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.

10. Skull of Rebellion

HA! Only one month this time!

Welcome back everybody! I am happy tosee you all back.

I… don't think I have much to say this time in the beginning notes… huh.

Though i do have some issues with this chapter myself... but meh... at some point you just have to stop kicking your work into shape and accept it.

Well… alright then I guess I answer some Guest reviews from here and leave you to move on and read the chapter.

Also... fair warning there might be a few grammar mistakes... but hey its fanfiction nothing unusual ;)

Krumpte: Ähm… I think part of your ask got eaten?

Klandicar: …Ooookay? I don't really know how to retort to that in all honesty.

Guest 2: Understandable. I also tend to dislike angst and darkness from time to time but still happy you liked it and the lore I am establishing :).

Again happy you liked the chapter and hope this one you enjoy too :)

TheB: Thanks :). Don't worry were getting to it now :)

Guest: Whoa there calm down buddy. I get it if she is not your favorite but no need to be rude.

Guest: Not sure if you're the same but I actually know that Satanaels origins are more complicated. Its Gnosticism after all.

The version P5 Satanael from what I found on his lore site is inspired by seems to be a version that has him be the second son of god who rebelled against him for freedom. I actually think its interesting they state that he represents his form before he fell from grace. The -el ending is appereantly heavenly or reserved for angels. MichaEL, GabriEL, RaphaEL, UriEL.

As for Kamoshida… well I think you will be happy about what happens to him this chapter.

Okay than I hope you all enjoy!

BTW: Fair words of warning. Ryukos past will be revealed in this chapter so warning for mentions of… well a lot of depressing stuff, groping, attempted rape and… Kamoshida being a gross asshole really. Just so your all prepared.

---

In the dark depths of the Cognitive realm… a single shadow was prowling through the dark. Representing the body of a young girl, a girl tortured by the sick nature of others, she marched on as if on a hunt. A mad, downright insane giggling went with her.

The girl to who this shadow belonged too had long reached her breaking point. And the Shadow knew…

Just a little more. Just a little more. Just a LITTLE more.

Something was holding her back. Fear? Doubt? No matter.

One last push… that was all that would be needed.

They could soon embark on their revenge.

The Shadow clawed on her mask shaped like a skull, scratching it, grasping it, unable to tear it of…yet.

The sadistic giggle constantly escaping, showing the desire to DESTROY the King. It was exciting. She could not wait to finally set sail and embrace the Skull of rebellion. Finally… after so long it was nearly time to set sail and wreck havoc!

"Soon…"

---

April the 12th.

The day his Skull would awaken to the powers necessary for their thievery.

He still couldn't quite shake of the weirdness he felt behind literally re-experiencing the years moments (and he really wasn't looking forward to some of them, which he preferred to avoid/change), but at least it allowed him to compare the two situations and prepare accordingly.

He thought of exactly that, while he was cramped up in the tight spaces of the subway, some random man's elbow in his ribcage.

"I like Tokyo, really I do, but BY GOD do I HATE the subway!" were his rather negative thoughts. These cells on rails made you feel so oppressed by just the sheer amount of people you were stuck with, it was no wonder Yaldabaoth used a subway system as base for Mementos. He found himself yearning to be in the Velvet Train again.

(On that note, Lavenza had organized an entrance right in his room, looking like the entrance of a train. It was right next to the stairs up to the attic… and dear Lord did he wish he could just have used that to go to Shujin).

"See it as training for crawling through the air vents my apprentice." Arsene tried to see the light of the situation.

"The air vents have more room than the subway! I genuinely would feel more comfortable crawling all the way to that prison of a school."

"Why does someone even call a school 'Shujin' Academy? Isn't that about as moral lowering a name as it can be?" Orpheus Picaro asked.

"Well technically speaking the name of the school is written with different characters then the ones used for 'Prisoner' but it might as well be written like it was, given how it is there."

"Didn't young Mishima also mention once that the founder of the school was rumoured to suffer from depression?" Satanael informed.

"Yeah he did say tha-… wait how do YOU know that? You didn't even exist back then." Akira questioned the demon lord.

"I am separate from Arsene but that doesn't mean I don't have access to his memories. I am still an evolution and as such have his wisdom."

"Okay, I am just going to stop trying to understand how you actually work."

"A wise decision."

"Oh, spare me your sarcasm."

"I am not being sarcastic Trickster. Some things about us are just enigmas."

"Whatever." He muttered under his breath. He chose to spend the time in this sardine can of a transport vehicle thinking about what the plan was for today and maybe compare just how it differed from last year.

Morgana would await the three of them after school in the entrance of the castle. In the meantime, he would go in and out of the Velvet Room and deliver the packages they prepared last night.

Together with Lavenza, they had made packages filled with money, from the list he had made in the Bank of Gluttony. The cat thief would then break into the homes and leave a package alongside with a note for the victims, stating how it was from 'a well-meaning individual' who wanted to help them free themselves from Kaneshiro.

Given he would have to do this for 63 times Akira was genuinely surprised Morgana was willing to put himself through this. Mona really was one to inspire hope in others, fitting his true nature.

Obviously, they prepared the packages and letters without leaving anything that could lead back to them, wearing gloves, hairnets and using newspaper letters. He didn't think someone would report receiving money, especially not if they could just rid themselves of a Yakuza boss instead, but he was NOT about to take any chances. Not even a HAIR was going to be stuck on anything. He was rather paranoid then not paranoid enough and given that his archenemy was a literal godlike being… he felt like he was justified in his paranoia.

Even if Morgana was…. well a cat and Lavenza was literally not existing according to any government of his World.

He found himself smiling at simply thinking of his fairy. It felt… good, to let himself love someone romantically again and last night was just… really amazing.

They were so exhausted afterwards they slept for hours (well… seconds in the real World… probably… time really didn't had any meaning in the Velvet Room). He still felt a little sore.

Morgana didn't know about their relationship yet. That was something he would tackle later.

Arsene chuckled, knowing exactly what he thought about, "Ah, a boy becoming a man."

"Technically he was one before, wasn't he though?" Satanael asked.

He frowned at his question. "I would prefer not to think of that now."

Getting his intend, the World Persona didn't push.

Stupidly, his ex was the one he gave his V-card too.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. He loved her and so did she, at least he assumed.

They were in the gymnastic team together and a healthy rivalry had blossomed between the two, pushing them to improve even further.

He remembered thinking yesterday how he was the best at his Team and school. Well… he remembered now that wasn't true. Akira simply tended to completely push her out of his mind, including anything associated with her… so he forgot in a way.

Wow did that sound stupid. Had he grown this used to pushing her out that he mentally erased her existence? Refusing to acknowledge her time in his life?

Either way… in truth, he was second best… somewhat.

She was the Captain of the team with him as Vice and there were often debates who of the two was actually better. If he were to take a guess she beat him 7 out of 10.

When it came to Parkour however he was better. That was how they eventually ended up coming together.

It seemed like the stereotypical childhood romance gone right. Really his whole life, well aside from his 'parents', was pretty good actually. They were rather popular together, even being nicknamed the 'Prince' and 'Princess' of the school. He didn't care about that stupid school popularity contest everyone in their school years always seemed to be obsessed with (well she wasn't either). So, because he didn't give a damn about being popular, that was something he really didn't bother losing.

However that wasn't the only thing he lost.

After Shido framed him there was pretty much a countdown hanging over his head. He was taken into custody and only the day after taken out by his parents, but only because they didn't want him ruining their reputation even further he assumed. He tried to explain himself but of course they didn't listen.

His school kicked him out immediately afterwards and the only way he would have been able to get back was if he could prove his innocence in court in a week after the incident.

In that time he gave up trying to explain to his parents and instead tried to reason with his friends.

The rumours had already started however. Only escalating from one person to another.

He sneaked into school on the last day before the court date. She hadn't replied to any of his messages or calls and he was becoming desperate.

When he had finally found her and tried to make her listen… she punched him in the face and sent him onto the ground.

"Stay away from me you Monster!"

He still remembered her words.

She was verbally dressing him down, believing some random people more than him. Even the uglier rumours she believed.

Someone had even thought he was trying to rape that woman and that Shido stopped HIM! How much bullshit was that!? He had literally prevented a rape and was now accused of attempting one!?

And she believed it. She cursed, with tears in her eyes, almost seeming SCARED of him and angry at the same time.

When she had finally finished, she ran away, while the rest of the school was around him. The teachers had rather roughly 'escorted' him out, some of his friends even threw rocks at him while they did.

In the three months he was stuck in Juvie, a small part of him hoped she… SOMEONE might come visit him. But that was some kind of hope he himself beat into the ground eventually.

He finally understood that she didn't care for him, no one did in that town. It made him go to Tokyo as a… different person. Cynical and bitter. He didn't believe that ANYBODY would want to by his side anymore.

"Trickster?" Satanael interrupted him, "You are about to break the handle."

He blinked at the Personas words, realizing just how tightly he had grabbed the leather handle above him. He relaxed his hand, thinking about it was still getting to him apparently.

"Are you alright?" Arsene asked worried.

"Yeah I am fine. Don't worry."

He was really grateful to the Pillager of Twilight for setting him back on the right path.

It was laughable really, just how pessimistic he was back then, when he ended up being proven wrong over the year. Hell, within the first days his Skull had already started to destroy that believe he had.

"Just stop thinking about your edgy phase," he told himself, "concentrate on what's important."

"What was the conductor thinking, charging into the station at top speed like that?"

He sighed mentally, "Thank you for reminding me what's important, random student."

Unlike last time it wouldn't just be him, Mona and soon to be Skull. He would also be with the one causing countless mental shutdowns for the last two years or so.

"Didn't you hear? The guy totally lost it."

"It's been happening a lot lately."

"All these accidents are because people are suddenly losing their minds, right?"

"Well that is not completely accurate."

"Well between the economy sucking and how depressing the news always is, its not all that surprising. I am just glad no one died because of it."

There it was. No one… died. The confirmation that he wasn't wrong to try and put his trust in Crow last year and now. Goro WAS capable of being a better person. Granted 'no killing' is a rather low bar for being a good person but on top of that he heard something else.

On the way to the subway he overheard someone else talking about the accident and that the man responsible was actually an abusive drunk, who beat his wife and child on constant basis. Something there was actual evidence for delivered and the asshole even admitted to it. He looked it up himself and it was all true, not just rumours.

It could be that his dear Crow was actually trying to improve society… in her own twisted way. If someone would have told her about how to steal hearts maybe she would have never resorted to mental shutdowns… even if she was probably about as mentally stable as a cracked wineglass.

It was… scary honestly. How Akechi was in that ship. So full with hate and no direction.

That was how HE was when he first came to Tokyo.

"Concentrate dammit." He commanded himself. He could feel bad later for now he had to think.

Goro might make things more complicated when it comes to Ryuko's awakening. Last time… well should he even still call her Ryuji with what he found about her now and that Ryuko was who she really was? He would just stick to calling her Ryuko.

This actually raised a question… why didn't Akechi get a different name? He would just think about that later.

Last time Ryuko was awakening because he and Morgana got overwhelmed by Kamoshida and were taken hostage, with the false King delivering a breaking speech to the blonde. Even if he and Morgana would not still have the strength they had from last round, there was no way they would get themselves in trouble when freaking Goro Akechi aka. Black Mask was with them. He knew what her, Robin Hood and Loki were capable of. She was strong enough to deal with Kamoshida all on her own really.

That left the problem of there being no need for Ryuko to awaken. However other then last time Ryuko ACTIVELY wanted to get a Persona so that might affect her chances.

A part of him wished he could just tell her about what would happen but Igor had made it VERY clear that that was not an option. According to him the timeline being messed up by 'sharing knowledge before it is meant to be gained' is a Universal constant… and he got that from seeing people do that and ALWAYS messing up in the process, ruining their rounds. It still made him feel guilty, having to essentially manipulate the people he cared about.

Either way, Ryuko wouldn't get Captain Kidd unless she was in the proper mood emotionally.

The proper mood being pretty much going Berserk with rage.

Circumstances of their awakenings were mostly in times of great anger or danger. Maybe it was comparable to hysterical strength, as in 'awaken to a spiritual power or suffer/watch someone else suffer'. It was basically like that with him and Ryuko.

Maybe the reason why your Persona started talking was because it represented the part of you that wanted to act and break all restraints and needed to convince the rest of the body.

That could also be why you were so exhausted after an awakening, if it really was like a supernatural case of hysterical strength. After all, while you are in this state you can actually end up injuring yourself because as it turns out, the human body had a preservation instinct to hold back so they don't hurt themselves so they don't do something stupid… till it came to the point they HAD to do it.

It was some sort of mixture of that and going utterly berserk.

They had theorized this might have been why Haru hadn't completely awoken by the time she joined. She awoke to save Morgana but not understanding any context, only had the hysterical strength factor and not the rage or will to rebel that really made your Persona manifest.

On the topic of rage… it in general was something familiar to him. Its facets and differences and uses. He had become pretty good at bottling it up and using it in effective ways. It was a fantastic motivator and his friends all had their own versions of rage. The roaring thunder of skull, obvious and strong. The crawling poison of Crow, hidden until it strikes you down. It had a certain beauty for him.

Anyway it was either that or face your own Shadow like Futaba did… or use an Evoker.

How many ways were there to summon a Persona?

But well it would be very suspicious of him to give her the Evoker and it was not like they would just randomly find Ryuko's shadow…

However… they might be able to find Kamoshida's cognition of her.

They didn't manage to do so last time, but that was maybe because Kamoshida just didn't care enough for someone who was in his eyes just some random annoying student. But given his… attitude that made Akira boil just thinking about, to her this time, he might deem her as important enough.

He wasn't sure if he liked that possibility. On one hand given how Ryuko already was furious seeing cognitive Ann, there was no doubt in his mind she would go BALISTIC, enough to awake Captain Kidd.

On the OTHER hand… he felt like smashing the teachers face in just considering the possibility.

The way he saw women was APPALLING to say the least. Ann, one of the most kind-hearted and strongest girls Akira knew, was in Kamoshida's mind reduced to some… some… dumb, weak, blonde bimbo dressed like a stripper!

Akira might actually explode if he would be forced to see his cognition of Ryuko.

In general anything cognitive was just infuriating in that Palace, not that that was unique in Palaces as a whole but STILL! The entirety of the female population of Shujins students was reduced to some collection of harem girls in Kamoshidas mind.

Yet ANOTHER reason why he wasn't exactly fond of the idea of some sort of Harem for himself.

Lavenza had talked with him about that too. As she puts it, what Kamoshida believes to have is the wrong kind of Harem, just some misogynists idea of possessing woman to boost his own ego.

The 'right' kind of harem was in her explanation one made of love with every participant willingly and happily agreeing to share and a mutual happiness. The kind she actually nicknamed 'Velvet' kind, since it seemingly was the sort of Harem participants of the Velvet Room have.

With that logic he was unable to argue… but it still gnawed on him.

