This story is a work of fiction. Any similarities to events or persons living or dead in your world is purely coincidental.
I Wish That Someday, Somehow
That I Could Save Every One Of Us
But The Truth Is That I'm Only One Girl
7/11 Saturday
Morning
The fog had descended in the night and spread across the entire Shikoku bay, as far as anyone could see. A thin sheet of white that almost looked like snow as the Fiddler's Green slipped through it, its sails at full barely enough to catch the wind needed to move at a clip faster than walking.
"Doldrums", Tongwa Bayzael remarked from the front deck, an ironic smile on his face and a fresh gray tweed jacket on his torso. "I suppose that this is the best time for it. The water's calm, but... are you sure you're ready for this, kiddo?"
Though she was in the cabin getting changed, Aiko Tsuruga could still hear his words through the grimy window. "What do you mean, captain?"
"You looked exhausted when I saw you", the old fisherman pointed out, even while he continued to study the horizon for a sign as she'd asked. "You can't hide it, I know exhaustion when I see it. I suppose you've been studying late nights with your exams coming up next week?"
She hesitated, unsure of what to say. Certainly, she had been trying to study whenever possible, but as of late, her nights had become reserved for something of an entirely different nature... or perhaps not so different.
If she stopped and concentrated, she could still feel it in her bones; the sensation of being struck by pelting ice, or engulfing fire, or searing light, or vile curses, or whatever varied method Bartholomew Roberts had chosen to finish her off for that particular sparring session. He had more much methods at his disposal than she had known existed.
It had quickly become apparent on the first night that whatever estimates she'd held about the Velvet room attendant's strength were woefully inaccurate. Bartholomew fought with a poise and relentlessness that almost left her to scared to strike back at him, his black pocketbook merely enough call upon the weakest of Personas such as beady-eyes slimes and strange onion-beaded birds... yet in his trained hands, they were all lethal weapons capable of ripping through her defenses and leeching away any lingering strength.
They always fought in the armory room surrounded by thousands of beautiful ornate swords from all across human history, all arranged on racks, and yet that tiny little book was the only weapon he required to bring her to her knees night after night, always waking up with the memory of it still fresh in her mind as she started the new day, dressing and having breakfast before heading off to school.
It could get depressing. It had been depressing. After the first three nights she'd seriously considered calling the whole thing off, tired of being so easily defeated by this one-eyed boy who's sole concession was never striking a killing blow, always patching her up afterwards with a single healing skill. Nothing she tried seemed to work on him. Even the powerful Matador Persona seemed like a joke against his might.
And yet... she had come back the next night anyway, coming at him with all she had. Her scant few idle times had been instinctively spent trying to work out a new plan of attack, some way to dodge those powerful elemental skills he threw out while also slashing towards Bartholomew with her cutlass. And for the first time ever, she'd landed a hit, the blade slashing down the attendant's exposed shoulder before he could move it out of the way. It left no sign, but the impact couldn't be denied.
Bartholomew had been impressed for once, though he didn't show it until after he'd brought up a physical-resistant barrier and blasted her down with some kind of meteor storm technique that she'd only half dodged, the meteors materializing from the vaulted ceiling of the room as though it wasn't there and catching her off guard. "I did tell you", he explained afterwards. "There are skills and powers you have yet to witness in this world. One who has mastered them all might mistakenly consider themselves a God."
"But you don't make that mistake", she prodded, prompting him to chuckle darkly, pulling his blue naval cap down over his single eye.
"I've seen beings who claimed to be Gods. While they might match some of humanity's expectations for such a description, in others they yet remain woefully inadequate. I am but a broken soul. I am no God. Neither is my master."
"Then... what is he?"
His single molten gold eye winked. "Neither God nor human. As near as I can tell, he is naught but his role. A shepherd, meant to take over his old master's role in steering humanity's collective consciousness away from self-destructive impulses." Studying the swords and touching his own face for a moment, he chuckled again. "And a fine job he did with that."
Realizing that he'd let slip too much, he recomposed himself. "But you don't need to worry, Voyager. My master is not the Usurper, but neither is he the remorseless manipulator that Lady Scorpio wishes to paint him as. However unnerving you might find him, I believe that his intentions for humanity are good. Else, I would not serve him. I would choose to return to the void over that."
It was perhaps the most positive description she'd heard Bartholomew give of anyone or anything, and that boost had only pushed her further each time.
Today, however, would be a different sort of test.
"I'm good to go", she promised Byzael, flexing the large fin in front of her. The pale blue mermaid suit felt a bit tight around her legs, and more focused on practicality than color or decoration, but she'd taken the time to test it, and make sure it would work the way she wanted.
"Assuming your 'mermaid' shows up again", he reminded her. "That sighting before... that must've just been a big fish."
"Suuuure", she snickered, watching him through the window. "A bright red fish the size of a person. Right."
"I've seen bigger ones", he argued halfheartedly. "I sure hope you didn't buy that just to chase this."
"No", she assured him. "Not just that." While recent developments had diverted her from the 'side job' of deep-diving to retrieve coral samples for Dr. Spica, a recent email from him had confirmed that he was still accepting them in aid of his research... just as those same developments had reaffirmed the need for them to determine exactly how far the contamination had spread. The powerful artificial tail would help in that pursuit, at least as soon as she figured out how to use it effectively.
Surely now he's wondering if I even want to see him again, now that I know that he's a former Yakuza. Of course, if that was the case, then I would also reject Reiha.
Friendship aside... there are actually scarier things in my life now than people connected to the syndicate. Not many teenagers can say that, I'm sure.
"Well look at that", Byzael cut her off, pointing across the way towards the moss-covered cliffs of Cape Ashizuri. "You called it. Right over there."
She squinted through the fog, catching a blur of bright color but not much else. Moving in response, she found herself falling forwards and nearly slamming into the deck. "Tail", she grunted, having only realized now how difficult it was to move normally on land while wearing the suit. It felt heavy and awkward now, a shell of plastic and rubber anchoring her legs together. Carefully, Byzael helped push her the rest of the way to the rail.
"If you can, bring it back", he offered with an amused grin. "We'll come home and fry it up."
"It's not a fish!", she insisted breathlessly. Seeing the gruff humor on his face, she relented. "If it is then fine, I'll bring it back."
"Careful now. It could bite."
Not bothering to check his face and confirm he was kidding, she vaulted off the rail with all her energy, thrusting out into the open water after the fleeing fin.
At first she thought she'd taken too long to get ready. It was darker than normal beneath the surface, and little sign of the red she'd seen from above. Only once she'd gotten further down, past the murky top layer, did she manage to spot the distortion there, bubbles being kicked up by rapid movement of the tail, far bigger than any normal fish this close to land.
Careful not to open her mouth, she smirked. I see you. I see you there. And this time, you're not getting away.
