Arc I Finale: Heart(s) Stolen, III
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A few minutes earlier...
"Forgive me, Sensei! I need to grab something from my locker quick!" Makoto cried.
She then ran sprinting, ignoring the startled look on her homeroom teacher's face as he tried to form a response.
The aching in her legs as she sprinted reminded her that she'd had been away from the dojos too long. But she kept going.
And for someone she believed would get more than he deserved.
Still, it felt nostalgic; the rush of adrenaline, the panic gripping her knowing someone was at risk under your watch, all of that would be something she felt when she heard as a young kid her father's more fantastical experiences on the job.
It made raging through the gym doors feel all the more...Appropriate.
Entering the gym, she heard Mishima's echoes reverberating off the gym walls. Her eyes steadied on Kamoshida, who, with a deranged grin on the side of his face, leaned over and choked a fidgeting Mishima.
She charged in, seeing what Kamoshida was up to. "Kamoshida, get off him right now!" she cried, praying, if worst came to worst, she wouldn't be too rusty.
"Be quiet and stay there. You'll get yours soon enough."
She took a deep breath. Arms first, then legs.
Kamoshida, still unfazed, now eyed a Makoto running after him. "Well, well, Mommy Dearest coming to the rescue." He then looked down at Mishima. "Hey, Mishima buddy, you're letting the chicks down, having them fight your battles."
Mishima laid on the gym court, limp.
"Oh sorry, did you say something?" Kamoshida said flippantly. "Sorry, I couldn't-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Makoto took him by his right arm and twisted it forcefully around his back.
"Foreplay, eh?" he said cheekily through his gritted teeth.
"Yield!" she cried, Makoto now twisting his wrist.
"What, you think because you're just a dumb Class Pre-"
She kicked behind his knee and slammed his face into the ground. "YIELD!" She was about to yell Mishima to run away, but he looked limp. His chest is moving though...at the very least. "You are NOT touching him AGAIN!"
Meanwhile, Kamoshida continued to growl. "You stupid bitch. Protecting a piece of trash like him, after what that wimp has done in my name? You wouldn't be so maternal if you-"
"If I what? Knew you had him do to Shiho? He'll atone. But not while you stand in the way!"
Kamoshida kept raring his neck backward to get back some leverage. "Self righteous cunt. I don't care who your dumbass father was. You're dead; at the very least, expelled."
Makoto tried harder to make his wrist fold back into a perfect 180-degree angle. "...So be it. I'll take enjoyment in seeing you brought into the light, you pedophilic ASSHOLE!"
Kamoshida smiled irreverently. "You and what recorder?" He then pushed her off for a moment, but long enough to get up onto his feet and brandish his broad shoulders. "Now..." He licked his lips, coating them with a thick, slimy layer of saliva. "Time for some disciplinary action."
He reached out to grasp at her hair and hold her by it. Makoto, rusty by her standards, dodged fast enough so that Kamoshida could only grab loose strands.
Her sense of began to slow down. Right flank? Well then.
She bent her knees slightly. With his momentum, Makoto leaned into his chest and flipped him over, making him crash loudly onto the ground.
She kept a hold on his arm, making a perfect T with the ground. Textbook.
Knowing how broad his shoulders were, she twisted her entire body around, holding on until she heard the pop, and the grunt of pain afterward. I doubt he'll be spiking students with that arm anytime soon.
The sudden pain in his dislocated arm made him jolt up, putting Makoto off balance and breaking her grip.
He stood himself up, looking attentively at his right arm. He uttered a sound from the back of his throat, oscillating between hysteria and despair for a few seconds. He then glared at Makoto and gave her a crooked smile. "I...taste the pain. Like...strawberries..."
Makoto wondered if he was under the influence of hallucinogens. He shouldn't be up after that. The pain alone would make him reconsider...
He then twisted his limp arm, gritting his teeth while doing it, until it popped back in. He gleefully laughed. "You think, in my line of work, my arm never bums out like that?" He then whiplashed into a crying fit, tears trailing down his face. "Why can't you UNDERSTAND?!"
Suddenly, he charged at Makoto, arms narrowing on Makoto's slender neck.
She slapped them out of the way and struck directly at his Adam's Apple, making him halt for a brief moment. She continued to wail at his neck with the edges of her hands, finishing with a sweep under his legs.
