A/N Hello All, I am back. I am doing a terrible job keeping the two-week update system. ARgh!, Thankfully though my job has been slowly getting back to reasonable levels which I'm thankful for so I have a bit more free time.

I have been blazing through Persona 5 Royal. Ironically as of this chapter release, I'm about to start the Okumura Arc XD. I've also been enjoying the new characters alot, I absolutely love Maruki and Jose( I love being told I'm doing a good job). Not sure if I'll incorporate them into the story. I'm sorta neutral on Kasumi game version. She hasn't been terrible but she hasn't popped out like I thought she would. I still have a good 3rd of the game left so I will what else happens.

Oh I completely forgot to mention this in my notes last chapter but it BEEN A 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY since I started this project. Wow I'm shock I'm still going for this long. Reading the earlier chapters kinda makes me cringe a bit. But I also think it was my nerves bitting it since it was awhile I had posted any new story. But since I've come this far, I feel my confidence grow with each new chapter. And hearing your feedback, what ya'll like, don't like, what's funny etc.

So to everyone who has been reading from the beginning or just now finding this weird crazy thought of mind. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

Hope you all enjoy this chapter and feel free to review. (No P5R spoilers please or well non past Okumura)

Chapter 34

Present Day, 1885

The roads down here were relatively quiet during their travels. The town or more of a city came into view, a large sign at its entrance reading "City of Breaux".

"Wow, this place is pretty huge," Makoto looked on in amazed.

"Its one of the major cities down here, this area is rich and thriving for years. Anything you can up North you can probably find down here."

"I doubt we could cover all this should something happen," Makoto said doing her best to take it all her surroundings. Getaway routes, vantage points, police.

"You can relax, I'm not here to really scout around. I just needed to clear my head," Ren mentioned.

"Oh, should I go back then?"

"You're fine, besides if I didn't want the company I would've said no back at the estate. You're relaxing to be around, not afraid to speak your thoughts."

"Glad to be of use," she said.

"You've always been useful. You've gotten pretty good with your six-shooter. And book smart, our group needs someone like that. Come on follow me." The two walk into a Tavern that was moderately crowded around this time of day.

"Isn't it too early to be drinking?"

"Its never too early or too late for a shot of whiskey," Ren order two small glasses from the bartender upfront. "Here, it will loosen you up." He passes her a small glass of liquid as he gulps his own. She mostly stuck to water or coffee when thirsty and tended to stay away from any of the alcoholic beverages.

"Here we go I guess…" The taste was strong and burned down her throat, "Gods, how can you drink this stuff?"

Ren chuckled at her look of disgust, "It's an acquire taste, I can ask the bartender for some water instead?" She nods as the whiskey left an aftertaste on her tongue.

"Here." He hands her another glass, this time with a clear liquid that she gulps down.

"I'll remember not to give you whiskey from now on," he noted.

"I'll hold you to it."

Ren sighs as he looks out the window, spinning a discarded toothpick in his hand while thinking," What do you plan on doing, after all this?" he asked Makoto.

"What to do next today?"

"No, when this is all over. Do you plan on going back to school?" Makoto had to ponder at the question. To be honest she never thought of a solid plan after she joined. She was smart but jobs in society were limited to people like her.

"I…..never really gave it full thought. I guess the closes was wanting to follow in my Father's footsteps. Help others through law enforcement. Though I guess I would have to arrest myself," she answers giving a small laugh.

"It's a good dream."

"What about you Ren?"

"Hmmm, if I survive this whole ordeal, maybe I'll find a really nice tree to sit under, the wind blowing through my hair while relaxing," The elder brother describes.

"All alone?"

"Morgana's getting older, he won't be by my side forever. Maybe in a few years, he'll settle down have a family I check in on every now and then. But don't let me be a downer. I chose the Tavern, you pick next."

"We could walk around for a bit, see what's around?" Makoto suggested.

Deciding to leave, they wander around the city for a while. The Central Bank stood proudly in the center-surround by walking policemen. The two keep a low profile as they walked around them. Different restaurants lined the streets, the smell of different cuisines filled the area. Tailors fitting the latest fashion on their customers. Fancy suits and dresses entice walker-by from the window. People were walking the sidewalks in tidy clothes and top hats, they had money.

"I think we wander into the upper-class district, not many shops up here mostly housing. We should head back to Main Street Makoto…..Makoto?" She was observing a nameplate they had walked past. It was the biggest and fanciest Mansion on the street.

"What is it?" He questions her again.

She points to the nameplate on the brick wall, "It says Okumura, this is where that Railroad Tycoon lives."

"The man does have quite a fortunate." It was a long road just to even get to the front door after passing the gated walls. "We should move on, I'll make a note of this place just in case." The two Thieves made their way back to the entertainment district.

