her and then… a Persona was above the two of them?

The being above them was sporting what seemed to be a mechanical body except for its head which reminded him of Minako, with brown long hair. The body was red and the limbs were gold. Behind it was a gigantic golden lyre shaped like a heart.

Oh… of course.

"I take it your first Persona was Orpheus?"

"You pick up quickly. Exactly."

"And that is Orpheus?

"Yep."

"Any reason he looks so…"

"Feminine? When it comes to Personas they can be just about anything. They aren't influenced by gender. You could be a girl and have a guy as a Persona, like your 'Oracle' had Prometheus, a male Greek Titan, as a second Persona. We decided to experiment a little with the Wildcard and see if I could change his appearance. Turns out I could. Though your friends Personas will still be as you remember them. Fits for the Wildcard I guess."

"And that gun that almost gave me a heart attack?"

"Its called an Evoker." She placed the thing now named an 'Evoker' on the table. On second look it looked a lot more fake, more like a stylized water gun meant to invoke the design of a real-life pistol but things were still a bit of. SEES was written on the side with silver bold letters. "This is how we summoned our Personas. They allow us to face death and bring out our true self. Not as painful as ripping of a mask but can be pretty stressful."

He sighed deeply, "You could have warned me you know?"

"You're not the only one with a flair for the dramatic."

"Looks like it."

A warm giggle escaped Minako once again. How many times has she giggled by now? She really was upbeat.

"Anyway… consider it a gift."

"Huh?" he questioned, surprised.

She nodded, "The Evoker is yours. I have no use for it anymore. Maybe it will aid you."

At her words his eyes fixated on the gun like object again. This was the tool of a former Trickster, one of the strongest there were. And she just… gave it to him?

Hands grasped the Evoker, steady but hesitant. The metal felt surprisingly warm, likely from the use it just had. It felt a lot like the model guns he used in the Metaverse, yet… different… arcane in a way. And heavier than expected.

He read SEES once more. Who were they? They meant to her as much as the Phantom Thieves meant to him.

"Now as for my second gift to you." Minako once more pulled his mind back to her.

Second gift?

"Wait what?"

"Orpheus?" Minako ignored his question and turned to her Persona, whos gaze spoke of knowledge. As if they had already gone through it and what Minako was going to say now was merely so he would know as well.

"Your tale is one of saving those dear to heart and failing. Yet your power has grown beyond your past and helped me change my fate. Now please, help the young man in retrieving his loved ones from the embrace of death once and for all."

Orpheus nodded, an unspoken understanding between them, and floated in front of the newest Trickster. "Trickster of Rebellion," a soft voice escaped the Master of strings, "As the Trickster of Death has spoken, I shall lend you my strength in this second trial."

Before he had any chance to argue back, a familiar voice rang through his head, from the Sea of Souls.

I am thou, thou art I... Through the tides of fate thou has acquired a new vow.

It shall become the blessed Wind of rebirth to allow thy Wings of Rebellion to ascend to a new fate…

With the discovery of the Universe, thou will bear a glimpse of the true infinite power that lies within humanity.

A tarot Card was in front of him once more, the Universe? It shone brightly from the darkness and had he could hear voices coming from it.

Some he could recognize, his friends and confidants.

Everyone he bonded with, they flashed in front of his eyes in happiest moments they shared.

But others were unknown to him. Other voices seemed alien in this show. And like a revelation from god it occurred to him.

Those unfamiliar voices… were from those Minako bonded with, and the faintest ones, like echoes from the depths of a cave, were the voices of humanity itself.

It was warm, comforting, soothing, an embrace in a cold world.

But it wasn't his. This Power belonged to the Wildcard of Death, but even she may just be a conduit allowed its power. What he saw was a mere glimpse. A fraction of infinity. The infinity that was the root for the Wildcard. Only those who have embraced their role fully as Tricksters would ever be able to wield it.

This small fraction in front of him, was the wind of rebirth the sea of souls told him about. The bond between two Wildcards, existing and formed for one to encourage the other.

Maybe one day… it would allow itself to become his fully.

The light of the Tarot card faded and the Elevator was revealed to his now wet eyes once more.

He blinked, wiped away some stray tears. "That was… a lot." He said, unable to describe it any other way.

"I know." Minako replied, "Its overwhelming isn't it? Though that also is a surprise."

What was a surprise?

He scanned her and she merely pointed at the Persona above him. Only that it changed completely in colour scheme. The lyre was pitch black with dark red dots, spikes all over it. Her hair was crimson red as was the body as well as hands and legs. The upper arms and legs were black and the face was still similar to Minako's but brighter, giving a contrast to everything else.

"Orpheus Picaro." He stated, instinctively knowing her name.

The Persona nodded, now reborn and went inside his heart, in a wave of pure energy.

"Huh… to see a Tricksters Persona being reborn by joining another Trickster. You really are a unique one aren't you?" Minako's stated with small fascination and amusement, sly smirking.

"Why?"

The Female Trickster now was the one raising an eyebrow in question, so he elaborated.

"You just… give me an Evoker? You just let me form a bond with you? Just let me see that… Universe? And now you give me your first Persona? Why?"

It didn't make sense to him. She was grateful but… all those gifts? And even if not for Evoker and glimpse of the Universe her own PERSONA? He was closer to Arsene and Satanael than he was with anyone else in his life, likely will be closer than anything else too. This was the same for every Persona you awake to. So… why would she give up something like that?

The Child of Death seemed to understand now. Smiling fondly at him, her blood red eyes became so much warmer and she rose from the couch, as if waiting to be picked up by someone. "Well its admittedly more than just me trying to help a new Trickster. It is even more than you having saved the previous Persona users."

Gazing upwards, were the sky would be, she answered.

"You weren't the only one chained by their fate."

With such a cryptic answer thrown his way Akira couldn't deal. Thankfully, she wasn't going to stop there.

"When I gave up myself to shield the World from Death… I didn't expect to ever come back. My soul, my body, my Wildcard, was all gone from the World. My friends, lovers, Igor and the attendants, they all searched for ways to set me free. But there were none. Until… Yaldabaoth's death."

She looked back at Akira, who was still struck by the Universes existence and the generosity of Minako and talked further.