The sight spurred her own kicks on, practice and her natural affinity for it propelling her through the depths after her target quickly enough that she quickly caught more details as they drew closer. The flashy red tail seemed to be of the same origin as her own; a sleek costume purchased at a store, not a 'real' mermaid. Above that, the swimmer had wispy mauve tinted hair that hung loose in the water, streaking behind as she realized that she was being chased and picked up speed in response.
That sight also worried Aiko, as she had learned firsthand that while the tail helped increase speed in the water, it also made it difficult to turn well. If she just goes around in a big circle I might just tire out before she does. After all, she has more experience.
But the red-tailed swimmer didn't do that, instead swerving out ahead, away from Aiko and towards something. Chasing her further down made it more and more visible; a lozenge-shaped gap in the light streaming down from above, framed by rocks and seaweed. Within that gap, the light grew faint and for a moment she felt lost, disoriented, but keeping her focus on the flapping red blur in front of her guided her through it without hitting any of the rocks.
The gap, once horizontal, transitioned into a vertical shaft, tufts of seaweed swaying in the water until she saw her quarry pass through a reflective surface that had to be the end- a surface. Good. Almost out of air. Stupid idiot. What if there hadn't been an opening?
By the time she breached the surface of the shaft herself, her lungs were desperately burning and she reflexively gasped for air. Once she could focus again, she opened her eyes and beheld a house-sized cavern lit by the combination of lichen and small gaps in the ceiling, small patches of sand decorating the floor as though it had fallen from above. And in the distance, curled up around a rock spire as if to hide...
"You", Aiko panted, alarmed at how deplete her voice sounded to her. "You're not a mermaid. You're... What're you doing down here?"
Her quarry said nothing, seemingly motionless until Aiko drew closer and realized that the curly mauve-haired girl seemed to be cowering from her, deliberately averting her eyes most of all. About my age too. Knew I recognized her from somewhere.
"I... I am a mermaid...!"
There was too much fear in that claim for her to find the heart to mock it right away. Instead, she studied the cavern, wondering if there was another path out. It was large, larger than the one the Dream Voyagers used as their hideout for planning. Numerous gaps in the rock yawned wide, and could potentially contain escape routes.
"Did you come in here by that path too?"
Her quarry remained recalcitrant, moving faster than Aiko thought possible considering she was still wearing the tail, withdrawing further into a crevice. Unlike her more standard diving apparel, she wore a large seashell bra to go with the tall. Ai threw up her hands, carefully removing the blue mermaid suit so she could move properly again, kicking her legs free. "Phew... that thing might be useful in the water, but it's a pain to deal with on land. Come on, now. You're not fooling anyone. I know you. You're that girl who runs the costume store in the Tenjincho mall, right?"
The 'mermaid' gasped, hazel eyes growing wide. "Oh... I remember. You visited a few weeks ago, right? You and that blond foreign boy?"
"Yes", she nodded, happy to be making progress. "I thought I recognized you. Those suits are nice. I noticed you had more of those in stock than any other kind of costume."
"Uh-huh", the red tail went limp. "Those are my favorite. I'm a mermaid, after all."
"You have legs", Ai pointed out, trying again not to scoff at the ridiculousness of this argument. "Here, I'll take that clunky thing off for-"
But the fevered, high-pitched noise the girl made as soon as she reached for the red tail suggested that might not be a good idea, that she would likely resist any attempt to remove the suit. "Fine", she settled. "But when we met in the costume shop, you had legs. That proves that you're a human. A human wearing a rubber suit, just like me, see?"
"I am a mermaid", the mauve-haired girl bit her lip forcefully. "This is my lair, where I rest. The sea outside is my home. H-humans shouldn't see me here. You... should leave."
Recognizing that she wouldn't get anywhere with the same argument, Ai leaned closer, trying to catch some hint as to what had caused this situation. "What's your name?"
The way the 'mermaid' seemed so hesitant to even release that information reminded Aiko a bit of how she had been in her early years, and she tried not to let her disgust at those memories color her first impression. "M-Maruyuki."
That earned a wise grin. "That's a pretty name. Your parents must've liked it. Makes me wonder where they are. Do they own that costume shop? Why aren't they around?"
Maruyuki shook her head before burying it in her damp hands. "I don't know which human owns that shop. I can't go on land with humans. Begone, human."
Strangely, she didn't resist as much when Aiko took those hands, prying them away so they could look each other in the eye. Maruyuki had a very thin face, she noticed, some kind of light streak lining her right eye almost like a birth mark. "Maruyuki-san", she tried. "If you're a mermaid, then I should be scared. Don't you know that mermaids eat sailors? Are you going to eat me?"
"N-no", she shook. "No. I don't eat humans. The sea provides for me."
On cue, she heard a familiar gurgling noise from the girl's stomach that suggested otherwise. "Sounds like the sea isn't doing it's job right", Aiko teased. "Come on now. Get that thing off and we'll get you something to eat already."
"No!" The red tail kicked in fright, nearly hitting her. "It's alright. All I have to do is rest, and I'll be better. I always am. You should leave though."
Pulling back, she studied the fear on Maruyuki's face and sighed to the ceiling. It can't ever be simple, can it. No, it's got to be complicated. My fault for trying this in the first place. I suppose she's managed to survive this long, so I don't have to force it.
"Um."
Looking back down, she saw the 'mermaid' blinking in confusion, wanting to speak. "Um... Look, I don't know how you know about this, but... sometimes when I sleep here, I have dreams about being a human. Don't worry. Whenever I sleep, I wake up fine."
Young, Aiko decided on the best answer. Young-minded, and desperately clinging to a lie for reasons I can't begin to figure out until I talk to her as a 'human'. Fine.
"I'll go", she announced, the words echoing off the cavern walls. "But I followed you to get into your lair through the submerged entrance. Isn't there another way out of here?"
Maruyuki pointed to a sand-covered shelf of rock. "You can slip in through there. It's narrow, so only humans can get out that way."
True enough, the passage was tight but manageable if she turned sideways. The mermaid costume was a loss, but it was better than trying to swim her way out. The crack quickly spread into an opening leading out onto the familiar coastline, though closer to the cape than she'd expected. Got turned around a lot in there. It must've taken thousands of years for those caves to form.
More encouragingly, she only had to sit near the cave for five minutes before Maruyuki emerged, walking fast and wearing a simple red blouse and sweater, no sign of the tail or seashells about her.
"Was that really important?", she called, running to catch up.
"Sorry. Do I know you?"
Yes, we just saw each other. But I'll play along.
"One of your customers. What're you doing all the way out here?"
Maruyuki shrugged innocently. "The same thing you are, probably. Relaxing. Exploring. The cape is so nice this time of year, don't you agree?"
"It is", she agreed. The fog wasn't quite as bad now, more heavily concentrated in the deeper part of the bay. "I'm Aiko Tsuruga. A student at Koashimizu. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Nie Maruyuki. And yes, I do own that costume shop. Thank you for stopping by earlier. Are you enjoying the costumes you bought?"
