Chapter 9: No God, No Master, Part I

(Notes: See Below! Canon divergence coming!)

(Also, CW Warning: Implied Rape)

4/16

Akira's eyes opened heavily. He was woken gently with a sliver of sunlight patting him on his face. He then snorted, taking in the fumes from his experiments the night before. Rotten eggs; sulfurous fumes…they take me back. He smiled. He then stood, taking his head away from his work table only to have the worst pain in his back. This is what I get for falling asleep in a chair, he moaned to himself.

He then realized it was a school morning and scrambled to check the time on his phone. 6:30AM…He sighed in relief. Sojiro's not here yet. He then noticed he missed some new messages sent half an hour ago. From some snoop he didn't recognize.

(MYSTERY SNOOP): Hey.

(MYSTERY SNOOP): This is Makoto Nijima.

(MYSTERY SNOOP): I'm sorry; I forgot to send you what I had the other day. I

(MYSTERY SNOOP): Got

(MYSTERY SNOOP): Distracted.

He rubbed his forehead. Yeah…that's what happens when I lay it too thick. Sentimental jackass.

He then switched to chuckling. But man…the look on Prez's face though.

He continued reading, rubbing his swollen, baggy eyelids.

(MYSTERY SNOOP): I think I was too tired to remember things.

(MYSTERY SNOOP): And…seeing how urgent things are right now, I'm letting you down.

(MYSTERY SNOOP): Please look at what I have.

(MYSTERY SNOOP): For now….like I said, be careful.

He noticed she waited four minutes before sending the next message.

(MYSTERY SNOOP): They will try to find anything to use against you until then.

(MYSTERY SNOOP): Don't draw attention to yourself.

(MYSTERY SNOOP): Knowing you so far, this might be hard. So please be extra vigilant.

He squinted his eyes. Thanks for rubbing it in.

(MYSTERY SNOOP): Well…see you later!

He then scrolled to Ryuji's thread, his pointing finger stiff. "Time to get ready. As best as I can…man, today is going to suck."

AKIRA: Ryuji, make sure to bring the gear today.

AKIRA: We're going back.

RYUJI: Got it.

A few seconds later:

RYUJI: Hey….

RYUJI: You doing ok?

RYUJI: You still didn't tell me how you got that gash on your head.

RYUJI: I was trying to hear what happened from the nurse when I saw you

RYUJI: Something about almost falling and hitting your head and shit

RYUJI: Seemed weird.

RYUJI: You also didn't message me back the other day.

RYUJI: You ok?

Akira blew a jet of air through the side of the mouth.

AKIRA: Sorry, I was busy planning and zoning out.

AKIRA: I get like that.

AKIRA: Before with that whole mess, it was Shiho.

AKIRA: I tried to reach out to her when she was falling.

AKIRA: I couldn't get to her in time, and I was about to join her.

AKIRA: Luckily, somebody was up there to keep me from falling.

AKIRA: A girl, no less.

RYUJI: Dude…

A good minute passed.

RYUJI: This is so effed up!

RYUJI: Goddamnit, I'm going to be in such a shitty mood today!

RYUJI: But seriously, she would have to be some buff ass chick to be grabbing you on short notice.

Akira smiled sadly.

AKIRA: Not someone you'd want to be on first name basis that's for sure.

AKIRA: Just watch yourself until after school. Don't go picking fights until then.

RYUJI: ….I'll try.

AKIRA: Cool. See you in the alleyway after school.

He turned around, noticing Morgana sleeping still on his bed. He walked over and snapped his fingers into its furry ears.

"Time to wake up, furball. You'll have more space today. Just don't jostle around too much."

He then turned back to the workbench, moving the scattered beakers and hot plates he gathered from yesterday to reach a container filled with a mix of red and white powder. Some potassium chlorate and red phosphorus….the "dazzling powder" recipe from 6 years ago should work fine here, if last night's…'demos' in the street were reliable enough. Though…. "Morgana?"

Morgana yawned. "What?"

