Disclaimer: I do not own Persona 4 or RWBY they are the property of their respective owners, any resemblance to any other Persona 4 or RWBY fan fiction is coincidental and plagiarism is not intended. No flames please constructive criticism only.
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As the bullets came at Magastu-Izanagi from Riding Hoods submachine guns he twirled his weapon around in his hands and easily deflected all of the bullets. Then as Sir Gareth approached he easily deflected the first attack of the knight's sword. He parried the blows before growling in an animalistic fashion and became aggressive.
Sir Gareth quickly found himself on the defensive. With each blow blocked Jaune let out cries of pain and grasped his arms.
"Jaune what's wrong?" Ruby asked with worry.
"My arms..."He gasped before crying out in pain and falling back as Magastu-Izanagi smashed through Gareths defence and hammer him into the ground.
"Don't you kids know?" Adachi asked as Ruby gave him a glare while fussing over Jaune. "When a Persona take's damage its user feels the pain as if the wounds were their own. For example..."
Magatsu-Izanagi suddenly brought its foot down on Gareths crotch causing Jaune to scream out in agony.
"Even though my Persona's foot is nowhere near you it feels like he's actually crushing your balls." Adachi chuckled before looking at Ruby. "I know you're the Hero type but you really should have ditched this loser and escaped by yourself." He pointed at Jaune before sighing with disgust. "Instead, like a hopeless dumbass, you half-assed it and skipped all the grinding and face me woefully underLEVELLED!" he emphasised the last word by kicked Gareth into Riding Hood causing Ruby to fall to the ground in pain.
"T-this-"
"Huh? Speak up I can't hear you from down there." Adachi called out to her putting his hand next to his ear.
"I said THIS ISN'T A GAME!" Ruby screamed as Riding Hood pulled out a Rocket Launcher from her basket and fired it at Adachi, who let out a scream of pain as Magatsu-Izanagi took the hit for him.
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"Where could they be?" Glynda asked with worry, her Yu having already begun looking around for the missing students and finding nought but docile shadows.
"He can't have taken them far we just need a sign," Yu said being very thorough in examining their surroundings for any sign of Adachi.
Suddenly there was a loud boom, looking to its source they saw a cloud of smoke rising from somewhere not too far away.
"That will do," Glynda said and they both began running in that direction.
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"Ah, that hurt." Adachi complained, "But it doesn't change a thing." He said before looking down to see only Jaune on the ground, he looked around for Ruby "Where the hell did she go-OH SHIT!" He quickly ducked under a swing from Crescent Rose coming from the side.
Ruby lunged forward again swiped at Adachi forcing him to jump back again and again.
"You might be tough with your Persona." Ruby gasped as she kept swiping for him and forcing him back. "But you haven't got any real huntsman training. Like the first rule of combat."
Suddenly she pulled the trigger on her weapon giving her next swing greater momentum, Adachi found him jumping back again only trip and start falling, glancing down he saw it was Jaune that he'd tripped over. Then it happened, the scythe cut his cheek, causing him to scream in pain, although the wound was small it hurt more than anything Adachi had felt in life aside from when Yu had eaten his Persona in their battle in the TV World.
"Always be aware of your surroundings," Ruby said to him exhaustedly with a cheeky grin before falling down to her knees with one hand on Crescent Rose as support.
The murderer rolled backwards and into his sofa holding the cheek before angrily glaring at Ruby.
"You little bitch, you think you're so smart I'LL KILL YOU BOTH!" Adachi yelled humiliated at being tricked by a kid.
Magatsu-Izanagi moved fast, before Jaune or Ruby could even blink it was past both Riding Hood and Gareth who now were missing large parts of their stomachs and in their faces, both Personae vanished, Ruby and Jaune screamed agony, it felt as though their own guts had been torn out.
"Alright, Goodbye kiddies."
The Persona brought his sword down only to be stopped by an identical weapon.
"Right on cue." Adachi clicked his tongue as Izanagi had appeared and stopped Magatsu Izanagi.
"Adachi, that's enough!" Yu yelled as he and Glynda ran between the students and Adachi.
"Professors!" Ruby said with relief.
"Glynda, take the students to the exit, and warn the ambulance drivers, the missing people are all about to come out at once," Yu told her.
"The missing people but where are they?"
"Look around, can you see them, those moving blobs." Glynda looked and indeed say some dark blobs moving around in a strange directionless manner as if they didn't see where they were going.
"Those are the missing people, they turned into shadows after spending a certain amount of time here and by kidnapping so many he can slowly drain their aura to offset the cost of maintaining this place, enough that it doesn't harm them, isn't that right?"
"Yup got it one," Adachi confessed.
"Can you defeat him?" Glynda asked as she levitated Ruby, Jaune and their weapons.
"I've got this."
"Very well." With that Glynda ran off heading for the exit the students and their weapons floating after her.
As the two personas pushed away from each other Yu kept his gaze firmly on Adachi.
"Adachi, how are you here?" Yu asked bluntly.
"Easy I was hired by the other side," Adachi replied casually.
