Welcome back everybody! Missed me? I know I did.
Uff… how long did it take for me to get back on this? Like… Months.
Thank you all for your patience though. I hope youre all doing well in regards to… everything going on right now.
Stay safe okay?
But I am not here to talk about that. I am sure your all sick of hearing about everything going wrong in the world day in day out.
Now… this Chapter is a bit different than the other ones and I apologize for that. See… its not really a MAIN chapter. Instead its something I wanted to implement for a long while. A more direct insight into the first timeline. The start of Round One Chapters.
Round One Chapters are going to serve to give further insights into certain things that happened before the timeline reset. Think of them… well not as filler but as small treats between the main course. Its supposed to keep you all satiated till I manage to get the next proper chapter out.
As a result its quite shorter than the previous chapters. Maybe around 8 K words. I still hope you enjoy.
This Chapter in particular deals with Akechi and Akechis thoughts after being forced to 'kill' Joker. It also serves to confirm what I had Minako hint at Chapters ago and her theory about the genderchanges in the new timeline.
But first… to the replies.
Guest: I have watched Kagato actually! I love his lets plays. I don't know if some of his commentary may have flown in but if than it was unintentional.
And glad to hear im not alone in feeling like that. The dilemma of writing huh?
Nsilver: Happy to hear you enjoyed what happened. Regarding Ryuko, Lavenza and co. Hope you continue to do so ;)
Guest: Don't worry about it. I don't mind questions :)
And happy to hear you like it. Hope you enjoy this one too.
rider009: Funny enough I know absolutely nothing about Kamen Rider.
Guest: To say Akechi has seen some shit is putting it mildly.
Lets just say Akechi is gonna adapt in the future. More im not saying.
Guest 2: Oh don't worry you got nothing to be sorry about seriously :). And happy to be back.
I am as always very happy to hear you enjoyed it. But yeah I do get how it may come of as longwindy. Comes from me trying to delve into as many characters as possible. Maybe that's whats restricting my flow…
Good to hear that you enjoy the persona interactions. And very happy that youre growing on Akechi. Maybe this chapter will be something for you than? Since it deals with 'pre reset' Akechi.
And yeah that was kind of the point. It was also meant to underline the relationship between Akira, Sojiro and Akechi.
Hope you enjoy this one as well ;)
Ceps: Thanks a lot! Don't worry I WILL finish this story… eventually. And yeah I get what you mean. Don't worry about that either I plan on balancing lemons and story.
Foxy: More you want. More you shall get :)
Guest: Yep… April… and now June.
Guest: 1 thanks 2 yeah I have a tendency to write long chapters 3 thanks a lot again :) 4 don't worry I manage
Rep: Happy to hear :). Well you will have to wait and see what I have in mind for how the other Personas influence their wielders. I have some ideas that's all I can say ;)
Alright than. Onto the chaper!
Warning: This chapter is… well I won't fool you this is essentially Just Akechi hurting. Like seriously this is basically just Akechi losing the last tiny bits of sanity left in that Black mask. Featured is Akechis messed up past, general insanity, guilt, some references to self harm… all that stuff.
The deadly sins. The most well-known attempt to regulate the limitless distorted desires of humanity.
Lust. Vanity. Gluttony. Wrath. Greed. Envy. Pride. Sloth.
Like all so many things and concepts, over time humanity as changed them. So many different people with all kinds of different believes simply can't be brought to one unified conclusion.
And with the people overhauling this system some can become more well-known than others. More infamous. More worthy of damnation.
But there is one Sin that followed Black Mask like a Shadow. An often-forgotten sin. The ONE Sin that is deemed as unforgivable. A sin that has at times been combined with Sloth.
Despair.
Emptiness.
Cavum.
How fitting for one who has gone too far to ever hope for redemption.
"Hikaru… life is going to be hard for you sometimes. When this happens… I want you to try something."
"What mommy?"
"I want you to laugh. I want you to smile. I want you to try and see the Light when the World is dark."
"…Laugh? Smile? Why that mommy?"
"Because if you laugh enough the Demons in your head might soon join in. There is always something to be happy for. Please… promise me that you will try to be happy. No matter what life will throw your way, try and live a happy life. Live a life you want to live."
"…I promise mommy."
Hikaru Fukumoto never really understood that advice. Or why she gave it to him merely a week before finding her bleeding out body in the bathroom.
It never worked out for him in practice, so he had given up on attempting it early in his life.
The last time he would ever attempt it was when he snuffed out the last bit of light he had.
Goro Akechi always had a gift for theatrics. The whole World was nothing but a stage and he acted his part to enamour the faceless sheep.
He acted day in day out, trying to make himself into something she wasn't. Pretending someone that would be accepted… acknowledged… loved. Hiding every little part between layers and locks. What she really felt, thought and everything else.
But this, this self-satisfied diabolical face of a Demon, this was his greatest performance yet.
"Case closed. This is how your Justice ends."
A dulled shot echoed in the interrogation room, the silencer doing its needed work.
Blood poured out of his Justices head, falling onto the table and causing a pool of Akira's so cherished red colour. The light inside those silver orbs dimmed into nonexistence as his soul was taken by the sweet embrace of death.
Akechi laughed. He laughed as he walked out, leaving the leader of the Phantom Thieves corpse to cool and waste away. It was so easy, his head all but exploding in blood like a ripe fruit. The pain in his body was barely felt, in spite of wildly shaking hands and agony that ripped through Akechi's heart and vomit that threatened to spew out of his stomach.