"Yaldabaoth's hold on the human unconscious was stronger than any god in the last years. It could turn everyone, young or old, man or woman, innocent or guilty, into puppets yearning for order. Strong enough that they even wouldn't desire the embrace of death anymore. Do you know why it took Igor so long to make your Velvet Room? He worked with ME. To free me from the seal. Nyx was dealt an irreversible blow, hurt and crippled as a side effect of Yaldabaoth's dead. The human subconscious just doesn't recover from something like that easily. But it means that Nyx doesn't need as much power to be sealed. However, I still had to pay a price."

"What kind?"

"My Wildcard."

Her… Wildcard?

The disbelief in his face was obvious but didn't stop Minako's speech, "I gave up my Wildcard. Messiah, Thanatos, all of my Personas… they all faded to become the new seal unfuelled by a mortal soul. Orpheus was all I still had."

"But… even than…"

"Don't you see? I don't care about my powers."

Leaning over the table, she grasped his hands gently, still clutching her, now his, Evoker, another symbol of their connection. And those eyes… they just GLOWED with life and joy.

"I am free. YOU set me free Akira. I never thought I would be able to but… I can LIFE again. I could never thank you enough for allowing that to happen."

And Akira understood.

Birds were something Akira could identify with to a degree. He couldn't help but feel like they were in a way connected to him. His mask was birdlike and his biggest opponent and one of his biggest regrets chose the alias of Crow.

And in front of him was now a new bird. A bird who was finally let out of her cage to taste the wind again and soar through the skies. Finally ready to feel the sun again after years of imprisonment in the dark.

"So… I know I said it before but… from the bottom of my heart…"

Her arms went around him, her head leaning on his shoulder once again. "Thank you."

Akira… couldn't and didn't want to hide the smile that he shared with her. Hugging her back he gave the only reply he could.

"It was nothing. I am just glad I could help."

Again… sweet giggling filled the room. It was a beautiful moment between two defenders of humanity. One embarking on his quest once again and the other finally being able to relinquish their position.

Sometime later the two broke the embrace and a light started to shine from Minako. Small particles faintly leaving from her. This time Akira didn't even need to ask, he understood and so did Minako.

It was time for a lost soul to re-join the World of the living.

A last smile was exchanged and Minako stood back up, waiting for completion.

…

Though like a vicious attack from a Shadow something hit Akira. Something he would have liked to have answered.

"Hey wait a sec."

That DID surprise Minako who let out a small "Huh?"

And Akira asked one more, rather unexpected, question.

"Did… did you say Lovers? As in plural?"

The face of Minako could be best described as… stumped? As if she didn't know why that was such a big deal. Though than she seemed to have understood something…

For she started to laugh heartily, even holding her belly while doing so. "PWAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"What is so funny?" And that was the last question.

Wiping some salty fluid from her eyes that escaped from their eye shaped prison thanks to her outburst, she apologized, "Sorry. I forgot that this isn't something normal people are used to. I too was rather surprised when I found out about it for the first time. Well… how do I put it best…"

She mused… before shrugging as if to say 'Not my problem.'

"Actually, I am gonna leave that question to be answered by someone else. Ask Lavenza when you see her."

"Lavenza? What do you mean?" Okay THAT was the last question.

"Trust me it will be much better to just leave this to her." She cheekily answered, while smirking at him knowingly. At least it looked like the kind of smirk you give someone when you know something good will happen to him.

She winked at him, waving goodbye, "Have fun Joker. Good luck~!"

And that were her last words as she completely faded away and with her disappearance Akira too started to leave this elevator.

Well… whatever that plural of lover was about, he was gonna talk with Lavenza about that.

---

Morgana liked Akira. Really he did.

But what the actual HELL!? How did Akira suddenly APPEAR out of thin air!? Why didn't he come with him!?

"Where have you been!?" he demanded to know from the Trickster, who immediately turned to him upon hearing his voice. "Morgana!?"

"No Puss in Boots, of COURSE Morgana! Akira what the hell?!"

"Hey calm down!" his… well what exactly was Akira to him by now due to his own new status as a Velvet attendant? A guest? Whatever…, Akira raised his hands in defence, "I had no CHOICE in that matter."

"Really? How so?"

With that Morgana was told what his friend had just been through. Meeting another guest, how she was grateful for his help, how she could finally come back, how Yaldabaoth crossed countless lines and how he now had a new Persona.

Taking all the information in Morgana sighed. "Of all the Tricksters I could have been made for I ended up with you."

"Do you regret it?" came the Joker smirk.

One that he just needed to retort with his own of course. "Nah. Still its crazy how much happens around you. Even for our standards you are just a Beacon for weirdness."

"True. Well with that out of the way… do you mind explaining where the hell we are?"

It was indeed a rather… surreal place. It reminded the being of hope of Okumura's Palace. They were standing on nothing and around them was an infinite black with countless bright glowing spots that seemed to be stars. They seemed to be in space but they could breathe without any issue and didn't feel any vacuum.

Fortunately, with Morganas memory returned so came his knowledge about this place back. "This seems to be the sea of souls."

Akira looked somewhat sceptical "The Sea of Souls?"

He shrugged. "The Sea of Souls is hard to explain. It is sort of a source, afterlife, energy… honestly what we're seeing here is just a glimpse of it."

The leader of the Phantom Thieves hung his head, rubbing it in stress. Morgana couldn't really blame him, its not like this was easy to explain. The Sea of Souls was an enigma even by his standards. "Is there any reason we are here instead of the Velvet Room?"

"My idea? We are supposed to wait for it to arrive."

A wait he had already a few hours in mind you.

But by some stroke of luck, the two Thieves heard a noise coming their way just as Morgana finished speaking.

Intrigued, they looked for the source and to their right… they bore witness to the newest Velvet Room, picking up its residents.

The sound was from an engine but not any engine… a train engine.

Approaching them from the side was a tall, elegant Locomotive. Its colour was a deep velvet blue with golden accents and wheels. Oddly there was a railway but it seemed to come into existence alongside the Locomotive just a few meters in front of the train. Several wagons were pulled by the machine but from where he stood Morgana couldn't see how many.

Yet the sight of the moving machine made him feel comfort, it was his birthplace after all. Confidently he turned back to his friend and said, "I think that's our ride."

---

Akira wasn't sure what to expect from Igor in regards to the Velvet Room. In spite of his familiarity with the Metaverse and this other realm the Velvet Room never lost this arcane vibe and mystery. But after spending his time in a prison cell he would have taken just about anything.

A train was not among the things he had expected. Seeing it stop right in front of the two of them however… yes THAT was it. This was the Velvet Room he belonged in.