They had walked a good portion around the city when Makoto excitedly ran up to a building. The fancy architecture and width of the building suggested it was some type of theater. Her eyes seem to light up at the poster on display.

"You're excited about a play," He asked her.

"Oh no, I….had seen this poster before at a theater near my old school. I heard it was fascinating but never got a chance to see it. But it's okay we can keep walking," She tried to downplay her excitement making a move to walk away.

"Do you want to see it? I don't mind paying, besides it seems the next show starts in 30 minutes. We could find a good seat."

"Are you sure Ren?" She hesitantly asked him. He offers his arms out to her in a kind gesture as she nervously takes it.

"The show awaits milady."

Ren paid the ticket fees as he guided Makoto to their seats. It was a modest theater, the stage focused upfront, the lights dimmed slightly. There were a handful of people already seated, mostly families with small children.

"Can you see the stage from here?" He asked Makoto. They had decided to sit in the middle section, close enough to see and close enough to the exit.

"These seats are fine, I'm sure I can see those acrobatic fight scenes without disruption."

"Acrobatic fighting?"

"You'll have to watch Ren. Oh the show's starting," She shushes him.

The curtains open to reveal a fantasy style set piece with a painted background. Wires were seen holding up fake clouds and a sun that looked rushed. It wasn't a poor production value but still felt cheap. A woman had walked onstage starting plays narration. Her bland outfit clashed with the brightly colored stage set pieces behind her.

"In a land far away laid a peaceful Kingdom and its citizens, but one day an evil drag stormed the Kingdom and kidnapped its Princess."

Someone off to the side controlled the effects and altered the background. A gaudy actor walked onto the stage surveying the audience.

"It is I the Great Knight who will rescue the fair Maiden."

"If his armor gets any shinier I could use it for a mirror," Ren muttered under his breath. Makoto let out a small laugh, covering it behind her hand.

The scene switches to the Knight fighting fiends in a castle background. The shadow actors had performed various flips and high jumps around the main hero that even impressed Ren. He turned to look at his companion who was completely focused on the action.

"At last I have vanquished my foes, my dear servant where might I find the Princess?"

"Dear Great Knight, thank you for defeating those shadows, but your Princess is in another castle."

"Oh, how unfortunate for him," Makoto commented.

"Indeed."

The two continued to watch as the Great Knight had to traverse to another castle with harsh terrain and mighty foes blocking his path. Or in Ren's mind, special props and more people in funny costumes. Yusuke would probably appreciate the aesthetics.

"Finally! I the Great Knight have reached the Final Castle. The Princess MUST be here!"

Just then an even larger actor came onstage as a silly dragon? It looks more like a bear.

"Oh Great Knight, how foolish of you to come. You cannot defeat me Evil Lord Bearsor!"

"I will DEFEAT you Bearsor and save the Princess."

The two clash as they pretended to hit each other. Both executed terrible dodge roll while fake panting as if they took fatal damage. The villain Bearsor pretended to sway, accepting defeat he twirled his way behind the curtain offstage

"Curse you Great Knight I will fight you again someday."

In the end, the hero reign triumph. The Knight reunited with Princess and made their way home.

"And thus our story concludes as the two lived happily ever after." The Narrator finished, going behind the closed curtain. Those closer to the stage began clapping as others walked towards the exit.

"What did I just watch?" Ren thought out loud to himself. The two walked outside into the fresh air stretching.

"What an amazing play, the acting could've been better but the action scenes were just as great as I heard. What did you think Ren?"

"Hmmm, it was 'unBEARable." She paused before snorting at his horrible pun.

"You're terrible," Causing them to fall into a burst of full laughter.

"Well, it wasn't that bad. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."

"Thank you….for taking me to see it," She muttered.

"You're welcome. I'm a bit surprised though, that women like you like those types of plays."

"Oh well, I always wanted to see them since I was a kid. But money was always tight so we couldn't really afford them."

"I see. It's starting to get closer to dinner time, we should grab the horses and head back."

They took a slower route back, enjoying the rare evening breeze compare to the earlier humidity.

"Is this the way back Ren?" Makoto asked him.

"It's an alternative scenic route. I used to ride this path all the time with Ka—uhm alone," Ren mentioned trying to stop his sentence.

"You were going to say Kasumi weren't you?"

The elder Amamiya brother sheepishly nods his head, "I've grown tired telling the story over again."

"There's no need, I've.…..already suspected something. She's also the only one who keeps glancing at you during dinners."

"Really? I guess I never notice. I hope my skills aren't rusting," he joked.

"It will take a lot to catch you off guard I bet."

"Maybe, maybe not. You've been the closest so far." He says while focusing on keeping Arsene steady down the beaten path.

"Me?"