"Thief you would do better not comparing yourself to Kamoshida." Orpheus told him. "It is rather obvious that you would not treat woman in the way someone like the King does."

"Obviously.", Akira replied, "It just… still doesn't completely sit well with me. I just cant get that image out of my head. I just need some time to get used to the idea."

"How about I tell you of how Minako ended up in that kind of relationship? Would that help in replacing the image?"

"I might pick you up on that offer later." He told her before focusing his mind back on the matter at hand.

If Ryuko would find some sort of cognition of her it would help in her possible awakening. But if not he would need to find some other way. Maybe he could let himself be caught?

That was another idea he REALLY didn't like, but he might just need to do that today. Even if he would rather take a bath with a dozen piranhas then let that perverted teacher capture him.

Either way Ryuko would need to awaken today.

Before that he didn't had much to do. Just class and Mr. Ushimaru. However it might be useful to find out some more things about his friends in the timeline.

Chances are he would also see Kamoshida again. Last year he approached Ann and 'offered' to drive her home with some lie about being worried. He would keep an eye out for him.

The train finally stopped at his station, allowing him to escape this cell on rails. Leaving the station, the rain was still pouring strongly. Thankfully he had his umbrella this time. Taking it out he was about to walk to school… when his phone suddenly rang.

"That's new…" he muttered to himself. He didn't remember Ryuko writing him at this time. When he took the phone out however it displayed…

Incoming Call. Dad.

A deep scowl overcame his face.

The phone rang for three times… the caller showing no apparent desire to hang up.

He thought he had deleted all the contacts from his town. He forgot one. He didn't remember him calling him.

"Akira?" Arsene asked him.

Swiftly he pressed accept and put it on his ear.

"Leave me alone." Was all he said before ending the call, blocking the number and deleting it, before going on his way. Mentally congratulating himself for not letting of a tirade of curses.

It was good that rain had a way of calming Akira's nerves. It was a blessing really that it rained today, this way he wouldn't be fuming upon entering the school.

---

"Ugh… I hate rain." Ryuko muttered frustrated. She hadn't remembered to bring an umbrella with her and as such had to share an umbrella with Ann, to protect her from the elements and prevent her from going completely drenched into school.

The yellow scrunchy from yesterday was replaced with a black hairband. She liked to mix it up a little everyday with just what she used to bind her ponytail.

Ann, who held the Umbrella in one hand and happily munched the crepe Ryuko bought her in the other, attempted to correct her, "Oh come on, you like rain."

"Correction I like Lightning. Thunderstorms and this stuff THAT I like but I can do fine without all that water."

It also didn't help that she REALLY needed to go on the toilet and all this water surrounding her did NOT help.

"Then don't forgot your umbrella next time.", Shiho pointed out, walking under her own Umbrella, next to Ann and arms interlocked with the blonde model. One of the few times in public, with no one minding or noticing anything.

"I know, I know." She admitted,

Ryuko was just… very nervous about today. Her thoughts were all over the place. Infiltrating the Castle again, searching for that cat and everything.

And that weird dream from last night, we're she found herself on a ship in the middle of a thunderstorm, chanting 'Soon'.

There was also the fact that Ann and Shiho all but demanded to meet Akira today. A meeting which might become an interrogation.

She also wasn't sure what to do if she meets the asshole again.

No. She had to focus. Be angry. She just… had to be angry. Keep up the façade, get a Persona and finally smash that bastards face in.

Though in all honesty… she was tired of being angry. But well… the punk act was one of the things that gave her some peace when she wasn't with her friends.

They entered the alleyway to join the school.
"Welp. Time for another day in prison."

---

Shujins students would never cease to amaze Akira with how much of a contradiction their actions could be.

When he was anywhere near one they would be quite like mice hiding from a cat, Whole groups even split apart and eye him with worry.

But as soon as they think he might be out of earshot they would start with the rumours again. Meaning he was once again treated to all kinds of crazy things.

"That's him? The guy with the criminal record?"

"Alcohol, smoking, theft, violence, the guys done it all."

"How is he even allowed in the school? Everyone is afraid of him. I hope he gets expelled soon."

"Aren't we supposed to be some elite prep school?"

"In the assault… there was a girl involved. Y-You think he? I-I'm scared."

Breathe in. Breathe out. Don't let it get to you.

"He almost killed a guy! None of us are safe with this maniac."

"He looks so harmless… but when he goes mad…"

"I heard he is part of the Yakuza. He probably threatened the principal into accepting him."

"I'm too young to die!"

"He always carries a knife with him. Better stay away."

"The guys life is already ruined. Nothing but garbage."

"Are you suicidal!? Don't say that out loud!"

"Am I wrong!? People like him should just disappear."

These people can't get to him.

"Poor Kamoshida. What did that Monster do to him?"

"How isn't THAT already enough to suspend him?! Does someone need to die so something changes?!"

He sighed in his mind. "Soon enough you all will be cursing his name."

"Helloooo Mishima!"

The unnecessarily long greeting immediately was questioned by Akira. Even more so the fact that it was directed towards a certain young student.

Turning his head towards the source he found Yuuki, being surrounded by three guys, all looking rather pushy towards his Moon.

"Say buddy… I forgot my money today for lunch. Think you could lend me some teammate?" the guy in front 'asked' him.

Yuuki looked to be troubled, all but shrinking under their combined stares.

Without thinking much about it, he approached the group.

Two of them seemed to notice him but the leader didn't until he was directly with them.

Putting Yuuki behind him he stared directly into the so called leader, who raised an eyebrow at what he must assume to be an unusual display. "Why don't you back of?" the Fool told him. Meanwhile he tried to analyse the group before him.

The first guy he recognized immediately. On the left back, Daisuke Takanashi, one of the first targets of the Phantom Thieves and a bully who was threatened by someone else.

The men who threatened him in the first place, Yoshimori Sakoda was with them as well on the right of the leader.

And the third guy, the one most aggressive towards Mishima and who lead them here…

…

"Eeeeeeh… who is that?"

This… was odd.

Who the hell was that guy?

"Who the hell are you?" the stranger asked him, annoyed and with an edge of a threat.

"I was about to ask the same thing." Akira mussed.

The student looked like a second year, with dishevelled blonde hair of which he put some in a ponytail. He seemed to have an athletic build and wore his uniform jacket open with a red shirt and he had orange eyes. But most importantly…

Akira had no idea who he was!

"Arsene do you remember him?" he asked his Persona.

"Äh… no. I don't think we ever met him before."

"I don't remember him either." Satanael noted.

"Wait what now? None of you know him!?" he more or less shouted mentally.

Daisuke seemed to have a realization and pulled at the… whoever he was!... shoulder.

"Holy crap. Yo Daiji!"

There! He had a name! Daiji.

…

"Who the fuck is Daiji?!"

Akira started to become unnerved now. Who WAS this Daiji!? He didn't remember there being a third major bully in Shujin! And he defiantly didn't remember ANYBODY named Daiji!

Fate had screwed with him in a number of ways but at least it made somewhat sense! This guy… literally just popped out of nowhere!

Seriously who was he can someone tell him!?

"This is the transfer! You know… the criminal!" Daisuke finished telling this… DAIJI person. The blonde anomaly in front of him, took the info in and almost immediately his expression changed from annoyed to angry.

Turning back to him Daiji scowled and glared at the Trickster. "Is that so?"

…

Was… was he…

"Is this guy trying to intimidate me?"

"Looks like it." The literal Demon Lord of his heart commented.

And in a small… dark part of his heart… Akira felt satisfaction.

This could be fun!

"You're that criminal scum that got accepted to Shujin? Akira Kurusu?"

"What is it too you?" Akira, for now, neutrally questioned.

The orange eyes that glared at him became even more hateful. "Well, the two of us have some business new kid."

"Should I know who you are?" Akira asked, which made a cocky expression appear on Daiji's face. He went to answer.

"On second thought, don't bother. I don't care. I find you about as interesting as the trash I found in the subway this morning."

Ahhh… there it was. The pure bewilderment written all over this Daiji.

Infuriated, the blonde addressed him again. "Don't you know who I am!?"

"Should I?"

He scoffed at the Fool before speaking again. "I am Daiji. Daiji Hideki. You better remember it you…"

While he went on to talk, Akira droned him out of his mind, thinking about that name.

Daiji Hideki.

Nope. Still never heard of him.

Okay seriously how did he get here? Did some butterfly effect cause this too?

Either way this guy started to become annoying.

"What you did with Sensei Kamoshida was just-!"

"Hang on Kamoshida?" Akira interrupted, "What is that to you?"

Hideki continued to glare at him "I know what you did to Sensei Kamoshida you prick!"

Sensei Kamoshida?

Ugh… someone actually using an honorific for that scum made him want to throw up his breakfast curry.

But it started to dawn on him that this guy had something to do with Kamoshida. Good god the perverted bastard wasn't his Idol or something was he?

He forced the disgust out of his face and faked a smug smirk. "Hey its not my fault your Hero is in need of diapers. No shame in it really in his age that is just one thing he can't control."

The fist that was thrown his way, Akira had prepared himself for already. After battling demons and gods for over a year his reflexes became very good and catching a fist was a lot easier then dodging lightning.

Daiji himself seemed shocked however, the pure rage in his face replaced with surprise. A few gasps rang through the room. Giving it a quick look Akira noted that they had started to attract a small crowd.

Throwing away the fist, Daiji stumbled back, having to be caught by his two 'friends'. He roughly shoved them aside, while glaring back at Akira.

"Watch it you fuck! I don't know how things were at your old school but you're NOTHING here." Daiji started ranting, "Trash like you should just disappear. NOBODY wants you here. In fact I have half in mind to teach you a lesson or two if you don't-"

"BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Akira started laughing out loudly, interrupting Daiji. The blonde became startled by this and even angrier, "What's so funny criminal scum?!"

"Well…" Akira still chuckled while saying that, giving of a light-hearted vibe. Then… he had decided he had enough of Daiji.

With quick steps he approached him, fast enough for Daiji to take an instinctive step back. The moment he had lost.

Akira let Daiji take more steps, till he was pressed against the opposite wall… and towered over him. His whole expression had changed, a feral smirk alongside an intense hateful glare was on the Tricksters face as he stared Daiji down who had now only shock written on his face, growling in a low voice.

"I find it HILARIOUS that you think you're a threat to me."

He wasn't lying. He had faced the worst of the worst this world had to offer. Criminals, murderers, mad gods… and some SCHOOL BULLY thought he could threaten him?

It was LAUGHABLE!

And while Akira didn't notice it… for a split second his silver eyes turned red.

The first spots of fear were in Daiji now. He froze in place under his glare, not expecting this much resistance probably.

He finally found the courage to force himself away, squeezing out of the small space Akira allowed for him. Bewildered, he stepped back, "Y-You're lucky were about to have Class! You hear me! Ill have an eye out for you asshole!"

Then he walked away, Daisuke and Yoshimori following him suit. The masses that surrounded them started to back away too after Akira threw a few glares their way. Some last whispers still didn't escape his ear.

"Holy crap I can't believe the criminal faced Daiji like that."

"He's got lucky. Hope Daiji kicks his ass next time."

Akira rolled his eyes. This was… stupid… so… SO stupid.

"This might have been the most pathetic thing I have seen in this new timeline."

Remembering the person for who he faced that annoyance in the first place, he turned back to Yuuki, who seemed to shrink even more before him. "Hey? You okay?"

He seemed surprised at that question. "Äh…Y-Yeah I-I am fine."

"Are you sure?" Akira pressed, eyeing the many bruises on the future Phanboy. "You look pretty roughed up."

"Oh that… that is just from training… n-nothing more."

And there came back the feeling of frustration. "Well okay? Anyway what was up with that guy?"

"Nothing really. We are both on the Volleyball team so he just asked me for..."

"Then why isn't he as roughed up as you are?" Akira interrupted him, pressing on the matter.

But it seemed Mishima had enough or was just too freaked out, "Sorry but I have to go!" he all but screamed in his face before hurrying away.

Akira could only look after his Moon as he ran away as fast as his aching legs could carry him.

Sighing he went to enter his own class. He was the first one surprisingly and went to his place…

Which had been decorated.

"Already?" Arsene mussed unnerved and the Fool shared his emotion.

On his table were a whole ornament of white flowers, placed with some sort of malevolent care. Uncaringly, he grabbed a trashcan from a corner of the classroom and shoved them all into it, revealing messages both carved with knifes and written with markers.

CRIMINAL SCUM

KILL YOURSELF

NO ONE WANTS YOU HERE

MURDERER

I DARE YOU TO JUMP OF THE ROOF

GET LOST

-FROM THE WHOLE SCHOOL

"Is… is that happening often?" The Picaro Persona asked, concern evident in her voice.

"It started sometime after he was threatened with expulsion." Arsene answered.

"Trickster…" Orpheus began… "I am sor-"

"Haaaahaahahaha." Akira laughed in his head, catching Orpheus by surprise. "By god they are pathetic. Can't even say it to my face."

He sat down, uncaring for the hateful messages on his table, used to them by now. "Don't worry Orpheus. This doesn't bother me at all anymore."

That was all he said to that situation, while closing his eyes and relaxing, waiting for the lesson to start.

He remembered when his friends first found out about the flowers and messages.

"WHAT THE HELL!? How shitty can these assholes get!?"

"This is so gross! Akira are you okay?"

"How utterly tasteless!"

"This is repulsive! It seems I need to bring the bullying up in the council."

"This is why I hate school!"

"Oh dear. Akira I am so sorry."

"Hey Joker… don't let this get to you okay?"

"Hey can we talk with you for a sec?"

His eyes opened at the familiar voice, catching the sight of a blonde half Japanese that stood in front of him. Next to her another familiar volleyball player.

"Oh hey Ann." He greeted her, before turning to Shiho. "And… sorry I don't think we meet before?"

"I'm Shiho." She greeted him and it was honestly really refreshing for Akira. Of all people in Shujin Shiho was among the nicest and most welcoming, no matter what timeline. "We're friends of Ryuko."

"Okay," he voiced, trying to sound wary. "Well… anything I can do for you two?"

---

"…Crap." Ann thought while looking at the delinquent sitting in front of her.

She… hadn't really thought that through.

Obviously, she wanted to find out more about this Akira guy and about what was up with Kamoshida and Ryuko.

But… well she hadn't really found the right questions to ask yet. She couldn't just accuse him of doing something to the despised teacher… but… what could she ask him?

Not to mention that, from what she could get from a few students whispering, Daiji had already met him.

Well… more like he met Daiji for Mishima.

Some of the more hateful students even said things like he wanted to make Yuuki his 'Prison Bitch' by helping him.

God, she hated this school.

Fortunately, her girlfriend came to her rescue, and Shiho asked, "How are you doing in Shujin?"

Akira shrugged neutrally. "Fine, I guess? Even if I meet some pretty annoying dud-… wait… holy crap what happened to you!?" before turning to shock as he started the question.

Ann immediately knew what he was talking about. Being a member of the team… had visible signs. "Huh?" Still Shiho feigned ignorance.

