Yu pulled the car up to the doors of Torch and glanced at his partner. Because Yu was dropping Naoto off it was just easier for Yu to drive the two. It was only a few second ago that a pink BMW pulled off to find a parking spot from Yu's review mirror. Naoto took a deep breath and returned Yu's look. The nervousness was written all over her face but slowly started to fade as Naoto took deep calming breaths. Yu leaned against the steering wheel, letting Naoto take her time.

"Well I'm off." Naoto words were filled with conviction.

"Good luck." Yu offered.

"Thanks…" Naoto's word seemed distant as she stepped out of the car and onto the curb.

As soon as she shut the door to the SUV; the car turned over and headed out onto the Tokyo streets. Naoto watched it go until it rounded a corner and was out of view. Turning she headed into the restaurant. The vibe of the upscale restaurant was evident the second she stepped through the door, everything was color coated in gold or various shades of red. It was extravagant to say the least and even the waiters wore suits of red. After checking her coat into a coat check at the front of the building, she was told to head to the concierge. Quickly explaining who she was here to see Naoto was brought to a table in the back of the restaurant where Akechi was waiting.

Akechi was looking over several pieces of paperwork as Naoto approached, but as he caught her out of the corner of his eye he quickly got up. A smile appeared on his face. "I'm glad you could make it Naoto-senpai. Sorry I sure you understand a case is never far from the mind..."

At that comment Naoto felt she could relax a bit as she sat down at the table across from Akechi. She pulled up her bag so Akechi could see. "Far from mind? I don't think I've been less than 10 feet from these case files in the past four days."

Akechi laughed, it was an honest kind of laugh. "It would seem it's a character flaw we both suffer," Akechi collected the papers from the table and stacked them into a pile which he placed in his briefcase. "Anyways, sorry about all the pomp and circumstance. I've had reservations to this place already in place but figured I would enjoy a little company from one detective prince to another."

"I have to admit this is a nice change for me. If you hadn't asked me out here, I'd probably be on my computer looking up information about the case. Granted even as we talk now, my partner is still chasing leads." Naoto explained.

"Your partner… He's rather standoffish it seems." Akechi was smooth in his conversation transitions.

Naoto gave a light laugh, if only Akechi knew. "Yes he can very much be that way around new people he doesn't trust." Out of the corner of her eye she saw Yosuke and Rise take a table not too far away but behind Akechi.

"He also seems very young. I hate to admit, but I looked him up along with you. He's only a year older than you?" Akechi seemed to be fishing for more information.

"Yes, his uncle is actually the man that brought down Tohru Adachi. Being a detective like me runs in the family for him you could say. I met him on that case and we've been friends ever since." Naoto explained deciding not to stray from the honest truth.

"A family…?" A sad look crossed Akechi's face before he quickly recovered. "I also learned something interesting while looking him up, apparently he is dating an idol."

Well that could be a problem. News about Yu's relationship to Risette was public knowledge and the fact Risette was here and with another man could raise suspicions. Naoto had to think fast again honesty seemed like the best option. "Yes, Risette. I also know her personally, we are staying at her condo. She's here in Tokyo with us along with a few of our other friends."

"A few other friends?" Akechi asked clearly pulling information from her, but doing so in a way that it just seemed so natural.

"Yes, Yu's best friend from high school and his friends little brother." Naoto lied. Well it wasn't technically a lie. Teddie Hanamura was Teddie's legal name after Yosuke's parents official adopted him once he became a Japanese citizen. Yosuke's mother did love Teddie like another son. Naoto knew she needed to shift this conversation fast. "So what do you think of my deductions on the phantom thieves case?"

Akechi smiled warmly. "I don't know what to think about this whole TV business, but their leader definitely had some sort of supernatural power. Hopefully it's just him. I'm curious. Do you have a theory about what happened with the Okumura or the Kobayakawa victim? They both are mental shut down victims and seem to be outliers in the case."

Naoto took a second to think, her hand going to her chin as she thought. At that moment a waiter came over with a menu and asked for their drink orders. Naoto ordered just a water which was also mirrored by Akechi. Luckily the small distraction was just enough for Naoto to formulate a proper answer for Akechi's question. She waited until the waiter had excused himself to fill the order before she decided to speak up again.

