Goro went over the bags that sat piled up at the entrance of the Shirogane estate. It was a mix of everyone's luggage. His, Naoto's, Ren's, and Futaba's. They were going to see how much they could fix on the helicopter and Kanji had already promised that any stuff that couldn't fit, he'd bring down with him on the train. Rise was the only one who had no bags since she lived a dual life between here and Tokyo. Everyone who was going was currently already at the estate, tucked under a Kotatsu as they waited for the helicopter to arrive.
It would be just the six of them, including Morgana, heading out on the helicopter today. The return tickets everyone was going to use tomorrow to get back via train were left with the rest of Naoto's group to decide who would follow them back. Apparently, without Yu the group had started to argue amongst each other and it had been Rise who stepped in and cooled everyone off with a few quick words. Though Goro didn't know Yu all that well, Goro understood more than enough to understand how important he was to Naoto's extended family. He claimed the title of being their leader, but from Goro's perspective, it was more than that. Yu took care of everyone around him, he'd proved he could be relied upon, he was the group's big brother that everyone looked up to. Or at least that's how Goro felt around him.
Poor Rise, she was devastated far beyond simple words. Goro felt as if he owed the idol for helping him before Loki had been tamed, even stepping in to save his life when the Persona reached the height of its madness. Goro wanted to help Rise, but he lacked the social skills required to do so. Rise's normal personality was currently overshadowed by her pain leaving the Idol a shell of her former self. A woman with a dead gaze and a monotone attitude. Goro couldn't look at her too long without being reminded of his mother.
"Hey bro, can you help me a second?" Kanji's voice didn't hold the normal volume Goro had grown accustomed to.
"Of course Aniki." Goro nodded casting one last look over the bags before headed off after Kanji.
Kanji stood in the hallway a large cup of coffee in his hand. Like everyone else, Kanji had this distant look in his eyes. Goro didn't quite know how to describe it, but it was as if Yu's disappearance had caused everyone in his group to lose their way. Kanji sighed looking at the cup in his hands as if he was trying to think of what he wanted to say.
"Look, I'll be headin' down there ta help ya guys out tomorrow but bro I need you ta keep an eye on Naoto for me." Kanji started as he rubbed the back of his neck. "They're only a few people in this world Naoto lets her walls down for. Yu was one of those people, but Yu could probably get a ragin' mama bear to relax. He kinda has that effect on people like that. Anyways Naoto seems to let those walls down around you so that's why I can't trust anyone else to keep an eye on her fer me. Naoto's focus is on helping Rise and finding Yu. So you focus on keepin' her good to make sure she doesn't fall apart. Naoto is strong; but as much as she hates to admit it, she can get kinda fragile over stuff like this. Like she needs this coffee, she always drinks two cups every morning. If she doesn't she gets horrible headaches." Kanji reached out and handed Goro the cup of coffee. "So can ya take this to her… And ya know just make sure she is alright fer me?"
Yu's words the other day about Naoto and Kanji's relationship rang from Goro's memory. He had seen firsthand several times about how Kanji takes care of Naoto. It was never with overly broad gestures, it was a million small things. Things Kanji just did for Naoto because they needed to be done and vice versa. Anyone could look at their relationship and wonder how the two loved each other but the more Goro saw the more he realized they were meant for each other. Two opposites coming together to make harmony. Goro only wished he could one day have a relationship like that.
"Of course Aniki, I'll keep an eye on Nee-san for you." Goro nodded.
"Thanks, man, I knew you would… Just ya know… Like to hear it out loud." Kanji affirmed as he looked behind him and back down the hall. "I got the others, you just make sure Naoto drinks that."
"Roger," Goro said before he headed in the direction of the study where Naoto was finishing packing.
