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.

14. Rallying the Troops Part 2

I HAVE RETURNED!

Welcome back everyone! How are you doing? All good I hope in spite of all the things currently going on in the world. As always make sure you stay safe okay?

But crap I was THIS close! I meant to publish this chapter in the end of October. I was off by a few days.

On that note I think I may need to address the obvious lack of updates.

See… things have been pretty… lets say 'busy' on my end lately. Sometimes in not so nice ways. I don't want to talk about ALL that is bothering me out in the web. I know some authors may do it and if it helps them than more power to them. But I want my account to mostly be about my writing and actually allowing everyone here to hopefully just enjoy a small break from everyday life. That's one of the reasons I do it to begin with. I like to think that everyone gets joy out of my work, allows them to lay back and relax and gets a smile on their face.

So in that regard, I would like to thank everyone for actually following this story. I said it before and I say thanks in almost every single answer to a review but I NEVER expected this kind of overwhelming reaction. Seriously, you're keeping this story going just as much as I do and I genuinely appreciate all of it :)

Now as I said I've been busy. I keep it short but (among other things but who wants to really hear me rant about the kind of shit that is going on in the world?) I had a bit of a Corona scare. THANKFULLY I was negative but that was some stress I really didn't need. I also started to actually study and go to college FINALLY, so this also takes up my time, right between moving and so on. Sometimes my days start at 8 and go till 20 with like… barely a break in between to eat. There is more but that's all I am willing to say as of now.

Thanks for all the patience either way. I hope this chapter will be worth it ;)

And as always… reviews:

Guest: Kamoshida is just a walking pile of bad feelings aint he?

That was what I hoped to manage! Joy at how Akira gets to take Kamoshida down a peg but also a foreboding and uneasy as if it was too good to be true. Mission accomplished :)

Yeah I agree there. Just writing it hurt. Akira simply cant bring himself to go against Makoto right now. I do appreciate how you managed to caught onto that. While things will be similar, just as much is different and Akira needs to learn how to handle that.

Again happy to hear you enjoyed the chapter and hope you enjoy this one as well. :)

Guest: Thanks a lot. Every writer wants to bring out emotions so happy to hear I succeeded :)

ArticKnight13: Well… akira is gonna have to digest what happened with Makoto and his ex. Will it affect his ability to trust? Well see.

Anon92: Thanks :). Yeah they do have this kind of vibe to them don't they? Having a box to build another story out of the elements of the game. Like with the MC even, how everyone makes their own interpretation.

Oh it will. In this chapter even already. And I think we all know that feeling about wanting to slap some sense into our favs :)

Oh Makoto will have a lot more burden on her shoulders after everything that was done. Will it affect her Persona or her inner self? Who knows well have to wait till she awakens or at least finds out about Kamoshida.

Guest 2: Wait really it didn't drag on? that's a surprise to me honestly because of how little time was actually done XD

I take that with Kamoshida as a compliment. I don't even know how I do it… he just pretty much does it himself but thanks.

And Oh boy sounds about right with Makoto.

Either way thanks so much for the kind words :). New chapter here we go.

Review: No I certainly wasn't.

But I am happy to hear you enjoy the route I am going with her. Your right a good character needs to have flaws and by the end of it Makoto will overcome those flaws.

Howlystan: Do you know you have your PM feature deactivated?

Ah yes the cliffhanger. Truly a great method of subtle torture. What can I say I like it :)

Thank you very much for all the praise. I do my best as always ;)

Guest: Pretty much.

Lolwat: Jupp. You know things will be messy if Skull starts to F word.

Rep: You shall be feed with 20K+ words.

Who doesn't love this asshole getting what he deserves :P

Oh its about to burn your tongue off as we go on ;)

404: Happy to hear. Huh… interesting to have someone say their from both camps in regards to Makoto.

Also happy to hear you liked what I did with Akiras powers. Its supposed to fit in with the overarching theme I have going with these kind of personas, and not all of it is about rebellion.

Lets just say there will be more people than in canon by the end of Kamoshida arc part of the Thieves ;)

Well honestly… I seriously cant say anything on that front without a LOT of spoilers and going about a LOT of plans for the future so I have to remain silent on that. I still hope you enjoy what I eventually settled with. ;)

Oh don't think its gonna be that easy. I have a few things on my mind that make Kaneshiro certainly NOT skippable. Very much the opposite. He will have a lot more impact then in the game lets leave it at that.

About that… well you see how this works out for Kobayakawa in this chapter.

Again thanks and happy to hear :)

Guest: Thanks. I do have a thing for multiple POV's

Ld5: Thanks for the dedication but you can probably take a break for a few weeks at least after a chapter came out :)

h: That's a nice things isn't it?

PersonaLover: Thanks! I am seriously amazed by how this happened :). I hope I make your lunch breaks less boring then ;)

Ah yes the best girl wars. Truly a staple of any media with more than one waifu.

Guest: Awww thank you! :)

Random non guest: I have absolutely no idea what your trying to use me on so don't know what I can say to that.

Jv: I happily noticed and its done now.

Guest: Happy to hear you enjoy it. And next chapter just arrived:)

Alright before I leave you to the chapter I feel like I should say another thing. There will be some more Kasumi related stuff in this chapter. Its minor and wouldn't do anything without context but I want to have warned you anyway. I honestly suggest that this is the point where you should start to read up on the plot of Royal because the spoilers will only increase with time. This was my warning to everyone beforehand.

Lets just say some things in my story are going to be canon while others will be different. I had DOZENS of Kasumi related ideas, before I eventually settled on what I got now.

And also… I really wonder how everyone will feel about Ryuko after the next few scenes. Hmm…

Lets find out shall we?

---

Annoyed, Akechi entered the bathroom of the school. Her phone rang so she had to excuse herself because of 'work'.

Why did they always need her to go after someone's Shadow during schooltime!?

What were they thinking, that Black Mask was simply polishing her (no his, there is no way they would think a woman was their number one weapon) weapons 24/7 in some hideout? That Akechi had no life of her own?

Now obviously, thanks in no small part to her reputation, the teachers where all very understanding and allowed her to go whenever. Her teachers never even checked for her alibi.

Honestly Akechi didn't even need to go to school. Her grades were good enough and she could afford to only visit on exam days. She liked to at least pretend however that she had more stuff to do then simply being at their constant back and call, that the previous image of 24/7 service was nothing more but an illusion.

She checked every stall, making sure she was the only living soul. She locked the door to the toilets as well. Only THEN did she finally feel safe enough to accept the call.

Not that she ever was in a rush to pick up anyone. Letting someone wait could be a huge but subtle sign of dominance.

But before pressing accept she took out a small handheld device from her skirt pocket. An effective voice distorter. None of them needed to know who she was or even worse recognize her voice from TV. But with that neat little thing she didn't only sound much more deeper and distorted, she even sounded like a male distorted voice.

Activating it and speaking through it, she accepted the call.

"Hello?" came the voice on the other side. Greetings? This must be someone new to the procedure.

"Who is speaking?"

The voice, definitely male, gulped. She allowed herself to smirk. It was always satisfying to hear them being intimidated by her. The validation that to even the most corrupt human beings alive she was a bloody nightmare. Of knowing that she was the baddest, meanest bitch in Tokyo, if not Japan or the world as a whole.

"I… I wish an audience with-."

"Stop." She cut him off and Akechi could nearly see the sweat drops on the voices face. "Here is how this goes. I ask the questions. You answer. I repeat. Who… is… speaking?"

Loki chuckled. "They can be so easy to mess with."

"One of the few boons of this job."

"M-My name is Kobayakawa. Keiji Kobayakawa."

Akechi raised an eyebrow. The principal of Shujin? She knew he was under their payroll, something about trying to keep an eye on the youth of Japan and influence the next generation. There was also the added factor of Haru Okumura being at Shujin, the daughter of a prevalent backer and supporter Shido's, Kunikazu Okumura.

Goro also suspected that, given the one person wielding the Metaverse navigator was a student, Shido wanted to know if there could be more cases of students suddenly gaining that ability.

Ah yes that fancy little App. Shido had often tried to replicate its functions but always failed.

That aside, who knows how many principals where disgracing their job.

But what was it about Shujin that seemed to follow her around lately? First Akira, then Kamoshida and Ryuko, now Kobayakawa.

Though the bigger question would be obvious. Why on earth did a principal require her services?

She had gotten all kinds of requests. From coma inducement, too accidents. The ability to manipulate minds was highly sought after by more distorted individuals.

Many times did she even had requests of someone wanting her to… make someone more 'compliant'. Many times those that needed 'personality adjustments' were woman.

For obvious reasons Akechi always denied those requests, usually followed by a quick visit to their own Palace to… lets say 'vent' a little.

"Very well then 'Keiji Kobayakawa', Principal of Shujin Academy." She choose not to hide what she knew of this little gear. Making someone feel like you are all knowing had a way of intimidating them as well. "You will have your reply soon."

A wondering sound came from the Principal. "What? But… but you don't even know what I want of you?"

"I ask." She reminded him. "You answer. You would do well not to forget these rules."

Silence for several seconds. "My deepest apologies. Please forgive me."

A small snort of disgust escaped her. By god at least PRETEND to possess a spine if your already this corrupt! "Do not question my methods." She told him with a faint threat, "MY way of finding out your wishes is a lot safer then doing so over your burner phone. You will soon receive a message."

She finished, hanging up on Keiji Kobayakawa.

Keiji Kobayakawa huh?

Akechi opened the Metaverse Navigator, looking through her seemingly endless search history. Akechi had been given a list with various members by Shido and had spend a few weeks figuring out all the codewords to their Palaces. That was always the most tedious part of the job…

There it was. Keiji Kobayakawa. Shujin Academy. Military Boot Camp.

What an odd distortion for a Principal. She had more thought of something along the lines of a Greek themed Palace. Something about great teachers and Philosophers considering him being an educator and all. It still made sense somewhat. He saw his students as dispensable, training them in a cruel Camp, uncaring about what suffering they endure or what wars come their way, as long as he gets the glory at home in his save little Camp as a hailed and praised Major.

Not General though, even Shadows could to a degree realize when someone was their superior.

She wondered if she should go in now, just quit school for the day.

Then she thought why not? She would like to have this off the table quickly, before meeting up with Akira and Ryuko.

The apology to her teacher comes with a clinical practice. It was almost funny how easily she could just go in and out as she pleased. Hell as long as their school could still claim that 'the Detective Princess' was going here she could probably do whatever she wanted.

As experience showed Kamoshida realized that too and was abusing it vehemently.

She shoots down the stray bolt of fury. All in due time.

Akechi walked a good way away from the school, making sure absolutely no one had followed her before entering a small alley and stepping into the Palace.

---

Ryuko was FUMING!

Nothing but contempt coursed through her. Her greatest desire was nothing other than to BASH BITCHKOTOS SKULL IN!

Captain Kidd beckoned her to destroy, the magic of thunder and lightning almost sparking beneath her skin, as if she could feel it tingling her spine and waiting to electrocute that so called 'FRIEND'.

Makoto looked up at her, holding her eye where Ryuko had drove her fist in. It was a miracle the blonde hadn't already tackled her again and beat her black and blue!

Rationally thinking… she wouldn't have much chance in a fair fight against someone with a 1st Dan in Aikido.

But rationality went out the window when she saw Makoto about to break Akira's fucking ARM!

She looked hurt. She had the audacity to act HURT!? Did Makoto want to ruin her THIS MUCH!? Who was she gonna go after next? Ann? Shiho? Her mom!?

Makoto twisted her expression again, one sterner and more collected. "Ryuko." She spoke with a calm tone that only pissed her off more.

"What in the actual FUCK is wrong with you!?" Ryuko accused her.

Makoto put her hand away from her eye. This was definitely gonna leave a mark. Good. "I was just having a chat with Akira when…"

"When fucking what!? You decided to break his arm!?"

A frown came over Niijima as she stood back up. "I have you know that he attacked me first!"

"Oh COME ON! Quit the bullshit!"

"Ryuko he is dangerous!"

"Look. I know this looks bad but don't worry. I am not about to let something happen to you."

"I just wanted to make you feel better. I am no Knight but I just… well I am the best you got right now."

"Leave her alone you piece of shit!"

"ENOUGH!"

Soft silver eyes that looked at her with nothing but care and concern. The warm feeling of the Trench coat around her as he held her in his arms and carried her out of this hell. Sheer safety unlike anything she felt in the last years.

The sound of skin meeting skin rang through her ears as Ryuko slapped Makoto for even THINKING that Akira could be harmful for her.

The slap made Bitchkoto pause, seemingly unwilling to retaliate. Or not willing to slam HER into the ground for some bullshit pretend care for her. Her face had distorted into something that reminded Ryuko very much of how she must have looked when Makoto stabbed her in the back.

A quick shaking of her head caused the student council president to regain her focus. "I am going to ignore that for now."

"Oh really that's what your gonna ignore? Well I shouldn't be surprised, your ignoring so much in this waste of a school you might as well be wearing a blindfold."

Courtesy of Kamoshida if she were to guess.

She had the audacity to SIGH. "Big words coming from you." Makoto reasoned at her with what sounded like her pretending to be a parent to an insolent child. Some high and mighty know it all that could never be wrong. "How much do you know of Kurusu?"

"Enough!"

"Enough of what? What kind of lies did he tell you? That he was some misunderstood wilting flower? What makes you this blind to his misdeeds?"

"Misdeeds? Oh yeah sure he saved a woman from being raped how horrible lets execute him! Fucking hell!"

"What 'misdeeds'!? Do you actually buy into all the senseless crap that's going on about him?"

"I buy into facts. Logic. Common sense. The testimony from eye witnesses of assault and-."

"Fine you know what? FINE! Lets play your game." Ryuko interrupted the brunette. "Lets just go with your LOGIC and COMMON SENSE! Wouldn't it be LOGICAL to try and give someone a shot that is supposed to be REHABILITATED or some crap? What did he really do?"

Makoto seemed to be gritting her teeth, some nonsensical insistence on not being wrong. "You saw him just as well as I did breaking Kamoshida's no-"

"Tough shit, happens all the time! Hell what's with all the other Volleyball players? You never seemed to care what they got injured from! But now that's because of HIM you get all pissy?"

A deep breath came out from Makoto's nose. "What did you do on the day you both were late for school?"

"Don't change the topic!"

"Can't answer that? Of course not."

"He saved me from being raped you fucking bitch! The thing that got him here in the first place!?"

"Why would it even matter? But if you WANT to change the topic, with what COMMON SENSE did you believe THEM over ME!?"

They both knew exactly what Ryuko was referring to. Makoto immediately sighed in exasperation.

"You bring that up again? I wanted to talk with you about it. I wanted to HELP you. You walked out on ME, not the other way around. I've been hoping for this whole time that you would come back to me so we could try and fix your situation."

"Oh yeah right because its COMMON SENSE to believe some asshole over your BEST FRIEND! Just believing that I am some overexcited puppy or something!"

"BUT THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE!"

Ryuko rapidly inhaled air through clenching teeth. Another punch was send flying Makoto's way but this time Makoto caught the fist with her own hand. "Could you please sto-!?"

The brunette would never get to finish that sentence as Ryuko slammed her knee into the Niijima's stomach.

The blonde had to grit her teeth even harder to supress a shriek of pain, having to late noticed she used her damaged leg for the strike.

