I do not own Persona
It owned by Atlus
I just own my OC's
Enjoy!
"Hey, Senpai!" a faint voice was heard by Hiro as his eyes have started to open. "C'mon, man! Get up!" he felt someone begin to shake him. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, and was met with the concerned face of Ryuji.
"Sakamoto...?" Hiro spoke as he slowly leaned up.
"Hey, you're alive," Ryuji said sounding relieved.
"Yeah," Hiro replied. "Where are we?"
"Hell if I know," the blonde shrugged. "A brig or sometin'?"
"A what...?" Hiro questioned and took in his surroundings. Himself, Ryuji, and Ren who was still out cold were in a medieval-styled brig. It was a dirty place with a stone floor, chains hanging from the wall, and a couple of barrels by the wall. Hiro sighed in irritation at their current predicament.
"Well, isn't this just fantastic," Hiro voiced with a hint of sarcasm as Ryuji shook Ren awake.
"Amamiya!" Ryuji exclaimed. "Wake up!" Ren's eyes fluttered open as he saw Ryuji standing over him.
"Sakamoto-san?" Ren said as he started to get up as the faux-blonde gave him some space.
"You alright?" Ryuji asked.
"Sort of," Ren stated unsurely while rubbing the back of his neck. "How about you?"
"Yeah, more or less," Ryuji replied.
"Glad to see you up and around, Amamiya," Hiro said making himself known.
Thanks," Ren nodded. "You too, senpai."
"Looks like this ain't no dream..." Ryuji noted as he rubbed the back of his head, looking about the cage. "What's going on!?" the vulgar teen groaned and was so fed up and charged to the cage door and banged against it. "Hey, let us outta here! I know there's someone out there!" once he figured it was useless, he walked back to Hiro and Ren. "Dammit, where are we!? Is this some kinda TV set...?"
"This is all strange, I know," Hiro pointed out. "But freaking about it is not-"
"UWAAAAAAAGH!" a violent pained scream alerted the three which caused Hiro and Ren to stand. The teens ran to the cell door to figure where that scream had come from.
"Th-The hell was that just now...?" Ryuji wondered.
"That didn't sound normal...?" Hiro questioned. "Don't you guys think so, too?"
"Yeah..." Ren agreed.
"Whoa... Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa..." Ryuji freaked out. "You're shittin' me, right?" Ryuji backed away from the cage. "This is really bad...! Isn't there some way outta here!? C'mon, we gotta do something?"
"Uh...?" Ren said as he started thinking. Hiro himself was even thinking of a way out, pondering with a hand on his chin.
"Do you think there's something that can help us get out of here, Sakamoto?" Hiro questioned.
"I dunno!" Ryuji replied. "It'd beat just sittin' around here!" Hiro saw Ren move about the cell and looked inside the barrels. He opened them and found nothing.
"Yo, there's nothing in there," Ryuji said since he looked in there earlier.
"Obviously," Ren sighed shaking his head. "I doubt whoever put us in here would leave us with something to get us out of here."
"Take a look at these..." Hiro said as he noticed the chains on the wall.
"Hey, those chains're used for like..." Ryuji swallowed a lump in his throat. "Torturin' and stuff, right? Dammit, This shit ain't funny!"
"How long do you think we were out for?" Ren wondered as he stared at the beds.
"I'm not sure...?" Hiro pondered himself as he wasn't so certain himself. Though, that was a good question. How long have they been in this cell? At this rate, classes had likely started and were going on without them. The worst part about it all this was that Hiro was going to spend time with Makoto before classes start.
Mako is probably wondering where I am right now? Hiro thought while clutched his scarf. I hate to think about it but she's not going to be happy.
"Dammit, this doesn't make any freakin' sense..." Ryuji grunted stamping his foot in exasperation. "Huh? You guys hear that?"
There was the sound of marching feet heard outside the cell. Hiro followed Ryuji and Ren to the cage door. The four large figures in black suits of armor from before stomped up. Or they were different from the ones earlier, Hiro wasn't too sure.
"Be glad that your punishment has been decided upon," the first of the armored soldiers stated. "Your charge is 'unlawful entry.' Thus, you will be sentenced to death."
"Say what!?" Ryuji mouthed.
"Death!?" Hiro repeated with wide eyes.
"No one's allowed to do as they please in my castle."
A familiar voice spoke out as the one who had said it walked through the armored men. The person wore a red cape with red and pink hearts all over it, a small gold crown perched on top of his curly-haired head, pink underwear, and brown loafers. His eyes a golden-yellow peering at the three teens, Hiro, as well as Ryuji, eyes widened once they saw who had approached them and it was a face they knew all too well.
"Huh, wait..." Ryuji gawked. "Is that you, Kamoshida?"
"Kamoshida!?" Hiro repeated. "I don't understand? What are you doing here!?"
"Kamoshida?" Ren wondered. "You mean that guy in that silver car from earlier?"
"I thought it was some petty thief, but to think it'd be you, Sakamoto..." said Kamoshida? He brought attention over to Ren. "And you brought a friend this time... because you can't do anything for yourself." He then noticed Hiro. "Oh, isn't this a surprise? Even Isamashi is here as well. To think one of my former players would stoop so low as to hang around with the likes of you."
"This ain't funny, you asshole!" Ryuji cursed.
"I don't know what kind of trick you're trying to pull!" Hiro yelled. "But you got some nerve locking us in here!?"
"Is that how you speak to a king?" Kamoshida growled. "It seems you both don't understand the positions you're in at all. Not only did you sneak into my castle, you committed the crime of insulting me-the king." He grinned evilly. "The punishment for that is death. It's time for an execution! Take 'em out!"
"S-Stop it...!" Ryuji shouted frighteningly while stepping away. The four knights walked into the cell and approached Ryuji as Kamoshida ordered his execution first. "Goddammit...!" Ryuji cursed and charged at the first guard knocking it over with his shoulder. "I ain't down for this shit!" He turned to Ren and Hiro. "Amamiya! Senpai, we're outta here!"