Goro moved through the house quickly, as the estate was one of those old-style Japanese houses that had no central heat and each room you wanted to be in needed to be heated individually. This weather made the house freezing but it was an aspect Naoto had become accustomed to. Wearing a coat was just commonplace here in this weather. Goro arrived at the study pulling the shoji open and entering the large room. The study was a room that dated back to her great-great grandfather's time and held many treasures and books of her family's exploits as detectives.
Behind a large carved Chinese style wooden desk sat Naoto her head in her hands. The pure size of the desk made Naoto already small form appear tiny. As Goro approached, Naoto didn't move. It was only the sound the coffee mug made upon the glass top that covered the massive desk that made Naoto suddenly shoot up. Her gaze sharpened as her whole body jerked to attention. Goro could see the mix of exhaustion and stress that played across her face as she gazed at him. With his offering firmly in place, Goro retreated to one of the leather chairs that sat in front of the desk. Naoto watched him a second longer before she looked at his simple offering and accepted it.
Curling her hand around the mug, Naoto took a few test sips before some of that stress and exhaustion melted from her face. Goro settled into the surprisingly comfortable leather chair and leaned against the palm of his hand as he watched her. Naoto didn't seem to be bothered by the presence of Goro's company and continued to enjoy her black brew before she set it down to start rummaging through the desk. After a second or two she produced a pill bottle and took two pills before downing the rest of the coffee. Letting out a long sigh, Naoto ran her hand down her face before her attention once again returned to the man sitting across from her on the other side of her desk.
"Kanji give you the spiel?" Naoto asked not bothering to keep the normal professionalism to her tone as a bit of fatigue lingered in her voice.
As Kanji had pointed out, this was Naoto with some of her natural defense deactivated. It would probably be only a few more minutes before she returned to her normal cool business-like demeanor but it was interesting seeing the different facets his sister had. Not always did she feel the need to be the smartest person in the room.
"I have no idea what you are talking about Nee-san," Goro replied playing innocent as he adjusted his glasses.
"Hmmm." Naoto hummed in a matter that seemed to indicate she didn't believe him.
Getting up from her desk, Naoto slowly stretched and yawned, rubbing the back of her neck as she did so. The stress from earlier all but gone from her face. She looked to her desk before plucking what appeared to be a chopstick from a cup of pens. She swiftly stuck the stick in her mouth as her hand moved to her hair. With a flick of her wrist, she tamed her long hair into a bun that sat on the nape of her neck using the chopstick to stick the style in place.
"I should cut my hair. It's getting to be too annoying." Naoto muttered but Goro had the feeling it was just more something that she said out loud than to him.
"You look gorgeous in long hair Nee-san." Goro felt the need to comment.
"I've been growing it out these past few years in some sort of attempt to look more feminine. I like the way I look in it don't get me wrong, but the work that goes into it along with the liability it could present to me on the job. I've been toying with the idea of cutting it all off and going back to a much shorter style." Naoto mused as she reached for and pulled her blue cap from its location on the desk lamp on the right side of the desk.
"What does Kanji think?" Goro asked.
"He told me he doesn't care, but I know he prefers my hair long." Naoto looked down at her cap before looking back at Goro. "I've been perpetually putting getting my hair cut off for the last six months so I doubt I'll change it any time soon." She set her cap on the leather bag that she normally carried her laptop in.
"Maybe wait until after your wedding?" Goro leaned forward on the chair.
Naoto let an easy smile find its way to her lips. "Perhaps," Naoto looked around the room and headed towards the room's heater and turned it off. "Akechi… that's not your mother's maiden name, where is it from?"
Goro paused wondering how Naoto knew that detail about his past. "No, I believe it's from Kogoro Akechi. My mother had a love of detective novels. I'll admit, it might be why I was drawn to the profession and idolized those who worked in it."
"I was curious about that so I take it you like 'Akechi'" Naoto moved through the room collecting a few last things to stick in her leather bag.
"I can't say I'm attached to it one way or the other. It's an interesting name though." Goro watched his sister.