Makoto had to take a step back as well, doubling over and holding her stomach. There was a present silence between the two. Ryuko clinging to her leg and Makoto to her stomach. She didn't look at Ryuko as she spoke up again.

"I have known you since we were 5 years old. You were ALWAYS the kind of person to get overly excited at something or over someone. Overly emotional and reckless is your normal. And when someone you get attached to rejects you or gets annoyed you take it too personal."

Seriously. THAT'S her reasoning? A few instances from years back where she crushed on someone and was pissed for the next weeks when they weren't interested? That was YEARS ago. So WHAT if she had been like that as a kid. Ryuko had grown out of that.

Now Ryuko was wondering if Makoto thought she was still dealing with some pre-schooler.

She couldn't even form coherent words anymore. This was all just absolutely mindboggling. She didn't want to talk. She just wanted Makoto to piss of and leave them alone!

…

"Screw this."

"You want me to be personal?" she announced, Makoto raising an eyebrow wondering just what she might be trying to build up to.

There was not even the slightest shred of remorse in Ryuko in saying those next words.

"I'm sure daddy would be VERY proud of you."

Makoto looked as if she might as well have been hit by a train.

"…what?"

Her mouth was opened, eyes wide and face pale. She was frozen in a state of shock, whatever arrogance or high and mighty feeling was there had evaporated immediately, replaced by a bitterness if Ryuko were to assume.

"Oh yeah," the blonde continued, "I am sure good old Tadashi Niijima would be proud of his little girl going around and attacking students. All those Aikido lessons really paid of well."

One of Makoto's eyes twitched suddenly. "…I-I."

"Precious little Makoto, without any substantial proof threatening and assaulting someone else, who already did their time as they were meant to do by law. But of course. The famous NIIJIMA fist of justice nearly breaks the bone of someone that's not even in a trial. Truly just a beautiful example of the righteous NIIJIMA household." Ryuko made great effort to put emphasis on the family name.

"You… y-you do not GET to…" Makoto stuttered, the first sign of wetness formed in her eyes.

Trying to forbid her even more now?

"But we can't forget about the other NIIJIMA now can we? I am sure Sae would be just as proud of how your honouring her father's legacy. After all the hours she did, overworking herself for you, you ruin your entire future with an ASSAULT!"

Makoto took a step back, bumping into the vending machine behind her. Her eyes were now becoming more moved, angry even. "Tha- THAT'S-!"

But the blonde didn't miss the water that started to form, the few tears that had already began to flow like a beginning waterfall. She didn't try and supress a smirk.

"What, not an assault? Because he is a 'criminal'? Well you might join him if you continue to go this way about things, a FRIENDLY piece of advice. It's not like I would report it and I don't think HE," she pointed behind her to the still on the ground lying Akira, "would either but maybe SOMEONE will? Just like how SOMEONE told the school about my dad."

Makoto's red eyes widened even further at the thing accusation. "That wasn't me! I WOULD NEVER-!"

"But of COURSE! Ryuko interrupted the puppet in the shape of a council president, "We shouldn't forget that I am not the only one with daddy issues. Or do you remember the countless times where I didn't mind you calling me in the middle of the night because you had another nightmare about dear old dad? Or the who knows how many moments where I let you sob your pathetic little tears into my shoulder? You wanna know why I did that? Because I was your friend and that's what friends do. I was your BEST friend and guess what Makoto? I was the LAST friend you ever have because NO ONE wants to deal with a brainless, stick up her ass, FUCKING BITCH like you."

There was no more reply after that. Makoto simply gazed at her, or more accurately through her, with empty eyes. She looked pained and betrayed.

Good.

Her mouth wavered, trying to come up with some retort or argument, but the verbal massacre still paralysed her.

Before Ryuko could see the next wave of tears come from her eyes, Makoto had run off.

"Where are you going Bitchkoto!?" she asked with mocking worry, "Did someone hurt you? Do you wanna TALK ABOUT IT with LOGIC and COMMON SENSE!?"

The former track star wasn't sure if Makoto still heard her but it didn't matter. She was gone.

Ryuko had successfully gotten rid of her… for now.

She inhaled some desperately needed air, having spoken too fast, too much just now.

…

"Fuck." She cursed under her breath.

Stupid fucking Bitchkoto. Why did she had to ruin everything?

Why did KAMOSHIDA had to ruin everything?

She fought down whatever pang of guilt may come out. She had no reason to feel guilt, Bitchkoto deserved all of that! After what she did to Akira-.

AKIRA!

"Fuck!" she turned around and collapsed next to the still lying Akira, Makoto exiled from her mind and focus now back on the raven 'delinquent'.

---

Akira sat in the attic of Leblanc, his home, watching as his hands shook like leaves in the wind.

This was nothing. This did not matter.

He had told Morgana to stay with Haru, some excuse about wanting some time alone.

The interrogation went flawlessly. The plan succeeded. They fooled Akechi and the conspiracy. His hands needed to stop shaking, his lungs needed to start working correctly again.

Feet could be heard ascending the staircase to his room. Akira didn't need to check who it was when she started talking.

"Akira?" Makoto asked him. It sounded so hesitant and careful and it was unbearable!

Makoto was always among the more perceptive of the group. Of course she wouldn't fall for anything he said.

"Yes Queen?" he used her codename, face still away from her but an iron mask already planted safely on his face. This wasn't personal, everything was fine.

Makoto didn't seem too affected by it. "I was… going to look after you."

"What for?"

His question was unanswered. He waited for some sort of reply but none came. Makoto had no reason to be here he was FINE.

Her legs came closer to him, small but careful as if she was approaching a sleeping cat.

"Akira…" a hand was put on his shoulder.

Another punch threw him on the ground. Another painful bruise formed on-.

"STOP IT!" he slapped her hand away, twisting around as if he was fighting a shadow. Only now did he look her in the eyes.

No. Makoto was no shadow. He was overreacting but why? For no reason of course.

But her face was making him feel things. The tender and soft look with genuine care, so different from the men in that dark and cold room.

He had been freezing ever since he left that forsaken hole they threw him in. Not even that heater in the attic managed to warm him. Why was it so cold why was it always so cold he HATED the cold!

"Aki-."

"I'M FINE!" he screamed her in the face. She didn't even flinch. Typical Queen.

The silence hung between them for longer then Akira wanted. More collected, more acted, Akira repeated. "I'm… fine. Please leave."

Makoto looked again just so… it was starting to be painful. "Just believe me."

"I'm fine. Makoto."

"Akira we all noticed how on edge you are."

"We have a new deadline and a Palace to do its just business as usual."

She seemed to be swallowing down a sigh and sat next to him on the bed. Still some distance away however.

"We know this… must have been hard… I cant even imagine what you-."

"Nothing is hard Makoto. The plan worked. We fooled them."

HIS plan. The plan he HIMSELF proposed with HIMSELF as the key figure because no one but HIM would be thrown to the wolves, not that they didn't try to talk him out of it or take his place. The plan that worked! It worked so of what matter where a few bruises and drugs.

"It worked." He said again out loud, needing the reminder. "It was the only option we had and we took it."

"But you took all the…"

"All the what!? It… was… NOTHING." Akira cut off the word pain presumably. "So what? I got beaten up? Big deal! I survived and it worked and that's all that matters. I've been through worse."

It worked. He had to keep saying that. Nothing mattered but their success, that THEY didn't need to suffer through it. What were a few days of getting beaten and drugged in comparison? NOTHING. It was NOTHING why did no one BELIEVE HIM!? Not even Arsene who has been trying to send him calm and soothing impulses ever since.

Nothing mattered. Not that he sometimes still felt as if he was there, in handcuffs and tensing his muscles to block the next hit.

He flinched when Makoto reached for his face.

"It's okay." She told him and it was spoken with such attentiveness it made Akira want to SCREAM. Akira froze as she came closer again, taking of his fake glasses. He didn't offer much resistance.

Nor did he notice when his eyes became wet.

Akira was starting to feel weaker, smaller, when Makoto never broke eye contact. Like when she tried to blackmail them into taking down Kaneshiro but this time there was such an openness and tenderness and worry.

She didn't need to worry.

He was…

He was…

…

…

…

Not fine.

He wasn't fine but they didn't need to know! They COULDN'T know. None of this should matter, he was supposed to be better than some scared, pathetic wimp-.

Makoto's hands tenderly cupped his face. He felt his breathing get more ragged, he had to clench his jaw just to try and keep his face stern. "It's okay." She said again in a ton that was balsam to his soul.

Her hands, soft and delicate against his bruised skin, gradually wandered over his head, to the back of his hair and gradually pressed him against her shoulder. Akira should have offered resistance, more resistance than sheer stiffness.

But he couldn't. Something about Makoto, her voice, her hands, her eyes, something disarmed him and all that he bottled up.

His head it her shoulder as Makoto gently caressed his hair and back, one hand having wandered off under his shirt, tracing the bruises and wounds with tender care.

"It's okay. You are safe." She whispered in his ear in quiet reassurance.

"I won't hurt you. I won't let them hurt you." She chanted over and over, like a mantra turned into a vow. He could feel how Cybele joined in, sending a pulse like his High Priestess.

Akira put his arms around her back like in a trance, listening to the soothing sound of his Queens voice. But he refused to cry. Some part of him tried to justify this in some way, tried to deny the need for reassurance after all that.

"They don't need to know." She promised him eventually.

Only then did he allow himself to cry, the mask shattering and exposing the frailness beneath.

They stayed like this for over an hour, before Akira finally managed to calm down enough to make her leave.

Neither of them talked about what happened afterwards, a quiet and unspoken agreement not to bring it up again. But he also knew that if he would have asked her to, she would do it again, just as he noticed how she seemed to fight even harder at his side then he thought possible. Even how Anat herself became vicious when fighting next to their leader.

And whenever they fought in the Ark she threw quick glances his way that did wonders for his weary nerves.

---

Akira had completely forgotten how dangerous Makoto could be.

She had overwhelmed him just now. He hadn't even managed to get SOME reply in or some comeback or a question or anything!

Why... did she treat him like this?

"Joker!" she shouted his name, desperately pushing him out of the magical spells range, taking the force of the…

Akira felt sick. They were friends. They were teammates. He! They! She… she was his Priestess!

He didn't feel anger.

Just… just pain.

Of course Makoto didn't remember. None of them did except for himself, Morgana, Igor and Lavenza. He thought he was prepared for it.

He wasn't.

Akira was not prepared for THIS.

He just wanted to make her stop listing all these lies, stop talking period and reached for her arm in SOME way to bring her to STOP! He didn't even want to hurt her or attack her, he could NEVER do that!

Everything just… just hurt. His back, his heart, his mind…

His Personas tried their best to send waves of comfort but it could only do so much to make up for the hole that his Priestess made.

"Hey Akira. You okay?" a voice asked him and a soft hand touched his spine upon which was a small bruise, much smaller than the countless ones that came from the interrogation however.

It snapped him back into reality, out of whatever trance he was in just now. Akira groaned, rolling himself into an upright sitting position, Ryuko never not touching some part of his body in care. He grasped the arm that was just now in the iron grip of a certain biker. "I'm fine." He said, forcing down the lie.

Ryuko eyed him up and down, "Did she hurt you badly? Ugh… that BITCH! What did she even want from you?" she questioned in a combination of worry and anger.

"Well…" Akira hesitated answering, rubbing the part of his back that connected his neck to the rest of his torso, "I guess it was the same as Kobayakawa. An intimidation visit."

The youngest Niijima was MUCH better at it then the principal though.

"She threw at me some stuff from back in my hometown. About what I was accused of, some stuff about my parents." He let the statement hang in the air, regaining his bearings and doing a small look around. Makoto wasn't here anymore, Ryuko must have made her leave somehow. How had he missed that? He must have been somewhere else with his thoughts again…

In a certain attic.

He caught another glance of Ryuko. Her fists were shaking and clenched tightly. "Un-fricking believable. I am so sorry for that."

"What?" he interrupted the attempt to apologize, "Why are YOU sorry?"

"Because she only came to you because of me that's why!" She growled again, only barely getting enough hold of herself not to march after her.

"Its fine. Your… your not at fault." Akira reassured her, though unsuccessful in getting her to be calm.

Quiet was between the two. Ryuko nearly making steam form out of her ears and him… well…

"How… ill fated." Arsene stated with evident sympathy. None of his Personas really know what to say.

"You don't say."

The accusation still rang in his ear. His parents, his entire hometown could burn for the ground for all he cared. And then there was… her.

Sumi-chan.

"Hey Aki I made this Bento for you… Really it tastes good? GREAT!"

"I don't know about this. This Parkour stuff isn't my thing I rather do gymnastics… you'll catch me if I fall? I mean… if you're here I can try?"

"Sis is… really good huh? Wow… oh? Its nothing just… why are you with me and not her?"

"This… this is… oh my god I love it! Its beautiful! I cant believe you would get me one of these!

"I love you Aki. I love you so much. I always will."

Even after juvie, after the Thieves, after killing a god… those words still hurt. They still felt like claws holding his heart in a vicious grasp, sharp nails digging in and slowly tearing the organ apart.

He had spend so much time simply forgetting about her, deleted her number, burned their pictures threw… IT away…

All for nothing.

"Stay away from me you Monster!"

After all they had been through.

Just… why…

Wait… what name had Makoto used for his ex again?

It was Kasumire.

Akira grunted, a pang of pain erupted in his head and his palm covering it quickly.

What was that about? Kasumire. Kasumi. Kasumi was it right?

His head hurt again just thinking about it. Repressed memories or something? Side affected of being slammed to the ground? He didn't know anymore.

Ryuko's hand gentle coursed through his hair, soothingly and comforting. "You felling better?" she questioned.

No. "A bit." He muttered out. He choose not to think too hard about that for now.

But… at last some of the things Makoto said were true. And… there were things he had not revealed to the Thieves… or anyone really.

"I didn't tell you everything." He confessed to his Chariot.

Ryuko raised an eyebrow in curiosity, "What do you mean with that?"

"I didn't tell you everything about my hometown. About all that happened. Yeah I was disowned, thrown into juvie and so on but… I…"

"Don't."

"Huh?"

Akira stopped talking at that demand, in surprise at both the word and the soft way it had been said, not at all the sheer aggressiveness of a hungry lion. He turned back to her, silver meeting brown. "What do you mean don't?"

Ryuko looked like she was ringing to find the right words, she bit her lower lip. "You don't… I mean… you don't need to talk about it if you don't want too."

He was only questioning that statement even more now. His head tilted to the right, silently requesting her to elaborate. She did, eventually, putting a stray strand of her hair to the side.

"Remember yesterday? …Holy shit that was only yesterday…" she mussed on how quick that all had passed, even though it must have felt anything but quick. She shook her head moving on.

"Anyway… I can tell that whatever you didn't tell me so far, still messes you up pretty bad. Yesterday you told me often enough that I didn't need to tell you all about Kamoshida and me and you would still stand with me. So… the least I can do is to tell you the same. You don't HAVE to tell me everything right now. I'm not gonna believe Bitchkoto more than you."

Akira could not help but look at her with a small sense of awe.

Something within the Trickster ached at these words, in the best way possible. A pleasant pull at his heart and the Arcana connected to it.

His Queen may be different, but his Skull was just like he remembered.

"Thank you." He eventually said, a small smile tugging at his lips, one that was returned by her in kind. Her hand covered his again, much like he did to calm her during the game before replying. "Not for that."