The door of the machine opened and…

Caroline and Justine looked at him!?

Akira jumped back, followed suit by Morgana. What the hell was going on NOW!?

"Akira do you know these girls?!" Morgana shouted at him.

"YES! Their Lavenza! But… how in the!?"

His shock was swiftly interrupted by the two twins with eyepatches giggling like hyenas on laughing gas.

As if this scene couldn't get weirder enough! WHY were they here? Was the fusion only a temporary thing? Did he had to cut their heads of again? Please no that was uncomfortable the first time already…

Justine, after she recovered from her fit of mad laughter, ended up reassuring him, with her other half still holding her stomach from laughing. "Rest assured Trickster its still us. Or to be frank… Lavenza is still with us."

"Can you just explain to me what's going on here please?" the Fool asked, 50 percent exhausted, 50 percent demanding, 100 percent DONE with everything.

Now that he looked at them actually… they looked A LOT different from the last time he saw them. For starters… they looked A LOT older. Like around 18, his age really. Instead of the warden uniform (THANK GOD! Otherwise he might actually suspect Yaldabaoth again of having a part in this) their attire was also noticeably different.

They both still had their respective eyepatches, hairstyles and a leather skirt each but that was we're the similarity ended. They lacked their hats and instead wore a golden necklace with the letters O.Y.O.O. and X.M.R.N. respectively. They each also now had a velvet blue blouse. He could also now notice that they wore knee high white sock still and… high heels?

Additionally, to all of that Justine still had her list while Caroline had her baton still. Caroline also had an armband with a metal Yang symbol while Justine had a similar one with a metal Yin. The black and white of the symbol were however traded with blue and gold respectively. Each also had a golden butterfly hairclip, each on the side of the eyepatch.

"Let us show you instead. How about it?" Caroline replied, smirking all the while like she did whenever she got to use the chainsaw.

Before he had any room to deny the two already raised their hand clasped them together and a blue light emerged from their joined hands.

And when the light faded… no one else but Lavenza stood in their place.

Though Lavenza too looked rather different. Aside from the obvious thing he noticed when he first visited the Velvet Room after the reset. She still looked to be as old as him, as old as the twins now too, only by a mere inch or two shorter than him. She still had her headband and two butterflies in her hair. An armband with a completely blue and gold Yin and Yang symbol and a necklace spelling O.X.Y.M.O.R.O.N. was around her neck. She also now traded her dress for a blue blouse though her blouse had a black front with a golden V. Her version of their skirt was also having a golden accent and light golden and blue butterflies as a motive. She too had high heels on which probably made her as tall as him now. She also had D cups for some reason (compared to the twins C actually). There was also of course the Book now instead of a list or a baton. In general she looked almost like a slightly older sister of sorts to the twins.

In other words they all had a very quick puberty while he was gone.

"Lady Lavenza!" Morgana shrieked. Oh right, the Cat didn't know about that. He simply sighed, "Really Lavenza?"

The Velvet girl just chuckled, "Yes Trickster, really. You can't fault a girl for messing around a little now can you?"

Of course, his Velvet attendant would be cheeky. It would be a paradox otherwise really.

Rolling his eyes, but still smiling oddly, he resigned himself to this new situation. "Still do you mind explaining how you did that? I don't see any guillotines nearby and that did not at ALL look like a Fusion Dance."

"As it turns out the unique circumstances of Yaldabaoth tearing me apart left me with the ability to now fuse and defuse at will. And sometimes I miss being two that's all. By the way, funnily enough I considered doing that but it seemed just a tad too silly… for now."

"Fuse?! Defuse!? Torn apart!? What in the World are you guys talking about?!"

"Long story short Morgana… Yaldabaoth is an asshole."

"…I am just going to let that count as an answer."

"Good." He approved of the Cats insight, before addressing the girl in the train entrance "Though that still doesn't explain why you suddenly underwent puberty."

SOMEHOW this only made Lavenza smile even slier. "Trickster how old do you think I am?"

Why did he feel like this was a trap?

"Uh… is there a huge difference between the two of us in age?"

"Do you consider Millenia a lot?"

"…You look very young for your age."

Now SHE rolled her eyes, "Why thank you. Honestly these bodies have not THAT much meaning to a Velvet Rom attendant. We can pretty much manipulate them however we want. I only looked the way because I wanted too but I have grown tired of looking like a child."

"You can just change your body however you please?" Morgana scoffed, "That sounds highly unrealistic."

"As long as the form is still human it doesn't matter. Besides…this coming from the Cat that can turn into a Car?" Lavenza retorted.

Morgana couldn't very well refute that so he chooses to remain silent, awkwardly scratching his head.

Lavenza approved and went back to business. "Alright than… with that all resolved there is something long overdue." Reaching into a pocket of her skirt she grabbed something and threw it his way. Catching it just in time, he suddenly found himself, "A key?"

Not any key, but an old fashioned blue key that looked like it belonged… to a prison cell?

Lavenza was happy to give him an explanation. "It is an item commemorate for the man who fought for his beliefs, even though it nearly killed him several times. This is the key to the cell that held you captive for so long. In the past, guests of the Velvet Room have received their keys upon their very first visits. However, I was unable to pass it on to you until now."

The key to his cell, the very cell he destroyed when he defied the Igor imitation when it had tried to use his attendant to kill him.

Holding this relic felt triumphant in a way. He shot her a smirk, "Better late than never. Thank you."

"There is no need. Really it is long overdue for you to receive it. I do hope that this key will be able to allow you to break free of whatever trials will make an attempt to imprison you in the future. Though given you already embarked on the path of freedom, I don't think you will actual need it. Now, how about you two enter?"

"With pleasure." He nodded, Morgana approving as well. The girl in blue made way for them to enter and as soon as they did, the train began to move once more.

The first wagon already gave him an unusual sight. It looked like a small café, as if LeBlanc was made into a Café on rails with Igor sitting behind the counter…

And Arsene, Orpheus Picaro, Mercurius and Satanael were sitting at the tables, drinking Coffee.

Akira never knew that he wanted to know what it looked like for a Gentleman Thief, a greek Musician, a roman God of Thieves and a Demon Lord to drink Coffee (could be the start of a joke) but he had absolutely no regrets about this sight.

"Ah… greetings Trickster!" Igor cheerfully welcomed him, "I see your talk with the Child of Death went well?"

"Yeah. It was REALLY unexpected though. A warning would have been nice."

