Pain.
It erupts in her skull like fireworks.
Already on her knees, Haru clasps her hands to her head, fingers digging against her temples. She doubles over, collapses, and her forehead hits the concrete. A groan drips from her lips.
"Haru?" Sugimura asks.
The sensation pulses through her. She squeezes her eyes shut. Her jaw clenches.
She feels a warm hand rest on her scalp.
"Don't avert your gaze," her doppelganger whispers. Haru inches her eyes open, and sees the blacktop beneath her. "I know this isn't what you want, which is to say, you know this isn't what you want."
Someone runs a knife down the center of her mind. She chokes out a scream.
Sugimura kneels alongside her. "Haru, what's wrong?"
Her double's words hack through her brain like an axe. "All your life, you've played within the rules set out for you. Your family decided your future. This thing wants to decide your present. Even your past isn't your own."
Sugimura puts a hand on her back, and calls for the Shadows around them to, "Do something!" They only stare at one another, confused.
Haru drags one leg up to her chest.
"And for all this, they've the audacity to claim you've betrayed them?"
Haru shoves her other leg beneath her, and pushes herself up to her knees, fingers still wrapped around her head.
To her left, Sugimura stares at her, face a caricature of concern. He moves his mouth, but his words are dull, faraway thuds.
To her right, this golden-eyed Haru smiles at her. "So what, then? If that's what they wish to call it, so be it. If you must betray them to reclaim yourself, then choose betrayal, and do it with pride."
Sugimura moves around until he crouches before her, and sets his hand on her cheek.
"But at the least," her doppelganger says, as she fades away into the air. "You must choose."
"Haru," Sugimura cries. "Haru, are you-"
"Sugimura-kun," Haru whispers. She lowers her hands from her head, and rests one against the clammy thing on her cheek.
He beams. "Are you alright, Haru? I thought-"
"Sugimura," Haru repeats. She gently wraps a fist around his pinky and ring fingers, and peels his hand from her face. "Rin."
"Yes?"
"Get your hands," she growls, "off me!" She yanks down, and the crack that echoes out from Sugimura's hand as his fingers split is ever so satisfying.
Sugimura throws back his head, screams, shakes his injured hand free, clutches it to his chest, and backpedals away from her.
Haru feels something tighten across her face, snug and velvet.
"Very good!" The voice cackles. "With your choice comes our contract. I AM THOU. THOU ART I. Your future is your own. Now go forth, and show what happens to those who would seek to steer it!"
Sugimura glares down at her. "You fucking bitch! I'll-"
"Oh, Rin," Haru spits, as she takes hold of the edge of her mask. "Do shut up." She rips it free with a scream.
Behind her, a pillar of blue fire erupts into the air.
#
Joker steals another peek over the sandbags. The patrolling Shadows move off down the path. He ducks back and returns to the Thieves.
Mona, Panther and Skull huddle around a crude map, drawn in the dirt. It represents what they know of the Palace so far. Which, Akira thinks, is very little.
"They gone?" Skull asks.
Joker slides his knife back into his belt. "They are." He kneels next to Mona. "Find anything?"
The cat shakes his head, a frown on his face. "Recon's a no go. This place is like a maze and too much of it looks the same. I can't tell where they took Haru. Heck, I can't even tell if she's here."
Panther curls her whip around her forearm. "Then it's back to Plan B, right? Find a Shadow, and make them talk."
"We need to be careful," Joker replies. "You saw those weird, dog-like Shadows earlier. If they catch us, or even smell us, they'll probably alert the whole place."
Skull sighs and taps his foot. "Yeah, but can we afford to be careful, bro? Time's not on our side, here."
He's not wrong, Joker thinks. Before they'd entered the Palace, Joker realized someone needed to stay behind - with Makoto - to monitor the situation in the real world. Yusuke had volunteered.
If Sugimura headed for his car, and they weren't able to distract him, Yusuke was to jump into the Palace, and alert the other Thieves.
And after that?
Joker doesn't have a plan for that. Without some way of knowing where the car is, they can't exit the Palace with any kind of certainty.
Getting into the Palace had been easy. The car sat in the middle of a parking lot. All they'd had to do was keep their heads down as they snuck up to it. The driver hadn't even glanced in their direction as they snuck up to towards the trunk.
Although, Joker hadn't expected the 'fortress' to be quite so literal. In Madarame and Kamoshida's Palaces, the rest of Tokyo had existed as a hollow, empty world on the outskirts. Here, nothing seemed to exist outside the Palace's perimeter. Just black, tendril-like smoke.
"Alright," he says. "It's Panther's plan then. Find a Shadow. Make them talk."
"And if it turns out Haru's not here?" Mona asks.