"Yeah!" Hiro nodded. "Let's go!" he said to Ren.
"Alright!" Ren agreed as one of the guards moved toward Ryuji. "Sakamoto-san!" Ren warned. "Watch out!"
"Huh!?" Ryuji said as he was punched hard in the stomach by the guard, grunting in pain and causing him to fall to a knee.
"Sakamoto!" Hiro shouted. "Dammit, Kamoshida! Stop this right now!" Kamoshida said nothing and only kept his grin as he gestured for a guard to silence Hiro. The guard took it's shield and slammed it into him.
"Agh!" Hiro screamed as he fell. He tried getting on his feet but was pushed down on his back by a guard stomping on his chest, pinning him on the ground. Hiro struggled underneath the foot of the guard but wasn't able to get himself free.
"Isamashi-senpai!" Ren shouted. He knew he had to do something, he couldn't leave Ryuji or Hiro to die and Ren ran at one of the guards facing Ryuji, and grabbed it from behind to try and help.
"Just go, Amamiya! Get outta here...!" Ryuji told him. "These guys are serious!"
"Oh?" Kamoshida mouthed at Ren. "Running away, are we? What a heartless friend you are."
"Amamiya, just hurry up and leave!" Hiro yelled from where the guard had him pinned.
"But-I-" Ren pronounced hesitantly.
"What's the matter?" Kamoshida mocked Ren. "Too scared to run away? Hmph, pathetic scum isn't worth my time... I'll focus on Sakamoto's execution... then after that, it will be Isamashi's turn."
The guard holding down Hiro brought him to his feet and held him by his wrist to restrain him. Another held Ren back, a sword pointed at his throat. Two guards held Ryuji by his arms as Kamoshida started to pummel him.
"Take this!" Kamoshida punched Ryuji in the face. "Lowly scum!" he landed two more strikes on Ryuji."Useless pest!" A blow to the gut was followed by a punch to the face, the final punch knocking Ryuji to the ground.
"Stop!" Hiro shouted struggling in the guard's grip. "Leave him alone!" Kamoshida growled in frustration at Hiro's comments. He stepped up to Hiro and punched him in the face which was soon followed by a punch straight to Hiro's stomach. Hiro's eyes widened in pain as he fell on his knees, his arms still held by the guard.
"You never stop running your mouth, do you Isamashi?" Kamoshida said. "Just like on the team. That'll be changed soon since your turn will next." Kamoshida turned back to Ryuji and spat on him. "Hmph, where'd your energy from earlier go?" a guard scooped the blonde by his collar and threw him. "A peasant like you isn't worth beating."
[Persona 5 OST: Blood of Villain]
"I'll have you killed right now," Kamoshida noted.
Ren couldn't let this continue, he had to do something or else Hiro and Ryuji were done for. There was no way he could just leave them to die, though, Ren doubted he could do anything in this situation. He felt powerless, just like... that night. But he had to help them.
"Have you lost your mind!?" Ren shouted at Kamoshida. "Leave them alone!"
"What...?" Kamoshida made his way up to Ren. "Don't you dare tell me you don't know who I am?" He grinned as he stared Ren in the eyes but Ren only glared defiantly into the man's gold-yellow eyes.
"That look in your eyes irritates me!" Kamoshida kicked Ren in the stomach knocking the teen off his feet. "Hold him there... After the peasant's, it's his turn to die." Hiro was still on his knees held by the guard as Ryuji was laying on the ground.
"No!" Ren shouted as he ran to help Ryuji but was grabbed by a pair of guards. They shoved him against the wall to keep him there while Kamoshida ordered Ryuji's execution.
"No..." Ryuji begged. "No, I don't wanna die!"
"Hahaha!" Kamoshida cackled in laughter. Hiro got up on his feet as the guard holding him wrapped an arm around his neck putting him in a hold. Ren felt he couldn't do anything to help Ryuji or Hiro. He really was powerless, there was nothing he could do. He could do nothing to help that woman from back then and he could do nothing now to help Ryuji and Hiro and began to give up hope until everything went dark for him.
"This is truly an unjust game..." A feminine voice said in his thoughts. "Your chances of winning are almost none." There was a blue butterfly that flew past Ren. Flying before his eyes. "But if my voice is reaching you, there may be a possibility open to you..." Ren curiously watched the butterfly flap its wings and fly around him until in his mind heard another voice.
"What's the matter...?" A deep voice in Ren's head that sounded like his own asked. "Are you simply going to watch? Are you forsaking them to save yourself? Death awaits them if you do nothing. Was your previous decision a mistake then?"
"No, it wasn't," Ren agreed with the voice. Him trying to help that woman wasn't a mistake. Ren wasn't going to just step back and let this fake king in a pink speedo kill Hiro and Ryuji. Hiro was the only nice person he had met since he first got here and Ryuji spoke to him like he was anyone else and didn't deserve to be executed. Ryuji was lifted off his feet, the guard's hand grasping by his throat.
"Sakamoto...!" Hiro growled as a guard still had an arm wrapped around his neck.
"Very well... I have heeded your resolve." The voice in Ren's mind said as the two guards kept him restrained. "Vow to me." Ren let out a short scream as tears dripped from his eyes. "I am thou, thou art I... Thou art willing to perform sacrilegious acts for thine own justice! Call upon thy name, and release thy rage!" Ren screamed louder as he threw his head back and hung his head. "Show the strength of thy will to ascertain all of thine own, though thou be chained to Hell itself!" Ren brought his head back up, with a defiant intense glare.
"Execute him!" Kamoshida ordered Ryuji's execution.
"That's enough!" Ren demanded. "If you wanna kill someone...!? Then kill me instead, you coward!"
"What was that...?" Kamoshida growled at Ren. All attention went to Ren now as Kamoshida slowly turned to him. The guard holding up Ryuji released him as did the guard restraining Hiro. "You desire to be killed that much...? Fine!" he nodded to his guard to give Ren what he asked for.