He still felt like laughing as he called his father, the one who FORCED this disgusting act upon him. Victory, absolute and unquestioned.
He chuckled to himself on the long, far too long way to his apartment, making bystanders (who cared about them) think he just heard an amusing joke. Now just wait.
Even as he entered into the Arc of sin, he still giggled.
Soon Akechi would choke on those giggles, gradually giving of cries of despair, burning tears streaming down into the toilet. Throwing up in repulsion till it felt like organs tried to escape their prison in combination with these ugly cries.
Akira Kurusu was dead! Just a pile of flesh about to be infested with maggots. Everything was perfect! The plan would work and Shido crumble! This was everything Akechi wanted!
And Crow continued to cry.
Shido's office was another Place Hikaru hated.
He coldly acted once more, Shido and him having a merry talk about how no one stood in their way now. They had crushed all opposition, happily indulging in some remembrance. Only one did so in honest joy.
Shido's pride felt like being showered with toxic waste.
"When I become prime minister, I'll grant whatever wish you want."
He only wanted his fathers brain, blood and intestines between his fingers and drink the tears of despair he would shed upon falling like the Devil himself due to his Pride.
Instead he lied through his teeth about something he himself didn't care. Something about studies and being recognized by those who couldn't give him any sense of self.
"…I supposed with your age, you wouldn't come up with debauched desires."
"I am thinking about the future though."
A fatal future for that stain on humanity.
Robin Hood wasn't talking to him.
It was something Akechi noted as he walked down the roads of Tokyo. It was an activity he found himself doing a lot more often. He just walked. No destination. No goal. Just walking in the endless rivers of people, the ignorant masses, trying to find some meaning.
He would have used his bike but walking just seemed more appealing for some reason. He had no rush to arrive anywhere after all.
Shido was so proud of him. Pride cometh before the fall they say. Mere weeks were between Akechi and his TRUE goal. He would wallow in despair for the rest of his soon to be cut short miserable life.
Akechi stopped walking, in the centre of the streets. He had grown weary all of a sudden. Everything felt so numb.
Akechi overlooked the blissfully ignorant masses, all caring about their own lives, not knowing what kind of monster their beloved leader was. What hideous creatures were walking among them.
His eyes wandered over the people, not searching, just endlessly wandering much like his legs were just now. Was he trying to find some meaning? He didn't even kno-.
Akira Kurusu smirked at him.
Goro's eyes were frozen in shock, wavering ever so slightly. He was frozen in place.
This wasn't real. It couldn't be.
Akira wore his Shujin uniform, he looked battered, defeated and beaten, blood descended down his face like a crimson river. That didn't stop the condescending smirk between the bruises and blood however. No one else seemed to see him.
Akira pierced through Goro's layers as if they were paper.
"Well played Crow."
And with those words uttered, he was gone once again.
Hikaru desperately wished he still felt numb.
No he would not freak out because if he freaked out now it would be in public and it would be bad to lose his composure in public not when he was this close and he couldn't because he wouldn't stop for hours if he did and he needed to be gone and go away because he wasn't sure how long he couldforcethisbackand…
Akechi ran into the deepest, most remote parts of Mementos.
Robin was STILL not talking to him.
He had grown to miss the third voice in his head. No matter how many times he tried to reach out it was to no avail.
Akechi was growing irritated. Usually that white Superman knock of was constantly talking with him, trying to appeal to some 'inner goodness'.
He tried to forget knowing why the leader of the Merryman didn't want to talk.
The last time the archer tried was alongside Loki, desperately reaching out for him as he walked down the path to the interrogation roo-…
Akechi bit the inside of his cheek, till the familiar taste of metal came to his tongue. Sufficient enough for a temporary distraction.
In contrast to Robin, Loki was trying harder than ever to talk with him, something Goro put conscious effort on supressing with an Iron Fist.
"Here is your Coffee Mister Akechi," the waitress of some Coffee chain told him as he was handed the brown liquid. He gave a thanks and false smile to her which made her blush. So annoying.
He swallowed a sip. It tasted disgusting. He would rather devour faeces than swallow this bile. Molten lead would be preferable even.
But rather than throwing the bad excuse of a drink away he drank, some sick way of remembrance he mussed.
And burning your throat was a better way of pain than cutting your skin open. The latter came with so much clean up.
"I'm almost hurt Crow." The hallucination of Akira, making himself comfortable in the bench in front of him, spoke up, with a joyful grin as if everything was right in the World and he wasn't just the sign that Akechi had completely jumped of the rails. "And here I thought you preferred Leblanc."
"Your opinion is insignificant," he whispered, ignoring the reasons as to why he couldn't bring himself to enter his favourite Café. A place of calm and peace and where she felt tranquil and home. "You are not real."
"Neither is Goro Akechi. I am not the only imaginative Person on this table."
"But you are the only DEAD person."
"In the literal sense yes. In every other way you have started decaying already." He laughed as if to congratulate him after Akechi won one of their Chess games. "Though I assume I have no real place to lecture you. After all… you won. Congratulations. Enjoy your price."
"If you are so happy with that why are you here then?"
Akira's face became grim, almost saddened, "Oh Crow. We both know your far to self-aware not to know WHY I am still here."