"Then we return to the real world and figure something else out," he tells them. "Either way, we're finding Haru."
Panther sighs and shakes her head. "Poor Haru. She must be so scared right now. All alone and-"
BOOM.
The Thieves turn their eyes skyward. A column of blue flame reaches up into the red clouds. A moment later, alarms begin to sound.
"Uh," Skull says. "This is just a guess. But maybe we should head that way."
#
It wears a black and pink Rococo style dress, with red striped puffs on the sleeves. Its bottom is adorned in golden trim, with a lip curved in the center. It reminds Haru of a smile.
Which is what she does.
With one hand, the figure holds a thin, light red mask with golden eyes up to where its face should be. In the other it flourishes a sunlit fan.
Haru feels a hat materialize on he head. She reaches up and removes it, and finds it to be a dark purple cavalier's, with a feather plume tucked into the band. Her clothes have shifted into a long-sleeved pink blouse. She brings a hand to her neck and finds a gem pin holding the jabot shut. A black corset hugs her chest, and bloomers do the same with her thighs. Sable gloves and pantyhose hide her hands and legs.
Then, of course, there is the battle-axe. A long, thick, monstrous thing. Haru hardly noticed it, given everything else going on. But then she looks, and there it is, in hand, blade above her head. She rotates her forearm and the axe head slashes down into the concrete at her feet.
"Oh my," she says.
"Wh-what the hell is this?" Sugimura asks. He stands surrounded by his solders, who seem uncertain on what to do.
"I think," Haru says. "It would be best if you leave now."
His voice cracks as he screams. "You're giving me, orders? Are you that stupid? This is my place!" He thumps his chest with his uninjured fist. "Mine! Soldiers!" The Shadows stiffen, and raise their rifles. "Take her back into custody. If she doesn't want to listen to reason, I'll just force her into obedience!"
The soldiers begin to advance.
"That's not a good idea," Haru replies.
Sugimura cackles. "Why not?" He glares up at her Persona. "Even with that thing, you're still outnumbered. I don't care if your clothes have changed. I don't care that you have a weapon now. What can you do, Haru?"
She tilts her head. "This."
The dress of her Persona slides up with a mechanical whirr. From within emerges the barrel of a massive Gatling gun, aimed at the approaching Shadows.
"Oh," Sugimura says.
Haru clears her throat. "If you would, Milady?"
The barrel begins to spin.
#
"Goddamn," Skull screams as the DATDATDATDATDATDATDAT starts. He leaps to the ground and throws his hands over his head.
Panther stops and hunches over. "What're you doing?" She shouts. "What is that?"
Joker slides behind a stack of pallets. The sound comes from ahead, just past the next row of buildings. The alarm still blares, but they've seen very few Shadows in the last few minutes. Maybe that means this place doesn't have that many? He sighs. Am I that lucky?
"I've played enough video games to know," Skull replies. "That's freakin' machine gun fire!"
Panther peers down at the Uzi slung in her belt. "Oh. I thought it sounded a little familiar."
"Wait," Mona says, sliding up to where Joker squats. "A machine gun? That's not good. Very not good!"
Joker nods. "Very, very not good." He springs from his hiding spot and runs towards the sound. "Let's move!"
Panther yanks Skull to his feet, and the four Thieves sprint into the shadows of the building, dart down their alleys, and emerge in a clearing of concrete, marked up with chalk. Joker sees a few motionless cranes at the far end of the space.
In the center, stands a lone figure, a battle-axe raised over her head. A Shadow cowers before her, but before it can beg for its life, the woman brings the weapon down and splits it in half.
"Dude," Skull says.
"Dude," Panther says.
"Is that..." Mona starts.
"Haru?" Joker calls.
At the sound of his voice, the figure turns to them. Joker recognizes her eyes, and the few waves of hair that peek out from beneath her new hat.
She hefts up the axe, rests its shaft on her shoulder, and treats them to a polite smile. "Hi, everyone. What took you so long?"
#
"And that," Kitagawa says. "Is when I said, 'Do not worry, Morgana. I will not let this cat out of the bag.'"
Makoto doesn't reply.
"Did you hear me, Makoto? I said I would not let the cat out of the bag."
Makoto doesn't reply.
"Makoto? Do you understand? Cat and bag, yes?"
"I get it," Makoto blurts. "Could we focus, please?"
Kitagawa frowns and turns his attention back towards the restaurant. "I am merely trying to pass the time."
"This isn't a situation where we should be passing the time," Makoto reminds him. She's not sure why Akira chose Kitagawa to stay behind with her. He's friendly enough, but seems a bit odd. She has a hard time seeing Akira and Sakamoto spending all that much time with him.
