It seemed all too convenient. That kid had something to do with the cases… right? There was definitely the connection of the people involved. But what proof did he really have? He was just a kid. There was no way he could be doing those things.
'But so were we…' Yu Narukami shook his head for the nth time that day. Their most recent case involved Ichiryusai Madarame, the art mogul who had confessed to plagiarism and detailed how he had let one of his pupils die right in front of him. The one who had died was the mother of Yusuke Kitagawa, someone the student from Shujin had been spotted with frequently.
"I'm afraid we still have no proper evidence of action. As much as we want to confront them, we can't say for sure whether or not they are truly involved in the cases."
"Naoto, is there any way we can have eyes on them 24/7? We still haven't caught them in the act. At this rate, I don't know if we even can. Whatever they're doing to change these people is untraceable. I- I swear, there's something up with that Ren kid. He's from Inaba just like us," The silver haired detective shook his head, frustrated. He was so close yet so far.
"You know we can't legally track their every move. First off, they're all still minors. Second, it's not legal to detain them or otherwise record them. As much as I want to solve this case, we still have guidelines to follow," Naoto sighed, mirroring Yu's frustration. It wasn't often that a case eluded them like this.
"Get everyone here, we can have a meeting-" just as he finished speaking, his phone rang.
"Get to Shibuya! Quick!" It was Chie and Yukiko on the other end. It seemed something was up. "There's calling cards all over the place! They're all addressed to someone named Junya Kaneshiro. They're claiming that he's the one behind the exploitation and drug trade in the area. We don't know what'll happen next, but just get over here in case something does!"
The two detectives looked each other in the eyes. It seemed they had somewhere to be.
-R-
Today was the day. With their calling card sent, Kaneshiro's palace would be on high alert. The treasure was waiting for them along with the man's shadow. As he turned to face his fellow Phantom Thieves, he received nods, thumbs up, smiles, and waves as they walked through the back alleys of Shibuya.
This would be Kaneshiro's last day as a man living free from his crimes. The students and populace of Shibuya would be freed of his grasp. "Let's go. It's showtime," Ren said as they disappeared from the real world.
The metaverse was lively. With Kaneshiro's scope of victims being the population of Shibuya, the chaos that occurred in the streets beneath the bank had been never ending. As they made their way to the final safe room, Ren watched how his teammates handled themselves.
Morgana seemed prepared. One look at him told you all you needed to know. He was calm, poised, and ready. He was used to it after all. Both Ann and Ryuji seemed full of energy. They were ready to go and eager. With the amount of experience they had, they were itching to see what they could do. Shiho remained stoic. Even so, on the inside, the girl was just waiting her turn. She knew her role as a support was limited from the action. She just wished the best for her teammates. Makoto was determined. There was a fire in her eyes that emphasized her excitement for her first big fight. Sumire was nervous. Ren watched as she constantly had a hand at her hip, ready to pull her rapier out for anything. She was alert, ready, and slightly afraid. It was uncharacteristic for the typically fiery gymnast.
Kasumi had stayed home. It seemed as though her Persona had no intention of showing itself just yet. She had insisted that she just stay out of it. It was safer that way. Ren wouldn't push. There was no reason to make the girl go when it was clear she didn't want to. Instead, she spent her time observing the public's reaction to the mass scattering of the calling cards. Most remained confused or unbothered by the abundance of calling cards, however it was clear who was associated with the man.
Sighs of relief, cheers of gratitude, and gasps of horror occasionally made their way to her ears as the people of Shibuya understood what was happening. The students would be free from their servitude to the man. His peons on the other hand would no longer have an employer.
As they rode the elevator down to the final room, Ren thought back to when he had first gone there. This was the second time that they would hear about the black mask. About Goro Akechi. His dealings in the metaverse had caused much pain and destruction for the people of Shibuya. He had to find a way to stop him before it was too late.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened as the Phantom Thieves stepped out into the large room. Kaneshiro and his thugs had been waiting for them much like they had been the first time around.
"It's over Kaneshiro. Hand over the treasure so we can all go home and fix your stupid ass mess," Ryuji said as the group walked forward.
"Fix my mess?" The shadow asked. "The only mess that there's gonna be is your lives after I'm done with them! What will you do? You've got nothing compared to my millions! I have everything that money can buy. You won't stop me!"
The vault behind him opened to reveal the large robotic pig known simply as "Piggytron." It was an apt name considering Kaneshiro's obsession with wealth. He had tried to accrue so much money that his crimes were simply facets to get more. He was gluttonous, always needing more and more money even if the world he had created for himself gave it all to him.
As the man entered the mech, the Phantom Thieves braced themselves for the coming battle. This was what they had been waiting for. As Kaneshiro piloted the pig, Ren was the first to move.
"Sumire!" He called out as he dashed forward. The girl caught on to his silent request and ran as well. The two rushed the pig from the left and right before taking off in different directions.
While Ren continued forward, Sumire jumped, her vertical height far extended than humanly possible. She landed above piggytron with her rapier in hand. As he continued to run, Ren tore off his mask, Yoshitsune forming behind him.