"It seems like a dire mistake was made one after another. I have seen the footage online for the Okumura one and it clearly looks like he did indeed have a change of heart before... he started to expire. Possibly something went wrong, but I can't say for sure. The Kobayakawa victim I'll admit I don't know much about but wasn't he was hit by a truck? That alone could have destroyed evidence that points to foul play. So can either of us say for sure if it was a mental shutdown or not?" Naoto explained with a wave of her hand. "What do you think?"

"To me it looked more like an assassination as far as Okumura goes." Akechi answered with a serious tone.

"What lead you to that deduction?" Naoto asked as she glanced at the menu.

"Out of all the victims, Okumura was set to enter the political sphere. He honestly had a good chance to win. After all he had the backing of Masayoshi Shido despite the scandal." Akechi affirmed.

"Huh, but why would a high school boy be so interested in politics to actually kill someone over it?" Naoto asked. "I could see possibly an adult but..."

Akechi sighed. "Because there is a corruption in this government. Granted I can't prove anything but it's clearly there."

Naoto knowing all she knew was very surprised Akechi just said that, it threw her off her game entirely. "… Surely you jest?" Naoto's words more fell out of her mouth then were spoken.

Akechi shook his head. "No."

"Can't you open an investigation at the station?" Naoto asked.

Akechi scoffed. "That circus? It's under the umbrella of corruption. Granted you seem like you believe me."

"I have no reason not to trust your words, but I do have to wonder. Why tell me of all people?" Naoto probed watching Akechi carefully behind a concerned look.

Akechi let out a humorous laugh. "Because I don't want you to fall under that influence. Because maybe you can do something about it? I honestly don't know Naoto-senpai but I just felt like I needed to because you are someone I can respect."

Suddenly a bunch of cards seemed to fall into place for Naoto. For only an instant she saw the real Akechi. Not the public persona ace detective prince one. Or the black mask the phantom thieves had warned her about. That was the person Naoto saw when she first looked at Akechi; that was the person she was going to save. Granted from what he had heard from Ren's crew, Akechi was a very calculated person. Maybe this was all an elaborate trap. Naoto couldn't get a proper read here and she knew she might need to make the next move in this mental game of chess. Luckily at that moment of heavy tension the waiter came for their food order which they both placed.

"Anyways we should get back to the case." Another fake smile from the boy detective.

From there the rest of the night was far more predictable for Naoto, they talked about the case until food arrived and Naoto got a few good looks into Akechi's deductive abilities. He was every bit of a genius as she was and honestly talking to someone like him quickly became second nature. In all honesty Naoto had a great time as her fears quickly melted and the meeting only stroked her conviction that Akechi was indeed someone she needed to save. As the dinner came to an end, they both said their good-byes. Yu rolled the SUV up and picked her up, giving her a questioning look as she climbed in.

"Did you get it?" Yu asked as he pulled the SUV out into the traffic.

Naoto didn't answer instead put a phone to her ear. "Hey Rise, think you and Yosuke can head to the police station here in Tokyo? Yes. I think I got it. Okay meet you there."

Yu seemed picked up from the conversation that they needed to head to the police station. After meeting up with Rise and Yosuke at the station they brought their cars to a vacant lot not too far away and got out. Circling back to a more secluded corner of the building. They kind of stuck out like a sore thumb but Naoto planned not to have them linger long. With a quick look around to make sure they were alone, Naoto brought up the MetaNav on her phone.

"Goro Akechi, Police station, Circus..." Naoto read into the MetaNav.

"Beginning Navigation…"

Instantly the world around the four friends seemed to grow fuzzy and unclear. The feeling lasted a few minutes until there was complete darkness before a new world slowly started to come into focus. The police station that once stood before them was replaced by a large tent of almost Gothic design, for when one pictures a circus tent they'd think bright colors, but this one was washed in a strange gray scale. In fact everything from the concession booths to the billboards showing the performer was washed in this same dismal grey. Even the grass underfoot was a bland gray.

The only color in the dab world was the 'police officers' milling around the tent. They were wearing a normal police uniform, but looked more like clowns dressed up as police officers. Most of them just walked about doing things one expects of a police officer, like a group was eating donuts where another group was chasing down a 'bad guy' clown dressed in an old prison type style uniform. This 'bad guy' was foiling them at every turn. It was apparently clear Akechi had no real respect for police as the police here really were nothing more than bumbling clowns.