"Stop calling me Crow. That was never my name." Crow countered in some attempt to change the topic and fool his own mind again. Crow was just one of many dead names and masks.
Crow was what the child WANTED to be.
One of many wants that were discarded and now buried.
"To me it was. To the Phantom Thieves. To your friends."
"They were YOUR friends."
"And could have been yours."
"Bullshit."
"Then why did you manipulate Shido into sparring them until after the election? If all goes with your plan they would survive through all of this. You wouldn't have done this if you hadn't-."
"I don't feel like being a bad winner to you. It was a gift to a Fool that was in over his head. Because I pitied you."
"Sure let's call it that."
"You hate me."
"No I don't."
"You DESPISE me."
"Akira never did."
"Your just criminal trash that was rotting away in an attic."
"I am a manifestation of your own Guilt nothing more nothing less."
"You are a cheap disillusioned MORON."
"And yet Joker was your JUSTICE Arcana."
"You would be DISGUSTED by me."
"You were never brave enough to find out."
"You are not here I am not ARGUING WITH YOU!"
"Sir…" a waitress, now faking genuine concern, asked him, "is everything alright?"
"Oh yes I am fine!" he smiled in honey sweet lies, when he started to raise his voice was unknown to him, "Apologies there is just some personal matter of mine that is taking up my thoughts."
"Understatement of the Century."
"STOP IGNORING ME ROBIN!"
Akechi had grown TIRED of the silent treatment!
He forcefully summoned Robin Hood inside his Cabin on the Ark, the blue flames taking on a slight shade of red and the summoning stinging unexpectedly. He would talk with him!
Yet the archer remained silent, gazing upon him with this unreadable look. It only maddened Akechi even more.
"SAY SOMETHING!" he shouted at the Justice Persona.
He NEVER shut up ever since he got him all these Months ago. He CONSTANTLY shoved speeches down his throat, attempting to make him feel like anything other than a walking pile of evil. A reaper that killed left and right with no emotion.
Hikaru missed the attempts.
"ANYTHING!"
Then finally… for the first time in days… Robin spoke.
"You killed the ONE Person you loved."
…
What?
"What?"
"Wha…" Akechi tried to form words, ignoring the razors that cut into his heart. "What are you talk-?"
"You KNOW what I am talking about."
"I… I never!" he denied the claim. His own voice was betraying him.
"I am the MANIFESTATION of your bond with Akira. You might be able to lie to yourself, you might even be able to BELIEVE those lies… but you cannot lie to me or change me, what I AM." The Persona stated with unwavering certainty.
Robin was a rock standing proud against waves of lies and attempts of denial.
Akechi tried so hard to form more lies that would eventually break him… but couldn't.
"I tried all I could. I tried to save your soul." Robin told him like a stern and disappointed father, "but it seems I was wrong. Some people can't be saved."
The words burned itself into Akechi's ears, endlessly ranging in his mind. Was he…
"Yes…" As if he read his thoughts Robin continued to talk, "I am giving up on you."
…
"No. No, you don't." Akechi called him out on his bluff.
It wasn't a bluff and they both knew it.
"I have vowed to lend you my Bow. I will keep that vow but nothing else. You may summon me and use my Power but know this… I do so out of, now I see misplaced, loyalty on my part. I have no desire to try and save you anymore. I do not fight for your protection because I desire but because I MUST. I see now that nothing could save you from this path you've chosen."
He… was giving up on him.
"I…HATE… Akira." Was spat from dry lips, "I DESPISE him."
The sweet taste of lies was not ensnaring one of his Personas, not like they would the ignorant sheep.
Akechi's desire to talk was starting to fade. A blade was brandished.
"You killed the one Person you still loved in this world girl. There is nothing that could absolve you anymore."
And with those words Robin vanished, a serrated sword being his guide.
The red mask was weighing much heavier.
"Okay WHY did you never tell me you watched Code Geass? I love that Anime!"
Akechi moved his white Pawn forward, blocking the steady advance of its black mirror. Two Pawns at an impasse. What a funny coincidence.
He was a Pawn to Shido and Akira one to his own world view.
"It simply never came up." Goro defended with a small chuckle, "In my defence you could have told me when I told you about my appreciation of Death Note."
"Yeah, yeah. Well better late than never." Akira brushed it of with surprising ease. Rather late than never huh? What a dumb quote. Why would one want to wait out of sheer principle? If possible, every man would take the path of immediate satisfaction. He was long getting impatient with his fathers demise after all.
Though… in some weird way he was enjoying the wait till the final day of Sae's infiltration.
Sometimes it was rather never than late Akechi assumed.
"So… who is your favourite character? Mine is Lelouch. Honestly I am surprised I didn't awaken to Zero in place of Arsene."
Of course, it would be. Because why not. The dark leader of the Phantom Thieves loving a fellow Rebel. This childish and annoying excitement in his voice when indulging in such things. Sometimes Akechi wondered how Akira really saw their world. Had he ever grown out of wanting to play Hero?
What a pointless question… that was the reason he needed to die in the first place! Of course, he never grew up!
Or perhaps he somehow managed to keep that inner desire for heroism intact when faced with grim reality?
If so that might be even more infuriating.
What was their talk about again? Oh right…
"I certainly see the appeal of your choice. I… can even agree on it."
Akechi always related to desires of parricide.
"But I always find it more interesting to find out what peoples most HATED characters are."