"I suppose you should remind me." Akira then gave a bear yawn. "When it comes to this type of stuff, the actual explosive yield matters less compared to the 'boom factor', no?"

"That seems correct. You just have to remember that these Shadows are…impressionable creatures. The more loud, bombastic, or pyrotechnical these concoctions of yours are, the more they'll believe in their power."

Akira smiled. "If only I could talk to them in believing in nonexistent bombs."

Morgana shrugged. "I dunno. In theory, anything's possible if you're convincing enough in that World." He then squinted his eyes. "Which is even more of a reason why we aren't just handling this business exclusively there, rather than having to deal with your sentimentality."

Akira darted his eyes under the bed. He reached under it to find a small box of cylindrical tin containers labeled "SMOKE" and sealed with wax, each with a fuse embedded in a metal funnel. "Sorry, my sentimentality was in the subtext of our little 'contract.'" He then pulled out one container to look at it closer. "Think on the bright side: would you prefer Prez to look into my life further by being an evasive jerk all the time? Better to use her if she's willing to help."

Morgana's ears drooped. "I suppose, when you put it that way…we COULD exploit her for all she has, and leave it at that."

Akira's spirits dimmed slightly. "Well…I mean…I didn't mean it like that….but whatever. I'll chide you later." Akira continued. "And as for Kamoshida…I just have to hope busting him will keep some heat off me." He then turned directly to Morgana. "Whether I'm expelled or not, either one will not change our arrangement. I promise you."

"Hmm….I'm impressed. You know, you seem like a reliable guy. It's nice knowing you're not going to run with your tail between your legs because of some silly expulsion." Morgana replied.

Akira darted his eyes away. "I've just…take obligations seriously I guess." He sighed off in the distance. "To confide in someone….my life has told me it does me better than any stupid law or societal expectation." He cleared his throat. "Sorry, I'm starting to ramble. Back to topic. I'm curious to see if your paraffin wax method here will work like you say. Normally, I'd just strike a match on top and let the sugar burn in it."

Morgana grinned. "Trust me; they're more reliable than your old design."

Akira grimaced. "…It worked well enough though…."

30 minutes of prepping for school later, Sojiro hobbled in, ready for business. "Oi! I'm here! Hope you didn't do anything too funny after I left."

Akira walked down the attic, already in uniform, ready to head out.

"You're up early," Sojiro commented while smiling. "I'll assume things went well last night."

Akira shrugged. "I got her number."

"Well, you AREN'T hopeless," Sojiro said while smiling. "I'll make some curry. Hey…did you hear something loud go off in the street last night? Woke me up something fierce."

Akira's mouth shriveled. Well, at least these dazzling bombs are…"bomb enough" if he can hear it from where he lives. "Nope. ". He then smiled awkwardly. "In fact….I didn't even hear it. I was just really tired after such a long day."

Sojiro smirked. "Long, eh?"

Akira rubbed his forehead. "Get your mind out of the gutter."

"Sure, but first." Sojiro then laid out a plate of curry. "Eat up. Oh, and also…you can keep that key."

Akira tilted his head. "Seriously? You were threatening to kick me out several days ago."

Sojiro shrugged as he filtered some coffee into a cup-and-saucer placed to the right of Akira's plate. "I WILL if you lose that key. Now, eat and shut up. Time's a wastin'."

Akira stretched out his arms. "I suppose I could use some coffee." It might help me survive at least a quarter of the school day.

It was now the middle of the day, and Akira, sitting at his desk, guessed right: the coffee helped him survive only a quarter of the day.

"At this rate, I should just put you on a sleep schedule," Morgana commented, stuffing himself in the cubby right under Akira's desk.

"Shut up; I just need more coffee and I'll be good." He then opened a Thermos full of Sojiro's coffee and took a big gulp. "Give me like…ten…twenty minutes? I'll be good for another three hours." He then laid his head and stared at an angle into his notebook.

"Students, in light of the sudden theft of chemicals and lab equipment yesterday, we will not be doing the lab today," explained Mr. Kazuma, Akira's chemistry teacher and a nasal-sounding figure that was approaching the wrong side of forty.