Kamoshida kept on sobbing in bursts as he grabbed her ankles, bringing her to the ground with him.
Makoto, now on the polished wooden gym floor, felt her heartbeat get faster. This is bad...I can't let him...
She connected her foot to his groin, but that stunned him slightly.
His hands were around her neck, and he began to squeeze, pressing his thumbs down. "Why...can't they...DO WHAT I SAY!" he said intermittently between choked breaths. "YOU..."
He squeezed harder.
She snapped his right thumb off her neck and out of its sockets. Her vision was getting blurry from the left hand.
He squeezed desperately with his left hand.
Her mind became foggier still.
She popped the remaining thumb out of its sockets as well.
In frustration, he rose up and slammed his foot into Makoto's stomach.
She curled, wincing and slamming her wrist in pain.
"Why can't you just...WORSHIP ME LIKE THE GOD I AM!?"
She felt once more his foot buried into her stomach, her vision slipping away.
"WHY!?" He cried another time.
She then caught a foot aimed at her gut, pulling it towards her to force Kamoshida back onto the ground.
With Kamoshida on the ground once more, Makoto, with balled fists, wailed on his midline to crush the air out of him.
He then swatted one of the shots away and came back with a backhand.
The shot discombobulated her enough that she was about to stumble over.
At that moment, she hoped for she'd hold on long enough for Sis. For Dad. And maybe, him.
But now, she had to hold on enough for a final blow. With a reddened, puffy cheek, she rared back with a hard chop planted straight on the tendons of his neck.
Hard enough that his head cocked sideways.
Hard enough so that, when she stumbled, he stumbled with her, his eyes as bleary as hers.
Her vision began to smear. She wished she could keep her eyes open, but the strikes made her eyelids heavy. They started to blink slowly.
...I'm a damn fool, aren't I, she cursed herself.
Despite that, and despite what she considered a foolish plan borne of impulse...
She smiled as she took a small rest, a part of her happy knowing she gave the best homage to Kazuhito Nijima she could think of.
Her eyes narrowed to a small sliver.
Meanwhile, Kamoshida still had some energy left in him.
He pushed himself up slowly, his legs buckling slightly.
He stared at a passed-out Makoto, slowly drifting his eyes to her skirt while popping back his right thumb. The sight made him tempted to discharge his strength further.
Then:
The impact.
He felt a sharp pain on the side of his head.
He stumbled back to the ground, only to see what caused it: a metal canister, with a funnel dispensing smoke and spitting small embers.
The smoke quickly made a tower around him. Kamoshida attempted to move out of the cloud, but his knees buckled.
Another smoke canister rolled in front of Kamoshida, belching more smoke.
At this moment, he could only see two shadowy figures in front of him.
"Get Mishima someplace safe. I got the rest," one figure said to the other while brandishing a long rod.
The other figure nodded in return.
He stood himself another time, ready for another fight.
The shadowy figure protracted his rod, producing blue chirps of electricity.
Kamoshida swung a right hook at the figure.
It swung back at his hand with its rod, shocking the arm and making it limp for a brief moment.
Kamoshida was taken aback for a moment. His rage though returned to him, and he swung another right.
The dark specter lunged at Kamoshida's exposed neck, making his neck tense and harder to breathe.
Kamoshida, in a desperate fury, balled a fist with his left hand, thumb still not usable, and connected with his attacker's face. The smoke parted ways momentarily to reveal a boy, with a bag on his back, and a Shujin white turtleneck wrapped around his head such that only his death-black eyes and strands of matted, curly hair were visible.
"This is testing my patience," the White Masked Boy muttered with bile. He then stared panickily at a Makoto strewn on the ground.
The white billows on the ground had set the scene, one reminiscent of the boy's greatest failing. One of slit throats from ear to ear, and one of deranged murderers.
...I...have to end this fast and decisively.
He fixated on her for a bit longer.
...I...
"Pussy," Kamoshida jeered. "Can't even face me like a man, having to wear a stupid mask and pull this stealth shit."
He pulled out a white packet and bust it open to spread the flash powder it contained into his hands. ...I'm not letting it happen again, you son of a bitch. He looked at his extended palms. The scarring on my hands healed enough since then, anyway. "You know, Kamoshida-sensei, you remind me of someone. I hate that." He then clapped the powder in front of his hands, producing a flash that blinded Kamoshida's eyes and ringed his ears.