"Are you hurt?" he asked with concern and making him jump up on Ann's list of people she could endure being around.

"Oh! No don't worry that's nothing. Just volleyball practice." Shiho lied, trying to avoid talking about it.

"What kind of practice do you guys have at this school!?" Akira asked once more, sounding even slightly infuriated. "I meet a boy today and he looked just as bad! This is school not the military!"

"Don't worry about it. Either way we wanted to ask you a few things." Shiho tried to put the nail in the coffin of that topic.

Akira resigned himself to the silent request and let it die. Ann forced herself to focus and start slow with Ryuko. "Why did you guys come so late?"

"She didn't tell you? We found a cat and tried to find its owner."

Okay so that lined up with what Ryuko told hr so far, still…

"She did I was… just curious that's all. There are a bunch of rumours flying around about you."

"So I heard." He said while rolling his eyes. "I even get framed for whatever happened with that teacher who drove you yesterday, I mean come on its not my fault he has a burnout or whatever was going on with him. On that note how are you?"

"Oh, I am fine don't worry about it."

Was he innocent? Or was he just faking it?

Ugh… Ann didn't even know. What exactly did she even try to find out here? This was… starting to become awkward.

This all turned out way differently in her head! This guy was… just a goddamn enigma!

"Um," her girlfriend started again for her, "This might be none of our business, but don't let it get to you okay? The rumours and everything and… well…" she pointed with a finger on the table. Ann followed the direction to which she pointed and was appalled immediately.

"What the hell?" she thought "He has been here for two days and people are already doing this?"

This caused surprise on the raven-haired face to come forth, as if he didn't expect any sympathy. "Äh… thanks. But they don't bother me. Though if you want any flowers, I can probably give you some tomorrow." He tried to joke about the topic.

Flowers too? Why did people want him dead!?

"I'm glad to hear that." Shiho replied smiling now, "This place is just… awful when it comes to anyone who is different."

"Apparently. Though… well its nothing new. I can kinda understand it in my case even. I am more surprised that you two are actually willing to talk to me really."

"Why wouldn't we be?" Ann now asked.

Sighing, Akira leaned back in his chair, "Well… I am after all the dangerous criminal who has ties to the Mafia and murders anyone who looks wrong at me."

"We don't really care about rumours." Ann intervened, feeling sympathy for the new student. The blonde was really questioning where they all came from. He seemed so nice, not at all like someone who you would believe could be a criminal. Though there was something she cared about.

"But I can't just go out and say, 'Thanks for being Ryuko's friend' now can I?"

That was what really drove her to get to know him better. Ryuko was… not exactly the most social person and she was rather protective of her in the process. When she meets someone and actually liked being around him that's a pretty big sign.

"If you want we could show you around sometime?" she instead offered.

"Sure, why not." Akira shrugged but… seeming accepting of the gesture. He smiled a little even. "Though you two should probably sit down. Class starts soon."

"Oh right," Shiho remarked, turning to leave, but not before addressing a last issue.

"By the way… thanks for helping Mishima with Daiji. Though you should try and stay away from Daiji in the future."

"You know him? Well, no problem but who the hell is Daiji anyway?"

Ann sighed, "He is just bad news okay?"

A bit later, Shiho left for her own class, she sat down, Ryuko came back from her toilet visit and one by one the classroom started to fill.

---

"I'm the social studies teacher Mr. Ushimaru. I'll be teaching you the rules of society this year. Hmph… you all look like you've been spoiled grown up."

Ryuko scoffed in her head. What the eff does HE know?

"Before we learn society's rules, maybe I should start with the rules of being a decent human being."

"Oh, you are in the WRONG class to find any of THAT buddy. There are about five decent human beings in this room at MOST."

"Hey, new kid." Ushimaru turned to Akira, who seemed just as annoyed as her. She than grew even more annoyed. Of course, he would start with teaching about being a decent human being and turn to Akira. For real? It's like he doesn't even hide his disdain.

He might not be an utter bastard like Kamoshida but Jesus Christ could he be an asshole.

"The Greek philosopher Plato divided the soul into three parts."

"Appetite, spirit and logic. I am aware." Akira stated casually.

Ushimaru seemed, on a small level at least, impressed. "So, you knew that huh? Plato's teacher, Socrates, said that evil is born from ignorance. People who've been babied, taught that evil is due to individuality, can only become society's scum."

A few people whispered again, something about questioning if he might be serious about studying. Oh, so NOW they decide to show a semblance of respect.

Wait… someone just compared him to Hannibal. Smart and deadly.

She groaned in her mind. The blonde really didn't expect to feel this way but she felt bad for someone else who's name wasn't Mishima, Ann or Shiho.

"Bizarre incidents have been occurring frequently. Those are but the actions of such scum." He sent a stern and strict look Akira's way, even the most airheaded of people would get that Ushimaru was addressing the 'delinquent'.

"We don't need crude people like that in this school. Understand?"

"Oh but OF COURSE!" Akira exclaimed, with a hint of sarcasm, meeting his gaze directly… looking somewhat angry.

"Do NOT attempt to sass me boy!" he accused of him, even more warningly, "I will have an eye on you over the year. So watch it!"

She could see Akira hold the gaze with one of his own. In the end Ushimaru became annoyed and Ryuko knew what was coming.

The teacher grabbed a chalk with his hand and went for the throw and…

…

"For real!?" Ryuko thought at the… crazy sight in front of her.

Akira had actually CATCHED the chalk, just before it hit him. Rather smugly, he presented it in his hand, letting it roll around between his fingers. "Would you like it back?" he offered, and she knew he was smirking.

Ushimaru, just like the rest of his class, seemed to have trouble grasping what just happened. That piece of chalk was more like a bullet from a gun in his hand! How the hell had Akira CATCHED it!?

Shaking of the surprise, Ushimaru grunted, before choosing to ignore him and go back to teaching the class.

She choose this moment to take out her phone beneath her desk.

Ryuko: Well? Did he pass the test?

Ann: It wasn't a test.

Ann: But yes. He did.

Shiho: We were just curious about what kind of person he really was.

Shiho: Unfortunately… he already had a few enemies.

Ryuko frowned. She had heard about that weird situation with Mishima and Daiji, She would talk to Yuuki about it sometime. And… well she caught a glimpse about what was on Akira's desk.

Ann and Shiho continued to write, while she moved to another chatroom. She could always just read what they wrote later after all.

Ryuko: Nice catch.

Akira: Why thank you!

Ryuko: How DID you catch it though? Seriously that is the first time I've seen this in… ever. You might just have made school history.

Akira: Welp… you got me.

Akira: I was trained by a group of Ninjas in a village hidden between leaf's. I am the last descendant of my clan and am the vessel to a destructive spirit.

She actually had to repress a giggle.

Ryuko: Satanael didn't look like Kurama however. ;)

Akira: Bold of you to assume I only have Arsene and Satanael inside of me. ;)

Ryuko: Ill actually believe you on that.

Ryuko: Speaking of… you ready to go today?

Akira: Ready as I'll ever be.

Akira: How about you?

Ryuko hesitated at first, was she ready?

Quickly though, she berated herself, "Don't hesitate NOW! Just yesterday you were eager to go!"

Ryuko: You bet I am.

Ryuko: Can't wait.

Akira: Good to hear… but just so you know you don't HAVE to come with us.

Ryuko: What?

Ryuko: Where are you going with that?

Akira: No one is going to force you to go back.

It started to dawn on Ryuko WHY he was telling her that. She was torn between being touched that he was worried and… actually a bit pissed, oddly enough.

She went to reply but there were more dots moving on her phone. He was still typing.

Akira: I know that you and Kamoshida have… history.

Akira: Don't worry I wont push. If you don't want to talk about it that's fine.

Akira: I can… imagine though that it is going to be stressful to go back into his mind.

Akira: I want to make some things to you clear however.

Akira: If you want to talk about it, I am here.

Akira: And I also still stick to what I told you yesterday.

Akira: Anything that is trying to get to you will have to go over my dead body.

Akira: AND I've got Akechi on my side as well, together with Morgana.

Akira: So… you have nothing to worry about.

Akira: I just… wanted you to know that.

Ryuko… was taken aback.

What… what the hell was UP with him!? She knew him for what? TWO DAYS?!

She wasn't used to this. A part of her thought he might see her as useless of sorts because she didn't have any powers but, he pretty much made himself into her bodyguard.

It was hard for her to find any words to reply to that. Why was he like that?

She decided to ask… if just to reply with SOMETHING.

Ryuko: Why are you like that?

Akira: Its just… the way I am.

Akira: Nothing much to it.

That's… that's it?

WHY did everyone here hate him so much!? This was so much bullshit! How did he even get a criminal record in the first place!?

Ryuko: How did you got your record?

Akira: That's… well its kinda a long story. Ill tell you after the Castle alright?

Ryuko: Deal…but I am sorry.

Ryuko: I… saw what's on your table.

Ryuko: This is so much bullshit!

Akira: Its fine. Really. I don't care.

Ryuko: But still!

Akira: Look don't feel bad for me. It is fine really.

Ryuko: Its… its just not fair.

Ryuko: I even heard you stood up to Daiji for Mishima.

Ryuko: Its just stupid.

Akira: I am telling you its fine.

Akira: But on that note can you tell me what is up with that?

Akira: Who is Daiji?

She put her anger aside and groaned inwardly, before answering him.

Ryuko: Daiji is a member of the Volleyball Team. He is one of the best players and pretty much Kamoshida's number one Fan. He worships him.

Ryuko: And on top of that he is… just an asshole really.

Ryuko: I think he got accepted into Shujin because of some scholarship.

Ryuko: It was either Shujin or some school overseas. I heard the decision feel by coin toss.

Akira: Alright he is officially on my shit list.

Ryuko: Just stay away from him. He is bad news and you already have enough shit going on.

Akira: Can't make any promises.

Ryuko: Ugh… why do I feel like I can't stop you on that?

Akira: Because you can't ;)

A faint smile steadily creeped up on her face.

Ryuko: Goddammit Akira I am trying to feel bad for you here.

Akira: I mean… if you need to feel bad for someone feel bad for my poor Table-kun.

Ryuko: Did… did you just make a Code Geass reference?

Akira: Wait… you got my reference?

Ryuko: DUH!? You like Code Geass?

Akira: Oh its only my FAVORITE ANIME OF ALL TIME!

Akira: You're a Fan to!?

Ryuko: Hell yeah! :)

Ryuko: Wait… DON'T CHANGE THE TOPIC!

Akira: Why not? I would much rather geek out over an Anime I love then be angry over some students.

Ryuko: I mean… I get that. Still just be careful okay?

Akira: Alright I will. Now… favourite character? Mine is Lelouch.

Ryuko rolled her eyes but allowed herself to smile completely now.

Ryuko: Mine is Kallen but I like Lelouch a lot. I admit I MIGHT have had a crush on him.

---

There really was something particularly tedious about reliving school. Mr. Ushimaru, as always, was a pain to be taught by.

How quick of him to assume people were spoiled in his class. At least Akira would be capable of avoiding these chalks of doom. Though the Thief did got rather angry at him calling Akechi scum…

After the class ended (something he was grateful for because Yuuki kept eyeing him weirdly) he and Ryuko hurried out of class fast so as to not be stopped by Ann again (at least some consistency would be good to keep. No need to make her have her awakening now already.).

Kamoshida didn't seem to be anywhere near, having, according to a group of teachers he overheard, taken a day but would return tomorrow. Of course he would, as if he would ever give up a chance to show of and bask in glory.

Daiji was also nowhere to be found, fortunately. He really didn't had the patience to deal with some bully who would spend the rest of his life reminiscing of his high school glory days right now. He had a much bigger fish to fry.

Though… he would keep that little shit in mind for later.

As of now they were waiting in an alley nearby of the school, waiting for all other students to go by and for Goro to arrive.

"Where is she?" Ryuko asked, impatiently tapping her foot on the ground, leaning on the brick wall behind her.

Akira merely shrugged, while sitting on the asphalt that made up most of Tokyo's ground. "I just messaged her. She is on her way."

Groaning, she surrendered herself to more waiting, sliding her back down the wall and sitting now next to him. All the while Akira couldn't take his view of his friend.

He always had respect for his Skull but it all but skyrocketed today.

Facing Kamoshida in his Palace would have already been stressful last time. In this timeline however things between her and the false King were MUCH worse. Part of why he had tried to reassure her he would be there for her.

In general… he never got around to saying it but he owed a lot to the blonde.

Arsene wasn't the only reason he managed to break out of his cynical shell. Ryuko played a great part in it.

He arrived with the conviction that no one cared for him anymore… and then some blonde delinquent who knew him for barely an hour, risks their life just to give him a running chance?

The Phantom Thieves were all a tight nit group willing to take a bullet for one another, but Ryuko was ready to do so before even knowing his full name! That was just who his Skull was. A bit clueless and brash but with a heart as big as the sun and more loyal then a guard dog.

And after being abandoned by everyone in his hometown… having this stranger show him this much selflessness and later on actually BELIVING him, it blew his mind, shattered that glasshouse he made himself comfortable in. This house of bitterness and nihilism.

He… cared a lot for her.

…

"Why did you never say it?" Orpheus asked him.

"I… just forgot I guess." Akira stated, though it was one he himself was unsatisfied with. "Me and Ryuko always had a… obvious kind of bond. We never needed to actually… SAY stuff."

Most of their 'talking' was really done with actions.

Like how he stopped the girls from tearing his Skull a new one after almost dying helping them escape Shido's ship (and maybe cried into the blondes shoulder… in his defence he had a stressful day).

Or how he had helped the Chariot deal with these two weirdos in the red light district (and beach sometime later).

And Ryuko… by god was she willing to throw herself in harms way for others.

Like… like when.

The Sword of Conviction soared through the air, heading right for him. A skull mask blocked the strike, blood spewing everywhere. "Get that bastard Jo-" last words dying with alongside the speaker…

"You okay?" Ryuko, ALIVE AND WELL, asked him. "You look kinda tense."

"I'm fine yeah." He pretended, shaking the tenseness off and pushing those memories aside. He needed to STOP DOING THAT!

Fortunately, Ryuko seemed to have her own justification, thinking it was mainly because of spiteful student body and not because he saw her getting beheaded by a tyrannical excuse of a god.

"Look, you don't need to pretend you're okay." She said him, trying, in her own way, to reassure him, while putting a hand on his shoulder. "There is no need for you to pretend that things don't hurt you."

"Sadly you're wrong… very wrong."

"Practice what you preach." Was his reply.

A… very, very bad reply he realized soon enough. And from the bewildered look he was treated too, as if having no idea how to take it with mouth slightly opened into a gasp, was reaffirming that believe.

"Sorry." He quickly excused himself, "That was… I didn't mean it like that."

"Its fine." She shot his attempt down, looking at her legs now… or more accurately her broken leg.

God he messed up. One stray thought going haywire and now this! How should he fix it? Well… might as well say what he should have said a long while ago. Even if he would need to… phrase it a little differently.