The Velvet Rooms true master seemed amused and shrugged, "It was the request of one of the most powerful Wildcards to have ever entered this realm, who has served for 8 long years with her body, mind and soul. I could not refuse even if I wanted to. Now what do you think of the Velvet Room?"

Akira smiled brightly, "Simply put? It is perfect."

Perfect was the only way he could describe it really. There was just… everything so RIGHT about being on this train. He barely felt at all them moving but from looking at the sight of stars moving outside the Window he could tell they were. The atmosphere of this realm was… simply put 'Home'.

"Though I AM curious, why a train?" Morgana chimed in. "Yeah same," Akira joined in, "I mean it is perfect but why a train of all things?"

"By all means this realm is STILL designed from our guests heart. I was merely working by plan. If you really are curious, I can tell the two of you, certain elements that went into this realm."

Both Fool and Magician nodded, making Igor elaborate.

"To begin with… our greatest enemy prefers to use the subways of Tokyo, to lead all of humanity into a Prison of his own design. A form of train that is modern and accessible but beneath the earth and its tightness oppressing."

He was in enough subways to testify THAT.

"What better to rival that then a form of train that moves above the earth with class. Also, have you ever heard of the term 'Underground Railroad'? It described a series of safe routes and safe houses in America that aided slaves to escae their oppressors into freedom. From there on there was a subconscious connection of trains bringing those who need it most into freedom, what in the end our ultimate goal is the coming year."

"While we aren't underground were still hidden from the Cognitive realm. Usually the Velvet Room, while existing between dream and reality, mind and matter, still travels throughout the Cognitive realm, in your case the Metaverse. Seeing how the god of control usurped us before however, I took added measures to guarantee we will be hidden from his sight, which is why we are traveling through the sea of souls."

"In the dreams of humanity being on a train symbolizes your life's journey and that your headed into the right direction. Additionally, a train is unique from other means of transportation like ships or cars, in that it has a fixed goal. When you enter a train you already know your destination, your following along the rails. Just like how you already know your goal. Do you two need me to elaborate more?"

"No need we get the drift." Morgana answered and he was with him. But still… wow. Would the Velvet Room ever fail to impress him? Likely not.

He turned to the coffee drinking Personas, "By the way it is nice seeing you guys again. How's the Coffee."

"Quite delicious actually." Satanael answered, his gun lazily held over his shoulder. "But I assume you still have a few questions for me?"

Both him and Morgana said yes, taking place alongside Lavenza in the booths and to their joy already with steaming cups for them.

This was going to be a long talk wasn't it?

---

Yes… yes it was a long talk indeed.

The Trickster sighed in the back of his head. Thank god he had grown out of this phase he had at 8, where he could barely talk in front of others. The last few hours were filled with so much talking that if his life would be a book the author would get flag for overuse of dialogue with no notable action.

Satanael, Arsene and Orpheus, alongside Igor and Lavenza cleared up any questions left he had in mind. For example, what Satanael actually was, how he had appeared, why Arsene took so long and that whole thing regarding Kamoshida's… 'accident' (which even Igor seemed very amused by).

Satanael was something that was referred to as a World Persona, Like the Arcana of the World is the highest in the Tarot, World Personas are the strongest of all. Usually they were formed with bonds made by a Wildcard on their journey, which fuelled them and ultimately would access the World. This unique status was also the reason he still had Arsene and why Arsene hadn't completely become Satanael like his friends Personas would always transform fully. Arsene was an aspect of Satanael but not all of him so he could be separate, unlike say Zorro becoming Mercurius.

That whole thing in general was weird. They wouldn't really disappear. It was more like the second Persona would have the knowledge of two beings, two different lives. Mercurius has still full knowledge of his time as Zorro and the rouges life.

Speaking of knowledge, Igor had once again reminded him to not talk with anybody about this being a new timeline, a very frustrating thing. According to the long-nosed man, whenever someone did it WILL end badly. The previous Trickster needed 3 because he choose to talk about it anyway, unwilling to hide the truth. According to Igor it was a sure way to mess up the timeline and make things go even worse and that "Knowledge will come when the time is right for it."

He knew Igor was completely supportive but really it could be annoying how cryptic he could get.

Back to the World, apparently the World Personas need to have 'fuel' in the form of bonds was part of the reason it had hurt so much to resummon it today. He had been trying to reform with Arsenes help for the last days but it still was a lot more difficult. As for how he had actually summoned him in the first place, the reason was that he in Lavenza's words, 'Was REALLY angry.' Angry enough he somehow took what was left of his broken bonds and summoned the devil. Igor in particular mentioned that this should not be possible.

About Kamoshida, Satanael had confirmed that this was due to him. He has a very strong presence in the Cognitive World, as strong as Yaldabaoth, and as such with his power he could actually affect someones cognition even in the real World! As long as he had eye contact that is. He couldn't wait to experiment with this power.

There was also the part where Satanael was a walking, talking, gigantic source of energy (curse energy in particular), which might have some effect on him.

It wouldn't surprise him, not after he had somehow learned French from awakening to Arsene. It had something to do with Personas influencing their user. In a similar way Skull had grown fond of Pirate chanties and Morgana could speak Spanish to name a few examples.

It ALSO explained why he cursed this much these last few days. When a source of CURSE energy was inside of him… no wonder he was being more vulgar.

He was as well warned that overuse of Satanael could have consequences for himself, including but not limited to, extreme pain, fatigue, weakening immune system, vomiting, exhaustion, dizziness and even death. A warning that made his eyes bulge and which he took to heart.

The part of the Universe he got from Minako might be able to act as a reserve of sorts but he was STRONGLY discouraged from using it.

With this warning Satanael and the others had reentered his own heart to rest while Mercurius returned to Morgana. Igor had than told him to explore a little and had asked Lavenza to please give him a show of the train.

Not including the Machine itself there were five wagons. Igor had really gone all out with this Room. According to Lavenza, if it would be necessary, even newer Wagons could be materialized if something unexpected were to happen and they needed something.

The first wagon was the one he just was in. A sort of Café called… Café. It was what his subconscious strongest connected with comfort so it took up a whole wagon. In the corner was also a Cat tree which Morgana had occupied immediately. Whenever he would enter the Velvet Room this was where he would find himself.