"Yes", she replied politely, knowing that not playing along would just make Nie more upset, maybe even drive her back into her cave. "They were all great, and for a good price."
"The Phantom Thief costumes go in and out of popularity", Nie noted with disarming enthusiasm. "But I always sell a few each year, especially for parties."
Aiko smiled. The Phantom Thief costumes she'd bought had certainly served their purpose, but they would also be a nice souvenir, even if they would inevitably bring back the memories of how they'd first used them to trick Reiha into thinking that they were the Phantom Thieves. "Yeah, that's what we got them for too. Even six years later, some people still look up to them as heroes."
"And the mermaid costume you got?", Nie asked excitedly. "Those are my favorite, you know. It's a shame more people don't realize just how much fun they can be."
It was galling, really. Aiko quickly found that while Nie was happy to talk all day about costumes and anything related to them, trying to grill her about how exactly a 16 year old girl had come to own and manage a costume shop in the city without any sign of adult supervision simply resulted in her changing the subject.
The answer, when it finally came to her, was equally galling. "You wear the costumes", she deduced once they'd gotten back to the city and found a cheap enough ramen place. "Ones that conceal your face. Your customers just think you're playing a game or something."
"No", Nie countered. She had a certain pitch to the syllables, so that her 'no' sounded particularly sharp, like she was daring someone to challenge her. "No. I just like wearing the costumes, that's all. You're welcome to try more of them on, if you like. My treat."
"No thanks", Ai shrugged, reaching down to her phone and remembering that she'd left it on the Byzael's ship. "And my wallet... damn."
"Something happened to your wallet?", Nie asked in concern over her bowl. "Don't worry, I'll pay for this. Any idea where it went?"
"A friend has it for me", Aiko sighed. Could be worse. "I was out swimming. I just have to make sure he doesn't get bored of waiting for me to return." Nearly out the door already, she halted. "My phone too... but give me your contact information anyway, okay?" Looking around, she grabbed a napkin to scribble the number onto.
"Your phone?", Nie brushed her curly hair back, bringing up a flat rectangular glass panel ringed with a protective mauve border, sealing it. "You should have a waterproof phone, like mine."
"I do... but waterproofing isn't always 100% perfect. That's how my first phone died. Besides", she said with an amused wink, "I was wearing a mermaid costume. No room for phones."
"Why do you need my contact info?"
Because I want to keep an eye on you. Because I want to see you again.
Because you need help. And I don't want that help to hurt you.
Was this a sign? She wondered for a moment. Was this some kind of sign that she should call their vacation off?
No, she clamped down. We need this. We can't help everyone all the time. She's been okay this long. I'll stay in touch on the phone and we'll only be gone for two weeks.
Then, after that, when exams were done and they got back from Tokyo, she could start to work on solving the bizarre mystery that was Nie Maruyuki, costume expert and part-time mermaid.
7/11 Saturday
Afternoon
Noel felt a shiver pass through his body that had nothing to do with the chilly air that had settled over the city along with the fog. "Maybe we shouldn't do this. Maybe we should come back another time."
But if there was one thing he'd learned about Ruri Kaneshiro- or Reiha Hayato as they had taught themselves to address her- in the last few weeks, it was that she was a person of impulse. Whether this was a recent change caused by her recent experiences in the other world of Faraway Lands or simply a part of her all along, he couldn't say. The tall girl cheerfully brushed him aside, moving towards the rather plain-looking one-floor house. "Now you sound just like Sorano-chan. Not like a little extra warm air is gonna change what's gonna happen, aight?"
He hung his long-sleeved arms in haplessness. At least the house was on the outskirts of town, so the chances of anyone else spotting them were few. It was the person inside the house that he feared, or rather her reaction to the truth.
"We should all go together", he protested. "Tsuruga-chan won't like it either. She specifically said that we should wait on this."
"Because she's busy with other stuff", Reiha countered dismissively. "Seriously, when I learned everything that girl had been doing with her day besides just going to school, I was amazed. Even today, she wasn't available. Said she had something else to take care of with that weird fisherman friend of hers, Byzael. But we're available now. We can do it. It's either this, or waste the whole weekend studying."
"T-then maybe we should simply do that", he stammered, inwardly amazed at just how much adrenalin his body was able to generate the closer Reiha's gloved hand came to the house's front door. "Sorano-chan would be willing to help us, I'm sure."
Reiha snickered. "Studying is boring shit. Things changed for me after I visited that other world... but that's one thing that didn't. That would require more. Maybe an actual act of God."
His eyes fell. There was no winning with Reiha when she set her mind to something, but he still had to try. When she reached for the door, his arm was there to grab it, a serious gaze ready to meet hers when she turned to face him.
"Hayato-san, listen to me. Whatever you might think of yourself now, whatever changes you've gone through recently... you cannot abandon hope in your future. We will study tomorrow, together, in the library. Any subject you want help with, I'll be there."
For a moment, it looked like her black-lidded eyes were misting over, but it was probably just the fog's moisture settling on her face. She gave a mocking laugh, her accent becoming a bit harsher. "You still haven't given up on me yet, huh? You really are somethin'. Was that somethin' Shigetsu taught you too?"
"In a fashion", he admitted, forcing a brave smile. "His stories had a lot of characters who were ready to quit completely until someone else came along to lift them out of their woes. I suppose that he fits that category as well now, except that Tsuruga-chan beat me to it."
"Good girl", Reiha remarked. "Y'see? That's why I want to do this now. What if she's wrong? What if the Masked Circle decides to silence Yumika-san today, or tomorrow, or while we're off on vacation? She'd blame herself for not acting faster, for being afraid. You know she would."
"She would", Noel admitted. "Though such a thing would be a tragedy whether or not we'd... verdammnt. What is the phrase?"
"Interrogated?"
"Asked", he corrected.
With one last amused noise, Reiha lunged for the doorbell as if punching it. As he'd expected, there was little response. Cecille Yumika preferred her privacy when she could get it, the house lying far away from her job and any major population centers. Only on the third ring did the door creak open, a familiar coiffed blue-haired head and diamond earrings emerging from behind it to check who was there before opening it all the way.
"Vitienne-kun", she observed, clearly already in the process of sizing up Reiha and determining what exactly her role here was. Between the gloves, makeup, hair, eyeliner and heavy black lipstick, Reiha looked like she belonged at a raver club and she knew it, even deliberately playing up that image. Trying, Noel had realized one day, to perfectly match people's perception of that image, so that they would dismiss her as nothing more than that.
"Yumika-san", he bowed deep. "I thought I might pay you a visit. How are you?"
Uncertain and growing more so, the middle school teacher frowned. "Why? After what happened last time we met, I assumed you wanted nothing more to do with me. And if it's the opposite reason, you can forget it."
Mind racing, he exhaled noisily. "You helped me when I was low. Even if what you showed me was beyond anything I could have imagined, it helped. Furusato doesn't hurt quite so much any more, so thank you."