The class responded with hushed sighs of relief. Akira, his head feeling as if it were filled with lead, kept his eyes on the scrabbles in his notebook:

"Enough turns on this transformer?!"

"NEED MORE FUCKING CATALYST! Yesterday took too long; no wonder I fell asleep on the desk! Flash reaction too slow? Iron perhaps? Ironsand might work. Extract iron and other things. More discreet. Maybe."

Akira banged the side of his head into the notebook and groaned. He then realized the seat in front of him was empty. Ann…she's still that worried, isn't she? I….perhaps Ryuji and I should see what's up with her. And Shiho…of course we'll see her."

"In the meantime, I will have you go over the lab notes until we order more materials." He then opened his copy of the school chemistry textbook, the furling of the pages eliciting groans under people's breaths. His eyes drifted over to Akira's constant banging. "Now, now Kurusu-kun, I can assure you that banging your head into the pages is not a substitute for studying the lab beforehand."

The classroom erupted into a chuckle. Everyone except Mishima, who was called to the office, a moment ago.

"Now, Kurusu, might you tell me what the lab is today, based on the prelab questions?" He pressed his bottlecap glasses up his nose, presenting a smug half-smile. "That is, if you've read it."

Akira raised his head, boring his naked, bloodshot eyes straight through the staring crowd and to his smarmy teacher. "It's an oxidation-reduction reaction. You're mixing potassium chlorate with red phosphorous. Highly explosive, especially when the red phosphorus becomes white phosphorus. Same idea behind fireworks."

The teacher's mouth, like the other students', was half-open.

Akira continued with a wicked smile on his face. "Shall I continue? I can even write the reaction on the board. If you don't mind, that is. Or maybe…you can let me read, in peace."

"I…suppose so," Mr. Kazuma replied, the color retreating from his face.

Akira heard the following whispers:

"Is he serious about school?"

"He seems to know a lot about this…isn't a smart criminal dangerous?"

Mishima returned, his wounds from yesterday sealed and more purplish. "Kurusu-san…Kobayakawa would like to see you."

Akira sighed. "Alright then. Better than imagining doing an experiment." He then stared at Mishima, who slinked into his seat. I'm surprised. Your wounds closed up so quickly.

I'm still not done with you though…

Walking into the hallway, he pulled out his phone.

AKIRA: Well, wish me luck.

AKIRA: I think the Principal's going to call me in.

RYUJI: Dude, what for?!

I have a good guess.

AKIRA: No clue.

RYUJI: What bullshit!

AKIRA: I don't think though it'll be that serious.

AKIRA: The plan's still a go.

AKIRA: We might have to go there multiple times, if need be.

RYUJI: If you say so, but from personal experience…

RYUJI: Don't be surprised though if they try to throw you out just because they feel like it.

Akira pursed his lips. The irony is not lost on me.

Taking himself away from his screen, he was now at the door of the Principal's Office. He then gave it a light tap.

"Come in," an oily voice said.

Akira then sat down, his shoulders still heavy from early morning. "What is it?"

Kobayakawa laid his meaty hands, which were in front of his face, down on his large, imposing table. "I'll get straight to the point. This…Shiho business. That stunt you pulled the other day that gave you that bandage on your head. This is worthy of discipline and-"

"-And you're subject to expulsion, come pending the faculty meeting," Akira replied. God, now I have a headache. Akira pressed a finger into his temple. I really need to build back my sleep resistance…

The blood vessels on Kobayakawa's head popped up. "That is correct."

"Excellent, then. See you…" Akira dawned a jester's grin as he stood. "When was the disciplinary meeting again?

"The Tuesday after." He then skinned his teeth. "The 26th."

"Wonderful. I'll get back to class then."

Kobayakawa skinned his teeth. "You do your family a great service."

Akira stopped in between the desk and door. He lingered for a bit, only to lean to the side with his smile gone. "You have a nice day." I hope you get red eye next time you sniff Kamoshida's ass flower, you flappy-chinned fuck. As much as he wanted to do otherwise, he gently closed the principal's door behind him.

