This story is a work of fiction. Any similarities to events or persons living or dead in your world is purely coincidental.
Night In The City Lights So Pretty To Me
Colors Flashing Bright As We Run Down The Street
Waiting To Find Out Just Who We'll Meet
6/16 Monday
Afternoon
Today finally broke the streak of rain that had plagued the first half of June. As it usually did, to Aiko's understanding- Japan frequently experienced record amounts of precipitation during the summer months, and the smaller isle of Tosashimizu should only have it worse due to being closer to the ocean.
"That's why we always wear hats", captain Tongwa Byzael commented whimsically as the Fiddler's Green glided across the fresh bay waters, far enough away from shore that the school buildings were tiny figures in the distance. "Chances are more than good when you arrive or leave this coast, there'll be rain either coming or going. Or fog, which is even worse for ships."
Unable to wear the hat from her captain's outfit in Faraway Lands, she frantically looked around for a hat before he handed an old, ragged-looking brown one to her. "Sorry. Guess we should get you a new one next time."
"It's alright", she assured him cheerfully. The hat's slight pressure on her head was slightly distracting, but as had happened so many times today and yesterday, any kind of discomfort was nothing next to Kaneshiro's thorns and words. "I'll go to the mall and buy one for myself."
The words were proving more difficult to remove than the thorns.
Is she right? Am I only doing this to save people to make myself feel better? Am I really just... vacant?
"Looks like you've been having a rough time of it lately", Byzael observed from his perch on the bow. "I suppose school is becoming more fast-paced now that you're almost done for the summer?"
She laughed nervously. If only it were just that... "Oh, am I that obvious? Yes. They want to make sure we know everything we have to for the exams next month. Lots of things we have to study."
He gave an earnest smile. "Don't push yourself too hard now, Tsuruga. If you're not feeling up to it, we can head back."
"No", she blurted quickly before clambering up onto the upraised section of the bow as if trying to show she still had energy. She did, but for how long remained to be seen. "No, it's fine. Studying can wait, but this might not. I'll study more next week, promise."
Assuming I'm still alive. Assuming we haven't lost Reiha by then.
Still, the phrase itself felt like a kind of comfort, slipping back into familiar, comfortable patterns that didn't involve the risk of death or pain. There was no doubt left in her mind that Saturday's trials had destroyed much of her previous infatuation with the other word. Now it was merely a task of duty, not seeking the thrill of taking on Shadows as she had before.
If we get through this week okay, she vowed, I solemnly swear I will study after school every single day until we get to exams.
Thankfully, the focused ostracism she'd come to expect seemed to have abated today. No one defaced her locker or called her 'Aiko the Psycho', at least not to her face. Instead, the ever-present river of rumors had divided into two major branches, both coming as a surprise.
The first and more prominent in the endless miasma of gossip filling the halls was about Benihime Kujou losing her position on the SDC, being voted out by the other members after dominating it for two years.
Schadenfreude. That was what Noel had called it. Enjoyment made at the suffering and disgrace of someone you disliked. Kujou was still going to her classes, but apparently she didn't talk to anyone much any more. Her former boyfriend, Kohru Tatsunoko, had been the one leading the effort, even presenting recorded evidence of Kujou's crimes against the foreign exchange students... and against her.
Justice, she preferred to call it. And only two and a half months late.
The second bit of gossip sounded far more fantastical, but recent experiences had taught her not to discard anything out of hand. If the rumors about Faraway Lands turned out true, then anything was possible.
"I've seen a lot of things out on the wide world", Byzael commented as they, made their way over to Okinoshima, another island off Japan's mainland. "But mermaids? That's merely a fable, you know. It's shared by a lot of countries, but still just a legend invented by sailors."
"Maybe", she admitted. Still, something must have started this rumor. "If it is just a legend, why did you agree to take me here?"
Byzael gave a wry, curving smile around his pipe. "Do I really need an excuse to... help train you in the use of my ship?"
She grinned back. "I suppose not." Even those words were an excuse, in a way, covering the simpler reason that he always wanted to spend more time with her in addition to helping her gain new skills.
Most of the time, the feeling was mutual.
Just as Byzael had predicted, their laps around the island proved fruitless. The light rain obscured their vision to a degree, but not so much that she could blame it for their inability to spot any sign of the mauve-colored fins or tails poking out of the surface she'd heard about. After over an hour of this, she felt stupid for ever believing it.
"I'm sorry", she said dejectedly. "I just thought..."
But he didn't look annoyed at all with the waste of time, scanning the water just as carefully as she'd been. "I told you, it's fine. You're young. You're entitled to be fooled into believing certain things. Mermaids don't exist, Tsuruga."
Not in this world, at least, she acknowledged silently.
"Still", he said brightly, trying to cheer her up. "How many kids your age can say they've been anywhere near Okinoshima island?"
"Huh?" Surprised by the energy in his claim, she looked back at the island, searching for some reason for it. Mountainous and covered with thick greenery, it showed no sign of human habitation anywhere. "Is that a nature preserve?"
Byzael chuckled. "Not exactly. You see, it's considered to be a mystic 'holy site', protected by Shinto taboo. Women are forbidden to set foot there, and even men can only go on a certain spiritual holiday on May 27th."
That rocked her. She stared closer, expecting to see some sign of the Shinto claim on the island and finding it in a small shrine on the north terrace. She hadn't heard anything about this last month. "And", she couldn't help but ask, "what would happen if I did go there?"
"Absolutely nothing! Most likely", Byzael noted cheerfully. "Unless someone who cared saw us, in which case we might catch some flak from up on high. Better to keep our distance anyway- there's rocks."
So that's why, she considered. Makes a bit more sense that mermaids, if they existed, might be intrigued by an island with 'mystic power' and want to see it for themselves.
She sighed. Look at me, trying to figure the mind of a mermaid. It's just another stupid rumor, like the kind that Kujou spread about me. I was silly to believe it.
They were on their way back to the coast when Byzael spoke up again. "It's more than just school, isn't it? Something's really bothering you."
How to phrase it? How to bring it across? It felt wrong to completely lie to this man who had taken the position of her mentor with such aplomb. Certainly, Bartholomew and Igor's words had merit in them, and often she could sense the experience of years behind their subtle voices. But Igor and Bartholomew lived in the world of dreams, confined to their Velvet ship. Byzael lived in reality.