"Welp… as the saying goes. 'There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.'"

"Did you just quote the Bible?" the Picaro Persona questioned.

"Ecclesiastes 3:1 and yes I am aware how ironic that is."

"Thank you."

"Huh?" she seemed confused now, brown eyes widened slightly. It was like a unspoken cue for him to elaborate and he happily obliged.

"You are among the first people to… actually be nice to me. When I left my town, I thought I was alone. And steadily… I am being proven wrong. You are among the first people to actually… well not see me as scum or be afraid of me. And I like being around you too. I just… wanted you to know that."

"Thanks for restoring my faith in humanity." He couldn't bring that sentence out, no matter how hard he tried.

Ryuko, taken aback by his confession, stared at him as if he had grown a second head. A faint blush was creeping on her face. She seemed REALLY nervous suddenly.

"Uuuhm." she spoke, removing her hand from his shoulder, instead letting it go through her hair in some sort of mix of a scratching motion and combing. "You're welcome? I mean. You don't need to thank me for that really… I-."

"Thank you for what?"

A new voice joined their little talk, making both of them perk up at the Detective they we're waiting for.

"There you are!" Ryuko sprang up, being happy about the sudden distraction. "What took you this long?"

"Well excuse me for not being able to influence the train schedule."

Akira stood up himself, inwardly rolling his eyes at the obvious lie, "Why didn't you just take your bike then?"

Annoyed, she looked to the side, "I don't usually ride it. Only on occasion when I don't feel like putting my faith in the public transport system."

Facing them again she questioned more seriously now, "Are you two ready? No one followed you?"

"Nope." Ryuko answered , "Just the three of us."

"Perfect. Well then, should we use my Nav or yours?"

"Let's use mine." He took out his phone, App opened and target selected, "I already have it in my search history after all. Anyway ready girls?"

Greeted with nods, he activated navigation and reality shifted around the three.

---

Entering the metaverse was an incredibly effective way to put Akechi into alarm mode. It was like a cold shower… only about a thousand times better. Her fight instincts were also awoken by it and out of habit, she analysed everything around her.

Her outfit was the 'Princess' uniform made by Loki and not the murder armour. In front of her was a very large castle of European style. Next to her was a tense looking blonde and next to her…

…

Wow.

She wasn't really sure what she was expecting Akira to have for a metaverse outfit but this was better.

A white mask, invoking a bird, adorned his face as if it was on him since the day he was born. Crimson red gloves hid his hands. A deep black trench coat and dress shirt completed the look with likewise black pants and boots. He looked like the ideal image of a gentleman Thief. He sort of reminded her of… a certain masked character in an anime she liked… the kind of Anime that her own outfit was inspired from even.

"I have to admit… he looks pretty good in that."

Unbeknown to her in the time she took for hr analyses, he had done the same, turning to her with mouth opened slightly, as if he was… in awe? At her?

No that was definitely awe on his face. She… kind of liked that.

"You would have gotten a whole different look with that psycho armour."

"Wow." he muttered, affirming her suspicion.

"Likewise." she told him, shaking of the crawling dreadful thoughts and instead enjoying the view. "Seriously this… Gentleman look suits you."

"And you look like a Sailor Scout. But well given you're the Detective Princess I shouldn't expect anything less." Akira told her with a smile, that Akechi retorted, feeling suddenly snarky.

"Does that make you Tuxedo Mask?"

A laugh escaped him, before grabbing into his coat and… pulling out a rose?! "I like to think I fit the bill."

…Great he just embodied her childhood crush.

A VERY OLD AND ALMOST FORGOTTEN crush but a crush nonetheless.

She really hated her detective instincts sometimes. If it wouldn't be for them she could at least pretend some things not to know… like her face turning as red as her mask.

For the love of… she already was nervous enough!

"…freaking tease."

---

Akira came into this new year not expecting many things. The true selves of his friends coming out to show what gender they really felt like for example. Nether did he expect… well this.

Goro looked… different in this new Princess outfit. In addition to pants being replaced by a short skirt and shoes replaced with knee-high boots and gloves that went up her arm there was a Tiara adorning her head with a red gem and a red collar with golden A.

While many of his fellow thieves could not take Akechi seriously with the Prince attire, he actually really liked it and with this altered version… it was impressive to say the least.

If her armour would look different too?

The Black Mask uniform was fascinating in a different way. There was just something… wild to it…

Even if it had a way of depressing him. Partly because of the time he had seen it and partly because it reminded him of his own prison uniform.

He still wouldn't have minded it at all had she appeared like that, this time in a less violent manner.

However he would really like to do some changes to it, mainly to get all these chains away from her.

But oh well… he had some time to free the Crow from fates chains.

…Hmmm.

Maybe he could? Their outfits represented their mentality after all. Maybe with enough time and support…

Thoughts for later.

"Wow." he muttered, though loud enough for her to hear.

"Likewise," she told him. "Seriously this… Gentleman look suits you."

"And you look good like a Sailor Scout. But well given you're the Detective Princess I shouldn't expect anything less." he chose to hide the fact that one of the Sailor Scouts was one of his childhood crushes. Akira just… felt somewhat attached to one of them. He grew out of it but… wow did she pull of the look well.

"Does that make you Tuxedo Mask?" she told him, a hint of a tease in her voice.

He laughed at it, deciding to play along and pulled out a rose from his coat. "I like to think I fit the bill."

He still had a few flowers left from his part time job at the Flower shop. It was probably his favourite job in Tokyo and his boss was a lovely lady who liked to hand out flowers to her employees. A sort of emotional reward when they did well. Akira decided to keep a rose with him in the metaverse… just because it felt nice to have.

That and he had secretly waited to try and pull a Tuxedo Mask at some point. This was as close as it could get.

And the bright red face of Akechi was just the cherry on top.

"You have one of these outfits too? What is up with that?" Ryuko pointed out, ignoring their previous exchange apparently and being astounded.

"Yes." Goro confirmed, appreciating the sudden change of discussion. "It seems to be a part of gaining a Persona."

"Really?" she turned to him and at the look he responded by eyeing his arm, faking to admire the leather.

"Not bad huh?" he stated, slightly smirking.

"You like it?" Ryuko questioned, as if perplexed by the concept.

"Why shouldn't I?" he gave his own question, still smirking.

Surrendering, Ryuko relented, seeming somewhat sheepish. "Oh well. At least your Magician thing is better than that Princess stuff."

"HEY!" Goro now shouted, more than offended.

"Don't take it personally! Its just… a bit too bright and cute for me."

"Well someone sounds jealous!"

"What!? I-I ain't jealous!"

"OF COURSE you're not!"

"Stop making a commotion." Someone sounding like young boy warned the two girls. A voice that came from right above them, sitting on a wall. The three looked upwards to meet him face to face.

"This was quick. Hey Morgana." Akira greeted his friend. "How you doing? The guards gave you any trouble?"

"Pah! Please!" he said confidently, jumping down to stand in front of all of them, looking up at their faces. "It was child's play to get away from them. I could have done it three dozen times over."

A semblance of relief filled Akira. That was the code word. Before going out they had agreed to a special sentence that would tell Akira Morgana had delivered all packages to Kaneshiro's extorted 'clients'. Three dozen was 36 and switch the numbers gave 63, the exact number of people on the list. If he hadn't managed all of them, then Morgana would have simply said something else. Though he had no doubt in Mona's abilities.

He really appreciated his feline companion.

---

There was a talking cat.

A talking cat stood in front of her.

A SMUG talking cat with blue eyes and a yellow scarf.

…

"Holy Crap there is an actual Cat." Was all she could force out in her state, still trying to comprehend the existence of… THIS.

"Told you." Akira said. "It didn't even took that long."

Yes. Yes he did tell her. But hearing someone say something was still different then… SEEING it!

Not to mention that even if the Cat existed… she didn't think it would be this easy to find him. Was he waiting for them?

"You." Ryuko said, slightly less surprised.

"The Shadows have been acting up, so I came here wondering what it could be. I gotta say I didn't expect to see you two back so soon. And…"

The Cat eyed her as if she was a stranger. As if she was an anomaly and not the literal freaking talking, bipedal CAT that he was. "You brought someone with you?"

"Yeah uhm…." Ryuko tried to explain, "We have been trying to find out wat the hell happened yesterday and in the process, we asked the detective here, Goro Akechi and… turns out she has a Persona too. Two actually."

A part of her had to restrain herself from just rambling this blondes loud MOUTH! She did not like having all her trumps out, especially not in front of some strange Metaverse creature!

"I see. I that outfit already gives it away. Typical attire."

"Yeah can you explain what is up with that?" Akira asked, curious. "I mean… I am NOT complaining really, I like it but still. Where do these come from?"

"It's a reaction to when a Persona user confronts a Palace ruler. Once they become a threat, this happens to protect you from distortions. Your appearance reflects your inner self. It's the rebel that slumbers within. My assumption is that Kamoshida is on high alert right now so that's why Princess over there is already in her attire as well."

She chose to ignore the passive aggression.

"Okay… sounds reasonable."

"Wait you're just rolling with that?" Ryuko seemed almost aghast at the blunt acceptance.

"Look Ryuko we are in another dimension. It would be better to accept how things go here as quickly as possible."

"That sounds reasonable." Goro agreed. He was taking this rather well all things considered.

"Uuuuuh?" Ryuko seemed like the odd one out and Akechi almost pitied her. Almost.

In all honesty she couldn't force herself to care too much about the girl. As far as she was concerned she was just a load who couldn't help out. Like a civilian going in the way of the Police out of curiosity. Its unlikely she had any personal stakes in this right?

But Akira seemed to care for her so Goro would endure her for now.

"But I have to ask… why did you guys come back in the first place, even with someone else in tow? You barely managed to escape last time."

"We wanted to meet up with you again. This whole… everything is way to confusing to us and we hoped you could get us some information because we have no idea what's going on." Akira admitted.

"Just what is this school? Castle? Whatever!" Ryuko came forth once more.

Morgana sighed, as if he was tired of explaining. "Alright I am going to give you all a quick rundown. You are in what is called the Metaverse. A Palace to be more exact. The Metaverse itself is a different dimension that holds its roots in the human subconscious, made up of cognition and thoughts. Palaces are formed by distorted thoughts or more accurately desires. When a desire is too great it can form a Palace. The Palace ruler, in this castles case Kamoshida, sees himself as the King of this Castle because he feels like the King of the school. The Palace ruler himself is called a Shadow. There are other Shadows however, the Knights you meet yesterday. They are essentially beings of the public subconscious drawn in by the Palace and corrupted into obeying the ruler."

"Okay. I think I get that." Akechi told the cat. Well… more along the line that she faked to be suddenly enlightened. She knew all of this stuff already.

"Okay before anyone asks me another question how about I give you all one?"

"Fine by me." Akira relented to the request. "What is it?"

"WHAT are you even doing here? Or do you seriously expect me to believe you came here just to get answers?"

"Fantastic question!" Akechi shouted at the Cat, who realized something was off. Turning to her two… well one companion and one load, she voiced a demand. "Please tell the Cat why we're really here."

---

Ryuko sighed. Alright where to start? "Mona what you said last time about the students being cognitions… that is how Kamoshida sees them right?"

"Yes?" Morgana confirmed, slightly sceptical apparently. "I am surprised you understood that so quickly."

"It took me a whole day to be completely honest. Anyway we have a problem and it could be that these two are related. In the real world Kamoshida… well… there are rumours. He abuses his students and is just… a scumbag. We hoped there is a way to change that in here somehow."

Morgana was wide eyed at that statement, as if astounded by her words. "Are you saying you came back here… another dimension where you KNOW you could die, just for the chance to help someone? I have to say you are either very brave… or incredibly stupid."

"I am leaning towards both actually." The Detective next to her said, offending her quite a bit.

"HEY!" she called the Sailor Moon knock off out, "You came with us remember!?"

"Only because Akira and you insisted on going and I wanted to make sure you two DON'T die!" Goro defended herself.

"Could you two please tone it down?" Akira interrupted their argument, before turning back to the Cat. "Stupid, brave… I don't care it's the right thing to do. Is there a way?"

"I am curious, what makes you think there is one in the first place?"

"I thought there had to be a reason why we have a Persona and why we could enter this World in the first place and… well my thoughts spiralled from there."

There it was again. Persona. One of the reasons she was dead set to come here.

"Understandable, but first Akechi is your name right?" Morgana addressed the detective, "How about you show us your Personas? You too frizzy head."

"I mean… alright, but I can only show one." She pointed out. "Loki… doesn't really want to come out."

"Why?" Akira asked her, of which the answer came soon.

"To be blunt he is terrified of you and Satanael."

This seemed to make HIM take a step back, eyebrows raised. "…Wait what?"

"I know it sounds weird but… he just really was freaked out by you mentioning Satanael yesterday, which is why only Robin wants to come out."

Personas can talk?

"Alright but tell Loki he has nothing to worry. Satanael made it clear he only wants to come out when its necessary so I also can only show of Arsene. I mean… I have a third one but I doubt I'll need her."

"THIRD one?!"

"Yeah that was… weird. She just appeared yesterday. She calls herself Orpheus but doesn't want to come out today."

"Orpheus? As in the Greek musician? But wasn't he a guy?"

"If she calls herself a girl then she is a girl. Who gives a damn about gender anyway?"

Ryuko was not exactly unused to being left out but this was seriously frustrating.

"That's a shame." Morgana admitted, "But fine I guess., one Persona per person is still enough. Then how about before we discuss anything, we first show our Personas and weapons? I want to know with who I am working here after all."

Wait… weapons?

"Weapons?" Ryuko put her thoughts into words.

"That's right… an awakening doesn't only give you a Persona. It also gives you a gun and a close combat weapon."

She eyed the Persona users next to her. They had weapons this whole time? But she doesn't remember Akira having a gun or something.

"Wait really?" Akira asked, before searching in the pockets of his coat. With wide eyes he ended up taking out two, marvelling at the sight.

---

Akira had completely forgotten he still had his weapons from his last battle. Yesterday was so hectic he hadn't even noticed. In his left hand was the Nataraja, the winged gun made from the essence of Metatron himself. He remembered how he had gotten it. After Akechi died, Metatron had appeared next to his other Personas. The angel feared as the embodiment of Gods might. The gun was forged with the promise he gave his Crow in their last moments together, to take down Shido once and for all.

It was a good gun, better than any he wielded before. But the way it felt in his hand was… causing bad emotions to well up in him.

But in his right hand was the true surprise and the most awe-inspiring discovery.

Within his right hand was a large, pitch black and incredibly sharp knife. It felt different then any other blade he wielded before, like some sort of darkness manifested inside of it, like the Knife was a part of him. As if it was an evolution of his rebel knife.

"Paradise Lost."

He knew the name immediately, like with a Persona oddly enough. How did he got… this masterpiece of a blade?

Satanael chuckled in the back of his mind. "It is but an extension of our Power Trickster."