"Now!" He yelled. Sumire jumped and Yoshitsune blasted the mech with ziodyne, electrocuting it. In a flash, Sumire had reached the ground. As she jumped back to the safety of her team, the amount of damage she had done in that one attack was more than noticeable. Straight through the outer shell of the robot laid a clear cut line. Although it wasn't exactly fatal, to start the fight off with immediate results against such a large foe gave the Phantom Thieves some momentum.
Meanwhile, the shadow within the robot had been panicking. He had the best that money could buy, right? There was no need to panic… right? Was this seriously the best that money could buy? His piggytron had been damaged by a single strike! Could it be that they had been even wealthier than him? Perhaps her sword was made using even finer materials than he had.
Kaneshiro's thoughts were warped. To a man that had grown up from rags to riches, the idea that money couldn't actually buy everything was unfathomable. He believed that Sumire's sword was superior. In reality, her sword was nothing but a replica. It was the metaverse that made it real. Kaneshiro's desires all dealt with his illegal activities and making money. The only thing the man thought of was money. He needed more. He always needed more. There was no end to his gluttony.
The fight against Kaneshiro was quick and painless. It didn't take long before the man began to crack under the pressure. Having eight people fighting you at once tended to have that effect. Although his bodyguards were decent, his money soon ran dry, and Shadow Kaneshiro was reduced to nothing but a broken man.
Now however, as the Phantom Thieves approached him, the shadow shrunk back from them, grasping for the gold around him. "I'm not gonna let anyone have it! This is my money!"
"It's all stolen," Makoto noted. "None of this wealth was yours in the first place.
"...you're right," he admitted. "How am I supposed to live a normal life like this? No… it's all because of our society! Weak people can't lead a happy life no matter what they do! I'm a victim too, you know? It's not my fault!"
"That's bullshit and you know it! All you've done is surround yourself with people you can use. You treat them like walking piggy banks all for your own selfishness!" Ann yelled.
"You think you're the only one dealin' with all this? Give me a break! That's what we're fightin' for. The Phantom Thieves fight for what's right. We know the world isn't so black and white, but we do know that what you're doing is seriously effed up," Ryuji said as he crossed his arms.
"It'll all be over for you, Kaneshiro. You'll finally have a place you belong. A place where you can pay back everything you've done," Makoto crossed her arms. The shadow began to turn to face them.
"You guys have all this power and such little ambition… These palaces could net you loads of cash! You could do whatever you wanted to people's hearts and no one could stop you," the shadow paused for a moment. "Actually… there is one. I'll let you in on a little secret. There's already someone out there taking full advantage of what these palaces have to offer. There's a criminal using other people's palaces to accomplish whatever they damn well please. They don't care about any of the consequences."
'Akechi…' Ren thought to himself. He had remembered that Kaneshiro had mentioned him. While they had first gotten their info from Madarame, Kaneshiro had confirmed that there was another metaverse user. Akechi had been the perpetrator of multiple casualties. Although he had been misguided, Akechi hadn't hated the Phantom Thieves. He envied them. Why did they have what he couldn't? In the end, Ren recalled the role that Akechi played. Even with his presumably dying breath, Akechi had gone down helping them. His final act to the Phantom Thieves had been shooting the shutter control. He had locked himself with the shadow version of him from Shido's cruiser.
Outside of that however, his appearance in Maruki's perfect world suggested that there was still a chance he had survived. He acted entirely human. There was nothing off. Was Akechi's true desire to just be free? He had been dealt a truly tragic hand. What could they possibly do to redeem him? Only time would tell. For now, they had to push forward.
"It doesn't matter. The one doing all of these crimes? They'll be stopped. You can count on it. For now, you have crimes to pay for, Kaneshiro. You have all the power and money one could ever need in a lifetime. Do something good with it, won't you? Then turn yourself in. Your crimes will not go unpunished," Ren lectured.
"Heh," the shadow laughed bitterly. "All that fighting and that's all? Not gonna finish the job, huh? The other one using the metaverse doesn't care if shadows die. Maybe that's how they're so effective."
"We don't kill. Not once, not ever. We only guide people like you in the right direction. Now do everyone a favor and make things right," Ren stated before turning to walk away. As he did, the ground began rumbling as the telltale signs of a collapsing palace began. The group followed suit and the Phantom Thieves escaped the Bank of Gluttony as another successful mission came to a close.
Now, all they had to do was wait for Kaneshiro's change of heart. Should everything go to plan, the public would never be bothered by him again. For now, they set their sights on their next target: Futaba Sakura.
The esteemed hacker had surely been monitoring them at this point. Even so, Ren knew she was harmless. Whatever she knew now was something she'd know eventually. Her induction into the Phantom Thieves had been relatively low-key despite the threat of a collapsing economy looming above.
Until then, their lives went back to normal. At least, as normal as the life of a Phantom Thief could be. Ann's modeling had seen its fair share of mostly ups but some downs. Shiho often supported her whenever she needed it, often asking around if anyone else would come help. Ryuji's personal goal of rehabilitating his injured leg was looking good. Makoto's diligence in school never wavered, however her obedience to the system certainly did. The twins had been living their lives to their fullest. Their gymnastics routine had gotten considerably more complex and even more impressive. It was only a matter of time until they would compete.