Kamoshida clasped his eyes, moving around frantically and crying in confusion.
Kamoshida's phantom then struck the back of Kamoshida's knees, the shot of electricity contracting the teacher's thigh muscles and forcing him onto the hard floor. He then pulled out the head on his shock rod, exposing the rod's conductive wiring.
The boy smiled mischievously. Your neck is nice and open.
He wrapped it around Kamoshida's neck and clipped the head to the wire, tightening the lasso.
A shame I have to waste charge on a piece of shit like you.
The other You deserves as much as possible.
Ryuji dragged Mishima out of the gym and set him aside.
Mishima still laid there, still limp.
"C'mon man," Ryuji said while shaking him furiously. "Wake your ass up already!"
"What the hell happened in there, Ryuji!?"
He turned around to find Ann looking at him with equal amounts of confusion and worry. "And why did Akira just charge in with a lighter?"
"Not right now! Help me wake him up!" Ryuji then kept jerking.
"Stop for a minute Ryuji," Ann interrupted. She then slapped Mishima's face.
No response.
"How is that supposed to help?" Ryuji wondered.
Ann put a finger to her mouth. Well, I read somewhere pain can jostle people awake...
She laid out Mishima's hand and slammed her foot on it.
Mishima's eyes then opened. "OWOWOW!" He then realized whose foot was on his hand. "T-Takamaki-san! W-what are you-"
"She's waking you up, I guess? " Ryuji answered. "I'm still surprised that worked though..."
The three then heard Kamoshida yell bloody murder.
Ann peeked through the crack of the gym door, seeing blue streaks of electricity around Kamoshida's neck as he screamed in agony. After a while, Kamoshida turned limp, his eyes rolling into his head.
At that point, Akira let him loose from his electrical noose, allowing his flaccid body to collapse onto the floor.
He put his two main fingers on Kamoshida's neck to check for a pulse. "Still beating. The perfect wattage, at least on humans. I assume the Shadows will appreciate this." He tended to the still spewing bombs, drenching them with a water bottle stored in his bag and shoving the quenched containers back into his bag.
He then darted back to Makoto, the panic coming back to him as he put back on his turtleneck. Feeling the jolt of adrenaline from his confrontation with Kamoshida, Akira lifted her with ease and sprinted off towards the infirmary.
Morgana galloped close behind.
"Akira, wait a minute!" Ann cried.
"Infirmary. NOW!"
Ryuji grunted. "Damnit. Mishima, can you stand?"
"Y-yeah," Mishima said, swaying a bit. "I...have a tolerance for this stuff after all."
"Well, let's get going!"
Ryuji and Mishima rushed off to join Akira.
"Wait, guys!" Ann said, still staying by the gym door. "What about Kamoshida!?"
The boys though were too far away for her cry to be heard.
"Goddamnit, these boys are useless!" She then rushed into the gym and took a look at the passed-out Kamoshida. "Ok, Ann, just...think."
She saw a stack of mats in the corner of the auditorium.
Ann sighed. "This will have to do then." She was about to tug on one of his arms, but something about Kamoshida's unconscious body made her halt. And fume. "Piece of shit. He knocked you out, but barely bruised you."
She kicked at his ribs hard.
"I bet you don't even have anything broken, do you?"
A harder kick.
"I can't even believe some of the girls around me would give themselves to you in a heartbeat. If only they knew..."
Then, a flurry of kicks, each of them accompanied with a disgruntled growl, like an agitated panther.
With the last kick, she felt a momentary sense of relief.
Still...
She took an arm and started dragging. "How the hell are these stupid boys getting out of this?"
Akira crashed through the infirmary door, his breath ragged and his phone in hand, the line ringing to Takemi's clinic. He laid Makoto on the closest bed available.
On the bed, she rocked her head around listlessly, murmuring unintelligibly.
Nurse Mizuhi rushed over to look over her, noticing the redness around her neck. "What happened?"
"Your boss," he seethed. "He's a handsy piece of shit."
Her eyes narrowed. "There's no need to be so rude."
He then narrowed the distance between him and her, with creeping malice. "Let's be clear. You're going to excuse her home today."