"Apologies," Kitagawa replies. He rolls his shoulders. The two hide in a small alleyway across the street from the restaurant. It affords them a good view of both the building and the parking lot. Sugimura has yet to leave, and when last Makoto snuck up to the window to peer inside, it seemed he was wrapping up a small meal. It's been nearly fifteen minutes since. She saw Officer Kagawa inside as well. "I know this situation must be very upsetting for you. I only sought to relieve some of the tension."
"My tension," Makoto says. "Will be relieved once Haru is safe."
Kitagawa makes a low hmmm noise in his throat. "Then you needn't worry. If Haru is in Sugimura's Palace, the others will retrieve her."
"I hope it's that easy."
Kitagawa shakes his head. "I never said it would be easy. Palaces can be quite taxing. I merely said that they would retrieve her." Kitagawa tilts his head forward, and splays his fingers across his face, like someone trying to look mysterious. "The Phantom Thieves do not fail, Niijima-senpai."
Makoto takes in his pose and tries to stifle her laugh, but can't. It bursts from between her lips like spittle. She covers her mouth and turns away. "I'm sorry," she says. "I don't mean to laugh."
"That's alright," Kitagawa says. "That was the desired effect."
Makoto begins to see why the others hang out with him.
A few more minutes pass, and the door to the restaurant swings open. Sugimura stalks out, eyes glued to the pavement, his face composed of tight lines. The fingers on both hands move in short, rapid jerks, as if he's typing something without a keyboard. He pauses for one moment, looks back inside the restaurant as the door closes, and starts off down the block.
Towards the parking lot.
"Oh no," Makoto whispers. "He's heading to his car."
"That is very bad," Kitagawa replies.
"We need to distract him." Makoto steps out of the alley, then pauses. "Damn," she whispers, and ducks back inside. "He knows who I am. If I go out there, he'll know something is up."
"Ah," Kitagawa states, and straightens. "But he does not know me." He steps from the alley and turns towards the crosswalk.
"What're you going to do?" Makoto asks after him.
Kitagawa replies, "I will improvise."
Makoto watches as Kitagawa power walks to the crosswalk, and slides across the street, just in time to reach Sugimura before he steps into the parking lot.
"How exquisite," he proclaims, as he comes to a stop before the man.
Sugimura lifts his gaze and frowns at him. "What?"
"Your clothes," Kitagawa declares, and gestures at the jacket and the slacks and shoes. "They are magnificent."
"I... thank you," Sugimura replies, and tries to step around him.
"My friend, I must insist you tell me where you acquired such fine fabrics."
Sugimura glances down at one of his sleeves, then appears to take in Kitagawa's appearance. "I don't think you could afford them." He manages to say it with no malice, which only makes it worse.
Kitagawa blinks and frowns. "Friend, you misunderstand. I do not wish the clothes for myself, but to further my artistic endeavors."
What? Makoto thinks.
"Huh?" Sugimura asks.
Kitagawa points to the jacket. "The juxtaposition of colors is astounding. I must capture this upon the canvas! If I cannot purchase the clothes for myself, then I beg you to model them for me."
Makoto's mouth drops open.
Sugimura takes a step back. "You want me to model for you?" His gaze turns into a glare. "You some kind of pervert?"
"If it is perverted to seek enlightenment through the appreciation of aesthetic beauty," and here Kitagawa spreads his hands wide, "then I declare myself a pervert!"
"Oh my god," Makoto whispers.
A few pedestrians turn and look towards the exchange.
Sugimura just stares at Kitagawa for a time, eyes wide, mouth open. Then he shakes his head clear and narrows his eyes. "Look, you little freak. Whatever kind of proposition this is, take your disgusting fantasies somewhere else. I'm not interested, and if you don't get out of my way, right now, I'll call the cops. Or I'll have my driver come over here and teach you some damn manners. Got it?"
Makoto pales. Kitagawa had barely bought them a few seconds. His 'model' bit had run its course.
Kitagawa stares at Sugimura, and Makoto watches as his face freezes.
What're we going to do? Makoto wonders. At this rate, she'll have to go out there and intercept him.
But what could she say? She's not good at this kind of thing. If Akira were here, he'd know what to do. He'd have some sort of plan in place or makeshift lie ready to go.
Kitagawa lifts his leg off the ground, winds it back, and kicks Sugimura square in the balls.
Makoto gasps.
The pedestrians gasp.
Sugimura howls, grabs at his crotch, and drops to his knees.
Kitagawa turns, and sprints across the street. By the time he reaches their hiding place, Sugimura is back on his feet. "You son of a bitch," he screams, and begins to stagger his way after him. "Get back here!"
"What was that?" Makoto demands, as Yusuke runs past her.
He looks over his shoulder and calls out, "Improvisation!"