---

A knife and a gun? Okay so awakening to a Persona gave you more then a spirit guardian and an outfit. Good to know.

Akira stopped marvelling at his new possessions and addressed the others. "Okay I guess I have a gun and a knife then. Nataraja and Paradise Lost. Morgana?"

The cat, out of nowhere seemingly, pulled out a sharp looking curved sword and a dangerous looking… slingshot?

"That I would ever call a slingshot dangerous."

"May I introduce to you? Claiomh Solais and Sudarshana." He told them their names with a cocky grin. "Akechi?"

Now it was the Princess's turn to show of her weapons and…

"Is that an effin Lightsaber?!" Ryuko screamed in her face. Holy hell she had a Lightsaber!

Not only that there was an effin Rail gun in her other hand!

"Well… yeah?" Goro confessed to her, "Their names are Lumina Sword and Moebius. But don't ask me why my weapons could belong in Star Wars and Akira and Morgana only have normal ones."

"Normal ones?" Akira asked with raised eyebrow. "No offense but I take my knife over your Lightsaber any day."

"I don't!" Ryuko complained. "Come on give me some! Please?" she nearly pleaded excited. An effin Lightsaber! Come on how cool could you get in terms of weapons?

"What? NO!" Goro shouted annoyed. "Get your own!"

"I don't have ANYTHING though!" Ryuko pointed out her current misery. How was this fair!? Did everyone here have spirits and guns except her!? "The only thing I have is a model gun but that can't even fire anything!" she pulled the model from her pocket. It was an old toy she had found yesterday and… well she just felt like taking it with her.

"Actually this might work."

Ryuko was stopped by the Cat's words. "Wait what?"

"In the Metaverse the weapons you guys wield are real but not in the real World. Outside they are merely toys but in here they function because of Cognition. They look real and that's why they can work on Shadows. You are holding a fully functioning gun in your hands."

She did!? "Wow." She whispered, looking at the model. Great news for her, she wasn't completely useless.

Ryuko had feared exactly that would happen, when surrounded by Persona users without having one, that she would be a load of sorts. But she might be able to do something with this.

Speaking of Persona… "Say Morgana about Personas."

"Good that you remind me." The cat told her, touching is forehead while shouting.

"COME MERCURIUS!"

And he erupted into blue fire, which formed into the same being she had set her eyes on yesterday. But even though it wasn't the first time… she had no way of repressing the awe upon setting her sights on the creature.

"We're showing of now? Alright then." Akira confidently stated before shouting himself.

"ARSENE!"

The winged demon dressed for a ball, stood now next to the roman god. The feathers of its wings, the fire beneath his mask… the power it sent off.

"I assume this means its my turn?" Goro stated the obvious before ripping of the red mask on her face, igniting in blue.

"ROBIN HOOD!"

Coming forth next to the two was a third being, this one looking the most heroic of all. White colour scheme with gold, red and blue mixed in, holding a golden bow and the sheer sight of it enough to know what powers it possesses.

And this was the last straw for Ryuko. She all but stopped thinking, simply being mesmerized by the beings in front of her.

"Hello Gentleman!" Robin Hood greeted the other Personas. "It is a joy to make your acquaintance."

"The joy is on my side archer. I will look forward to work with a magnificent Thief of Justice as yourself." Arsene complimented the Superman in white, before turning to the roman god. "Same goes of course for you Mercurius. It is not everyday I get the chance to work with a God of thievery after all."

"I too am happy for the support of both of you." Mercurius told them both shortly, seemingly in hopes to move on.

Robin however was far from finishing and approached Arsene, walking closer to the French Thief. "Now don't sell yourself short either my friend." Robin Hood complimented Arsene. "I know all about your exploits and am fascinated to say the least. Like your battle of wits with Sherlock… oh pardon me… Herlock to name one."

"Oh! A fan of my work? My, I am touched mon ami." the demonic gentleman commented before putting a hand on Robin Hood's shoulder in a manner as if they were two old friend. "I too have to compliment you on your various exploits. Like the way you defied Prince John."

"Hahahaha." Robin laughed heartily and warm, returning the gesture by putting a hand of his own on Arsene's shoulders. "I believe this to be the start of a wonderful friendship."

Both Personas gave a heartfelt chuckle, as if they had just reunited after being apart for a long time. It was amazing just how quickly the two grown to like each other.

"Well… they get along well." Akira commented. Too which Akechi could only affirm his opinion. "It… appears to be the case."

But Ryuko had finally reached her limit. Seeing not one, not two, but THREE Personas, just trembling with strength was making her too excited. "How do I get one!?" she shouted at the Cat.

Morgana eyed the blonde, taken aback by the sudden enthusiasm. "Ähm… I… I don't know how to explain it. A Persona is a sign of your rebellious will. Its not something you can just get."

"Why not?" Ryuko asked again. "I want one. This way I could…" "Finally get back at that creep." "…help you guys more against the Shadows. Look Akira. Can't you just lend me Orpheus? Or whoever else you have floating around?"

"I don't think that's how it works Ryuko." Akira said, half apologetic.

"Why not?" Ryuko complained further. The main reason why she came here was because she wanted to get a Persona. She had to get one somehow! "There has to be some way! I mean you and Goro literally just got one out of nowhere didn't you? There has to be some way to get one!"

"You can't just force a awakening Ryuko." Morgana remarked, in what seemed to be sympathy. "A Persona will come to you when you need it, in a moment of desperation and defiance."

"I AM desperate!"

She didn't say anything for a reply, just clenching her fists, what else had to happen to her to get a Persona then!?

"Do not fear young lady." Arsene told her. "I will assure you, as long as you are with us we will fight to protect thy."

Robin and Mercurius agreed with the Gentleman and raised their bow and staff respectively. Ryuko sighed, she would appreciate this but… it was still disheartening that getting her own spirit guardian wouldn't be that easy.

A chilling scream rang through her ears, alongside the three Persona users with her. "What was that!?" Akechi asked, partly curious and partly worried.

"One of the slave cognitions in the dungeons I assume." Morgana explained. "Kamoshida was very shaken up about yesterday so that's why the Palace is a little chaotic. Likewise with how the cognitions are affected I assume."

"For real?!" Ryuko asked, only to be proven right by another tortured scream.

"These cognitive slaves," Akira reasoned, contempt in his tone, "they're from our school aren't they? I think I recognized some from today."

"Pretty much. Its nothing out of the ordinary, its like that every day here."

Every day.

Every day this bastard tortures the students?

This shouldn't come as a surprise. Every day, the school and everyone in it was nothing but a playground.

And she… had… enough.

"That son of a bitch!" she cursed approaching the gigantic door of the castle. Stomping past the spirits, cats and humans she tried to open it, she wanted to do nothing more then barge in and finally end this so called 'King'!

But of course the door wouldn't open. Even as she threw herself at it, her shoulder and body utilized as a battering ram. With every attempt she failed to open, her rage only grew more. "You hear me Kamoshida!?" she finally screamed at the air once more.

She felt hands dragging her away from the door. The detective. "Doing that is not going to open it!" she told her with warning, "Aside from that chances are you will alarm the guards if you keep this up!"

"But!"

"She is right Ryuko." Akira tried to reason with the blonde, putting a and on her shoulder now, trying to be empathetic.

In any other situation Ryuko would have appreciated it, but she was just too pissed of to care. Shoving the two aside she walked towards the cat. "Hey Monamona!"

"It's Morgana."

She honestly couldn't care, not when her brain had started to form a plan. "I can't keep letting Kamoshida do everything he wants! Can you get me too these voices? Maybe then we could do something."

The cat seemed to be in thought, before turning back to her. "Alright I will… but only if they come with us."

"Let's go then." It shouldn't surprise her that Akira immediately agreed. Something to which Goro could only sigh. "You are way too enthusiastic about all of this but since were here anyway… fine."

"Thanks." Ryuko smiled at them. It was good knowing she could count on someone here.

---

Morgana had been doing an exceptional job as a teacher. Not only when it comes to telling them about the metaverse but also about infiltration points and some basics of exploration like safe rooms. It was a convincing act all things considered, like a teacher who learned how to better give his wisdom to students. Even Ryuko seemed to get it quicker.

In general things have been going surprisingly smooth, even with the Personas. Arsene had been happy to see Robin Hood again, like last year they had hit of incredibly quickly. He wasn't sure WHY they went along so well, but he wasn't going to complain. Especially not with just how great their synergy was as a team.

The Shadows were a complete joke. They didn't even need Morgana, he and Crow could literally handle everything by themselves. It was a testament to how Kamoshida himself was insignificant really.

Just who WAS he? Nothing but a steppingstone for the Phantom Thieves. A pathetic TOOL that Akira would use and dispose of soon. Ohhh it would be fun to dispose of him…

Back to his team, just like last time it proved how great of an addition the dreaded 'Black Mask' actually was. An easy rhythm he remembered from the Casino heist. Crow left an opening and Joker covered it. Joker knocked one down and Crow finished it of.

And a part of him was grateful that Loki didn't want to come out. After their duel on Shido's ship, he wanted to avoid meeting the Norse Trickster so soon. Given how jumpy he was lately to… bad reminders… the last thing Akira wanted or needed was too get a trip back to one of the most heartbreaking battles of his life.

Of course he still appreciated Morgana and Ryuko with him, but it was a testament to just how outclassed these Shadows were.

To his surprise Ryuko handled the gun pretty well, doing some small damage whenever someone didn't expect it, helping out somewhat.

To his even greater surprise the ammo actually reloaded after every battle. The surprise only lasted however till he remembered he still had the Evoker with him.

His third eye was a useful ability, as long as he didn't think too hard about who gave it to him (Yaldabaoth's fault for giving him something to use against it). Not only did it heighten his senses and highlight secrets, it had other functions as well. When using it he could see how an object could help in the Metaverse. How much health a drink could give for example or how much a piece of equipment could protect you or if it had any other side effects.

The Evoker was INCREDIBLY useful, allowing them to restore their ammo after every battle. He remembered bullets being a very valuable resource in the last game and he spend A LOT of time crafting more magazines. This was going to help significantly. "Thank you Minako."

It also allowed him to see what Arcana was actually affiliated with someone but that was a whole different topic all together. Though he found it noteworthy that Shido's Arcana was something called 'Hunger'.

Soon enough they entered the 'Training hall of Love' or as he preferred to call it the 'Torture dungeon of abuse'.

And well… it got the expected reaction.

Ryuko, just like last time, was furious at the sight, trying out of instinct to set the cognitions free, only to be reminded of their actual imaginary existence by Morgana. It still didn't calm her nerves at all, she was merely seconds away from completely breaking and raging.

The reveal that these cognitions were basically mirrors to how the real life students were treated also didn't help.

Goro was also bewildered by the sight, having trouble believing it. "This… is not how teachers should treat their students."

"No shit!" Ryuko had shouted in answer, trying to activate the camera of her phone to take evidence, only to realize it was impossible, all the while stomping around like a restless lioness.

After giving Mona a quick 'explanation' of the Nav, the group made a plan. Ryuko would memorize as many students faces as possible and tomorrow, she and Akira would question them for any evidence or statements. Goro in return guaranteed them that if they could get someone to come out, she could properly use her connections to start an investigation and bring Kamoshida behind bars. But according to her, it had to be a larger number, just one or two wouldn't be enough, especially not with other students possibly defending him and the fact that Kamoshida was a somewhat known public figure.

Citing the general problem behind cases of abuse, Goro really gave her best to offer them a legal option to stopping Kamoshida, while taking in account how hard it could be to actually proof the actions of abusers.

He really could get used to this genuine side of her.

Morgana had agreed to the plan but stated that it would likely be impossible given how under control Kamoshida had the students and teased that there might be a different way.

The two time travellers both knew how hard it was last time to get Ryuko to get through with the heart stealing process, so they had to wait till she really saw it as the only option. Hopefully Akechi would agree as well once she saw how futile the 'legal' way was.

One by one they checked every cell, taking note of what happened and who was imprisoned. Just to make sure… he had also used his third eye so they would get everyone's location.

Explaining that ability to them was a challenge in on itself. His eyes used to glow yellow in the last year whenever he utilized it in the metaverse (but not in the real world… that would be hard to explain). Apparently after Satanael awoke it gave him heterochromia, making his left eye red and right eye yellow glowing.

What next would Satanael do to his body, make him grow horns and wings?

He told them it was something that just… appeared for some reason and how he could use it. Ryuko seemed impressed while Goro looked an odd combination of awe and interest, with a bit of jealousy.

Honestly, he couldn't blame her. It must feel weird for her, that some new student had the Wildcard and abilities she didn't. Then again, he couldn't make people psychotic so that was something she had over him.

"Hmmm…" Ryuko hummed while staring at the suffering cognitions, "alright I got everyone here let's move to the next."

"I think that was everyone." Akechi pointed out, disgust in her voice, "there are no more cells in the training hall."

"You sure?" Ryuko questioned, turning to him, "Akira could you check?"

Nodding in confirmation, he used the sixth sense, making his eyes glow yellow and red and observing his surroundings. "No… no doesn't look lik-.. wait what?"

He stopped talking upon seeing something… unfamiliar.

Above them, was a small shaft like hole and behind it… he could feel SOMETHING.

It didn't seem harmful in any way but, like a weird manifestation of… something.

"What's wrong?" Morgana asked his friend.

"Give me a second." Akira told the three, who watched at him in confusion as he ran up to the wall that grabbed his interest, pushing himself up with his foot and grabbing the edge. Pulling himself through the hole, he heard his companions call out for him.

"Akira what are you doing?" came from the detective.

"Is there someone trapped?" asked the blonde.

"I'll be right back just hold on." He called back, while continuing to crouch.

It wasn't a long tunnel and soon he was led into a small room, enlightened by torches and in the middle of it was a pedestal.

And on the pedestal was… what on earth was that?

He was about to jump down but remembered the possibility of any traps. Grabbing a bunch of small rocks, he threw them all over the room and a few of them on the pedestal. After nothing happened and he couldn't find anything with his third eye, he finally felt safe enough to jump down and approach the thing.

Grabbing it, slowly, he eyed the weird looking object. It seemed to be some skull of sorts. It had a different feel too it then a treasure demon but still just… off.

Crawling back to his team, he presented them his newest find.

The brunette raised an eyebrow, questioningly analysing this… strange object, the same way Ryuko and himself did.

"I saw it through the wall and curiosity got the better of me."

"Morgana do you know what this is?" the detective questioned his friend, who looked just as stunned.

In deep thought his Cat companion eyed the unexpected treasure, while Akira doubted he would come up with anything, it was worth asking.

"I… might have a theory." The hope embodiment finally spoke, gaining him surprised faces from the humans. "Now this is just a theory but… chances are this is an 'Ishi'."

"Ishi?" he repeated after his cat," What is that?"

"Well this is just a theory, but an Ishi is… well a sort of gathering of distortions, a product of a Palace. I am not sure what it might do but it would be for the best to keep it with you for now."

