"You are the Phantom theives?!" Makoto asked in shock.
"Yes." Akira said hesitantly.
"Everything makes so much more sense! You fighting kamoshida, the injuries you would randomly get, the fact that you would sneak off at random times. Wow. Well you beat Kamoshida so at least you're done." The girl said sounding confident.
"About that...actually we have already been looking at our next target." Akira said half expecting Makoto to punch him.
"What!? Why are you going to risk your life in this meta-whatever when you are already on probation?" Makoto looked more worried than mad.
"It's just something we have to do." Morgana joined in.
"You being able to talk dose not help!" The girl said. "Look Akira, I don't think you should continue to do this."
Akira looked surprised. "Why not."
"Because you are going to get hurt or be put back in jail or get killed and I don't want that to happen." Makoto was starting to get more and more worried.
"I know you're worried but we can handle this." Akira said trying to calm his friend down.
"What if you can't? What if some super bad guy finds out who you are and then calls the police? You'll be taken away again...and I can't go through that a second time." Makoto said growing silent.
"Makoto, I'm sorry but I have to do this." Akira gave his friend a serious look.
"Ok...but you're gonna have to do it without me." Makoto said through tears.
"What do you mean?" Akira asked confused.
"I mean I can't see you. I'll just end up crying and scared." The girl said running out of the attic and out of the cafe. "I feel like my heart is in a cage!" The girl said more to herself then anyone.
"Makoto, wait-!" Akira yelled after her.
"She's gone Akira." Ann said sadly. "I'm so sorry."
"Yeah man, that was rough." Ryuji said while patting his friend on the back.
"More importantly what was that part about her heart being in a cage?" Morgana questioned.
"What are you thinking?" Akira asked.
"Nothing, just confused." The cat responded giving Akira a strange look.
"Well me and Ann gotta go. I hope you can fix things with Makoto. See ya." Ryuji said as he and Ann left the room.
"Ok now what are you really thinking." Akira asked the cat.
"Ok, here me out. What if...Makoto had a palace!" The cat said in a smug tone.
"What!? Why would she have a palace?" The boy asked.
"She's been acting weird lately right? It wouldn't hurt to check." Morgana said.
"I guess." Akira said opening the Metanav. "Makoto Niijima." He spoke into his phone.
"Target found." The phone said back.
"Really!?" Akira said shocked.
"I knew it!" Morgana cheered. "Now what are her key words?"
"Let's try 'cage'" Akira said.
"Match found." The phone said.
"Ok two out of the three but what is the last one?" The cat asked.
"I don't know but it's late. Let's go to bed for now." Akira said closing his eyes.
The next day.
Akira awoke on this Sunday morning feeling tired and sad at the last nights events. He decided to measage Makoto to try and talk to her.
Akira: Makoto are you ok?
Makoto: ...
the girl started to type but stoped.
Akira: Look, I'm sorry about last night just please talk to me.
...
...
"The chat has been deleted." Akira's phone said before closing the messaging app.
"I deserved that right?" Akira asked Morgana.
"I don't know." Morgana said.
"Great...lets find the last keyword." Akira said sounding determined.
Akira proceeded to go to all the places the he thought would be Makoto's palace. He checked her and Sae's apartment, the cafe they visit, the school, and so much more.
"What is the palace? We searched everywhere!" Morgana complained.
"I don't know." Akira responds.
"Hhhmmm where else does she hangout?" Morgana asked.
"I don't know...lets go home for the day." Akira said grabbing the bag with the cat inside.
"Ok but keep the Metanav open in case we find anything." The cat meowed.
The duo walked back to the subway speaking the names of the various places they passed into the nav. Once on the train they brainstormed some more ideas. It was late and Sojiro had already left the cafe for the night. Akira walked into the cafe to here the phone ringing. Akira picked up the phone and started the call.
"Hello?" Akira answered.
"Hey kid, it's me." Sojiro's voice said through the phone. "I forgot to lock the door at Leblanc so I was calling to ask you to do it."
"Match found." Akira's phone said.
"What was that?" Sojiro asked.
"Nothing. I'll lock up don't worry about a thing." Akira said hanging up the phone.
"Did it say match found?" Morgana asked.
"Yeah. It happened when Sojiro said Leblanc. I guess that was the last keyword. But why Leblanc?" Akira wondered.
"I don't know. But the only way to find out. Let's go and have a look." The cat said sounding eager.
"Ok let's go." Akira activating the nav.
"Beginning navigation."
The cafe morphed around Akira and Morgana, blinding their vision with red and black swirls. The walls became cold and made out of stone. Iron bars shot up from the ground. Search lights illuminated the ground. A giant tower formed of the middle of the distorted building. When Joker and Mona completed their navigation they saw a a huge prison.
"What the hell?" Joker asks. "Why? What would cause this?"
"I have never seen so much distortion." Morgana says in awe.
"I think we need to get the others." Joker says.
"I think you're right. Let's go." Morgana says running to the exit.
In the real world.
Akira text the other Phantom theives to meet up in their usual place. Once every one was assembled he explained their situation. "Ok guys, I think Maderame is gonna have to wait."
"What? Why?" Ryuji asks.
"We have a worse palace to attend to." Morgana said.
"Who is it?" Ann asked sounding worried.
"It's Makoto..." Akira sounded scared. "It's way worse then Kamoshida. It's scary."
"For real!?" Ryuji blurts out.
"Yeah it's a huge maximum security prison." Akira explains.
"Wow...that's crazy! Why would she have a palace worse than Kamoshida? Why would she have a palace at all?" Ryuji asked.
"That's why we need to find out." Morgana says.
"So business as always." Ann remarked.
"Now we are all in agreement let's go." Akira said.
In Makoto's palace.
"Holy shi-" Skull started to speak.
"Ryuji!" Panther cut him off.
"Code names!" Mona hissed.
"Anyway lets get to work." Joker says.
The theives sneak through the gates avoiding the shadows and search lights that are placed around the facility. In the front room they find a map of the main prison but one part is missing? Why was the middle of the map torn out? Hopefully they can find a different and complete map. The group arrived to the hall where all the inmates are kept. But all the cells are empty? And four of the cells look like they were destroyed.
The team travels a little further down the hall and the floor exploded in front of them. When the smoke cleared Joker, Mona, Skull, and panther see themselves starring back at them. But something about these other people isn't right. Their eyes are glowing gold. The Phantom theives get into battle stances. Ready to fight.