"Oh?" Akira noted, moving a Bishop forward. It was a bait. It was kind of cute how Akira thought him to forget about the Rook stationed mere five spaces away. He would not be deceived by such an obvious trick. Joker would have to wake up a little sooner.
"Yes. It simply just says more than favouritism." Akechi justified his preference. "And before you ask, since I assume the question would follow quickly, my most hated character is Suzaku."
An eyebrow was raised in small surprise. "Really?"
"Oh yes! His sheer hypocrisy. That roulette wheel of a morality. That delusional thought of changing corruption from within the Lions cave. That self-serving view on the World."
Ah yes, irony. The Fools greatest entertainment.
Akira meanwhile released a sigh, "Yeah… there are a lot of people that hate him. I feel like he gets a bit too much hate honestly."
Now it was Akechis turn to raise an eyebrow, a sign swiftly picked up from the raven Phantom Thief. "I guess the farthest I go into hating him is merely… pity really. I especially wished he and Lelouch could have gotten more chances to work together."
"…Oh really? Any reason for that?"
"They compliment each other perfectly." Akira stated as if it was a publicly known fact. "I mean come on you watched the show too. When together there is nothing these two can't do. Their prodigies in their own right and when combined they could take on the World and win. Who knows how much could have been avoided had they better communicated."
Akechi… couldn't help but laugh at the ravens words. Was cooperation all he could think about? All he was ready to rely on?
How… disappointing.
Though it would explain why Akira still tried to recruit Akechi properly. Hell, Akechi had indulged in that possibility as well.
But Akira turned the offer down, only a reply of working best as rivals and both being unwilling to change their path it seems.
Yeah… they did work better as rivals. But all good things must come to an end.
"What an amusing thought. You never cease to get rid of my boredom. By the by…"
With that Akechi finally executed his plan from 10 turns ago. His Knight cutting of the last escape route possible from the black King.
"Checkmate." He announced his ultimate victory over Joker with a smile.
Akira gazed upon the silent battlefield between two kingdoms, analysing the truth of his words. Then he smiled satisfied, reaching out a hand which Akechi took in stride. No need to be a lousy winner today.
This was just so refreshing. Especially after that mess of their Duel in Mementos. In Chess he could go all out without blowing his cover.
But the taking of pieces was no way near as satisfying as the blood of shadows.
"Good game." Joker complimented with his trademark smirk. "Well played Crow."
Then… dots of Black had appeared in Akechis vision…
Blood floated like a waterfall onto the Chessboard, drowning the still living soldiers in crimson.
The corpse of his Justice still smiled, skin pale and worms feasting on his face. The eternal flowing blood never stopping.
"Am I ever going to win against you?"
Akechi washed his face over the sink. With trembling hands, he rubbed the water over his tired eyes.
Yet another nightmare. They had been piling up more than usual. They started innocently enough, some moment of his times with a certain Thief. Then they would descent into things that made him think some God of Dreams had casted a curse on him.
Hands clutched the sink with enough ferocity for knuckles to turn white. He took deep breaths. In and out. In and out. In and -.
"Not so sweet dreams Detective Prince?"
Akechi wanted to SCREAM.
He fletched his teeth, glaring for a second at the thing in the mirror. The endlessly stalking vision of Akira goddamn Kurusu, dressed in that Gentleman Thief outfit he always wore during their Casino Heist. His idea of rebellion, the only difference being the missing mask.
"It… must be hard for you to rest."
Akechi wanted to muster whatever hate was left in him, stoke the weak embers of his burning rage. Though… it just wouldn't be. Mindlessly he simply gazed upon the Ghost that replaced his own reflection in the mirror.
"Why can't you just leave me alone?" His jaw unclenched as he spoke and the tone was one he didn't recognize.
Akira's silver orbs looked at him with empathy, "I CAN'T move of my own accord Akechi. When I am here than it is because you don't want me to leave you."
"It is YOUR fault." Akechi defended against his Justice. "None of this needed to happen had you never started the Phantom Thieves. I mean… WHAT ELSE did you think was gonna happen you moron!? Did you REALLY believe you could turn yourself into some Comic Hero!? WAKE UP! That's not how the World works!"
That idealism and annoying hero complex. Wanting to help everyone around him with that cursed smile…
It was PAINFUL to watch. Every second forcing him to reembrace that stupid kid with a Toy in his hands…
"You just dived headfirst into another REALITY, thinking that you could take on the scum of the World!" Akechi snarled as a matter of fact. "If not by Shido that recklessness would have gotten you killed SOME day!"
"Shido?" Akira questioned, "It was Shido that gunned me down like a caged animal? It was Shido who told me that my Justice ended?"
As if to take revenge, Joker fired these words like bullets into the defenceless Akechi.
"I HATE you sometimes." Hikaru shoot back. "Your existence is an utter paradox. It is so IRRITATING. You're just… ATTIC trash with an holier than thou complex! And yet… you just take it like it was nothing. You handle everything with stride. How is it fair you got everything? Friends. A purpose. Uniqueness. Something to live for. Being able to surpass me. T-The other morons of Thieves."
"Did I had you?"
That managed to stop Goro's endless rant. Wine red eyes blinked rapidly. "What?"
Akira was unfazed. "You always talk about what I had and you didn't but did I have YOU? Where you ever on my side?"
Akechi was blindsided. The answer seemed both obvious and ridiculous, "You… you were the ONE person in the last YEARS I REMOTELY cared fo-!"