"The other side?" Yu asked confused.
"Yeah, you think the Grimm are the only threats here? Seriously?" Adachi said similarly confused before realization crossed his face. "Oh I get it now, that old man didn't even tell you this much huh?"
"I'm only here to help teach and awaken Personas for a couple of teams until the end of the school year," Yu told him.
"Well, that explains it. Some things never change it seems, you have less knowledge of the situation stumbling in the dark while I got the summary of things that's being kept away from you." Adachi chuckled derisively in amusement. "Some seeker of the truth you are... so it looks like that old man really can't get close to anybody."
"Ozpin?"
"Yeah, he and this boss of mine, a bitch I'm working for have been going at it for a looooong time you can probably find her at then of an obvious trail filled with Grimm at her side." Adachi sighed. "Ozpin is not who you think he is, he doesn't have friends or even anyone he's close with. I can tell that from what you said to that expression on your face. People might call him a friend but he doesn't consider anyone to be his friend, he keeps everyone at arm's length."
"Hah! But what do I know, you've got that thing called 'bonds' or something maybe you'll be able to make a friend of him or not. Something tells me though that you probably won't and I would pay to see you personally fail on that though." Adachi said mirthfully. "Ever heard of that event called the Salem Witch Trials? Almost as bloody as my boss, try dropping that towards Ozpin and see his reaction. Don't say I never did nothing for you."
"You're just an illusion now huh?" Yu asked but certain of what the answer might be.
"Yup, fair trade-off since I told you things and you entertained me," Adachi replied as he disappears revealing what Yu suspected to be an illusion. "See ya, loser."
Yu barely had time to get his bearings as he flew through the portal and came out into the store, he crashed through the store window and reflexively covered his face as small shards of glass scratched him. He impacted onto the road and rolled along with it before coming to an abrupt halt. Opening his eyes he saw he was stopped by Glynda's semblance which she used to put him back on his feet.
"Thank you," Yu said to her as he looked around, she nodded in return.
"Ms Rose and Mr Arc are just exhausted, some rest in the infirmary should be fine for them," Glynda said.
Ruby and Jaune lay sleeping against one of the army of Ambulances that had arrived in response to the call. Many of the people who had been released wore shabby clothing, clearing Adachi had taken to kidnapping the homeless at first to avoid detection before moving onto other targets. But why move onto people that would attract attention, did Adachi want Yu to find him?
"Hey, you got the missing people back." The captain said walking over "But what about the perp?"
"He got away," Yu said nonchalantly. "Even if I had tried to stop him he might have used to the people he took as hostages."
"Damn it, well what do you think he'll do?" The captain grumbled.
"I think he'll lay low for a while," Yu answered "He'll be back, but I don't think he'll pull a stunt like this again."
"Shit, well at least we got the people back, so something good came outta this." The captain sighed before walking away.
From what Adachi had told him, Ozpin and this Salem had been fighting some sort of secret war for a very long time. He seemed to imply it was longer than just one lifetime. Yu had fought gods before so, immortality wasn't too farfetched. He looked to Sherlock who was smoking his pipe nearby while looking up at the night sky.
If Yu confronted Ozpin, the man might get scared and sever their contract forcing Yu back to Earth. No, he had to be clever about this, he'd have Hassan find the way down to where that magical energy was. Maybe he'd find some more answers then.
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At his desk in Atlas Academy, General Ironwood sighed as he looked at Clover who stood at attention next to Winter.
"Still nothing more?" He sighed with annoyance.
"Sorry, sir." Clover apologised. "I tried but, even my Semblance didn't turn up anything more on this Dr Ferdinand."
"It's not your fault," Ironwood grumbled.
"We questioned the few other scientists in his field, but they all agreed that although he came from nowhere his genius in genetic engineering is the real thing," Winter stated holding up her scroll and playing a video. "These mannequin warriors are his work." The video showed four mannequin warriors fighting against the latest model of Atlesian Knights. The creatures nimbly dodged the laser fire and quickly tore the robots apart like they were made of cardboard instead of steel before the video ended.
"That was the demonstration video the SDC released right?" Clover asked.
"Yes." the General grumbled. "Jacques announced that these soldiers were going to completely replace every machine in SDC security due to their ineffectiveness in protecting SDC assets."
That had also been a jab at the military. James and Jacques had never gotten along when the CEO had demanded military protection for the SDC's dust shipments he'd given him some military droids. Until now all the man could do was complain that he needed specialists instead of useless machines, which James had denied him hoping to force the man to spend money himself rather than hoarding it. He'd gotten his wish, but not in a way he would have liked.
Loaning the combat droids for security was a major source of revenue for the military, if the mannequin warriors proved to be superior then Jacques would get the last laugh as he took money from the military itself.
The General glanced at the email he'd received as a result of the council meeting earlier.
"Speaking of Jacques it looks like he didn't take our probing very well."
"How so sir?" Winter asked
"It seems he pulled strings with the council in retaliation for our probing about the Doctor." James sighed with annoyance and a heavy heart. "The council has demanded that I investigate all Faunus members of the military for possible White Fang sympathisers. I was outvoted and now I have no choice."