Walking back, Akira tooted the fury building in through his nose. "I'm going to feel so much better tipping the scales against him, no matter how heavy his side is." He paused by the stairs. "I should lay down a bit. Resting a bit is what my body could use right now." He sat his beleaguered body on the wooden steps, his shoulders against the wall and himself trying his best not to doze off on the spot.

Akira yawned, his mouth stretching as far as it could and his puffy eyes tearing up slightly. "I suppose I should scan Makoto's 'files.'" A few minutes of scrolling passed. It's like what she said: medical records upon medical records: birthdates, addresses…and the name "Kobayakawa" on there. So far, so good. Next…any links amongst the images. His were drawn to the words "Suppressing; Kobayakawa's orders." I guess that's where Prez is getting her conclusions from. What else is there, though? He continued further, going through each box carefully. There has to be some correlation here…Immunizations? A few seconds. Nope…I'm getting desperate; I only have so much time left until my teacher sends someone to come get me. Emergency contacts? Maybe they're willing to keep these guys close in some way? I dunno. A quick scan. Nope. God, this shit is giving me a worse headache, goddamnit! Over the counter prescriptions? I mean, I've the scraped the bottom of the barrel at this rate if….wait a second.

In the box for "Over the Counter Prescriptions," all had "Other" checked. And under them for additional information was "TMC." TMC, he pondered. What the hell does that mean? I haven't heard of an over the counter drug called TMC…

He gritted his teeth. Goddamnit, if my mind wasn't so hazy. He looked at his phone another time. Shit! I need to go back. Walking back in, he was given a hushed, delinquent's welcome:

"I bet Kobayakawa told him he's getting me expelled."

"Good riddance."

"Hush now," Mr. Kazuma said. "Back to the lab at hand."

Akira laid his face on his notebook once more. I'll just…close my eyes for a bit.

He shut his eyes.

He then found himself surrounded in darkness. A voice cried to him.

"My son, you're behaving badly again."

Fear struck his heart.

"Mother's Day is coming on the 19th. Such a shame, that you'll never enjoy it." Her mom then appeared from behind, creeping into his ear. "You know why; you don't deserve that privilege, and you know why." She then teleported in front of him, wearing a mischievous grin. "Now run along: it's unbecoming to sleep in class."

He then snapped his eyes open. The sunlight had a warmer hue. "Chemistry" passed over him, but he didn't care; he only wanted a little bit of sleep before more important matters came up.

4/18, Afternoon

Back in the Castle, a trio of Shadow Knights clamored into a side room as part of a patrol. The side room was a library on the top floor of the castle, with shelves the height of five grown men, brimming with books.

Their clangs echoed off the checkered marble and domed roof. "I….feel impending doom," one cried out as it stood next to a perpetually rotating globe, whose continents were labeled "Kamoshida's domain."

"What do you mean, doom?" the one closest to the door asked.

"I…fear that His Holiness's domain shall be lost to the Darkness forever."

"NONSENSE!" the third one cried. "HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST SUCH THINGS!"

The shaken Shadow Knight slacked his shoulders and leaned forwards. "I'm sorry….I'm so ashamed."

"Come now," the third Knight cried. "Kamoshida will bring us salvation, even if it falls from the sky! There is no way the Vermin that come from the Darkness-"

A rustle came from the chandelier above. The Shadow Knight could hear faint whispers:

"-drop down and take them while they're confused from my little gift."

The Knight felt like butting in. "Who's there?"

A white packet fell from the chandelier, hitting the ground in front of the Third and exploding into a spiky-looking cloud of piercing hot embers. The embers melted through the Shadow's armor, turning the Shadow into a walking, ashy bonfire that waddled on the ground and whose grunts quickly became distorted screams.

The other two fared no better. The packet produced a crackling pop that disoriented them, making them stumble in place with cinders stuck in their breastplates. That, however, didn't deter them from melting into red spirals and turning into their true Shadow forms, a Pixie and Jack o'Lantern.

