Persona Series x RWBY crossover

I do not own either one, They are Respectively owned by ATLUS and Roosterteeth

Including any additional add-ons from various games, anime, etc.


Gaius's Palace: To Lead by Example

No Date Confirmed Unknown Headquarters Morning

"So... you saw more of me than you should..." Gaius muttered with a depressing sigh, as if he was looking ill.

"I'm... so sorry..." Ruby apologized as she feared the worst.

"Don't be. I suppose it was my fault for falling into a coma in the first place." Gaius assured.

"But wasn't it some sort of mental shutdown? I heard people actually died from those." Ruby assumed.

"True... but I didn't die yet, haven't I?" Gaius smiled calmly and pondered. "Either the Phantom Thieves did take my heart, or maybe they were thwarted before they had the chance... but I have my doubts they would go to far to change my heart just because they claim that I'm a villain." He frowned. "I never go too far. I became a leader in order to prove that point in my life. Everything that I lost, what my teammates lost, everything we been through, that is what made me what I am today."

"Yeah, I heard." Ruby nodded. "You really are a good person."

"Which is also why those thieves haven't change my heart, yet." Gaius pointed out. "Do you know why?"

Ruby recollected her thoughts why they didn't take his heart. "Because you had a friend who gave you a hand...? A strong and powerful person in mind or..." She checked her memories but still came up with blanks.

"Even still affected by the drugs, you seem to be closer to the truth." Gaius chuckled.

*Wake up, Get up, Get out there


8/01 Shibuya, Japan Evening

"... To be more thorough, I am a student of Kosei High, a school different than the ones my friends are attending." Yusuke added as they continued walking towards Leblanc.

"He's really good at art." Ann mentioned.

"Interesting. Perhaps you can commission an art piece for me?" Weiss considered.

Ryuji scoffed in disagreement. "You might wanna be careful askin' him, he might actually-"

"... If I draw for you, may I ask to draw you nude?" Yusuke requested, shocking everyone in the group.

"Wh-What!? Absolutely not!" Weiss exclaimed blushing.

"Oh, that would be rich..." Yosuke laughed as Weiss pounded a block of ice on him in irritation as she then stormed off.

"Is she still undecided...?" Yusuke wondered.

"I think that's no..." Pyrrha point out with a sweat-drop.


8/01 Cafe Leblanc Evening

They entered the Cafe as Sojiro is reading his newspaper until he notices the students coming. "Welcome back. I trust that you guys were enjoying your sightseeing?" He asked.

"It was a terrific experience, that they're exhausted. Think we can have some curry for dinner?" Akira suggested.

"Coming right up." Sojiro confirmed as heads into the kitchen.

"Curry again...?" Weiss groaned.

"Hmm... Sakura-san, you think we can eat upstairs? In order to open up more seats for other customers?" Akira suggested.

"Fine by me. Just make sure you don't start a ruckus." Sojiro warned him as he nodded in response, taking the pot of curry upstairs. Sojiro was amazed by how Akira was able to make a lot of friends.

Akira brought the pot of curry and shared it with the huntsmen-in-training. At the same time, they began to review their palace infiltration. "So what did you huntsmen think about the palace so far?" Morgana asked.

"I've thought those palaces were like those dungeons we face in the TV world, but that was nothing compared to Mr. Erston's Palace." Jaune compared.

"The... TV world?" Ryuji repeated.

"I mentioned that to you guys before, remember? It's like another world that's in this metaverse like the same place or so..." Yu mentioned.

"Clearly you and your comrades have some experience when it comes to the Metaverse and the Shadows, and now you are dealing with the creatures of Grimm in reality? You all certainly have your work cut out." Yusuke complimented.

"Yeah well, saving the world one at a time, our job as Huntsman and Huntress is never ending." Ruby chuckled in response.

"Anyways, we managed to acquire the third key, now we need the forth in order to unlock that certain room." Makoto noted.

"There is is still more rooms to uncover, and with that recent surprise, we'll have to be more extra careful from now on." Yu stated.

"That's good and all, but what about Naoto and Rise? We'd be over the palace if we had them helpin' us." Kanji recalled.

"Oh yeah, Rise-chan scan the palace. It would be a cinch to find the room with the last key." Chie realized.

"Rise?" The Phantom Thieves wondered.

"She's a friend of ours, she's our navigator that helped with our investigations." Yosuke explained.

"That would certainly help us if she were able to help us. Is she available somehow?" Makoto asked.

"Dunno, didn't say anything when she left to work on her idol stuff." Kanji mentioned.

"Idol stuff...? Hold on, are you referring to the idol Rise Kujikawa? Also known as Risette?" Ryuji recalled.

"Indeed! Rise-chan is our member of our Team KRST!" Teddie answered proudly.

Ryuji: "For real!?"

"But if she's too busy with her business, we can't really help it if she's already preoccupied." Makoto mentioned.

"We made a lot of progress in the palace, after all. I guess will fine without the help." Ruby assumed.

"Yeah! One step in saving the world!" Nora cheered.

You're off saving the world, but who's saving the ones suffering from the adults...?" Ryuji joked with sarcasm.

"The adults?" Yang recalled. "Come to think of it, I'm curious how you guys are into this business. Why become Phantom Thieves in the first place?"

"You know, we're all curious about that as well." Weiss agreed. "You Shujin students are not entirely combat ready from our viewpoint.

The student huntsmen stared at the Shujin students, including the Kosei student besides them. "I suppose this might actually be a great opportunity to get to know each other better. Some of you knows every detail of my past." Yusuke suggested as he look to Yu and Yosuke. "How much do you know about Madarame?"

"Madarame? That fake artist?" Blake asked. "We were told that he confessed his crime about the 'Sayuri', about the plagiarism?"

"Correct. In truth, it was my mother's painting that reflected herself, a self portrait." Yusuke told them much to the Student Huntsmen's surprise.

"Bastard stole something personal and painted over it and made it to look like 'his' damn artwork." Ryuji followed up.

"No way... then how come the police didn't do anything?" Jaune asked.

"Yeah, didn't your mom do anything about it?" Yang included.

"No, that was a long time ago, and my mother passed away due to a seizure." Yusuke said with sadness in his tone. "And the worst part is when he crossed the line. Taking the Sayuri and leaving my mother to die." He stated with everyone looking at him with jaws dropped especially the student huntsmen, with some of them dropping their cups they were holding. "Oh, I apologize if I made you all uncomfortable..."

"No, no! It's just... I never knew that there would be such evil people like him out there." Ruby said with a distraught tone.

"And the police? Why haven't they investigated this? Surely they would look into this, would they?" Chie asked.

"I do not know, it was a long time ago and Madarame was using me the whole time." Yusuke shook his head. "I was under his 'guidance' until I met the Phantom Thieves."

"Madarame was already a sketchy person when we heard from a source, he eventually became our target afterwards." Ann added.

"And you thieves recruited Kitaguwa afterwards? But how were you guys able to enter his 'Palace'?" Weiss wondered.

"We used the meta-nav." Ryuji answered as he took his cell scroll out, showing a familiar app. "Not sure how it appeared, but this is what gets us into the palace."

"Wait a minute, that app!" Ruby exclaimed as she too her scroll out. It revealed that the app she tried to delete refused to be deleted. "No way, I thought I deleted it..."

"You have the app, too? And I'm guessing you tried to delete before?" Akira asked.

"Was it the same you guys as well?" Ruby asked as her friends peeked onto her scroll, focusing on the eye with a red background.

"I don't know about as well, it just appeared on our scroll." Makoto agreed, nodding.

"In order to infiltrate the host's palace, is that we will need 3 keywords; the name of the target, their location and the distortion." Yusuke explained.

"For Gaius's case, it was 'his name', the 'Black Fang HQ', and... well... 'White Tiger'."

"White Tiger? That's... very elaborate for distortion..." Yu mentioned.

"Yeah, funny that you guys mentioned, I was the one who found out the word of the term, in my history class." Yusuke mentioned.

"That's also an odd clue. Normally the keyword for the distortions is namely a place of the location. Kaneshiro with his Bank, Madarame and his museum, and Kamoshida and his Castle. There wasn't supposed to be a deity's name in one's distortion." Morgana told them.

So it means that Gaius is a special case? I think we've already covered that." Weiss recalls.

Silence filled the room for the moment... until the young huntress decides to speak up. "So... what about you guys? How did you guys join up?" Ruby asked the Shujin Students.

"Funny how you guys mentioned. It was when I discovered the metaverse during the raid of Kaneshiro. Specifically I've been asked by the Principle to look into the Phantom Thieves." Makoto told them. "He even implied academic prospect repercussions if I couldn't produce results. Especially mentioning my sister, of all people."

"She's that strict prosecutor? She literally chewed me and my team durin' a trial overseas." Kanji recalled.

"Even when we won the case, I really fell for Sae-chan for her assertiveness." Teddie mentioned as the others sweat-dropped.

"Ever since our father died on duty, I've always been trying to be the best honor student in order to alleviate the burden on my sister, given to her status as a prosecutor and my guardian." Makoto continued. "I've might have actually stepped in too far at that point."

"No kidding, you made yourself bait in order to get us into Kaneshiro's palace." Ann noted.

"She was a special customer at that point, that allowed us to infiltrate his palace." Morgana included.