"But you HURT ME!" Joker shouted with betrayal in his every word.
It was all that was needed to silence Akechi.
Around every single TV host in the city… Akechi always managed to prevail, never taken off guard and if so only for show.
But… those four words.
They hit worse than the fists of all those caretakers.
"What a problem child!"
Worse than the words of any selfish adult.
"I can barely blame the mother for killing herself. Who would be willing to endure that brat for more than a day? Such an embarrassment."
"What would your mother think of you now?"
Worse than the sadistic giggling of all children that for some reason were better off.
"Hey everyone! Hikaru is gonna cry again!"
"Boooohooo poor, Orphan."
"No wonder your mom killed herself."
His heart felt like Joker had it in his palm, tightly squeezing in retaliation from beyond the grave.
Jokers red gloved hand travelled up to his face, painfully slowly. They took a hold of his raven black hair and brushed it aside…
To reveal a small hole right on his forehead.
"You. KILLED. Me."
Black Mask tried to muster up the strength to shift his gaze away from what he has done, but wine-red eyes were drawn to it like magnets.
That single… tiny… hole.
Bruises now reappeared on Jokers body. It looked so wrong on him. He…
He deserved better than this.
Eyes burned with a vengeance, Black Mask could feel tears leaking down.
No. Not again. He could not cry again…
"It's not like you were the only one Akira." The Voice of Wakaba Ishiki joined in Akechis head. The woman he had killed, the mother he tore away from a daughter that was pushed into the abusive hell Akechi had experienced as well.
She put a hand on Akira's shoulder, it was not real this wasn't real she wasn't actually comforting him from one victim to another and Akira didn't wince when she on accident put too much pressure on his bruised shoulder and this as just in hismesseduphead.
"Didn't she deserve better as well?" Okumura now joined on the other side, mirroring Wakaba's actions, the greedy, spineless wimp. No. No he wouldn't feel bad for killing him. He would NOT feel bad for denying him some way to make something right for once and for destroying another family…
"Of course you don't." Akira spoke again, reading his mind, no he was a construct of his mind he couldn't feel empathy he was NOT REAL HECAN'TPITYHIM.
"When did it became easy Crow?"
That wasn't just his voice. It was some twisted amalgamation. Countless voices echoed in his head. The ghosts of the dead coming back to haunt him.
It hurt, his brain overflowing with hate and questions. Why? Why? Why? Why?
Was it with me? Or with me? Or with me?
Stop it.
Or me? Or me? Or me?
Stop it!
Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?Me?
"I SAID STOOOOOOOOP!"
The shattering of glass interrupted the voices. A Big bang to wipe away all that remained.
Akechi punched and punched and punched and punched in a bloody display of venting and driving glass deeper into his fists.
When he finally regained his senses (not his sanity he knew that was long gone), he was kneeling on blood and glass.
The charismatic Detective Prince, kneeling in his own blood and shame. How the public would react to the truth for once?
"Oh my dear child."
Akechi's eyes shot wide open. No.
Please… PLEASE not her as well.
Hikaru turned around… and came face to face with the one being that would be disgusted by what her child had become.
"Mom." Hikaru spoke with a broken voice.
Her face was twisting, a blur of mist and impossible to read. The mist grew to cover her body, gradually swallowing her.
"NO!" Hikaru jumped at the vision. "DON'T GO! DON'T LEAVE!"
Sounds that a sobbing child would make came out of the serial killer. It was pathetic, pitiful, disgusting.
Nothing could stop the disappearance of her mom.
One blink, trying to control the endless flow of tears…
And once the eyes were opened… there Emiyo Fukumoto lay, wrist cut open and soulless eyes focused on her child.
The CURSED child.
The CHILD she was forced to have after being RAPED by that Monster of a man!
The CHILD that always reminded her just by existing, who might as well have been the one to slit her mothers wrists, just as guilty for her suffering than SHIDO!
Her corpse lay there in a pile of her own blood in the crimson stained bathtub… just how Hikaru had found her all those years ago.
The dams holding back the stream of regrets broke.
Akechi didn't even try to contain the river of tears that dropped on the ceramic beneath.
"H-He ne-eeded to pay for w-what he did! I-I wanted him to suf-ffer."
Making excuses now? As if that would work for mom. As if it would change the disgust that must be present on her face from beyond the grave.
The bathtub was clean again, the corpse he imagined fading away.
And the killer was alone again, the first victim gone, left to hear the echoes of rasps and cries coming from a sore throat.
"Oh Crow." A voice came painfully familiar.
Why… could he not just LEAVE?
Why couldn't he just let go!?
He could sense Akira kneeling next to him, putting an arm on his shoulder in support. Of course he would be trying to make him feel better! Leave it to Akechi to want to be comforted by his victim and for Akira to fit the bill.
Then again, his Justice always was such a Fool.
A gloved hand took a gentle hold on his chin. His head being moved to look into those silver, soulful, beautiful eyes.
There was no accusation. No hate. At worst maybe pity. There was no blood or bruises ruining that image either. It was as if Joker had come back from Heaven.
"Sometimes..." the Angel spoke, continuing to try and cradle him. "We hurt those we love. Not because we mean to but because we can't otherwise. That doesn't make us evil."
So many lies. Lies that Akechi wanted. Lies that Akechi NEEDED. But no matter how many of those he would hear, they weren't from the real Akira. The real Akira could never…
"I forgive you."