"I've just... been thinking about stuff."
"Very descriptive", he observed so swiftly it almost sounded like it wasn't sarcasm. "What kind of stuff?"
So she told him. Not the fine details that had led to this point, but rather the problem itself. One of the problems anyway.
Removing his depleted pipe, he tucked his hat back and gazed out at the water. "They must be teaching you somethin' right if you're dwelling on stuff like that already."
"I don't think it was anything they taught", she amended. "I just sort of... realized it myself. I wanted to make Koashimizu academy my home, but a school isn't meant to be a home. Not even the dorms, though they're definitely better than the one I had back in Tokyo."
She wasn't speaking of that in terms of luxuries of course, but of people. Mirambela was there. Kotone was there. Reiha had been there.
"To do that", she confessed, "I tried helping out as many people as I could, people who were in need. But... It feels like I only did it so I didn't have to see their sadness every day. How shallow is that?"
Byzael snorted, facing her directly as the wind shifted. "Shallow? Why, it's nothing of the sort. D'yeh really think it makes that much of a difference to people why you help 'em?"
"B-but, I care-"
"Great." She hadn't seen this often, but was continually amazed by how much angry derision he could put into a single syllable, something he had in common with Bartholomew. "Then if you're so worried about being 'shallow', just quit doing that. Look after number one, like most folk in this world do. See how that makes you feel inside."
Her face paled. Mistake. Mentioning this was a mistake. "Look, I'm sorry. Sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."
He said nothing for a while, devoting himself to the duties of running the Fiddler's Green, checking their course and tying the sails. When he was done though, she was still there, still not quite sure if she'd done something to seriously damage their bond. "'S fine", he grunted at last. "Just hit a bad beat, 'S all. Don't like seeing treasures go to waste."
"Treasures?"
He barked a laugh. "You. And anyone else in this world who still gives a damn 'bout anyone but 'emselves. More rare and precious than diamonds, y'are. But I do get what you're goin' through right now."
"What I'm...?" Backing into the railing, she sighed, rolling her eyes in exasperation before realizing just how genuine her words were. "Tell me then, captain, what exactly I'm going through. Because I'd love to know that myself."
"Puberty", Byzael joked, watching her reaction before becoming serious again. "'S like I said earlier though. This is the time when kids like you grow up, when they start to realize all sorts of things 'bout the world they live in. Like just how damn big it is. Like just how many people eight billion really is, and just how many of 'em have way bigger problems than you do."
Gruff as his tone was, it was still a much gentler way of putting it than Kaneshiro's tortures had been. She smiled back wistfully. Just watching the news was enough to inform people about enough of that. "And just how insignificant a speck anyone trying to help them is?"
He grinned back. "You're a good girl, Tsuruga. And that's the problem, y'see. You help people you see in need, try and make 'em happy... But you also feel bad for not being able to do more."
Leaning back, she studied the thin streams of clouds in the sky, hiding confusion. How? How had Byzael figured it out so quickly without any knowledge of Faraway Lands, Personas or Shadows?
That question and everything connected to it went away when something colorful flickered in the corner of her eye. Running to the opposite rail, she it again, pointing.
"-There!"
Beside her, Byzael focused as well, trying to grasp what they were seeing. "That can't be a... what is that?"
The sudden rising splash, the way the mauve tail arced out of the water couldn't be a coincidence. "A mermaid!", she exclaimed. Stopping only to discard her outer garments- making way for the bathing suit she'd brought for this very situation- she ran to the rail and dove in against Byzael's warning.
Diving beneath the surface confirmed it. The figure was human-sized, yet possessed of a multicolored tail propelling it through the water. A curly mane of almond hair trailed behind it, but it was still too far away to make out any further details. Not yet. I'm gonna catch you!
She had always been a good, even expert swimmer, already well-versed in the kinds of motions that propelled you forward the fastest with the least amount of energy, as well as how to come up for air on occasion without losing much speed. She was also pleased to note that the area of sea bed they were traversing held none of the strangely-colored marine flora that was apparently being caused by the intrusion of the waters of Faraway Lands. It was beautiful in its own way, seen up close like this.
But in the end, that was her only victory. After what felt like five minutes or more, her prey was even farther away than when she'd started, erasing the lead she'd built up with all her earlier spent energy. Rising up to breach the surface, she stared as the tail flipped up one final time, spitting out water. "Pah... no fair!"
She was only a minute away from the shore at this point, but was glad to see the sharp stern of the Fiddler's Green catching up to her anyway, lowering down a rope when it drew close.
She climbed it up into a bearded face caught somewhere between irritation and amusement. "Here. I hope that was worth the heart attack you almost gave me."
"Sorry", she chuckled, taking the offered towel to dry off. Looking back, it had seemed like a giddy, reckless thing to do... but she'd gone too long without that feeling, that rush. "I just really wanted to catch it."
That's the problem, she decided quietly as Byzael set course for home. I've spent too much time dealing with dangerous stuff that needs me to be serious, to be a leader. It's not just exhaustion from our fights. All work and no play makes jack a bum, or however that phrase goes.
"To catch her", Byzael corrected calmly. "Sorry to disappoint you, but that's not a mermaid."
She coughed out some more water, realizing now just how far she'd pushed herself trying to catch up. "It sure moved like a mermaid."
He sighed. "And how would you know how fast a mermaid is supposed to move? Watching some kid's show? Mermaids aren't real, Tsuruga. That was just a girl in a mermaid costume."
Her face fell. "What?"
"I've seen 'em before", he explained more patiently. "Big ol' rubber fins that you sheathe your legs in. The first ones were just decorative, but recently there's been some improvements in that field where they can actually help to increase your swimming speed. All you have to do is kick your legs up and down together, and its almost like a giant fish tail."
"...Oh." Disappointment felt like heavier water had gotten in through her ears, dragging her down. "You're sure?"
"Positive", he scoffed, politely returning her garments to her. "I told you, that's just a story. A popular one, sure, but just a story." He laughed softly to himself. "For which I'm thankful. Lots of countries I've visited say that mermaids aren't just pretty ladies with fish for their lower halves, but actually vicious predators that attack ships or lure their crew to their doom."