"Yes, well. I can bet that you guys know where this goes." Makoto turns to the Student Huntsmen. "The way I see it, due to my own investigations, I have to believe that the Phantom Thieves are just."

"I don't get it. Why would the principle make his students do something like that? I mean, didn't he know that you guys may be dangerous that he claimed you to be? Why risk your safety?"

"He probably wanted to get this case over with. I even heard that he was considering to use you guys to hunt the Phantom Thieves." Makoto mentioned.

"Ironic how the supposed Phantom Thieves are right in front of us." Weiss jokingly note and the Phantom Thieves looked her with unamused expressions.

"Uh... Weiss?" Ruby stared

"Calm down, I would have told the authorities in a heartbeat if I didn't realized what's been happening." Weiss reassured. "With the ability to change someone's hearts, you can imagine that there's a lot of people out there who want other hearts to change."

"That's true..." Blake agreed as they both reminisce about their own case.

"Well... I guess it's our turn then?" Ann continued. "Back then, I move to Mistral a while back, but moved back to Japan eventually. I never thought I'd see Ryuji going to the same high school, though.

"Yeah, we ended up in different classes and stopped talkin'. She's still the same girl back in middle school, by the way." Ryuji snickered as Ann gave him a cold stare.

"I suppose it's a good thing that you guys are friends once again, not in a social way." Yukiko giggled.

"As for me... pretty much a normal story for a rotten kid." Ryuji stated as he told his tale. "It was just me and my Mom when my Dad left. I was also trying to get into the Black Fang guild with my running skills so I could make things easier for my mom." He explained a he leaned back. "Back when I was a first year, my mom got called out to school for me raising my hand at Kamoshida. And that bastard broke my leg in 'self-defense', too. Every teacher there bought into it."

"We heard that he abuse the students in beating them up, even sexually harass the girls on the team." Yang mentioned. "And the reason they didn't say anything was because he was a Black Fang veteran or something?"

"Naoto-kun said he wasn't even supposed to be teaching at all. Makes me wonder why they employed someone like him in the first place." Yukiko wondered.

"Yep, I had nothin' to lose, after what the Kamoshida prick did." Ryuji added. "So... you guys can guess what we did. And he confessed to the student body after we changed his heart."

"The way you described this Kamoshida, he is truly a vile pig." Pyrrha gave a detested expression.

"He really is. He even went so far to push... push someone to suicide." Ann stated in a sad tone.

"... At least he's behind bars, am I right?" Yang assured with a thumbs up, after a moment of silence in the air.

"Hahaha... Yeah." Ann laughed whimsically.

"So... what's your story, Akira?" Ruby asked. "Are you victim of rotten bad guys?"

"Not just some random victim, his situation tops off all of us. Being labeled for a crime he didn't commit." Morgana told them, giving the Student Huntsmen a confused look.

"Akira was... framed...?" Jaune said, with his eyes widened.

"I was trying to save a women and I ended up being accused for assault. I didn't know what was going on either and the women stayed quiet and fibbed the whole thing in that guy's defense, even when he fell on his own." Akira scratched his frizzy hair."

"You can't be serious...! You were trying to protect that lady and you got into trouble?!" Ruby exclaimed in anger.

"And you went to court only to get a guilty verdict, too?" Blake added. "Unbelievable..."

"Sounds like a guy to break his legs, who is he and where can we find him?" Nora asked and declared.

"Nora, stop!" Ren demanded as he pulled her back to her seat.

"The hell!? Friggin' cops got the wrong guy! Pisses me off that they label someone innocent!" Kanji exclaimed with fury in his tone.

"This man is certainly the kind of person whose heart you thieves should steal." Yukiko agreed while twirling her tail. "Do you know that man?"

"If only I could. It was a long time ago and it was dark, so I couldn't know who I was facing or know who he is." Akira shook his head.

"I'm sure you were shock to be arrested for a crime you didn't commit." Blake stated in sincerity.

"Whelp... you heard our reason for becoming Phantom Thieves." Ryuji stated. "This world is eff'ing messed up. The weak're left to fight for themselves, while rotten adults get away with whatever they want!"

"And those in power don't do anything to help the situation." Morgana added. "I only hope that Raiden is right about Gaius that he isn't as bad as the rest of the adults.

"No one knows about the Phantom Thieves" Yusuke said. "If we can change the hearts of the corrupted individuals, we would be able to show what true justice is. Only then we'd be able to make everyone come to their senses."

"And that's why you guys remained anonymous, considering all of your stories thus far, I say we all might have something in common, in a way." Ren chuckle as he sips his tea.

"Well... it sure ain't 'cause of anything good." Ryuji chuckled everyone else followed in on laughing.

"Similar, huh... I'm the only one who doesn't fit in..." Morgana muttered in depression as Blake and the other turned to him. "I don't have any memories to look back on."

"Were you hit with amnesia?" Ruby asked.

"Probably. We could search the whole world and we wouldn't find a bigger misfit than the cat. That's also the reason why we're goin' into palaces in the first place.

"I bet your past is just as troubling as the rest of us." Blake assured.

"I actually feel like I've known Morgana for a really long time, too. It's so strange that I can't even put it in words." Ann mentioned.

"Look, I'm helping you guys out for my own sake. Don't get me wrong!" Morgana retorted in a tough tone. "If you guys don't get any stronger, investigating the Palaces won't be anything but a pipe dream!"

"One second you're depress, the next you're acting like a tough guy. You're an interesting cat, ya' know?" Yang said as she scratches his ear.

"Hey, I'm not- Oh!" Morgana moaned as he showed his belly to Yang, scratching. "Ooooooohhhh yeeeeaaahhh... that feels goooood..." He purred with everyone laughing and sweat-drops.

"That being said. Does anyone outside this group know who you guys are?" Weiss asked as the laughter died down to a serious atmosphere.

"Only a few people who trusts us, but that's it. No one, not even... Sojiro knows about us." Akria stated as he gives his friends a stern expression. "We do this in order to save people from being victimized from those who exploit people.

"We're going as far with as can. I want to punish those corrupted adults and give courage to people in trouble." Ann declared.

"Damn straight!" Ryuji nodded.

Being a member of the Phantom Thieves will surely help me grow, both as an artist and a person." Yusuke added.

"Of course, under my guidance,there's nothing we can't accomplish together!" Morgana agreed.

"That's good to hear. And we will help as long as we're here." Yu nodded as well as his Investigation Team.

"We'll help however we can, too. Just as long we're dealing with the bad guys and all." Ruby agreed along with her Teammates and Team JNPR nodding as well. "I hope we can get along just well. I'd like to share our tale next time we have this party."

"Sound like a great idea." Makoto agreed. "We'd love to hear how you guys wanted to become Huntsmen."

Ruby: "Sure!

Chie: "And me and Yukiko will make something this time-"

"NO!" The Student Huntsmen declared, shutting down Chie suggestion.

"I... guess that's a good thing, all things considered." Yosuke sighed as he checked the date on his cell scroll. "Look at the time..." Yosuke mentioned.

"Whoa, it's this late?" Ann exclaimed as she looked that the clock in the room.

"I guess now's a good time to call it a night." Jaune suggested with everyone agreeing.


They gave their plates to Akira as they all headed down stairs some of the students noticed Sojiro on the phone with a stern expression. "I see... alright, alright. I'm about to close up and head out, don't worry." He assured someone on the phone and hung up. "Are you guys done? You certainly took your sweet time."

"We've just realized how late so we're going now." Ann mentioned.

"Thank you for the curry. Although is that the only dish you have on your menu?" Blake asked.

"Probably." Sojiro bluntly answered, much to the Faunus Huntress disappointed sigh.

They were about to head out until they see a portrait hung up in the shop. It displayed a women hold an infant with a branch with Sakura blooming. "Oh hey, what's this?" Ruby asked.

"That, my friends, is the Sayuri." Yusuke answered.

"The Sayuri? Wait, I heard on the TV that the painting was stolen. Is this a copy of it?" Weiss asked.

"Yes, although just another replica of the original unfortunately." Yusuke mentioned as he then frowned. "... This is a painting of 'A women who knew her death was coming painted her last wishes, for the son she would leave behind'." He described with a sad tone. "It's a real shame when you think of it, with the child knowing he will not be able to see his mother's face."

"... Yusuke..." Ruby muttered as she and Yang looked to him with an understandable feeling.

"Um... I'm not much of an artist but I think we know that feeling." Yang reassured, patting Yusuke's shoulder.

"It's a beautiful painting in its own rights." Ren agreed.

"Thank you. It seems you huntsmen are men and women of culture." The Faunus Artist chuckled.

"So we're to meet again after your guy's class?" Ryuji asked as they all stepped outside


*Beneath the Mask -Instrumental ver.

The students returned to the hotel with Sun and Neptune waiting for them in the lobby. "You guys certainly enjoyed yourselves." Sun waved as he and Neptune approached them.

"Yeah, sorry Sun-kun. We didn't know our trip would be this long." Chie apologized.

"Nah, it's cool. The all-you-can-eat sushi here was awesome! You guys missed some competition that was held here." The Monkey Faunus mentioned.

"An all-you-can-eat competion!?" Teddie exclaimed.

"We missed it!? Nooo!" Nora cried as they both wailed in despair as the others gave a sweat-drop.

"We ate curry, so I don't think we're that hungry." Jaune rest assured.

"Come to think of it? Has anyone seen my mother?" Yu asked.