The trio of heroes then made their appearance from up top.

"…I think you overdid it on the amount of powder," Morgana commented.

"I guess so, Mona," Akira replied. "Though, we've been here three times already this week. I wanted to try these babies out instead of sneaking all the time."

Ryuji smelled the air and stared at the ashy pile that once was the lit Shadow Knight. "Burning Shadows have a bacon smell. Who would have guessed?"

Morgana cringed. "…Dude, what's wrong with you?"

"But man, that was such a cool explosion. I would have never guessed you had that up your sleeve, Aki-"

"Hold up! No real names!" Morgana cried. "Sorry, but I should have mentioned this earlier, you shouldn't be saying your real names in this world. There's no telling what will happen if you reveal them when we're inside people's cognitions!"

"Why would names even matter?" Ryuji said,

Akira gave Morgana a stink eye. "Are you just making this stuff up as you go? It almost sounds like this "stealing heart's business' is something you haven't tried yourself."

"Why would he? He's probably broken into Palaces and stolen some Treasures quite a bit," Ryuji replied.

Morgana crossed its arms and turned his head. "Why would I say that?"

The two were dumbfounded.

"WHAT?!" Ryuji yelled.

Akira facepalmed. "Are you fucking kidding me? Then how are you even guiding us now?!"

Morgana shrugged. "I just..AM. I just know from the back of my head this stuff." A smile then popped up on his face. "You're going to fill in the gaps."

"Wonderful," Akira replied dryly. "I'll pick the code names, then, Useless."

"I would personally smack you myself, but first,"-Morgana then turned to the two dazed and confused Shadows across the room-"we'll shake these guys down, since we have them on the ropes and they don't like to die. Just follow my lead."

Morgana pulled out his slingshot and stretched a ball back into its strap. "Tell me how useful you guys are, and you might live." He whispered from the side of his mouth. "Get out your guns, you idiots."

The boys then pulled out their guns and aimed it towards the two Shadows.

The Jack o'Lantern answered first. "H-h-h-hee h-h-h-oo..." I…just…" Suddenly, a loud boom came from behind Morgana, and the Pumpkin's head exploded in a spray of black chunks.

"Are you retarded?!" Morgana yelled as he jumped in place. "That's not how you interrogate!"

Akira turned to his right and saw Ryuji's smoking barrel. "…Sorry, my trigger slipped," he replied.

He scrunched his eyes in disapproval and then focused back on the remaining Shadow. "Look, let me try." He walked over to the Pixie. "Hi. My name is…." He put a finger to his chin for a moment. "…Joker. My apologies for my friend Skull over there and his lack of trigger discipline."

"…Skull?" Ryuji whispered under his breath. "….Ehh, works with me."

"At least someone on your team has manners," Pixie replied. "…You think you can…let me go, handsome?"

…Is this Shadow trying to flirt? This is weird….Umm…I'll roll with it. "Hmm….you can, BUT you have to level with me," Akira said in return. He looked up at the roof. "You know, this place seems pretty big. Maybe you can tell me where to go." He leaned in closer. "C'mon, give me something useful. You can't tell me you like this asshole Kamoshida THAT much."

Pixie's wings fluttered. "Oh my….you're right. I don't think I like him AT ALL." It began to hover, starry-eyed. "I remember now….I am an existence that drifts in the sea of human souls…"

"What the…" Akira uttered out.

"You may call me Pixie. I'll do you a service. Time to set up shop!" In a flash, she devolved into a blue light that shot into Akira's mash like an arrow, making Akira step back.

Morgana and Ryuji sprinted towards him. "Dude, are you alright?!" Ryuji said. "That thing got sucked into your mask! What's that about, Mona?!"

"I-I-I don't know! I wasn't expecting that when we held her up! I thought she was going to…tell us where to go, I dunno!"

Akira patted around his face. "I feel….fine? We should probably keep moving." Taking a step towards the door, however, a voice in his mind called out to him.