The guard slammed his shield into Ren's face as his glasses clattered on the ground. Two guards crossed their spears against his throat, that held him against the wall. One guard stood in front of Ren with a sword in hand to deal the finishing blow. Ryuji tried to stand himself up but fell against the wall while Hiro was laid on the ground watching the knights deal with Ren. Kamoshida gestured to execute Ren as the guard raised its sword.
"Amamiya!" Hiro screamed for Ren.
Before the sword could strike the blow on Ren, his eyes shot open as a powerful gust of wind knocked every guard to the ground while Kamoshida had shielded his eyes from the gust until it calmed. Ren brought up his head and felt something on his eyes. It was a white and black domino mask on his eyes. Ren reached up and pulled on it but it felt like it was stuck there and found himself trying to rip the mask from his face.
[Persona 5 OST: Awakening]
"AAAAAGH!" Ren screamed and managed to tear off the mask as blood poured from around his eyes. He brought his head up, a devilish smile etched across his face toward Kamoshida and the guards. His eyes were a golden-yellow as a blue flame consumed him as demonic laughed can be heard.
Ren kneeled down as the flame disappeared from his body as it went above him and revealed another being. Ren's outfit was changed, showing he was no longer wearing his school uniform. He wore a black ankle-length tailcoat, under that he wore a high-necked waistcoat with gold accents, black jogger-styled pants tucked into some brown-black winkle-pickers, and a pair of red gloves on his hands.
The being behind Ren was bigger than him. It had a top hat and a demonic-looking face and wore a red coat, red leggings, and wore a black vest. Ren outstretched his arms and the being behind had revealed it's large black bird wings and sent Kamoshida and the guards flying backward.
"Wha-what the...!?" said Ryuji in shock as Ren stood with a confident smirk.
[Persona 5 OST: Willpower]
"I am the pillager of twilight-'Arsene'!" The being behind Ren announced.
"A-Amamiya!?" Hiro said in confusion.
"I am the rebel's soul that resides within you," Arsene told Ren. "If you so desire, I shall consider granting you the power to break through this crisis."
"Oh, yeah," Ren nodded confidently. "Give me your power."
"Hmph, very well..." Arsene said.
"Who the hell are you...!?" Kamoshida asked Ren. "Guards!" Two guards stood to attention. "Start by killing that one!" The guards transformed into beings with pumpkin heads that wore pointy wizard hats, matching capes, and lanterns. "You'll learn the true strength of my men!"
"Let's see what they got!" Ren remarked. He got ready to fight with Arsene floating above him.
"This power of mine is yours!" Arsene boomed. "Kill them however you want! Run wild to your heart's content!"
Arsene vanished which left Ren standing before the duo of pumpkin magician's looking ready to attack him. Ren had never felt this way before, especially once he first summoned Arsene and feeling the power course through him. The pumpkins seemed wary and waited for him to make the first move.
"Persona!" Ren uttered the word tearing the mask off his face. "Arsene, Ravage them!"
A burst of dark red energy struck one of the pumpkins which destroyed it, disappearing into a dark mist. The second of the pumpkins flew at Ren and went to attack him with the use of its lantern. Ren maneuvered out of the way to avoid the attack and went on the offensive by pulling a knife that he reached for his in own coat. He didn't question why it was there but felt he knew how to use it. Ren leaped at the pumpkin and slashed it a few times causing it to become weak. The pumpkin seemed to become afraid as it started pleading for its life as Ren summoned Arsene and finished off the remaining pumpkin with an Eiha.
Hiro could not believe his own eyes. Ren Amamiya, the guy he met just yesterday just pulled out some kind of power from out of nowhere. If Hiro didn't know any better, he'd think he was dreaming, though all of this felt too real. He looked toward Ryuji who seemed just as shocked as he did by what Ren just managed to do.
"What..." Ryuji sputtered out as Ren finally noticed his own outfit and showing obvious confusion as to why he was wearing it.
"What was that just?" Ryuji questioned.
"Amamiya...?" Hiro finally spoke. "How did you do all of that?"
"I-I'm not sure...?" Ren wondered himself.
It was understandable how Ren was surprised himself by what just happened. Kamoshida stomped up to Ren, looking even more furious than before and likely angry at him for defeating his guards.
"You little..." Kamoshida growled but before he could do anything else could happen Ryuji ran and shoulder-charged him. "Aagh!" screamed Kamoshida as he fell on the floor.
"You like that, you son of a bitch!?" Ryuji shouted.
"Lock the cell!" Ren told Ryuji, pointing to the set of keys on the stone floor.
"You mean this?" Ryuji wondered as Ren nodded and swiped the keys as the both of them ran out of the cell.
Hiro grabbed his school bag and was about to run after them. Before he did, he saw Ren's glasses on the ground beside him. Hiro picked them up and found himself inspecting them. Getting a closer look at them caused Hiro to raise both of his brows in confusion.
"What the hell...?" Hiro muttered. "Are these...?"
"Hey, senpai!" Ryuji hollered at him.
"Isamashi-senpai, hurry!" Ren called after.
"Why you..." Kamoshda growled as he slowly stood back up. Hiro put his bag around him and ran toward the cell door but not before punching Kamoshida in the back of the head.
"Gah!" Kamoshida screamed as he fell on the floor once again as a slight smile of pride played across Hiro's face as it felt
"Later, asshole!" Hiro said as he got out of the cell. "I'm out! Lock it!" Ryuji shut the cell door and put the key inside and locked it.
"Okay, it's locked!" Ryuji announced.
"Damn you!" Kamoshida cursed as he stood up, nursing his head.
"Hey, what was that just now!?" Ryuji asked as he stared at Ren's outfit. "And... your clothes..."
"Honestly, I think he looks cool," Hiro commented.
Hiro wasn't lying as Ren's current outfit definitely was pretty awesome. He had to wonder if Ren was born to wear that dark trench coat. Hiro noticed Ryuji just giving him an incredulous look.