"Narukami-sensei? Oh, yeah... she usually shows up so often and cuddles you, doesn't she?" Yosuke recalled.

"Don't remind me..." Yu sighed.

"Oh, that's the thing!" Sun realized. "She was called to fend off a Grimm attack in another 'ward' towards the west of here." He explained, with the students jumped with surprise along a bgm change.

*Restlessness

"A Grimm attack!? Where!?" Ruby exclaimed.

"The Professor didn't told us. She actually told to tell you guys, not to engage, where ever you guys were." Neptune replied.

"Why's that?" Kanji questioned. "Narukami-sensei is puttin' her life on the line. You really think we'd sit back and play around!?"

"Hey, easy there Kanji, we said the same thing to her." Neptune calmly retort back. "She insists saying; 'The children are on vacation and shouldn't be bothered over trivial matters. Better to leave such matters to veterans' and she winked." He added.

Everyone was worried eventually Yu decided to call her personally... which she actually picked up.

"Yu-kun? Ah sweetie, how are you and your friends?" Seta asked as they heard unidentifiable growls, roars, metal clashing, and bullets flailing through the phone. The students were ultimately surprised by the sounds going on from their.

"Okaa-san! Did... I call at a bad time?" Yu asked.

"Oh not at... all!" *RIP* "Just another day on the field!" Seta answered, but the students couldn't help but hearing and odd sound from their end.

"I can hear it from here..." Yosuke fearfully stuttered.

"Um... will you need help by any chance...?" Yu asked feeling a little concerned.

"Not to worry! I'm pretty much a one-woman-army! A horde like this is a piece OF CAKE!" Seta roared as a sound of what the students think is puncturing a hole in something. "At any rate, it's almost bedtime. Can you guide the other students to Shujin tomorrow? I'm afriad I won't be able to skip out from the attack."

"Okaa-san." Yu said sternly.

"I assure you will not die from this. This is nothing but a common, everyday, routine." Seta reassured. "... You know I'm am going to say no, correct?"

"... Hai..." Yu affirmed with a sigh.

"Thank you. *BANG* It's just that, I implore you to keep seeing the bigger picture in some things. I think that's what Ozzy-sensei saw in you and your father." *CRACK* "Now I think it's bedtime for you all." Seta pointed out as she hung up after all that unidentifiable sounds ringing from her end.

"And I'm not any younger..." Yu sighed. He looked to his friends in the lobby as they were completely baffled by what they heard.

"Uh... the hell was that?" Kanji stuttered.

"It sounded like complete chaos on her end." Yang followed.

"My lien's on the fact that we got called her in a middle of a Grimm attack." Jaune assumed.

"She must be that powerful to hold a conversation at the same time..." Pyrrha agreed.

"My mother said that she will be fine and that we're to stay on standby. I think we still have some classes to go back at Shujin Academy..." Yu told his friends.

"But what about the Grimm attack. Is Professor Seta gonna be alright?" Ruby asked.

"I agree with you, but from what we heard, there was more people than just my mother. I believe the Black Fang are with her." Yu mentioned, recalling the unidentifiable noises going on during their conversation. "Our only option right now, is to trust her, that she'll come back okay." He state with clear conviction.

"If Sensei believes in his mommy, I will believe in her, too!" Teddie agreed.

"She IS a huntress that attend Beacon before... I guess I'll believe her." Yang agreed with Chie nodding.

"If you guys say so..." Ruby reluctantly replied.

For now, they decided to take a break for the night.


8/01 Distorted Black Fang Headquarters Evening

Shadow Gaius approached the gate with one of the four locks unlocked. Gazing upon the entrance, he notices a white tiger approaching him from behind. "Byakko-sama." Shadow Gaius greeted as he faced him.

"You and I both know that those children are not with that wretched assassin. Is there a reason why you are still leading them on, even Narukami's pup?" Byakko echoed his voice telepathically.

"I have a few reasons, especially the part on how you manage to distort my heart enough to form my palace." Shadow Gaius crossed his arms as he still ponders. "That, and I hoped to see how Young Narukami has grown since his time at Beacon."

"I see..." Byakko muttered as he laid down. "Souji did asked us to protect his son from his enemies of this world in return, and you would want him to grow into his own person? I guess it's understandable, considering certain phenomenons are soon to occur..." He agrees. "I also notice the lass who bears the same eyes..."

"Ruby Rose, daughter of Summer Rose and the niece of Souji Narukami." Gaius told him.

"... Well I'll be damned." Byakko chuckled. "So you intent on seeing those children's resolve?"

"There are other students who I need to see as well." Gaius mentioned. "I was considering if you would like to see their determination." He requested as he bumped his fist onto the barrier of the gate.

"Very well then, let's synchronize our power and see their reslove." Byakko declared as he stood up and place his paw on the barrier as well, resulting in a flash.


8/02 Beacon Academy Early Morning

World of Remnant: Deities part 1

Back in Ozpin's office, the headmaster began the day watching another audio document, one in particular regarding something related to Japan's deities.

"Well... that subject... yeah... I'm not even sure what to say about them... but one thing's for sure... they're the one responsible for warding the kingdom from the Grimm..." Souji stated as the screen lit to project a fox-like deity.

"It was said before their Kingdom was established, these deities exist as powerful animals that were intelligent as any human, possessing souls more refined compared our Aura. That's the oddest thing, these deities have enormous, powerful Aura that any Huntsmen had ever felt. Their presence is pretty overwhelming, considering my first encounter was a decent-sized cat." Souji stated as the projection transitions to a black cat the resembles one familiar.

"Ever since my encounter with one of them, apparently I've been treated like a valued guest there, assuming if it's because that I'm a huntsman, that is... but I soon discovered that something related to my heritage is what welcomed me there. I looked around the Kingdom during my stay and I noticed little to no signs of discrimination here, that's probably because of these animal-looking deities here. I was told that the discrimination held no value here and it was pointless enough that they placed a rule against that. This Kingdom might actually be some paradise... then again, I'm only assuming..." Souji stated as the screen show a silhouette with the deities surrounding the silhouette, followed by the screen showing the same silhouette looking elsewhere seeing other silhouettes, half of them with animal traits, were mingling.

"At any case, they have shown to use, what supposed to be fictional, Magic; casting many elemental spells upon their foes, manipulating their aura to form sharp claws, fangs, or any other defensive weapons on them. I think that's were the idea of Aura-channeling semblance came to light. A really good technique for Huntsmen and Huntresses of course they may have discovered many more techniques that ordinary Huntsmen, wouldn't have learn in Academies." He continued with he screen showing all sorts of beasts with colorful flares and manipulated aura onto their weaponized limbs. Even with humanoid silhouettes with aura channeled in their weapons fighting besides them against the surrounding creatures of Grimm.

Ozpin look intrigued by what he's learning.

"That aside, what I was told that a certain deities were the one holding the barrier up, four deities that supports a lord that keeps the barrier up. I can see why the natives took this advantage and began to grow their populace as it shown today, they have their shrines to employ the Deities' powers. I mean, if their shrines were to fall, the Grimm are likely to emerge out of nowhere. These Deities are clearly no friends toward the Grimm." Souji commented as the screen showed four creatures, a White Tiger, an Azure Dragon, a Vermilion Bird, and a Black Tortoise squared around a giant deity channeling their supposed energy towards the deity in the center as it casts a circled ward that stretch throughout the entire land as settlers build their structures all over. "You aught to check out these damn huge skyscrapers, the highest buildings in Atlas is nothing compared to the ingenuity by people of Japan did with their structures."

"Possible reproduction...? Uh whoa... that's a... pushing it a little right...?" Souji sighed as he reluctantly continued. "I don't know much about that, but I did realize that some Faunus in Japan have more than one animal trait, with less human traits otherwise. Normally, the Faunus I see have only one trait, like a tail, a pair of horns, claws, fangs, even... legs? Each of them separated on a different Faunus. However the Faunus here are actually shown with both Cat ears and tails, Fox faunus that same as well, Canine Faunus, as well with other Faunus of different species. That's probably what I meant when you mentioned what you said above. I'm guessing the Deities... mated... yeah, I'm not going there at this point, it's very embarrassing to say. Too bad!" Souji exclaimed back , referring to the person interviewing him. The screen projected the Deities on top with various Faunus silhouettes showed below as more Faunus silhouettes keeps appearing underneath the silhouettes above.

"I have to say, to think everyone in this Kingdom all put aside their differences to create this Kingdom and also because these deities were able to... remove the dangerous Grimm from their land. I see that the settlers showed their gratitude by putting up shrines all over the Kingdoms and that's a good thing. I can't imagine how this Kingdom would develop this far had the Deities hadn't held the barrier up. Somehow... I think that there's more to these deities than meets the eye. Maybe I could ask further, only time can tell." Souji commented as the screen showing the Kingdom fades to black.

Ozpin sipped his coffee as he swings his office chair to look to the view. "To think he learn so much, I'm not even half way done with these documentaries." The Headmaster pondered as sips his coffee once more.


8/02 Shujin Academy After School

The Beacon Students we enjoying their after school break outside the school gate. Uuuugghhhhh, that class was soooo booooring!" Nora stated as Teddie yawned.

"You say that after you guys slept through the whole class?" Yosuke recalled in disbelief.

"You slept half way, you dunce!" Weiss reminded him as she look back at the Academy.