"That's sirens", Aiko corrected him. She knew that much, after reading up on Lorelei, one of her Personas, and learning that she was actually a siren in her own right. A good siren though, one who fell in love with a fisherman...
"More myths", Byzael dismissed her quibbling with an amused nod. "Funny how so many of 'em are pretty ladies."
Far from distracted, she turned back to watch the stretch where the 'mermaid' had gone. "I'm the best swimmer I know, and still she was faster."
"Tired, and wounded in pride", he joked. "Definitely time to head back."
Catching the hint, she moved to help him through the final leg, beaching the ship in the same place they'd found it. If nothing else about Byzael impressed her, it would be the strength he had in order to push the tiny boat back out with only the aid of two ballast chains at the front.
"Where do you get those?", she asked out loud after thinking it over some. "Mermaid costumes, I mean?"
"Well y'see, there's these funny things called costume shops..."
She slapped her forehead. "Right, sorry. Still tired." Costume shops, or their more commonly-used term 'cosplay shops' were seemingly everywhere in Tokyo and a consistently growing market, but a much rarer sight here in Tosashimizu.
In fact, she could only remember seeing one. The one in the mall. So, unless that 'mermaid' is from out of town, she had to have shopped there.
Bidding the captain a fond farewell, she smiled, humming to herself. Got you after all.
6/17 Tuesday
After School
As always, Pelagio saw her coming long before she saw him fluttering up to a rock near their 'hideout'. The bright-feathered falcon seemed completely recovered from the trials from last Saturday, constantly twitching about to cast his raptor's gaze on any moving object, bringing an exaggerated stateliness to his voice as if trying to convince Aiko that he was ready for anything, even a return trip to Reiha's Land.
"You wished to speak with me, captain?"
"Yes. I did", she nodded, first producing a plastic container from the dorms. "I meant what I said to you on Sunday before, about not appreciating you enough... But I also know that actions speak louder than words. So, here you go- Mushi-pan steamed cakes, and caramel-stuffed crepes on the side."
Pelagio stared into the small collection of desserts in confusion, then wonderment. "This... you brought all this here? For me?"
"Got it from the Starlight diner, after my night shift on Sunday", she explained proudly. "They were having a sale. Guess they ordered too much of the stuff to make 'em or something, 'cause they hardly ever put desserts on sale on a weekend."
"...I see." He couldn't hide the way his wing muscles relaxed at the news that she had not been the one to make the desserts. After the disaster at their picnic, one could hardly blame him.
"For the record", she noted, "Otogi-san has been teaching me how to cook better when we're not busy at the Starlight."
"Hmph. I said nothing", Pelagio protested, walking over to sample a tiny bite of one of the steamed cakes, basically round white puffs of dough stuffed near to bursting with bean paste.
He paused, processing the sensations only a moment before his beak opened again.
"This is... mmm...!"
"You like it?", she asked anxiously.
The speed at which he zoomed in for another bite answered that, and she took the cake into her hand, moving it closer so his head wouldn't always have to travel so far. Before long the first cake was gone.
"Thank you, captain. That was... illuminating. And most welcome."
"Any time", she offered before hastily amending. "That is, any time I'm working at the diner and have time to buy desserts before I catch the campus bus... What's wrong? Don't like the crepes?"
Looking more apprehensive now, Pelagio studied the thin pastry rolled closely. "It is not a matter of 'like', I'm afraid. This is not the first time I have tried human food, or even desserts such as these. Restaurants such as the one you work at toss out an incredible amount of food for reasons I have yet to discern."
Her jaw fell. "You shouldn't eat out of dumpsters!"
"Yes", he agreed. "I understand that now. I have learned that most human food contains a large amount of what they call 'sugar'. Since my body is much smaller, this 'sugar' has a greater effect on me than it does them. For several hours afterwards I felt rather ill... and these smell as though they have a great deal of sugar in them. I'm afraid I must decline your magnanimous offer, captain."
"The caramel", she realized. "Oops. Guess I forgot about that."
"Hey! Don't feed the birds!", a passerby jogger called to her, seeing her intent. "It's bad for them!"
Playing along, she leaned back to address him. "It's fine! He's a magical bird!"
With an exasperated shrug, the jogger continued on.
"It's fine", she said, sensing a protest from Pelagio before it came. "Even if he actually calls someone, we'll be gone by then. Another cake? They're not as sugary, right?"
"They are not", Pelagio agreed, looking tempted to take another offered bite. "However, I believe this will be enough for now. As I have mentioned, I am smaller than the rest of you, and require much less food to operate at full efficiency. I would suggest that you eat the crepes, and set aside the cakes for later."
They were quite delicious, even after sitting in the container for so long. Licking the caramel off her fingers, Ai turned back to him. "I just didn't like the idea of you eating mice all the time."
Folding his wings protectively, Pelagio regarded her at an angle. "And yet, that is how other birds of my kind nourish themselves. I have become quite efficient at it. I'm certain they taste better than Shadows would, at any rate."
"R-right", she tried not to look too repulsed at either prospect. It was just one more reminder that Pelagio had spent years alone in Faraway Lands, fighting only to survive with no one but the Shadows for company. Killing and eating mice or other rodents was just a variant of that routine, though apparently Morgana disliked it, always preferring human food if he could get it. "That was the other reason I wanted to talk to you, actually."
"Yes, captain?"
Not quite sure how to explain it in words at first, she withdrew her phone. "I can call Mira-chan, Rosea-kun, and Vitienne-kun any time I need to on here. But you can't use a cell phone, or at least you can't carry one with you."
"Ah", his head bobbed, comprehending. "So you seek a method to contact me with similar efficiency for our operations. Perhaps we could purchase a new phone and hide it in the cavern somewhere?"
Aiko shook her head, counting the reasons off on sticky fingers. "That place is damp and I don't think a phone would last very long in there. You'd still have to be near the phone to hear it ring. Also, I'm not sure if your speech would carry through a phone, or if it would just come across as noise."
"Perhaps I should learn to create text messages instead?", he suggest idly before returning to the problem at hand. "Hmmm... Ah! I think I may have the answer. How good are you at whistling, captain?"
