A/N Hello everyone, we are back from the long break. And it should be nonstop train from here on out. Thank you all for your patience, I'm glad I took the time to use the moment to flush out and write everything. I may or may not go back to some scenes here or there to change if I'm no longer filling it when I'm editing. But I'll try to keep it to a minimum.

Hope you all enjoy the chapter, and feel free to review.

Chapter 49

Present Day 1885

The Phantom Thieves were all packed up in a day, wagons loaded with blankets, food gear for camping sets. Futaba sat next to her father on their wagon with Shiho, Mishima, and Shinya in the back. Haru keeps Dr. Takemi company as the Okumura heiress decline to ride with Morgana, but she did promise later. Ryuji and Ann climbed on their own respected horses Kidd and Carmen. Akechi was tying the final bags to Hereward, while Yusuke was all set on his mare. Though there was space with Dr. Takemi, Sae planned to ride with her younger sister.

"Ready to go Arsene?" the horse neigh back, loyal as ever. Ren took one final glance at his childhood home where they stayed for about a month. It was good to be back even for a little while, he hoped he would come back to all this once the whole ordeal is over. Taking one peak at Makoto, his mind already started to daydream of a time they once spoke of.

But they have new plans in front of them that needed to be the focus on. It was a race against them to find this secret meeting place and make the Town Hall. They also needed to secure shelter for the lot of them that was safe and far away at the same time.

Ren hoped they could find something abandon, but structurally sound that can handle a group their size. They've grown and grown for months, someone new always joining. What once was a part of 2 now near a party of 15.

The start of their travel wasn't ideal as heading through the lower mountain passes consisted of snow and steep hills. It snowed overnight before their departure causing some annoyance to travel by carriage. A few inches of snow wouldn't derail them but it did slow the pacing of the vehicles. He didn't want to split into two parties yet with SIU on high alert for the rest of the gang. They had numbers on their side if they stuck together.

"Kid, we got a problem that's going to cause a delay. My wheel is in need of repair before its falls off altogether and we get stuck permanently." Ren looks to see Boss's concern, and sure enough, the wheel would need some patchwork.

"I think we can spare an hour, are you able to finish it in time?"

"Time is tight as is for you, I can always catch up later."

"We're also in bears country, you'll be sitting ducks. We can take a short break now but that means further stretch down the road."

"Brother, you sure? I'm inclined to agree with Boss, besides I'm the fastest and can get a head start and find a safe haven.

"No, SIU will be looking for you next, we don't need them picking us off one by one. Just give me a hand so we can fix Boss's wheel and be back on the road." Ren was feeling that shiver down his spine like in previous times before. Nothing, good ever came when he felt unsettled. He could quite tell if they were being watched or followed. The environment was becoming his enemy along with time.

The carriage wheel repair set them back by an hour as Ren, Morgana, Ryuji, and Akechi put their backs into holding the carriage while Boss hammered in the fix, "Alright, she's should be good to go. You boys can ease off."

"Finally! I thought my damn fingers were going to fall off."

"You'll live blondie."

"Breaks over you two, mount up, we're moving out."

"Hear ya loud and clear Joker." The elder Amamiya brother wasn't sure what time of day it was since his father's watch was destroyed. The sun was behind the endless cloudy sky leaving a constant grey tone.

They knew when night fell ad when morning came the first two days. They were still running behind by half a day making their way around the rocky pathways. But the further they went the less snow they encountered. The ground muddy and wet, leaving hooves and wheels imprinted into the earth.

Ren's winter clothes were fairing well so far, he didn't even have to stuff hay inside his shirt for heat. Not when the inside of his Father's jacket had a thin layer of wool stitch inside.

"It appears our visibility is getting worse Ren," Yusuke who was on point described. "With the sun blocked, I think it's closer to supper time, should we stop?"

The Phantom Thieves leader surveys the land, wanting a safe enough spot. They could move off the beaten path tonight and into the trees, close enough to be back on the road by daybreak for them.

"Let's move off the road and unpack for the night. Eat small, we don't want a large fire to alert any undesirables, human and not," he instructed. His uneasy feeling wasn't going away into the evening. He eyed his surroundings sharply but couldn't see anything unusual. The feeling wasn't shaking that he skip over his small meal and tried to sleep.

Sleeping was also proving to be futile when the darkness covered the sky. Giving up his quest for rest, he left the tent. Ryuji and Yusuke took watch around the camp itself while Makoto tended the small fire they built for warmth.

"Can't sleep?" she asked him. He sits right next to her on the ground, staring right into the fire.