"This is rather interesting." Yosuke remarked, cutting through the silence that had enveloped the group.

"I'll start a scan now." Rise announced as Kouzeon suddenly appeared to loom over her.

Yu suddenly nudged Naoto pointing towards a large billboard up against the tent. It had what looked like a full male African like dressed up in Joker's phantom thief attire. There was a big 'x' painted over the board. Ren was in what looked like a circus cart they used to keep animals in in one of those olden day circus pictures. The caption around him read in bold letters. 'Come gaze at the captured KING of the phantom thieves. The vilest of beasts and stealer of hearts. Come see this once in a lifetime animal before it's put down!' With the 'x' over the billboard, Naoto could confirm that Akechi did in fact still seem to think Ren was dead, which was a bit of a relief.

"This is strange." Rise's voice caused Naoto to turn away from the billboard.

"What's up?" Yu asked.

Rise paused biting at her bottom lip for a second, thinking. "This place is strange. I can find plenty of shadows around but it's more like an empty location. Like after we confronted our shadows our palaces were still there just empty."

Naoto nodded. "That makes sense, it's fair to say that Akechi has already faced his shadow in a similar way we did, rather than the way the thieves did. After all, if the shadow had just been defeated there wouldn't be a palace here still. Akechi has already proven he has the power of Persona so that's maybe how he got it."

"Yeah, but if Akechi's shadow isn't here, can we really steal his heart?" Rise asked as her Persona faded behind her.

"I don't know, but we can explore later. None of us are equipped to dive into this place right now." Yu ordered.

"You're right, let's go. We still have information we can give to the others when we see them again." Naoto reiterated as she pulled out her phone to send them back home.

After reality faded in and out of existence they found themselves back at the corner of the police station. Yu threw Naoto the keys to the SUV after the world snapped back into focus. This pretty much signaled the end of their day as everyone was tired and just wanted to head home. After the events of the day, it was only logical. Once back in the condo, everyone said their goodnights and went off into their separate places of the condo. For the first time in a few nights, Naoto decided that reports could wait until tomorrow.

November 25 Friday

Ding!

The elevator doors opened and Ren was able to step through a door into Rise's condo. Futaba was clutched to his side as if she was expecting to be attacked. It had been like this the whole way as Futaba was clearly trying to put on a brave face, but she was leaving one of her safe zones to go to a seemingly unknown place. It was only after they stepped into the living room of Rise's place did Ren feel the death grip loosen.

"This ain't so bad..." Ren heard Futaba mutter to herself.

Ren shot his navigator a small reassuring smile before he patted her head. "You did well."

Naoto had insisted on driving them because 'There was a possibility Ren could get recognized in public while riding the subway.' Ren wasn't about to argue with that particular line of logic and they took the ride. It had only been her, however that picked them up as the rest of Yu's group stayed back in the condo. Once Ren was in the living room he was quickly able to spot the rest of Yu's gang. All of their attention was focused on the TV that was broadcasting an interview with Goro Akechi and how he had caught the leader of the phantom thieves.

"We are here." Naoto stated while taking a seat on the couch with the rest of her friends.

Rise glanced in the direction of her new guests and offered them a warm welcoming smile. "Hey Ren-kun, Futaba-chan. Welcome, make yourselves at home! Where's Morgana?"

The bag Ren had over his shoulder suddenly started to move as Morgana squirmed his way out. Jumping to the floor in front of everyone. Morgana shook out his fur before looking up at Rise. "I'm right here!"

"Then welcome Morgana." Rise responded with the same smile she had given Ren and Futaba. "All of you come sit. Do you want anything?"

"Yes. The Wi-Fi password." Futaba declared as she took a seat on the couch with the rest of the gang.

Ren followed a few steps behind his fellow thief and sat next to her before Morgana jumped onto Ren's lap. Yu reached for the remote from the coffee table and shut off the TV they had been watching as the group turned towards the teenagers. Futaba paid the adults no mind as she pulled out her laptop and turned it on.