No. No Akira didn't.
Red eyes started to sting painfully, burning in shame.
"I am sorry."
Akira's eyes didn't change and for a moment Crow could FEEL him. FEEL the gloved hand that wiped away those never-ending tears, FEEL the leather trench coat where she grabbed on in a desperate attempt to not make Joker leave again.
"I… am SO sorry."
"I am sorry!"
"I AM SORRY!"
"I AM SO…SO… SORRY!"
Later when all those facades were erected again, enough tears cried to at least temporarily deal with the guilt, Goro Akechi would try and clean the floor of the glass shards he had embraced like a lover.
Loki felt… lonely.
It was not something a Persona could truly feel like. In a way… what even WERE his emotions? His rage is just a by-product of Hikaru's… maybe Hikari under different circumstances. His joy was linked to the Detective Prince as well. Every emotion he did represent was but a mirror of some part inside his other selves' psyche.
Even if Loki were to assume that loneliness wasn't just a reflection of his others misery, it was not something Loki was unaccustomed too. They had been alone for so long after all.
Until that Akira kid showed up.
And with him Robin Hood.
The heroic Archer of the Sherwood Forest. To think this was all that remained of him.
Next to him in the depths of thous Heart, Robin Hood floated, still in that valorous stance. Loki had grown somewhat fond of the Archer.
But now… Robin was dead.
There was no personality in that spirit anymore. Black Mask, Crow, they killed him.
The one bond his master managed to form.
Robin was gone, what remained was a weapon only. A tool to use. An empty husk that merely obeyed out of principle.
The Trickster of Asgard was not sure if he felt betrayed or not. Robin had just given up on them. But did he had much reason to stay after everything?
Well it wouldn't matter anymore.
The time was approaching fast. His masters rage and pain was overwhelming. None of his words managed to reach that child.
Their journey would end soon. Loki could feel it.
"I am sorry my friend." Loki told the corpse of their broken Justice. "May you find your rest and a host you deem worth serving one day."
Loki did hope they would meet again. In another time, or another world. Though he doubted Robin would ever walk the same path as them again.
It was time… the harbinger of Ruin would soon walk into the depths of hell.
And Loki would stay at thous side… till the end.
Akira Kurusu was alive.
Akira. Was. ALIVE!
Was this all some sick joke!?
Akechi you idiot! How did you not think of that App earlier! Why did some worthless sheep had to make you aware of everything!
He lived! He LIVED!
Akechi's breathing became ragged, fists clenching and unclenching. It was a PAIN to finish that interview afterwards and an even bigger not to lose it immediately out of sight of those lemmings.
He was in his apartment, tearing apart everything he could find, in some attempt to unleash his anger. His bed, his couch, his wallpaper, his TV, his carpet, everything he could get his hands on.
It wasn't working.
Akira LIED to him! Akira USED him! The one friend he had in this World USED HIM LIKE EVERYONE ELSE FOR HIS OWN PLAN! THAT BASTARD!
How could he do this to him!
His teeth sank into the mattress, wanting to shred and destroy. Animal like growls rang through the destroyed apartment.
"We're rivals aren't we?"
"Honey I'm home!"
"Wanna continue working with us?"
LIES UPON LIES!
He could almost see how these lowly little PARASITES of Thieves must be laughing their asses of alongside his Justice.
MONA that little abomination with an insufferable ego. SKULL always shouting in that voice with the volume of a jet engine that belonged to a crashlanding plane. PANTHER with her obnoxious happy go lucky attitude which should have been broken long ago. FOX with that inexplicable behaviour of himself which should have someone put him into an asylum and waste away there. QUEEN with that stick up her ass that would be best replaced with a burning pike. ORACLE who should have just rotted away in her own tomb. NOIR that rich brat that he should have killed alongside her no-good father.
They must be laughing and applauding and cheering with AKIRA about how great they tricked that unwanted bastard child!
No. No! NO! NO! NO!
In the last weeks he had been in pain only comparable to the day his mother DIED! Was that all supposed to be for NOTHING!? Did he went through all this mental self-deprecating SHIT just for it to be as pointless as his very life was!?
NO! NONONONONO!
Black Mask was DONE!
DONE with being used as the universes butt monkey!
He could really hear their laughter now. Like ugly hyenas that laughed over a defeated prey. Oh, like HELL was this prey defeated.
He will show them. They will never laugh again. He was going to drain all the hope in their lives. They would watch as Hikaru killed everything they held dear.
They would watch as their precious leader dies.
… Yes…
That was what it came down to no?
They were rivals after all.
Akechi stopped biting at his mattress as the thought came to him.
The Phantom Thieves would be the audience to his greatest play. Insignificant CATTLE ready for the slaughter after the one of true importance was dealt with PERMANENTLY!
Loki had just the right spell. Gleipnir, the chain that held even Fenris. Nothing could break these summoned bindings, only if he would will it.
Akira would die. He would die as he SHOULD have done. This self-loathing was not going to be all for nothing.
He would die the RIGHT way.
They were going to go all out. A battle worthy of Wildcards. A battle worthy of the one who dared to call him his rival.
They would strike and strike and strike and strike again until one of them was DEAD!
His face formed again, from numbing rage to pure neutrality to than… incredibly joy.
Just the thought of fighting Joker, how it should be, both of them giving it their all, it was so delightful!
It send pleasant chills down his spine, made his insides tingle in ecstasy!