Okay he really felt like asking how Morgana knew THAT and why… well this is the first time the Fool saw one. Oh well… that had to wait.

After everyone quickly agreed to that and made sure that they didn't miss anybody a last time, they started their escape from the dungeon.

Akira meanwhile tried to not show how tense he was.

---

Ryuko was already a mess of emotions…

Ryuko was angry.

Never before in her life did she feel this much contempt for a single person.

It was actually impressive how Kamoshida kept on finding ways to piss her of!

She had remembered all the faces, the bastard's days were numbered!

But she still couldn't push aside this gigantic hatred in her heart. And she still couldn't get a Persona to help out either.

Her head was full. Would it work? Would they even find someone willing to speak up? ENOUGH people that would speak up? Would her efforts be all for nothing again?

No. No she had to calm down. Goro wanted to help and she was a detective. She had connections. She couldn't keep letting herself doubt everything.

They entered the main hall once more, the same hall she and Akira were knocked out in the first time they entered this shithole.

But as they were about to leave…

The attack started.

Knights suddenly jumped down!

"What the hell!?" Ryuko called out. Akechi, seeming completely startled, was pulled back to her by Akira, who swiftly formed a circle as more guards jumped from the chandeliers above them.

"What an infuriating Thief." One Knight in gold, blocking their way out, remarked. "For you to notice our trap."

"Seriously!?" the female Persona user stated, "You have been waiting this whole time?! How did you even jump all the way with that armour!?" she continued to scream at the sheer ridiculous display, brandishing her Lightsaber while doing so.

Mirroring that action, Akira and Morgana pulled out their Knife and Sword respectively, while she tightened her hold on the Gun in her hands.

"Dammit. We walked right into an ambush!" Morgana cursed, weighing their chances.

There were fourteen Knights in total. Two golden ones blocking the only exit and four silver ones on every other side each.

"Looks like we have to fight our way out." Akira noted. "Yeah… we…"

"You will not get away this time you brats!"

That voice… he…

Ryuko's grasp on the Gun tightened even further, knuckles turning white and hands slowly starting to shake.

She felt sick just looking at him. He was dressed differently then last time, wearing some weird golden armour, like the one that he wore on that gigantic painting behind him on the staircase.

With him were another two silver knights, marching in front of him, likely for personal protection.

Akira moving in front of her like he did in the cell, scoffed at the King. "What is with the outfit change?"

Kamoshida glared at him with his sick yellow eyes, a hint of fear betrayed in them which made Ryuko feel slightly better. The raven must have left a lasting impact on him.

"Don't think you can mock me you garbage!" Kamoshida screamed at him, half panic clearly able to hear, "I only realized I need to take you more serious that is all! Don't be cocky!"

"Oh really? Cause I remember you pleading for forgiveness the last time we meet. And well… I don't think I need to remind you of your real self and how he reacted."

The King downright growled at Akira. "You caught me off guard that's all! This is not going to happen a second time you criminal scum!"

"Ugh." Akira said in a voice that made Ryuko think he rolled his eyes, "Can you all start coming up with different insults? That one is getting old real fast:"

"The school ain't your castle." She shouted back at the bastard, "I've memorized their faces real good. You're goin' down!"

"Suddenly getting brave again are we!?" he shouted back at her. "Hiding behind your new boy toy, a useless stray and some random bitch!"

Behind her Goro started to glare at him too, with Morgana hissing.

"Screw you asshole!" her pulse started to rise even further, "Your DONE for!"

A scowl overcame the perverted King, "It seems its true when they say 'barking dogs seldom bite'."

And then… for some reason he started to smirk. And it sent shivers down Ryuko's spine.

"How far the star runner of the track team has fallen."

She swore her eye twitched when he mentioned that. Sheer anger driving her, she stepped forward, pushing Akira behind her and aiming the model Gun at the teacher. "The hell are you getting at!?"

"I speak of the infamous 'Track Traitor' who acted in violence, ending her teammates dreams. Oh I can only imagine the pain of the others who were dragged under with your… selfish act."

Her leg started to hurt when he talked about it, aching and making it harder for her to stand, forcing her to grit her teeth to distract herself.

"Track Traitor?" she heard the Princess ask behind her, more out of curiosity the anything else. "What are you on about?!" Akira shouted meanwhile much more aggressively.

Kamoshida chuckled at that, having apparently gained some sense of confidence back from knowing something they didn't.

"What a surprise. So you're accompanying her without knowing anything at all?"

"All I need to know is you're the only scum in the room!" Akira retorted and I gave her a certain sense of peace. But… would he keep that? It had started to dawn on Ryuko just what Kamoshida was trying. He would try to have everyone abandon her… again.

She wanted to protest against this but… her throat was suddenly cut of… no words seemed to come out. Her leg started to ache further.

"She betrayed her teammates and crushed their hopes, yet she still carries on as carefree as ever."

"That's not true!"

"You've all come along with this little bitch and are going to end up dead. How unlucky. I bet you came here on a whim and ended up like this. You there… brunette in white. Tell you what… I have a score to settle with that scum and the stray but if you betray them and come with me, then I promise you I take good care of you."

The sound of repressed dry heaving escaped Akechi. "No thank you. I believe I am right where I need to be."

Scoffing at her refusal he spit a retort back, "Why is every girl just a dumb bitch not knowing her place."

Laughing came from Akira, a deep evil one, "With every word you say the more I want to beat you bloody!" he spoke the last words with enough venom that it could kill all the Knights around them.

Kamoshida took a few steps back, before getting back some control of himself.

"You all want to defy me that badly? Fine. Go. Kill the cat and that… Demon spawn. Bring the bitch to me and put the brunette away. I deal with her later."

The Knights obeyed, as if they had no free will and soon they were surrounded by a small army of horses, winged knights, knights on horses and other creatures Ryuko couldn't even describe.

"Ryuko step back!" Morgana warned, preparing to summon a Persona like the others…

She didn't want to step back. Everything that asshole did… she wanted to have a part in taking him down too!

But as the Shadows were about to attack… a voice called out.

"My King! Please wait!" the voice begged.

Ryuko felt her heart drop.

What in the… this voice.

Why did it sound like her!?

Someone started to run up to Kamoshida, hugging him from behind, she couldn't clearly make out who it was.

"Please! There is no need to kill them. Please!?"

There again! Why did that sound like her!? And why did it sound so… PATETHIC!?

"Who is that!?" she screamed in protest. The three Persona users with her seemed to note it as well.

"Did… did that sound like?" The brunette questioned.

"Oh no…" Akira whispered as if he already knew what would come.

"Don't tell me." Morgana started, before the girl became visible.

It was… HER!?

"W-What?!" Ryuko shrieked at the sight.

Right in front of her, clinging to Kamoshida's arm and calling him King, was her. Same blonde hair, same brown eyes but… what on Earth did she wore!?

All she wore was torn, brown, dirty looking pieces of clothing that were supposed to be underwear. One was wrapped around her breasts while another was covering her crotch… that's it, well except for the bloody bandage on one of her legs!

As if that wasn't enough there was some rusty steel collar on her neck with the word 'Slave' engraved on it and shackles were attached to her hands and legs, the skin beneath it raw and red. Dirt and ash was covering parts of her body.

"What… what is this bullshit!" she wanted an explanation!

"Actually… this is perfect timing." Kamoshida taunted, as if to spit in her face, "Slave, why don't you enlighten your copy here?"

COPY?!

"Of course my King." That thing said again, turning to them, before she spoke however Ryuko addressed Morgana. "Morgana who the hell is she?!"

"It's a cognition…" Morgana answered, a bit of sympathy. Everyone else seemed too taken aback to actually… act or do anything.

A Cognition? Like the slaves? THAT was her cognitive self in Kamoshida's Palace?!

The thing stepped in front of the King, still shielded by some of the Knights.

"Why are you not submitting?" the cognition spoke, in a disturbingly caring way as if she was trying to teach Ryuko the error of her ways! "Don't you see how useless it is by now?"

"What? What are you talking about?!"

"Slave… please remind her for me will you?" Kamoshida commanded with a sickening smirk.

Nodding the cognition began talking. "Ryuko… please just stop. Haven't we already done enough? It is our fault the team got dissembled. Why can't you just obey?"

"Obey? HIM!?"

Ryuko was starting to feel sick.

"Yes. You rejected him so many times. His kindness when he began to coach the track team?"

"Kindness? It was abuse! He just didn't like our team!"

"Can you blame him? We were nothing but an eyesore. The only results that matter are his."

This could NOT be happening right now! There is no way she would ever say things like this!

"It is great to see at least ONE of you know their place." Kamoshida gloated, "The coach who got fired was hopeless as well. Had he not opposed me by arguing I maybe wouldn't have gotten him kicked out… or broke his stars leg afterwards. Though… well that is something you have to thank yourself for."

"W-Wait what!?" Goro called out in nigh disbelief, having gained some semblance of voice back. So did Akira as she could hear.

"Ryuko he broke your leg?!"

The pain became too much. She collapsed on her knees, gun falling out of her shaking hands.

"Do you need me to deal with your other leg too? The school will call it self-defence anyway! Oh, what new rumours I could stir up for you. Maybe Enjo Kosai wasn't enough for you anymore and you just decided to become some pimps plaything!"

Dammit! Dammit all to hell!

Was she seriously going to lose again? The team was gone. She couldn't run anymore. What little reputation she had was torn apart.

"He tried to help you, you remember right?" the slave version of her said in this goddamn condescending voice! "He wanted to help. You just had to submit. None of this would have happened if you just behaved. You already came close to it didn't you?"

Horror started to fill Ryuko. She wouldn't talk about that right? Not now!

Oh god… she felt like throwing up. Panic started to fill her.

"You said enough!" Akira interrupted pointing his gun at the slave her, only to be attacked by a knight on a horse, having to jump out of the way and try and hold it off.

Goro and Morgana had the same thing happening with one angel looking guard blocking each of them. Not fighting but just preventing them from going to the slave.

"Slave, elaborate!" Kamoshida commanded, deriving some sick pleasure from this.

"You know how he called you to his office? He made you an offer, to enjoy his love and be a part of his volleyball team. This way he wouldn't need to go any further. But of course… you had to be selfish."

She began to shake even more.

"Or how he offered to help you with the rumours after you came back from the hospital? He would have done it you know? You just needed to let him continue."

Ryuko remembered it again. The way she was pressed against the wall. How he groped her, touched her, tried to kiss her.

Tears were starting to leak from her eyes. She was so ashamed of it. Was she really this pathetic?

She came close to submitting. She just let him do it, didn't want to do anything anymore herself. At the last moment she had run out but… she felt so weak.

She remembered yesterday too, how she was powerless in that cell.

His hands, his stinky smell…

Ryuko was crying now, pressing her face on the carpet beneath her just to force the tears somehow back.

"Please. Just accept his love. This way we can finally go back into his good graces."

Good grace? There was nothing like that.

Why… why did she sound so pathetic?

Weak.

Broken.

Was this what she was? What she had been reduced too?

And now they all knew it too.

"Like I always say," The King spoke again, "Slave should just behave and…"

"WILL YOU SHUT UP!?"

Her body shook at the unexpected but furious roar. She turned her lead from the carpet, only to see Akira standing over the corpse of the Shadow. He looked absolutely outraged.

He turned to Ryuko… and instantly the rage turned to something else. Compassion?

"Ryuko listen to me. That thing over there is NOT you! How could you think you are anything alike?!"

"W-what?"

"She may look like you but Ill be damned if there are any other things where you are similar. THAT is nothing but the way Kamoshida thinks of you! The Ryuko I know came here to put a stop to him. She is not some weak-willed slave! She is fierce, driven and ready to rip anyone remotely like Kamoshida apart!"

That… that was why she came here. She wanted to get revenge on Kamoshida. But this was all… he saw the slave her… how could he believe in something like that?

"But… she…" she was close to her. She sounded just as broken as she did in her darkest moment.

"Its only a cognition." Akira insisted, fire in his eyes. "A cognition made by a disgrace to humanity. Someone who is so twisted in his mind it creates an entire dimension. NOTHING he thinks is true in any sense. Its time for you to prove that! Stand up for yourself! DON'T LET HIM WIN!"

…Just a cognition…

…

He was right.

Dear god… how stupid had she been!?

It may sound like her. It might have reminded her of times she wanted to forget but… like hell she was this beaten down! Like hell was she gonna pretend that she really was as broken! God she almost bought into it!

This was just Kamoshida! Just another aspect of Kamoshida's rotten psyche!

And she was not going to let him win.

"…You're right." Her despair started to shift into something else. A rage that was as strong as lightning. The same kind that allowed her to come back into this hell in the first place!

"Everything that was important to me was taken by him… I'll never get it back!"

But why would that matter? Why should she care about getting anything back!? So what!? That life was over… but she wouldn't let him ruin her life anymore. She would build herself a new one and the first step to doing that was to make sure he wasn't there for it anymore! Not to destroy her! Not to destroy ANYONE ANYMORE!

"PAH!" the Palace ruler scoffed, "Stop acting so tough already! You are NOTHING but trash!"

"No… that's what you are…" she growled, slowly stepping back up. The pain in her leg, the pain hat became her life, was forgotten for now.

"All you think about is using people… you're the REAL scumbag Kamoshida!" she accused him, stalking towards him, without fear, without grief.

Just HATE.

He wanted to stop her? No. NEVER AGAIN!

She would defy him to the very end.

"What are you doing? Silence her!" Was he starting to get nervous? He had no idea what was coming for him.

Right now there was nothing else in this room. For her there were just three things in the whole world.

One was the rage she felt, the will to rebel and wreck havoc against anything Kamoshida stood for!

Two was Akira, his words being the thing that reminded her why she was not like the slave he made her out to be.

And three… was her target.

There was no gun in her hands anymore… but she didn't need it. She pointed towards him, pointing towards her enemy! And she gave a war cry of her own.

"Stop looking down on me… with that STUPID SMILE ON YOUR FACE!"

The words echoed through the room, the false king taking a step back and the pitiful imitation of her looking at her in fear.

And that was the last thing that was needed.

"You made me wait quite a while."

A voice in her head spoke and with it came unbelievable pain.

"A-Aaagh!" she groaned. It hurt like hell, forced her to scream and cry and roll on the ground. Her body felt like a million volts of electricity were flooding through every cell.

But pain had become such a part of her life she was used to it. She could deal with this.

Especially since, some primal part of her realized just what it was FOR!

"You seek Power correct?"

"Yes! YES! I want power. Give it to me!"

"Hahahaha. Fantastic. But it is yours already. You only need to reach out and TAKE IT! Let us rob the disgrace of a King of everything he has!

"You read my mind! Let's do it!"

"Very well. Then let us form a pact."

"Since your name has been disgraced already, why not hoist the flag and wreak havoc…? The other you who exists within desires it thus… has been for a long time."

"I am thou, thou art I…

There is no turning back…

The skull of rebellion is your flag henceforth!"