She scoffed. "You have some nerve, thinking you can order the likes of me."
"You? The same person who trafficked abused students to your friend's out-of-the-way clinic. I understand having to send people to get treated, but conveniently covering for your boss is another matter entirely." He then held out his phone, showing the pictures Makoto sent. Meanwhile, Tae was on the line in the background. "And all of these little records here. Wouldn't be so good if you-"
She reached out for the phone angrily, but Akira held it away in a taunting manner. "Now..." Akira said, "you're not my target. Kobayakawa and Kamoshida are. You help me, I'll erase ALL of this."
"...Are you blackmailing me?"
Ryuji and Mishima then entered, equally out of breath.
Akira sneered. "I'm also trying to do something right. The company you keep would approve."
"How would you know? And what makes you think you can-"
"The kid's right," Akira's phone interjected. "I'm ok with this. Though...you are getting annoyingly heavy-handed again." Her voice smoldered. "Tone it down, little guinea pig, or else I'll 'accidentally' miss a vein with a blunt needle next time you come in."
Akira grinned slightly. "Sorry, Takemi. A bit rude to call you on short notice, I know. Your friend, though, needed coaxing, I assumed."
Tae hummed. "...Whatever. Mizuhi, listen to him."
"Excuse me!?"
"Judging by the sound of your voice. You hate his guts as much as I do. But we made a deal."
Mizuhi dimmed her eyes. "But...my job..."
"Worst come to shove, I can open a spot at TMC."
"...You wouldn't. What, as your receptionist? In your cramped clinic?"
"...You say it like it's a bad thing."
Mizuhi groaned. "Goddamnit. Fine. I'll get the kid the note." Her voice then simmered. "I can't believe I'm risking my job for this..."
"Relax," Akira assured. "Everything goes well, you'll have a clean slate in my books."
"Clean?"
Akira snarled. "...Pseudo-clean."
"W-wait," Ryuji interposed. "Just...hold on. What about Kamoshida? We totally left him there just now!"
"Yeah, you guys did!" cried an annoyed, girly voice.
It was Ann, panting. "He was heavy too."
"You hid him?" Ryuji exclaimed. "Where!?"
"Under some gym mats."
Mishima rubbed his chin to think. "Guess someone got lazy. Kamoshida has been a bit...off as of late. He would never let anyone on the team slip like that."
"Yeah," Akira said regretfully, hovering over Makoto's bed. "Off."
Morgana looked at him pitifully. "...She'll be alright."
Akira still hovered over her, visibly worried.
Ryuji ambled to his side and laid a hand on his shoulder. "C'mon. Just let her rest for the time being."
The tension in Akira's eyes loosened a bit. He returned Ryuji's kindness with an approving nod.
He looked out at the window next to him, the gym still trapping some smoke. Well...seems the smoke still is a bit thick.
He turned his attention to Morgana and leaned into its ear. "Listen to me. We aren't going to leave Kamoshida by himself for too long. You think you can...set some alarms by the gym?"
Morgana grumbled. "I...guess so. I don't see any other option here, now that Kamoshida's running rampant."
He shoved a lighter in Morgana's mouth. "Nice cat. Meet you in the alley."
"Don't rub it in." Morgana then scurried off, but not before stopping by Ann. "Milady, I must be on my way," he said as he passed.
Ryuji eyed Morgana critically. "...That damn cat..."
Ann stood there, bemused. "...Uhh, Akira? Why were you trying to talk to that cat?"
"Ignore him," Ryuji said nervously. "He's just...quirky."
"More like reckless," Ann added. Just why would he go this far? He didn't seem like the violent type when I talked to him, to be honest.
Makoto groaned and opened her eyes.
"Hey," Akira said while smiling softly. "You doing ok?"
Slowly, Ann read between the lines. ...Her? Seriously? Miss straight-laced President? I would assume someone willing to assault a teacher would be more...'adventurous'.
Makoto flinched as she moved her neck. "Fine...though I'm a bit stiff. Sorry for rushing in...I couldn't let him-"
"Trust me; it's ok. I would have done the same thing."
Her eyes were drawn to something red. "Akira...your hands..."
Akira looked down to find his hands puffy, with the palms singed. Well...you don't blind teachers without burning your hands slightly.
"You didn't..."