Oh yes… yes this was needed. That was necessary! Akechi DESERVED a proper battle with Akira. It was only right. They both deserved to fight with everything they had to the dead.
THEIR power. Not some worthless friends always interfering with that self righteous bullshit.
Shido couldn't know. He would not interrupt this. This battle was theirs. Thiers and theirs alone.
Akechi lay down on the torn mattress, looking up and steadily closing his eyes.
Shido's deadline would be December the 18th. Till than the Phantom Thieves needed to gather all the letters. He would await them tomorrow.
Tomorrow… it would all happen tomorrow. One of them would die.
"Akira Kurusu." Akechi spoke to no one. "You. Are. Mine."
His to fight. His to conquer. His to kill. His to mourn.
Tomorrow he would be his. No matter what.
Morgana… was silent.
He didn't know what he expected when Master Igor asked him for his attendance. But by Philemon it wasn't this.
The picture of Akechi tearing apart everything within range and laughing like a maniac faded away. What remained was the empty screen.
The embodiment of humanities hope was in the 'Observatory' of the Velvet Room. Igor himself invited him. It took the shape of a, much more spacious than expected, cinema with velvet blue seats. Above them was the ceiling, formed like endless moving lights.
A small white spark came from the big screen, floating into Igor's awaiting gloved hand. His master gave it a last, almost regretful, look before making it float back into the ceiling, joining the various lights.
It almost reminded Morgana of a river, with the lights being reflections of a starry sky.
"Master. Why did you show me this?"
Igor answered with another question. "It was something I believe you deserved to see."
Deserved to see? Why that? What was the point of this?
"You do not believe the Trickster current path to be one that leads to victory. Is it not?"
It was more of a statement than a question.
Morgana didn't want to argue. It had been obvious wasn't it? "I just don't think its wise to recruit one of the BIGGEST THREATS to us. To Akira."
There was not even the slightest bit of shame in him as he said those words.
"So, what you have seen hasn't changed your mind?"
"All I saw was what I already know. That Akechi is dangerous, unpredictable and a risk to everyone."
A dangerous and unpredictable risk that still seemed to hold some twisted semblance of appreciation for Akira. But that was something Morgana had already known. Not that it changed anything.
Igor nodded at him, but still spoke, "That is all true. But you seem to forget something crucial."
"WHAT!?" Morgana jumped from the seat he just occupied. He shouted at his Master, "What is it that I am forgetting!?"
Igor was unaffected by his behaviour, simply continuing to sit in his own seat next to him in silence. That didn't stop Morgana however.
"Am I forgetting that we are fighting for the sake of the world? That I am supposed to guide Akira and help him? Well what if what he wants is STUPID!? Master believe me, I did NOT forget! I COULD NEVER forget! I watched Akira FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE against a deranged PSYCHO! Unable to do anything!"
Morgana stomped midway through his speech. He had talked himself in a rage. Why was he the only one who saw how ASSANINE this all was!?
He wanted to talk about it with Akira more… but he just couldn't bring himself to do it.
Igor didn't react in any way. He simply watched him…
Before smiling softly, a blue handkerchief in his hand, materialised out of thin air.
"Do you require this?" his master asked gently, almost like a father. But that wouldn't be so inaccurate to Morgana now would it?
Morgana looked at the handkerchief and realised his vision was blurry. He grabbed it and wiped away some tears that had run down from his eyes.
"You believe yourself guilty. Don't you?"
Morgana didn't answer, instead his paws grabbed the handkerchief tighter. Why hadn't his Master not raised his voice in the slightest?
"Is there something you wish to tell me?"
Morgana didn't know how to reply. He had a question but he was not sure if he wanted it answered.
"Master Igor… was I a good guide?"
"Why do you question yourself?"
A question answered with a question. Igor must have intended to draw every bit of information out of him.
"Perhaps you should tell him? I don't think there is someone better suited for that kind of conversation." Mercurius suggested.
Morgana found himself agreeing and sitting back down.
"I… have the feeling I failed in my duty." Duty. The word felt still alien on his tongue. "If I had been better… stronger or at least more dedicated, maybe things wouldn't have turned out as they did. All I ever did was complain try and stroke my own ego."
The last few days caused Morgana to think about a lot of things. Largely introspective. He had grown… rather ashamed of his behaviour. He resolved to be better from now on, a better friend, a better guide, a better thief. Yet… he wasn't sure if he could be.
He had betrayed the Phantom Thieves. He had risked Haru's safety. He had constantly harassed Ann and Ryu…ko.
Sometimes, Morgana wondered if Akira really forgave him for all that. Or if he even deserved to.
What his leader, his friend, told Morgana after being dragged back to Leblanc still echoed in his head.
Was Morgana truly worthy to be part of the Velvet Room?
"Morgana," Igor spoke up again, petting him on the head with a gloved hand. "I can assure you, you did nit fail in your duty. You asked me if you were a good guide to your Trickster? I say you were a remarkable one."
The thief perked up at that, disbelief evident in his face. "What? Bu-but!"
"You did not even remember your duty." Igor interrupted him. "Your mind was incomplete…"
Ah yes, his amnesia. Igor confided in him that this was due to the lack of time Igor had in giving him a physical form. All his Master could give him was a sense of self, a Persona and a vague desire to reach the centre of Mementos with others wielding the power of Persona.