"So what?", she sniffed. "Don't tell me you actually want to be friends. It looks to me like you already have one here."
Having come to the end of what little patience she'd brought, Reiha smirked. "Maybe later. Right now, we came for something else."
The words had exactly the effect Noel had expected, and exactly what he feared. The older woman's gaze darkened, her hands seizing up. "You gave me an oath, Vitienne. You swore that you would tell no one about this. I should never have shown you that in the first place. I should've known some bimbo would pry the truth out of you."
The insult actually made Reiha seem cheerier, and she moved her gloved arm quickly to block the door from closing. "Nice to meet you too. But Vitienne-kun didn't show me the other world. I found that myself. We're all friends here, y'see? We all know about it. About you... Queen Aquarius."
Unable to help himself, he leaned over to study a nearby patch of grass for a moment, not needing to see the reaction, knowing that Reiha had chosen that exactly moment to counter Cecille's anger at him with that revelation, quenching rage with fear. Fear that the long-kept secret might come to light. Fear that they might have become involved with the Masked Circle. Fear of things he might not even know about yet.
"Fine. Come in", she growled at long last. "We should talk."
Inside, the house showed an encouraging number of signs of habitation, an unfinished board game and books suggesting someone else lived there. However, the only other response they got when arriving in the living room was a frightened mrrowwwrrr, followed by a brightly-colored blur leaping out to fly between his legs before settling down in the foyer space behind the front door, cobalt eyes not dissimilar to its master glaring suspiciously, waiting for one of them to make a move, dagger ears perked like weapons, dirty white fur flattened.
"That's just Taokaka", Cecille sighed. "She won't bother you. Your smells are too different from mine."
"You live here alone?", Noel asked. "I thought you would live with-"
He cut off, sensing the previously thwarted anger boiling up again and regretting his words. "I told you. I couldn't stand living with Tetsuo. Besides, he's away from home enough that he might as well live here, or anywhere else. He has a unit closer to the center of the city that he sleeps and eats in, and that's about it. He's a busy man."
Strange as he found it that a teacher would have a nicer residence than a high school principal, he quieted down, taking a seat on the futon in lieu of any other spot being offered, Reiha preferring to stand.
"So if it wasn't you", Cecille began guardedly, "where did she learn this from?"
"From another Persona-user", Reiha explained. "Your secret's not as well-kept as you think, lady."
Not falling for the same trick twice, the older woman became focused on her, nearly motionless save for her face. "And... who was that?"
"Not Lady Scorpio", Reiha assured her. "Not anyone from your old crowd, thank God. We call ourselves the Dream Voyagers. Bit of a tacky name, I'll admit, but it wasn't my call. That was our captain's."
"And what about your captain?", Cecille rasped. "Were they trained by Scorpio? Or Leo? If she was, then you should get out while you can. Those two are completely insane."
"Entspannen", Noel held up his hands. "While we've encountered them, we're certainly not their allies. In fact, it wasn't long before we arrived at the same conclusion about them as you did. They are our enemies."
This time, it was relief that diffused her anger at him. Relief that he and the others weren't merely the newest young recruits to the Masked Circle, and relief that they hadn't chosen today to send those recruits out to bloody their hands. Unconsciously clutching her heart, she continued. "Then... you found out about it some other way?"
"Pretty much", Reiha folded her arms dominantly. "If you're interested, we'll tell you the full story. What we came here for though, Yumika-san, is to ask what information you can give us about the Masked Circle. How did they recruit you in the first place? What's their game plan? Anything you have could help us."
Cecille looked hesitant now, still not quite sure how far she could trust either of them, and Noel realized that perhaps going in with the others might not have been such a great idea after all. She seemed intimidated enough already, though her bristly cat seemed content to amble around the room now, giving both their guests a wide berth.
"We won't tell anyone outside our group", Reiha promised her emphatically. "Believe me, I know exactly what it's like to have a secret past too dangerous to share with others... but you gotta know how dangerous these people are. Someone's gotta take 'em down, and it sure ain't gonna be the cops."
Cecille prepared tea and pulled up two more chairs before speaking again, though Reiha still refused to sit, instead occasionally stretching. "It's been a long time", she whispered in pain. "A long time. I tried to banish every trace of those times from my life, hoping that one day I would just forget about it all... but you can't forget. Not something like that. Never."
Neither of them had to ask for any elaboration. Reiha had experienced the rush of an Awakening firsthand mere weeks ago, to say nothing of the impression from seeing Shadows for the first time. Or her Shadow.
"I was young and foolish", she went on. "Acting on an infantile grudge, actually believing in the rumors about a special phone line that could enact justice on the people you hate."
"Who did you hate?", Noel asked cautiously.
"That's... a story for another time", Cecille waved him away fearfully, Taokaka bounding up to sit on her lap and be stroked. "What mattered was, they awakened a power within me. Instead of taking revenge on your behalf, they give you the power and the confidence to do it yourself."
"A Persona", Reiha clarified. "That's what we call 'em."
"So did they", she acknowledged before scowling enough to scare her pet away. "But it's a trap. Just a way to make you work for them. Once you get a taste of that power, that confidence... you want more. But the only way to get more is to train. The only way to train is to fight the Shadows they captured from the other world... or to go there yourself, which you need their ship to do."
"They have a ship?", Reiha raised a brow.
"We saw it when we fought Samesaji", Noel provided. "A massive golden ark, which came to his rescue when Joker defeated him."
"The Xibalba", Cecille explained. "With it, you can travel to that other world. But the only way to use it is to become a part of their group, part of the Circle. Part of their plan, their 'Salvation'."
"So that's why Samesaji-san joined them?", Noel guessed.
"Most likely", Cecille shivered. "He joined a just bit before I did, even though he was a few years younger than me. He originally started working at that club just to earn money to support him and his sister, but Lady Scorpio... She saw something else in him. Something dark and violent."
The more she spoke, the more it seemed to hurt her, her lips drooping and eyes rapidly blinking to clear them. Noel wanted to rise and tell her to stop, but she kept going before he could, one hand clutching a temple as if hanging off a cliff high above a bottomless chasm.
"Different people deal with anger differently. Some of us find ways to vent it. Some of us store it away. Society frowns on those who display it in public too often. It gets them thrown in jail, or worse. Samesaji-kun, though... he swims in it. All of his rage, the ice-cold fury at the world's injustices he'd suppressed his whole adult life... Lady Scorpio found a way to bring it all out of him, and so created Mithras."
Only Taokaka's urgent meow broke the grim silence, and she got up to fill the dish in the kitchen. "Samesaji", she continued. "We were actually rather fond of each other, at first. We were both proud to be a part of this historical change, to free humanity from its shackles."
"Fond?", Noel's eyebrow shot up. "As in...?"