Ryuko put her head on his shoulder. He welcomed it, the act felt almost casual and normal now. He appreciated the weight of his Chariot, putting his own head against hers. There was a calming sense to it.

He looked at her hair, dully noting that Ryuko's hairband was a red scrunchy today.

"Nice hairband." He felt like doing some more light talking after all that mess.

She gave a dry laugh, "Thanks. I switch them around pretty much daily. Can't really decide which one I like the most."

"Well I like that one. Red was always my favourite colour. Though your steel ring with that skull symbol was also pretty cool."

She laughed a little louder at that. "Good to know mister stage magician."

"It's a Gentleman Thief 'mon pirate blonde'." He corrected amused.

"Fine then a Gentleman 'man jentil min'."

He cringed at those last words. "What was that?"

"…French?"

He gave another laugh, "That was SOMETHING but it was NOT French."

"Alright I give I give." She countered with another laugh of her own. "I remind you of this when you ever wanna sing a Chantie."

"Uhm… excuse me?" a third voice asked them.

Both Ryuko and Akira jolted upwards, as if hit by lightning suddenly, in shock at being seen. Turning around it turned out to be no other than…

"Shiho?" Ryuko pointed out.

---

Akechi sneered at the base in front of her.

Shujin Academy had been transformed into a large base, made out of grey concrete. An electrified fence was surrounding the base itself, if to keep enemies out or 'soldiers' in was anyones guess. Around the area were nothing but grey stones and an open field, at least for a few miles, the Tokyo skyline being visible from the horizon.

Distance could mean a lot in the Metaverse. Either as a symbol of disconnection or untouchability. She assumed it was the latter combined with a subconscious knowledge of insignificance.

The sky itself was painted red, similarly to Kamoshida's Palace she noted.

So repulsive.

Every single time she had the chance to sit down and actually OBSERVE a Palace it filled her with nothing but disgust, becoming some sort of twisted norm with every Palace that followed after the next. This was the human standard. This was the ones that were in power. This was the masses. Each and every Palace felt like a monument and constant reminder of what she had been put through by society and everything connected to this rotten world. A tribute to how there was absolutely NO HOPE left for humanity.

How did the saying go? Abandon all hope those who enter? Where did that come from? She felt it applied to the Nav and Metaverse.

"Pretty sure this is our third army based one." Loki remarked, as if taking notes.

"Third?" Robin questioned, "What are the odds?"

"Higher than you might expect archer."

Akechi sighed, she had already stopped counting the amount of Palaces she had torn down and entered. It was… unpleasant at some point, gradually eroding her patience for the world… if there had been any left to begin with the second she started working for her father. "Let's get this over with."

She approached the only opening to the fence, a gate with reinforced doors and a single watchtower to its left. There was no fear in her step. Not like she even had to pretend anything. She doubted this cognition was any stronger than the ones in Kamoshida's castle.

"Halt!" a soldier on guard called out from the watchtower, its rifle pointed straight at her. "Who are you and what is your purpose here?"

"Aww how cute he thinks he is a threat."

"I know Loki, I know. I very much would like to educate him but my time is precious today."

"I am the one known as Black Mask." Akechi called back, "You would do well to lower that gun. Your boss awaits me and I do not like to wait."

The soldier, or the Shadow in the shape of one, paused at the claim. He nodded to someone in the base and soon enough the gates opened to her.

It almost made her yearn for the exploration with the others again. It was so… frustratingly easy when they knew who was coming.

Not that the opposite could make it much better. The Ark had stopped being a challenge and turned into a torturous experience, more annoying than entertaining.

Two more Shadows, (only two? Black Mask felt insulted), left the base and motioned for her to enter. "Major Kobayakawa awaits you Black Mask."

She didn't deem the statement worth a reply and proceeded to enter, accompanied by the two Shadows whose sole purpose was to give some illusion of 'control' over her. One to her front and the other at her back.

The walk through the boot camp was quiet, not that Akechi really felt like talking with Shadows. She instead let her eyes wander over the surroundings. Everything in this Palace seemed rather spartan and bare, lacking some sort of personal touch by the Palace ruler. A dark green floor stretched on and on as they went through the grey walls and staircases. Occasionally the monotonous grey was interrupted by flags with the Shujin symbol and paintings of a 'great war hero' who's appearance matched Kamoshida and ones of Kobayakawa on a horse. The latter reminded her of Napoleon to a degree.

"Fitting I guess. Weak appearance but big ego. One is small and the other obese."

"I'm just pitying that poor horse that needs to carry the glot." Robin Hood, surprisingly enough, mocked, getting a small laugh out of her. She starred at the look on the horses face, fear evident. Because of the mountain in front of them or because it feared that the 'Major' was gonna crush him beneath his weight?

The deeper they went into the Palace the more numerous the paintings became. But it was always the same order. Two kamoshidas, two Kobayakawas.

Pathetic. That a Palace ruler would deem another person THIS MUCH impact on their Palace. It just showed how little power they really possessed.

And no she did NOT say that out of jealousy because she hadn't even be so much as MENTIONED by the Cognitions and Shadows on the Ark, even if she did more to Shido then Kamoshida would ever do to Kobayakawa.

It also served to piss her off. Such a meek little WEAKLING was demanding something of her.

But there the paintings continued. Kamoshida, Kamoshida. Kobayakawa, Kobayakawa, Kamoshida, Kamoshida. Kobayakawa, Kobayakawa, Sakamoto, Kamoshida, Kamo-.

SAKAMOTO!?

She stopped walking, making the Shadows at her side stop as well. "What is the matter mercenary?"

Akechi walked the few steps back, just to make sure she hadn't missed anything, that her eyes just didn't play some sort of prank.

No, they didn't. There truly was a picture of Ryuko Sakamoto. It was by no means as great or unique as the paintings of the 'educators' however. It was just a mere picture made by a camera. Her posture was also different, simply standing straight with hands behind her back like a stereotypical soldier told to stand straight. Her hair was also not the dirty blonde that she had been accustomed too but instead a faint brown, though it was still undeniable Ryuko, dressed in that white shirt and dark green military pants…

Clothes that had been TORN. Particularly at her… chest area and neither regions. She could make out her underwear beneath the strips of torn cloth that somewhat covered her still. One of her legs was bleeding through the pants, dried red mixing with the dark green.

And the look in her eyes… it looked… broken.

A small tag was at its bottom.

'A sacrifice not forgotten.'

"Mercenary," the Shadow spoke again, "We should mov-."

"Who is this girl." Akechi cut him off, her voice blank and cold, as her clawed gloves dug into her palms and nearly through the glove itself. Fury raged from her Personas. Righteous from Robin, sadistic from Loki.

The Shadow didn't notice the thinly veiled rage. "A sacrifice for the Hero of Shujin, to uphold his moral. Her service is always remembered by our Major."

The words of the King and that cognitive slave came back to her, with what they had mocked the wielder of Captain Kidd.

"We were nothing but an eyesore. The only results that matter are his."

"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."

"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?"

She sneered mentally remembering that moment.

Akechi already had more or less figured what went down between them but this made any further questions unneeded.

Akechi felt a great, unexpected, sense of sympathy and pity for the former athlete. Alongside it came an invigorated fury at that 'Major'. He KNEW of what had been happening at his school but just didn't CARE! She had suspected he may have been simply too incompetent too notice anything that fuelled the creation of Kamoshida's Palace but of course she was too optimistic with that. Her own fault for expecting anything BUT sheer neglect.

Like those orphanage workers when they ignored the mocking and bullying of the other children, or worse joined in by barely hidden disgust.

Black Mask officially decided that Kamoshida was on a one way train to a coma, BEST CASE.

Approval came from the archer and Trickster god. All in due time.

"Have there been more like her?" she eventually asked, already knowing the answer.

"Why of course. A great cause requires great sacrifices."

She didn't say anything else, playing with a mental image of eviscerating certain Shadows and continued to walk with them.

On their way she had seen more pictures like Sakamoto's. One with a girl with blonde pigtails. Another with a girl with black hair and a ponytail. She wondered if Akira was anywhere here as well but chose to not pay anymore attention at the paintings and pictures.

It should be sickening that seeing these things had become something she could (somewhat) ignore. Hadn't their suffering meant something? Shouldn't it burn itself into her mind, never to be forgotten? Wasn't it the least she could do?

They finally reached a door, tall and large enough for three of her to go in side by side. A golden shine came from it, almost inviting.

"The Major awaits you." The Shadows stated once more, moving to the doors sides as guards.

Akechi shrugged and went to enter, pushing open the doors and walking in without hesitation.

The chambers of the Major were as she had expected.

Everything about it screamed decadency at the cost of someone else.

The ground was made of finest carpets, almost as if from a roman palace, the emblem of Shujin emblazed on its centre, in front of a brown mahogany desk of top quality. The room itself was circular with one white wall. On the round wall hang several more paintings. All of Kobayakawa. A few shelves stood out between the constant reminders of narcissism, filled with books about education.

Between two portraits was a trophy case, filled with medals of honours in blue, purple, yellow and green.

And at the desk was Kobayakawa. The shadow himself was dressed in a military garb, pompous and with several medals on his neck. And yet he was still a Major only, not some Lieutenant or General.

On his desk was also an odd thing… some sort of Orb. She didn't pay much attention to it.

Behind the shadow she could see a large panorama window and out of it Akechi could get a glimpse of the courts, were dozens upon cognitions were doing a training routine. She didn't need to see their chambers to know they were spartan in nature, same with any other accommodation.

"Ah Black Mask," Major Kobayakawa greeted her, "I am happy to welcome you-."

"I don't need any formalities Eiji Kobayakawa." Akechi interrupted him, not caring for whatever honey he was trying to smear on her mouth, "I am here for business and business only."

The Major was taken aback, not used to not getting his way, as shadows are prone to do. However, remembering who he was dealing with, he managed to get a hold of himself again. "Of course. I believe your time to be valuable. I do not intend to waste it. I desire your services."

The shadow was overall more bold than the real deal. The obvious fear was still there but much lesser, largely replaced with some sort of respect.

"Good that you cooperate. Wouldn't want things to be messy for your first request." She let the threat hang in the air, making him sit more upright. "Now, I require a few things. Who? What? And why?"

The major took a deep breath. "Very well then. The why first. I wish to guarantee the glory of Camp Shujin. It is in unexpected danger by someone else."

"Oh?" Akechi raised an eyebrow. "Is your priced 'war hero' becoming a security risk?"

Could the principal actually be capable of thinking? Could he have realized that Kamoshidas actions were starting to stand out and harm his students.

Yeah… as if.

"Of course not!" As expected. "The threat comes from a student that tries to order me around and threaten my training of our soldiers."

A deep pit formed in Akechi's stomach at those words. An odd sense of foreboding appearing.

"A… student?" She pushed away the image of a certain silver eyed boy.

"Yes. I know its disgraceful for ME of all people to be ordered around by a student but I simply see no way of dealing with him. That is where the what you demanded comes in. I wish you to make him more inclined to follow my leadership and training."

"…Whoever is that student?" she finally asked.

The shadows entire demeanour changed, to be as disgusted and derogatory as possible. "His name is Akira Kurusu."

The pit had imploded into itself at the mention of that name.

…

…

…

"DAMMIT! I should have known THIS was gonna happen! I said it before and I say it again, that kid is nothing but trouble!"

"Now this is not fair Loki. We don't know the exact specifications of what he did. Besides would whatever Akira have done be so bad in contrast to the Palace we are in right now?"

"That doesn't change the fact that we are now literally hired to hunt him down! And I don't know about you but I am NOT going to cross swords with Satanael, no thank you sir!"

"Oh come now, its not like Akechi will actually… wait… what is-."

The Persona stopped mid-sentence, feeling… a sort of void crawling from within their host. It was a powerful, insidious thing.

Loki could feel it too, having stopped his own talking.

He had felt the rebellious will of his partner many, many times before, the sparks of defiance upon which he had always desired to see her forge her own life.

But this… this was something completely different.

…

…

…

"Miss… Miss Akechi? Are you… are you feeling well?"

"Uhm… Kid? You okay? We can feel you getting… angry?" Both Personas spoke with evident unease.

'Angry' was an understatement.

Thought functions ceased in Akechi's head, overtaken by primal desire to destroykillmaimpunishobliterateslaughterprotectwhatsmine…

…

"Request denied." She said, unmoving.

The Shadows eyes widened, shocked at the refusal. "What?"

"Request. Denied." She repeated again, voice thinner and capable of slicing the air apart around her.

"But… but I don't understand!" the Major asked once more. "I was told I could ask for your services, that you were capable of all kinds of miracles for those seeking your aid! I have done my part, I am more than willing to follow our Captain and you were supposed to-"

A serrated blade dived into the table of the Major, destroying it and splicing it in two. A shriek of fear escaped the Major as not only the action occurred, but red, soulless eyes glared him with enough force to melt his entire Palace.

"REQUEST. DENIED!" She had said again, face leaning towards the Major, to make sure he realized the utter mistake he was doing now.

A moment stretched into many more, each causing Kobayakawa to feel more and more horror. Somehow he found some sort of bravery still, straightening back up. She knew what this was about, the Palace giving the Shadow an unexpected sudden backbone when being shown true denial of their wishes, considering it as a whole was nothing but their control made manifest. "I have ORDERED YOU-"

Idiot.

A chain wrapped itself around the Shadows neck, Gleipnir cutting of the flow of air and holding him up high. His eyes started to bulge as his hand flailed, desperately trying to get a hold of the chain, trying to somehow find some way to lose it or break it for dear life.

There was none.

Black Mask let him grovel some more, relishing in the chokes and cries that reached her hears, engulfed in red flames as if having stepped out of the gates of hell itself.

Then she let him leave… by throwing him out of the window.

The shattering of glass rang in her ears, alongside the pleasant thud of a body hitting the ground. A choir of whines and pathetic screams accompanied it.

Face feral and uncontrolled, Black Mask jumped out of the broken window, landing with much more grace on the dirty camping grounds. The cognitions screamed, stopping their tiring workout to look at their ruler and her in shock.

Some of them advanced towards her…

Last mistake of their life.

"LOKI!"

The Trickster of Norse mythology fully materialized behind her, as she threw herself into combat.

Blades and gunfire worked in tandem like in a dance, as the cries of the enemies accompanied the shouts of her spells in a twisted, oh so delightful symphony.

"BLAZING HELL! ICE AGE! RIOT GUN! MAEIGAON! MEGIDOLAON! LAEVATEINN!"

The raw fury of the elements raged on the Camp. Fire melted to her left, Ice shock froze to her right, kinetic blasts slaughtered at her front and curses damned all behind her to an untimely fate. Raw energy of Almighty origin erased any strugglers from existence.

Demented laughter came from the bringer of ruin towards the poor Shadows made to obey the Palace Ruler, sending chills down any living being unfortunate enough to listen to it.

The Major was such a being, staring in blank horror as Black Mask unleashed hell upon all he had build for him. Inside his territory. Inside where he thought he was SAFE!

Wave after wave ran into battle, just as many trying to flee the spectre of pain. Black Mask was too much, too strong, too fast to counter or even survive.

When the last Shadow feel, Black Mask and Loki stood alone, victorious over the decaying remnants of Shadows and Cognitions. She faintly remembered the 'war hero' entering the battle at some point. It had all become hazy once the rush set in. Though from little parts of her memory that acknowledged him, she remembered being disappointed by his lack of true power.