Ren on the other hand never rested. He was constantly on the lookout for any potential changes due to their meddling. It was bound to mess something up, right? Unbeknownst to him though, the detectives of Inaba's detective agency were nearing the truth.
-Y-
Yu Narukami had nearly pieced everything together. The style of the calling cards were consistent, however the quality of the cards had gone up following the incident with Ichiryusai Madarame. Was it a coincidence? They couldn't rule it out.
Even so, something called out to him. Something told him that the high school student he had interrogated all those months ago was no ordinary student. It had been years since he had ever thought of doing it, yet something beckoned for him to reach out. The truth was waiting.
Yu's hand moved forward to touch the TV screen that sat idly in the Investigation Team's shared apartment. His heart began to race as his mind wandered back to his thoughts of the TV world. Years ago he had stopped the murders that had plagued Inaba. The thrill of battle was something he hadn't felt in a long time.
Yet as his hand touched the screen, it didn't pass through. 'Should have known. Why would it open up now?'
"It would open up for you to reveal the truth," a familiar voice called out to him. Yu's eyes widened as he heard the voice.
"Izanagi…"
"Yes, it would seem as though we meet again. I am merely the manifestation of your soul. There is no reason for me to ever be away."
It made sense. Their personas symbolized their acceptance of themselves. They had all gone through their own awakenings and knew the ins and outs of their abilities.
"I can't find the missing link to this case. There's something there, I swear. I just… I don't have the resources to find it. I need some help." He stood up and pulled out his phone. Although he may have not shown it, Izanagi's presence in his mind meant so much more than he had the capacity to express.
He dialed a few familiar numbers, giving each of them the news that none could have ever expected.
"Izanagi is back."
He exited their apartment into the streets of Shibuya. A blue glint caught his attention and his eyes widened. A floating blue door with elaborate markings. A girl stood outside, satchel at her side while a hat covered her eyes. She stood with a hand on her hip, smiling smugly as the man approached.
"The Velvet Room…" he muttered to himself. His pace quickened to a jog as he approached the door. "Marie!" He called out as he got closer.
"I suppose my presence here really means something, huh?" She asked in a confident tone. "You ready to get back out there?"
He nodded and she laughed. "Let's get going then. Don't want to keep the miss waiting," Marie said while gesturing to the door.
The two walked through the door as time around them seemed to stop. They found themselves in a familiar setting. The never ending car ride that represented the Velvet Room.
However, it was clear that something-, or rather, someone was missing.
"Our master has long since disappeared," she explained. "A chaotic force toys with the fate of this world. As such, Marie and I will be assisting you in your journey to aid those in need. Of course, that means that the ones that once helped you in battle are still available. You may browse the registry and request whatever it is that you may need."
"Margaret…" He blinked a few times. "Never thought I'd be able to see you again…"
"Yes," she began. "Unfortunately, my return means something dreadful for you. The world within the TV is gone. A new force has emerged. At the moment, the world is set on a course for ruin, being held back only by a trickster and his allies."
"A trickster?" He asked.
"One with the power of the wildcard. Someone much like yourself."
That was strange. He hadn't heard of many other persona users. At least, not here in the city. The last time he had ever known about another persona user had been the summer when he returned to Inaba.
They were a group of persona users dubbed the "Shadow Operatives." They had ties to the police, though their work involved the TV world and hunting down shadows. He recalled that they had fought in a tournament style setting. Apart from them, he had never witnessed another person with the ability to use personas, never mind more than one.
'It has to be him' he thought to himself. 'That must explain the sudden spark I felt when I first met him.'
"Let me summon him," Yu told Margaret. "Izanagi no Okami. We'll see if we can help lead this world off of that course of ruin."
"Of course," she replied. She opened the compendium and pulled out a single card. The World. She handed it to Yu and sighed. The world would know the truth. Their master would be free. Contact with Lavenza had been cut and as such, she couldn't ask about how she was faring. For now, she could only sit and wait. Or could she?
Despite being velvet room attendants, the assistants of Igor had access to their own personas. Notably, Margaret utilized multiple high level personas from Siegfried to Yoshitsune. Marie on the other hand preferred her own Kaguya.
Perhaps it was time she found her true self much like the one she helped. With her master missing, it was only natural that she felt lost. Much like her sister had, she too seeked to pursue her true self and to aid those that risked everything they had for humanity.
To be a guiding light in a world destined for ruin, that was her calling.
Well… hey there. Been a while, huh?
Apologies for the really long wait between chapters along with this being a very short chapter. I've reached writer's block for this fic and it really shows.
To be honest, this chapter has been done for over 6 months. I just never got around to posting it. It's arguably the worst chapter I've written, mostly due to the aforementioned writer's block.
I always liked the idea of the Velvet Room attendants being part of the fight against the bigger threat. As such, Marie and Margaret will be joining the Investigation Team in their eventual metaverse escapades. It only makes sense to have them fight alongside, especially when Igor is missing.
Still no promises on updates. Sorry about that.