The second wagon was called 'Thief' and was a lot different from the other one. It was more modern, with a worktable on the side, probably reserved for whenever Igor was here. There was a Computer with different sets of data's about Personas, his Teammates and targets even with several displays (Futaba would have a field day with that setup). Next to it was a large whiteboard just waiting to be written on. It reminded him of a mixture between high-tech bunker from some James Bond movie and a modern Thief hideout really. There were also a lot of safes which Lavenza told him would be used for fusions, sacrifices, itemizations and so on. Igor was not fond of the execution method at all and neither was he so this was a relief.

The third wagon was named 'Treasury'. Turns out Lavenza had sneaked back in the real world and had stolen all the things he had from his box and put them here. There were several lockers, shelves and chests all over the place filled with medicine, weapons and guns of all kinds, accessories, skill cards, clothes and other items. There was also a chest specially made as a sort of treasure chest. It even had a handy display as to just how much he had….

To be blunt cognition made it so Yaldabaoth's death caused a price equal to the richest man in the World. Lavenza told him this was the same with every prominent humanity made god, meaning that other Tricksters before him (like Minako) didn't actually need to worry about money.

He still wasn't sure what to make of the fact that he was now among the 0.1 percent. Well at least it means he would be able to change the World even after the Thieves were done.

The fifth wagon was locked to him… for some reason. Tough given his attendant had told him that this Wagon is an 'observatory' of sorts, the Fool theorized it might just be how Igor and Lavenza try to see through that so called river of fate or something along those lines. Or maybe it was just Igor's private room, he wouldn't blame the guy for wanting some privacy.

And the wagon he was in now, number four,… well it was rather different. It was a rather cozy bedroom, with a King-sized bed poster bed with deep blue curtains and several pillows and blankets, it was so over the top it belonged in some fairy tale really. Aside from that there wasn't that much else here, except for a fluffy carpet.

Now… Akira liked to think he was very mature for someone his age…

However when a teenager who had a very tyring day sees this kind of bed… what else can they do but take their shoes of and jump right in and just enjoy the soft futon while laying on it? A thought Lavenza shared.

Which eventually led them here, both staring up at the ceiling, relaxing.

"Definitely better than my prison bed." Akira had remarked, to which Lavenza just snarked. "It was supposed to be."

The girl seemed even more at ease than him. Given that she was actually torn apart and has likely been working non-stop, she needed this break more than he did. "Well you guys went above and beyond. I am starting to feel like I am getting some special treatment.

The ruler of power scoffed at that amused, "The Velvet Room treats all its guests equal. It is just that sometimes more is needed to help someone fulfil their mission. The 'Midnight Elevator' and 'Seeking Limousine' to name two, all didn't need anymore than what was given. Your god is just a tad bit more annoying than others which is why the 'Rebellious Train' is larger."

"And a bed is that vital?"

"Are you going to complain?"

"Not at all." was his sole reply, glancing over at the Trenchcoat he discarded when he went to bed (when had he actually changed into his Thief outfit? Probably when he entered the Train).

Was there anything more he should ask? As far as he knew he had every answer to his questions so far. Time travel. Satanael. Velvet Room. Hell Lavenza had even found the time to explain to him why there were two Mishimas in this timeline.

In the previous timeline Yui had been born… but had died a few days after due to no Doctor noticing she had some sort of sickness. So either Doctors were more competent all of a sudden or she had never gotten sick. Honestly as long as she was living Akira couldn't really bring himself to care and if it meant a family was spared grief than even better.

So was there any question he had left to answer?

…

Oh wait! There actually was one.

"Hey Lavenza?"

"Yes Trickster?" she turned her head to him, looking him straight in the eyes with her golden orbs.

"When I spoke with Minako she had said something about Lovers." He had explained.

…

Why did Lavenza now look like a Cat that caught a bird? "Oh? As in multiple lovers?"

"Well yeah. I thought I didn't hear that right but she just started laughing and saying something like, have fun Joker and that I should ask you about that?"

Lavenza's reply did not come immediately, at least not vocally. Akira was treated to what might be the most satisfied smirk he had ever seen in his life. When it seemed this was all he was going to get as a reply he was about to ask again… when something… interesting happened.

Lavenza had leaned her head to meet him and pressed her lips onto his.

The first thought that went through his head was also the least important one. "Her lips are warm."

…And THAN it had hit him that the attendant had just kissed him. Was STILL kissing him actually!

He snapped his head back, out of instinct, with enough force he almost flew of the bed out of sheer surprise. "Lavenza?" Oh the girl looked very satisfied with herself right about now, leaning her head on her arm.

…This was not a situation the Fool was used to. As in… not at all! He was caught completely of guard just now and… for the love of good a millennia old fairy like girl (an admittedly very attractive one) had just kissed him in a separate dimension. How was he supposed to react? "Lavenza what in the?"

"So surprised?" the reply came so non plussed at all it almost threw him in an even bigger loop.

"Ähm yes? How was I not supposed to be?"

Goddammit he HATED being thrown of guard like this. On a few occasions he liked to tease others but no one had ever managed to make HIM flustered! Not even his ex, even though she tried to her credit.

The laughing she did at his words was not exactly helping his now flustered self. "You are quite adorable like that. Though… I should probably explain to you."

"I would like that." he had a rough idea about why she kissed him but wasn't even sure how to reply to that. He wasn't dense, fortunately, but… he really, REALLY didn't know how to reply. Nor was he sure if he liked the… obvious reason for Lavenza's actions.

"Now firstly… as Minako as told you she has multiple partners. To be blunt this is not exactly unusual."

His 'Futaba will do something crazy' sense was going of at an alarming rate. Only that it should now be appropriately called 'Lavenza is about to say something crazy'. "What do you mean by that?"

Oh Lavenza was just LOVING this, it was written all over her face! "You do remember that Wildcards powers are formed by bonds right?"

He nodded.

"And the Tricksters of the Velvet Room are among the strongest Wildcards. The likes of you and Minako form much stronger bonds in lesser time."

He nodded again.

"Now this of course can have… let's call it side effects. Side effects that really have become a sort of Universal law by now."

He nodded once more. By now he had started to figure out what Lavenza might be referring too but he kinda hoped he was wrong.

"Well…" Lavenza continued, "Are you aware that in history extraordinary people with great influence had several lovers?"

…

Why couldn't he be wrong this one time?

"You CAN'T be serious!" he loudly exclaimed.

She continued without much issue, "Oh but there are. The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt for example…"

"You know what I mean!" Akira complained.

"Where is the issue?" Lavenza questioned. "You are far from the first and far from the last one I assure you."