"Any idea what the Principle wanted with our leaders?" Yang asked her wondering teammate.

"Who knows..." Weiss shrugged. "It probably has something to do with 'those' thieves."


At the Principle's office, the Team Leaders of their groups, Yu, Ruby, Jaune, Kanji, Cardin, and Sun were guided into the Principle's office by Makoto at the Principle's request. "Excuse me, Principle Kobayakawa. I have brought the students you requested."

"Thank you Niijima, I'll take it from here." The Principle nodded back as the Student Council President took her leave.

"Uh... hello... Principle?" Ruby greeted with a timid expression towards the Principle.

"Hello to you too. I trust that my school is teaching you all well?" The Principle asked delightfully.

"Your lessons are grade A material, if that's what you're going for." Yu commented.

"Seriously. Why can't your kind speak English? I can't even comprehend what your kind are even saying." Cardin complaint as the other Team Leaders sweat-dropped.

"Um... I guess he's not very comfortable speaking in Japanese..." Yu properly translated for the Foreign student.

"I see... *Ahem* Pardon my poor translations, I trust everyone else are doing okay?" Mr. Kobayakawa asked again.

"Yeah, our friends are translating for us. We were able to manage." Jaune said.

"That's good. Bu that aside, this isn't just the reason why I asked for you all." The Principle stated as he shifted his expression to seriousness. "I shall be blunt... I want to ask for your help in a certain matter." He requested.

"A job?" Sun asked.

"Yes. Have you all heard about those Phantom Thieves running around? One of my finest teachers, Suguru Kamoshida." The Principle mentioned. "His personality was completely changed and those blasted thieves are responsible for this."

"That... former Black Fang member?" Ruby recalled. "I don't know who that guy is, but I was told that he did some nasty things to the students here." Ruby assumed.

"Wha- I-I can assure you that Kamoshida-kun is a good person!" Principle Kobayakawa denied.

"We're not sure either. Well, we wouldn't know, we only heard from the students here." Jaune mentioned.

"Well... regardless of the rumors, I was hoping you guys can look into this for me? I'll pay you handsomely for your service." The Principle assured.

"How much?" Cardin as his eyes lit up, although Kanji punched him in the shoulder as they glared at each other.

"Hold on a moment. Didn't my mother talk to you about them, hasn't she?" Yu mentioned.

"... Yes." The Principle replied. "Unfortunately she was unable to come to an agreement. She think the Phantom Thieves are on the side of justice." He shook his head. "She would turn her back on the suffering students and let them run amok. Do you have any idea how she is staining her duty as a Huntress?" He stated, making Yu frown. "Narukami-kun, surely you would regain your family's honor by apprehending the wretched Phantom Thieves in her stead, correct?"

The other leaders turned to Yu, even Ruby looked to him with worry. "Will you please take back what you said about my mother? She's already busy as it is." He requested in an demanding tone.

Kobayakawa: "Wh-What!?"

"I trust her judgment. I trust my parent's judgement. I know that they are aware of what is around them and that they do their best to live their lives." Yu declared as he grip his chest. "And I know that they're aware of this situation. If they say they refuse, they did so because they have the right to decline. It the honor of being a Huntsman, a Huntress."

The Principle was speechless as they notice him sweating bullets.

"What, you gonna follow you mommy?" Cardin mocked.

"I'm being respectful to my teacher's orders. It's the same for everyone, even your parent's Cardin-san."

"Ain't you a bucket full of sunshine. You followin' your old man's footsteps or did you forget what he did?" Kanji recalled as Cardin grits his teeth.

"OKAY guys! break it up!" Jaune demanded, getting in between the delinquents.

"Yeah, sorry, but we have to obey our teacher." Sun agreeing with Yu. "If our teacher say no, we can't help you."

"... I... see... And here I thought Is was going to pay you all." Principle Kobayakawa. "Uh yes, I might have spoke to far..."

"If that's all, then we will take our leave." Yu bow as he and his friends left.

The Principle remained silent until he jumped when his cell scroll rung. "H-Hello, sir?" Kobayakawa stuttered.


8/02 District Prosecutors Office Afternoon

At a District Prosecutors Office, a suited bald man, known as the Director of Special Investigation Unit was on the phone with guests seated before him. The SIU Director wasn't pleased to hear about the resulting response. "[They refused!?]" He clicked his tongue. "[You really are useless.]" He stated before he hung up. ["Damn Huntsmen, unreliable parasites!]" He grunted. "[Pardon my outbursts, it seems my associates aren't up up to their task.]"

"Not at all, the person might have outlived his usefulness. You might even blame those thieves should something happened to him." Said the guest name Cinder. Emerald and Mercury sat aside from her while Adachi served as their translator. "Back to the subject..." Cinder beckoned Mercury to show him a picture of a destroyed shrine with a unusual Tiger symbol with it. "I believe that this will suffice?"

"[You managed to cage the beast...]" The Director chuckled maliciously. "[Very good, one seal away from gaining the power you need.]"

"I look forward to your continued service as well." Cinder replied back. "Now about Adachi's permanent record?" She mentioned as Adachi turned his eyes to her.

"[Very well, I'll get him off the hook. Make sure you deal with the other shrines and his record will be wiped clean.]" The SIU Director reassured.

"Of course." Cinder nodded as she and her companions left the room, leaving the director to his phone calls as Adachi looking back at him before leaving the room.

"You know he's not gonna make a promise like that, right?" Adachi reminded Cinder.

"That is no concern for us, we just need to remove the seals to release the so called Fearful one. Did you honestly believe THEY can bestow us more power?" Cinder reminded.

"Right... we needed the authority to turn a blind eye to the security in order to release a certain Grimm." He recalled the plan. "We'll certainly make a mess after that."

"The more seals we destroy, more the Grimm can enter the Kingdom, and the deadlier they can appear. These animals really made it difficult for the Grimm." Mercury chuckled.

"Yeah, the other three great deities will have their guard up... come to think of it, think we can hit the another shrine?" Adachi mentioned. "The inside man manage to stall the deity from its shrine so..."

"We lay low, and gather information elsewhere." Cinder followed up as they walked away.


8/02 Black Fang HQ After School

The students arrived at the usual spot. "It was nice for Mishima to show Sun and his Team around the city." Yang mentioned.

"It's for the best. They don't know anything of what we're doing." Blake affirmed.

"Nor can we afford more company. We can only get through much without getting caught with unnecessary attention." Morgana agreed as he popped out of Akira's schoolbag. "Let's go!"

They all nodded and the Phantom Thieves turned to Ruby, who was confused. "What?" She asks.

"You have the app right? Just input the keywords and we'll be heading in." Ryuji explained.

"Huh...? Ohh!" Ruby realized it and took her scroll out and started up the MetaNav. "So it has three slots on this. What should I type in?"

"It 'Gaius Erston, 'Black Fang HQ', and 'White Tiger', that should be the keywords." Ann stated as Ruby inputted the said keywords.

"Candidates found. Beginning navigation" The MetaNav declared as the space around the group began to distort as they entered the Metaverse.


8/02 Distorted Black Fang Headquarters Afterschool

Soon enough they arrived to the Palace front with their cognitive outfits taken form. "Alright, we're here." Raiden stated.

Everyone prepared to infiltrate the castle until Mona brought up something to note. "Before we begin, we may have to give him a codename." The deformed cat pointed at Ren.

"Oh right, he has a Persona and a costume, too!" Chan realized.

"A Codename? Hmm..." Ren pondered in thought.

"He looks a Ninja, so I'm guessing something like a cool Ninja name?" Kaze assume.

"That would make 3 Ninjas in our group." Blake mentioned.

"How about Leaf? Dude's a lot more green that the others." Skull guessed.

"He wears green, but I don't think that isn't enough." Freya said with doubt.

"Say Ren, do you have a name in mind?" Rook asked.

Ren checked his outfit as he notices familiar flowers printed on his attire. "... Lotuses ." He muttered.

"Lotuses...?" Fox heard him.

"They're a native flower that blooms in my hometown. It's also the symbol of my decal." Ren explained as he came up with his answer. "If it is available, I would like to address myself as Lotus." He requests.

"It shows your elegance, that's for certain." Fox commented with confidence.

"Welcome to the group, Lotus!" Panther greeted.

"Alright, now that we got that out of the way, let's proceed with the infiltration! And try, for once, NOT to get caught." Mona demanded with a glare back at the Huntsmen who gave peeved expressions back at him. "Anyways, follow me. Let's head to the nearby safe room and we can start from there."


The group were brought to the safe room they were at and began there search at the supposed entrance to the treasure.

"This is where the treasure is, right?" Rouge recalled.

"That's right. With these two it's now three down." Morgana nodded as he placed the keys into their designated depression. 'The Ultimate Failure' key into the 'A New Possibility' depression, fitting right into it.

Rouge placed the 'Guidance' key into the 'Resolution' depression, which also fits as well. Just as the keys fit into their depression, their chains on the lock vanished. "Now we just need one left to go, right?" She assumed.

"That's right." Mona agreed as they look to the last lock; 'Loss'. "This key should be the last once we find it.

"After our trip here last time, I'm sure they've updated their security. We'll have to proceed with caution." Saber stated.

"Not to worry! I'll personally be your knight in shining armor!" Kuma declared.