"Dude, you can't be effin' serious?" Ryuji questioned as Ren lit up in a flash of blue flames and was back into his school uniform. "Whoa, it went back to normal...!?" the trio of boys became startled as just beside them, Kamoshida shook the locked cell door.
"You bastards!" he glared at them.
"God, this is effin' nuts!" Ryuji said.
"Then let's quit standing around and get out of here!" Hiro suggested as he looked at Ren. "Oh, I got these for you, Amamiya." he handed him the glasses as Ren took them.
"Thanks," Ren took them and placed them over his eyes, giving them a push into a place.
"Anyway, let's scram!" Ryuji agreed. "You lead the way!" he told Ren who ran ahead followed by Hiro. Ryuji went after once he chucked the cell keys.
"Goddamn thieves..." Kamoshida uttered angrily. "After them! Don't let them escape! You bastards think you can get away with doing this to me!?"
"I don't give a shit!" Ryuji expressed. "I ain't down for any of this! C'mon, you guys! Let's get outta here!"
"I think we've had enough excitement for one day!" Hiro added. They ran and leaped off a ledge to get to the other side with water running in-between.
The three rushed through the dungeon-like area and stopped as they came across three cages in the water. Two were facing up-right in the water while the third was crooked while leaning against the cage beside the opposite ledge.
"Hmm?" Ryuji wondered. "Wassup?" he stepped up beside Ren to get a look at what they were dealing with. "Yeesh... can we really get across this?"
"It doesn't look we have any other option..." Hiro stated.
"Suppose you're right," Ryuji shrugged. "Alright, let's get to hoppin'." They leaped off the two cages that were surprisingly stable in the water, allowing them to somehow safely get across.
"All that execution business..." Ryuji mentioned. "Is he serious?"
"Don't know, don't care," Hiro remarked sounding so done with this dungeon. "I just want to leave whatever the hell this place is."
"Yeah, yeah, right," Ryuji agreed. Ren followed Hiro and Ryuji made it to an open jail cell. There was a hole in the cell that was a tunnel. Ren nodded, pushing glasses back into place.
"Through here," Ren said as he kneeled down and crawled into the hole.
"Okay, right behind you," Hiro said crawling through as well as Ryuji followed into it too.
"Crap!" Ryuji shouted.
"What's the matter with you?!" Hiro wondered.
"My bag's stuck!" Ryuji explained.
"Well, get it unstuck," Hiro insisted irritably.
"I'm tryin'," Ryuji said, as he finally got his bag free. "Okay, looks like we can get outta here." Ren made it out of the tunnel first, then Hiro, and finally Ryuji. They rushed down and made it to an archway.
"Hey, hold up!" Ryuji shouted in a whisper. Ren and Hiro complied and hid with him. There were more guards just down the hall. "Look! There're some guys in armor over there. They'll prolly call for back up if we try and take 'em on. We should go some other way...!" The teen trio ran back the other way and found a drawbridge and rushed across it.
"Hey, we gotta hide!" Ryuji warned. The teens ducked behind some crates and barrels.
"They must be looking for us, huh?" Hiro nodded.
"Obviously," Ren said.
"I ain't playin' along with this anymore!" Ryuji said. "We gotta find a way outta this goddamn place!"
"Over here," Ren said gesturing his hand over to a flight of stairs with Hiro and Ryuji following him.
"If this goes up, you think it heads to the exit?" Ryuji asked.
"There's only one way to find out," Hiro said. Finally making it up to the stairs they made it to a door. Ryuji was a bit out of breath as he fell over with his hands on his knees.
"I-Is this... the exit!?" breathed Ryuji. "Hey, let's get the hell outta this place!" Ren nodded and opened the door followed by the other two. They went through the door and were met with another area in the dungeon. "Dude... you gotta be jokin'... this ain't the exit!? What the hell this place!?"
"Quit moping!" Hiro declared. "Let's just keep looking." The trio started their rush to find a way out of this place. Ryuji turned his head and saw some people in cages hanging over the water.
"H-Hey... Look... Ryuji pointed. "We really did hear people screamin'... So we ain't the only ones who got captured! Is, uh... is he OK...?" The ones in the cages were screaming for help.
"I don't know, Sakamoto?" Hiro said. "But right now we need to get out of here."
"Dude!? How could...!?" Ryuji said in shock.
"Senpai is right, Sakamoto-san," Ren said nodding. "Now, come on."
"Fine..." Ryuji sighed. As Hiro ran he couldn't help but glance at the caged individuals. He noticed the students were wearing Shujin uniforms.
Are they supposed to be students...? Hiro thought. Geez, what's going on? I know for a fact this isn't the school. Oh man, Makoto is more than likely going to give me an earful if we ever get out of here. He, Ren, and Ryuji ran and made it down a dead end.
"Another dead end...?" Ryuji growled. "Dammit! How the hell're we supposed to get outta here!?"
"Hey, you there," A voice called the group. The three searched around in confusion for the source of the voice. "Blondie! Silver Hair! Frizzy Hair! Look over here!" They all turned where they heard the noise and saw a short blue-eyed cat-looking creature just looking up at them.
"What is this thing!?" said a shocked Ryuji.
"It's talking!?" Hiro said with surprise and wonder. It looked like a cat but it stood on two legs, and its head was about as large as a watermelon.
Just when I thought things couldn't get away weirder, Hiro thought.
"You're not soldiers of this castle, right!?" The cat creature asked. "Get me out of here! Look, the key's right there!" He pointed towards the key on the wall.
"We're trying to get the hell outta here...!" Ryuji claimed. "I mean, you obviously look like an enemy too!"
"I'm locked up in here, so how can I be your enemy!?" The cat reasoned. "Help me out!"
"A cat?" Ren said rather calmly. "How can it talk?"
He sounds rather calm for someone seeing something so unusual as this? Hiro thought as he gave Ren a look.