Naoto stepped up to a large wardrobe after adding a few items to her bag. "How would you feel if we changed it to Shirogane?" Naoto asked as she glancing back at him.
Goro blinked at the sudden connotation that Naoto's words held. The Shirogane name dated back at least five generations and was well known in Japan if not worldwide. To attach his dark past to something as pure as that, it boggled Goro's mind. He wanted to protect Naoto's name as much as he wanted to protect the woman behind it. He had no right to anything as grand as the name and to be honest most of his detective exploits had been nothing but lies built to advance Shido's agenda.
"Surely you don't want my previous actions staining the name. I'm not a good person Nee-san." Goro shook his head.
Naoto pulled a coat from the wardrobe and walked up to Goro. "Take off your jacket and stand up," Naoto ordered swiftly.
Goro obeyed the woman, pulling off his coat. Naoto helped him into the coat she had pulled from the wardrobe. The coat was old, but quality and seemed to fit him well. It looked like a classic detective's coat that was a rich black. Naoto buttoned it up then took a step back looking carefully at Goro before she nodded.
"My family's name is important to me, but there are many other things that should be more important. My grandfather taught me that. Goro-Kun, if you believe you are a bad person then do you honestly think I'd let you into my home? You were a villain I won't deny that, but now you strive forward looking for a way to atone for your crimes. Give yourself a little credit. Perhaps once you feel ready, I hope you may take me up on my offer." Naoto turned back to her desk and grabbed her leather bag, cap, and the now empty coffee mug. "Think about it. That coat looks good on you, do me a favor and keep it." She put on her cap and turned to head out of the office. "Anyways let's get going."
Goro quickly grabbed his other jacket and took off after his sister. Naoto moved through the halls before she paused at the sound of an engine entering the Shirogane estate. From the sound, Goro knew it wasn't the helicopter. The engine sounded smaller.
Naoto shook her head, clearly knowing the engine in question it seemed. Naoto passed through the nearest shoji and stepped out onto the estate's Engawa. Goro spotted the motorcycle that was pulling into the estate and walked with Naoto up to it as it stopped near the estate's entrance.
"You know it's dangerous to drive a motorcycle in the snow." Naoto folded her arms across her chest as she looked at the helmeted driver.
The driver reached up and removed the helmet to reveal Yosuke Hanamura. "I was careful, but I needed to get here before the helicopter arrived." Yosuke looked at Naoto as he set the helmet down onto the gas tank of the cycle. "I want to come with. I've been Yu's partner longer than you and I can't sit back knowin' my best friend could be in danger."
"What about Junes? You told me it's been pretty busy because of the holiday season." Naoto inquired.
"Fuck Junes!" Yosuke abruptly shouted.
A flash of surprise registered upon Naoto's face at the statement. Goro understood Yosuke's resolve, the desire to help. From what Goro understood, Yosuke was Yu's best and longest friend. Goro knew he'd probably do the same for Ren. Naoto's face softened slightly as she seemed to be thinking about something. Yosuke tore his gaze from Naoto to look at the ground.
"Look… I quit Junes. Teddie said he'd step in for me. He can be spacey I know, but he knows the store as well as I do. I have some money saved up for an emergency like this, I'll be good for at least a month or two. I just can't turn my back on Yu, so please Naoto." Yosuke bowed his head low to Naoto.
Naoto let out a long sigh. "Go park your bike in the garage and get your things. The helicopter will be here any moment."
"Yes, ma'am!" Yosuke took off on the bike in the direction of the estates' garage.
Naoto watched him go, there was uncertainty lingering in her gaze as she watched him. Goro knew she was worried about Yosuke. He had just made a rather brash life choice in quitting his job. Naoto turned and headed back into the house. Goro followed behind her silently as he was accustomed to doing. Naoto made a quick stop at the kitchen to refill her coffee before they both headed to the room everyone was waiting in. The room was silent as they entered, only Ren looked up towards them as they entered. Rise had a thousand-mile stare as she sat next to Futaba. Futaba was currently working on something on her computer, with Morgana curled up on her lap.