"Yeah, be our meat shield, can you?" Kaze said in sarcasm, which irritated Kuma in response. The light heart laughter rung out as they returned to the task at hand.

They ventured through the corridors as they snuck past Shadows and defeated others that caught them in sight. Lotus, still new to his new Persona abilities has became more attuned to them and became more efficient to the group.

They eventually find a metallic door which was awfully out of place compared to the other doors. "I... think this door is one of those sliding doors we use in the military in Atlas." Blanc stated.

"Some door from Atlas?" Panther said as she then gave a scowl. "Oh boy..."

The Phantom Thieves, even the member of the Investigation Team took a moment of silence, leaving the Student Huntsmen wondering. "Is something the matter?" Rook asked.

"Sorry, it's just that, our Kingdom has a history with Atlas, it might have left an impression to us." Queen mentioned.

Wondering what they meant, they entered through the door and find another painting. This one display Souji on one side slamming his fist on the wall with frantic emotions with tears streaming from his eyes separating him from Nei, who had her hand on the other side of the wall who was also crying with a heavy heart, clenching her other hand into a fist.

"This painting..." Raiden muttered.

"It portrays a tragedy." Fox stated as he steps closer to the portrait. "You can tell by the expressions of those two individuals."

"You can tell?" Sakura asked.

"I'm an artist. I can tell by seeing this context; something has happened to the lady there. They call her Nei Yuuki, correct?" Fox asked.

"Hmm... My parents went silent and changed the subject whenever I mentioned her name, even Gaius-sensei..." Raiden explained.

"... One way to find out, right?" Skull suggested as they all nodded.

Wanting to see the truth themselves, they dived into the painting.


As the flash of light faded, they soon notice their surroundings of a facility with a huge interior room, filled with empty cages and other unknown materials.

"I never seen a facility like this before." Kaze mentioned. "Blanc, have you?"

"No, but..." Blanc nodded but noticed a symbol that struck familiarity to her. "No, this isn't right..."

"You noticed something? What about that symbol?" Joker asked.

"This symbol looks like it represents a company that had shut down over 15 years ago, the Flandresca Industries..." Blac answered, which staggers the students of Japan.

"Shit, the Flandresca... what!?" Skull exclaimed anger in his tone.

"Gods help us of such a facility existing..." Fox grunted.

"Huh... Sensei, why is everyone upset about this Flandresky-guy?" Kuma asked.

"Japan was in a situation where many Deities were being persecuted by a foreign group. I'm afraid it left an impressive strained relationship with Atlas..." Raiden explained.

"I was told that the company was meant to harness energy of unique species of animals to power future technology. That's what I heard about in Atlas." Blanc mentioned.

"That's Atlas's side of the story. But the 'Unique Species of Animals' is actually the term for our Kingdom's Deities." Joker continued.

"Those Atlesian scumbags didn't gave a damn when they went poaching in our Kingdom, its a frick'en offense!" Skull grunted, kicking dust away.

"Calm down, I'm not all the people from Atlas are not as you say." Blanc reassured. Considering that Blanc hailed from that Kingdom, they gave a sigh and calm down. "Besides, the General agreed that their goal was far from humane and supported to shut down the company. It should be defunct by now."

"That's a relief to hear, all things considering." Queen sighed. "Back to the matter at hand, we still need one last Key."

"Right, it must have something to do with this facility..." Chan mentioned. "There should be something going on right about-." She said as the facility started to shake violently as a big metal sliding door opens.

Souji, Seta, and Gaius, now older, runs through the door as they scan the giant room they're in. "A shipping bay?" Souji assumes in a tense expression eventually eyeing his sight upon a very older man wheeling away from them on his electric wheelchair, attempting to escape on a boat through a leading tunnel out. "That's as far as you can get, Revelt!" Souji exclaimed as he changes his sheathed weapon to a rifle form and pointed at him. "You got nowhere to run, old man!"

"Grr... Every little moment of my grand scheme, you, of all people, interfering from everywhere I stand!" Revelt roared as he glares back at the group. "Why can't you see that my (Undescriblable)-trons will change this damn world for the better!?"

"At the cost of the Deities you kidnapped from Japan, you not only poached them, you experimented on them, their flesh, and tormented our Kingdom's citizens! You have brought the Grimm into our Kingdom, with many casualties." Gaius stated in anger. "How will your toys even change this world, when there's the chance that no one will be in it!?"

"You're not gonna fool us, Revelt! We have the General backing us up and entire Kingdom against your damned operation!" Souji declared.

Revelt growled and stared menacingly towards back the team, especially towards Souji for some reason. "Grr... your existence has been the most irritating thing I ever seen. You are always have tormented me ever since I met you back then, and now you came back to make me suffer even more!?" He exclaimed as he grits his teeth.

"Back then... what?" Souji said with a confused look, but shrugs off and refocus to the task. "No matter, we're shutting down your operation, for good! You. Will. Surrender!" He declared as he and his Teammates pulls their weapons out.

"You thought bringing me to this world would forever punish me!? You will regret your existence!" Revelt declared as the black aura consumes him and grows.

"Uhh...! S-Sensei! I that's our cue!" Kuma exclaimed as more Shadows appears.

"We'll deal with theses pest, you got this partner?" Kaze said with a thumbs up.

"Yeah, Let's do this!" Raiden commanded as He, Rook, Rouge, and Lotus takes the front.

*Keeper of Lust

The Shadow has taken form of a Life-Draining Spirit as steps forth before them. "You have gotten in my way for the last time! I kill you here and now!" The Shadow declared. He even cast Eigaon, towards Raiden with little effect.

"Well, that guy certainly has it out for your Dad, Raiden." Rook commented.

"That person would threaten our Kingdom, should he had his way. No surprised Otou-san took on a job like this." Raiden agrees as he summons Izanagi lunging in with Raimeizan, slashing at the Shadow with electricity added.

The Shadow roared as it retaliates with a Dekaja right after Rouge casts Masukukaja, denying the buff for her allies followed by a Deathbound, slamming its hand onto the ground, emitting a dark wave that was sent towards the four, as Raiden and Rook braced for the impact, Rouge and Lotus evades the attack by jumping over the wave, and uses Crescent Rose and Stormflower to returns fire upon the Shadow.

While they had its attention, Raiden skimmed through the Personas he had with him in order to discern the Shadow's weakness. That is until Rook charges in and tried to imitate the movement that Raiden use with Raimeizan and instead of any static on his sword it had a shining, aura coating the sword. "Take this! Light Spear!" Rook exclaimed as he thrust his sword as it launches a light beam, causing it to stagger into a downed state.

"Whoa, is this our chance?" Rook realized as they surround the Shadow.

"It weakness! Bless attacks will work!" Queen exclaimed as she punches a Shadow down.

Raiden then lead the All-Out Attack but as it dealt immense damage, the Shadow still stand. "Attack if you dare! Come at me!" The Life-Draining Spirit goaded as he erected a Makarakarn barrier followed by a Tetrakarn wall.

"Watch it! It'll repel both physical and magical attacks!" Morgana stated as he shot another Shadow with his slingshot.

"We can't touch it!?" Rook exclaimed.

"Not forever, they can only reflect one attack, afterwards the spell will no longer have effect." Joker mentions.

"The best way to nullify the barrier, is to do this!" Raiden state as he struck the Shadow with his weapon as it bounced him back, the Tetrakarn wall faded. "The wall's down, strike now!"

Rook had Odin charge forth and bash its shield in the Shadow's face, pushing it back and staggering it. "Lotus, press him down!" Rook commanded as Odin casts Rebellion on his teammate.

Lotus pulled StormFlower out and rain bullets upon the Shadow unloading the only clips he had on.

"He's on the ground! Let's go!" Rouge declared as they did another All-Out Attack, yet he still stands. "Holy cats, this guy won't go down!" She grunted.

"He may be a formidable Shadow we've ever faced... but still, we can't lose!" Raiden reassured as he had a Persona cast Makara Break, negating the Makarakarn barrier. "You can't escape us!"

"Damn you, Souji!" The Shadow exclaimed, assuming Raiden is his Father as it unleashes Maeigaon, hitting the four, even dropping Rook at his weakness. The Shadow then lunged towards the downed Huntsman, but Ravana immediately casts a Tetrakarn wall on Rook, repelling the Shadow's strike back at itself.

"Lotus!?" Rook exclaimed with surprise.

"It seems there's more to my Persona that meets my eyes." Lotus said as he silently watches his Persona at work. Ravana swung its blades of its four arms. Cutting and slicing the Shadow back with Tempest Slash as one of the multiple attacks caused the Shadow to fall once more. "Third times the charm. Shall we?" Lotus signaled. And they unleashed another All-Out Attack and this time they went for broke, ending with Lotus striking pose. "With Grace." He state with the silhouette of the Shadow spewing blood in the background.

The confrontation has been concluded.


The Shadow dissipated as the others have dealt with the Shadows on their end. "You guys alright?" Joker asked.

"We made it. I take it that we're all accounted?" Raiden assumes as he scans for all of their friends.

"Mhm, we are all okay on our side." Sakura assured.

"These Shadows are nothin' but easy pickings, you should've let had a crack at that bastard!" Bones boasted.

"What? You were totally struggling with that other shadow that got to you, dude." Skull reminded.

Bones: "Like hell I did!"

Skull and Bones continued to rant towards each other, so everyone else focused on why they're here. "Anyways... Do we have the last Key now?" Rouge asks.