Silence came over the empty warzone. Akechi enjoyed it, desperately needing the relief of battle, her bloodlust slowly ending, leaving a delightful bliss and the afterglow of adrenaline and shivers down her spine.

Some of a Shadows blood had flown into her mouth, the taste of metal flooding her senses. One of her favourites.

This was who she really was. A KILLER. An Apex Predator unlike any other… with perhaps one possible equal.

It was always there during the Castle infiltration, just beneath the surface, waiting to be released, let out to play and tear and KILL.

She giggled a last time, before taking a deep breath of the air. It was filled with the scent of battle, of tears and sweat and smoke.

A tranquillity washed over her, remembering again WHY she had decided to let the beast out.

Turning back around, her gaze was focused on the true target of her wrath. The pitiful excuse of a Major.

As if he hadn't before already lacked any sort of intimidation factor, now it had been shoot into the negative digits. Eyes were bulging out of his head and mouth open wide with screams that hadn't been let out… yet.

She approached and he reacted the only way he could, crawling away like a fat maggot as fast as he possibly could.

"AAAAAAH!" he screamed as Gleipnir caught his legs. Steadily he was pulled her way, hands clawing at the dirt for some sort of leverage. "NO! PLEASE! I'M SORRY! FORGIVE ME!"

"Can you at least die like a man?"

As if to answer, he only grew to whimper more.

Eventually, as inescapable as fate itself, so was is attempts to flee fruitless. Gleipnir, almost like its own sentient limb, an extension of her rather than just a spell, raised Kobayakawa in the air once more, dangling from his feet and head down, forced to see her in the eyes.

"Have we remembered our place yet?"

"YES! YES! DEAR GOD YES! I'M SORR-!"

She raised one of her clawed hands to make him stop, silencing him instantly.

Akechi took another good look at him, before reclaiming the word.

"Let me make something clear to you Eiji Kobayakawa. You seem to be under the misconception that you are making a demand. You are not. You are making a plea. You are BEGGING me for a favour to give you. I will not do it. I have no obligation to do ANYTHING for the likes of you. The number of people that can truly order me to do something is low and you are NOT one of them. Nor will you ever be. I do not need to explain to you WHY I deny you, all you need to know is that you were denied. Then you could have left this with some shred of dignity. But nooooo, no you just HAD to insist that your ego trumps all. You are no Major, you are no hero, you are no general, you are not even possessing any sort of power. I'd call you cattle that supposed to do their job while fattening up but cattle actually do society a favour. Your more akin to a parasite that USED to be good at fawning to the right hosts that could crush you in an instance, a skill you must have forgotten about the moment you called me."

One of her hands began to stroke his face, claws at the ends of her gloves slightly scratching his skin, causing another sob to come out.

"My patience has its limits and you pushed too far with your demand. Too far. I do NOT need to explain you why. It would be the equivalent of trying to teach a rat philosophy."

Kobayakawa had closed his eyes now, begging to wake from a nightmare presumably.

What a truly miserable display.

She spat on the ground. THIS was the person that just tried to order her into brainwashing AKIRA?

She could feel her eye twitch madly remembering it.

No. This was a matter she would have to eradicate PERSONALLY.

"Transform."

THIS made Kobayakawa open his eyes again, in confusion above all but fear. "W-What?"

"I said TRANSFORM. Go all out. Let your desires consume you in a show of all your distorted power. Or are you the type to have some gimmick like a robot? Whatever it is that shows you at your most powerful, use it NOW."

"N-No PLEASE! I don't want to fight you!"

"It seems you are yet again under another misconception. That was NOT a request."

Gleipnir released him again, the obese Principal falling on the dirty ground head first. He gradually tried to rise to his feet again, coughing and holding his sides. Akechi had used the time to turn around, walk a few steps back and give him some room.

Around 5 meters away, she turned back… Kobayakawa was STILL on the ground. "Come on I am WAITING!"

He at last stood at her insistence, forcing his tired limbs to move and dust of some of the dirt from his garb. "I simply… don't understand why?"

"Because I like to think I am a fair fighter. I HATE it if my enemies hold back or if I don't get to beat them properly in one on one fight."

Kobayakawa stuttered once more. "I…"

Akechi sneered, annoyance and anger once again overtaking her face. Then a thought came to her. "Don't tell me you are one of those summoner types!"

"S-Summo-?"

"SUMMONERS YES! UUGH!" she groaned, "Is ALL you can do summon goons? I HATE THOSE! A Palace Ruler is supposed to be unique and have something different then the same old faceless Shadows I fight everyday! I like myself a Gauntlet every now and then, more bodies to kill, but I JUST had one! I want something proper for a Ruler fight. Don't tell me not even your subconscious has SOME semblance of own power! Do SOMETHING of your own! Become a Monster, enter some sort of war gear! Give me SOMETHING to work with here!"

"Uuuuuuuuuh." Kobayakawa stammered out, eyes rapidly looking around. Oh great he was looking for any sort of back up he WAS a summoner!

There was nothing particularly BAD about it. It was a useful thing to summon back up in form of Shadows loyal to you. Every Palace Ruler was a summoner to SOME degree… but not as your ONLY WAY OF FIGHTING COME ON!

Whatever ounce of respect she could have had for him was pretty much gone, in this world and any other.

She growled to herself, fingers pinching her forehead. "OKAY LOOK! You have TWO choices right now. One: You do nothing and I KILL you right now. Two: You fight for yourself, provide me some entertainment, take this LAST CHANCE to at least SLIGHTLY impress me and if you start throwing ROCKS. Either way the second option will let you LIVE. Your choice Eiji Kobayakawa!"

The threat worked successfully, Kobayakawa palling at her words.

It was a bluff obviously. As easy, INCREDIBLY EASY, it would be to kill that spineless scum she still had her sights on having Shido be the first person she killed with her bare hands. Akechi would spare Kobayakawa, but not without using Call of Chaos on him and doing some… insurance.

But its not like he knew of the lie. It was really just an attempt to get some more enjoyment out of this farce.

She crossed her arms in silent demand, waiting.

Kobayakawa looked at her, her stance not betraying a single hesitation. He swallowed deeply…

And black goo started to form around him.

The substance was growing, inflating his body as the transformation continued over pained screams. He grew further and bigger, his legs started to be overtaken by flesh, his arms being moved by his torso ever expanding. The last remnants of his torn military garb shoot of, replaced with nothing but skin and meat. He grew even further in every direction, beginning to tower over her 5 times over. Some part of his body started to be hollow, holes building in it like a nest out of which Vultures seemingly materialized. Only then did she saw the teeth forming around the holes, the Vultures taking the forms of tongues almost. Some of the scavenging birds circled him even, as if he was their master.

The transformation continued, more mouths forming, more vultures being made, the pigments of his skin turning green and the maws salivating…

Till a gigantic green blob was her opponent, face and limbs tiny in comparison to all the fat, mouths and birds.

So he WAS a transformer. FINALLY! He just needed some pushing it seems.

Akechi grinned, mentally switching to Robin Hood. Let the archer have some fun as well. Wouldn't want it to be over TOO quickly. Lets get as much fun as she could out of him.

"GRRRRROOOOOOO!" The Shadow groaned and roared, preparing himself for battle. Eiji Koba-, no that wasn't his true name anymore, his real name was already on the tip of her tongue from the transformation alone. As if whispered to her by the Palace itself in an attempt of intimidation.

Eiji Macuilcozcacuauhtli Kobayakawa.

Akechi did the same as one of the five Mayan Ahuiateteo, summoning Robin Hood to her side and pointing with her blade at the one who was clearly filled with the sin of gluttony. Just constantly wanting to indulge in praise and reputation and fatten up. This was the core of his Shadow self.

No further words came from either when Akechi charged at her victim.

---

Shiho had really expected today to be an awful, tiring, misery inducing farce of a sports event. Really she had not expected much of the day at all.

Her parents had moved back to Osaka this morning, were probably just now arriving after over 5 hours of driving. Their jobs had forced them to move this far. Though Shiho herself didn't want to move with them, she didn't want to leave Ann.

Which is why she was still in Tokyo, most of the time alone in her flat, except for the rare occasions were her parents would get some time off to spend it with her. Like it was the case the last two days.

Though truth be told, she was less living in her flat and more just living together with Ann at her house at this point. Her girlfriend knew all to well what it was like with two absent parents due to their jobs and it was eventually the reason the two moved together in all but paper. It had also been a lot more comforting to be with her then alone with… everything.

Many times Shiho wondered if something out there was seeing her life as some sort of cruel joke. Volleyball had been her passion ever since she could remember. It used to bring her joy and one day she wanted to play on a professional level…

Enter Kamoshida.

Shiho really couldn't remember when was the last time she enjoyed Volleyball. Nowadays she would prefer just never leaving the house some days and bury herself into some blankets with Ann. Many times she claimed to have a particular nasty period to avoid playing, like today. But still she was more or less stuck with watching.

She had fully expected that today would consist of nothing but ever single person at this school worshipping Kamoshida like some sort of god…

Enter Akira.

Shiho had at first bad feelings when she saw someone try and duel Kamoshida on the field. She had tried that as well once early on and… it didn't end well. Curb stomped and with a blue eye, Kamoshida had all but erased any further attempt at a duel from her part. She had expected it to be the same with Akira…

Boy was she wrong.

What even happened!? She had heard of some, less completely insane, rumours that Akira used to be an athlete but in gymnastics not Volleyball! How did he get THIS good? Good enough to beat Kamoshida like the gold medal winner was some sort of rookie.

Needless to say it was a fresh wind for Shiho and Ann alike. There was something very satisfying about seeing Kamoshida meet his match, even if it by all accounts did not make any logical sense.

So she and Ann had wanted to talk with him in private. They split up to cover more room leading her… here.

Watching Ryuko be… oddly content with Akira.

"Uhm… excuse me?" she asked, feeling somewhat awkward just intruding on them.

Both Ryuko and Akira jolted upwards, as if hit by lightning suddenly, in shock at being seen. Turning around to her.

"Shiho?"

"Yeah. Hey Ryuko." She greeted somewhat emberassed. The faint red on Ryuko's face was implying a similar feeling for the blonde. She turned to the boy between them, "Hey Akira."

"Hey?" Akira more asked then greeted, "What's up Shiho?"

"Well, I wanted to talk with you two that's all. First of… thanks Ryuko for that video."

"Heh… don't worry about it. I send it to Ann and the twins already as well."

"Figures. I know Ann appreciates it. She was holding her stomach afterwards." Shiho stated lightly amused, "By the way Akira, I have to say you have an impressive spike."

The raven rubbed the back of his head, "Uh, thanks. It was really more luck than anything else."

"Well luck or not it was pretty impressive." She crossed her arms in front of her, eyeing him more intently. "Really just how did you get that good?"

Akira only shrugged, "I guess I was just in a good form today."

Shiho still wasn't truly convinced of all of this. Something about him was rising her curiosity as well as her suspicion. She really wanted to find out what was up with him, but talking with him never seemed to get her much. "Anyway… say, our offer is still on the table regarding showing you around? How does today sound? I know a great place for Crepes."

"Oh right that. Sorry but we already have plans."

"We?" Shiho put emphasis on the little word, looking to Ryuko, who all of a sudden found her shoes to be very interesting. "Yeah." She still said, "Were meeting up and you know… talk and stuff."

"Talk and stuff?" she prodded again. The continuous questioning seemed to get a rise out of the blonde, looking back up at her.

"Hey uh Shiho?" Ryuko interrupted with some hesitation, "Not to sound rude but is there anything in particular you wanna talk about?"

Now it was Shiho who wasn't meeting her gaze. "…What are you two doing in regards to Kamoshida?"

The transfer student sighed at that. "Are people still going on about that? Listen what happened two days ago…"

"No its not that." Shiho intervened his explanation. "Its just, a lot of people were talking about how you two talked with them. Ugh… listen just… be careful okay? Causing too much commotion wont end well. And something tells me Kamoshida is having an eye on both of you. I was just warning you. That's all."

"…Well thanks." Ryuko said after a small period of silence. "But don't worry Shiho. We'll be alright."

"Will you?" Shiho kept that question to herself, not wanting to bring up any bad memories of broken limbs.

Before she could say anything further, Ryuko had already grabbed Akira by the arm. "Well its been nice Shiho but we actually gotta get going. Akira do you know of anyone we could still talk with? Someone's name turn up?"

"I think so. Mishima has been mentioned a few times."

"Great then lets visit them!" she said in a surprising hurry, nearly the instant he had finished his sentence. "See ya Shiho." Ryuko have a quick goodbye before practically tearing Akira away from the court and back into the building…

Leaving Shiho alone on the courtyard.

She let out a small, defeated sigh.

Had she pushed to hard? Ryuko had been a bit difficult to talk with ever since… IT happened. Sure they were on good terms and absolutely friends, but that still didn't mean it was easy to talk with her.

And yet… Ryuko was oddly content around that boy she knew for less than a week.

Something must have happened around them. Something much bigger than finding some cat.

… A lot of weird things had happened lately. And NONE made any sense, nor did she really had much of a plan to deal with them. Her head hurt just from trying.

A part of her was starting to believe the weirdness was only going to increase.

---

Akechi looked at the result of the battle. Dead vultures lay around the decaying remnants of Kobayakawa's powered up form. Dark embers and goo flew from his body, as he was gradually returned to his true form.

Eiji Macuilcozcacuauhtli Kobayakawa, one hell of a tongue breaker, had shown some uniqueness in his attempt to defeat her. He had repelled several kinds of attacks, seemingly in a pattern consisting of physical, an element, gun, an element repeat, nothing a Megido spell and -karn spells couldn't deal with. The Vultures had repeatedly attacked in swarms in an attempt to overwhelm her and heal their master through them.

It was over within 15 minutes.

Akechi had been using Robin Hood the entire time.

Akechi wasn't even breathing heavy.

She gave a sigh, SUCH a disappointment. Then again she wasn't exactly expecting much. "Well… at least you TRIED." She offered a semblance of a compliment.

The slain form of the Major, now returned to the frail man in the suit, only gave a small groan.

Akechi shrugged. "Oh well… time to get this over with."

She held out her hand, a chain spouting forth and wrapping around the limb Shadow without any strength left. Gradually the chain pulled back, leaving him covering in front of her. Most of her rage was burnt away by now.

Then she remembered why she was called here to begin with and it all came back in an instant.

Akechi growled and stomped on Eiji Kokayakawa, foot planted right on his bulging neck and applying pressure. A small whine came out, some final plea for forgiveness and mercy.

"Any more words are pointless for you. I don't see any reason to try and come up with any insults for you anymore. However…" her Mask burst away into flames, a blue colour this time rather then the red of before. Loki appeared, having remained oddly silent the whole time.

"I make sure you wont cause me any more problems." And Akira but she kept that for herself.

She already had the commands in her head. The suggestions to instil and the story to spin to Shido should he for some reason find out and/or care about it.

But before that, she wanted to indulge in one small threat still. Not like his Shadow knowing would be of significance anyway. She really only wanted it off her chest.

Akechi leaned down, red eyes starring overwhelmingly into his broken ones. She spoke…

"Do anything towards Akira Kurusu and I tear of your skin and wear it as my newest leatherjacket."

Before the threat could even be processed properly Akechi already rose from the ground once more and gave her final command for this infiltration.

"CALL OF CHAOS!"