Ryuko could feel a mask forming on her face. She knew what she had to do. She had to rip it off!

And the pain she got from tearing the Skull, was freeing her more then anything ever did in her life.

"Nnnngh… Hraaaaaaaaaagh…!" she screamed to the heavens, every Shadow taking steps back as pillars of blue fire erupted from her soul.

Ryuko knew what had happened.

And she was READY!

As soon as the flames faded she jumped into action, feeling a metal rod in her hand. Perfect.

Her leg was filled with more energy then it ever was, making her jump over the imitation and the knights right in front of the target.

"WHA-!"

Kamoshida tried to scream but she was quicker.

Swinging with all her fury, she rammed her rod into the bastards jaw, sending him flying into a wall, incoherently screaming!

"My Ki-!"

The imitation was interrupted in her cry. A shotgun was in Ryuko's hand, aimed right to the slaves head. Pulling the trigger, Ryuko put a hole in the cheap, pathetic idea of herself, killing with it any doubt she may have had to follow this new path.

"She was SERIOUSLY pissing me of." Ryuko muttered in a cold voice, smoke coming from the barrel of the shotgun, as the false cognition disappeared into nothing.

In front of her, her three FELLOW Persona users were amazed, looking at her with wonder. Looks she for once basked in.

Above her, she gazed at the guardian made of her soul. The legendary Pirate Captain Kidd.

"Hehehehe… right on. Wassup Persona…" she praised the being, before turning back to the now terrified out of their mind Shadows.

"This fucking rocks!" she cursed with a huge smirk. She would enjoy this!

One horse tried to charge at her but was soon knocked down by a series of lightning strikes before a shell put it out of its misery, causing those that weren't caught in her path of destruction already to step back and regroup.

With this new opening, she marched down the stairs, confident in every step, putting her shotgun away and leaning her rod over her shoulder, till she reached her allies. Akira greeted her with a joyful smirk while Akechi nodded in approval and Morgana gave her a cocky thumbs up.

"Now that I got this power, it's time for payback!" she declared, of which her friends approved, summoning their own Personas to battle.

This was just like she had wanted it to be. All for of them, ready to take down the bastard of a King once and for all!

"You scum! You will pay for your insolence!" A knight in red armour riding a horse declared but the energy she had in her body was too much for anything to handle.

She threw her rod into his face, stunning it long enough for Captain Kidd to grab it by the head. The Personas arm cannon was put to the Knights gut and it was electrocuted, before disappearing like the rest of his allies soon will.

The Shadows closed in, gaining some bravery back it seemed. How stupid they were.

"Ready?" Akira smirked, already knowing her answer.

"I'm ready!" she smirked back, cracking her knuckles before grabbing her rod again, handed to her by the feared Pirate. She addressed the newest victims…

"Blast them away! Captain Kidd!"

The Pirate aimed his cannon and Ryuko created her own thunderstorm.

---

He caused an awakening?

He CAUSED an awakening?!

"Akira… what in the world are you!?"

As if he hadn't twisted Goro's perception of reality enough already he actually CAUSED someone's awakening. Just by… TALKING!

The awakened in question was currently falling to her knees, sighing in great satisfaction, exhaustion finally taking over after the mass Shadow slaughter.

"You okay?" Akira crouched next to her. Ryuko smiled brightly, with so much life it was stunning.

"That… felt… GOOD." She half laughed at the end and Akechi couldn't blame her. That was just how you feel after an awakening. Exhausted…. But in some way happy.

Akechi also had to mentally admit she had thought wrong of the blonde, feeling somewhat bad for assuming things. Given what she had heard… yeah Ryuko had every right to be here.

It was worth noting however that Kidd was still not as strong as Robin or Arsene or Mercurius. True she may have a Persona now but she was still inferior in terms of power. She was not about to say that now of course. Ryuko deserved a win without someone trying to ruin it.

Thoughts for later.

Well that was thought by one half of her brain, because the other half was still rather shocked at what just transpired. How convenient self-control could be.

Taking the small pause after the fighting, she took a chance to look at Ryuko's idea of a rebel and manifestation of her soul.

The Pirate called 'Captain Kidd' was a large skeleton with red cape and blue shirt stretched over his bones. One hand was replaced by a golden canon, a hat was on the skulls top and he stood on a pirate ship of his own, the 'Blessed William' if she had to guess. A devilish smile was painted on the ship, mirroring the one Ryuko still had.

As for Ryuko herself she wore a black, leather jacket with popped collar and metal siding. A red scarf of sorts was tied from her neck. Yellow gloves adorned her hands complimenting her arms alongside elbow pads. Ammo belts and shotgun shells tucked into a chain belt (who's links seemed partially broken at some parts) with a skull shaped buckle, that kept her pants up, and hanging from her hips. She could see muscular legs through the tight black leather pants with grey knee pads glinting. Her hairband was replaced with a solid steel ring that somehow kept in place with the same evil looking skull engraved on it.

"You look like a thug." Akechi joked with a smile, earning another one from the awoken blonde.

"Still better than your magical girl outfit."

"Nice job Skull!" Morgana complimented.

"Thanks! Wait… did you call me Skull?"

"Yeah. Your mask was a Skull and it fit. I mean… just look at you."

"That's an AWESOME nickname! I love it!" the mood between the four was overall rather joyous and easy…

Huh… she could get used to it.

"Hiii… hiiii gaaaw…" a certain distorted individual whined out.

The mood immediately twisted into hate-filled glares as all their eyes turned towards the King who was slowly starting to force himself to stand up, holding his jaw and wincing. He looked straight at Ryuko, who was being helped up by Akira, still rather exhausted after this.

"Yooo roke hi gaw you icc!" he wheezed with a glare. A rather noneffective one honestly. His jaw was more than just broken however (which he tried to say she guessed). It made for a rather sadistically pleasing sight, how the downside of his mouth was completely broken away. Teeth were missing in several places, his tongue was nowhere to be found and the only thing that still kept his jaw connected to his face was some skin on his right side.

In real life this injury would be permanent. Fortunately for him he would eventually regenerate.

It still must have caused very strong pain because tears were still leaking from his yellow eyes.

With someone else… she maybe would have felt sympathy for…

But this asshole had it coming. The Black Mask part of her was shining through as she darkly smirked at him, a part the rest of them seemed to have too in some shape as they all overwhelmed the false King with some hateful and sinister look.

Mere minutes ago he looked all high and mighty but now… he looked miserable and weak.

"I am sorry could you repeat that? I don't think I completely understood you." Akira taunted.

"Yooou aaaaaaraa!" Kamoshida's Shadow tried to speak once more but it was futile.

"You utter piece of fucking scum." Morgana spoke in a voice so cold and devoid of emotion it even freaked her out a bit. It sounded like from a serial killer and not from a humanoid cat. "I am going to rip your dick of."

The Shadow seemed horrified at that prospect and put a hand before his crotch, the other holding his nearly ripped of jaw in place.

"Language Morgana." Ryuko remarked jokingly, "Though I agree wholeheartedly. I'll never forgive you, you bastard! That jaw is not the only thing I am gonna break!"

Captain Kidd charged up another Lightning bolt, which was seen by the false King who's eyes widened in terror and had started running, screaming for help-.

"ZIO!"

The Lightning was faster and hit Kamoshida in the back with great force, sending him flying through his own castle.

As soon as the spell was casted however, the Pirate returned to her soul and she collapsed once more, only being held by Akira.

"Holy crap…" she muttered, out of breath, "I feel like I just ran a marathon though all of Japan."

"Don't worry, it passes by in a day. Speaking of experience here." Akira assured her.

Though Goro herself felt the need to point something out.

"Are we all just going to ignore that Ryuko said 'language' even though she swears like a Sailor? Literal Sailor with Kidd now?"

"Yes. Yes we are." Akira stated the fact.

"…Well alright then. Good that were all on the same page. But how about we get out of here now? Ryuko can barely stand after all and I am pretty sure more Shadows are going to get here any second."

The group nodded and soon, Robin Hood, Arsene and Mercurius broke open the large door.

With that they left the hall, going back into the real World.

---

Akira was… to put it mildly, very impressed by Ryuko.

The Chariot had already an heavy awakening last time but this… wow.

After the Shadow blood bath, they had a quick briefing with Morgana assuring them they would meet again before disappearing into some corner.

His feline companion was on his way back to the Velvet Room, they had discussed it beforehand and decided to introduce him in his… OTHER form later.

Speaking of Morgana… he was actually impressed by the sheer rage he had. Rage that seemed to be on account of Ryuko. He really was serious about trying to fix their friendship…

Then again who wouldn't be angry after hearing THAT. Akira still was pissed. He knew something bad must have happened between Ryuko and Kamoshida. Perverted bastard.

Anyway… the three had done a last quick talk, about their plan, Kamoshida having leaked his record and eventually Goro went on her way, giving Ryuko a last compliment on her awakening. He really did like that supportive side of her.

As for Ryuko herself… she had actually asked him if his offer was still valid, regarding her talking to him.

He wasn't sure if that was the best timing and had voiced that but Ryuko had insisted it to be now. Turns out that something about an awakening could make you more open, or at least get you in the mood to talk about stuff that's weighing you down.

Well Akira could not say no.

However they both felt hungry so they took some Burgers and fries as take out from Big Bang Burger. No Beef bowls this time around. Or maybe she was just really eager to talk quickly and Beef Bowl doesn't offer take out.

Either way, they found a small secluded spot in an alley, sitting down and eating their well-deserved meal, unseen and ignored by the World.

In spite of her previous eagerness though, Ryuko had some problems getting the ball rolling.

Akira couldn't blame her and so he decided to do it like last time and tell her about how he got here. He DID say he would do that after the Castle.

"WHAT!?"

The reaction did not change.

"The hell men! How much shittier can that asshole get!?" she said furiously, some leftover energy from her awakening coming through.

"Calm down." He tried to reason.

"But just hearing your story makes me angry!" she spat back, nearly throwing the half eaten burger away by accident. "You did everything right! You saved that women and get punished for it?! And that dick gets away with it!?"

"Not for long I can promise THAT."

"Seriously… this is so effed up." She muttered before trying to take her mind of things by finishing the fast food in her hand. Leaning back against the wall, now stomach filled, the Chariot contemplated. "So, you were basically driven out of your hometown and now live here huh?"

"Pretty much and wow I was NOT prepared." he admitted, "I always knew Tokyo was a crazy place but I was not ready for talking cats and the like."

"I can feel that." Ryuko commented, "We… might actually be more alike than I originally thought."

"Because of being treated like a pain in the ass by the people around us and having our lives ruined by shitty adults?"

"Yeah that." Ryuko nodded, slightly frowning, "Like… we just don't belong. On that note…"

A sigh escaped her mouth, "I guess its my turn now."

"You don't HAVE too. Look, I am not going to believe some asshole teachers words."

She smiled at him, somewhat relieved at the reminder. "Appreciate that. But still… I feel like I should tell you. Well… more like I just really want to talk about it. Gaining a badass Pirate has a way of shaking you up and since were going to investigate Kamoshit together…. I think you might deserve to know."

He nodded in understanding and she rubbed her forehead, trying to relax before sharing what happened to her.

"Okay to start things of. I got to Shujin by a scholarship, track to be exact. I actually had plans for a while to go to Kosei but they are more art centred and that's not really my thing and they didn't even had that good of a track program. I went there with some friends. Ann and Shiho you already know. The twins are too and then there was… Makoto. Makoto Niijima. You remember the girl yesterday? The prez? That's her."

"Wait you two were friends?" This was an even bigger surprise than the two knowing each other.

"WERE friends." She emphasized the past tense, "I get to that. Anyway, Kamoshida got hired a few years back. Appeared and instantly he manages to get our Team to the nationals. The third years from last year seemed to like him, said he was a good due but I am pretty sure they just lied. Still because we are now this popular and amazing sports school people love him and Kobayakawa lets him do whatever he wants."

Her eyes became a bit more like glass upon recounting those events.

"…At first I actually looked up to him. God I was so stupid."

"You're not. You got fooled by what he appeared to be." Akira reasoned.

Ryuko smiled at the encouragement, "Thanks for that. Still it doesn't change that I feel for it. I mean… shit he was pretty much my idol at first! I mean… I wanted to get into track and then here is this Olympic gold medallist at my school to teach us? Seemed too good to be true."

A certain rage was building up in her, banging her head against the wall behind her frustrated.

"UGH! I wouldn't leave people alone with how excited I was. The first day I meet him I asked for an autograph for fucks sake! I burned it to ash some time after but I… god dammit he was my idol for a while! Nnnngh… so stupid!"

"I already said you're not stupid." The Fool repeated, like hell was he gonna allow Ryuko to beat herself up over being tricked, "Nothing of what happened is your fault in any way. Sometimes… people just let you down."

"I know. I know. Still just…. I CRINGE whenever I think about it."

She told in understanding, still felt with past regret. Akira knew that feeling. Ryuko continued.

"Anyway, things started to go bad when a month or so in my first year. Our old coach was kicked out of school because of some crap, I think he stole money or something. But that was so not true! He was a great guy. The team loved him and he just… was another person Kamoshida screwed over. I knew he had nothing done but it just… didn't occur to me what happened yet. Kamoshida took over track from then on and it was TORTURE!"

That was something Akira always was uncomfortable imagining. If Kamoshida treated his volleyball team how he saw it in the castle… how had he treated those he WANTED to break?

"People could barely walk after one. Sometimes we even just collapsed or passed out. A whole lot of people dropped out until it was only a little over a dozen with myself included. All people who enjoyed track and/or wanted to go somewhere with it. Problem was… Kamoshida disagreed. He only wanted his Volleyball team to be known."

He nodded in understanding and she went on.

"I got so pissed always. It started slow till I… just only felt hate for him one day. The way he talked down on us, the shit he made us do. With the girls he tried to have them get a 'proper posture'. Bullshit on that. He just wanted to run his hands all over us."

Her fists clenched a little.

"I was his favorite target." She remembered, tone even more sullen, "I don't know why, maybe because I started as this huge fan or because I resisted so much or something. Eventually I… didn't put up with his shit anymore. I would get in between him and others for example. And then it got worse."

His Skull tensed up even more, fists starting to shake. In an attempt to calm her he put a hand on her fist. She looked at him in appreciation, body calming down, before she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"He… wanted to have sex with me." She said and disgust was ever prevalent in her voice, "Told me if I do that he would train the team better, stop screwing around. He wanted to have me as some… toy for him to play with."

"…My god." Akira muttered, rage blazing up in his soul.

"I didn't do it though." She smirked at him now, satisfied slightly remembering her first act of rebellion fondly, "I told him he could go get his dick cut of. I went off and called him all kinds of things. I was in some sort of rush of the moment I guess? It was good while it lasted but… wow did it come back to bite me in the ass." She added solemn.

"The rumour about me started. That I had entered a Lovehotel with some old guy. I tried to protest but… no one believed me. Kamoshida started it of course. That I do shit like Enjo Kosai and sell myself. In front of the entire team he called me out and I couldn't stop it. Then he…"

Ryuko considered for a while what to say now. How she would best explain how Kamoshida tricked her by using her 'father'. Was she going to trust him with that knowledge.