"Yes. Hmm... seems we're in luck, the key is whole." Mona realized as he showed them the key "Moving Forward".

"Oh sweet! Now we don't have to fight another Shadow after this." Kaze sighed with relief.

"Yeah, I rather not face another powerful Shadow again." Rook sighed heavily.

"You did great there, Rook. I'm proud to see that you're doing fine." Freya cheered him back up.

"Alright, we have our final key, let's head to the seal. Will explain more further." Mona stated as they see Souji and his teammates boarding a boat.

The Team Leader was frantic with concern as he was on his scroll. "Nei, we've secured the old man. We're getting ready to leave." Souji told her on the scroll although he seemed baffle by what he heard. "What!? Wait, we can't just leave you here!" He exclaimed with his expression turning bleak for the worst. "Of course I trust you, but I still don't get why YOU need to do this. I can hang around and-" Souji flinch as Nei spoke loudly from her end. You can't be serious..."

The ground quake as the boat also shook. "Souji, whatever she's doing, we have to take the chance and trust her." Gaius walk off the boat to him as he looked back to his partner.

"Nrrgh... the job comes first, right...?" Souji grunted in despair. "Nei, once we bring him in, we'll make sure to come back and get you out of there. I swear on my life. Stay put, okay?" He affirmed with getting a response back and hung up. He and Gaius got on the boat and drove off out of the cave.

However the facility shook even more violently, prompting the Persona Users to cue their exit as the door opened their way out. The next thing they see is a what looks like a banquet, with everyone cheering for success for something. The next thing they see is Souji sitting down voided in depression.

"The threat has been terminated and those Deities are grateful, why isn't he relived about it?" Someone in crowd questioned.

"Enough." Gaius said otherwise. "Having to hear that his relative is presumed dead and a friend... gone, you can't expect him to sound relieved after that." He stated with a scoff as he sat on the same couch with him, offering a drink. "None-alcoholic." He said as Souji took the drink.

"You know, I would like see that old man squirm for what he did, but wouldn't be me, huh?" Souji wondered as he sipped his drink.

"Pretty much. With everything we heard from him, it seems he knows you pretty well, and we've only met him some times these couple months. I'd hate to imagine this whole thing doesn't go full-circle in some way." Gaius informed. "Which makes me wonder, perhaps one of your relatives set him off somehow?"

"I doubt it. I never heard of him before, it's like he came out of nowhere... not that it matters at this point." Souji mentioned as he frowned.

"The damage has been done, that I know." Gaius reassured as he sipped his drink. "And this success has won us a thousand battles. We managed to prevent another war and cleared your name in Vale. Nei-chan's incredibly selfish to leave you despair."

"It's funny too, to think she was actually intent on going to some engineering class in Atlas... I guess it's a little late for regrets, huh?" Souji chuckled as some glimmer of shine reappeared in Souji's eyes.

"We certainly have a long way to go, especially to regain our selves for the sake others at this point. Hearts and minds alike, after all." Gaius replied as he raised his glass as the crowd notices him. "For those who have fallen." He declared.

"Yeah, well... one of these day, you're probably end up leading your own kingdom, or is that why still have me around?" Souji smiled confidently as he emptied his glass. "To those who're still with us." He declared as the crowd clapped and applaud as the two Huntsmen started to laugh as the scene faded out.


The group returns to the Palace room as they turned around to see the portrait displaying Souji with a clenched fist to his chest as he gave a brave face forward with the person Nei, above and behind Souji, with her hand on his back and a gentle smile.

"Despite the odd that were against him, his valued comrade continues to push forward toward the future, even after death." Fox described.

"Aw man... I guess that's why Narukami-san never mentioned his past, didn't he?" Kaze wondered.

Raiden was silent at first, as he figured that his Father may seen a tragedy. "Nei must have meant a lot to my Father..."

"Nei Yuuki, was it?" Rook muttered, as he pondered about something amiss. "I swear, I've heard Yuuki before... wait, wasn't there a guy, our age, that had that name?"

"Minato Yuuki? He was with us a couple days back, but he had to head to his home town." Chan recalls. "You think he's related to Nei-san?"

"That bear-utful angel related to another friend of ours? This is incredibly a beary small world...!" Kuma realized.

"We don't know much my parent's past, but we do have the last key. This is it, everyone." Raiden affirmed with everyone nodding in response.

Just as everyone left the room, Saber picked up on something. "!? Something is coming our way!" She alerted.

"Hm? Wait, I don't hear-" Skull replied but was silent by Fox covering his mouth.

"I hear it too. In numbers!" Fox added.

"Into the hiding spots, now!" Joker exclaimed as they did hid through out the covers in the hallway.

Just then, they see Cognitive Yu with Shadow soldiers following him as they arrived at the door that the Phantom Thieves came out from. "This is the one, my lord." He said as a white-colored Tiger appeared before the entrance and roared loudly. Soon after, the door dissipated as it distorted back into a sliding door of this castle, and the company left the area, allowing the group to come out of hiding.

"No way... can it be...?" Mona muttered with surprise.

"The hell, what did that Tiger do?" Skull wondered.

"It couldn't of just roar in order to camouflage a door..." Blanc said with denial

But when Sakura opened the door in questioned, the room looked so ever plain, it blended into the environment, with the painting disappearing. "The Painting's gone, too!"

"Lucky us, that we got the last key, though..." Kaze sighed. "But is up with that Tiger? I never thought Gaius-san, would think that low of Byakko..."

"Byakko?" The Beacon students wondered.

"One of the four Deities Lords that watches over our Kingdom. There's a lot of history about them, but we can tell you all later." Queen reminded.

"Alright. To the seal!" Rouge declared.

After traversing the castle, they finally reached the seal. "Alright, this should do the trick..." Mona assured as he place the Key into the depression "Loss". The seal finally faded away.

"The seal's gone. Let's go!" Joker exclaimed as they all entered into the bamboo forest, with Shadow Gaius stepping out of hiding with Byakko peeking out as well.

"Those children certainly saw much already, haven't they." Byakko yawned.

"So they have." Shadow Gaius agreed.


Soon enough, they arrived at a dead end, within a misty and empty area with bamboo trees all round an open clear field, they all see a formless cloud of rainbow energy in the center.

"Wait, is that the treasure?" Blaze questioned.

"That's right. Now we have to get Gaius to get the treasure to materialized." Mona answered.

"Materialize...? What do you mean, like making something important real?" Rouge guess.

"Correct. Desires originally have no physical form by nature, normally, we have to get the real person to become aware that their desires are in fact a Treasure. When their conscious that their desires might be stolen, the Treasure will show itself. We warn them, telling them that 'we're gonna steal your heart'." Mona explained as he approaches he supposed treasure as Nora tries to grabbed the formless cloud to no avail.

"We normally send a calling card, like what a phantom thief does." Skull simply explained.

"So, in order to get the treasure to appear, we need to make the real Gaius to think something important is being stolen." Blanc repeated.

That's right. At any case, with our infiltration route is secured, we'll have to return to reality and send him a calling card, then come back to take the treasure.

"Then let's head back out for now. I think we all deserve a quick break." Joker stated as they all agreed.


8/02 Black Fang HQ Afternoon

They eventually returned to reality as the same spot they came in. "One other thing, is there a time limit on how these treasures will stay for long?" Blake asked.

"That's right, we send the calling card out, the treasure won't stay for long. Once the the impression is gone, it will disappear. It won't stay materialized forever." Morgana explained.

"So once we send the card, this will be only shot, yeah?" Kanji assumes.

"We'll only have about a day at most." Makoto told them.

"Well, that's like no time at all..." Chie sighed.

"Leave the calling card to us, we'll make sure to give him a good wake up call." Ryuji stated.

They all nodded, but Makoto thought otherwise. "Wait a moment, while we do have his palace, but how will we get him to see the card?

"Why not leave a bunch of cards at the HQ? Wouldn't hat be easier?" Jaune suggested.

"Not a great idea, the Black Fang is filled with professional Huntsmen... with cameras to boot." Yosuke mentioned as they peek around the corners to see the HQ. "It'll be difficult to place those calling cards without being caught. They'll even think a cat will be suspicious."

"Their security is THAT tight!?" Weiss staggered. "Then how are we gonna make Gaius see the card?" She questioned.

"By personally getting closer to him." Yu suggested as they turn to him. "I've mentioned that he's a neighbor of mine after all.

"Oh, so we're going to his residence?" Ann realized.

"You think he'll let us in?" Akira asked.

"I think so. He trusts me, so I think he'll let us in... at least I hope." Yu assumes.

"Well, we still have some daylight to spare so... wanna pay a visit?" Ruby suggested. "I also wanna see what your house is like, too.

"I suppose it would be ideal to go his house; seeing that his HQ is lock tight." Morgana agrees.

"Alright. Follow me, will take the train there." Yu lead them to his neighborhood.

But soon as they all exited the alley, a Beowolf came running towards them. "Whoa, look out!" Morgana alerted.

Yu staggered to move away, but Yang moved in and punched it in its face, followed by an immediate loud crack as the blow broke off its neck as it went limp. "You alright?" She asked.

Yu nodded as another Beowolf appeared as it recklessly pounced upon the unsuspecting Huntress, a sharp thin metal rod punctured the Grimm's head from behind as it instantly died as it dropped to the ground. They turn to see their rescuer, revealing to be Seta. "Okaa-san!?"