Cecille laughed lightly. "Sure, I was a few years older, but as you've seen for yourselves by now, that young man does have a certain charm to him. It's how he's so good at his current job. But the more time I spent there at that club, the more I helped with their activities, the more I realized... that Scorpio and Leo's plan for this world is complete madness. Their method of unleashing Personas in people kills anyone who can't Awaken. Furthermore, their widespread use would only lead to anarchy. You're talking about placing living weapons born out of people's suppressed psyches, fueled by their own emotions, into the hands of many people whose emotions aren't guaranteed to be stable. Into the hands of some who would certainly use it for their own personal gain, even if it means harming others."
"Now you sound like Niji-", Reiha cut herself off, realizing what she'd nearly let slip. "Um, I mean, one of our friends felt the same way."
"Well I'm glad to hear at least one of you has a brain in their head", the older woman glared back acidly. "None of us should have these powers in the first place. They're an invitation to corruption. An abomination. Can you honestly say that you wouldn't use it in this world if you could?"
"I would use Dellingr", Noel claimed. "I would use its holy powers to heal the sick and the injured."
That softened her stance a little, but the former Queen Aquarius remained firm. "Good for you, Vitienne-kun. But don't forget; I saw that wild storm of emotions that led to your Awakening, and most people aren't nearly so kind as you. Samesaji, for instance. Or even Lady Scorpio herself."
"So there's some jackasses out there using their Personas for evil shit", Reiha argued. "That just means we need good people with the same power to stop 'em. S'what we're here for. That's why we want your help."
For once, the request caught Cecille off guard, and she smiled wistfully. "Sorry, but no. As I said, it's an invitation to corruption. And I mean that for myself most of all. I took a risk showing that world to Vitienne-kun that I now regret, and I won't be taking another. I've grown up now. I'm never using my Persona again. 'Queen Aquarius' is gone. There's only me now. Cecille Yumika, middle school teacher."
Reiha was equally disarmed by that refusal, but Noel shook his head. "We wouldn't ask you to if you don't want to. You made it clear before that you want nothing more to do with any of it. All we are asking you, Yumika-san, is that you share what you know with us. 'Teach' us. Anything you can remember, anything we might be able to use against them."
Sensing further reluctance in her silence, he stood, nearly knocking the tea over. "Obviously, their plans have advanced even without your help. If no one does anything, they will certainly succeed, and bring the anarchy you feared into our world. Society in Japan, or at least here on Shikoku island, will crumble into anarchy and chaos."
"And you kids think that you can stop them", she considered, her tone too flat to be a question. "Just how do you intend on doing that, I wonder?"
"What?", Noel frowned. "What do you mean?"
Reiha spread her gloved arms wide, respectful for the first time since arriving. "She's playing the long game, looking ahead. Speaking hypothetically, even if we do beat the Masked Circle, what exactly can we do with 'em? The police can't lock 'em up for crimes when they don't even believe in Personas. There is one other solution. I'm on board with it, but I kinda doubt that our captain will be."
He stared back, aghast. "You're speaking of murder. That we slay them. No. Absolutely not. We need only stop them, and show them the error of their ways."
Cecille rolled her eyes, her diamond earrings dangling. "See, this is why kids your age shouldn't get involved with stuff like this. You've been watching too many dumb animes, Vitienne. I might hold out some hope for Samesaji-kun, but even that's probably just some lingering bit of sentiment on my part. And Scorpio and Leo are both beyond crazy. They live in their own warped little realities, and destroy anyone who disputes them. Rehabilitating them would be impossible, even for the most talented psychologist in the world. Even for..."
"It sounds like you agree with me then", Reiha considered, sounding regretful that death might be the only way to defeat them. "Why? What happened to make 'em that way?"
Once again hesitating, she nodded back. "I don't know much. They were both very secretive about their pasts, and I don't know how much I would trust what they did tell me."
"It's better than nothing", Noel countered. "As we said, anything you can give us might help."
"Alright", she exhaled, retaking her seat as he did, eyes closed. "Alright. Lady Scorpio was a bit more open with me than King Leo. She once told me... that she couldn't remember who she was originally. Or even what her name was. Her first memories are of being held captive in some kind of facility, when she was a teenager. She was well-guarded. The men there were testing her, experimenting, trying to make her Awaken to her Persona."
"So she got kidnapped", Reiha considered, momentarily lost in a bout of bald-faced rage at the late kidnappers. "Easy to say how she got out of there. We already know that Cleopatra has the ability to manipulate people's minds, and more besides."
"That's the most likely outcome, yes", Cecille agreed morosely, "though she never gave me the details about that. She never had any idea who those men were, or how they knew about the power hidden inside her. What she did was duplicate their methods, forcing people to Awaken or suffer, and even die."
"Barbaric", Noel echoed. "Injustice breeding more injustice. But certainly, she can still be made to see that her doing this is wrong?"
"You clearly haven't met Lady Scorpio yet", the older woman shook her head. "The three of them all share the same belief; that the people they were before Awakening are their 'weaker selves', and should be discarded. That's their guiding philosophy... and their endgame."
Noel went silent, trying to puzzle out another way to make Lady Scorpio see sense without having to kill her. Instead, Reiha finished her stretches and nodded. "In a way, I kinda do see where they're coming from. Embracing your suppressed self instead of runnin' from it does make you stronger. I'm not just talkin' about Personas either. Adrestia...", she shrugged helplessly. "She showed me what I really want to do. I just don't know how to get there yet."
"But?", Cecille asked patiently.
The ex-vigilante smirked knowingly. "But, what they're doing is forcing it on people who might not want it. Who're perfectly happy the way they are. And let's not forget, killing people who can't Awaken."
"Exactly", the older woman nodded, standing and regarding both of them. "This isn't what I wanted either. There are some things we're not meant to know. If it were up to me, I'd forget all this fantasy madness, and just live my life. The children I work with now are so much less complicated. Their minds don't yet harbor much hidden darkness. It's only as people grow up when that starts to happen. But you're right. You're right. Someone has to stop the Masked Circle. If you really think you can do it, if your leader really is confident in your success... then I'll give you whatever information I can. Just don't expect me to fight. I'm done with that."
"We won't ask you to", Noel promised. "Though I accompany the Dream Voyager's crew, I am still able to honor my oath before God not to harm another. Dellingr's healing skills are enough to make me a valued asset to the team, yes?"
"And you want to learn the truth about that other world", she pointed out. "No, don't bother denying it. I heard you before, even if you were screaming it in your home country's language. No one can hide their truth during an Awakening. That's what makes it so powerful."
Scratching his head nervously, he chuckled. "You have me pegged, I'm afraid. But defeating an evil force such as this one comes before my idle curiosity. That can wait. The Masked Circle can't."
"Just be careful", she reproached him. "I saw you. I saw the way your emotions spiraled out of control back there in that Nordic realm, Vitienne-kun. Even if you think you've got a lid on it, that other world can always surprise you again with something hideous that breaks past your guard." Smiling lightly, she bent down to grab Taokaka and pet her. "It is the 'unmasked' world, after all."