---

School had finally neared its end, to Yui's relief. It couldn't have come faster for her.

She more or less dragged her brother, still beat up from the spike, out of the infirmary. Yuuki held an ice pack on his temple, being supported by Yui holding on to his arm as they walked.

Yui HATED this. ALL of it.

She hated Volleyball, how they were only pressured into attending because of how good a sport activity would look on their resume for the future. She hated how this burning garbage fire of a school didn't even offer any sort of orchestra, Kosei had one but NO Yui you can't go there it's not as prestigious as the dog turd called Shujin. If she could have at least played her guitar than she could spend her time here with SOME semblance of positivity.

She hated how Kamoshida was pretty much untouchable. She hated how disturbingly USED herself and seemingly anyone at Campus that knew got to that fact. She hated how she always had to act so down beaten, as if prey hiding from predators.

And most importantly she hated how there were constant bruises on her brother anytime he spent more then a few seconds around Kamoshida. She hated how day after day her brother had been broken bit by bit into behaving like some sort of trained dog, not just by Kamoshida but by every single bully, abuse and taunt thrown his way.

"Are you feeling better yet?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

Yuuki shrugged. "How are you feeling?"

"Meh." She shrugged right back, a painful tweak around her chest area made her supress another grunt.

ANOTHER thing she hated.

If there was one upside to acknowledging ones role as a prey, then it came with the realization itself. With the revelation of what exactly the world around you was made of. Where the dangers were in that lawless microcosm called High School.

And by knowing that, you can at least in some way win. Not win by taking down the predator but by outsmarting them.

She and Yuuki developed her own set of tricks, not unlike how in the animal world prey developed camouflage, enhanced senses or warning signals she assumed. In fact they had more or less brainstormed a while back how to best work around their 'predators'. Another advantage taken from the animal kingdom, cooperation.

Yuuki had taken to fawning as a reliable method. Be of use and 'amusing' to avoid being eaten. Yui had relied on 'camouflage' so to speak. Don't speak unless spoken to or out of reach of 'dangers'. Make herself look small and hide in the background.

Another idea was something she got after learning from birds oddly enough. The males often had prominent and colourful feathers while the females had more subdued colours. Males wanted to impress for finding a mate while the females were more concerned with survival.

As such she decided to make herself… unappealing so to speak.

It had been a pain to tie the bandages around her breasts the first few times but it was undoubtedly effective. She was usually more… well rounded so to speak, at least by a cup size she never measured it though, but if Ryuko was any indication it had been a smart move to do as soon as she noticed they were becoming more 'developed'.

Kamoshida never looked at her for longer then a 3 seconds. She measured THAT. It made the occasional pain in her chest more than worth it.

It was all such a mess. At least today had been going rather well. Kamoshida had cancelled practice this afternoon and stormed out of the school with a broken nose. Losing to the transfer must have really made him furious. One way or another they got a free afternoon. Maybe she could get some more practice for her Guitar in…

"Hey, got a second?" Before she could spend any more time on that thought a familiar blonde called out to them. The twins turned around. Coming face to face with Ryuko and… him.

The same way she had held Yuuki's arm, Ryuko was now holding Akira's, with the difference being that he looked to have been dragged this way instead of supported.

Her eyes fell on his. Something about him made her equal parts suspicious and glad. Anyone that helped her brother was a good one in her book and she couldn't deny that seeing him against Kamoshida had been a BLAST. She may have acted surprised and like a 'proper' referee, but on the inside there was a giddy excitement. An utter joy at seeing Kamoshida be bested for once.

Continuing with the animal allegory, she was certain that Akira was no prey. But he also didn't appear like a predator to her.

Just what kind of person was he?

"Sakamoto? A-And you too Kurusu?" Yuuki stammered out at the end. She couldn't really blame him. He was always more on the easily scared side and helpful or not, the transfer students reputation alone was justification for worry.

But Sakamoto was an entire new bag of worms. Well less new and more… unexpected lets call it that. They were friends on some lose definition of the word but… kind of stopped talking all that much. What was she doing with him? Clinging onto him so tightly-.

And NOW it looked like Ryuko must have noticed she still held on to him because she removed her arms from him.

Oh well…

"What do you two want?" Yui asked their friend and delinquent. "We just wanna chat." Came the immediate reply, followed by a small pause. "…About Kamoshida."

Oh goddammit.

"Its about his 'coaching'." Akira now started as well, "We saw the other members of the team. Are you sure its not just abuse?"

Wow going straight to the point.

"C-Certainly not!" Yuuki 'energetically' protested, barking like a well-trained dog on command and instinct. Though barking dogs don't bite. Something that the delinquent also seemed to notice. "Does it still hurt? The spike I mean."

"It's nothing. That was just because I'm not good at the sport…"

"Is he forcing you to keep qui-."

"That's enough." She intervened, clutching on her brothers arm a bit tighter. "Sorry but we need to get going." Yui hurried them along, with barely hidden pressure.

"Hold up."

Before Ryuko stopped her, clutching to the back of her shirt.

She narrowly supressed the urge to slap her hands away, instead looking her in her eyes. Oh please not again with this.

Ryuko should KNOW that this was pointless. No one was going to say anything and Yui was NOT going to end up with her brother on the chopping block just for all the others to STILL remain silent.

Let's be honest someone could actually DIE on this Campus and no one would give a crap.

Ryuko still insisted on prying, "Listen we got a plan. A way to make him pay."

"Pay?" she questioned half-heartedly.

The blonde only nodded. "We just need to get people to speak up. We already got some and you could really help. Just talk about what he's been doing and we do the rest."

Wow, so there already were people speaking up. People that actually BOTHERED with fighting anymore was more then 2 at best?

What a nice fairy tale.

"Ryuko you're a bad liar."

"What!? NO! I-I mean… alright we don't but as soon as someone starts I know…"

"Its meaningless anyway."

Yui half expected some sort of gasp, but it never came. The former track star did release her shirt though, her tone was more beaten down instead. "Yui its not meaningless. Believe me I thought so too for a while but…"

"NO but." Yui said once more, tone of finality that managed to make Ryuko take a few steps back. "Its meaningless. Proving the abuse wont matter."

"They all know anyway." Yuuki spoke up again, "Either they know or do nothing, or buy into those lies about sport just being hard. They all know and they all keep quiet."

"Are you sure that is the case?" Akira took the word again, "Or is this something HE just made sure you believed so you don't seek out help?"

Yui sighed, "Look Akira, again thanks for helping out back then but… you really don't have any idea what your talking about so just leave us alone." She made sure to sound particularly meek at the end.

And another groan from the girl that was living proof of how utterly pointless it was to fight back, "Yui please. Yuuki?" it sounded too much like pleading for comfort.

"Shouldn't you of all people know that nothing's going to help?"

Ouch. Low blow Yuuki.

Though at least this seemed to succeed in silencing Ryuko, who now gained a new fascination with her shoes.

The twins took this as the right cue for a preys favourite strategy. The most obvious in terms of survival.

Fleeing.

She threw a last look at the raven, who's eyes still held some odd flavour of intensity. "Hey we don't know whatever is going on between you two or what you guys are planning, but please… don't drag us into it. We just wanna get through the next two years and be done with it."

With those words being said, the twins once more held onto one another and went away, pointedly doing their best to ignore the stares by the two 'delinquents' as they walked.

---

"Welp… that didn't work out." Akira noted solemnly.

Not that he had expected anything else. Or really had desired if he was being honest. As frustrating as this whole masquerade centred on preserving Kamoshida's status was, it was convenient to the formation of the Thieves. He was already going to let lose a few Butterflies into this new world and had discovered already enough that weren't caused by him. The slightest bit of consistency of the beginning wasn't unwelcome.

That didn't make the pill to swallow any easier. Or make it more tolerable to see his Moon and his twin this beaten down. Obnoxious and… eventually power hungry Yuuki could be there was no denying the excitement in his voice whenever he talked about delivering Justice and supporting their cause. And he had the deliberate honour of changing his own heart, which in these days were a true testament of character as far as Akira was concerned.

And of course there was Yui. As briefly as the Fool gotten to know her, it didn't change the tightness in his belly to see her be so… surrendered to her fate. Something was telling him there could be so much more beneath that meek façade. Her posture of this morning came back into mind, straight and direct, not this shyness. Maybe she was a slightly more confident version of Yuuki so to speak? Only time will tell.

"You said it. Dammit…" Ryuko relented beneath her breath, still focusing very intently on her shoes, taking him out of his thoughts.

"So… what now?" Akira started again, "We got nothing for Akechi."

"I know." Ryuko groaned, "I guess I could try to persuade the other guys one last time but…" she left the statement unfinished. They both knew there was nothing to be gained there. It still pained him, how she hung her head despite having just yesterday managed to send Millions of Volts through her tormentor.

"Come on lets go. School is ending soon. Lets just… explain to Akechi what we found and then think something up together."

The blonde only nodded, another sigh caught in her throat, as the two left to meet up with the 'Detective'.

---

Goro looked at the two students in front of her with a blank expression. Their meeting place was not a restaurant but a remote alley some streets away from Shujin Academy. It was remote enough for their discussion and for her to not have to worry about any 'fans'.

Akechi herself stood pristine, in a noticeable contrast to Ryuko who was sitting on the ground with back lazily leaned against the wall and Akira sitting on a random trashcan.

Her fingers rubbed her forehead, a sudden migraine forming and most certainly not from overusing any Metaverse powers (hell she could have handled three Kobayakawas).

"Let me just… make sure I understood everything. Okay?"

"Alright." Both Persona users agreed.

"Good. So… to start things of… you…" she looked at Akira, "Are an idiot."

"Moi?" Akira looked offended at that.

"What were you THINKING!?" Akechi shouted in anger, "We JUST found out about how much influence Kamoshida actually has and the first thing you do on a day were his ego is gonna be skyrocketing is to antagonize him even FURTHER?"

Akira opened his mouth to reply, but stopped mid breath looking like a child that got caught stealing cookies. He awkwardly scratched his head, "Okay… yeah I admit this wasn't one of my brightest moments."

"YOU DON'T SAY!?" Akechi told him. The memories of today came back to her. Does he have any idea in how much trouble he could have been if she hadn't stepped in!?

…No. Of course not. Because he doesn't know anything about the Conspiracy.

Akechi swallowed that particular desire for a call out down, instead turning to the blonde. "Why didn't you stop him?"

The blonde, who Akechi had a hard time getting the image of her in soldier attire out of her head, raised her head in defense. "Its not like I didn't try! Its just… I don't know I just wanted to see what would happen? Maybe? I dunno…"

A poor defense.

Exasperated, Akechi held back a sigh, moving the conversation along. Debating that was bound to be pointless, she turned back to Akira. "During that you ended up somehow increasing your own strength and reaction-time thanks to Satanael."

"Loki don't say anything right now." She warned her true self. Akechi was not in the mood for another of Loki's Demon rants.

"…" thankfully the Persona took the hint, remaining silent. Oddly they both remained rather silent ever since the Camp infiltration.

"Yes."

"And after you beat him…"

"Do you want the video as well?"

A brief glare silenced Ryuko just as quickly as she had spoken. Akechi choose to ignore the intrusion… maybe she would ask to see the video later.

"After you beat him, he immediately used his connections to try and get you expelled or somehow punished, something anyone with the slightest sense of foresight could have predicted. But you didn't care for that because it was more important for you to humiliate him."

"Didn't I already admit it wasn't the best idea? I just didn't enjoy watching him stroke his immeasurable ego by leading a team of adults against students. It seemed like a good opportunity to take him down a peck."

Akechi really wanted to further elaborate on that, but within herself… she couldn't bring herself to truly disagree. She had after all a sadistic streak, as she reexperienced today.

But that wasn't something they needed to know and someone needed to reprimand him of being this reckless in regards to their target. "Promise me you keep your 'take down a peck' moments down, okay?"

Akira nodded, somewhat reluctantly.

"Moving on from that…", Akechi continued, "You were able to again use your Persona to… basically Geass Kobayakawa."

"Well not truly. Satanael cleared that up for me. It was only just… lets say pushing some surface thoughts away and planting new ones."

"CAN YOU FLY AS WELL!?"

"…I mean Satanael does have wings."

"I must not strangle him, I must not strangle him, I must not strangle him…"

Even more exasperated then before, Akechi inhaled a large amount of air. "…You have a talent for making me question reality you know that?"

"Really I do?" Akira asked with a faint degree of innocence, just enough to sound taunting, "I caused it and not say the Norse God inside of you? Haven't we already established that our lives have become pretty bizarre since we got that App?"

"At least the App goes by some sort of rules and doesn't allow for Persona usage in the REAL WORLD."

"Hey I am just as surprised as you are about all of this."

Akechi doubted that. The term 'Deus ex machina' was starting to linger on her tongue.

Seriously what else was Akira going to do?

…Though she couldn't deny that this kind of power was VERY tempting to have on her side. All that was really happening was Akira giving yet another silent scream of 'get me on your side now Akechi!'

She REALLY needed to recruit him somehow.

Of course there were other factors to consider. The idea of him being capable of such feats in the real world should be worrying. Strangely enough… it wasn't.

She had learned a lot about Akira in this short time from his actions alone and he wasn't the type to do such things without valid excuse. He had also shown so when he immediately guaranteed he wouldn't use it casually when he started revealing it, even before Ryuko could ask further questions. The blonde seemed to share her belief, considering that all her commentary on the matter was a brief awe followed by wanting him to elaborate.

Akechi had even offered him to use it on her and, as predicted, he refused vehemently. Not just because of the pain but because he wasnt going to use it on them period. Akechi also assumed he had no reason to lie about any of this either. As far as he was concerned they were likely the most trustworthy people on the Planet right now.

And even then… considering it was a very weak version of mental manipulation, Persona based so who knows if it would even work on another Persona user, she didn't worry much about it.

Still… it could be a very valuable asset.

That fact aside… it really was becoming ridiculous what the boy was capable of.

Akechi pinched her nose, "Alright lets just… move on before I see actual wings tearing your shirt apart. I don't have the patience to digest all of that. Most importantly… your research did effectively nothing."

Ryuko took this chance to answer, "Surprisingly people don't believe the resident delinquents are somehow connected to a media star."

Akechi huffed, a part of her expected that but she had to at least give SOME option for the two to consider. "Was that all then?"

"Yeah." Ryuko answered a tad to quickly for Akechi's liking. "Nothing happened other than that. Just Volleyball, Geass and no results."

Mildly suspicious but she would let it slide. Thought creeped through her head. How do they get rid of Kamoshida in the real world? "What if I personally decide to enter Shujin? Maybe then…"

"Its not gonna work Akechi." Akira interrupted her offer before she could even finish. Both girls eyes were now on him, "I know these type of people. They have frankly put, given up. Every single one of them. Even if we COULD somehow get them to believe that there is a way out, getting them to speak up will be the next problem. As far as they are aware anyone who could do something either doesn't care enough or is in on it. Were on our own."

She didn't fail to notice the darker tone of voice that came over Akira.

"Hmmm…" Ryuko grunted, clearly uncomfortable with the fact. Goro couldn't blame her. Chances are she was once much like them, before awakening to the Pirate.

Akechi inhaled air once again. Looks like there was no way around it. "Then what do you suggest we do? I highly doubt you two would throw the towel."

"Oh were not doing that!" Ryuko stood up from the ground, as if the very possibility disgusted her.

