A/N Hello everyone, yes I am still alive. Unfortunately, right after I had uploaded the previous chapter I got some unfortunate news. Long story short, someone at my job: FUCKED. UP BADLY and essentially about 3 MONTHS worth of my work got flushed down the toilet. To say I was BEYOND PISSED is an understatement. So I just finished spending the past two weeks living in the office cramming 3 months' work of code updates into 2 weeks.(atleast my paycheck looks nice) I didn't even wanna look at a computer when I got home.

Initially, this was supposed to be a surprise chapter on the 1st of January but clearly that never happen. And because of that, I am a bit behind on updating my story notes plus cleaning up older chapters.

But things are calming down once more and I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Futaba's finale arc. Feel free to review.

Chapter 29

Present Day, 1885

The Phantom Thieves were buzzing about to make their exit. Ren's ordering everyone to stay half pack for a quick getaway was good foresight on the older brother. Though he had the warning in advance. There was a second location the brothers agreed on in case an event like this occurred. Mishima would provide a small hideout, a leg on their journey before moving on.

"Come on everyone, wee need to move. Your main essentials should've already been packed," Morgana barked.

"What a mess down here," Takemi came down the first floor peaking out the broken glass windows.

"Where's Futaba? Mona wondered.

"She's still up stairs, shaken up by the noise." The younger Amamiya brother ran up the steps to Futaba room. Just as the Doctor said, the young girl was huddle in the corner.

"Futaba, grab my hand we have to leave!"

"The bad man…..he still here," she whimper, "He killed mom, now he's…"

"No one else is here except for us. But if we don't hurry more trouble will come," he pleaded. Kneeling closer he offers a gentle embrace, "I know you're scared Futaba, truthfully I'm a little scared to. But I can't let this fear control me, not when other are depending one me to protect them. I've depended on you when I've been hurt. Be brave Futaba….."

She was terrified the first time she rode a Horse. Afraid to fall and hurt herself. Scared the first time she went to town with her mother. Frighten over gunfire that killed her mother.

"I'm so scared Mom!"

"you SHOuld be, ITs aLL YOUR fault!"

"It's all my fault."

"Futaba! Hey stay with me!" Morgana could feel her slip into one of her panics.

"I shouldn't have gone after my bear."

"But it's your favorite, you love that toy." Futaba was shocked to hear the voice in her head soften. Like the voice that lulled her to sleep, gently brushing her hair. Remembering when her Mother soothe her during a storm.

"It's okay to be scared Futaba. The storm will pass."

"But its been going on forever," she muttered.

"Perhaps," her Mother said eyeing the fire, "But it's not so scary anymore. One day you will be brave enough to tackle the storm."

"Be brave, Futaba.."

"Be brave…"

Morgana was worried as the young girl aggressively grabbed her head. She took a few deeps breaths before letting go.

"I….think I'm okay, for now."

"Can you stand?" Nodding, he helps her to her feet making sure she's steady before letting go. "Come on I'll help you down."

He throws whatever she considered important into a chest before dragging it downstairs.

"Mona, I think you guys should use this. I was working on it awhile ago, I hope it helps." She hands him some form of weapon analysis it.

"Is this….a crossbow?" The brother questioned.

"It's something like it."

"Well take it, come on." Done with packing, the gang got on their individual horses and carriages leaving the dust behind.

"Mona, what about Sojiro and Ren?" Futaba had looked around from her hiding spot and notice those two were missing.

"Don't worry they'll find us."

"Where the hell could that old man be? Ren wondered chasing on Arsene. Makoto was right behind him on her own horse looking for any sign of Boss. Ren could feel the wound on his shoulder bleed through the initial wrappings.

"You need to get that properly taken care of or else you'll bleed to death without ever finding Boss," She scolded him.

"No time, it will just have to wait. Besides, I think I know where he went off too."

"Where?"

"An old tombstone had to be built some years ago all the way out here. Boss likes to hide stuff nearby there."

The two continued to push their horses until the sound of gunfire could be heard.