"The Wi-Fi password? Yeah sure let me go get it. My IT guy made it super long and complicated." Rise said before she disappeared into the kitchen.

"How is Shido's palace?" Yu asked.

"Huge." Ren started but Futaba cut him off.

"It's a luxury cruiser with the national diet building sitting on the top deck. Around it there is water as far as the eye can see and half submerged skyscrapers poke out from the water and are occasionally crushed by the large boat. It has a whole Noah's ark vibe, except the animals are the wealthy upperclass Shido wishes to save." Futaba explained distracted and sounding overall uninterested. "Inside is a mix of shadows that look like security guards and special assault units. Oh and guard dogs. Along with them are just cognitions of people Shido is 'saving'."

"There is a door that blocks us from the treasure. We need five letters of introduction to progress and steal the treasure." Morgana added.

"Sounds like Shido is a really sick in the head kind of guy." Yosuke sneered.

Rise came out handing Futaba a piece of paper before she took a seat next to Yu. Futaba entered the password in a brought up Wi-Fi connection screen. A smile spread across her face as it connected before she glanced at Rise from over her computer's screen. "Thank you Rise!" Futaba grinned.

"No problem Futaba-chan." Rise responded.

"How was it for you guys? Did you get Akechi's keyword?" Morgana asked, his tail swishing through the air.

"Yes we figured it out. It's circus." Naoto interjected as she crossed her legs and folded her hands over her knee. "But there are some complications."

"Like what?" Morgana tilted his head as he asked the question.

"It appears empty." Rise sighed. "Or at least that's what all my scans indicate."

"An empty palace? I've never heard of such a thing!" Morgana got up leaping from Ren's lap to the coffee table.

"What are you guys up to later today? We can go over there and check it out." Yosuke suggested.

"Nothing." Ren started. "We aren't getting together to go after Shido's palace until Sunday so we can devote the whole day to it. Our deadline is the 18th, Election Day, but we hope to clear it way before then."

Naoto folded her arms. "Well you want to help us with Akechi's palace when you guys aren't working on Shido's and we can turn around to assist you with Shido's palace?"

"More thieves on the bigger task and a smaller team on the side project. I like it!" Morgana purred. "What do you think Leader?"

"It's not like I got much else to do." Ren honestly affirmed.

"I got something I'm working on, but I can definitely help some times." Futaba called from behind her computer.

"And that is?" Ren asked as he peeked at Futaba's computer screen, the screen was just a mix of green letters on a black background.

"That's classified!" Futaba gave Ren the kind of grin that a little sister gives her big brother.

"Well Ren and I are up to help you whenever you need us!" Morgana sat down in the middle of the coffee table and curled his tail around his forepaws.

Naoto glanced at Ren. "The only problem is the fact that we will be going to the police station with Ren and we're gonna need a better way to disguise him then just a hoodie."

The room paused as they thought about how to solve this problem before every one of the adults slowly turned to Teddie. The costumed bear didn't seem to notice their hard gazes and just kind of stared off out a window. Ren followed their gazes, looking at Teddie as well before he suddenly realized what they wanted him to do and he didn't know if he liked it.

"So Ren have you ever been in a mascot costume?" Yu was the only one bold enough to ask what everyone was thinking.

"No…" Ren started getting a feeling in his gut that he wasn't about to have a choice in his fate once again. Damn adults.

Teddie seemed to suddenly understand what the adults needed him to do as he looked away from the window towards Ren. "Don't worry Ren-kun, I'll teach you the bear necessities of being a good mascot! I am after all a master at that!" Teddie grinned as he burst out of his suit.

Ren just groaned as Morgana gave him a pointed look. "Take it on the chin, a good thief also has ability to adjust to any situation. Or clothing."

Ren just gave up. If this was his fate, so be it. He'd take it in stride and try to make it as cool looking as he could. Stepping up to Teddie, the shadow turned human offered up his costume. With a deep breath Ren got in and blinked as his body shrunk into it. The damn thing was like the TARDIS, bigger on the inside as Ren's 5'9" stature became 4'3". This had to be some kind of shadow magic because as Teddie placed his 'head' on, Ren just simply saw through it. There were no eye holes, one simply became one with the costume.

"Well it'll definitely work until Teddie and Yosuke head back to Inaba." Ren heard Naoto say from his spot inside the costume.