"Yu-kun, goodness you're okay!" Seta sighed in relief as she held weapon in hand, a longbow of a unique design. "Is everyone else okay?"

"We're okay, but what' are these Grimm doing inside the city?" Akira asked.

"A Grimm attack after a Byakko's shrine fell... " Seta explained as she picked up a metal rod. "And without Gaius-kun to help coordinate the defense, half our guild is currently chasing after stragglers that got through and the other half is holding the defensive line."

"What!?" The Students asked but the Beacon Students were confused about one thing. "Wait, what about this shrine?" Ruby asked.

"You guys don't remember? I was explained in class today. Certain Shrines are what hold barriers up in order to prevent the creatures of Grimm from entering." Yukiko mentioned.

"So what the heck happened to Byakko's shrine?" Chie asked.

"That part is still unclear. Apparently, some hooligans trashed the Shrine while everyone was away, the security detail, and, including the Deity himself..." Seta explained.

"I see..." Yu muttered as he wondered.

"Well, can we help? Maybe we could-"

"No." Seta interrupted with a stern expression. "You are all to stay on standby." She ordered as the student protests.

"What!? Why!? We're Huntsmen, fighting Grimm is what we do!" Yang question angrily.

Kanji: "Yeah! You can't expecting us to-"

"Kanji, everyone, enough." Yu silent his friends. "While my friends have a point, if we can't help with the Grimm attack, will you allow us to look into Byakko's disappearance, Okaa-san.?" He suggested much to his friend's surprise.

"Yu-kun, what are you saying?" Seta asked.

"It's as Yang-chan said, 'We are Huntsmen.' We can't just ignore an impending threat. If we can't engage the Grimm, we could probably look for Byakko, his Shrine is in the city after all, we won't need to fight Grimm in the city that's right?" Yu explained.

"... Yu-kun, do you know something about Byakko's disappearance?" Seta asked.

"No, but it's a hunch. Besides, I am showing my friends around town after all." Yu stated.

"*Sigh* Well, I'm afriad you will have to call the tour off. I ask that you bring your friends back to the hotel, if you would." Seta requested.

"Aright..." Yu sighed back.

"Take care, my son." Seta told her son as she went elsewhere.

"We're not really heading back to the hotel, right?" Weiss assumed.

"But we are not allowed to engage. But that doesn't mean we need to turn in early." Yu said with a brave face.

"Do you have an idea about this situation?" Ann asked.

"I wasn't wrong about looking for Byakko. But I bet if we help Gaius back on his feet we may be able to prevent another Grimm invasion." Yu explained.

"Are you sure we can trust him? I mean he has a palace and all." Ryuji pointed out. "Is it possible that he planned this absence or somethin'?"

"Actually, Raiden, might be on to something. In fact, Gaius's Palace might actually be connected to Byakko." Morgana assumes.

"Connected to one of the four deities?" Ruby wondered.

"We can talk on the way. Raiden, if you would?" The Cat in the bag turned to Yu.

"Right follow me." Yu said as he began to guide them to the station.


On the train, they continued their conversation. "So, what's this about Gaius-san being connected to Byakko?" Yosuke asked.

"Remember that we saw a tiger in Gaius-sensei's palace? That may be the very same Deity that went missing." Yu recalled, much to their surprise.

"No shit...!" Ryuji grunted. "Does that mean, Gaius took the Deity hostage or somethin'?"

"Well that's an understatement. How is it even possible to kidnap a Deity?" Chie sighed in disbelief.

"I don't get it. You guys say that the Deities are powerful, couldn't that Byakko hold his own?" Jaune asked.

"It's as you say, Jaune-kun, powerful beasts that can fight. It's just so happens that there are many that can be a potential fighter, especially Byakko and other three Lords." Yukiko agreed.

"But then how would Byakko even be connected to Gaius in the first place? They say he's in a coma of sorts and the disappearance on the this Deity?" Weiss summarized. "Wouldn't it be the Deity Lord himself responsible for his illness?"

The students of Japan went silent. "It is... a possibility." Makoto answered as they turned to her. "There ways to 'synchronize' with the Deities in order to open up new abilities and techniques between the person and Deity."

"'Synchonize'? That's news to us." Blake mentioned.

Soon as Makoto was about to speak, the announcement wen through "Now arriving; Toranomon. I repeat now arriving; Toranomon."

"This is our stop." Yu declared as he and his friends stood up.

"Toranomon? But isn't that place a business district?

"That's right, my place is in the Toranomon Hills." Yu answered which shocked Yosuke, and some of his friends.

"What!? Dude, how rich are you?" Yosuke questioned.

"Yu's rich? What do you mean?" Nora asked.

"Toranomon's a business district, even has a history of the southern gate of Edo Castle, until it was torn down for modern development." Makoto explained. "Still I'm surprised as everyone else, I hear that the residency is usually luxurious from what I can tell."

"Yu-kun's is rich!?" Chie exclaimed.

"What the hell, man? Why haven't you told us about your place?" Ryuji questioned.

"No one didn't asked. I mean, my house is a huge building and all but..." Yu denied.

"'House' my ass, that's a luxurious Penthouse!" Yosuke exclaimed. "And you were doing random part-time jobs back in Inaba..."

"So I'm guessing Gaius's residence is next door to your apartment?" Morgana assumed.

"Not really, his residence is in the Toranomon Towers." Yu corrected.

"Holy shit, you guys been livin' the high life or something?" Kanji questioned with disbelief.

"Considering Narukami and Erston's history, they clearly were well-rewarded." Yusuke guessed.

"Hang on, if your relatives are that famous, then wouldn't your residence have equal security compared to the Black Fang HQ?" Morgana mentioned.

"I know the area well, I can show you blind spots where the cameras won't spot you." Yu suggested as they got off the train.


8/02 Toranomon Towers, Japan Evening

They arrived at the base of the residential building as they made their way up to Gaius's apartment. The hallways are refine and clean compared to normal apartment complexes. "I still can't believe that your that rich, Yu-kun." Chie commented.

"That honestly never crossed my mind." Yu replied.

"That never did, what you a blank slate?" Ryuji joked with ending with Ann elbowing him.

"You idiot!" Ann grunted as Ryuji felt the pain.

As they arrived at the floor of Gaius's apartment, they soon find a couple of Black Fang members cruising in front of their boss's apartment. "Hey there!" Yu greeted as the guards turn to him.

"Hmm? Hey, kid! Haven't seen you around for sometime." One of the guards greeted back as he notices his friends behind him. "Uh... And they are?"

"My friends I made during my trips." Yu mentioned. "Is Gaius-sensei around. I was hoping I would check if he's okay. I was told that he caught some illness or something?"

Both guards remained silent as they scanned Yu's friends. "... Okay. Just make sure your friends behave. You still have his keycard, right?"

"Yeah, thanks." Yu thanked as he took out his own Keycard.

"You have your own keycard? To Gaius's apartment?" Ren said with surprise.

"He often baby-sat whenever my parents were away." Yu replied as he and his friends entered his apartment.

Not before the guards muttered something. "I didn't expect the kid to make friends before." Said a guard, which motioned some students to eavesdrop.

"You think? Guess the ain't some husk after all." Another guard chuckled which cause some students to feel concerned.


8/02 Erston Residence Evening

They entered Gaius's apartment and it shows his traditional Eastern image of his penthouse. "Holy cats! Is this really Gaius's house!?" Ruby questioned with surprise.

"His house has a dojo too." Yu mentioned as they pass a room, large enough for the said dojo.

"How was anyone able to fit that in an apartment!?" Yosuke wondered with surprise.

"I figured he and the Black Fang providing their service to this Kingdom would make him famous in someway, but damn..." Ryuji mentioned.

Team RWBY browsed his living room together. "I was not expecting his home so... refine..." Weiss commented.

"A leader of the Black Fang is an important role in this kingdom. To think he is now living a life of luxury..." Blake muttered.

As the students looked around his apartment, a Nurse appeared out of a room. "Oh, are you all guests?" The Nurse asked.

"Ohh.. who's this lovely angel?" Teddie asked as Chie held him back comically.

"They're my friends." Yu addressed. "We came to check up on Gaius-sensei."

"Narukami? You... have friends?" The nurse mentioned with surprise, but shrugged off the idea. "Oh, um... yes. He is in his room. If you want to see him, you'll have to be very quiet." She answered as Yu and the others nodded as the Nurse guided them.

"Moment of truth guys..." Morgana meowed.

Now entering Gaius's room, they see him sleeping in his bed on the floor. Gauis Erston sleeping in a death-like slumber with medical equipment connected on him. Akira and Morgana even notice a trash can nearby with some cloths with black stains on them.

"Sensei..." Yu knelled down as did Ren, Blake, and the other students as well. "How did this happened...?" He asked the Nurse.

"Not much details were clear when I heard... this all happened immediately, just as he was minding his own business the next thing happened is that he started to collapse as black liquid started to ooze out from his eyes..."

"Did he say anything else? Any last words before he went under?" Yu questioned.

"I'm sorry, I cannot explain the details. You know more than I do that he doesn't share his line of work to just anyone." The Nurse answered as Yu sighed with a stern expression.

"I see..." The Team Leader said as he stood back up. "He's not in any immediate danger, is he?"