She rang out a brief, high-pitched ditty before smiling. "Captain Byzael taught me how."
"Excellent." Pelagio's tone of satisfaction masked any lingering resentment about the mention of the old fisherman. "Then we need only develop a specific code, and I shall come to you when you when I hear it."
"A code?", she wondered. "Of whistles?"
"Yes. As you have seen, my sense of hearing is far greater than a human's. Sometimes to my detriment, if I may say so. But I'd certainly be capable of hearing a distinct, high whistle pattern over a crowd. So long as you remained outdoors and did not travel too far away from the school campus, that is."
She brightened, clapping. "That's perfect! I love it!"
"Call me any time that you wish", he offered with a formal bow on his rigid talons. "I remain, as ever, your sworn protector, captain."
His standard posturing brought her back to the other half of her goals here today. "Thanks. It's just like I said. You watch the gate for us, you watch the dorms in case the Masked Circle tries anything. Pela-tori... you always try to keep all your problems to yourself. You push yourself to the limit and beyond for us, and I thought you deserved something tastier than mice to eat at least."
His fierce raptor face couldn't really convey happiness or satisfaction effectively. Only his normally aloof voice could. "I greatly appreciate these gifts, captain. And..."
"And this isn't just for our operations", she blurted. "I want to get to know you better. It's not fair. Up until now, you've basically been like a flying butler to me. To us. Except I can't pay you in anything but desserts. So... if there's anything that's ever bothering you, just talk to me. I'll listen. Maybe I'll be able to help."
"My duty is its own reward", Pelagio emphasized, fierce eyes penetrating. "However... I do greatly appreciate such a gesture, captain. Of course, your orders are absolute. If ever I am imperiled, I shall let you know of it."
"That's all I ask", she nodded in relief. "Talk to us. Even Rosea-kun, if that's okay."
"Hmph." He sounded strangely thoughtful however. "I must admit, I have grown to appreciate the brat's... tenacity. He is a skilled marksman, loyal to our cause, and will follow orders when it is crucial, if at no other time. At any rate, he is certainly more tolerable than the flea-ridden feline."
"Great", she smirked, unable to help herself. "I'll make sure I tell him that tomorrow."
His cursing lit up the evening calm, though only she would truly understand.
6/18 Wednesday
After School
"So how was that?", Jiachi asked once they were out of the movie theatre's practiced darkness. "I know it's kinda old, but it did get remastered this year, and that level of acting's never goin' out of style. Beastwood's still the best in the business. Always will be."
"It was fine", Aiko said, not really dwelling much on the quality of the ancient cowboy film they'd just watched together. It had a lot of grizzled tough guys, wild horses, pretty women and loud gunfights over riches as well as the aforementioned women, and that was about all she'd understood of it. While initially it brought back bad memories of Jiachi's Land, eventually she had managed to focus and recognize some of the characters, particularly the one played by the eponymous 'Glint Beastwood' actor. "I liked the horsies. And the part when they played cards together and became friends"
"Never knowing that they were secretly undercover members of opposing gangs!", Julian gushed excitedly. "Never knowing that the next day, they'd all go out and kill each other for love and glory. Real men. So cool."
"Actors, though", she reminded him gently. "Don't get too Taurus on me please."
Offended enough to stop walking, letting her pull ahead, he gaped. "Oh, come on. Cheap shot. That guy's just a psycho who fights for fun. Taurus? More like 'Bore Us'. Not a real man at all. A real man fights for a purpose. Ever watch The Cake Knight Rises? It's kinda like that."
"Um." She stuttered.
"Oh? Guess we'll need to watch that one later too, yeah?"
"Is this okay?", she managed at last, surprising him. "I know all about your family. Does your dad know you're going out and watching American movies? With me?"
Julian raised his eyes to the sky as they passed back onto Tosashimizu city's main street. "Shitbiscuits. You just had to bring the mood down, huh? But it's alright. Really. My old man's not as harsh about that stuff as he used to be." Running his hands through his hair, he gave an awkward smile. "Guess we know why that is."
Aiko frowned. "You shouldn't take advantage of the fact that he cares for you though."
Jiachi shrugged, slowing down near a bus stop. "Who said I was? He just doesn't have the time to ride my ass about it any more. Not since they took me aside and 'told' me about Kibo."
Those words stopped her too, gaping at what he meant. "Kibo?"
"Yeah", he gave a more genuine smile. "Kibo. Japanese word for 'hope'. That's what they're calling him. The docs say he'll be born in about two more months, tops."
"That's wonderful!"
"Yeah", he looked to the sky in a rare moment of euphoria, remembering how the mere knowledge that he was going to have a baby brother soon had saved him from the lures of Faraway Lands and dispelled the grip of his Shadow. "It really is. I just hope I get to have a say in how he grows up; if my old man gets his way, that poor kid's gonna be nothin' but a mindless drone. I want him to know about both sides of his heritage, like me."
"You can worry about that when he's older", Aiko assured him. "For now, just enjoy what you have. I've always wanted to have a younger brother or sister myself."
"Shame 'bout that", he agreed, coming back down to earth. "Sorano-chan told me about your mom. Guess she's got siblings to spare, right?"
"Eight brothers and sisters sounds like a bit much", she admitted. "Especially when you're the youngest one."
"No argument there." Drifting into a larger crowd now, the two fell silent for a stretch, anxious about talking about their 'special activities' no matter how unlikely it seemed that someone might hear and understand what they spoke of.
Once they were clear, Julian stared back over his shoulder. "Brings back memories, doesn't it?"
"Of Tokyo?" Certainly, the most crowded parts of Tosashimizu city resembled Tokyo at their most packed, though that landmark city was like the crowd and store density of Tosashimizu's main street spread out for dozens of kilometers in every direction. "I told you before, I prefer this place. Less crowds means less noise."
"Guess so", he shrugged. "But I still wanna see it some day. See if it's really as amazing as everyone says. Maybe we can go there for summer break?"
The idea halted her. "Well... I was planning to go back myself for the break. I guess there wouldn't be a problem with having company. Mira-chan's going back to her home country for the summer. I'll have to ask if Vitienne-kun is doing the same."