"Then its obvious what we gotta do next right?" Akira also left his sitting spot on the trash can. "We need to use the Metaverse."

"You still don't know how it would help." Akechi reminded, a reminder that was just as quickly countered. "But Morgana knows."

This time Akechi didn't bother supressing a sigh. "I assume this means you want to go back to the Castle?"

"It's the only place the cat could be at." Ryuko said. "And its not like we got much of a choice. He DID say that there would be some way."

"True but do you really want to put your trust into him? We don't even know WHAT he is. And given he has not left the Castle, I believe he may at best be some sort of Shadow gone rogue."

"That hasn't stopped us from fighting alongside him. He has been a real help you cant deny that." Akira reasoned.

Help? More like useful body to soak up some damage, but sure lets call it 'help'.

Before that conversation could continue though.

"I finally found you."

A voice interrupted the trio.

Akechi looked around in alarm, back to where they came from. Had she been followed. Was someone spying on them? No that was impossible, besides spies wouldn't announce their presence like that. Overreacting perhaps?

"Did… you guys hear something?" Ryuko asked out loud, only to be met with two nods.

"Down here." The voice came again.

All three Persona user looked down…

Only to see a small black cat, with yellow collar, blue eyes and white fur on paws, tail, maw and ears.

"Took me long enough. I finally found you. Did you HAD to go such a long way from Shujin Academy? I've been searching for hours."

…The… the CAT was TALKING.

…

"WHAT THE HELL!?" Akechi shouted, instinctively stepping back, an action mirrored by the two other Persona users.

The Cat looked surprised if annoyed before talking, nonono this Cat was NOT talking there was no way its mouth could move and WORDS come out this was just imagination or burn out this was NOT A TALKING CAT!

"Wait a sec… that voice. Is that you Morgana!?" Ryuko suggested.

"Your kidding me right!?" was all the commentary Akechi could give.

"The cats talkin'!?" Ryuko suggested again, this time much more disbelieving.

The Cat… Morgana… rolled its eyes and sat on the ground. "Alright I give you all a few seconds to remember that I talked with you already and calm down how about it?"

"You… YOU'RE NOT IN THE CASTLE!" Akechi demanded to know. This thing could LEAVE the Metaverse!? What WAS he!? It couldn't be a Shadow or cognition this much was certain! "And… and whats with your form!?"

"This is just what happens when I go into the real world." Morgana replied way too nonchalantly for a talk about shapeshifting felines.

She didn't know if she could ever look at a Cat the same way again.

"Wait you came to our world!?" Ryuko digested the information loudly, before giving of a sound that was equal parts shock and awe. "Does that mean you've got a phone!?"

"A phone? Ryuko there is no way-" Akechi had to intervene. There was no way this Cat was having a phone!

…This cat… that had a Persona… and could travel worlds… and change form… and could speak…

"-Holy shit the cat has a phone."

Morgana only scoffed at the notion. "Really? A phone? Don't be ridiculous why should a cat use a phone."

Akechi blinked… rapidly… "Y-You just said… THAT is where you draw the line!? That your SPEAKING and go in and out of the Metaverse without a phone is completely normal but you having a PHONE is unrealistic!?"

"I'm a cat. Who am I supposed to call?"

Akechi grasped for every thoughts that was starting to say goodbye and run out of her brain at mach speed. There was no way she was losing this discussion about logic to a CAT! She opened her mouth, over and over, trying to form words that wouldn't come out.

Ryuko, having observed the… if you could call it a discussion… turned to Akira with question marks practically looming over her head. "Your hearing this too right!?"

The raven, who had remained rather silent this whole time but shared his bewildered expression, only looked at Ryuko, then Akechi, then Morgana, then Ryuko again before saying one word.

"…Meow?"

"AKIRA!"

"THIS IS NO TIME TO BE JOKIN AROUND!"

Both girls said in near tandem.

"Meow!" Akira only said a as reply, sounding offended almost.

"FOR EFFS SAKE DUDE!"

"LET ME COPE!"

And this was the part where Akechi's brain decided to take a vacation to follows its true passion of incoherent inwardly screaming.

After roughly… two minutes of it if she were to guess, her head was starting to feel dizzy, she took yet another deep… DEEP breath, clapping her heads together and asked as calmly as possible, "Why can we understand you?"

"Because you are not deaf I guess? You are surprisingly slow for being a Detective."

And the incoherent screaming became VERY TEMPTING once more.

"Not that I mean… considering… you can speak… can one of you help me out here?" Akechi requested sounding beaten.

"Meow. I mean alright."

"Akira so help me I will STRANGLE you if you don't-."

"Okay, okay, geez." Akira held up his hands as if to say 'you win'. Maybe more along the lines of 'I let you win' but she wouldn't push it any further if he would stop with this…

"I think what Akechi is trying to ask is really just why this is all possible in here. In the castle we got pretty used to crazy things, like Knights turning into Angels or something, but… your now out of the castle and… well in the real world cats don't talk." Akira reasoned. A reasoning Morgana looked like he was accepting.

"I get that," Morgana replied, "it doesn't change however that you all already heard me speak. It shouldn't be as surprising as you all behave it was. Particularly Princess over there."

Was it just her imagination or was this cat REALLY good at pissing her off?

Morgana gave a small huff at her lack of a response, indicating to move along. "Tell you what. I explain to you everything about what I am later. First, you were having trouble getting rid of Kamoshida your way didn't you?"

This was what it took for Ryuko to finally speak up again. "Yeah we kinda do. We were just going to go into the castle and look for you actually. You said you knew a way."

The blue eyes of the feline nearly shined with what Akechi could only assume pride. "That is correct. If you are curious I explain it all to you. But first…" the cat looked up at Akira, with almost a pleading look, "I am feeling pretty hungry and I think I deserve a treat for helping you all out so far don't I?"

"Your treat will be that I don't turn you into a pair of boots if you don't move it along." Was what Akechi WANTED to say. Great now they were being extorted by a cat. This was her life now.

Akira on the other hand, played along, seemingly not minding it too much. "I assume Sushi? There is one down the street."

"Correct!" Morgana said with eagerness.

"Conveyer belt only." Akira shoot back, tone teasing.

Morgana sighed in disappointment.

"Great… now I am sympathizing with a cat."

---

The line in front of the Sushi shop was, to Akira's small relief, relatively short. He was in and out in less then 5 minutes.

After bribing the hope of humanity with tuna and other kinds of fish, Morgana proceeded to wipe some stray rice of his maw with his tongue. "Not too bad I guess. Had better though."

"I get you something better if the whole thing with Kamoshida is over how about it?" Akira offered.

"Deal!" Morgana approved, before sitting down on the ground. The girls and him mirrored his action beforehand, all sitting against the wall of some building. "Now… first off lets reiterate what we all know about the Metaverse so far. It makes it better to explain how the whole operation works. So… what have you learned so far my students?"

"I think he might be taking his new role a bit too literal."

"Oh absolutely Arsene. But hey better than the alternative."

Surprisingly, it was his Chariot that answered. "Well… the Metaverse is a world made up of thoughts and stuff. A Palace is something within the Metaverse that is made up of desires that are negative in some way? And the Knights and so on are Shadows which are drawn into the Palace. And Shadow Kamoshida is pretty much Kamoshida without pretending like he is someone else?"

"Correct!" Morgana praised in what appeared to be genuine approval. "You got the hang of it surprisingly fast. Yes this summarizes the making of a Palace. Born from distorted thoughts in a dimension made of thoughts and the human subconscious as a whole. A Palace itself is like taking enough distorted desires, like sins for example, and forming them into an entire sub realm. Compare it to building a house out of playing cards with cards being the desire to harm someone else or abuse someone for example."

"Okay we get that." Akechi pressed along, "but what do you have in mind to use it for?"

"Its simple really," Morgana smirked, "We need to tear that castle down."

Ryuko raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean? We just need to… blast the whole castle apart like a supernatural demolition crew?"

"Not exactly." Morgana corrected, "A Palace is directly connected to the persons true self, their Shadow. As long as the human themselves is alive the Palace will also exist. Even if the palace itself were to be severely damaged it would simply regenerate in up to a day at most. Depending on the severity of the desires it could be even quicker. Think of it like a muscle outside the human body with extreme levels of regeneration."

Akechi chimed in, "Interesting. So what you're saying is that a Palace is essentially an organic extension of the Shadow?"

Morgana scratched one of his ears. "That's one way to look at it. You were after all inside of his mind."

"Not a good place to be in." Ryuko commented, silent agreement from the others following.

"Yeah that true." Morgana loudly agreed before continuing. "While the Palace itself is deeply connected to Kamoshida, he himself doesn't know what happens inside though. Pretty useful for our infiltrations. Would be pretty difficult to explain otherwise wouldn't it? Anyway, as I said they are deeply connected, as such if the Palace disappears it would affect the real Kamoshida very severely. Like cutting of a limb. Again its made out of his desires, it IS his desires. So if the castle would go…" Morgana left the sentence open, with a look asking Akira to complete it.

"…so would his desires as well."

"Precisely." Morgana agreed, "Its really simple at the end of the day."

"Wait a sec," Ryuko interrupted, "Are you saying that when the Palace is gone he is gonna turn good? Just like that!? Would that really be getting back at him though?"

Morgana nodded, with a downright sinister smile on his face. "Erasing a Palace essentially means forcing the owner to have a change of heart. But even though their desires will disappear, the crimes they committed remain. Kamoshida will become unable to bear the weight of his crimes, and he'll confess them himself! Its like infusing him with regret, forcing him to feel the misery of all the pain he caused. Before you can say Captain Kidd, he will be on his way to the next Police station begging them to look him away."

A prominent silence came over the group. Akira used it to take a good luck at the girls. Ryuko's was full with awe as the realization sank in on what it meant. No proof would be needed because Kamoshida would proof it HIMSELF. Her lips curled up all from themselves.

"For real? That's possible!?"

Morgana nodded as a reply, something that Akira didn't pay much attention however, instead focusing on a certain brunette.

As expected, Akechi had once again put up a Mask. But through it, just for a brief moment, Akira could see how the realization hit her as well. Her eyes widened just as quickly as they turned (she forced them too) back to normal. "Y-You mean he will regret all of it. Genuinely. Just like that?"

Akira couldn't help but wonder what all was going through her head right now. The reveal of changing hearts had to be a big one for her, who simply went around fighting shadows and Call of Chaosing everything in sight.

"Jupp. And since the Palace will no longer exist no one will ever know what we did there as well. Not only does it bring Kamoshida down but any trace of our involvement will be gone."

The blonde gave a heartfelt laugh at a solution that sounded so simple on paper. "That's amazing!" she reached down to him, crawling behind his ears, making Morgana purr in response. "You're one incredible cat!"

"True. I supposed that is an adequate… oh yes right there, there is good. Mrooooow." Morgana interrupted his boasting with even louder purring at the pats and rubs.

"But-But hang on a minute." Akechi interrupted, as such making Ryuko stop her petting, to Morganas disappointment it seemed. For claiming not to be a cat his Magician had really enjoyed getting scratches and the like. "You just said the Palace could regenerate. How do we even make it disappear?"

It appears that the shock had been replaced with curiosity, at least partially.

"Also true but I know a way around it." Morgana replied, "By stealing the Treasure."

"Treasure?" Akira now pushed, moving the conversation along.

"A Treasure is the very root of a Palace. Its foundation and all that it is manifest into one Object. It is something that exits in the real world and is of strong importance to the Palace ruler, being somehow connected to their desires. For a European castle I assume it to be a Crown that is in truth a Metaverse copy of something that Kamoshida treasures in reality. Similar to how a seed eventually caused a tree to grow, the Treasure is the Palaces seed with the difference that it is still there. You could say its responsible for the Palace restoring itself even, or if we go with the 'living Palace' theory that it's the 'Heart' of the realm. By stealing it and bringing it out of the Metaverse into the real world, the Palace crumbles."

"Like a self destruct button being pressed?" Ryuko commented.

Morgana shrugged at that. "That's also a way of putting it. If you want to do it, I gladly teach you about the process. What do you say?"

The blonde looked at him, "Our lucks running dry looking for witnesses. We don't have much of a choice but to go with this I guess."

"True." Came his own reply.

"Hang on a minute." Akechi interrupted, "This all sounds WAY too easy. There has got to be a catch to all of this."

This now made everyone look back at Mona, questions written on their faces. "Well there is one more thing I should tell you."

"So," Akechi pushed further a little too eager, "Spill it cat."

If Morgana was insulted by the rude demand he had a good way of not showing it. "Its really nothing other than the logical conclusion of what we already discussed. When we erase a Palace, there is no doubt that the distorted desires will be erased as well. However desires are what we all need in order to survive."

"What are you getting at?" Akira asked with raised eyebrow, acting curious.

"Not all desires are bad. The will to sleep, eat, fall in love – those kinds of things. If all these yearnings were to vanish, they'd be no different from someone who has shut down entirely. They… may even die if they're not given proper care."

A gasp escaped Ryuko at the prospect. Surprisingly none of Akechi who instead looked… oddly in thought. "Die!?" Ryuko shouted shocked.

Morgana took the word immediately after. "Listen to everything I have to say first please."

"Would their death be our fault? I mean… I hate Kamoshida but I'm not a murderer." Ryuko argued, the joy of an easy solution already gone from her mind.

"You wont be." Morgana assured, "While it is true that there is a risk, that risk is only there if the Shadow himself is killed. If we do everything correctly, only taking the treasure and leaving the shadow alive, the person will survive as well. At most they might be ridden with guilt and consider suicide because of that guilt but we wont kill them."

"But still…" Ryuko started, but something still her tongue before she could continue. His Chariot turned to him. "What do you think?"

Akira didn't need a second to think about it. "When are we starting?"

Ryuko looked at him with shock, "For real? Dude…"

Akira sighed, maybe he should give some more explanation. "Don't get me wrong I abhor killing. Its not something I want to do or would condone so easily. But… lets face it the world would be better off without certain people."

The amount of names that he had entered into the App and were now in his head was more than enough proof.

Ryuko stuttered hesitant. "Well yeah I don't deny that. But do you really wanna be a killer? Even if its only a risk that doesn't change the fact that we would be responsible for killing someone."

"Wrong we would be responsible for killing KAMOSHIDA. I don't know about you but his death is a risk I am MORE than willing to take."

The blonde was silent, her head unravelling what he had just said.

"Perhaps a bit too harshly Trickster?" Orpheus suggested.

She wasn't wrong. He bit his cheek. Well… onto the clarification. Akira took a deep breath, "I am not saying we should kill him, again I DO NOT enjoy the prospect, but consider the alternatives. We have no other option of getting rid of him because the students wont speak up and the school is backing him and with everyday he roams free we allow him to hurt someone else. What if someone were to also get their leg broken in the next few days? Ever heard of the crime of inaction? I don't know about you but I would feel as if it was my fault. The point is we have a way of taking him down for good and, if we follow the rules, wont kill him. We owe it to anyone who ever suffered because of him to try this."

He could practically see how his words were being dissected and taken apart in the blondes head. She looked very unsure all of a sudden.

Akira remembered back when he had first listened to it. He HAD been hesitant as well. Murder was always something he was uncomfortable about, but that was the great thing about a change of heart. It was a non-lethal, permanent way of getting rid of someone. It was as if someone designed it specifically for him to use.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see Morgana walking over to Ryuko and putting a paw on her leg, making her look at him. "I PROMISE this will work out. As long as we follow the rules, NO ONE will murder anyone." He reassured her softly.