"You can't expect me to just go along with that."

"Why not? Many young men would kill to be in your position."

"Many young men also don't intend to kill a god."

"True but all of these men never will do either. You get to do both."

"You can NOT be serious. I mean… who would go along with that?! My life isn't just some Harem Anime!"

"Surprisingly many all things considered. And each Trickster had the same reaction of disbelief you have right now." Somehow she seemed even MORE amused. "Minako has ended up with almost every girl near her and the Truth seeker… between the two of us he is pretty much a man whore. He ended up with everyone in his team excluding Teddy."

What the hell was a Teddy? Doesn't matter. He was simply at a lack of other words to say. "You…"

"Look, it really is nothing to be that surprised about. As a side effect of being a Trickster one just ends up growing to love several people and gain others love. There is nothing wrong with that."

"But… but no one would…"

"Are YOU of all people starting to worry about what society would think of you?"

Goddammit she got him again. "I mean… just… look how can you expect me to not be surprised?"

"I am not," she admitted, "But I simply want you to understand that this is nothing unusual for someone in your position. It is a logical result. Powers grow through bonds. Love is the strongest form of bonds. Its not an intentional development but… well it just happens. Fortunately, people are willing to share."

Worryingly her logic started to make sense to him.

"I mean… come now." Lavenza now looked at him accusingly, "You can not tell me that you NEVER thought someone around you may have feelings for you."

He wasn't dense. Really he wasn't. Priding himself in his ability to read people, in the past year Akira had repeatedly noticed… certain signs from those around him. However not only were certain situations just more complicated… he didn't want a relationship in the first place. Why risk ruining something when he didn't even see himself as being able for a relationship right now?

On top of that he had trouble really sorting out his own feelings and clearly dividing what he felt for others. With people he hated it was easy, but with those he cared about? That was nigh impossible.

There was a while where he theorized he might be Demisexual. As in he couldn't feel sexual attraction to someone unless he had a close emotional bond with them. But then again he was at an age were this kind of stuff was complicated in the first place so who knows.

His breakup was… not a fun one and in the last year he had arrived in Tokyo in a VERY bad state. He didn't like remembering that. Good that Arsene had set him on the right path again.

Though even if he wasn't really feeling like being romantic, it still didn't made him blind. Hell save for Morgana he suspected every member of the Thieves had at some point a crush on him.

Some were obvious in their signs. Ann, Makoto and Haru for example. Haru was especially painful and he tried to turn her down as softly as possible. Makoto enjoyed faking being in a relationship with him a little too much. Ann was fond of him but he had suspected she might have more feelings for Shiho and didn't want to go in the way.

Futaba was at first more of a little sister to him, but he wasn't convinced if the same could be said about her.

As for the boys… Ryuji was energetic and close but his Skull could also be… kinda oblivious to romance. If Skull had a crush on him chances are the blonde wouldn't even notice.

Yusuke never knew something like boundaries so that was a solid maybe.

And you would probably need a team of psychologists to figure out what the hell his relationship with Akechi was.

This wasn't even restricted to those in his team. Though that was something he couldn't clearly say. All he knew for sure was that Kawakami and Tae really enjoyed teasing him.

Akira could go on but that really wasn't the point, even if it might make a bit more sense why he seemed to attract several people.

But thinking about all of that love stuff… made him remember the soft feeling of the girl in blues lips. The logical conclusion of her doing that was, well…

"So, I assume you have feelings for me."

"Hallelujah!" Lavenza cheered sarcastically, "He can take a hint."

Okay she was having WAY too much fun with this. "But why? I mean I am flattered but what made you fall for me?"

The supernatural attendant stared at him as if to say, 'Are you serious?' and went on an elaborate explanation.

"Let us see. A kind-hearted, handsome and strong young man saves me from the clutches of an Evil God and lead a group of misfits against the worst society has to offer and even strike down said god with downright ABSURD odds stacked against him. Not to mention that I am the combination of two other girls who had fallen for you over time. No I couldn't POSSIBLY fathom how I might become attracted to you in ANY way." That last sentence of hers just dripped with sarcasm.

"Well when you put it like THAT…" he started to admit, only for his mind to focus on the part where she mentioned Justine and Caroline had a crush on him too.

This threw him in an even harder loop.

Before the deadline for Sae had arrived he had decided to see if they, as a combined team, could do the challenge the Twins had given him.

When he first arrived in Mementos he had noticed the two and they had given him a mission of sorts. A special examination. He had to fight them with the aid of his Team. Until Goro joined the Team they had always lost, but just before Crow left he had challenged them again and this time coming out on top, even if only he could remember any of that, due to the twins erasing memory of everyone else involved. Part of the examination.

After he had beaten them he was gifted a bookmark and after they admitted to start missing him when he left for a long amount of time, he had decided to tease them a little and said he couldn't chose between them.

Oddly enough they weren't embarrassed at all. Heck Justine had outright said she wouldn't resist him choosing the two of them. This reaction was making a lot more sense now with that new information.

…

Okay he might be a LITTLE dense after all, unfortunate side effect of being a flawed human being. But in his defence how was he supposed to take anything seriously from two girls that don't even belong in his dimension!? Something as logic just tends to take a break in stuff this otherworldly. He had assumed they just teased him back.

"So the twins…"

"Precisely. The emotions I feel… they aren't just mine. They are also those of two people combined." She put a hand on where her heart was, as if to remember the feeling. "I guess that is what makes me a bit more… bolder you could say."

"And your thoughts on this whole… multiple lovers thing? What about Igor? Is he fine with that too?"

"Well it has also become almost law for an attendant to fall for their guest. As such my master has no issue at all trust me on that, he is used to it. Neither do I, or any of us really, mind this kind of relationship. So really you can stop trying to look for reasons against it."

Dear Satanael, this girl could read him like a book.

"Now instead of asking for more and more ultimately pointless questions, how about I give you one? One that actually has reason?" She sat up with crossed legs and gazed at him, expecting full honesty.

"What are your feelings for me?"

…

That was an EXCELLENT question…

How DID he feel for Lavenza? Or the twins?

Well he couldn't deny that he felt connected to her/them, a solid bond of Fool and Strength. He felt indebted to her/them too in a way.

But the way they looked was a major reason why he would have never allowed anything beyond solid friendship, even had he not already taken a break from anything romance. The fact that they looked so young was a major no for him.