7/11 Saturday
Afternoon
Her name was Nazuma. Nazuma Imei, that rare breed of second year who managed both high grades and an impressively dense network of friends both at school and online. Hers was a large round bob of hair so black it looked blue in the right light, usually tied back behind her scalp with a pair of red ribbons. Average build, average face... but Julian believed she might be the one.
She was out there on the soccer field, cleaning up after the game just like he was. The others on the school team didn't mind a few scrimmages with him after the fact, he just wasn't allowed into official games. Some of the others, anyway. Others were still leery of him, and he honestly couldn't blame them for that.
He decided to open with juggling one of the leftover balls, using his legs and head in equal measure. He kept that up until he had her attention.
"Like it?", he brought up his best winning smile. "Y'know Imei-chan, coach Kurikado couldn't let me play on the school team 'cause of my skills. It wouldn't be fair to the other teams in the district if we won every game so easily."
Any skepticism she might have shown was redirected into confusion at the use of her name. "You know me?"
It was a fair question. Unless you were Shukiji Niyoga, it was impossible to remember every single student's name and face, and Imei didn't stand out much compared to some.
"Queen of home ec", he bowed whimsically. "I hear ya make a mean souffle. I heard some others talking about it."
Which wasn't exactly true, but it did earn him the telltale blush he'd been going for. "I-I didn't know so many people knew about that..."
He grinned his favorite wild grin. It would have been easier to learn more about her before starting this if he'd visited with Shukiji beforehand, traded him some information in exchange for some more details about Imei's likes and dislikes, but the living database had made a sort of unofficial moratorium on engaging in his usual trade with the Dream Voyagers after his earlier blowup at them. Simply listening in at the right times had been enough here.
"Say, don't your parents live in Tosashimizu? I think I saw 'em the other day."
"Yes", she said, once again too surprised to think on it. "They run a seafood place in the north end."
"Do they have any fatty tuna? 'Cause man, I could really go for some of that right now. Love that stuff. Shikoku island makes it better than in Tokyo 'cause it's fresher. I'm buyin'."
Imei stared, obviously not well-versed in his kind of approach. An encouraging sign. "Look, uh... Rosea-kun? What's with you anyway? What do you really want?"
"Brains too", he complimented, drawing closer so she could see the honesty on his face, as well as letting him sense any sign of heat from hers. "Alright, you win. I want you, Imei-chan. I've seen you. Someone so pretty shouldn't be so lonely. It's not right. Goes against the laws of nature."
She smiled. But the heat... it wasn't there. He couldn't feel it.
"Rosea-kun. You might not know me, but I know you. Everyone here knows how you are. Besides, aren't you already with Tsuruga-chan?"
Momentarily stalled, he shook it off with a chuckle. "Nah. We both agreed it wasn't workin' out, that we'd both gone too fast."
"So instead you decided to chase after other girls", Imei observed dryly, the pretense of curiosity vanished as quickly as the daylight had. She made a disgusted face. "Thanks, but no thanks."
"What?! No! I mean..."
It was already too late, he knew. Whatever goodwill his fine-tuned approach and preparations had earned him had gone, destroyed by the suspicion that Imei was being made his 'second choice'. Just like the last three times... damn it.
Nazuma was gone too, heading back home to her folks. Would she talk about him? Mock him over dinner, maybe? Or just forget this had ever happened?
Realizing that no one else was left on the field, he kicked one cleat into the ground, chipping loose a clod of dirt. "This sucks." Operation Babe Hunt failed again.
"You seem distraught", a familiar voice called to him from nowhere, drawing his attention up to the crossbar of the nearer goalposts. "Was the Tanabata festival not what you expected?"
"Grumpy bird?", he observed, arms slumped halfhearted at his sides. "Not in the mood right now."
"And why is that?", the silver falcon asked as Jiachi took a moment to look around the soccer field. Sure enough, they were alone together. No one would spot him talking to a bird whose voice sounded like mere chirps to most. Not like my rep can get any worse anyways, as Imei just demonstrated.
He closed his eyes in pained annoyance. "You've got good eyes, don't ya? You saw what happened. Go ahead and laugh."
Pelagio twisted his head quizzically. "Why should I laugh? Did something amusing happen?"
Unable to remember a time when Pelagio ever did laugh, even while high on sugar, Jiachi sighed. "No... I suppose nothing did. What're you doin' here anyway?"
He seemed pleased by the question. "After speaking with Mirambela and the captain, I have decided that if I am going to live in this world, then I must endeavor to learn more about humans."
"Good for you", he nodded, more out of gratitude to have something else to get his mind off failure. "So why don't you just stick with Sorano-chan?"
The round raptor's eyes blinked. "She has spent the majority of her time in the ladies' dorm, studying. She did not seem receptive to my presence."
"So you went for me instead", he considered, still a bit surprised considering their relationship. "Guess you could take that as an example of how not to pick up chicks... though I doubt you'll ever have to worry about that. Man, birds have it easy."
"So", Pelagio considered slowly, trying to comprehend. "Your talking with that girl just now was designed to have you become friends with her?"
"Heh. Can't put anything past you, can I?"
"Why?"
The simplicity of the question threw him for a moment. "I thought you of all people would be glad", he countered. "The way you're always hovering over Tsuruga-chan. You heard what I said before. We both agreed I'd gone too fast, and, well... what she saw in my Land made things kinda uncomfortable for both of us. So I decided to try hookin' up with some other people, see if they're a better fit. No luck so far."
"You seek a new friend", Pelagio observed. "One not part of our crew."
"Duh. Just 'cause we're all part of the crew doesn't mean we'll automatically get along. Sorano-chan and me are proof of that. Tsuruga-chan knows tons of folks who aren't in on the secret, like that old fisherman dude."
Momentarily discomfited by the mention of Byzael, Pelagio moved his talons to change his position on the crossbar. "And you stated you were specifically looking for a romantic partner?"
He frowned. "Well when you put it like that it sounds kinda... yeah."
"Why is that so important?"
He rolled his eyes. "Geez, you really aren't human, are you? I thought it would be obvious to anyone."
"Hmph."
"Oblivious to the ways of romance too", he observed. "Of course you are. I mean, I've seen some female Shadows, but they're not exactly friendly. Then there's Hayato-san's Shadow", he shuddered in dread.
"A truly horrific creature", Pelagio agreed. "Mirambela felt the same way."
"So we do agree on one thing", Jiachi joked. "But the rest... we're too different. And Hayato and Vitienne are already a thing, it seems like. So I have no choice but to look outside the team."
"No choice?", Pelagio echoed curiously. "Is what you are doing 'romance'?"
Flustered, he glared up at the crossbar. "Has anyone ever told you that you're a really annoying bird?"
"Not yet."
"Well, you are. Like I said, birds have it easy. I just spent like a week hanging around after class, learning stuff about Imei-chan's likes and dislikes, the best place to approach her, only for her to flush it all down. Just because I saved Kujou's life."