Ryuko closed her eyes, ringing with herself. Akira could only imagine what was going through her head now. Her awakening? Her broken leg? Makoto perhaps even?

Whatever it was that had been running through her mind, it ended with her opening her eyes and Akira coming face to face with the fierce eyes of Skull. "Alright I'm in."

"You sure?" Akira asked to be certain. Ryuko nodded, "Yes. That bastard needs to be gone and…" she looked down at Mona, "if you promise me that we wont kill him then I don't see why we should even wait."

Morgana smiled cheerfully, obvious joy at the trust thrown his way. Akira himself felt it too, as if the bond between Magician and Chariot had somehow been reformed. It was truly much better than their behaviour to one another last time.

This was it. The first formation of the Phantom Thieves. While they would be officially created during the buffet, this was were the first sparks of rebellion were truly gathering together, one day form the fire that would burn down a false god.

But… there were more then three sparks present now weren't they? He had yet to hear Akechi's reaction to all this. "Akechi? What do you say? You've been pretty quiet."

Both cat and girl followed his example, all looking at Akechi. She remained silent, in deep thought for all this time it seemed. She then spoke up, "Are you two truly grasping what Morgana is asking us to do?"

"I… think so?" Ryuko answered with a small pause. Akira was curious, what was Akechi going to bring up. He worded as much, "Do you have anything in your mind?"

"Oh its simple," Akechi's expression was frozen and stern, completely calculated and logical and without the slightest bit of emotion, "I think you are a bit to quickly agreeing to take away someone's free will."

Oh… that…

Of course it would come from his antithesis.

It was enough to make Ryuko pale once more. "His free will? But we just take away his desires?"

"With the risk of all his desires." Akechi noted, before elaborating on her opinion. "What Morgana is essentially asking us to do is a lobotomy. We would be directly manipulating, twisting and erasing Kamoshida's personality and mind. His free will as a person, an essential human right, would be gone and replaced with an apathetic broken shell."

Her words weighed heavily on the three, on Akira in particular. While this sounded odd coming from her, who went around twisting peoples psyche as a job, she was not exactly wrong. The targets of the Phantom Thieves did all go apathetic… but that didn't mean it wasn't benefiting society!

"They would only be in this state because of their own grief." Morgana tried to argue. "We are only making sure they finally feel some empathy in their life and regret with the appropriate horror at what they have done."

"But is the means to do so justified?" Akechi shoot back. "It is undoubtedly that Kamoshida is a stain on society that needs to be stopped, but we already have institutions to do that. The law, prisons and so on."

"But the law failed Akechi." Akira reminded her, taking the reigns in the discussion. He felt like this was a thing between him and Akechi to talk out. "The law isn't perfect. It has done a lot of good I am not denying that and we need it to some degree, but it HAS failed in stopping Kamoshida and failed who knows how many times before and will again."

Akechi looked thoughtful once more, but didn't need much time for a reply. "I agree with you there but… have you ever read 1984?"

Akira grimaced. "You mean the book that gave me week long nightmares? Yes."

"And please do NOT compare us to Big Brother thank you very much!"

When there was one thing he did NOT want to be compared to it was that book. The Phantom Thieves enacted justice. Big Brother was a nightmare made manifest from an heartless authority. Some of his best dreams involved paying Oceania a visit and cleaning that place up.

Though… the comparison didn't help when one remembers Yaldabaoth, who like Big Brother scooped up all the broken shells that remained through the horrors of the book.

It was all but immediately crushed by reason.

The Phantom Thieves were never not rebels, it was just that no one told them about a false god imprisoning everyone that didn't have the will to rebel! The scope of their mission changed, from taking down criminals to crushing a cup, but never their ideals! They NEVER did not fight for the freedom of the innocent to be released from Tyrants… no matter what form they came in.

It didn't stop Akechi though.

"Then you should understand my argument. What is done to those that act out is completely over the top and cruel. The individuality is erased and-"

"By a deranged organization that only cares about staying in power, not by people that genuinely want to do good. And besides Winston did NOT deserve his fate, but are you arguing him and Kamoshida are comparable?" Akira interrupted, something that must have hit quite deep because Akechi stopped once more for several seconds, before coming up with a counter.

"As a person? No. But as a human being?" she left the question open.

Akira was now the one in thought. Yes, a change of heart was brutal thing, but they didn't feel any suffering they hadn't brought upon themselves. A high school bully would never feel the same weight as say Shido. It was proportional to the crime and not overboard.

But the problems with using brainwashing wasnt lost on him. He found a way to justify it however.

"Akechi." Akira started, with a deep breath, voice clear and not shaking a bit, "I completely agree that humans should all be free… however… some do not deserve it."

The brunette seemed intrigued. "Care to elaborate?"

"You said yourself that we have institutions to handle people like Kamoshida. However what does a Prison do really? It takes away someones freedom. It is a punishment that they, if the law does their job correctly, deserve and is probably the most accepted punishment in the world. And yet it takes away someones freedom. All we do is the same but in a different scale."

But NOT EVERY HUMAN ALIVE deserved to be in the prison of regression. The Phantom Thieves were liberators more than they were jailers.

"The way I see it freedom is both a right and a privilege. It is a right every human should have and the most precious privilege we could possibly have. But the freedom of one human ends where the freedom of another begins. If someone were to abuse their own right for freedom to take away someone else's right… they don't deserve it to begin with. Kamoshida has taken away the freedom of the students. He is holding their future in his hands, denies them the freedom of NOT being in fear, of NOT being bruised and beaten, of NOT having a good education and youth. Those that don't value free will, merely see it as a tool to abuse its power… should be stripped of it."

Satanael pulsed inside of Akira pleasantly. "Well said young Rebel. My gift is to be cherished, not taken. Those that bind others in the chains of Tyranny should be bound themselves."

His words did not just affect his true self. Akechi, Ryuko and even Morgana all looked at him interest, and in the former two cases with what he almost thought was awe. Notable Akechi herself seemed to be silenced, instead looking at him as if she just reached a revelation about his person.

"Uhm…" Ryuko finally said something to break the silence, it looked like he left an even bigger impression on her then on Akechi. "I just wanna say I NEVER read that book and am kinda lost between you two but… you make some pretty good points. Again… I am with you two. Kamoshida should rot in prison, what difference does it make how he feels about himself. As long as he pays I am on board."

With Ryuko having aligned herself, all eyes were enow on Akechi, who seemed as if she was having an internal debate. Whatever was going through her head, Akira was more than curious to know.

"Morgana I have three questions if you don't mind answering them." She finally said.

"Sure?" Morgana confirmed with light hesitation. "What are they?"

"I just say them all at once. One: What are you really? And don't tell me you're a cat because your clearly no ordinary street cat. Two: How do you know all of that about Palaces and the Metaverse and Three: have you ever done an infiltration, changed a heart or met other Persona users?"

Those were all rather good questions, ones that he and Morgana had predicted Akechi may want to ask. Fortunately they had been prepared.

Morgana cleared his throat, reminding himself of their plan to approach this. "I think it would be for the best to answer them in reverse order. To start, I didn't do an infiltration so far I admit that and I also didn't meet any other Persona users other then you guys."

It technically wasn't a lie. In the current year he really only met them and hasn't so far done a change of heart.

"What!?" Ryuko shrieked in disbelief. "You NEVER did that before? Then how do you even know it will work!?"

Morgana spoke again, "I am getting to that now. I know it because… well I just do." Morgana tried to explain. "Have you ever learned how to breathe or do you remember how you learned to eat and drink? Its kind of the same for me. I have known for as long as I remember. It is part of who I am."

"How am I supposed to understand that?" Akechi pushed further. "How can knowing how to change someones heart be part of who you are?"

"It does sound strange doesn't it?" Morgana wondered with her. "But maybe you understand once you know what I am."

As if to announce it to the world, Morgana walked in front of all three, jumping on top of a trashcan and looking at all of them as wise as he could. "What a show off."

"You are one to judge." Satanael joked.

Morgana stretched his body, sitting straight and with a smile. "My name is Morgana. I am a Thief, Gentleman and wielder of Mercurius. But above it all… I am the embodiment of humanities hope."

---

"My name is Morgana. I am a Thief, Gentleman and wielder of Mercurius. But above it all… I am the embodiment of humanities hope." Morgana announced with pride overflowing.

It felt so good to finally be able to say it. To know WHO he was. His amnesia has caused him no small amount of misery, which led to him causing no small amount of damage to his friends (sorry Skull).

But now he would never have to wonder about it again. He could take pride in his identity. Yes, even in having the body of a cat… to some degree.

There was a prominent silence as the trio looked at them, yes even from Black Mask. Of course that was to be expected. It was likely sheer awe that took their voices away.

"PWAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" till Akechi started laughing.

Morgana blinked, taken out of his moment. "Whats so funny?" he demanded to know.

Akechi could only vaguely get a hold of herself, choking her reply through barely restrained giggling. "You… you mean to tell me.. that you are the embodiment of HOPE? BWAHAHA!"

Morgana was dumbfounded and more then irritated. "But-But its TRUE!"

"Yeah sure and I am the Queen of the Moon."

"Y-You PERRA!"

"She really is NOT making it easy to accept her is she?"

Morgana agreed wholeheartedly. Screw irritated he was pissed! "You wanted my answer! You wanted to know who I am and now that you have it all you can do is LAUGH!? Seriously!?"

The traitor only wiped her tears away, gradually getting off her high. "Always good to start with a joke. Okay now, you were gonna say?"

Morgana only glared daggers at Akechi, repeating once more as serious as possible, "I am the embodiment of humanities hope."

This only caused her to giggle again for some seconds. "Okay its getting weaker the second time. You can be serious now."

Every part of Morganas body twitched violently, the idea of clawing akechi's eyes out was sounding VERY appealing right about now. He jumped of the trashcan onto akechi's lap, looking her in the eyes as he repeated, "I! AM! THE! EMBODIMENT! OF! HUMANITIES! HOPE!" he shouted as loud as his lungs could.

Third time the charm it appeared, as Akechi finally stopped all her laughing, now instead blankly staring at the cat on her lap. "…Oh god your being serious."

"OF COURSE I AM! WHY WOULD I LIE ABOUT THAT! AAAAAAAAAAGH!" he jumped of her lap, into Ryuko's, face turned away. Some soft hands decided to rub some of his frustration away. "Oh great job Akechi now you hurt his feelings."

"What? Oh come on were we really supposed to take him seriously? I mean… come on how is this even possible?"

"Akechi I don't think we have the luxury of doubting what is and isn't possible anymore." Akira explained to her, now joining Ryuko's hands in their massage.

Morgana could hear a sigh from behind him. "…I hate to say it but your not wrong. But… really? Humanities hope takes the form of a cat? Hell it CAN make a cat?"

"I didn't ask to be born Princess!" Morgana shouted back over his shoulder.

Now a groan came from behind him. "Your gonna be salty about this from now on?"

"Yes."

"Akechi just apologize please?" Akira spoke up.

Yet another groan. "Alright alright… I am sorry. Its just… come on even for the circumstances what you say is pretty far out there."

"Well it IS still the truth."

"Okay Morgana just ignore Akechi for now." Ryuko intervened. He really needed to get used to this new Skull. "You gotta admit that this is bringing a lot more questions don't ya? I mean… how were you even created."

Now Morgana was the one did the sighing. "I… I don't know. Do you remember the moment you were born? What I do know however is…"

He jumped of the track runners lap, now looking once more at the trio, making a conscious effort to ignore a certain someone. "I am not that old. Honestly maybe a few years at most. Speaking in time only. I am not a child you know? That aside, I think I know now why I was born."

"And what for?" Akira asked, playing along with their act.

Morgana smiled now once more, gently. "For all of you."

"Huh?" all three said at once. Morgana proceeded to leap into Akira's lap, making himself comfortable on his best friends and leaders legs. "I was made with the knowledge of who I am and the power of Persona. Who made me… I don't know", he lied on that part but revealing Igor now wasn't going to be a good idea. "But I believe it was the masses."

"What masses? Humanity?" Akira fake asked again.

"Yes." Morgana nodded, "I mean this is a theory but… I think the subconscious made me as a response to the world we live in. I mean look around, Palaces are the proof of how distorted society has become and Kamoshida isn't the only one. That's not even going into the mental shutdowns and various accidents." He couldn't resist placing a small shot at a certain Crow. "I was created as a countermeasure against exactly that. To rally troops against the distortion in mans hearts you could say. And now… I came across some very promising Persona users. I don't know about you but this sounds like fate to me!"

Now the silence returned, it seems everyone was letting his words sink in, even the traitor.

Eventually though, voice returned, from no other than Akechi as well. "Rally for what?" she sounded a lot more serious this time. Good.

He only smirked at her. "To rally a group of Phantom Thieves of course."

The humans looked at each other, then back at him. "Thieves? Us?" Ryuko wondered at the notion.

"Yep." He told the blonde. "I assure you I KNOW my method will work. I know it because I am born with it. I was born to find people with potential and turn them into Thieves who would steal distorted Hearts. The Phantom Thieves of Hearts and I want all of you to join me, starting with Kamoshida."

Ryuko let a hand wander through her hair. "Wow… okay that is… a lot your throwing at us right now."

"I know. Tell you what, I already told you how we can get rid of Kamoshida and you two," he pointed at Akira and Ryuko, "already agreed to it. If none of you want to this can be a one time thing only, just to take him down. Afterwards… we'll see."

"Okay I guess." Ryuko replied, small hesitation evident. She turned back to Akechi. "So… your in or not?"

The brunette sighed once again, hopefully for the last time because Morgana was starting to think it was obnoxious. "The embodiment of hope. What a crazy notion."

"Starting that again Detective?" Akira spoke up for him.

Akechi shook her head to 'reassure' everyone. "No. No I wont. I just… need to get used to the idea first. Anyway I decided… I am going with all of you. But my decision didn't came from ethics or the suggestion coming from hope itself. I cant just leave you guys to charge in there and get yourself killed after all." She mocked with what seemed to be joking intend but was hard to register as such for Morgana.

"BUT…" she stopped before anyone else could say anything, "before we go back in the Palace please give me 2 days of thinking about another way, starting today. If I cant come up with anything we do what you three want. Sounds good?"

2 days. Tomorrow would technically be the day they were supposed to have this talk and the day after would have been… Shiho, so it technically wouldn't change at what days they go into the Metaverse.

Morgana was still not okay with listening to Akechi's suggestion to begin with. Akira seemed to be however, same with Ryuko, both nodding.

"Its settled then." Akira told them all with a smile, before eyeing him with a questioning look. "Say Morgana… do you have a place to stay at actually?"

"That's something I was just about to bring up. I need some accommodations."

Akira shrugged, opening his bad and putting it next to him. "Alright then hop in. You can crash at my place."

He nodded, leaping into the bag that had by now become his camper of sorts. "Excellent. Don't worry I make it worth your while."

The raven playfully rolled his eyes, "Sure you will."

"I am serious. I am a cat of my word."

"Alright well…" Ryuko stood up now, "How about we meet up again some other day? I promised my mom I do some shopping before turning home so I gotta go."

"Sure why not." Akechi rose as well, stretching her legs a bit. "I am beat anyway. Had a long day at work."

What kind of work Morgana wondered to himself, but that thought was put aside as they all said their goodbyes.