She came to a decision and looked him in the eye again.

"Okay I gotta tell you something about my family real quick."

She did trust him. It made him slightly happy knowing that.

"My Mom? Amazing. Mom of the year, 18 years in a row. My dad though? That guy was a prick. He drank a lot and… used to beat me and mom."

"What?!" he exclaimed in furry that was not at all staged. That they never found HIM was a smaller regret from the past timeline. If he ever found Ryuko's dad… it would get messy.

"That's… horrible. I am sorry Ryuko."

"Its fine." She said…. Smirking again? "I kicked him out."

That made Akira blink impressed and curious. "Oh?"

"Yep!" Ryuko spoke proudly, "It was when I was 12 or something. I was so completely angry at him. He was drunk for the who knows how many time. My mom tried to get him to calm down and away from me and he ended up knocking her to the ground… I saw red then. We have this metal rod behind the door, its against thiefs and invaders you know? Its old and pretty heavy and I liked playing around with it from time to time. I guess you could say I… saw him as an invader."

Her smiled grew even more and Akira could not help but mirror it. "I like where this story is going. Did you?"

"You got that right! I grabbed the pipe and smacked it against him. I kept on hitting him over and over and he started running away at some point. I was like on autopilot, I barely even remember what I really did. All I know is there was a destroyed TV and him eventually looking at me terrified, with two of his teeth missing and a wound on his forehead. I told him to go away and never come back and he ran fast enough he could make athletes jealous."

She laughed a bit and Akira did with her, a high five swiftly exchanged.

"I was TERRIFIED the whole time though and afterwards too. I just remember hugging my mom afterwards and going to bed. But… I do feel kinda… weird that I went so wild."

"You did the right thing. Some people just cant be reasoned with. I really don't think you need to feel weird."

Though he could understand why she did. Just… going wild against someone could leave you shocked in what you were capable of. That was a different subject entirely though.

"Anyway back on topic." Ryuko reasoned and began again.

"I don't know HOW but… Kamoshida found out. One day he taunted me about that. That someone with some abusive deadbeat for a father would probably love whoring herself out. That I come after my mother with that. I totally lost it. I attacked him. I was just so angry… only without a Persona and given that he is much taller than me… well you know the rest."

She became sad once more, eyeing her injured leg. Bending it to her upper body, she freed her hand from his and hugged her damaged limb.

"That's how he broke my leg. It all happened so quickly. I did NOTHING to him and he just… treated me like I was made of paper. He ended up throwing me down a staircase too, ended up injuring some ribs. My bag was the only reason I did not get any damage on my head. Everything healed up except for my leg. It still hurts like a bitch sometimes."

He eyed the leg in sympathy. With how Ryuko held herself in the metaverse it was sometimes hard to remember she was in nigh constant pain.

"While I was in the hospital he spread more rumours and used the attack to disband the team. I had to BEG Kobayakawa to take me back. And Makoto? Makoto was freaking useless!"

"Wait Makoto?" he had a very bad feeling about WHAT Makoto did in this whole mess. He remembered her trusting into adults… lets say a lot before she joined them.

"I asked her to help me you know?" the blonde all but spat out, "But did she do it? NO! Hell no she didn't! She still has the nerve to act like we are friends after everything. She… Kamoshida got to her too with his brainwashing. Do you know how SHITTY it is for your best friend to accuse you of having a CRUSH on Kamoshida!?

His eyes nearly bulged out at that gross image. He really wished he would have been wrong. "Goddamit Makoto."

The horror on his face seemed to be evident as it was all Ryuko needed to see. "Yeah not great feeling I can tell you that! She had talked with Kobayakawa and Kamoshida apparently and Kamoshida told her I was acting this weirdly around him because I was being a Tsundere or something. The… the nerve! Makoto just bought into it! She said shit like wanting to help me clear out my 'troublesome emotions'! That is so stupid it hurts! She might have perfect scores but she is a complete DUMBASS!" the anger that escaped her faded away as quickly as it came.

"And… he won. Shit man he won just… he beat me. I lost my team, my best friend, my leg… I… I lost."

The soft tone was so unlike her, it made his heart ache. "Ryuko if you can't keep…"

"Its fine." She interrupted him, moving on to what this whole talk lead up to. "I…. really need to tell someone about this. I was going crazy long enough keeping all that shit inside."

Opening herself up to him… it was a very vulnerable moment. He was amazed she still kept going.

"A couple of days after coming back to school he cornered me, dragged me into his office. It was… it wasn't that bad. Like he didn't… you know or something. Not like it was in the Cast-… well. He…"

She hugged her leg tighter, pressing it into her upper body. "He touched me."

There was the prove, exactly as he had feared. His stomach plummeted and hate was starting to well up inside of him. But above all there was a cold chill running through Akira.

This wasn't fair. Not at all. Why did Kamoshida have to exist? Rage and sadness mixed inside of the Fool as he continued to listen Ryuko's soft voice.

"I didn't fight back for a good while. I just felt empty. I gave up and let him. He… before it could get any worse I remembered I wasn't completely alone. Ann and Shiho were still with me. I just… reacted then, headbutted him and ran as far as I could before collapsing. God… I felt so weak. He left me alone for the most part, guess he waited for me to come crawling back."

Akira wasn't sure what to do. He wanted to hug her, try anything to somehow make her forget these awful moments. Just listening to what that monster had done to her was sickening. Carefully, he placed a hand on her shoulder, ready to take it back if she were to flinch. She didn't and the hand stayed. "I'm so sorry. That is horrible."

"Don't be. Its not like you could have done anything. Nether did I really." She said melancholic, gaze downtrodden.

"Aside from helping Ann... i never did much honestly. I just... let him go on. Maybe… this whole Persona stuff… is my way to atone."

"You don't have anything to atone for!" Akira snapped, having enough and the sudden intensity taking the Chariot aback.

"Kamoshida is scum! Scum that hurt you in horrible ways. It is not your fault!"

"Ak-."

"No let me finish!" he interrupted her, sounding more angry than he intended. "You did NOTHING to deserve this! Not a single goddamn thing! So you used to admire him? It does NOT mean you're stupid or that you deserved to become his target! And you sure as hell are not weak! Honestly if anything your strong for being able to endure all of this. You have no fault AT ALL! Its all on Kamoshida. The… the adults, Kobayakawa or some of the teachers, they should have protected you. All of you! They didn't! Kamoshida abused his power and… FOR FUCKS SAKE!"

He had started trying to make Ryuko feel better, have her know that she was not at fault for the acts of a heartless monster, but the Fool was talking himself in a rage. Being around the Chariot had a way of bringing out his more intense emotions.

"WHY!? This is not fair! Is status quo or fame so important to everyone that they just don't care!? Just let Kamoshida do whatever he wants!? Someone should have done something! Intervened! ANYTHING!"

He slightly panted when he was done, anger still flowing through him, amplified by a certain Chaotic presence. For a while there was only silence between them, Ryuko looking at him in surprise… before laughing slightly of all things.

"Hahaha." She giggled at his display, surprising Akira. "Sorry its just… I find it kinda funny. A few weeks ago I never would have guessed id be talking with someone about all of this and then here you are raging because of it."

A weight on his shoulder, her hand that dislodged itself from her leg, was put on comforting. A certain calm was flowing through it into him. Her eyes were not teary but glimmering, though a certain ease was there as well. "Don't worry. I know I have no fault at this. This is all on Kamoshida. Sometimes… things just suck."

"They shouldn't though."

"Well yeah. Obviously. But sometimes they do anyway. By now… I know this is not on me. Though, its still nice to hear someone say it."

She seemed relaxed after letting it all out, exhaling and resting her had against the bricks behind her. "It feels… good to finally have this all out. I never spoke to anybody about all of this. Not Mom, not Ann… anybody."

She looked at him again fondly, lips curled into a smile. "You know… I am glad I meet you. Its like… no matter what I can talk to you about it. Pah. This is crazy! I barely meet you and I already feel like I can count on you for anything. In the Palace too… I was probably going to give up hadn't you talked some sense into me."

"Well… that's what friends are for right?" he smiled back at her, anger fading away at the great sight of a smiling Skull.

Laughing again, she nodded, agreeing that after what happened they qualified as such "Guess you're right. Seriously though,"

She started again, moving a bit closer to him and putting her arms around Akira, squeezing him like a teddy bear.

"Thanks."

He returned the hug without much thinking, enjoying the closeness.

A few minutes later, Ryuko broke the hug and instead smirked at him with a hand raised, clearly intending for him to take it.

"Now… enough moping around. We're going to show Kamoshida his reign is over!" she exclaimed in excitement, smiling all the while in anticipation.

He returned the smile wholeheartedly, grasping her hand without hesitation, "You bet on it!"

And in his heart… he felt the Arcana of the Chariot re-joining him.

---

And another chapter done! Gotta say I am happy to have done this… but the word count just keeps on climbing huh? Meh… I have grown to accept that I cant be stopped on the keyboard unless I want to be stopped.

So… quick overlook.

I guess you could say I did a soft retcon regarding Akira and the gymnastic team he was part in. I actually always intended for him to be second best but… kinda forgot while writing Chapter 7. That's something that can happen, forgetting about something you WANT to include and than you have to improvise.

However I stated it in his narration and as we all know narration can be a tricky thing. So I just twisted it so that he spend THIS much effort on pushing his ex out of his mind that he really had grown to forget ever meeting her… only remembering her fleetingly and this time a bit deeper because he was in a relationship again.

Yeah their break up was nasty as you could see. How would you feel when your first love, who you had your first time with, suddenly calls you a Monster and even believes rumours of you trying to rape somebody?

The rumours about Akira are VERY bad. And bullying is nasty too.

For anyone who wants to know what Daiji looks like… I based his design on an already existing fictional character to make it easier for you all to imagine. Look up 'Motoyasu Kitamura' from the Anime 'The Rising of the Shield Hero'. That's what he looks like only a bit younger.

And if you think that scene was written weirdly or kinda silly… then I say mission accomplished! That was my intention when writing that part. I wanted to show just how… insignificant someone like Daiji is to Akira. The guy faced conspiracys and gods… some bully is nothing for him. He cant take Daiji serious. Though sooner or later he will… take 'care' of him.

And as to why Daiji is here… well the fate destroying butterfly of doom. By chance he ended up deciding to study in Japan instead. Its small changes that can affect your world like that.

For the bullying… Japanese bullying is rather extreme (unfortunately Anime is not wrong with how bad it gets). Putting white flowers on someones desk is done when a student dies but when the student is still alive it is like saying 'I wish you were dead'.

BTW: The voice actor of Lelouch from Code Geass also voiced Akira in the Japanese version. This is just meant to be some fun foreshadowing ;) same with Sailor Moon. Just me having some fun.

In the metaverse… Goro has a rather pragmatic worldview. She doesn't see Ryuko as useful so far and only endures her because of the other wildcard in the room. That's about to change soon enough, now that she has a Persona.

And I decided to introduce the Ishi! They are something introduced in royal which is also my answer regarding any Royal stuff. I decided to use everything from there in this story. A chapter for this story tends to take a month at least so I think I should find a way to include everything. Even if some things could be different but hey… creative liberty.

Now for Cognitive Ryuko… holy crap did I hate describing and writing her!

Basically she is meant to be what Kamoshida sees Ryuko. In his mind she is one of his weak slaves who needs to relearn her place. In his mind she has 'fallen from grace' or something and needs to reearn her place as someone he 'loves'. He enjoys the power he has over her, to control her and all he wants with her is to be obedient to him. Its why she is in cheap loins and chains instead of a Princess costume.

As for our Ryuko… oh I LOVED writing her going ape shit and causing a massacre! :) Go Skull!

As for her metaverse outfit I didn't change that much. Mainly just replaced her hairband with a metal ring and adding a heavy metal esque chain belt. I like this kind of aestethique and Skulls outfit has so much metal already in it I don't see much harm in adding some more. It also has the added bonus of essentially rubbing into Kamoshida's face that she is NOT some sort of slave.

I feel like that is another idea that was used for the Thief outfits. They incorporate things others try against them to give themselves power. For example Akira has red gloves like how everyone only sees the 'blood' on his hands.

After finding some pretty cool fanart and cosplay I played with the idea of making her outfit be abdomen free or have her wear net stockings but I couldn't really justify it. Besides Skulls outfit is among the best so I really didn't feel the need to change it much. It looks great no matter what type of body.

If anyone is curious as to why Cognitive Ann wasn't there… oh she still exists but… here is my explanation.

A Palace ruler has control over their Palace right? They can command cognitions, shadows etc.

Well I believe the reason why Princess Ann was suddenly there in the game was because Kamoshida wanted to taunt Skull. He knew bringing up Ann would make Skull angry so now in this new timeline he wanted to simply hurt her by showing her Cognitive Ryuko.

Now… Ryukos past. Yeah it's a lot worse then last time which I believe shows just WHY she was this crazy this time around.

Yes she beat her dad with a pipe. That's a headcanon of mine, that the weapons the thieves use represent rebellion in some way for them too. For Ryuko, she used a rod to rid their family of an abuser so she would awaken with a metal rod.

And Kamoshida… is just the WORST!

UGH! I hate him. I hate him so much! Words cant describe my loathing for this asshole!

As for Makoto… well you see what her deal is. She genuinely cares about Ryuko make no mistake but… she has a VERY BIG MISUNDERSTANDING of the situation.

She was buying into Kamoshidas lies. This is what abusers do. They try to isolate you from friends and family and Kamoshida did it by turning Makoto against Ryuko. He probably tried the same with Ann but that didn't work.

In time… everything will be clear and solved though.

In all honesty the whole talk with Ryuko and Akira was uncomfortable for me to write. I really think it to be the part of the chapter that could be done better but I just… didn't know how. What Ryuko has been through is a very difficult subject. Some people tend to see the fault in themselves which is something Akira wanted to counter immediately, which is why he was so persistent in saying Ryuko has no fault. She doesn't have any fault… thankfully she knows that nowadays.

I hope I did her emotions right. She is partially glad to have talked it out, excited about stopping Kamoshida and sad remembering everything. Its… difficult to put on paper.

Mind you awakening Captain Kidd did not magically fix everything. She still has a bunch of issues that I intend to dive into more at a later date. For now I just really hope I wrote the scene well and could represent how someone in her situation might have such a conversation. Maybe I rewrite that scene someday. I could REALLY use some feedback on it.

Small side note on Kidd: I actually played with the idea of her having Mary Reed or something instead but I eventually ended up just settling on everyone having their personas as they were.

And as a final note unrelated to this story I have a question. How many of you would be interested in reading a different fanfiction I have an idea for? That would be a RWBY one and feature Yang x Harem. It is still in planning stages but I am curious how many would be interested of you guys.

Well either way… I believe that's everything. Thanks for reading and see you next time :)