"Because you saved her life? Is that not a good thing for humans to do?"
"Yeah", he grumbled, the memory only chafing further. "But in order to do that, I had to go into the girls' dorm. Against regulations. Now everyone thinks I'm some kinda perv, never mind the fact that I rescued her from a Shadow who was about to kill her... because of course, only a handful of people know about that stuff."
"Perhaps you should approach Benihime Kujou then. She knows the truth."
"Good one, man", he snickered. "Tsuruga-chan and I saved her 'cause we didn't want her to die. That's a long, loooong way from actually liking her. Yeah, I'll admit she's gorgeous, but she's also the most stuck-up bitch I've seen at this school. Not a chance. I'm not that desperate."
"I must admit", the falcon relented, "I dislike her a great deal as well, for attacking and tormenting our captain. She is our enemy, yet you saved her. Curious."
"Not really", he snarled, not wanting to think about that subject too much. "Just 'cause you don't like someone doesn't mean you want 'em dead."
"Another difference. In my world, when you encounter an enemy, it is best to destroy them if you are able."
"Maybe in that world that's the rule", Julian allowed. "But here. it's different. You can't just kill people. It's wrong."
"Why is it wrong?"
Julian threw his hands up. "Geez. This is like talking to a preschooler. Forget it."
"Wait."
Turning back around, he saw the falcon glide off the crossbar onto the grass.
"I... I wish to learn more of you humans. Would you allow me to accompany you? I promise not to insult you. You are the expert here, sir Rosea. I am merely the observer."
The uncharacteristically humble words caught him by surprise, letting him mull it over for a moment before nodding. "Okay, fine. Whatevs. If you want to follow me around instead of Tsuruga-chan, it's not like I can stop you. Just no wisecracks, okay? I'm in a bad enough mood as it is."
7/11 Saturday
Evening
There's something wrong. Benihime Kujou's temples had been throbbing for hours now, and hearing the door to her home open only made it worse. It's wrong, it's wrong, it's wrong... Something... I think might need to go to a doctor.
But no doctor could cure what ailed her, she knew. No doctor could make things right by fixing the world to what it should be.
She wasn't so weak as to need a doctor.
Her father had kept his distance so far, respecting her need for some space. He'd bought a new album by a singer she'd always liked, brought in her favorite foods and desserts from far off restaurants, delicious flaky pastries covered in rich caramel sauce and odango with dipping sauces. It didn't help. The lyrics flew through her head without sticking, utterly unmemorable. The food didn't have the taste it used to, feeling more like dry, dusty bricks sliding down her throat.
Even her favorite things had all been ruined.
Would it really feel better when they moved to Tokyo? She couldn't say. Tokyo was vastly more crowded than Shikoku island, she knew, and it was much harder for any single person to get noticed. That could be good or bad, but at the moment she felt herself leaning towards the bad.
She was a queen. An empress. She was meant to stand out, to be adored. To be beautiful. To be obeyed. No other student in Koashimizu was as beautiful or graceful, and shew knew no student in any Tokyo school would match her in those fields either.
Technically, they wouldn't even be moving to Tokyo. They would be going to a small commune just outside the city limits, which meant a very long commute to school each day instead of simply living in a dorm or taking buses. Her father claimed it was for privacy's sake, but she wondered if it was simply because the city had no room left for more people.
They would have room, she knew, if they got rid of all the people who shouldn't be there to begin with. That skanky ex-model, Ann Takamaki... they should return her to her rightful home and give that nice apartment flat to someone who deserves it.
There were many others like that, of course. The only reason her mind had jumped to Takamaki, or 'Ruby Ann' to use her stage name, was because of the news she'd seen on TV today about her movie career, having finally secured a role in an upcoming film.
She has the acting skills of a paper bag full of stale poop, she thought. She only got that role because of her looks, because idiots feel sorry because she lost her modeling career. Or maybe because she slept with the director. She always seems to do that, to get ahead.
That was what the news articles said, anyway.
Her father tried hard again tonight, bringing home a feast of wonderful spring rolls, egg rolls, and miso with thick fried shrimp that would have made her float with pleasure at any other time. They were halfway through it when he realized it wasn't working either and placed a palm flat down on the table between them.
"I know it's tough, Beni-ka. I know that life isn't fair, and this is a prime example of that. Corruption and evil is everywhere, and I've dedicated my life to fighting it. I'm sorry that I let you down."
And that was a part of it, she considered. A big part. For once, this was something that her father couldn't help with, although he'd certainly tried. For all his wealth and influence, his power was still so limited. So weak. If principal Yumika stood firm in his decision, then nothing could be done to make him reconsider.
Wasn't that the greatest pang of growing up, to learn that your parents weren't the eternal providers you once believed them to be? That they were just people?
Not that she'd considered her father to be a god. Far from it. But he had always been there, always tried his best to look out for his girl even when his work with JCAP kept him busy. He was now the one person left whose love she could never, never doubt.
"You'll like Tokyo much better", he promised her. "There are more shops and those manicure parlors that you like. The trains are much more efficient than buses. Shikoku island really is the least civilized part of our nation... as we've just witnessed."
"Yeah", she chuckled back, appreciating the gesture even if it was still light years away from making her smile. "It's a freaking zoo. Just bunch of nowhere towns out in the sticks who've never even seen real cities. Tosashimizu only has one mall. But everyone knows that Tokyo's where the real power is. Anyone who's anyone lives there."
"Exactly", he nodded, cheered slightly by her acceptance. "This is for the best, you'll see. If you want to, you can even come to the JCAP rallies after school. We're getting more people all the time to stand up for their country's harmony."
"That sounds... fun." Inwardly, she was surprised that he would allow her that privilege. While it was true that the demonstrations had been getting larger over the last year, they'd also been getting more violent, the two increases likely being tied into each other. She'd think about it.
"Whatever happens", he said, "I want you to know that I'll always love you, Beni-ka. More than that, I'm proud of the way that you've tried to help our cause at that pathetic excuse for a school. It's not your fault, really. Don't worry about it. You'll make much better friends at Fuchu Nishi."
Fuchu Nishi. So he's decided. The name was familiar to her, an extremely prestigious senior high school, best known for having close ties to many people in the national Diet as well as major corporations, often even having them visit as guest speakers. If her goal was to start a career and become as rich and successful as her father, then there really was no better selection in all of Tokyo except possibly Kokusai academy.
"Gekkoukan was another possible contender", he palmed his chin, "they've been growing quite well for the last few years, mainly thanks to the Kirijo group's funding, but they're out on a port island along the water. I figured you might prefer a change of scenery."
Would I? The clean ocean horizon had been an eternal constant at Koashimizu academy. The coast was always a brisk five minutes walk from the dorms. You could see it from the windows, as well as the windows on the third floor of the campus' main building. Everyone had tried going out to the cliff near the 'shack' at least once, and seen the breathtaking view from there. One thing Fuchu Nishi can't offer.