"Something like that, I'm feeling….unsettled. Something isn't right, I can feel it."

"Like a hunch?"

"Everything has been going right so far, a bit too well. We've gotten lucky, but that only last so much."

"Then what does your gut feeling say?"

"That we're not alone in these trees. I think we're being watched but I can't sense where."

"You think it's SIU?" she whispered.

"Not sure…stand up." They both got up from the fire, hands on the side arms. Ren whistles out to alert Ryuji and Yusuke to be on guard. An alert system, he and Morgana relied on for years. Return to camp, but watch your backs."

Makoto turned back to back with Ren eyeing the darkness in front of them. She was as alerted as to the man behind her, trusting his instincts. The faint glow of the campfire was all that provided light around them. Eyes and ears working double time.

The bushes shook in front of her causing her grip to tighten, only to release the strained breath at the sight of Yusuke. He was alert as well, walking in a defensive position to the duo.

"I saw nothing on my end, Ryuji is still checking," Yusuke informed them in a low voice. Ren whistles again waking up camp, it was loud enough that it should have caught Ryuji's ear if he was close.

"Defensive positions everyone," the elder Amamiya brother ordered. Weapons out and aimed towards the cover of darkness. The sound of a shotgun blast began the ensuing chaos.

"Ambush! It's a fucking ambush!" The blonde gunslinger fired behind him as he dived back towards camp.

The bright flashes from the gun barrel lit the night sky as both sides fired back. The Phantom Thieves had no idea how many they were facing and where at, only able to rely on the last flashes of light came from.

Makoto spotted an enemy running towards them at full speed before taking him down in one shot. She could hear Ren firing behind her at his own enemies, "Break off and find cover! Noncombatants stay low and in cover. Ann! Morgana cover them," he shouted out.

Akechi was startled awake by the gunfire and shouting and immediately went for his gun. The dim light made addressing the situation difficult. Crouching low he could faintly see the outline of someone sneaking on Yusuke. The former Detective aims and fires with deadly accuracy, "Another 4 O'Clock!" he warns the artist. Yusuke turns to take them out.

Ren sticks close to Makoto behind a cargo box taking out anyone that gets close," How are you holding up Makoto?"

"I'm fine, where are these guys all coming from? Feels like we're surrounded on all sides."

"I don't know just keep shooting." The cover they were behind was riddled with bullets and breaking apart.

Even more battle cries rang through the trees as the enemies ran towards the gang's camp. A large burly man came bolting at full speed tackling the Phantom Thief's leader head-on, dropping his gun. Makoto attempted to get a clean shot in to help REn but the tussling was making it difficult. The added factor of bullets whizzing by wasn't helpful either for her.

"I'll handle….ah…him. Get the others."The man was twice Ren's size and was able to pin him down with ease, knocking the air out of him. Quickly moving his hand, the elder brother jams his thumb in his aggressor's eye allowing him a moment to scramble to his gun. But before he could lay a finger on his, his leg was grabbed and pulled back. Ren tried to kick the man in the face but to little reaction.

"What is it going to take to bring you down!"

Ren was picked up by the neck and thrown to the ground. His teammates were busy with their own skirmishes to pay him any mind. He was grabbed by the neck again and attempted to elbow and punch the burly man while he still had his strength. Kicking, swinging, nothing was working for the Phantom Thief's favor.

Three shots rang out as the large man holding Ren dropped him. He stumbled forward with 3 bullets in his back.

"Nice shooting Detective, what took you so long?"

"Don't celebrate yet, he's still alive," Akechi sounded stunned as he kicked Ren's revolver back to him. He fired 4 more shots into the giant who was still coming after them bulldozing over Akechi. The man took large swings at them but it was slowed. He was still putting up one hell of a fight with 7 lethal bullets in him.

Ren fired all 6 shots of his revolver in the hopes the larger enemy would finally go down with 13. Unable to walk straight forward he fell onto the small campfire burning the body. The exchange of gunfire was becoming less and less until the last enemy was taken out.

"Good riddance, is that all of them? Is everyone alright?" Ren checks damage around him. The carriages have seen better days but the horses were fine. A quick headcount showed no one was lost, though some were bruised and banged up.

"Everyone is accounted for with us Brother, who the hell was those guys?"

"Not SIU, that I can confirm," Akekchi interjects. He was starring at one of the bodies examining it for any clues, none of which indicated they were SIU or undercover. "It could be another gang find us, our faces are blasted over every streetlamp still. Maybe looking for goods or looking for someone."

"You don't think it's Shido's personal army do you?" Ren asked back.