Given what he now knew however, of just how old she actually was, and the fact that they looked much older… well it changed a few things.

On top of that he had grown to reconsider opening himself back up for romance in December. He had a year to grow and change and it made him into a better person. And why should he not try and move on with his life?

And he would be lying to himself if he were to say he wasn't attracted to Lavenza. Quite the opposite. Maybe it was the fact that they had already spent a year together but he was more than just fond of his blue fairy.

Admitting that to himself… It made a few things easier. Though what should he say? What were the best words he could use? "Lavenza…I…" he started, uncharacteristically nervous all of a sudden. "I… like you. More than that. I feel very close to you. I just…"

Lavenza from the look of it, understood what he was trying to get out. "I see. You are simply unsure when it comes to the matters of love."

He nodded, blushing while doing so. How it gnawed on his nerves. He could be confident in most manners of life but when it came to a serious commitment of love… that was were even the hardest of guys could get weak knees. It still didn't stop him being embarrassed.

Lavenza's lips curled into a smile. She reached with her hands for his face, cupping it and gold met silver. "Than how about we try to find out just how deep the bond between us goes?"

Her lips were very close to his, Akira could note, ruby red and he found himself yearning to the moment he had met them.

She was right. Why shouldn't they find out how far they could go? Why shouldn't he admit to himself that he was attracted to this wonderful girl in front of him?

And with this resolve renewed… his confidence started to come back.

A sly smirk danced on the Thief's features. The one who had stolen so many twisted desires was starting to feel desire himself. Though it was pure and about as far from twisted as it could be.

Maybe it was the fact that they were in the Velvet Room, which was in a way his own Palace. Maybe it was the fact that he had awoken to Satanael. Maybe it was him just being a teenager reacting to the advances of someone he cherished… but he felt himself getting much bolder too.

Putting his hands around her waist, he closed the distance, tasting his guides lips once more. It was a delightful feeling, one he didn't had in a long while. A minute later he separated them again though, to Lavenza's dismay. Dismay, mind you, that quickly faded once she looked at him and heard the words for why Akira interrupted their kiss. "It is an oath than mon papillon."

And he closed the distance once more.

---

Lavenza used to be unable to understand her siblings actions. Not just the familiar cluelessness however, regarding typical sibling antics. More importantly… she could never understand their decision to leave the Velvet Room.

It seemed like an unsolvable enigma, why they would choose to leave their home of countless years. Always she had asked why they wanted to go.

And almost always it had been because of their Wildcard.

The answers came in various forms, Elizabeth had given her a smile that sang whole ballads of knowledge she had yet to gain while telling her she would one day understand. Margarette had given her a pat on the head with a snarky last quip of 'Wouldn't you like to know?'. Marie had simply shrugged, being seemingly just as dumbfounded as Lavenza but still willing to take this chance.

It seemed… ridiculous for Lavenza. Foolish. Reckless. Stupid. Why on earth would anyone want to leave the Velvet Room permanently? It would mean that you become mortal, an actual human with a finite lifespan and the abilities that came with being rulers of power would weaken as well. And all because of one human?

Elizabeth, she was the ONLY one who may have an excuse, given that she had searched for ways to free the child of death, but even than why wouldn't she choose to return or remain an attendant during her research?

This lack of knowledge frustrated Lavenza for years to come.

But then, fate had lead to her meeting her own Wildcard.

And slowly she had begun to understand.

At the time she and Akira met, she was split into two parts. Yin and Yang severed from one another. No memories of her previous life had existed till these two forces reunited, all that she DID knew was a wariness of humanity.

Though even with that she had found herself… THEY found themselves developing feelings for the Trickster. A strong bond, as hard as diamond, was woven over the year and when she had regained all her memories, she knew just WHAT it was that made her siblings want to leave the safety of the Velvet Room. It had a name, different from sibling to sibling. For Elizabeth it was named Minako Arisato. For Margaret and Marie it was named Yu Narukami.

And for her its name was Akira Kurusu.

Just thinking of his name made her swoon, like a lovesick schoolgirl that had just discovered the strongest of all emotions. A metaphor that was amazingly fitting she had to admit.

Love.

She… loved her Trickster.

After meeting him, getting to know him and connecting with him, it became obvious. Velvet Room attendants were meant to guide their Tricksters, be an emotional anchor and helping them to form bonds and grow while they themselves connected as well. Really, it shouldn't be surprising that love would eventually sprout.

To properly embrace this new rush of emotions, she had chosen to take up a different form. Part of why she had chosen this young body was because she had seen no reason to even want to change. Though while she was… A LOT… older than she looked, she didn't want any physical awkwardness standing between them.

Now… when you're withhold a strong pleasure like that, and suddenly end up experiencing it a logical result is to want more of it. To find out just how far it can go.

And Lavenza wanted all of her Trickster.

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(Warning for Lemon scene. If you happen to read this on AO3 you will read it here. If not… you can find the missing scene in a side story on my profile. It is called "Round Two: Lemons". Its upfront so really not hard to miss. With that said enjoy…)

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Akira wasn't sure how much time has passed. Now that the Velvet Room was fixed once more, they didn't obey the laws of time. He remembered that from the previous year, where he could spend hours inside his cell and only seconds passed in the real world.

But honestly he couldn't care for it, as he lay here with this fantastic girl in his arms, lazily laying her head on his chest to use as a pillow as they hugged.

"Mmmmmh." Lavenza almost purred against him. "That was amazing Trickster. Thank you."

"I agree." He smiled, feeling more relaxed and content than he ever felt before in the new timeline. "It really was. Thank you 'mon papillon'."

She giggled at the title, "I never knew you were one for nicknames."

"I am now." He sheepishly admitted, before kissing her temple. There was something… right about everything. He was content, happy and he found words for himself that the girl deserved to hear, having more than made up his mind about her. "I love you Lavenza."

Lavenza's smile managed to become even bigger at these words. "I love you too Trickster. You truly are the worlds greatest man."

At such a compliment Akira actually blushed, the girl somehow succeeding in taking his words away once again, right after he found them. She really was something else.

"I guess this makes us now a couple." Lavenza more or less stated.

"True." Akira confirmed, feeling a new sense of relief. The coming year was going to be rough and he had a lot to take care of. But with someone like Lavenza at his side he was certain he could do it. Though he still felt the need to mention the work that needed to be done, also remembering about Morgana all of a sudden, who was still waiting in the Café most likely.

"We should probably get to work sometime soon huh?"