Indeed, I'm caught red-handed. "He's unconscious. For the time being. He tried getting up. I made sure he didn't."
Makoto looked bewildered. "...Are you ok?"
Ryuji butted in. "He's fine. Trust me. I have to say, though, you're pretty badass holding your own there. Kamoshida was stumbling around we found you, so I'm going to guess you did a number on him."
"Not enough, if I say so myself," Ann said bitterly.
Ryuji stared back at Ann in judgment. "Hey; chill. Not the right time."
"She does have a point," Makoto continued. "Being away from the dojo does that."
"Great, now YOU'RE beating yourself up," Akira joked.
Makoto smiled. "You're making terrible puns again."
"Oh...uhh...sorry."
Mishima then bowed in front of her. "Thank you. I didn't deserve you trying to save me...but thanks either way."
Ryuji pitied the poor first-year student. "Straighten your back. Seriously, you're probably freaking her out."
"It's fine," Makoto replied. "Though...the plan...look, I'll...I'll find a way. I'll find something. I mean, my Sis is a cop-"
"No!" Ren interjected. Things have already gone south. The last thing I need is the police sniffing around about any aspect of this... "Don't grasp at straws. The plan still stands."
"But how!? This is..."
Akira grinned. "Trust me. I have something up my sleeve."
"Please...don't be coy with me..." ...He was like this back in LeBlanc as well. When I asked him how he was going to bring Kamoshida down with the Principal. And now...all of these histrionics...the excitement over the Phantom Thieves...This is BEYOND the scope of the plan...
The memory of his bitter smelling hair came back.
I...
Then, his warmth on her chest.
Trusted him then...
Mizuhi stormed back, a paper in her hands. "Here's the note. She can go home."
"Home!? But I'm fine!" She raised herself, but the intense soreness she felt in her stomach pinned her to the bed.
"Home," Mizuhi pressed. "I'll emphasize stomach flu on here as well." She winked at Akira in acknowledgment.
Akira took out a vial and held it his hand, staring guiltily at it. Should I? Ryuji and Morgana might need it soon more than her...
Ryuji took the vial out of his hand and gave it to the nurse. "Patch her up with this, when you get the chance. The stuff works."
"Will do. Tae does wonders with this stuff, last time I checked."
Akira looked at Ryuji, shocked. "...You sure?"
Ryuji grinned. "Pretty sure. A bit inconvenient. But..." he looked at Mishima for a moment. "...we gotta do the right thing, I guess. Even if it'll hurt later."
The fire alarms blared off in the distance, and then sounded off in the main building.
Just in time. Akira took off, grabbing Ryuji by the hand. "Let's get going. They're going to pool into the hallways soon. We'll meet up with Morgana in the alleyway."
Cries of smoke came from the students who started to evacuate into the hallway, whose sprinklers started spraying.
Ann was livid as he lost the boys again. "...At the very least, he said where he was going." Ann charged after the elusive boys.
Mizuhi grimaced. "Damnit. These beds don't have wheels. Miss, lean on me. I have to at least evacuate you to the courtyard. We'll come back later."
"But..."
"But nothing, Miss." She then leaned into her ear and lowered her voice. "Take my advice: listen to him. I don't know what he has planned...but based on what he said...you ought to avoid school today. Now...apologies if you get wet."
Makoto frowned. Ren...what are you going to do?
She pulled out her phone. She couldn't help but think Sis could protect him, somehow. But...she remembered all of what Sae said in the past two weeks.
About winning.
About not compromising for any transgression.
Things that, with a perfectionist like Sae, would drive her to not compromise for any 'delinquent.'
That was enough of an answer for Makoto.
It made her eyes swell.
MAKOTO: Sis, apologies but I came down with the stomach flu, it seems.
She froze; outright lying to Sis didn't come easily. Especially if the situation was serious enough.
MAKOTO: My stomach hurts quite a bit.
MAKOTO: I'll take the train once it settles in a few hours.
She took a deep breath. ...I guess the note will make her less mad...
The despair set in. ...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry, Ren...
The two weaved past the crowd forming in the courtyard and out by the entrance, ducking their heads while doing so. For Akira, he made doubly sure Kawakami wouldn't notice him in the crowd.
Just as promised, Morgana was in the alleyway, Zippo lighter in its mouth. "You liked my handiwork?"