"Back at that camp near Northsbury. I had a feeling injured and determine women such as yourself would find a way to escape captivity. When you DID make your attempt I was bluffing to Morgana that your threat was empty. I truly had no idea if you were going to pull the trigger. I was almost expecting it to be honest."

"No, I wouldn't have shot you," Makoto confessed.

"I wouldn't blame you if you did, we didn't exactly start on the right foot initially."

"And now we're Outlaws in Arms."

"Or friends?" Ren offered.

".…..friends? I would actually like that," she replied back softly.

"I really do appreciate you coming with me today Makoto. Thanks." He offers her his true smile. The one only seen when all his walls were down. "Mmmm? What's with the blush?"

"N...Nothing, I'm going on ahead," She kicks Johanna into full speed down the road.

"Hey, you'll get lost!" Ren laughed chasing after her.

Yoshizawa Estate,1885

Ryuji sat at the end of the bed, one pants leg rolled up. Dr. Takemi sat in a chair next to him examining said injured leg.

"Hmm looks like the flesh around the bullet wound doesn't look inflame anymore. Bones, however, take longer to heal, that bullet may still be lodge in your knee. Whoever fixed you up the first time did a poor job of it. I'm afraid this injury won't go away as I first suspected."

The female Doctor had been checking on Ryuji leg since he first joins the Thieves. He was still able to function but didn't mean his leg hurt any less.

"So I'm officially stuck with this limp?!"

"It might heal with proper bed rest in a few months, but you would have to be still and not be on the move. Though us being stuck here, now would be a good time as any," She diagnoses. "If you need me I'll be in my 'Office." She left the blonde gunslinger to himself as she walked back to her wagon.

Ryuji let out a big sigh as he made to put boots back on and straighten his pants. Even from beyond the grave, the bastard was causing him issues.

"Oh, there you are Ryuji. What did Dr. Takemi say this time?" Ann had found him in their shared room.

"The same as last time. My legs are fine, it feels like I can chase down a buck on foot."

Ann cast a doubtful look to her companion but still offered Ryuji a gentle pat, "Just don't go straining yourself okay."

"Same goes for you," he suggested back, "You haven't had any nightmares recently either yeah?"

The pain and suffering from Kamoshida was slowly but surely healing, her nightmares of him returning were fading away for good.

"I know you've been trying to stay strong for you and Shiho. Especially with all the shit we've been through these past few months. Ren wasn't joking saying it would be dangerous. We've been chased, shot at, almost killed, ambushed….."

"Chased by a bear, hallucinating…."

"Yeah, yeah but we got through it didn't we," He says reaching up to brush a strand of hair behind her ear.

She goes to sit beside him on the bed, shoulders touching, "I don't think I've seen this side of you before. It's adorable."

"For real? And it's not adorable…. it's just something Ren said that got me thinking. And there's been something I needed to know."

"What is it?"

Ryuji nervously grabs her hand into his own and looks her straight in her eyes, "Well….um…it has been some time since we have known each other. And I know back at the brothel we were fooling around and still sometime after. But It feels like it means something now at least since we gained our freedom. Do you feel the same?"

"Are you proposing Ryuji!?" Ann asked shocked.

"Do you want me to?"

"What type of answer is THAT!"

"Well, what type of question is THAT?"

"Ugh! You're so…." Smacking her face, she couldn't help but let out a chocked laugh and happy tears.

"Aww shit, what'd I do now," The blonde hair said trying to comfort her, "Look Ann I'm sorry, I can properly propose, I'll get some money and a ring and—"

"No silly." She gives him a chaste kiss before burying her face in his chest. "I'm happy, I never thought we have a better outcome than before." Running around as a Phantom Thief wasn't a glamorous life, but it was still free.

"Once we finish helping out Ren, we'll find someplace nice. Maybe an open field or near the ocean with those tall things."

"You mean a lighthouse?"

"Yeah that thing," he confirmed.

"Anywhere is fine, come on let's tell Shiho the good news!" She says dragging him by the hand to tell their friend.

The next day, Ren went through his ammo supply and weapons. His own revolvers were in need of a deep clean.

"Did you need something Kasumi?" Ren asked.

"How did you know it was me?"

"You have light footsteps, no doubt from your years dancing. That or we just haven't spoken in a few days." He turns to look at her, leaving the gun pieces on the table.

" May I sit?" She asked him.

"It's your house, what did you want to talk about."

"Yes, I overheard you all talking about Mr. Okumura the other day and would like to help however I can." Ren motion her to continue, "I understand Okumura has some shady business with his company and associations, I may have a way for you all to find out more."

"How?"

"Okumura host a big Gala on the eve of the 15th every 3 months. Being who he is many delegates and famous people from all over come to visit. Maybe who you're looking for could possibly show up. My family is still well off to be invited but I normally don't go. I could try and bring a few of you in as my guest."