Your Heart is quite comfy, a female voice cried.

Wait….Pixie? Akira wondered. Is that what you mean by 'setting up shop?'

Pixie laughed. Perhaps you should say my name and see what that means.

Akira shrugged.

"PIXIE!" he cried out loud.

From the mask came Pixie, who enveloped him in an invigorating, blue light. She then returned to his mask.

You know, my friend told me about how you stabbed her. Naughty boy, not knowing we can heal anyone we want, including ourselves.

"Wait a second…did you just summon ANOTHER Persona? The one you just absorbed?" Morgana cried, holding his head.

Akira smiled. "Sounds about right." I guess that was what the Nose was talking about after all.

The Pixie wasn't done talking. Don't go yet. This room is a library in the middle of a castle. You should expect something hidden here.

"Hmm…this is a library, after all," Akira said out loud. He looked closely at the books, which were in alphabetical order. Just like Pixie said, the library offered something interesting. All the books were labeled with names. Some of them looked familiar. "…I wonder…"

He scanned for the books starting with "R." "Just as I thought; 'Ryuji, the Vulgar Ape."

"What the hell, dude?!" Ryuji said, fuming.

"No, wait, come here. All of these books…they look like student's names. I bet this is his opinion of everyone here."

Morgana took a closer look. "That's probably the case. Curious about yours, Joker? I can jump up there."

"By all means."

Morgana jumped to the top row of the bookshelf. "There we go. 'Akira Kurusu: Destroyer of Dreams, Ravager of The Holy Harem, and Silver-Tongued Snake."

"Three titles? I'm impressed," Akira noted. "Though…'Ravager of the Holy Harem?'"

Ryuji walked over to the bookcase opposite the boys'. "Seriously, the girls are here, too!" Ryuji reached here and picked a few books off the shelf. "'Ann Takamaki, the King's future Queen and future Recipient of Love.' Bastard!" He slammed that book onto the ground and looked at the other one. "'Shiho Suzui….Personal Release.' What the hell does that mean!?"

Akira rushed over to see for himself. "Skull….just hold on a minute." An uncomfortable thought came to mind. "Hold on a second, though. I need to see something." He scrolled to where Makoto would be. His thought was confirmed: he had an entry for Makoto. "Makoto Nijima: Tsundere? Nosy Bitch? New Candidate for Release?"

A chill ran down Akira's spine.

"Pardon me, but as the King's ultimate Slave and tender to His Holy Library, I would ask you to treat these tomes with respect!"

That wimpy voice…He turned around to find "Mishima" in a jester's outfit and a ball gag around his throat. Another cognition…this should be interesting. He jetted over and put his new kukri at his throat. "Mind if you tell me what's in here, by chance?"

"It would behoove me to reveal such secrets. If they did exist!"

"Don't lie to the man!" Morgana said. "It's a library in a castle! Why wouldn't you be hiding something here?!"

Mishima started to drool and moan. "Ohh my….such a forceful request! I…you're going to make me gush!"

Urrghh…I think we've accidentally found his g-spot. Well...it's worth a try…and a few showers after. "TALK, YOU FUCKING WORM! SPILL YOUR SECRETS!"

"EYAAHH!" Mishima cried from the back of his throat as his yellow eyes began to strobe. "O-ok, then! Pick that book up from the shelf and read it!"

Akira walked over to the shelf the cognition pointed to and noticed the shelf was dedicated to King Kamoshida himself, littering with classics such as "King Kamoshida's descent from the Olympic Gods to Serve Man," "Kamoshida's cast away from Heaven due to the Treachery of the Snakes," and "Kamoshida's Exploits in the Mortal Realm."

"The Blue Book, titled 'The Slave'. And read it out loud, please." Mishima cried further.

Akira picked up the book as Mishima pleaded and opened. The shelf on the opposite side began to open, revealing a dimly lit room with candles arranged in a semicircle. "I can't see well in there. Skull?"

"Got it," Ryuji said, giving a thumbs-up.