"We're close," Ren said. He could already see the silhouette of the two. The Leader had kicked Boss's gun away after firing. He swung only for Boss to block the punch. Sojiro delivered a staggering punch to the jaw knocking him down.

"It's over! It's three against one." Jumping down from his horse, Ren aims at the Medjed leader. Makoto follows Ren's lead as Boss retrieves his gun from the ground.

"So is this how it ends?"

"You're too dangerous to be left alive. You'll just keep coming after us," Boss stated.

"Medjed will never go away. We are everywhere."

"...Not anymore." Sojiro pulled the trigger shooting straight through the chest. He hoped this would be the final remnant of his past.

"You okay Boss?" Ren could see his frames were partially cracked and bruises on his face.

"I'll be fine son, I would've handled it on my own."

"Didn't look like it from where I'm standing. Besides your horse was shot, you would've walked!?" Ren half-jokingly asked his mentor.

"And why did you come?" Boss directing his attention to the brown hair woman.

"Ren is hurt, I didn't want him to pass out while looking for you." Sojiro chuckled as a thought crossed his mind.

"Guess I'm riding with you Kid. Let's get back to the others."

"Keep It movin, we need to get the distance between the Town," Mona ordered. He needed to stay calm for the group. At least till Ren got back. Ryuji and Yusuke position themselves at the back of the caravan. Shiho was leading one of the carriages that contain Futaba, Shinya, and their "cargo." Takemi took point with her own medicinal supplies. The young brother and Ann took the sides keeping an eye out.

They have been pushing the horses as long as they could go. If only they can reach Mishima's checkpoint without any encounters.

"Fellas we got company!" Ryuji warned, "Shit, there's got to be over 20 of them." There was a cloud of dirt kicked from the large group on horseback.

"Move the carriages over there, we can use the treeline for cover!" Yusuke suggested this time.

"Good thinking Fox!" Halting the horses, the four remaining members took their positioning.

"Hey Doc, you got any more shells in that shotgun? I could use a few." She only had a handful left from the prior fight.

"Here!" She tosses her reserve to Ryuji.

"Ann, you covered?" The blond gunslinger asked, she quickly nodded back checking that the pistol was full.

Morgana switch to his rifle stored on his horse, " Yusuke, take my sidearm, you need it more." Throwing the pistol towards the Artist's way, they brace themselves. The one leading the charge was the survivor from the previous fight.

"This bunch must have been waiting out of sight for a signal," Yusuke commented.

Gunfire blasted through the treeline cutting off further communication. Futaba, Shiho an,d Shinya took cover by a rock downhill. Takemi armed herself with a scalpel if any bandit dares to get close. The Phantom Thieves were at a disadvantage with ammo. Not having enough time to replenish their personal supply, ever shot HAD to count.

Morgana took out the first man from the last fight, a rifle shot through the chest. The younger brother duck behind a tree, quickly dodging from his right as a bullet buzz past. Ryuji started with his repeater first downing three men quickly. Ann kills a bandit to her left covering what Ryuji couldn't. She misses a second bandit causing her to hide behind the thinning tree. They were rushing towards the treeline to finish of the Thieves. The four were doing their best to fire off as fast as they could hoping their target would go down in one shot. The only saving grace was an open field in front of them. Nowhere for Medjed to hide, buying time to pick them off one by one before they run out.

Yusuke rushes out to another tree tackling a man attempting to pincer them. The two roll on the ground fighting for dominance as the bandit's elbows Yusuke in the head stunning him. Pinning Yusuke down in a chokehold, the young man uses his strength to grab the knife on his belt gutting the bandit before him. He takes a moment coughing, inhaling the air moments denied to him before re-joining the fray.

Chips of tree bark blast by them with missing shots. "There's to many of them," Ann shouted. She ran out of bullets while doing her best to stay cover.

"Hang in there Lady Ann!" Morgana takes down another two bandits from his position. He was close to the carriages to protect the others. The younger brother goes to fire another shot only for the gun to jam.

"Damnit!" he already gave his sidearm to Yusuke for back up.