"And of course we'll have to bring the angry bird along", he grumped. "He'd never let you out of his sight that long."
"Be nice", she cautioned him, easily coming back to the previous days' experience. "It sounds harsh... but we're all he has."
That actually made him quiet for the rest of the trip to the narrow series of alleys she had first visited with Reiha. Seeing a familiar tall figure leaning against a set of boards opposite the door, she resisted the urge to criticize his lack of stealth acumen. "How long were you waiting?"
"Not long", Noel spoke in a hushed tone that suggested he'd been more cautious than she first assumed. "Father Shigetsu had no further need of me today, and I considered it wise to make sure the good doctor was actually in first. It would quite a waste for us to go to all this trouble getting together, and then find out he's out somewhere."
Still, she couldn't help but fret a little about Shigetsu. Burdened with the ability to sense the presence of Shadows after an encounter with one six years ago, his reaction on sensing Julian's own Shadow emerging into the real world had cost him his congregation, and left him alone, watching over a shrine he insisted was sacred ground, but without their help he sometimes struggled to merely feed himself.
"Who?", Julian prodded urgently. "Okay Tokyo girl, enough teasing at it already. Time for the real reason you wanted to drag me over here after the movie was over... and I assume you asked Vitienne to be here too?"
Nodding apologetically, Aiko studied them both for their reactions. "Dr. Spica. The one I mentioned to you before, who knows Hayato-senpai better than any of us. If anyone can figure out what it'll take to get her out of there, it's him."
"Does he know?", Noel asked thoughtfully after a moment. "Does he know what's happened to her?"
"I don't think so", Aiko considered. "He's a bit... odd. But I don't think he knows about the other world, and I don't plan on telling him unless we absolutely have to."
"Sounds like you're afraid of him", Julian sounded perturbed. "I guess a dude who lives in this part of town could be a bit off. What's the plan?"
For once, she didn't mind the attention as she spoke, outlining what she had imagined as the best way to make the man confess his secrets, or rather Reiha's secrets. When she was finished, the two boys' expressions had reversed; Noel looked horrified at what was to come, but also resolved to see it through, while Jiachi looked just as excited as he'd been coming out of the theater.
"I can see why you didn't want Sorano-chan along for this", Noel found his voice first. "She would have protested it."
"Probably", Aiko acknowledged, uncomfortable with the way he was staring at her.
"And how do you know I wouldn't?"
Forcing herself to match his gaze, she shook her head. "I didn't. And if you don't like it, you don't have to come with us. But we're doing this, with or without you. If we don't do it, Hayato-san says right where she is. She ends up like Furusato-san. Gone forever."
Noel's fists clenched white and he made a hiss of vexation. "Of course when you say it like that, really we have no choice, now do we? Alright. Let's get this over with."
Raharjo Mayaha Aspicaya never expected customers. Only visitors, and rare ones at that. They were usually bad news for him.
He couldn't be sure yet if the three visitors making their way into what he might hesitatingly call his 'lab' were that type or not. While he recognized the cute young face of Aiko Tsuruga, Reiha's friend and enlistee in his search for more samples from the seafloor to prove his theories about the contagion spreading through the waters of Tosashimizu, the look on that face didn't suggest tonight would be a friendly visit as before.
Nor did the look on the two young men with her.
"Hello, Tsuruga", he acknowledged her curtly. "Did you find any more samples?"
Looking thoughtful, she left the other two behind and approached the counter, studying the metal band around his neck so she didn't have to look him in the eye. "Maybe. It depends."
"Depends?", he chuckled in confusion. "Depends on what?"
"On what you're actually using them for."
Neither of the other two made a visible reaction to that, but it was felt all the same. Recovering, he studied her more closely, still maintaining the facade of an eccentric yet jolly man. "I'm afraid I don't understand. What do you mean?"
"She doesn't like it when people lie to her", one of the boys answered, a cinnamon-haired lad with an athletes' build and a dangerous look in his eye. "Me, though? I hate when people lie to me."
Spica studied him carefully, trying to comprehend what he was hearing. That voice and poise was strangely contorted, rolling his syllables over-aggressively as if...
As if sensing what he was thinking, he leaned back for a moment, allowing a short length of lead pipe to slide down his sleeve into his hand. "It just makes me so damn mad that I can't help but look for a way to vent my frustration, yeah?"
The taller boy, a blond one, obviously foreign, spoke up then. "Hiragi, come on. There's no need for that now. He's a friend, yes?"
Eyes deceptively innocent, Tsuruga rapped the glass counter to call his attention back to her- or perhaps to just how many things in his lab were made of glass. "We need to know about Hayato-senpai", she emphasized heavily. "Assuming that she is Hayato-senpai."
"About Tawa?", he pondered. "Why don't you ask her yourself?"
Hiragi took the pipe, gently tapping it along the case holding some of his samples, the noise growing louder as he got closer. "Told ya. I hate liars. Keep that up, and I just don't know what might happen."
He turned back to Tsuruga accusingly. "These people are your friends?"
"I know", she noted apologetically. "Hiragi-san has a bad temper sometimes. But we need to know the truth, doctor. No matter what it takes."
"Hiragi", the other boy warned, clearly dreading the likely outcome. "I don't like that look in your eye."
"Shut the fuck up, Akiyama", Hiragi scowled furiously. "This is my business. Can't have liars and thieves messing up our neighborhood, can we now? Otherwise we'll end up like Shinjuku."
Akiyama turned to Spica with pleading eyes. "Please, doctor. Just tell us the truth. I don't know what he'll do if you don't."
Spica had a fairly good idea of what would happen if he didn't... but the alternative was still too much to consider. He could replace glass. He couldn't replace his own life.
"I'm sorry, I still don't know what-"
Just as expected, the next step up in the threat level was actually smashing the pipe into the case, shards of glass covering the flora within. "Oops", Hiragi remarked.
Having had enough, Spica rose from his seat. "I'm calling the police."
But Tsuruga held his gaze tight, refusing to let go. "No you're not. You'd never bring the police in here. That would risk letting them see the things you've got in the back room. Are you grinding up those samples I got for you, doctor? Making powders?"