It worked a lot better then the last time, everyone already agreeing to the operation since the first real meeting. This had to be a good sign right?

Either way… as Akira and himself parted ways with both girls he couldn't help but feel comfortable. Now he could also introduce himself to Boss officially, properly enter his home. As sad as it may sound, he really did miss that attic.

And tonight… it was time to visit a certain Tomb.

---

In his office as Headmaster of Shujin Academy, Kobayakawa had remained ever since the call was disconnected. An unease had overcome him, a tightness in his chest that almost mirrored a heart attack.

The sun was starting to set, every teacher and student had already left his school, except for him, the only soul left.

Eiji wasn't sure why but some primal part of himself screamed at him to not leave the school until he had a reply from Black Mask. A survival instinct perhaps? Was he running the risk of running into him if he left the school? How much did he know about Kobayakawa?

So many thoughts were in his head. He had spent more time then he liked wiping away the sweat on his forehead. He had tried to block out the stress with some more sake but it wasn't working as well as he had hoped.

How was he even going to get a reply? Surely not in person, it had to only be over the phone.

Eiji eyed the phone once more, it had never even so much as let out a single ping.

"Why was he taking so long?" Kobayakawa wondered out loud. As he was just about to pour himself another drink, not worrying about any drunkenness he was always able to hold his liquor…

He gasped, the bottle falling on the ground and shattering into dozens of shards drenched with alcohol.

"Hnnnng! GGGGGGAAA!" Kobayakawa clutched his heart, a painful throbbing and aching coursing through his body. This… didn't feel like a heart attack! It was as if he could feel something being shoved into him, as if his brain and heart were being impaled with spikes.

His vision faded, dread consuming him as all went black, his eyes becoming oddly wet.

…

…

…

The Moon stood in the night sky of Tokyo when Kobayakawa finally came back to his senses.

He groaned as he forced his recently collapsed body ack on the chair. He had crashed right into the ground, his clothes stinking with alcohol as if he was some homeless person.

With deep breaths he leaned back into the chair, trying to get his bearings. Why had he passed out? Out of panic? He didn't understa-.

It was then that Kobayakawa noticed that there was a note in front of him.

Curiosity peaked him. He… was certain that his table had been empty. He had taken the time to clean up to pass the time. Why was there another paper?

He let his eyes wander over the small note… and palled as he realized it was HIS writing.

Fear and panic possessed Kobayakawa as he stared till the morning sun came over Tokyo at the note HE had written.

'REQUEST DENIED!'

---

Fair warning people, Yandere Akechi is here to stay and she does NOT like someone threatening her man. As a certain Principal found out just now.

But wow it feels great to finally get another chapter out. This one has been in development hell for so long…

Alright lets get into all that happened. A large portion of this chapter was dedicated to Akechi's 'normal day at work'. It was a way to show more of her character and something I was really eager to get into. There is a pretty big contrast to Akechi going solo and the Thieves grouping up and I wanted to show that as well as how the inner workings around making a request to Akechi are.

It is much easier then a PT Infiltration for the main reasons that the target WANTS to meet up with her.

And fun fact. I decided to give Kobayakawa a first name. It's the same one as his Japanese voice actor: Keiji Hirai. You know whats funny? Keiji means 'Lead cautiously' or 'Govern with discretion' from the sources I found. In a way its ironic considering that Kobayakawa is not exactly cautious in his investigations into the Thieves in game, given that he gives this important task to a student. Nor is he discret or even leads or governs Shujin with Kamoshida running around.

I don't know about you but I thought that was a pretty cool coincidence.

Regarding Kobayakawas Palace I had a lot more fun thinking it up then I expected it to be.

If anyone is wondering what his Treasure would be, I thought it would be something that fit with a military camp. What is there really worthy of value there aside from the soldiers, for whom the 'major' doesn't care for? Well a military base may have accomplishments of someone, but I don't think just another medal would fit for a treasure really. So I thought maybe a weapon.

I believe as much as Kobayakawa is dependant on kamoshida and Shido, and as much as he cares about reputation, the true centre of his distortion would be his ONLY means of actually getting something done.

If materialized the treasure would likely appear as an old military phone. One which can be used to call in an Air strike or similar. Something that Kobayakawa kinda did actually with trying to request Black Mask. Either that or maybe a Megaphone/Microphone to order his students around like Kobayakawa did in canon with Makoto. I the real world maybe an article about a new principal at Shujin academy with Kobayakawa on the picture.

Not that it really matters in the end. Akechi didn't care and neither should we really.

Speaking of the medals actually, the ones I used for the trophy case were blue, purple, yellow and green for a reason. These are four of the colours used for Japanese medals of honour and they all have a meaning.

Green Ribbon-to morally remarkable individuals who have actively taken part in serving society

Yellow Ribbon-to individuals who, through their diligence and perseverance, became public role models

Purple Ribbon-to individuals who have contributed to academic and artistic developments, improvements and accomplishments

Blue Ribbon-to individuals who have made prosperous efforts in the areas of public welfare and education

Given that Kobayakawa is an educator, I feel that his Shadow may believe himself entitled for these achievements in particular.

There is also a reason he is major but I already stated that in the story. The principal KNOWS he is a small, small fish in the conspiracy. He still thinks however he has some influence and at Shujin he is like a Shark in an Aquarium, surrounded by even smaller fish to feats on, ignoring the wide ocean were he gets eaten in seconds.

In the Japanese military the nine ranks of Officer are:

1 General or Army General

2 Lieutenant general or Divisional General

3 Major General or Brigade General

4 Colonel

5 Lieutenant Colonel

6 Major

7 Captain

8 First Lieutenant

9 Second Lieutenant

Kobayakawas 'boss' fight made me really scratch my head. Considering its his Shadow self that Akechi would face, what really summed up Kobayakawa?

Well its consumption, the prime staple of Gluttony. However in contrast to Kaneshiro its not of money but of immaterial things. Of reputation, fame, prestige etc. That gets rid of his sin but the fight?

Well that was a bit difficult. I couldn't suddenly make him some muscular guy because… well there is nothing that could imply such a shadow. He doesn't ever do anything himself, not even at Shujin, nor does he have any direct power.

Then I thought about making him a Okumura like Boss. It would fit him. It also allowed me to take a small shot at how everyone seems to despise the Okumura fight. I personally always kinda liked it (I'm a fan of Boss rushes what can I say?) but I get the argument, as I had Akechi already point out as well. And she has gained bloodlust after 2 years of Shadow battle, she wants something more… EXCITING from a Palace Ruler.

Eventually I just decided, 'screw it lets go with the obvious'… after Akechi more or less terrified him into powering up.

So we have a giant blob Kobayakawa. I mean… he KNOWS he is obese and its already established he is lazy. His true self would just be a sign of his gluttony. I imagine hadn't Akechi already slaughtered everyone in the Palace, he would have gotten Buffs or healing from the cheers of his 'soldiers' and had Kamoshida as a bodyguard of sorts. Also a lot of repels and the Vultures attacking for small drain damage.

Not that it really mattered in the end.

There is also the fact that the fight would never be a 'fight'. I mean… this is Akechi. This chick is a one woman army. NOTHING Kobayakawa had could have even so much as slowed her down, especially not when he was dumb enough to threaten the ONE person Akechi gives a shit about right now.

Also your probably wondering about the tongue breaker that was Kobayakawas Shadow name. Considering that all Palace Rulers had one, I also needed to come up with some sort of god or demon or something that I could shove into his name, like with Suguru Asmodeus Kamoshida. I'll explain, given that the sin of his ended up being gluttony I needed a god of gluttony but well I couldn't use Beelzebub.

In the end I had some help from Winxpossible (thanks for that :)). She gave me the name of an Aztec God of Gluttony. Given that the Aztecs are known for blood sacrifices and Kobayakawa is essentially sacrificing his students, it felt like a good fit for me.

Macuilcozcacuauhtli is one of the five Ahuiateteo, a group of five Aztec gods of excess and pleasure. They also represented the dangers that come along with these.

It may look like I go overboard with the Palace and its surroundings, but given how much hidden symbolism is at every corner of a Palace I really wanted to dig deep into what might be for symbolism in Kobayakawas palace, it wouldn't be right to do anything else for P5. Also… I am just the type to enjoy writing out every detail :P

Though I didn't enjoy the whole section about akechi finding pictures of Ryuko and co. It felt necessary to write about given that Kobayakawa cover shim up but man if it didn't make writing him being stomped all the more satisfying.

Back on Akechi… you probably noticed that Loki is a bit more powered up. Blazing Hell, Ice age and so on.

Well that's because it made sense to me, after years of combat Loki SHOULD be OP. Even if the game only gave Loki Maragion (weird to have a medium skill in a late game boss fight) I wanted to rectify it and amped up his power by about 10. Besides its not like there really is a limit to a personas skill set, at least I don't think so. Its more a case of gameplay influencing things and as thus limitations. Or how do you explain Akechi having all these skills in a Boss fight but being so limited once we play as him? Its just to give the player a challenge by not having 50 skills on one Persona.

That aside… some may be wondering about Ice Age. Well that's because apparently Akechi has Ice Boost as a passive in his boss fight. Weird right? He never uses an Ice skill. But then I remembered Arsenes Ice weakness. Maybe it was early development planned to give Loki a secret weapon against Arsene. And oh well thats why were here now.

Your also all probably wondering how I the world Akira managed to BEAT that Monster. I get to that some day. I have TONS of ideas for that fight :). Its bound to end up a long one.

Back to the others we had Ryuko confronting Makoto. Something you all made very clear you were eager to see and something that was pretty difficult to write honestly for various reasons.

Also I am curious how you all think about Ryuko now. Makoto acting like a bitch or not, some of the things Ryuko said were seriously low blows. She knows that it was as well but didn't care in the moment, she even had some guilt but it was just overshadowed by all the pent up rage. What do you all think, justified or too far? I intend to show how this affected Makoto actually, which will probably lead to some more reveals about what Makoto is like in this story.

Speaking of Makoto… I knew I HAD to do damage control. After the last chapter you were all pretty damn clear with your opinions on her. Not unjustified but I was still pretty taken aback by the severity of it. I even had someone message me wondering if Makoto should even join the Thieves again.

Honestly I cant help but feel like I did my job right, that WAS the response I wanted to get. Disappointment at Makotos actions but it got a hella lot harder then I predicted.

Which leads us to another flashback. One that allowed us all to see the REAL Makoto again.

This is who Makoto really is. Caring, stern and a reliable ally, even to a leader who has a massive complex about putting others before himself and who also just got out of literal torture for days and feels lie he has to act tough all the time.

It was actually inspired by a fanmade Comic I read once, where Akira had a freak out and Makoto comforted him. There is a video on it on Youtube.

It felt good to write her like that again and meant to remind us all of the good person Makoto really is and will be again. The relationship with her and Akira was a bit more complicated in this AU then it was in canon. I likely make a Round One chapter about it some day. Either way they ended up very close and Makoto even being one of the few people that could actually get Akira to let himself be comforted.

Speaking of Akira and his ex… I have some words for that.

Again I highly recommend for anyone who didn't play the third semester of Royal or hasn't watched it yet to take a quick break of the story and do so. As it will go on and a certain character introduced, I don't know how much spoilers I can keep away. I think this is the roughly best chapter to mention it because the risk of spoilers are only going to increase as it goes on. This was hereby my official warning so don't blame me if I spoil you a plottwist that left me stunned for days.

For all who DID play/watch the new content however… I hereby take any messages and theories about why things are the way they are with Akiras ex. A few things I written in here are probably very questionable or odd. I will not confirm or deny any theories you give me but I am interested in what you were all thinking. Lets just say that I added and tweaked a few things but the story of Royal is still largely intact… just with a few more twists and curves :P

Moving on we had moments with Shiho and Yui. Shiho is once again curiosu about all of this. She is pretty much having the 'bystander' POV as of now, just showing how ridiculous the events at Shujin with Akira were for someone in that school

And I finally got to flesh Yui out a bit more. I DO want her to be her own character and not just a Mishima. I decided on that after I went back on Mishima getting hit with Rule 63. I already placed some ideas of her character, like a similar but notably different mindset to Yuuki, a love for music and her being less beaten down than Yuuki, more confident but also having resigned herself to what she sees as her 'normal' life.

At the same time she is very protective over her brother and if something were to happen to him she wouldn't take it well that's for sure. There will be more of her I promise!

Moving on we got a scene that could have been easily skipped, the first talk about a change of heart. However with Akechi present I felt that enough was different to warrant it being written out. And there were some key differences.

For example akechis small lecture regarding what Akira did. I already explained why she isn't worried about his 'geass' as well which was something I thought should be addressed.

On a more light-hearted note I got to add some more desperately needed jokes. Like Akechi being exasperated about Morgana, the famous 'phone cat' line and so on.

Speaking of jokes we also had Morgana and his reveal of being the embodiment of hope. Considering all that changed, I didn't see a reason for Morgana to withhold that information. It may help recontextualizing his relationship with the rest of the thieves.

Back on the jokes front we had Akechi laugh about it. If your wondering why… she is pretty much at a point in her life were she thinks hope is stupid so yeah… of course she would think it was a joke.

Back on the more serious things, Akechi did allow for some more in depth talk about the morals of a change of heart for example, which again allowed me to show off Akiras 'Justice' so to speak. His justification for the Phantom Thieves methods.

I also included what was pretty much my answer to people thinking the themes of rebellion in P5 didn't had a huge pay of or that they were never rebels because of Yaldabaoth. I point at Akiras inner monologue and speech about freedom. Freedom should be for everyone, but pure chaos (which is pure freedom by SMT standards) inevitably means people will feel 'free' to abuse others. We need both law and chaos, and The Phantom thieves are the chaos that's gonna come out when law needs a good beatdown to get back to neutral.

And we end on Kobayakawa realizing once more how small of a fish he is. Not gonna lie I had a bit too much fun imagining his reaction.

Alright now were at the end once more and before you all go I have one last thing I want to announce.

Over the past months someone named 'The Patient One' was kind enough to go over my past chapters and beta them all. Thank you so much for your help :). Because of that I will spend the foreseeable time actually cleaning up the previous chapters, fixing mistakes and so on. This, alongside studies and so on, maybe the reason the next chapter will take some more time because I have been meaning to get that done for way too long. However I will NEVER stop working on this story I can assure everyone. So there will be NO hiatus or anything like that. Just my schedule being messy but you probably noticed already.

I also wanna talk about reviews. Once more I absolutely love to get them and read them :). However I also wanna get back at everyone who actually takes the time to write one, which can be difficult all on its own. So I am gonna make it so that guest reviews (at least on ) will be as always answered via note in the next chapter and I try to once a week, probably Sundays or Saturdays to reply to everyone who has an account either on or AO3 or all at once.

Ive also been thinking about writing something other then Round Two to go along with, branch out a little. As a writing practice I just been trying to get myself to write whatever just comes to my mind. So maybe there will be more stories or one shots or collections appearing on my profile. I might also catch up on some fics I favorited and so on.

I am also gonna try to actually move ahead with the time inside the story faster. I feel like not a lot happened in this chapter so i will try and actually get going with the days quicker. I blame it on Kamoshidas palace being a slow arc and me in general just having too much fun with writing about every detail.

But don't worry I will never stop working on this one.

Alright then, my bed is calling for me and i gotta nap. Thank you all for reading and see ya next time! :)