"Worked just fine," Akira replied, his spirits dampened by leaving Miss President behind. Dampened as much as his bag from the sprinklers. "Look...I didn't know about her Sis being-"
Ryuji pulled out his phone. "Forget that. It doesn't matter anymore. Look, I got the Red App thingy, just stand watch, ok?"
"...Fine."
As Akira scanned, Ryuji thought out loud. "Ok, 'Shujin,' 'Kamoshida', 'Pervert Castle,'..."
The Metaverse App chimed in. "Conditions met."
The Other World phased in.
As the Castle solidified, Joker zipped open his schoolbag, passing Skull his shotgun as they ran towards the Castle. He then put his pistol, kukri, and shock rod in his trenchcoat.
Then, footsteps from the alleyway behind them.
Ann came at them, sprinting. "You jerks! Thinking you can just..." She became slack-jawed at the first sight of the Castle. "...Run off." Her mouth became more agape from the outfits. "...Wait..." She looked closer at Skull. "Ryuji? What are you even wearing?"
"Uh...I'm Skull though. I have...NO IDEA...what you mean-"
Morgana shook his head in embarrassment. "Oh stop, you idiot. We've been had. Lady Ann, we can explain everything."
Ann's mouth began to quiver. "W-why is t-the cat talking? And...Lady Ann?"
Joker then spoke. "Ignore him. Her. It. Just hear us out."
"Wait just a minute!" Ryuji interrupted. "How did she even get in here?"
Morgana shrugged. "Guess she hid in the alleyway when we activated the app. Seems like you can bring other people in by accident."
Akira groaned. Why would the Nose design the app this way? This sounds like the dumbest oversight ever. "Ok Ann, go back where you came. It's too dangerous here."
"But what is 'HERE'? Isn't this supposed to be the school?" Then, Ann's epiphany. "Wait...is this your ace in the hole regarding Kamoshida?"
Ryuji netted his brows trying to form an explanation. "Ehh...sort of?"
"SORT OF!? You have to do better than that!"
"We'll explain later," Akira responded curtly. "You're ill-equipped-"
Ryuji rushed over to her side and lifted on his shoulder. "Sorry. I'll buy you a fat crepe later."
"Seriously?!" Ann said. "Let me go!"
Ryuji buckled though in the face Ann's furious fidgeting.
Ryuji now laid flat on the ground, Ann sitting on top of him. "Goddamnit...my effin' leg..."
"Pfft. Ill-equipped my ass." She shoved Ryuji off her violently. She then had a thought. "You know...I'm pretty sure you guys got here with that dumb app with the red-eye, right?"
Akira eyes widened. "Uh, how did you know that?"
"Overheard you in the alleyway." Ann then pulled out her phone to show her version of the Metaverse Navigator. "I checked it out the other day. I bet I could recite what you guys said in the alleyway, and-"
Akira facepalmed. This day is getting worse and worse..."Fine, we get it. You'll barge back in even if we kick you out here." Peeved, he pulled out the new submachine gun from his bag. "Here, take this. This was supposed to be my fallback weapon. But, I guess...I can't have nice THINGS."
Ann inspected the gun. "This is fake though."
"What you're going to face, they won't know the difference."
Ann looked unconvinced.
"Just don't advertise it, and you'll be fine. If you're lucky, you won't need to use it."
Ryuji, though, wasn't having it. "C'mon, man! Just help me carry her out, and-"
"Nope. If she just charges on her own and gets lost, that's even worse. Ann, just stay close and don't do anything drastic."
Ann sighed in relief. "Finally...trust me, I won't go off the beaten track. This place seems like a labyrinth anyway."
Ryuji growled. "Damnit, just...fine. Listen to this guy over here. He has a decent head on him."
Ann nodded. "Alright then. Where are we heading?"
Akira pointed to the tower in the distance. "There. Also, Ann...please use our codenames. Mine is Joker, his is Skull, and the cat-like being's is Morgana."
"...Do I really-"
"Yes!" cried the trio in pent-up annoyance.
"...Fine." Bunch of boys playing dress-up I swear.
But...if this is going to stick to Kamoshida...I'll mind it less.
Entering the Castle through the old infiltration route, Akira felt uneasy; Morgana was even worse, with its hairs standing up straight when walking.