Hiragi had now turned to the aquarium in the center of the room. "Pretty", he said of the fish darting through its core. "Shame if something happened to it."
"Please!", Akiyama begged, almost in tears at this point. "Please, enough. I'll pay you for the case. Please..."
Hiragi had the pipe within inches of the glass, but suddenly stopped. He smashed a few more of the cases instead, including the ones holding regional maps before ripping them too.
And Dr. Spica realized that he still hadn't moved from his spot, hadn't delivered on his own threat. Hiragi caught that look in his eye too, and walked up to him, raising his weapon, ready to bring it down-
"Stop!", he shouted, blunt force trauma inches away from his skull, his hands raised in surrender. "Alright, alright. Enough! Just... let me lock the door first." Like I should have in the first place.
Amazingly, the Tsuruga girl didn't flinch. She merely reached down to touch a tiny ruby shard, as if imploring it for luck. "You can tell Akiyama-kun how to lock the door for you."
Tsuruga, he was beginning to realize, was a great deal more cunning than he'd originally thought of someone who didn't have the slightest idea of how ecology worked.
"T-the deadbolt", he muttered. "There's a chain along the top of the door. Slide it in and turn the winch. Then move the bar in the middle out and pull the slider."
When all that was done, Hiragi still looked menacing. "Should we take off your shirt? See what kinda tattoos you've got on your back?"
"That won't be necessary", he grunted resentfully. "It's obvious that you already know. Just as it's obvious that you're no Yakuza, 'Hiragi'."
Carelessly dropping the pipe, he shrugged, all his earlier hostility bleeding away in mere seconds. "Maybe to you it's obvious. I thought it was pretty good myself."
"Close", he admitted. "But like most people, you learned everything you know about them from movies and television. Not from personal experience."
"Unlike you", Aiko piped up, sounding ashamed at the trick she'd helped pull off but equally determined not to let go of what they'd earned. "Maybe we should go into the back room, to be safe."
Looking from one of his unwanted guests to the other and back, Spica nodded carefully. "That would be best, yes."
"And I will pay you to replace the glass", Akiyama promised him, bowing in contrition and dropping any effort to mask his accent. "Please forgive us, herr doktor. We had no one else who could help us with this predicament, and we knew that you would not confess the truth willingly."
Grimacing, he said nothing back until they were all safely in the back room with the large table. The map had many more spots than before indicating signs of contamination, but they ignored it for now, Hiragi leaning on it while Akiyama and Tsuruga took up chairs.
"Please don't touch that", he pleaded when he saw Hiragi reaching over towards a locker on the opposite table.
"Why?", he scoffed. "Is that where you keep your powders?"
"No." Seeing he wouldn't be satisfied with that answer, Spica sighed. "If you really must know, it's where I keep my failures. The Sudoku puzzles I haven't been able to complete, so I don't have to look at them."
On the verge of laughing, he hauled himself back into character but couldn't stop himself from asking further. "You could just throw them out."
"Never", the doctor vowed. "I plan to solve them all eventually. Throwing them out would be admitting defeat."
Amazed at how nervous he sounded considering that Hiragi was merely playacting as a true Yakuza gokudo, Spica considered how to approach the subject that had dominated much of his life. "Now. Firstly, my goal is true", he emphasized to Tsuruga. "I really do wish to determine the cause of this malady, and how we can stop it. I don't grind up my samples, at least not to make those kinds of powders."
"But you were a criminal for some time", Aiko reminded him firmly. "Does Hayato-san know about that?"
His face grew dire, the painful old secrets he'd kept for so long rising to its surface. "Yes. She does. That is how we met, and how I have been able to help her, to keep her safe. My old job in the syndicate wasn't violence, or producing drugs... It was forging identifications."
Even that admission felt like an irreversible line crossed, its presence hanging over the room like a dark shroud, and he drew himself up to his full height to make his stance clear. "Tell the police any word of this", he continued sternly, "and Tawa is doomed, along with me. That's not a threat, do you understand? It's a simple fact. The syndicate doesn't have much of a presence out here yet, but if they found out the truth, Enmikaeda would send whoever he had to in order to silence the both of us. And most likely you as well, for knowing too much."
"We'll see", Tsuruga said, strangely unperturbed.
Unable to stop himself, Spica let out a low chortle at the supposedly dangerous 'Hiragi'. "You see, that's the other thing that tipped me off that you weren't the real deal. Tsuruga is doing all the talking for you here. You're clearly waiting on her order. No one in the Dragon syndicate, from the most honored of the heavenly kings to the lowest-ranking street sweeper, would ever take orders from a female. To them, young women are only pawns and tools to make money, nothing more."
"They haven't met our Tokyo girl", Hiragi argued, looking embarrassed at his appraisal regardless. "Still, you're right about that. I know just how dangerous those guys are. Movies and television taught me that much."
"You did manage to pull off a passable impression of them", he admitted, amazed at how cordial he was being to someone who had willingly damaged his property and threatened his person, even if it had been an act. "I could feel the anger, the urge to violence rolling off of you. Just like the usual crop of ill-tempered young men they usually hire on as their 'debt collectors'. That ire can't be faked, not completely."
"Reiha Hayato", Aiko hammered the name down, driving them back to the subject. "Who is she, really?"
Spica took a deep breath, knowing this confession would be even more difficult than his last. It was a secret he'd shared with no one before now, not daring to even think it. He'd even invented a fake nickname to conceal the truth, and safeguard their lives.
"As I said", he whispered in defeat. "I am myself a skilled forger of false identities, even today. Reiha Hayato... is not Reiha Hayato. She's actually nineteen years old, not seventeen as the birth certificate I created for her says. And her true name, her birth name... is Ruri Kaneshiro."
The city's colossal architecture spanned the skyline, offering a myriad of perfect vantage points for her to perch from and survey the majority of the sprawl.
And that, Hex considered, was the problem slowing her movements now, making her feel listless unless she kept moving around.
It was perfect. Too perfect. This entire city felt designed, planned out like some video game environment. She hadn't noticed until Aiko and the others had come, and tried to explain to her its true nature. She hadn't been listening. She hadn't wanted to listen...