"I hope not. But, no, nothing life endangering. I this is due to the stress of work, I would consider long periods of rest."

"True." Yu looked back to the man he respects as he and his friends stood back up to leave. "Thank you for looking after him."

"No problem. It's the least I can do for the man that help prevent a crisis, your parents too." The Nurse reassured with a chuckle. "And I have no doubt that they're proud to know that you've been making friends."

As they were about to leave the room, Ruby and Akira notice a one and only portrait in the center of the wall in his room.


Once they left the building they all huddled in for their next step of a plan. "Whelp, we saw his Penthouse. And to think he supposed to be some derange bad guy." Weiss assumed.

"Now that's putting it mildly. So we now know where his house is, what next?" Jaune asked.

"The next step is getting the calling card out." Morgana explained. "I can post them around the hotel with no one looking."

"We can also post them around the Black Fang HQ, just not nowhere near their HQ and all." Yusuke suggested.

"Yeah, leave the calling card to us. Just meet us at the usual spot." Ryuji telling the Huntsmen.

"We'll find out what's going on with Gaius's heart, that's for sure." Ann declared.

"Alright. We'll see you guys tomorrow." Ruby reassured and then realized. "Oh! We could probably prepare for the heist, if that's okay?"

"True. We could use anything for what will happened tomorrow. We may need medical supplies..." Blake mentioned.

"Way ahead of ya'." Akira answered as he took out a opened box of band-aid, which confused of how he got that out of nowhere.

"Dude, you still have the same box from out first heist?" Ryuji questioned with a pained expression.

"Yeah, there should be enough for one each." Akria replied.

"That's... reassuring." Yang reluctantly agreed.

"And I still have several Huge Fishes if we need to recover our health." Yu mentioned as he took out the fishes out of nowhere as well.

"What the- Dude, wha- when did you had the time to fish!?" Yosuke questioned, much to everyone's surprise.

"Last year, why?" Yu replied plainly.

"What!? Then how where you able to... keep them fresh...?" Yosuke stared at the fish he has and it looks so fresh.

"We had freezers at the hotel... if we're counting the fridges back at Beacon Academy." Yu mentioned.

"You have got to be joking..." Makoto scoffed in disgust.

"Now that's/is a big fish..." Blake and Yukiko muttered, eyeing the fishes.

"Well it can't be worst that Ruby and her cookies..." Chie pointed to Ruby, only to reveal her eating all the cookies, wherever she got them. "Uhh... never mind..."

"Is our leaders always like this?" Weiss begged to wonder.

"Well... guess our leaders have things under control. Guess we'll call it quits for tonight." Kanji suggested.

"We could use a breather." Jaune agreed as they all went back to their hotel, as they prepared for tomorrow.


A/N: I am SO gonna stop it there. Over a month already, goodness. Work here is really pushing my legs all over.

Well I now hinted Gaius and the Narukami's background, and the fact that he has it good with a "high life" or something, and the place where he lives, to my knowledge, and by fiction.

I plan the fight to be similar to a certain fight in FFXIV, so expect some mechanics in play. I actually had plans to implement the fight in this chapter, but it'll take too long already.

Oh, right! Ren's codename is Lotus. It would make sense, considering his symbol.

I can't really think what else to say, so I leave it off with a pair of omake skits.


Cousins of Chaos

Jaune and Kanji was wandering around town when they heard motorcycles coming through, Ren, Sun, Neptune, and Ryuji, riding through and passing around the two as they then parked their bikes nearby. "Cousins of Chaos, dismount!" Sun commanded as they did, jumping off their bikes in a cool pose and posture. They even have cool-looking berets

"Damn! Where did you guys get those bikes!?" Kanji questioned with amazement.

"This is so cool! How long have you guys been in a biker gang?" Jaune asked with sparkles in his eyes.

"About a week? Give or take a week..." Ren assumes.

"Yeah, can't really say." Ryuji nodded.

"Oh, can we join your cool gang? Please?" Jaune begged eagerly.

"Only bad boys can join the Cousins of Chaos. You gotta prove you're a rebel like us! Cousins, sound off!" Sun declared.

Ren went first. "I have a library book that is three weeks over due, and I have no immediate plans of returning it." He said.

"Yeah, I went through the 15 items or less check out, Guess what? Had twenty! Regret nothing." Neptune stated with pride.

"I stood my ground against an abusive Teacher back at Shujin Academy. Despite my leg injured by that asshole, I still sent him to prison." Ryuji stated with confidence.

"Last time I used the bathroom, I didn't wash my hands afterwards." Sun stated as everyone stepped back a little in disgust. "Alright guys, impress us!"

"Sure, um, so many rebellious things I've done, hard to choose just one..." Jaune cleared his throat as he thought of one. "I may or may not be wearing underwear."

"Dude, did you forget to wear one?" Kanji wondered.

"Ooh, a mystery." Ren assumes.

"Okay, Kanji what say you?" Ryuji asked.

"Oh, I definitely got one. I personally chased a biker gang out of my neighborhood myself... with only a bike!" Kanji declared.

"Damn!" The Cousins of Chaos exclaimed, even Jaune too.

"Okay, welcome to the Cousins of Chaos, guys! Put it there!" Sun greeted as offered a high-five, but Jaune and Kanji rescinded it, due to Sun mentioning his dirty hands. "Alright Cousins of Chaos, let's ride!"

"Yeah! Cousins Unite!" Kanji roared.

Wait, don't forget your skin cream! You know how that wind can dry out your face." Neptune suggested as he took out skin lotion."

"Oh, yeah, good point." Ryuji agrees.

"Right, Cousins of Chaos, moisturize!" Sun stated as they began to share the lotion.

"Thank you guys so much you guys!" Jaune thanked as he began to take a closer look at their motorbikes. "I promise you won't regret thi-" Soon a Jaune tapped one of the bikes, all the other bikes fell like a domino.

"OUR CHOPPERS!" Sun exclaimed in horrors.

"What the hell, man!?" Ryuji roared at Jaune.

"Oh, it's okay! It's just a scratch! I can fix it!" Jaune stuttered as he tried to lift Ren's bike until it exploded in his face, knocking Jaune out while their bikes went up in flames.

"NOOOO, those bikes were rentals, goddammit!" Ryuji cried by all the lien he spent on those rent-a-bikes.

"My library book in there, there too..." Ren simply mentioned.

"That's what you're worried about!?" Kanji questioned.


Dogs of Art

Sometime at Kosei High, the Huntsmen students were invite to make painting of pair of dogs, Zwei and Koromaru. Ruby, Ren, Yosuke, Blake, Fuuka, and Nora were painting in their own way as Weiss and Yusuke were serving as Judges.

First up, they start off with Nora Valkyrie, plastering her paint-printed hands on the picture frame. "Nora-chan?" Yusuke beckoned her attention as she showed her artwork, the pair of dogs in a poor design.

"That's... good..." Weiss choked her words in disgust.

"And yet her effort and ability to draw a dogs without a paint brush is impressive." Yusuke commented proudly as they jolt down their review.

Next up, Fuuka Yamagishi as she showed them only Koromaru, accurate design like the original if not without Zwei. "I'm sorry, I was only able to design Koro-chan. Drawing is a really difficult for me." Fuuka apologize.

"Yet you manage to draw Koromaru clearly. You showed good determination there." Yusuke commented.

"You won't get a good score, but you will a have a decent grade." Weiss agreed as they made made their review.

Next is Blake as they see a... "Oh... are those suppose to be cats?" Yusuke asks as they see cat versions of Zwei and Koromaru. "That's impressive." He commented.

"'A' for effort... But 'F' for following the rules." Weiss declared as they jolt down their review.

They walk towards Yosuke who was... drawing on his station as he shows them his artwork. "Hah ha!, not bad, don't you think?" Yosuke boasted as he showed them the pair of dogs each holding a knife in their mouth with a fierce gaze. "Didn't add the color yet, but you just imagine the dogs of war so deadly when they're defending their turf. Got this idea out of a manga, after all." He commented.

"That's... Marvelous." Yusuke stated with awe as he wrote his review.

"You made that...? Unbelievable..." Weiss stated in denial. She then notice a book on the side of his station "How to draw Manga" booklet. She had no choice but to write her honest review as Yusuke did.

They go to Ren to see his finished master piece, Zwei and Koromaru standing proudly, just like they're posing on the pedestal.

"That... is better than the last one." Yuske commented.

"Beautiful..." Weiss state as Ren formally bowed.

After they wrote their review they finally reached Ruby, who was still finishing her last touches. Hang on... almost done..." Ruby replied to the Judge's beckoning. "Aaaaaaannnndddd... Done!" She exclaimed, revealing to the Judges the dogs'... butt-hole. Upon their gazing of the painting Yusuke were admiring the picture while Weiss couldn't bear to see it, shutting her eyes and dropping her clipboard and then walking away. "What, you don't like it?" Ruby asked as Weiss walk away further with her trauma, annoying the painter. "Y-YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND MY VISION!" She exclaimed as she turns to Yusuke and Ren onlooking over. "It's a butt." Ruby stated formally.

"And a majestic butt, indeed." Yusuke stated as Ren nodded in agreement.


*Wake up, Get up, Get out there - Shoji Meguro

*Beneath the Mask -Instrumental ver. - Shoji Meguro

*Restlessness - Shoji Meguro

*Keeper of Lust - Shoji Meguro