"I am NOT a cat!" the 'cat' stated. "Say that again and I'll make you regret it!" There were footsteps fast approaching which seemed to worry Ryuji.
"They're catchin' up already...!" Ryuji said he then checked his phone. "Shit, there's still no service. Ain't there no way to contact someone outside!?" Ren and Hiro checked their own cellphones as well. "How the hell do we get out...!?"
"Hey, you three!" called the 'cat'. "You want to know where the exit is? Let me out and I'll take you there. You don't want to get caught and executed, right?"
"If what you say is true...?" Ren asked. "You better not be lying."
"I'm not lying!" the 'cat' argued. "It's the truth!"
"This thing sounds like it's all talk..." Ryuji noted folding his arms.
"If you guys think you can get out on your own, then be my guest!" the 'cat' said.
"Whadda we do...?" Ryuji asked. The footsteps only became louder and sounded like they were not too far away.
"Are you seriously messin' with us!?" Ryuji inquired of the 'cat'.
"If you don't hurry, they'll catch you." the 'cat' reasoned.
"Screw it, just let uh...? 'It' out?" Hiro said raising an eyebrow. The 'cat' glared up at him from being called 'It'. "Judging from the situation we're in, I'm willing to take any kind of help."
"Yeah, I agree," Ren nodded. "Sakamoto-san, get the key and let the 'cat' out."
"F-Fine..." Ryuji complied as he grabbed the key off the wall and opened it up. The 'cat' happily skipped out of the cage with a pleased expression.
"Ahhhh... Freedom tastes so great..." the 'cat' said victoriously.
"Now, where's the exit, you monster cat!?" Ryuji asked.
"Don't call me a cat! I am Morgana!"
"Shuddup and hurry it up!" Ryuji said. "You wanna be locked up again!?"
"A-All right, sheesh!" Morgana said. "Follow me, and stay quiet!" Morgana started running as the other three followed suit.
Makoto stepped out of class 3-C and into the hall checking her phone. She had been checking for the past hour or so if Hiro had seen or responded to any of her messages. She even checked during class which was something she doesn't normally do. She even heard that it wasn't just Hiro missing from school but Sakamoto-kun and the transfer student. Makoto found it odd that Hiro would be around people like them and not show up to school on time. Since Hiro still hadn't responded to the sixteenth message she had sent, something must be going on. Makoto sighed as she put her arms around herself.
"Hiro..." she murmured worriedly. "Where are you?"
Morgana joined the three to guide them out of the dungeon. The 'cat' or whatever it claimed to be didn't like to be called such but it was the only thing that was going to help them and that was good enough for Ren.
"Oh well..." Ryuji sighed. "Guess we gotta follow it."
"It isn't like we have much choice," Hiro shrugged as they followed Morgana over to an undrawn bridge.
"What're you doin'?" Ryuji asked Morgana.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Morgana said. "I'm lowering the bridge." He informed standing beside a short, gray Kamoshida statue.
"Lowering the bridge?" Hiro repeated.
Morgana turned to Ren. "You, Frizzy Hair. It seems like you pick up on things faster than Blondie and Silver Hair over here. Try checking around the mouth of this statue, OK?"
"OK, I'll give it a shot," Ren said. He approached the statue and pulled the jaw as its eyes lit up bright yellow and the bridge let down.
"How were we supposed to know to do that!?" Ryuji questioned.
"Hmph, amateur," Morgana huffed. "Come on, let's keep going!" the group dashed across the bridge but at that moment, all of them noticed another guard blocking their way.
"Incoming!" Hiro warned as he quickly stopped in his tracks.
"A-Aah! Shit... Shit, it's them!" Ryuji screamed fearfully. Ren knew there was a fight coming and changed into his new attire from before.
"Tch... You amateur!" Morgana said jumping off Ryuji's shoulder, he gave Hiro and Ryuji a look. "Both of you stay back. Hey, you!" he called up to Ren. "You can fight, right, Frizzy-hair? Let's go!" Morgana did a little spin in the air. "Come, Zorro!"
Morgana struck a pose as he summoned, Zorro. Zorro's appearance was different from Arsene's, Ren noticed. Its body was muscular and wide, it wore all black and a belt with a big Z. The weapon held in its hand was a rapier and did a 'Z' formation in the air with it.
"Y-You got one of those too!?" said Ryuji in shock as the guard began changing shape.
"It's going to attack!" Hiro announced pointing at the shadow. Morgana only folded his arms and confidently smirked.
"Hmph, we will promptly shut them up!" Morgana said. The ones before Ren and Morgana were a demon with purple skin and another pumpkin. "Damn Shadows... they've taken up intercept positions!"
"And that means...?" Ren asked.
"It means they're holding nothing back and are serious to kill us!" Morgana stated. "I'll back you up, so fight like your life depends on it! Let's go!"
"I'll start!" Ren said. "Persona!" he summoned Arsene and unleashed an Eiha on the purple-skinned demon which was not finished off.
"Hmph, I knew you were an amateur," Morgana said.
"Can you do better?" Ren asked cheekily with a grin.
"Watch and learn!" Morgana smiled back. "This is how you fight! Zorro, show your might!" Morgana summoned Zorro and attacked the floating pumpkin. Zorro rotated its rapier in a quick motion and then sent a wind blast straight at the pumpkin as it hunched over in a weakened state. "Strike at an enemy's weakness to knock them down! Use that opening to strike again! That's the most basics of basics! Remember it well!"
"I'll keep it in mind!" Ren nodded.
"C'mon, let's hurry and get through this!" Morgana said. He brought out Zorro again and used his wind attack to end the pumpkin.
"Ravage them!" Ren summoned Arsene and used Eiha on the demon as it dissipated. Morgana stared at Ren with an impressed smile.
"Not bad. Your Persona's pretty powerful." Morgana said to Ren.
"Persona...?" Ryuji said in confusion.
"What's a Persona...?" Hiro wondered. "Is it that thing that comes out of you guys?"