But who cares? The sea wasn't something that bothered her, or the salty smell that sometimes came off the bay. None of that was the problem. It was the people there. The clueless, idiotic people who had no integrity or spine. Teachers and students both.
The sea would certainly never turn on you just because someone else spread wicked lies about you. It was impartial. Fair.
"Doesn't matter", she decided to lie, seeing worry begin to creep back into his face. "It's a good trade. Thanks, dad."
Gobbling down the last of a roll, he smiled. "Anything for you, Beni-ka. I couldn't leave it be, knowing how that school was treating you. As I said, this world is filled with corruption, and even my efforts to fight it only go so far. If you have any trouble at Fuchu Nishi, just let me know, okay?"
"Of course", she nodded, more to get him to stop talking than with any real conviction in her tone. Every word just made her head and her heart hurt more. "Thank you for the meal."
Her private quarters in the dwelling that he had specifically rented to be near her when needed were naturally quite small, almost oppressively so. Still, it had a tall window that peered out beyond the hills towards the east edge of the island- Cape Ashizuri. The afternoon sun glinted alluring off the water, painting the entire area in orange highlights.
More importantly, she didn't have to lie here. She could bury her head so deeply in a pillow that her screams wouldn't reach Daisuke and make him more concerned.
Defeat was the word that kept popping up in her head, a spike of hard iron pain driven into her skull. Defeat, defeat, defeat. Retreat is a defeat. Defeat is a retreat. A queen does not retreat.
She'd lied. She'd had to lie, out of love for her father. Because the truth was that nothing he did changed what happened. All of his generous acts were just garnish on a feast of garbage other people had prepared. No matter how he tried to dress it up, it remained an intolerable outcome.
She would leave Koashimizu academy and Shikoku island behind, though as Shukiji had pointed out to her, every student there would always remember her, and how she'd affected their lives.
And most of them, she bit down on her lip, were slack-jawed idiots who didn't understand the need to keep the gaijin in line. 'I'm glad Kujou's gone', they would say. 'She was terrible, manipulating the student council. It's good that-'
That thought process ceased, torn apart by a new, even more revolting idea: That Aiko Tsuruga would be praised as a hero for getting her unjustly kicked out of the student council, and out of the school. Even though that was Kohru Tatsunoko's actions, every student attending this year likely knew about the river of bad blood between the two girls, and the efforts they had gone to in order to ruin the other. When something bad happened to one, the other was likely to blame, even if there was no way to prove it.
She had to pay. That was all Benihime had asked for. She had to pay. Tsuruga had shoved her into that flying white rat on their first meeting, creating a scar on her arm that throbbed angrily even now, that might never completely heal. Her retaliation had been brilliant. There had been the lunch attacks, the constant messages on Tsuruga's locker. The plan to pelt her with condoms in front of the fountain which she had somehow completely avoided. The online efforts were even more encouraging, making sure everyone who used the school data networks to study and do their assignments also learned just how much of a shameless slut Tsuruga really was.
Tsuruga should have broken, the way others before her had. There were even prior reports indicating she had been a crybaby in middle school, easily upset and sent crying to the restroom by small mishaps. She should have cried and screamed and begged for the empress's forgiveness. She had already planned that the price of that forgiveness would be merciful; she need only renounce her friendship with the gaijin- with Sorano, Rosea and Vitienne, never speaking to them again.
But there had been just one problem... Tsuruga didn't break. There was no sign that any of it was getting through to her, and she kept managing to avoid a lot of it. Benihime had thought about that, and come to the conclusion that it was only possible if she'd had someone in the SDC tipping her off, a spy.
The conclusion as to who the spy was would have been obvious, even without that bizarre, nightmarish encounter in the dorm. It was Reiha Hayato. It had to be. No one else in the SDC had been seen around Tsuruga at all, and no one else had done what she did.
And that, more than anything else Tsuruga had done, was the ultimate sin. She'd done something to Reiha. Something that had changed her from Benihime's oldest friend to... whatever she was now. A traitor. Someone insane as she was inhumanly strong. Someone who would sneak into her room under the pretense of renewing their friendship, using the opening to try to strangle her, only letting up when Tsuruga and Rosea yelled for her not to. A false gesture, I'm sure. Deep down, Tsuruga wants me dead just as much as I want her dead. Why else would she send Hayato after me that way?
"For years you spread false justice at Koashimizu", Reiha rasped, drawing nearly close enough to kiss. "Endlessly persecuting those whose only crime was being foreign exchange students, and gathering power to yourself."
Lies. All of it was hateful lies. She had only ever been looking out for her fellow students- the ones who should've been there in the first place- protecting them from the ones who shouldn't have.
And in return for her effort, devotion and kindness, they had betrayed her, all of them.
Tatsunoko had betrayed her.
Hayato had betrayed her.
Sonoka had betrayed her.
Toriume had betrayed her.
Niyoga had betrayed her.
They're all just actors. Actors reading off a script handed to them.
Witchcraft, Benihime considered. Tsuruga is a witch. She does something to people to get them on her side. A witch, and a bitch.
And now her father was going to have her retreat with her tail between her legs, and let Tsuruga win. Benihime could already picture her mocking laughter, her smiling face, her elation at victory. Worse, she'd even heard rumors that Tatsunoko was actually going to offer her a position on the SDC.
And you're just going to let her win?
What could be done? Benihime racked her brain, impossible to tell for how long. Most options were dead ends, only fueling her despair, and in turn her drive for revenge, further. Can't let her win. Can't let it end this way. She has to pay. I have to show everyone what she really is, before the curtain falls. Unmask. Yes. She must be unmasked.
But there was something. Something from so long ago she'd forgotten, dismissed as beneath her.
But not discarded.
The crumpled piece of paper Shukiji Niyoga had given her was still in the top of her dresser, hidden beneath the magazines among various other knick-knacks she had little use for but wasn't quite ready to throw out. The phone number was smeared but still legible on it.
Karma club, she remembered. A night club, one of the only ones in Tosashimizu city... but if the rumors are true, they also offer a special service to people who call this number. A phone line...
Idle fantasy, of course. Another rumor based on wish fulfillment that she wouldn't normally give more than a moment of consideration to.
But if it was true...
What do you have to lose?
A/N: Once again, I should mention that under no circumstances do Benihime Kujou's viewpoints reflect my own. That said, I would like to make a continuous effort to diversify and do more writing from perspectives other than the protagonist, which can get a little dry or idiocentric. This chapter we have Noel and Jiachi as well.
Major game changer of a chapter coming up, the big 5-0. I would like to mention that I did a bit of research into Shikoku island to try and create a more detailed setting, and it really is an incredibly beautiful place with lots of natural rock formations and caves.
EnPassant: Oh dear, am I that obvious? Oh well, the real surprise is how we get there, and what it's like. There's going to be a number of chapters covering the long-planned vacation to Tokyo first.