"You would know that side of him than I do, would he send others to do his bidding?"

"Going off of personal experience…yeah, he would. But he should believe I'm dead."

"He probably does think you're dead but not the rest of us. Best to nip it in the bud than have us take our revenge out on him."

"Is this what you all deal with on a daily basis." The elder Nijima spoke for the 1st time. She hated being relegated to the back, but she had no weapons to work with.

"No, not as much as you think, but too many times either way," Ren tried to assure her. The last thing he needs is for her to assume Makoto was in a never-ending daily cycle of life or death. "I know it's late but check the bodies then pile them up, we leave right after."

"It's still the middle of the night?" Ryuji complained.

"And I rather not find out if they have reinforcements on their way while trying to get back to sleep."

"Ren is right, this place is no longer safe. We gotta move quickly," said Makoto siding with her lover.

"I'll help with dismantling the tents," Ann offered just as the others followed suit. Within half an hour, they were packed, fire out, and ready to embark.

It was going to be brutal until their next moment of peace. They wanted to put as much distance as they can between their last resting place and now. Everyone was working on little sleep, little food. Extra patrols during the night to avoid what happened before. They did their best to continue the rotation amongst themselves to avoid any burnout. The only good news was the faster pace and extra night travel allow them to make up time lost. The thieves were on the final day still in need of a more permanent lodging.

"Are we there yet Ren?"

"Not yet Futaba, we'll find something soon." He could see she was fatigue like everyone else, concern for their next step. "Why don't we take an hour. I think we all need it." The horses definitely were overwork, even Arsene trotted slower than normal.

Ryuji immediately found a dry patch on the ground and took a power nap during this brief moment. A real bed by now would be desirable, and a hot bath, and hot food. It was still quite cold even further down the mountains.

"How are you two holding up, do you need anything," he said checking on the youngest members again.

"It's really cold, my face is freezing." Shinya's nose was red and sniffing. He was bundled up as best as he could be for the young boy. Futaba as well as wrapped up with Boss's coat and blankets.

"The moment we're safe for you two, I'll start the nicest, biggest fire pit for you to sit by. Just hang on a little longer alright." The younger boy sniffs his cold nose again but nods.

"You better Ren or you're not going to like what I slip in your drink next time."

The other members broke into groups hunkering around for warmth. Makoto was keeping her elder sister company and catching up like the previous day. Otherwise, he would've asked her personal company. The thought keeps him warm mentally.

"It's been about 30 minutes if you weren't keeping track," The former Detective, stood next to him people watching as well.

"Thank you, wish there was a way to repair my watch but, it's a lucky charm for now."

"We're still a few hours away, what do you plan to do if we don't find lodging in time? SIU patrols are just going to increase the closer we get. We can't rely on staying in the woods either. Not with this weather."

"There's still money left from the Casino, wouldn't hurt to pay for lodging either for a moment."

"That's as long as no one recognizes —"

"HELP!" They were interrupted by a loud scream coming further away from them. A wagon out of control with a single rider, it was heading straight towards the edge of a cliff.

"Shit!, grabbed your horse, everyone stays here." Ren jumped on the tired Arsene to help the struggling stranger, with Akechi not far behind. Wild, uncontrolled wagons were occurrences from time to time. Usually caused by loud noises or a spooked horse.

The Phantom Thief leader and former Detective chased down the runaway wagon, the rider, a lone male was doing his best to grab the loose reins. Ren moves to the front to steer the horses into a turn forcing them parallel to the edge and not off it. Akechi took the other side in an attempt to grab at the reins on the horse's face to yank in the right direction. They were quickly running out of room against a stubborn mare.

The reins themselves were flapping everywhere before Ren could get a solid hold and pull. The wagon horses immediately obeyed sharply and turn, avoiding what would've been an utter disaster.

"Whooo, slow down," the elder brother order the horses into a slow trot before they stopped altogether.

"Thank you two so much for that, I think my horses got startled from a snake and took off. If it came to it, I probably could've jumped off but my research would be destroyed."

"Glad we were able to avert a crisis, Mister…."

"Oh my apologies, I'm Dr. Takuto Maruki. Please to meet your acquaintance."

" Dr? As in medical?" The former detective asked.

"Uh….not quite, most think I'm a quack. But that's neither here nor there. The two of you saved my life, is there anything I can do in return?"

Ren and Akechi took one glance at each other and knew what to ask, "You have lodging we can stay at for an undisclosed time?"

"I do, is it just the two of you?"

"A slightly larger caravan, if that's possible," Akechi included.

"Of course, I'll be happy to help your caravan….."