Too much. Not something this city's protector should have been bothering with. That was another thing about this place; when it was quiet, that peace inevitably felt like a calm before the storm. Any time she felt like maybe she could rest a while, another incident would pop up. Joker would be sighted somewhere hatching one of his vile schemes, or other criminals would try and infiltrate buildings containing innocent citizens.
And every time she caught up to Joker, that most vile of criminal masterminds, he inevitably escaped somehow. Until that wretch and the other Phantom Thieves were finally caught, no one here could breathe easy.
She figured this strange quiet had more to do with the reconstruction efforts than any deliberate pause by the criminal element. So many buildings had been destroyed by the criminal brawls recently that numerous cranes had been brought out to begin piecing everything back together, operated by strong police officers in case of an attack, unused materials on wood pallets lining the outskirts. The entire area had been blocked off, though no civilian would risk exiting their homes anyway.
Of course, police had never been able to stop Joker and the other rogues before, even under the supervision of zeppelin search lights... and another light beaming through the dark sky, one shaped like a pentagram. Need to stay mobile. Time to move, check in with the commissioner to make sure everything's okay.
Following the recent raid on city hall, the police had transitioned their base of operations to a different, smaller building. As ever, the commissioner was waiting next to the enormous halogen light creating its unmissable signal.
"Everything proceeding as planned?", Hex asked, emerging from the Shadows but not surprising her- they'd been through this routine too many times to count.
"As well as can be expected", the older-looking, black-dressed woman responded smoothly, trying her best not to let anyone see how the current situation distressed her. "It seems that this level of destruction is enough to scare away even criminals. Or perhaps they're just waiting for us to drop our guard."
"I thought the same", Hex agreed, precise words not muffled by her mask. "I'm sorry."
The commissioner's eyebrow raised. "Sorry? For what?"
A black glove gestured to the demolished masonry. "For this. I can't help feeling if I hadn't aided Aiko Tsuruga, this wouldn't have happened."
The woman's yellow eyes narrowed. "That was a grave mistake, certainly... but it wasn't Tsuruga or her friends who rained down this destruction on our home. It was Joker, and the new criminal called Prince Taurus. Their fighting caused the deaths here."
"Joker...", Hex snarled, fists clenching. "I should have brought him and his minions to justice long ago. And Taurus is no better. He cares nothing for the people he hurts."
"But you tried to catch him", the commissioner reminded her earnestly. "He was the one who retreated from you. If he comes back, we'll get him. Just like we'll get Joker some day."
"Some day", she promised tersely. "But Taurus was strong. Stronger than me."
Far from offended by her worries, the commissioner moved to shut the light down. "Then you shouldn't fight him alone. Him, or any of those rogues."
Not understanding, Hex stared back. "What? You? But-"
"No, no", she chuckled politely. "Much as I'd like to, I'm too much of a target. Behind you."
Spinning around, Reiha saw a healthy orange flame burst to life behind them. A second one followed, igniting next to it. Four other identical flames followed after, creating a loose pattern of fire that illuminated the main body. Even though it wore black robes and floated off the ground like a ghost, she could hardly believe such a large, imposing figure could have remained hidden from her for so long.
A dark gray skull-shape mask clung to the new arrival's face, a pair of tiny glowing yellow stars serving as eyes within the empty sockets. Behind it lay more formless layers of darkness, a large ring protruding out from the back and serving to hold the creature's six torches in place, yet occasionally moving like a wheel, leaving brief trails of fire behind it.
"Scary-looking", she joked for a moment before returning her focus to the mission. "Is that another intruder?"
The robed wraith said nothing, searing pinpricks of eyes merely looking to the commissioner for guidance.
"He was", she explained. "Another former criminal. But he's changed his ways, and eager to fight for justice now. He'll accompany you, and help you to take down Joker along with any other criminals who try to threaten this city."
Momentarily overcome with the realization- or perhaps other things- she glanced back at the new enforcer, not wanting to seem ungrateful for such a gift. "He looks kind of bulky. I have to move fast to get where I need to go in time."
But it was the flame-bearing wraith who responded to her quibble, floating up into the sky above them before regarding them with a fierce gaze behind its motionless mask.
"...Never mind. Thank you. I'm sure he'll be useful."
"He'll obey your every command", the commissioner promised. "And he's definitely strong enough to take down the intruders."
The way she said the last word reminded Reiha of the internal troubles which had brought her here, and she was grateful that the mask concealed the doubt creeping onto her face. Though it augmented it with a masculine growl, it couldn't seep the doubt out of her voice.
"Intruders, right... But not all of them are bad."
The other woman's acrid yellow eyes widened, just as taken aback by that declaration as expected. "You're talking about Tsuruga and her allies, aren't you? But even if they didn't directly cause this damage, they were still responsible for the raid on city hall. They are still criminals."
Suddenly she couldn't move. Couldn't think straight. Two impulses rose within her, each fighting to cancel the other out, until she thought her helmet might burst apart, the pain driving her down to her knees.
"N-no...", she whispered, chains of realizations bombarding her only to be quenched by denials. "No. That's wrong. They weren't there to do damage. They were there to rescue Tsuruga."
"Yet they did do damage", the commissioner's burning gaze held no mercy in it at all. "They destroyed several floors making their getaway, and killed many fine officers of the law trying to stop them. Even if they didn't intend it, they caused serious harm. They don't belong here. They are criminals, and if they return here, they must face justice the same as Joker."
Paralyzed, brain aching from clashing thoughts, she came within inches of hitting the woman without even knowing why.
It felt like falling.
Yes, she's right. They don't belong here.
But they were trying to save me. They want me to return.
Who cares what they think? It's my life!
Your life to throw away? They care about you!
And I care about justice.
You aren't-
But the other woman had managed to detect the internal war, moving over and placing a gentle gloved hand over her armored shoulder, looking down at their city's champion.
"I understand", she observed sympathetically. "She's your friend from the other world. And the willpower in her- in all of them- is admirable. But they shouldn't be here. They should remain in their world. Here, they're merely obstacles to our justice."
"Y-yes", Reiha whispered, extremely grateful to have a new voice here to settle the argument that was tearing her apart. "Yes. That's right. They shouldn't have been here to start with. They were just worried about me, that's all. They don't get that I've never been happier."