"Also true. But for now… how about we just rest? I don't want to end our moment yet."

"Neither do I." he admitted, and he felt kind of sleepy. Sleeping in the Velvet Room didn't mean much. He had tried it once and it was more like taking a nap for a few seconds even if you slept for hours inside. Though h happily let himself drift away as Lavenza did the same, her soft breathing calming him.

---

You know a side note its always just VERY weird for me to describe chest sizes. Its just.. there is no organic way to build that into a description but at the same time I tried to paint an accurate picture in your brain…

Well either way I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Now for a quick briefing.

First of all… let me ask you all something.

The freaking VELVET ROOM was attacked! Humanities first and ONLY line of defense against gods was beaten.

Where WAS EVERYBODY?

We know Lavenza was able to talk with Akira from her new state and that there ARE other attendants out there. Hell if you go by PQ logic past persona users will come back when some threat comes.

So why did no one… DO anything? Why did SEES or IT never noticed anything?

Now in the game proper none of this happened, this is all made up by me but it really gets you thinking doesn't it? There is some potential for VERY unnerving fridge horror.

Like seriously freaking Nyarlothep never managed that. I feel like Yaldabaoth probably became pretty scary to the Velvet Room.

Regarding Minako, I tried to bring her character over the way I see her. Kind, gentle but piss her of and she will Armageddon on you… something that she REALLY would have liked doing to Yaldabitch. But eventually this all really got to her.

Igor I am going to freely admit I made slightly OOC. I just really like the idea of him being closer to his Wildcards and maybe being a mentor/father figure for them. Hey its not the biggest change I did so far.

As for the small info bit. Yep there it is. A more detailed and fitting reason for the sudden gender change. It was their real self and now they are capable of living in a body they really wanted. Like Minako said, Fate gives you a free sexchange.

(To be clear I have only respect for anybody who is trans and I hope I made that clear)

The only downside I see in doing that is that I didn't got to use the idea of the Arisato twins that is VERY popular and I actually really like. But I rather went with what you read already.

Akira himself I tried to humanize a bit more. He was in a really bad place after the trial and juvie and all that and he is someone with a strong sense of justice but no idea how to use it. In a way it is supposed to be what most of us probably made Persona (and many other RPG) appealing to us in the first place. I am sure most of us are like him, feeling powerless to affect the world around them in a way we envisioned. It sounds cheesy (as I noticed while typing actually) but it is true.

I hoped to make Akira someone you can all empathize with. All of Persona 5 is really a love letter to the appeal of being a superhero and enforcing your own justice. Akira THRIVED in that…

But ultimately he had no idea what he was really in for. He had no idea that he would end up dealing with this deranged scum, dangerous conspiracy's and a freaking god. He was a bit too excited and maybe a bit in over his head. To phrase it otherwise, he jumped at the call but… didn't know he jumped into a pit.

I want to avoid making him into a Gary sue or something so I hope this is clear.

I could go on about how I intend to make Akira appear human but i just leave you to figure out yourself how his mental state is. Spoiler warning: It will become a serious problem at some point.

About Orpheus and the Universe… Orpheus is meant to invoke a combination of female Orpheus mixed with telos and finally the version Akira got is the female Orpheus Picaro that is teased as DLC for Royal. Look up a picture of it if you would like.

And the Universe… well how could I pass this chance up to have two wildcards have a bond represented by a Arcana we haven't seen in a while?

I also used my story as a way to give the P3 crew a happy ending… finally. Minako is free and able to life a long and happy life.

Oh yeah on that. I feel like with the help of Personas supernatural elements I would be able to make the eventual Harem more believable and realistic. So Minako has a Yuri harem while our favorite manwhore Yu has his whole team… except Teddy.

Regarding Akiras Velvet Room I already had Igor explain many reasons as to why it is a train. Shoutout to the reader ScarletEmperor for guessing correctly :).

Edit: Forgot to mention this last time but personally i thought of the train having the outwards aestethic of the train Assasin base from Assasins creed syndicate. Just coloured Blue and Gold.

I also hoped to implement some other elements into the train, part of why I went this route. It allowed me more versatily and to involve some of you guys ideas which I all REALLY liked.

So some more stuff about Satanael and some exposition and the warning in the air. Remember how much pain Akira was in when he awoke to Satanael? That was him using Satanael for like half a minute. Imagine what state he would be in if he were to actually USE it for a combat situation.

Another reason why the Universe exists. It has an in story reason and acts as a cushion for Akira so he… you know… doesn't die a very unusual death.

I hope I pointed this out but him awakening to Satanael in the circumstances he was in was NOT supposed to happen. Satanael is a World persona but not complete without the power of the bonds Akira gained.

I personally see it as every Wildcard being pretty much a perfect fit to fight the god they opposed.

Minako is selfless and sacrificial which allowed her to access the Universe and Messiah to seal Nyx.

Yu is a truth seeking detective which is why his main weapon his truth itself (a reason why it didn't work at all on Yaldabaoth)

Akira is a rebel at heart which is why he can essentially rebel against even the rules that are 'normal' for a Wildcard, but lets be real what is 'normal' for a Wildcard?

BTW: strenghtwise, Minako is among the strongest (THE strongest Wildcard because Universe) with Akira starting to become a close second and maybe being able to outclass her in her prime at some point, while Yu is strong but not as strong as they are.

And finally… Lavenza. Funnily enough most of her I did NOT make up. According to the Dancing game she IS capable of splitting herself up. Margaret stated in her game that there is a age difference of millenia between her and Yu and given what she is I extended that to all attendants.

She also said some stuff here in the game, like when you beat the twins and reply with 'I cant choose' that is what they will say.

The only thing I really made up what her being able to manipulate her body and that was because I was not about to have her look like a child.

And lastly… for those of you who read it… I hope you enjoyed the lemon. I am partially worried this came too soon but on the other hand… I also thought it would be fitting. These two know each other for over a year by now and have feelings.

I actually intended for Ryuko to be the first 'confirmed' girl in the harem but as I wrote the story Lavenza just… decided she wanted her Trickster. That's how writing goes I guess.

Not to mention that sex is among the best stress relief you could have and these two had A LOT of stress lately.

Either way I hope you enjoyed it. I wanted to make it clear that its… well actually lovemaking and not just sex, while at the same time making it enjoyable to read.

Alright I think that's all.

Again thank you all for reading and see you all next time :)

(Hopefully much quicker than 3 months)