"Straighten up! Look lively! We've got kids to impress Ren-kun!" Teddie called, forcing Ren to attention.

Suddenly there was a bright flash as Futaba smirked from her position on the couch. "This is sooo going in the group chat."

"Wait!" Ren call out.

"Too late." Futaba had the grin of the devil on her face.

Ren just let out a long loud sigh. "I'm going to have so much explaining to do."

Yu gave Ren a sympathetic look. "Hey, at least you didn't dress up like a girl in front of your whole school. Also you only have to be in that costume when we are out."

"Don't remind me, that's a moment from my youth I tried to scrub from my brain." Yosuke lamented.

Rise rose to her feet. "You know I got a year book around here, I think it has pictures from that event." Rise walked over to a bookshelf and started searching it. "Here it is!" She pulled out a book from the shelf.

"I can't relive that nightmare. If you need me I'll be making a sandwich." Yosuke excused himself from the living room and disappeared into the kitchen.

"If it's means anything to you, you did look hot to me!" Yu called to the back of his retreated friend.

"Screw you partner." Yosuke shot back.

Ren took off the costume as Rise flipped through the pages of the book. The idol had an easy kind of smile one might get reminiscing over fond memories as she flipped through the book. Finally she stopped on page and moved to the center of the room's coffee table.

"Here it is." Rise set the year book down on the table.

Ren finished climbing out of the costume to see the picture of clearly Yosuke and Yu crossdressing with other people. He folded his legs as he sat down the edge of the coffee table. Even Futaba shut her computer to look at the picture Rise had presented. Ren didn't know what to say, but Yu didn't make for a beautiful girl neither did Yosuke by all retrospect. No wonder why Yosuke wanted to scrub this memory from his mind. Still, there had to be a story behind this and Ren now wanted to know it.

"I look good no matter what I wear!" Teddie commented with an air a superiority.

It took a moment for Ren to put the picture together but one of the contestant that actually looked like a girl was indeed Teddie. Honestly Ren didn't know how to respond to that. To both the fact he thought Teddie was actually a girl or the fact Teddie was proud he was a good looking girl. Instead of dwelling on it Ren choose to just drop it, there was just somethings you really didn't want to think too hard on…

"Why?" Was all Ren could think to ask.

"I wanted to be hot." Yu dryly stated.

Rise and Naoto just both chuckled before Rise decided to explain. "It was Yosuke's fault actually. He got the bright idea to sign the girls in the investigation team up for the school festival beauty pageant. Because Yu and Kanji went with it, Chie decided it was only fair that we sign them up for the drag show. Teddie showed up at the last minute because he wanted to join the fun too."

"I wonder what you'd be like in drag Ren." Futaba suddenly asked out loud.

"An abomination," Ren smoothly answered.

Naoto picked up the year book and paged through it. "The school festival aside, this book is filled with several fond memories. You know come to think about it, we've talked about the other members of our group but we've never shown you a picture of them. You'll probably meet some of them next week, but are you interested in seeing them beforehand?"

"Of course. Since we'll all be working together, I'd like to know the faces of our next group of phantom thieves!" Morgana announced as Ren also nodded in conformation.

"Rise?" Naoto started.

"Way ahead of you! Yosuke you can come out now. No one's gonna question you about questionable life choices you made in your youth!" Rise called as she passed by the kitchen to head down the hall.

Yosuke appeared with a sandwich and a bottle of soda a few second later, taking his place on the couch. Teddie sniffed the air and suddenly gave him a pitiful stare. Yosuke only rolled his eyes at the sudden attention he was getting from Teddie before he handed the remainder of his sandwich to the man bear. Teddie looked as if he had just been bestowed a gift from the gods before quickly finishing the rest of the sandwich. Ren was pulled away from the amusing display as Rise reentered the room with a picture frame. She set it down on the coffee table so everyone could see.

"This is a picture of our group from a few months ago, when I came back to Inaba after the launch of Sapphire. We got a big family as the investigation team so not everyone here is a persona user. That's Kanji. This one is Yukiko and the police offer next to her is Chie. They are the persona users. That's Kanami and Marie, they are friends of our team. Kanami is a fellow idol and Marie... well... she's special. I can't quite explain her. That's Nanako, Yu's little cousin, but they have more of a sibling relationship. The one next to her is Dojima, Yu's uncle." Rise pointed to each person in the photo as she explained. "Kanji is Naoto's boyfriend and Yukiko surprisingly is Yosuke's girlfriend."