"That's right", her guide echoed, the conviction in her voice mesmerizing, impossible to deny as she helped the masked vigilante back to her feet. "They don't truly understand you. They don't understand that you could no longer live in a world without any justice in it."
"Justice", she hiccuped, shame at her vulnerable state creeping into her poise even as she tried to stand. "Is what we do really...?"
But it was all right. Everything was alright. It was fine to be vulnerable here, to confess her momentary weaknesses. The commissioner always knew, always understood. Her next words sounded harsh, but even as she spoke Reiha felt her heart accepting them as truth.
"What we do is protect this city from criminals who would tear it apart. We can't do that in the other world- the rot is too deep there. Justice in the world of humans has been abolished. It can't be saved from corruption. But this city remains a bastion free of that, so long as you continue your crusade. It's... yours."
Yes. She was right. She was always right. She could even hear the innocent people calling, crying out for a savior. "Yes. Yes... it's mine. Mine to protect."
"And yours to name", the older woman remarked. "You haven't given it one yet, have you?"
"...No." No, of course she hadn't done that yet. Because she hadn't yet accepted it as hers. Hers to guard, hers to enact justice for. A place where that was possible, that hadn't been lost to corruption.
Until now.
Standing, she studied the ring behind their new ally closely, considering and connecting for what felt like the first time just how many silver ring shapes, both subtle and overt, were positioned throughout the city. Her city.
Rings. Just like... like him. Like Dr. Spica. Like his lab.
The city's array of lights, of blacks and whites flickered at her, as if waiting for an answer, eager to be christened.
"Shirubashiti", she proclaimed from the rooftop. "This city's name will be Shirubashiti."
The torch-bearing wraith made no reaction at the name, but the commissioner nodded approvingly. "Hm. Appropriate."
"I thought so." The name helped her stand taller. It gave concrete foundation to what she'd sworn to protect. Goodbye, Tosashimizu. Hello, Shirubashiti.
She wasn't fool enough to think there wasn't anything back in Tosashimizu she wouldn't miss. Spica. Tsuruga. The feel of the sun's rays on her skin...
Goodbye, sun.
Once again the commissioner seemed to have sensed her thoughts. Or more importantly, her lingering reservations. "Shirubashiti... a silver city of eternal night may be the only place where true justice can hold sway. Only when every criminal here has been dealt with can the sun shine through."
"Hail horrors", she joked back, confidence growing. "Hail, infernal world." Certainly, she knew that many of the police here were not human. They were other beings, utterly alien to the world she knew, some of them even resembling various mythical creatures of folklore.
But as surprising as it seemed, she wasn't bothered by it. If anything, it seemed only fitting that her city would also be home to the myriad creatures of the night. But only the ones who play nice. The ones who cause any trouble will answer to me.
And to him, she recognized, glancing back at her new companion. Another fearsome creature that looked to have origins from some classic Victorian horror story with its gruesome opera mask and intimidating eyes even glowing brighter than the cores of his torches, the rest of him shrouded in formless darkness.
"I'll be leaving this city for a while", the commissioner remarked, trying to sound casual. "I have business elsewhere. But I know I'll be leaving it in good hands now. Protect it. Punish any criminals who threaten it. Even that Prince Taurus. Even Aiko Tsuruga."
"Even..." Hesitation, a pause... and then she clamped down, resolve as heavy as the collar of her helmet or the ring on her new companion's back. "...Yes. Even Tsuruga and her friends. We'll chase them away. They're not made for a place like this."
"I knew I could count on you", the other woman nodded, signaling to the floating wraith as well. "Remember. You are Hex. You are our watchful protector. Our guardian of justice."
"Yes." Her eyes closed behind the mask, wondering if this was when she would finally wake up. "Yes. I am. And so are you."
This is my dream.
This is my destiny.
Persona Profile #13: Zorro
Arcana: Magician
Strength: Wind
Weakness: Lightning
Abilities: Garudyne, Magarudyne, Salvation, Diarahan, Samarecarm, Miracle Punch, Masukunda, Wind Amp
Background: A masked swordsman of justice who fought in California against corrupt officials during the era of Spanish rule. He always left his "Z" mark with his rapier wherever he appeared.
A/N: Thanks to AllFatherFord EnPassant4264 for the reviews. I hope you enjoy the rest of it.
To answer Ford's earlier question, Akira didn't call Satanael in his battle against Prince Taurus/Ryuken Samesaji for two reasons:
1- As he noted several times, he's badly out of practice after living a normal life for six years, so he didn't want to go for his strongest Persona right away and risk overtaxing himself, hence why he started out with Arsene and gradually upgraded his arsenal to Lucifer and Metatron as the fight went on.
2- He was worried Satanael's chaotic power could potentially destroy Reiha's entire Land as collateral damage, killing his allies by accident (as seen in a certain other story recently...). He didn't even want to kill Ryuken if he could help it, as he is still a human, just a very twisted, bloodthirsty human.
Because EnPassant was interested in who is which Arcana, I will provide a refresher for the ones I have revealed so far:
0 Fool – Igor (Master of the Velvet Room)
I Magician- Bartholomew Roberts (One-Eyed Attendant)
II Priestess- Mirambela Sorano (Dancer)
V Hierophant- Father Shigetsu (Deacon of the Unnamed Shrine)
VII Chariot- Nanseki Umaeda (Aging Swordmaster)
VIII Strength- Pelagio (Guardian)
X Fortune- Raharjo Mayaha Aspicaya (Shady Scientist)
XII Hanged Man- Julian/Jiachi Rosea (Gunslinger)
XIII Death- Noel Vitienne (Mender)
XIV Temperence- Ideka Ishinagi (Guidance Counselor)
XV Devil- Benihime Kujou (Head of the Student Disciplinary Council)
XVI Tower- Shukiji Niyoga (Information Merchant)
XVIII Moon- Kotone Samesaji (Shy Girl)
XIX Sun- Kogaya Tsuruga (Distant Mother)
XX Judgement- Tongwa Byzael (Jolly Fisherman)
I suppose after this chapter it's easy to guess who the Justice Arcana is going to be, right? And next time, you'll learn her full story.