Makoto runs after him. "How did you think to do that?"
Kitagawa is already breathing heavily. "It seemed... very much... like something Ryuji might do."
"You okay?"
"Some...what," he replies. "I don't have much stamina." They turn out of the alley and run down the sidewalk. "You may have to carry me soon."
"Not a chance," Makoto replies. They turn another corner, and she pauses and peeks back around the corner. Sugimura emerges from the alley, turns, and runs towards them. He's breathing almost as heavily as Kitagawa. This could actually work.
#
Officer Kagawa watches as Rin Sugimura charges his way across the street, pursuing the boy who had kicked him in the nuts.
Funny as it was, he finds it hard to believe that a random kid would just walk up to Sugimura and assault him like that.
That's for another day, though.
Kagawa isn't worried about pursuing them. After all, Sugimura's limo still sits parked in the lot. As long as it remains there, he'll have to come back for it, eventually.
He takes another sip of water. Still, he thinks. I'd sure love to know just what the hell is going on.
#
Akira stares at Yusuke from across the room. "You kicked him?"
Ryuji's grin is huge. "In the freakin' balls?"
Yusuke nods. "Indeed."
After finding Haru, it had been easy to escape. The Thieves had merely retraced their steps, and given the absolute turmoil the fortress was in, they were harassed by very few Shadows on their way out.
Haru had insisted on going deeper, on trying to find Sugimura's Shadow and the Treasure, but after her display with Milady, she'd been left with barely enough strength to stand.
She lay snuggled on Akira's couch. Makoto sits next to her, an arm wrapped around her dozing friend.
Akira had heaved a huge sigh of relief, when they'd exited the Palace to find the car still in the same spot. The driver was gone, but that didn't bother him too much. He'd probably gone off to find out what happened to his boss.
"Who cares how he did it?" Ann asks. She sits at Akira's desk, Morgana curled in her lap. She scratches the cat's ear. "It worked!"
"Good move, Yusuke," Morgana puts in. "Way to join the club."
"What club?" Ryuji asks him.
"The kicked Sugimura's ass club," Morgana says.
"Technically," Yusuke says, raising a finger. "I only kicked him in the-"
"Right, well," Akira puts in. He doesn't want to dampen the mood, but he feels he should point this out. "It was quick thinking on your part, Yusuke. But next time, maybe don't do something that could be considered assault."
Yusuke blinks. "Assault?"
"Yeah," Akira replies. "Technically, what you did was assault."
"But dude," Ryuji puts in. "Mona did the same thing. Besides, it was Sugimura. It shouldn't count if it's against him."
"Morgana's a cat," Akira points out. "You can't prosecute a cat."
"I'm not a cat," Morgana groans.
"And I agree," Akira continues, ignoring him. "It shouldn't matter, but it does."
Yusuke pales a bit. "I see. Rest assured, I will not do something like that again."
Akira shrugs. "There's a time and place for it, sure. Just, maybe not on a crowded street. We got lucky today. Really lucky."
Makoto nods. "Akira's right. Despite how terrifying it all was, things really worked out today."
Haru stirs and sits up. "Well," she says. "I don't entirely agree."
Everyone looks at her, but Akira thinks he knows what she's talking about, aside from the obvious. "Your phone."
Haru nods. "Since it was destroyed, the evidence of Sugimura's threats got destroyed too."
Ryuji raises his hand. "But, like, isn't that shit saved in the cloud or something? Can't you just get a new phone?"
Ann frowns. "Yeah, she could. But usually they have to pair phones to get the data transferred right away. I don't know what the process is if your old phone is destroyed. Can you even get messages back?"
"Right now," Akira says, shrugging himself away from the wall. "We should operate under the assumption that those messages are gone."
"And without them," Makoto puts in. "We can't go to Officer Kagawa."
A silence falls over the group. "Well then," Haru says. "I suppose there's only one option then."
Akira smiles. "We change Sugimura's heart."
Haru nods. "He kidnapped me. Took me to the yakuza and tried to have them shoot me full of drugs. If we do report him to the police now, he may go that much further." She stops talking. When they'd returned to LeBlanc, Haru had given them a detailed run through of her less than stellar day.
Akira sighs, holds up his hands, and makes a small space between his thumb and forefinger. "He's this close to hurting her, badly. We don't have time to deliberate anymore. We need to steal his Treasure and change his heart."
"But how are we to do that?" Yusuke asks. "The Palace is a car. We were lucky today, as Niijima-senpai has said. What about going forward? How do you propose we get inside?"
Akira crosses his arms. "We'll think of something."
We have to.
##
AWWWWW YEAHHHHHHH
Milady's in da house!
Managed to get this rewritten for today, thankfully.
As always, thank you very much for reading!