"Yes. You saw how Frizzy Hair here ripped off his mask when he summoned it, right?" Morgana questioned. "Well, everybody where's a mask deep within their heart. By removing that..." As if on cue, Ren's outfit reverted back to his school uniform.
"Huh...?" Ryuji gasped. "He turned back to normal..."
"Um, do you happen to know why I changed back?" Ren asked Morgana.
"Hm, it looks like you don't have full control of your power yet," Morgana said. "The transformation shouldn't normally dissolve like that. After all-"
"That's enough!" Ryuji groaned. "This crap doesn't make any sense!"
"Can't you just sit down and listen for once, Blondie!?" Morgana snapped.
"Don't call me Blondie My name's Ryuji..."
"Sorry to interrupt!" Hiro said. "But shouldn't we start leaving!? Like now!"
"Yeah, Silver Hair is right," Morgana said. "You wanna escape this place in one piece, right? Let's go! Oh, but before that... take these. Use them carefully, OK?" He gave Ren some medicine.
"Thanks," Ren said. "So, where to?"
"It's not much farther to the exit," Morgana mentioned and went off as the three followed him. They made their way to another undrawn bridge until Ryuji stopped as he noticed something near them.
"Hold on a sec!" Ryuji said as everyone stopped to look at him. He walked up to a cage with someone in it wearing a red sports uniform. "I feel like I've seen what this dude's wearin' before..." Ryuji scowled in irritation. "Dammit! I'm too flustered! I can't remember a damn thing!"
"Of course you have seen what this guy is wearing," Hiro said stepping next to Ryuji. "It's Shujin's volleyball uniform."
"Oh yeah!" Ryuji said. "I keep forgettin' you were on the team."
"And I'm trying to forget..." Hiro said with a dark look as Ren eyed Hiro curiously.
What does he mean by 'trying to forget'? Ren thought as he stared at Hiro.
"But why would this guy be in here?" Ryuji wondered.
"Come on, let's go!" Morgana said turning to leave.
"Hold on, dammit!" Ryuji said.
"What is it? We need to go fast!" Morgana argued.
"But...!" Ryuji said.
"Do you really think you have time to worry about other people right now!?" Morgana reasoned. "Besides, they're-"
"There!" called the voice of a guard who approached the group as the bridge lowered.
"You should've just listened to me...!" Morgana expressed.
As the guard stopped before them, Ren's outfit changed into the black trench coat, and knew they were going to have to fight one way or another once the shadow saw them.
"Let's fight," Ren said to Morgana. "It isn't going to let us leave without one."
"I'm glad you stick to your guns," Morgana said. The guard turned into a fairy creature as its wings flapped behind it while it flew before the two.
"Looks like it's rarin' to go too!" Morgana noticed. The fairy separated into two which now left a similar fairy beside the original.
"Persona!" Ren ripped off his mask and attacked one of the fairies with Eiha. He weakened it and followed with a 'Cleave' attack. Arsene brought his bladed foot down on the fairy.
Morgana went next to blast a Garu on the remaining Fairy which only hurt it. The Fairy went to physically attack Morgana who evaded the attack. Joker to sliced down the shadow with his knife ending the battle and his outfit changing back to his school uniform.
"All right!" Morgana said. "Let's get away before more show up!"
"Hold on, we can't just leave these guys here...!" Ryuji said pointing at the volleyball player.
"You really don't get it, do you?" Morgana groaned. "There's no time to explain. Look I'm going. If you don't want to follow, be my guest." With that, Morgana ran across the bridge.
"We should do as he says," Ren said to Ryuji and Hiro. "Come on, you guys."
"We gotta leave, Sakamoto," Hiro said.
"Dammit," cursed Ryuji. "Fine, I'm coming!" They made it across the bridge and followed Morgana into a dark hallway.
"The entrance hall is right above here!" Morgana informed. "The exit's close... Keep it up!" They went through the main hall and found a pair of doors. "We're here!"
"Finally!" said Ryuji in relief. "We're saved...!" He ran to a door and tried to force it open. "It's not openin'!" He turned to Morgana with a glare. "D'you trick us, you jerk!"
"Don't jump to conclusions!" said Morgana. "Over here!" He quickly pushed open the door behind him.
"H-Hey, wait up!" Ryuji said as he and the other two followed. They ran into a dimly lit room with bookshelves. Once inside, Ren made out the ventilation shaft just above the bookshelves and figured they were going to use that to get out.
"Are you sure this is the way out?" Hiro asked. "This looks like a dead-end?"
"Yeah, and where are we supposed to get from here!?" Ryuji chimed in. "There aren't even any windows!"
"Ugh, amateurs..." Morgana groaned. "This is the basics of basics."
"A ventilation shaft," Ren voiced.
"That's right!" Morgana said happily jumping in the air. "As I thought, you're a natural at this. It leads all the way outside."
"I see..." Ryuji said. "Then we just gotta get that metallic mesh off!" He clambered up the bookcases. "And a one, and a-"
"Hey, make sure to be..." Hiro said before...
"Whoa...!" Ryuji screamed in surprise.
"Quiet," Hiro finished as Ryuji fell with the ventilation grate.
"Oww... Crap!" Ryuji said with wide eyes. "The enemy didn't hear us, did they?"
"I hope not," Hiro said folding his arms. "Not like it matters because now we can make our escape."
"Seriously, we're finally gettin' outta here...!" Ryuji commented.
"You should wait on celebrating until you actually get out," Morgana suggested. "Now, get going."
"But... what about you?" Ryuji asked him.
"There's something that I still have to do," Morgana declared. "We're going our separate ways."
"Well, we appreciate the help, Morgana," Ren said with a smile.
"Yeah, we wouldn't have made it out without you," Hiro agreed. Ryuji climbed the vent first, then Hiro went right after him.
"Bye," Ren waved. "Oh, and don't get caught again." Ren smiled at Morgana.