"Mona take this. Hurry!" He looks to see Futaba jumping with the crossbow.

"Toss it and stay down!" She heaves the weapon and canister of arrows; eight arrows to work with.

The blond then took down two more Medjed members before his repeater ran ammo ran out, " How are we looking guys!?"

"Not to good Skull I'm out," the swordsman said.

"Me too," Ann muttered.

"All of you get down!" loading an arrow in the cross he aims a headshot at a nearby enemy. "Got another."

Morgana ducks down quickly trying to load another arrow when he heard a commotion. Three riders came up behind the remaining Medjed gang taking them down from all around.

"The others are back!" Ryuji confirmed.

Boss reminded the old gang that he hasn't rusted a bit, with his protege in Ren taking down just as many. Makoto overcoming her own nerves helps where she can. They survive back to back encounters on shorten rest and injury.

"Is everyone accountable for?" Ren asked the group.

We're still whole you can say." Yusuke was just as physically tied as the others.

Jumping down from his horse, Ren lands unsteadily on the ground.

"Careful son, you still need that wound check. Dr. Takemi quick!" Boss keeps him standing while Makoto offers him her water canister.

"You need water."

"I need a drink…."

"This isn't a leisure time to have a beer."

Chuckling he motions to be placed on the ground, "For the wound."

After quickly rummaging through her bullet-ridden cart, Takemi brings supplies to the injured leader.

"I just need a new set of bandages and…and…" The blood loss and exertion finally catching up, he falls unconscious.

When he wakes up once more, he sees a dark starry sky staring right back. Attempting to get up, Ren groans as his body reminds him of his condition.

"You need to rest some more," a voice said. He turned to his right to find Makoto wringing out a wet cloth.

"Dr. Takemi said you were feeling a bit warm after patching you up," she placed the cold wet cloth on his head as he laid on his bedding. A campfire burned brightly behind her.

".…Thanks."

"Just returning the favor."

"Heh, and you're still just as stubborn then as you are now," he mentioned.

"I was on a path to right a wrong, you were in my way."

He tried to chuckle only to wince, "You know I was pretty suspicious of you, but I also couldn't abandon someone in need." He reaches up to his bandage should and sighs, "But then I saw you were like me. Though, I think I have the better aim with revolvers."

"That wasn't what you said when you took me on those bounty missions a week ago."

".…well…." The elder Amamiya sibling burst into a coughing fit, making his body feel worse. "Water"

Makoto reached over his body to grab her nearby canister, "Here." She helps lift his head as his lips greedily drank the water.

"Thanks." Ren turns to his left to see Futaba snoozing under a blanket. "How long has she been there," he questioned.

"Quite a while, she was really worried. The others went back to sleep, Ryuji and Yusuke are checking the perimeter, and last I check Boss and your brother were checking in with our guest. "

"Thanks for the report, but what about you? Did you rest yet?"

"Earlier, I have a guard duty after Ryuji."

"Well look at us, the gang moves like clockwork," Ren felt a sense of pride in his voice. Once just a band of misfits each toss aside were coming together, maybe to become something more than what they were told they are.

"We need to meet up with Mishima and find a new hiding spot. A large group like us is the prime feeding ground for other bandits," Ren mention worriedly.

"Dr. Takemi doesn't want you to move till you are healed. The bullet might have nicked an important organ."

"I can rest in the carriages, we can't stay here."

"That's not my decision." She got up and dusted her pants off. "I'm off."

Sighing Ren looked back left to Futaba snoozing form. That girl already saw horrors and needs some new scenery. She was further from the fire, but his body wouldn't corporate getting up to give a spare blanket. He should take his own advice to rest.

Morning soon came for the rest, the fire being used to hear up perishables. The smell of food woke the injured Phantom Thief up from his slumber. Feeling better from the previous night, he was able to sit up with less stiffness.

"What time is it?" yawning out loud.

"Just after 9 a.m Mr Ren." He sees Shiho roasting food over the fire. Shinya sat on a long on his own digging in.

"I got you your own plate," looking to his side, Futaba is kneeling beside him with a plate of bacon and biscuit. The plate shakes as she nervously hands it to him.