Ren thought hard about this, this could be the break they needed to move forward. He wasn't looking forward to wearing a suit again though. But if they were able to find solid evidence Okumura had ties to Samuel or the others, he would be their next target.

"Where does it take place?"

"Right at his own estate. Its a mansion near the heart of the city." Ren knew where the mansion was, he and Makoto walked passed it the other day. They could only see so much from the front gate. There had to be an entrance for the main guest and an entrance for the servants. Probably a back door somewhere.

"I will need to bring this up with the others." Putting his revolver back together, he went in search of his younger brother.

Morgana was playing a game of chess with Futaba in the drawing-room.

"I'm calling a meeting have everyone meet in the living room," Ren ordered.

"Everyone, everyone?"

"Yes, everyone." Stopping their game, the younger Amamiya brother got up to search around the estate as Ren checked throughout the guest house itself. It took a little more than half an hour before everyone squeeze into the living room.

The main group consisted of their more active members in Ryuji, Ann, Makoto, Yusuke, and Morgana. While Boss and Futaba acted as support. The man was getting old but he never held his punches. Futaba was their tool expert with the amount of stuff she's picked apart. Then came their civilian core. The eyes and ears that no one would suspect when gathering information. Shiho and Shinya would help gather food supplies while listening for the latest rumor and gossip in the market. And Ren couldn't forget about Mishima, his main informant. This time around he could get direct Intel without having to wait for a telegram.

"Everyone's here," Ren got up from the chair just as Kasumi entered the room closing the door behind her. She doesn't need her servants eavesdropping.

"There's been a slight change of plan, we'll be refocusing our efforts on Okumura. I have come into some knowledge that would allow us to investigate him further."

"So we are going after the Railroad Tycoon? This would make sense giving the previous targets," Yusuke thought out loud.

"What do you mean," Ryuji followed up confused.

"You all stated previously that Okumura owns a majority of railways yes? It would've been fairly easy to transport the previous targets goods without hassle."

"Those documents from Kamoshida we found about him selling women….." The blonde gunslinger mention.

"There WAS a train station not too far. A carriage ride in the middle of the night, and no one finds them again," Morgana somberly explains.

Makoto soon chimed in, "Kaneshiro dabble in bank robberies and drug smuggling for a bit. Or that's what I remember reading. It's still one way to move his goods around."

Ren took each point into consideration. He was hesitant to go after Okumura initially, especially with him being so close to SIU. But he can't always debate the what-ifs. His hunches were coming back now that they have a way in.

"Kunikazu Okumura hosts a Gala on the 15th every 3 months, dignitaries from all over will be there." Kasumi informed the Thieves, "Due to my family's position I can bring a few guests as I informed Ren."

"Meaning a few of us will be interacting with the guest while the others find a way in and information," Ren added.

"I'll see what Intel I can find on my end," Mishima speaking up for the first time.

"Take Shiho and Shinya with you. Get some decent clothes, nothing to fancy. Posing as a family might get the neighbors to open up more." The elder brother suggested.

"Futaba, we'll need some more lock picks for Yusuke and Ryuji."

"On it!"

"Why me?!" the blonde man in question yelled.

"Yes you, you and Yusuke will pose as the carriage drivers, once the carriage is settled you two will go through the servant's entrance, most likely in the back."

"Duly noted," Yusuke replied.

"Ann."

"Uh yes."

"You will be their watcher, if anything happens, anything at all distracts the guards. Act whatever you can to buy Yusuke and Ryuji time."

"Lady Ann's acting has much to be desire. But what will we do brother?"

"You, Makoto, and I will be at the Gala. If anything goes wrong we can get Kasumi out quickly and quietly. Is everyone okay with this plan?"

"It's the 2nd of the month, that leaves us with 13th days to prepare," Makoto mentioned.

"If it means stopping more corrupted adults, I'm in!" Ryuji agreed. The others soon voiced their agreements as well.

"If everyone is in agreement, let's get started."

A/N Love is in the air. I actually really like how this chapter turned out when I made the decision to cut some of the last chapter into this one. Basically, the last chapter would've ended before the play started, and I felt it sorta messed up the flow. So I included it in here.

It's also so fun writing Ryuann relationship and Shumako, as the two are in different points. Ryuji and Ann already have an intimacy, friends with benefits thing going on but subtly care for one another and its easier to right an established couple.

The difficulty with Ren and Makoto is I want to portray them realistically. I didn't want to just to go BAM now they're in love. It also doesn't help the two are crashing at his ex-girlfriend place so some drama/tension is needed. But I can say that they do find each other attracted physically which has been hinted in prior chapters.

I'm going to stop rambling and get back to work. Thank you all once again for reading. Feel free to review.