Naoto glanced at those gathered. "Yosuke is coming with us." She announced to the room breaking the silence.
"That's fine." Rise's tone was even as she turned her disassociated stare toward Naoto.
Naoto seemed to look towards Rise as if she wanted to say something but no words came. Goro was sure if it wasn't for the sound of a helicopter approaching Naoto might have gotten out the words she seemed to want to say. At the sound of the helicopter, everyone started to move. Soon everyone was standing outside as a large black helicopter landed right in the middle of Naoto's estate. The helicopter slowly powered down just as Yosuke joined them from the garage. A man got out of the helicopter and walked up to the group.
"Agent Naoto Shirogane?" He asked.
"That's me." Naoto stepped up.
"Ma'am! I'm Lance Kobeyoshi" He saluted in a stiff military fashion. "I'm here to deliver you and your people to a private airport just outside of Tokyo and into the hands of Agent Aigis. Are these all your people?"
"Yes, how long is the fight going to take?" Naoto inquired.
"About two and a half hours Ma'am. There should be no delays in getting you and your team to Tokyo." Lance explained.
"We also have bags, will that be too much for the helicopter?" Naoto looked over everyone.
"No Ma'am we have a 2000 pound take-off limit and I doubt we'll reach that with what your team is currently carrying." Lance looked over the group. "If you are ready we can load up and get in the sky."
"Thank you Kobeyoshi-san." Naoto nodded to the pilot before looking over the group. "Get in everyone."
With that everyone loaded up onto the helicopter as Lance helped secure the bags. Everyone has just finished loading in before Kanji appeared in the courtyard of the estate. Naoto exited the helicopter to meet him. Goro positioned himself at the door as he watched the two say their goodbyes. Naoto didn't want to leave Kanji behind but he volunteered himself. In a way, Goro understood why he wanted to find Yu as much as the rest of his friends but knew it was better to step aside and let those smarter than him figure things out. He was ready for the fight, but currently, there was nothing to fight. As Naoto stepped away from Kanji, Kanji looked towards Goro. A silent promise to watch after Naoto was exchanged between the two of them before Goro's sister stepped into the helicopter.
Everyone settled into their seats as the helicopter took off. Goro caught Naoto staring out the window as they took off. Her eyes reflected someone deep in thought. Goro wanted to reach out and talk to her but with the noise of the helicopter that was impossible. Everyone would just have to retreat into their minds because of the noise. Which was probably the worst thing for Rise right now. Still, nothing could be done, at least Futaba was keeping a careful eye on the idol at the moment and that was probably the best thing in this particular situation.
Goro leaned back and closed his eyes as he just waited for time to pass. Two and a half hours passed at a dull pace. It honestly felt longer as there was nothing to do but stare out of the window and watch the world pass by. Soon they started to descend as the familiar skyline of Tokyo took over the landscape. They landed upon a large open patch of asphalt and as soon as they did, two cars pulled up to the helicopters. One SUV style car and another more limo-like vehicle. Goro helped start to unpack the helicopter after it landed as everyone got out. From the corner of his eye, he saw that the rest of the Phantom Thieves were there along with some other people he didn't recognize.
Goro stepped out of the helicopter putting down the bags. To his left, Ren was reuniting with the rest of the Thieves, to his right Naoto and her group was talking to the two people Goro didn't know yet. He figured he'd get a proper introduction soon enough. The introduction came sooner than he expected. As Goro turned to stand next to his sister one of the people he didn't recognize seemed to recognize him. Time slowed down to a snail's pace as instantly the detective found himself staring down the barrel of a gun.
"Ken-Kun!" A shocked voice came from Naoto as everyone else froze.
"You are Goro Akechi correct?" the stranger asked.
"Yes." Akechi nodded feeling no fear from the gun that was currently pointed at him.