Thank you Futaba, I'm starving." Before he could begin she tightly wraps her arms around his torso.

"I was…..worried when you didn't wake up immediately." He pats her head gently while keeping the food steady in his other hand.

"I didn't mean to scare you like that, I'm glad you're feeling better yourself. But I have a small favor to ask."

"Hmm?" she pondered.

"Please loosen your grip—you're hurting my shoulder."

"Oh! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"It's alright Futaba."

"Looks like the Guinea Pig is up already." Dr. Takemi was followed by Boss as she walked up. "Finish eating and I'll change your bandages." She places a hand on his forehead checking for his temperature.

"Hmm, your still a little bit warm, more than usual. Let me see what I have in stock," Takemi said leaving the three.

"How you feeling Kid?"

"Like hell," Downing the last of his bacon he lays back on his bedding and grabs his shoulder, "I forgot how painful being show was."

Boss huffed under his breath and look up to his daughter, "And what about you Futaba?"

"I am trying. I….I want to be brave." She told her Father with a determined face.

"No rush, just take your time. We're all here to help you. Okay." Sojiro gently kisses her forehead before walking away.

It took the following hour for the others to wake. But who could blame them for sleeping in after the previous day's events?

The two blondes took their own portion of biscuit and bacon while Yusuke was fine with just the biscuit.

"You sure you don't want anything more Yusuke? Plenty left," Ryuji offered the Artist.

"I must preserve my portions, as we don't know when we'll eat again.

"You worry too much, we'll just hunt some grub if it comes down to it. The freshly hunted game, a mug of Ale and a campfire. What's not to love?"

"I think Yusuke may have a point Ryuji," This time Ann chides in.

"Oh not you too Ann."

"These are all fairly good points." Makoto had walked over to the three with a cup of coffee. "Our supplies are limited, we're in the middle of nowhere and Ren is still hurt. Plus traveling civilians. We need a new safe haven and fast."

Don't worry, I got the coordinates from Mishima." Ren was being helped by Morgana as he addresses the group. "We should be safe in the new place."

"Well, we're not moving anywhere until your back to your normal self. Unfortunately, the medicine I need I'm missing some ingredients." The Doctor searched high and low in her cart but not everything was packed. It would be too dangerous to turn back to her home alone.

"Seeing the day is still young we can fetch it now right?" Ryuji offered first.

"The herbs I need might not be nearby."

"Uh….I'm not too familiar with plants.

"Then we split up. Morgana will go in my place, he knows what to look for. Yusuke, Ann, Ryuji, and Makoto will go with him. More people to spread out with. Boss and I can hold down the fort."

"Are you sure Brother."

"Yes, I'll be fine. But be careful, we don't know if there's any Medjed left hanging around."

"Got it." They all got on their horses and took off for the horizons.

"Safe travels….."

Elsewhere 1885

A large sigh escaped the young man's mouth as his frustration was starting to rise. They found Medjed or what was left of them. The green scarfs motif wrapped around their arms and waist, it was them.

"I'm sure the Captain will be pleased with this development," Akechi scornfully said. Throwing his hat to the ground in frustration he sits on one of the remaining benches.

Sae pulls out a handkerchief to cover her face, the smell of rotting flesh nauseates her.

"This has been nothing but a wild goose chase for the past two weeks! We are doing things my way now."

The remaining town folk have been slowly removing the bodies from the streets and burying them outside of town. He sees two sets of carriage tracks leaving the town out over the fields. Grabbing his hat from the ground he examines them further.

"Miss Nijima, over here," Akechi says pointing down to the ground. "These wagon marks are still new maybe about a day old."

"They look a bit sloppy and inconsistent."

"Almost as if they were in a hurry. But who was here that Medjed started a shootout with and why?" The gears starting to turn in the Ace Detective's mind.

"Follow the tracks Detective."

"So we shall." He hopped back on his horse and whistle his mare into a slow trot, keeping an eye on the ground. The two had travel for almost 7 miles, dead bodies began to spring up.