Akira proceeded to read:

As Lord Kamoshida descended from the heavens, he was fortuitous to find a mortal whose loyalty was unparalleled. A person so meek and small, even among his mortals, that his qualities would be magnified compared to His Holiness, and would be of great service in the Lord's duties in his new, Mortal Realm.

This unassuming, unquestioning follower of the Lord was called Mishima, and he served dutifully, much as a sheep serves its shepherd, or mule to its cargo, in the hope that he too could ascend.

"You're right, it's short," Akira replied curtly.

"ISN'T IS WONDERFUL!" the cognition replied, beaming and clasping his hands together in front of Joker. "Kamoshida rendered me perfectly, even when he didn't have to! He is truly descended from Paradise!"

Joker pushed a hand as a spacer between him and Cognition Mishima. "What does he have you do?" Akira's mind then went back to the rooftop. "Anything you'd…regret?"

"Mishima's" head jerked to the side for a brief second. "I don't know what you mean!" he said, his eye constantly twitching. "I do everything he asks me to without regret! A Mule for His Holy equipment? A Personal Release? A Recipient of his Love? An Internet Leaker of Transfer Students' Records? A Recipient of his Love? WHATEVER IS NEEDED!"

"MISHIMA!" Ryuji cried from the back room. Ryuji stormed out, snorting like a bull. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Ryuji walked up to him and shotgunned Mishima's chest point-blank. Not satisfied, he took the end of the butt of his gun and proceeded to wail at his face.

Akira's jaw was down halfway as he held Ryuji from jamming his gun further. "RYUJI? WHAT IS GOING ON?!"

Ryuji was shaking. "I….I played with that girl since middle school, for..f-f-fuck's sake. And this…piece of SHIT..."

Akira walked into the dimly lit backroom. He then saw why Ryuji was mad. On the room's wall were pictures of Shiho. Some by herself, others like the ones Akira saw on the phone, with the flash and the shadow of someone in their teens.

And some showing her the middle of Kamoshida's 'release.'

Or rather…Kamoshida and Mishima's release.

He rushed over back to the main room and found Ryuji shoving the barrel of his gun into the gaping, black, viscous cavity in the cognition's chest.

He leaned over Mishima, not sure whether to slit his throat or blow his brains out on the spot.

"Why?" Akira said, the rage in his lungs seeping out and his gun on Mishima's pearly whites. "Why'd you leak the transfer student's record." He choked. "Why did you do…Shiho…"

His voice was weak."….I'm sorry. He told me to do it. All of it. I…had no choice. I just…wanted His Glory to take back. The others around me…they would prefer I bask in his Glory!"

Akira cocked his lever, Vengeance about to take over.

The fire in him subsided, however. Because you were afraid, though, you didn't do anything to stop it. Go,d you're pitiful.

But…I've seen more pitiful people.

He remembered the woman he tried to save a year ago from assault. How she didn't bother to testify. Because her assaulter told her not to.

For a moment…everything clicked for Akira. An epiphany, one of vicious cycles, of sinners and sinned, and how they one can drift into either camp at any time.

He then remembered, from his experiences with bloody sisters, that he didn't like the appearance of lingering agony.

Mishima's head twitched again, his zeal gone. "Save me."

Akira fired a shot into Mishima's head, and his mangled body drifted into a black dust.

"Joker….why did you shoot him?" Morgana said, his typical haughtiness now absent. "It's a cognition. It's pointless to shoot him. Skull should have known that too."

"I guess…at least for me, I'm just being sentimental again."

Notes:

I'm REALLY tempting to up the rating after this. We'll see...

Also the title. Why? It didn't fit in the Doc Manager.

On the other note: Looking at the arc probably finishing within the next 4, maybe 5 chapters.

Next part to THiS chapter is definitely coming this week, though. I'm thinking about posting a small snippet of the chapter as a preview that will last for a day, most likely in middle of next week.

As always, feel free to give a fav/follow or Review (PMs work too if you're on the shy side).

In the meantime, thank you to those who've read, liked, and commented so far.

Stay tuned!