"You better be careful too," Morgana said with a grin. "See ya." he and Ren shared nods until Ren followed his schoolmates. Morgana watched as Ren disappeared into the shaft. "Those three seem useful..." he thought aloud. "Especially the frizzy-haired one, if my judgment's right..."
The three were out of the castle and found themselves on Central street. Hiro was trying to get a hold of his breathing and felt like he had run a marathon and looking at Ren and Ryuji, he could see that they felt the same way.
"Did we make it...?" Ryuji asked as his hands were clasped on his knees. Ren pulled out his smartphone and stared at it as a female voice played through it.
"You have returned to the real world," it said. "Welcome back."
"Huh? Returned?" Ryuji wondered. "Does that mean we got away?"
"Probably," Ren said casually.
"We must've gotten away..." Hiro figured. "We are back in Shibuya. Well, what do you guys think?"
"I dunno what to think anymore..." Ryuji ranted. "What was all that anyway...? That castle, and Kamoshida, and that weird cat! The hell's goin' on!?"
Ryuji's voice rose as he yelled about everything they had just witnessed. Hiro understood his frustration but couldn't help to feel irritated by Ryuji's rambling. Hiro figured if he kept going off like that, someone was bound to approach them about why three students are not in school right now.
"Sakamoto...!" Hiro said through teeth gritted. "Quiet down before-"
"What's with the yelling?" said an officer who strolled up with another officer on a bike. "Are you students of Shujin?"
"Too late..." Hiro muttered.
"Cutting classes, are we?" the officer commented.
"Huh? No!" Ryuji proclaimed. "We were tryin' to get to school, and we ended up at this weird castle!" It was at this time Hiro hung his head and face-palmed.
Why the hell would he even tell that to them...!? Hiro thought.
"Hand over your bag," The officer insisted. "You better not be doing any drugs."
"Why would you think that!?" Ryuji yelled.
"Are you his friends?" asked the officer on the bike to Hiro and Ren.
"Something like that," Ren shrugged.
"Then you should go to school," said the officer. "Take him with you."
"Yes, Officer," Hiro said with a nod. Hiro knew how to respond to a police officer as his Dad is a Detective.
"Like I'm tryin' to say...!" Ryuji growled. "I don't know what's going on either!"
Now you're only making everything worse! Hiro angrily thought.
"We passed by Shujin on the way here." The officer said. "There's nothing out of the ordinary about it. If you spout any more nonsense, I'll contact your school. Is that what you want?"
"No," Hiro shook his head. "We'll head straight to school right away."
"C'mon, say somethin'!" Ryuji said to Ren.
"Let's get going to school," Ren said casually.
"Uh, that's not what I meant..." Ryuji said but Ren never answered and started walking to Shujin.
"W-Wait a sec!" Ryuji stuttered as he watched Ren leave. "Is that guy for real...?" Ryuji said to Hiro who only rolled his eyes and turned to leave.
"Hurry up," Hiro told the faux-blonde. "Let's go," he said as he walked away.
"Fine, I'm goin'!" Ryuji said stomping after them.
The three this time made to the school with no unwanted detour's this time and found themselves in front of Shujin Academy with the building no longer resembling a castle.
"Check it out," Hiro nodded his head toward the school. "It's Shujin but it's back to normal."
"Hmm," Ren nodded. "Nothing seems out of the ordinary."
"It's this for real..." Ryuji stated in disbelief. "I'm sure we came the same way... What's goin' on here...?"
"That's exactly what I wanted to ask you," came the voice of Shujin's school counselor. "We received a call from the police."
"That damn cop snitched on us after all!" Ryuji growled irritably.
It's no surprise, Hiro figured. Of course, they would report us being this late to school. he sighed as he soon realized something else. Great... not only Mako might be upset with me but Dad, too. Man am I gonna get it."
"Hmm?" The counselor hummed. "It's rare not to see you alone. Where were you roaming around until at this time?" he asked this question to Ryuji.
"Uhh... a ca- a castle?" Ryuji fumbled his words. Once again, Hiro face-palmed himself again.
Again, why would he think people will believe him!? Hiro thought with a shake of his head.
"So, you have no intention of giving an honest answer?" The counselor said.
"What's this about a 'castle'?" asked a familiar voice and who asked was none other than Suguru Kamoshida himself.
"Kamoshida!?" said a startled Ryuji.
"Kamoshida..." Hiro repeated staring up at his former coach. Not that fake that was going on about executing them earlier but the actual one. He stood there in a white t-shirt fitted around his ripped physique, a pair of black track pants, and athletic shoes. He stared at Ren, Ryuji, and finally Hiro as he put a hand on a hip.
"Isamashi, I could've sworn I saw you heading down to Shujin this morning," Kamoshida stated. "It's quite a surprise to see you with someone like Sakamoto."
"It wasn't by choice, sir," Hiro said trying to act respectfully. "I just ended up with him this morning by chance."
"Is that right?" Kamoshida turned to Ryuji. "And you seem so carefree, Sakamoto. Quite a difference from when you did morning practice for the track team."
"Shuddup!" Ryuji yelled. "It's your fault that-"
"How dare you speak that way to Mr. Kamoshida!" shouted the counselor. "There's not much leeway left for you, you know?"
"He's the one that provoked me!" Ryuji argued.
"Do you really want to be expelled?" The counselor countered. "In any case, you'll have to explain yourself! Follow me!"
"What!?" Ryuji growled. "This is bullshit!"
Hiro understood the rage from Ryuji. He wasn't present when the supposed 'scuffle' between Ryuji and Kamoshdia occurred but he had heard plenty of gossip from other students. Hiro knew just what it felt like to have been the topic of gossip, especially when he quit the volleyball team.
"Come now," Kamoshida smiled at the counselor. "I should have been more considerate, too. Let's just say that we were both to blame."
"Well, if you say so..." said the school counselor. "Still, you're coming with me. It's undeniable that you're extremely late."
"Fine..." Ryuji groaned.
"Okay," Hiro nodded.