"This is just like him," Winter said with anger.
"Sir, they're your soldiers they will understand," Clover said trying to lighten the situation up.
"I hope so, but I want you two to make sure the anti-faunus elements don't use this as a chance to get their way. I want this to be as fair and even-handed as possible." James ordered.
"Yes sir!" The two saluted
"One last thing, I take it you've heard about Colonel Mustard," The General said before the two could leave.
"With respect sir, I think everyone has heard about the Colonel by now," Clover said.
Colonel Mustard was considered the Kingdom of Atlas's greatest swordsman. Then he had been challenged by the request of Jacques Schnee to a duel with a man from Mistral who was to be Whitley Schnee's new bodyguard. The match hadn't lasted long less than thirty seconds and Mustard was defeated after being toyed with for twenty seconds before the math finally ended. His name. Okada Izo. His background had turned up nothing. Something which concerned James but who knew he was powerless to do anything about it.
"It's hard to believe that this Izo fellow has no aura," Winter commented.
"Yeah, I heard that made the Colonel's defeat even more humiliating," Clover said. "He hasn't been heard from since, he's fine and recovering from his injuries but he's started drinking sir."
"I'll go talk him." General Ironwood said standing up from his desk.
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The sound of steel scraping against steel entered his ears. The face of his opponent concealed by a conical hat with only a single eye which seemed to glow red visibly through a hole of damage in it. Despite the intimidation, he fought on. Then he blinked and his aura shattered, the force of the blow sending him onto his back and winding up, his sword flying from his grasp. His opponent's sword was at his throat, and so he yielded.
"You're not bad, but I am a genius swordsman, and you'll never be able to beat someone like me." He said with a dark tone to his voice.
Colonel Mustard jumped as his door alarm chimed. Someone wanted to be let in.
"Oh, the door is unlocked," Mustard called out.
The door slid open and the sound of boots walking across the floor echoed from the entrance. The door closed and as it did James Ironwood walked into the living room. Embarrassed Mustard quickly put away the tumbler of whiskey he had been drinking to try and forget.
"Ah General." He stood up and saluted.
"I'm not here as a general, I'm here as James now." Ironwood explained causing Mustard to relax and sit back down. "May I?"
"Oh of course have a seat." James took a seat on a sofa opposite Mustard.
"So, are you alright telling me about this Izo?" James asked carefully. "I know you of all people are fair in your assessments."
"Yes, of course." Mustard cleared his throat and seemed to straighten himself up, though James could tell this was taking a great effort. "To be frank, Whitley Schnee couldn't be safer. Okada Izo is a genius of the kind that only comes around every thousand years. Mere thugs from the White Fang wouldn't even get close to him with Izo on duty. I doubt even those with Huntsman level training could get close without a squad of eight at the very least."
"And what can you tell me about him personally?"
Mustard sighed sadly. "James... Izo showed me, that I've disgraced myself. My sensei is spinning in his grave no doubt."
"Because of the loss?"
"No, losing is a part of fighting," Mustard shook his head. "I plateaued, I stopped improving and made excuses as to why I wasn't getting better. This is something my sensei warned me about, something I took to heart and yet it still happened. I've let myself rot and in so doing disgraced my sensei and everything he taught me."
"I don't follow."
"Well, you see most huntsman today and thus many of my opponents don't have a fighting style. They just swing or fire their weapons and try to hit their enemy." Mustard explained. "As such, I haven't had to exert myself, and so the things my sensei taught me, like how to read an opponent and know what they are going to do next, have started to rust. When I had to use this skill against Izo I was caught off guard and started to forget things. He toyed with me before I got my bearings and slashed his clothing, and then he just defeated me with a single blow."
Mustard let out a sigh and slouched in sadness.
"I'm so ashamed. I disgraced my sensei and now I am nothing a carcass."
"Don't be ridiculous, Mustard," James said sharply getting his attention. "It sounds to me what you need now is to get better. And now you have a goal something you didn't have before. Start practising again. Let that goal be your drive. Your goal is to surpass Izo. So stand up and get back to work. You have a reason now, something you haven't had in a long time."
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Emerging from the TV Adachi let out a loud sigh before falling onto a nearby sofa.
"Hey." He opened his eyes to see Mercury watching the news with a picture of Adachi on the screen along with his name and warning to stay away and contact the authorities. "Your screw up is on the news."
"This is barely a dent. I just need to lay low for a while." Adachi replied.
"But what good are you without your semblance?" Emerald asked.
"My domain is still up and running," Adachi said with annoyance, his eyes shut to rest them.
"ut you let all the people go." Emerald pointed out.
"No, the kid demanded I let the people from Vale go, and so I did. He never said anything about the people I took from Atlas, Mistral and Vacuo." Adachi said clicking his tongue. "Now shut up you brats, I need to get some sleep."
With that Adachi drifted off to sleep, leaving Mercury and Emerald staring at each other.