Morgana looked at Yosuke. "If someone like him can get a girlfriend like that then there is still hope for me and Lady Ann." The cat muttered low and only Ren was probably able to pick that up.

"When are you guys switching off?" Ren asked.

"We haven't told you?" Naoto blinked to which Ren shook his head. "Sorry about that. Next Tuesday Yosuke and Teddie are headed back to Inaba. The plan was for Chie and Kanji to fly in after them and then have Chie fly back the next week. It's a busy time for Yukiko so she doesn't know when she'll be able to leave her family inn. However Kanji is trying to get here as soon as he possibly can so he might be coming in tomorrow."

Rise got a sly grin on her face. "Kanji is really protective of Naoto and it bothers him that she's here without him risking herself."

"Rather pointless. I'm a grown woman and I can defend myself rather well without him." Naoto huffed with a bit of an eye roll.

"I think it's cute. Don't be fooled; Naoto may act like that, but she secretly loves it when Kanji frets over her. Kanji's loved Naoto since pretty much when he first meet her. Which was interesting because back then Naoto use to dress and talk like a boy. Which lead Kanji to question a lot about himself or so I'm told," Rise explained before looking towards Yu.

"Why do we keep bring up things from our past adventures that bring back too many bad memories?" Yosuke shook his head. "That bathhouse, to think I almost forgot about that. Curse you Rise."

Ren turned to look at Naoto trying to picture her as a boy. Naoto seemed to understand the look as she flipped through the year book and set it down on a particular page. The picture was of the whole investigation team on the roof of a school, they looked like they were having a meeting and weren't posing at all. Naoto definitely looked like a boy wearing that Gakuran and it was almost hard to recognize her in the photo, but it was the cap that gave her away. The picture seemed impromptu but it was interesting seeing everyone from their high school times. They all looked different, yet the same and Ren had to wonder what he'd look like five years from now.

"I remember that picture. It was just after you joined the group Naoto and we were going over the case together for the first time all together." Rise leaned against the coffee table as she looked at the photo.

"Ren are you making lots of memories?" Yu suddenly asked, looking towards Ren with a quizzical look.

Ren looked up at Yu and nodded. "Yeah." Ren looked away as a few memories returned fresh in his mind. Like the first time he met Ryuji and waking his persona. Meeting everyone and watching them awakening their personas. All good memories. Even ones of Akechi…

"Well then, we should quit reminiscing about things that make Yosuke uncomfortable and head out to the police station." Yu rose to his feet, stretching as he did so.

Ren glanced at Teddie's costume. Even though it would only be his disguise to get to the police station, he wasn't looking forward to climbing into that thing again. He would still do it because he was curious about what Akechi's palace looked like. Taking a deep breath, Ren prepared to resign himself to his fate only after it was officially decided they were heading out.

Yosuke got to his feet as well. "I agree with this plan."

Naoto looked over everyone. "We are going to need to take two vehicles. Rise do you mind if we use your car again?"

"Sure! We girls can take it all together, if that's okay with you Futaba-chan." Rise turned towards Ren's navigator.

"…" Futaba looked towards Ren as if trying to draw strength from him.

Ren knew he didn't have to stand up for the young girl that he thought of as a little sister, but he wanted to. "Rise-san can you take Morgana with you? I can't carry him in my bag if I'm going to wear that costume."

Rise seemed to understand what was going on and nodded. "Sure, it's no problem."

"Getting to ride with all the ladies? I'm in!" Morgana practically purred.

"Unbearlievable," Teddie lamented.

Ren donned the costume and was quickly shoved into an SUV with the other guys. The drive to the police station was uneventful and as they parked the cars and crossed the street to the police station, Ren got a few looks from people being in a mascot costume but nothing more than startled curiosity. Yu brought the group around the back of the police station and after a quick look around, the world faded around Ren in an all too familiar way…

I'll hopefully have another chapter for you this weekend. Hopefully you like this one.