"Isamashi, before you head to class, I'd like to speak with you." Kamoshida said. "Mind if I borrow you for a moment?"
"Not at all," Hiro shook his head as Kamoshida's eyes shifted toward Ren.
"By the way... you're that new transfer student, correct? Ren Amamiya..." Kamoshida asked. Ryuji started following the counselor into the school but not before giving Kamoshida a scowl and continue into the building.
Kamoshida looked back toward Ren. Ren saw that the man was the splitting image of the one from the castle but that wasn't the first time they've seen each other. It was eariler this morning when he offered that girl.
"Have we met somewhere?" Kamoshida asked Ren.
"You offered a girl a ride this morning," Ren reminded.
"That's right..." Kamoshida said whilst scratching his head. "I remember now. Well, I'll overlook this just for today." Kamoshida narrowed his eyes at Ren. "I'm sure you've heard from the principal, but cause any trouble and you'll be expelled, understand?"
"Can you overlook more?" Ren questioned with an adjustment of his glasses. His response caused Hiro to snicker a little which made him cover his mouth with his fist when Kamoshida moved his glare toward him and turned his attention back to Ren.
"Is that supposed to be a joke?" Kamoshida questioned. "At any rate, hurry up and go to the faculty office. I'm sure Ms. Kawakami's tired of waiting." He turned to leave but looked back at Ren. "Good luck trying to enjoy your new school life. Isamashi, follow me."
"I'm coming," Hiro said. "See you around, Amamiya."
"Yeah, see ya" Ren nodded as Hiro followed Kamoshida inside Shujin Academy.
Date: Unknown
Day: Unkown
Time of day: Unknown
Weather: Unknown
Location: Interrogation room
Ren had no idea what time it was when in the interrogation room. He was beaten down harshly by detectives who had no problem beating a minor like him. The interrogators had to leave the room as someone else will be handling the interrogation. A familiar woman he had come across a few times over the course of his year in Tokyo, Sae Niijima. She wanted to know everything and was confused at what he had mentioned just now.
"The school turned into an old castle?" Sae questioned. "A talking cat? Are you hallucinating from an overdose? I won't put up with you if you're simply joking around."
"I'm not at all surprised you wouldn't believe me," Ren remarked as Sae only checked her watch for how much time she had.
"I'm going to have you continue the story," Sae stated. "The one who received a "calling card" from the Phantom Thieves was an Olympic medalist..." Sae moved the two calling cards on the table to reveal a picture of a familiar man which caused Ren to scowl. "An alumnus from Shujin Academy... the PE teacher Suguru Kamoshida."
"Disgusting bastard," Ren muttered.
"The crimes he committed were unforgivable," Sae agreed. "It all came out in his confession. He was guilty of everything-the abuse, the violations... But there should've been no connection between the two of you since you had just transferred. Why did you target him?"
Okay, and that's another one down. Like my second take of this story, Hiro joined Ren and Ryuji in the castle. It similar to the original chapter but I made minor changes to it. Not big changes granted, mind you.
Reviews...
Clarent excalibur: I agree with you on that, it is pretty stupid that people are complaining that Kasumi is showing off her thighs and are missing the point that her outfit resembles a gymnastics leotard. People get upset over the smallest things.
Revanchist: Haha. I could those ideas. Especially that one where Makoto is following Hiro and he decides to see a scary ghost movie just to stop her from stalking him. Pairing Ren and Hifumi? I mean, I do have someone in mind for Ren, depending on what I decided on for Hiro's pairing.
I do like the idea of him being the driver in Mementos. Maybe he switches Ren and Makoto on deciding on who's driving.
SkiesEagle: I will not be adding Kasumi. I mean, we don't really know much about her character besides what little we know. That's what I hear people were hoping, that we were getting a female protagonist but Atlus totally debunked that.
PRemington900: It honestly does feel good to be back writing Persona. Funny thing, I got that 'beauties like this at Shujin too' line from the manga. Oh, and thanks for the welcome back. XD
Walter Hitchcock: I forgot that still of that boy. Apparently, that's a human Morgana. You know because of the black hair, blue eyes, the yellow necklace instead of the scarf/collar. If you translate the Japanese text, I believe it reads: 'Now Lady Ann and I can, Mweheehee!'
Am I gonna have to fight Morgana for Ann's love? I'm not losing to no cat/human man or whatever he is.
ReallyLazyReader: Hiro and Haru will have a small interaction soon, it won't be much though. Oh, that's right, that counselor they showed off in the trailer is the new confidant called 'the consultant'. That's interesting to me because that's a new one we've never heard of. But I'm curious the consultant confidant is all about.
ShadowUzumaki55: You better believe that Makoto will have some questions for him. Yeah, those special scenario chapters with Hiro paired with another girl will obviously be separate from the main story. I might do them somewhere near the stories end or when it ends.
Naruto RWBY: I planned for Hiro to awaken his Persona after Ryuji. But they'll awaken them at different times though, you'll see how I do that. You'll have to read and see what happens when his father and sister find out he's a Phantom Thief. His sister, later on, finds out first though.
Guest: Ann x Hiro, huh? If it came down to that, I wouldn't mind pairing them together since Ann is best girl, to me at least. Even though all girls are best girl in their own way. And they do have a bit in common due to Kamoshida. Though, it all depends on how things go for this story. Anything can happen.
Grimraven.V: I'm not doing a vote. Because if I do that, then I'll just feel conflicted about the decision I made. I know it's probably a step down from the last story since in the second draft I pretty much established a pairing between Hiro/Haru. I was surprised most people had hopes of them being together. Maybe it was the fact that they were friends in school, or that Haru deserves a better romance than being with her jackass fiance. I don't know what it was why people wanted Hiro and Haru together so much? It boggles my mind a little.
Update:
I will be adding Ren's interrogation room scenes. Mostly because I like that they set up and tell us who's the next palace ruler. I'll also be doing the same when Ren obtains a confident.
I'll see you guys next time.
Later!