"We're still headed in the right direction," Akechi was getting close when he saw a tree line. "Wait here, I'll check this out," he ordered.

"I will not sit here idle Detective!"

"You don't have a rifle Miss Nijima and hand to hand combat can only get you so far."

She pulls out a pistol from her stash bag located on the horse, "I think this will work just as well." The young Detective shakes his head and quietly signals to fall behind him.

Akechi could see the remains of the second fight once in the treeline, more Medjed bodies found lying in the grass. Whoever took them out put up one hell of a fight. Pieces of bark laid on the ground splinter from the gun blast. They walk as silent as possible attempting to avoid any twigs that could alert whoever was nearby.

He was starting to see another clearing up ahead; carriages. Snapping his fingers to get Sae's attention, he points to the objects in question. Someone was camping here and very recently. From this distance more clues for him to—

Click….as they heard the sound of a shotgun pump behind them.

"Put your guns down," The voice ordered. Akechi tried to take a side glance only to shove with the barrel of the gun, it was best to surrender their weapons. "Face forward, put your hands in the air." The two agents complied and walked fully out into the clearing where the camp was located.

"No need for hostility Boss, they're not a threat." The Ace Detective picked up on the familiar voice.

"They're SUI kid, I recognize those badges anywhere. The familiar voice walked out from behind the first wagon with his arm in a sling.

"Detective Akechi, good to see you again. And you must be Miss Nijima, I've seen your face in the papers. I take it I'm not a big fan of yours."

"You're just another criminal, you'll get your just due," Sae confidently said.

"I see where she gets it from. But I'm afraid that can't happen until I get my own. I have my own mission to fulfill and I can't have you getting in the way," Ren responded back.

"You're still under arrest for the crimes you committed." Akechi wasn't going been outwitted by this trickster again.

"Hmm, I don't feel like I'm arrested, not even a little. What about you Boss?"

"I've dealt with more threatening agents." Ren chuckled at Boss's reply before falling into a coughing fit. Recovering with his own hands he offers the two a peace offering.

"In exchange for your lives, we'll let you go with this remaining Medjed member. We have all the information we need from him anyway. Only if you swear you never saw here. Deal?"

Akechi had a bigger fish on the line only for a smaller fish to take the hook. He guesses its better than coming up empty-handed.

"Deal," He reluctantly agreed.

"Excellent; Boss." Sojiro went to to retrieve the prisoner as Ren keep a hand on his holster…..just in case.

"You're too smart to try anything reckless Detective. But you can never be careful." Muffling noises could be heard as the bandit hogtied and gagged was being carried by the one known as Boss.

"You can place it on the back of my horse," Akechi instructed the older man.

Sitting on their respective horses, the two SUI agents had to swallow a bitter defeat.

"Enjoy your freedom for now criminal."

"I'm not a criminal Miss Nijima…I'm a Phantom Thief."

Tired of dealing with them they rode away from the location quickly.

"You all can come out now, they're gone," Ren said as Futaba, Shiho, and Shinya came out from hiding. Takumi was an ace in case fighting broke out.

"That was quick thinking Boss."

"Attribute it to good timing during a patrol. We're lucky it's just two this time, but those two are good at what they do for a reason."

"Detective Akechi isn't looking for a fight, he's looking for answers."

"What makes you say that?"

".…A gut feeling."

A/N So we got some more Akechi interactions almost like a cat and mouse game. And first, in foremost, no Ren doesn't have TB but you can get sick from an infection. It doesn't help his stress level were probably through the roof the past few weeks waiting for the warnings.

The next chapter should be fun to write its a place that I've been wanting to work on since the beginning of this fic so I can't wait.

Futaba arc was a little hard to write but I think it came out how I wanted since she is so technology-oriented in the game but she lives in the old days so translating that has been the biggest challenge. I would imagine someone witnessing their mom dying will forever leave a scar. But tinkering with random objects or weapons helps calm her.

Thank you all again for taking the time to read. We're almost at 30 Chapter HOLY SHIT.

Feel free to review.