Naoto cast him a look that he caught out of the corner of his eye. She was willing to step in, to do something to defuse the situation on his behalf. Akechi didn't want that. There was a gun involved in this mix and there was no way he was going to involve his sister. She was someone he cared about most in this world no matter how little time they had known each other. She was the first person that didn't see him as some sort of cursed child, the first person who wanted to be his family. Reaching out he held his hand up to her, a silent but effective motion that showed he was in control of the situation.
"You've killed 17 people, three of whom were innocent. Do you deny this?" The stranger accused him.
"Ken-Kun, please stand down. I don't know what you are trying to accomplish here but shooting a man in cold blood won't solve it. I thought you knew that." The female explained her voice was calm, almost to an eerie point.
There was a hesitation in the stranger Ken's eyes. Akechi knew that look, he wasn't in any danger. This was a show, something that needed to happen. After all who would trust someone who killed 17 people? Akechi didn't blame him. He was a serial killer by all definitions. Still, even if he was shot in cold blood now, that didn't worry Akechi in the least bit. He wouldn't hold it against this person, whoever he was. 17 people, for all Akechi, knew this man had a connection to one of those people. However, if there was going to be someone that delivered capital punishment to him, it should at least be someone who was affected by his crimes.
"I don't deny it if you want I can name them all off for you." Akechi took a step forward. "Do you know one of them?"
"I don't have to know any of them to be distrustful of a serial killer. They let you walk free, but what about the families of those you killed? Are they okay with this? You took things from them that are irreplaceable!" Ken growled his finger moving over the trigger.
Akechi took a few more steps forward. "I dunno, why we don't ask them."
In a flash, Akechi was on top of the other man. His stance was easy to counter as Akechi reached for the gun and pushed it skywards. In the shuffle, the gun went off firing into the air. Akechi hoped when the bullet came down again it didn't hurt anything. The way he grabbed the gun from Ken didn't allow it to cycle into battery and effectively rendering it useless until someone racked the slide. A quick struggle for the firearm was over in mere seconds as Akechi delivered a swift blow to the other man's gut and twisted the firearm in his attacker's hand to gain control of it. Ken was sent reeling back as Akechi now held the deadly weapon. Hate flashed in Ken's eyes as Akechi looked down at him with a callous look.
"You bastard." Ken sneered loudly as a white dog appeared by his side, flashing teeth.
"You're not wrong." Akechi countered coldly as he racked the slide of the gun, ejecting the spent casing and putting a new round in the chamber.
Akechi turned his attention away from the other man and towards the stunned Phantom Thieves that stood not more than 10 feet away. Akechi flipped the gun around in his hand and stepped up to the group. He stepped up to Futaba and offered her the gun. Futaba's eyes went wide at the sudden implications as she retreated behind Ren. She shook her head as she gripped Ren's left arm. Akechi nodded to her before he turned and with a quick stride offered the gun to Haru. Haru's eyes lit up in shock as she looked at the weapon Akechi had offered her.
There was a muttered conversation that echoed around Akechi but the ringing in his ears from the errant gunshot so close to his face made it impossible to hear. Haru carefully reached out and took the weapon from Akechi. There was no blame in Akechi's eyes as he stepped back from Haru and knelt down before his executioner. This was a fitting end. Haru's father was on his knees when Akechi had shot him the first time. Akechi looked down at the ground, a bit amused that this place would be where it all ended. His only regret was Naoto was here, she didn't deserve to see him die. It was at that moment, he noticed the small lapel pin on the jacket he was wearing.
A small white bell.
"Damn it Nee-san..." Goro whispered as he waited for judgment.
BANG!
Well considering Royal is in like a week, I don't have the manpower to get the rest of the chapters edited as there are around 200 more pages of his story left. I'll continue to try and get through them. I'm tempted to leave the story here and just try and get as much editing as I can done before royal comes out, then drop everything I have. Thoughts? Keep just gradually updating or just dump the story in one go?