"And yet…" Igor continued, "It is no thanks to you that we have this new opportunity. You did well teaching the Trickster, even with an incomplete mind. I look forward to what you can do without such restrains."
Morgana was speechless at these words. Igor had really congratulated him! With no hesitation or doubt in his voice either. "Thank you Master Igor."
Igor waved nonchalantly, as if to imply that his words weren't in need of appreciation.
Though… Morgana still had questions. "But… why did you want to show me Akechi? I still don't get that."
Igor shrugged in reply. "Perhaps I wanted you to see its normal to feel shame. That the very ability to feel shameful of ones actions implies the ability to grow and deserve a new chance. Perhaps I wanted you to see Akechi before the unfortunate child lost her mind in black armour. That you can gain an image of her that Akira has, to at least some tiny degree. Perhaps I wanted you to realize that when the Trickster believes Akechi deserves a second chance, someone as broken as her, that you do not need to feel as if he has never forgiven you. You may pick my reasoning."
Morgana looked at his Master, his ever-present smile and those lips that seemed to only speak in riddles and mysteries. He couldn't help but give a weak laugh. What else could he reply with?
"What an interesting old man."
"You got that right."
"I see."
The Magician stood back up walking away from he seats and back to the door separating the train wagons. He gave a last look back, "That doesn't mean I will stop preparing though."
"I did not expect you too." Igor calmly replied. "I am in fact curious what for devices your working on."
Morgana grinned, enjoying IGOR of all people curious about what he may do. Oh, Morgana had plans. LOTS of them. He came up with many new devices to help them in their War against Yaldabaoth. And… he even had something special for his own use.
The wielder of Mercurius was no complete Fool. He knew in regards to offensive power he was vastly behind the rest of the Team. If the worst case scenario would arrive, he may have to step up and fight Akechi of for Akira's sake.
So… he had plans on building a device that may just make that possible for him.
He called it… the Omnipotent Orb.
Well… it was the first name he came up with.
In theory, it would allow him to be immune to any kind of attack, excluding maybe Almighty, upon crushing the Orb. However even in theory the protection would wear off in minutes.
And that was only the theory. Morgana hadn't even begun to build on the device yet. Honestly, Morgana wasn't even sure if building it was POSSIBLE. But… he had to try.
And until then… he had other things to invent.
The Magician was really eager to complete these Grappling Hooks for example.
"You see when its finished Master."
Igor nodded at those words, curiosity still visible in his face, eager to see what his creation would produce undoubtedly.
Morgana, feeling as if their talk was ended, went to open the door… but stopped one last time.
"Say Master?"
"Yes?"
"…Do YOU think recruiting Akechi was a good idea?"
There was a long silence. One that weighed heavily in the Observatory. It seemed as if Igor himself was thinking how to best articulate his own thoughts.
For a moment, Morgana wondered if he had asked something wrong, till finally his Master broke the silence.
"…We are guides Morgana. We are born to teach and train those that shape this worlds future. As such… there is one thing I have learned. To have Hope in the Tricksters and their decisions. I have hope that if someone can save the soul of the Harbinger of Ruin… it is him."
Nodding at his answer… Morgana left the wagon.
He had work to do before reuniting with Akira, Ryuko and Akechi.
Welp…. This was depressing to write.
This entire Chapter was pretty much just Akechis descent into insanity.
As you can see… killing Akira was the last straw that broke the detectives sanity.
I always find insanity interesting to write so I went nuts with just about all that came to my mind.
I wanted to illustrate that Akechi has lost complete touch with reality. Even sense of self. That's why I repeatedly switched names, he/she, titles etc.
Akechi doesn't even know WHO… Akechi is anymore.
And with Akira… well Akechi has this weird complex of wanting to BE him, be WITH him and just HATE him.
And that is without counting the feeling of 'betrayal' at realizing the one truthful and honest thing in Akechis life was still alive. That was when everything…pretty much broke completely.
Honestly I could explain it more but I feel like the chapter speaks for itself really.
I also wanna have this said. I REALLY hope this didn't come off as too edgy.
Eventually I also ended up wanting to add a different scene. One that should serve as an example of what the Observatory actually is.
It is pretty much what Igor and Lavenza described with the whole fate being river thing in the earlier chapters. I explain more in depth how it works at some point, latest when Akira enters it eventually
But to give a brief overview… it kind of allows someone to view alternate timelines. However finding the right timeline is not only very difficult but also time consuming. Igor can view into the events of the first 'Round' because technically it already happened. But viewing alternate realities is much… MUCH more difficult and its impossible to just try and view into ones own future or ones own reality.
I understand if it seems hard to get. Again I try t get more in depth at some point.
But now… lets talk Morgana. I featured I give him a scene for himself for once since he also has his fair share of baggage which I wasn't really able to show so far.
He is VERY uncomfortable with the whole Akechi joining early thing. And honestly… who can blame him? Besides he has a lot of self doubts left over. I wanted to address that and have Morgana work through it a little with Igor.
Oh and lastly… I name dropped something pretty powerful didn't I? Make no mistake its not so simple to just 'create' something like that. Even if Morgana would manage it, its merely a one use item and who knows if he can replicate something like that.
Okay than. This was probably it. I don't know if I'm quite satisfied with how it turned out but oh well…
I hope you all enjoyed this little snack before the next main chapter :). I am still working on the Volleyball rally. Lets all cross fingers and hope its not gonna take so much time.
Have a good day ;)