"Call me Akira, this is Robin," Ren provided their fake names.

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Akira, Mr. Robin."

"Likewise, Doc, our group isn't too far, if you'll follow me, we can meet back up before heading to your residence. It's not too far is it?"

"Not at all, it's outside the city limits."

"Good, good," the elder Amamiya brother mumble under his breath. The trio return to the main group who was on high alert with the sudden disappearance of their leader.

"All clear, runaway wagon." Makoto releases a sigh of relief she didn't know she was holding. She got worried when he took off running with no explanation. She wasn't sure if a threat found them or other dangers he was chasing off.

"Is everything alright," she asked walking up to him.

"Everything is fine, we saved Dr. Maruki here from falling to his death. Better yet, we have a place to stay."

"Can he be trusted?" she spoke in a lower voice.

"That has yet to be seen, but we have the number advantage, should things go south."

"Alright."

Ren turns to address the rest of the gang of good news, "Everyone, this is Dr. Maruki, he is kind enough to offer us housing in exchange for saving him. There should be enough room for everyone, so lets get a move on."

"Hello there, I guess if you all follow me, I can show you to my home."

Ren keeps a close eye on the male doctor, unsure what to make of him, he seemed well mannered, nice, and polite with the minimum conversation started. But just as he told Makoto, if Maruki even breaths wrong or showed sights he was trouble. He would be dealt with appropriately.

"So Dr. Maruki, you said you were a 'quack' Doctor? What do you study?"

"I guess I am considered a Doctor of the heart than a medical one, people laugh when I bring that up. But I can't stitch a cut to save my life," he chuckles, "But I am good at reading people."

"How would that make you a quack doctor though?"

"It's a long story…."

"I see, how far away are we?" Ren asked the new Doctor.

"We are right here actually," he points from his wagon to the large 2 story building in the distance, it didn't look like a normal home or a ranch house. But it was a roof over their heads. "I don't have any clients anymore so feel free to pick whatever rooms. There are washrooms too, but you'll have to draw the water yourself." Ren took note of the information, continuing to stroll up to the front door. It wasn't in pristine shape, but the windows weren't falling out.

"We appreciate this.

"Not all, no one would've taken care of this place if I've gone over the edge. I have some crops in the back that can be used but anything more hearty is all on your hunting skills. Please relax, I'm going to put my horses away."

A few of the Phantom Thieves walked in surveying the building. Nothing suspicious was showing up. The lobby appears to have a common sitting room for people and a reception desk in the center. Peaking in a room, they could see it was fitted with a bed, dresser, and closet, it also looks like a few medical cabinets strewn about.

"What the hell is this place," Ryuji wondered out loud.

"It was a rehabilitation center, I tried to help people. Widows, war veterans, victims of abuse, people have written off as crazy by society all because they couldn't convey non-physical pain."

"Dr. Takemi mentions something similar, an injury to the head, injuries triggered by the senses," Ren recalled.

"In a way yes. But not every client wanted to be fixed." Maruki paused for a moment, "Apologies, I didn't mean to be a downer, please makes yourself comfortable."

With lodging secure, Ren needed to focus on the Town Hall meeting he needed to sneak into. He should still have some time to spare if his calculations were correct. "What time is it"

"Quarter past 4 PM, when is the meeting?"

"Maybe 5 PM or 5:30, I forgot what it said exactly on the paper," Mishima chiming in.

"We deal with the Town Hall first, then sort out the larger gathering. Makoto, Ak-Robin, Ryuji, and Ann with me. Boss, Morgana, hold down the fort. Yusuke come closer." The artist did what was ask as Ren whispered in his ear, "You're good at observing people, keep an eye on our new Dr friend while we're out. We don't need any SIU tricks or surprises. Not sure if his friendly demeanor is a ruse or not."

"Understand, be careful."

"Let's move out," The 5 thieves hopped back on their horses to get to the town in time. If he finds some fresh apples he was sure to treat them to Arsene for all the hard work lately.

With the winter months extending, the days became shorter and the sun was already sinking below the horizon. What awaits Ren beyond the clock were answers he desperately seeks and the chance to see a familiar face after 5 long agonizing years.

A/N Mostly a filler chapter/set up chapter. And we finally have Dr. Maruki. I was debating if I was going to add him in or not but thought he could be a smaller role than his game counterpart. The ball is rolling the Shido arc is starting. I'm excited, I hope your excited. With it being June a lot of gaming news will be coming out so I'm pump. I also will be sorting out the outlines for my follow up persona story I'm planning after this as well.

Feel free to review. Stay safe :)