Usually, there would be patrols he'd have to sneak by undetected, lest Akira sully his blade.
Today, though, they were absent. And these two were painfully aware of this fact.
Morgana kept a close paw to his scimitar. "Stay alert. You never know when we might be ambushed."
"Relax," Skull scoffed. "Last time I checked, no Shadows are a good thing."
Ann dimmed her eyes. "Ryuji, you can exercise caution once in a while, you know. Also...Shadows?"
"They're beings born from the human consciousness. In this case, Kamoshida's consciousness." Joker then remembered that Ann was here...and that she was probably none the wiser about the things Kamoshida had here on Shiho. "We don't have to go on detours. We have to get something from here, something that represents his twisted desires, and hopefully, Kamoshida will be an honest man after that."
"Twisted desires?" At this point, Ann was imagining what kind of sick, twisted things Kamoshida bred in his mind, ranging from lewd to the grossly obscene; in all cases, she imagined things involving leather. ...Scumbag piece of shit. "Alright. Sounds good to me. Though...I'm curious. Are we destroying anything important mentally if we poke around here?"
"...Possibly," Morgana lamented. "I'm not sure in what ways...but today was probably the best example."
"...I see." Ann then saw a slight pain in Joker's eyes. "I think I have a better picture now." Now...I feel sorry for Miss Prissy President, if that explains why Kamoshida went crazy. Just...a little, though.
As much as I could forgive someone not doing anything sooner about this whole nightmare...
...Including myself.
They reached the base of the spiraling staircase, which had a stack of boxes. "I'm not sure, Ann," Akira said. "Stay here, while we scout ahead."
"Wait, why me? Shouldn't Ryu...I mean 'Skull,' take a break? His leg's, well..."
The worried look on Ann's bright blue eyes made Skull waver for a moment. "I'll be fine." He then laid a hand on Ann's shoulder. "I've been in here longer. Even...with the leg, I'm better prepared. We'll be back in a moment."
Ann pouted. "...Promise?"
"Promise. If we need you, we'll get you."
The trio then proceeded up the staircase, leaving Ann on guard.
Sneaking back into the Treasure tower, Akira and company were assaulted by the pulsating crimson air accompanying it.
"This shit is creepy," Skull mentioned, as they were walking up the stairs.
"Tell me about it," Akira muttered. His lingering anger blunted whatever anxiety the atmosphere seeded in him.
The three reached the Treasure Room, and the three dropped their jaws.
"Holy shit," Ryuji cried out. "...That's..."
"Big," Akira uttered. "Really big."
In the room was a floating crown, its golden frame glistening brighter than the speckling jewels embedded at its base.
Morgana's tail began to twitch violently. It started to purr as well.
"Uhh, Morgana?" Joker said, raising an eyebrow.
"I-it's like in my dreams up in this dude's attic," Morgana cried jubilantly. "I-I just...meow."
"You're acting weird," Skull said. He turned to Joker. "Dude, did you give him catnip or something?"
"Pfft. No."
"T-treasure," Morgana uttered, now pawing at the air around it.
"Cut it, Morgana," Joker muttered. "I want to be rid of this castle already."
Morgana's ears drooped. "Fine. We'll need to carry it out of this World and into the other. The only thing is it looks heavy."
Ryuji's eyes widened. "This big ass crown!? We'll draw so many stares if we do that!"
Morgana groaned. "It'll transform into the one thing the targets prizes the most in the real world. It won't necessarily be a humongous crown. Now..." he motioned towards the crown, "...shall you guys lend a hand?"
"Lazy ass. Joker, sorry. I know your hands are messed up, but, lend a hand?"
"Sure," Joker muttered. "My hands are fine enough, I think."
The two began to lift the crown from its place in space, with Morgana making a small effort to hold it up.
As they began to walk it down the tower, Akira's arm started to buckle. Goddamn...this crown is REALLY digging into my hands. His hands began to weep blood again.
Skull's legs were bumming it. "Monamona, you think you can pull your weight? My leg..."
Morgana continued to hold his end daintily, purring to himself.
Skull grimaced. "You're right, Joker. He is useless. We should have gotten Ann up here."
"T-t-treasure," it uttered while rubbing his face on it.
Joker's hands were drenched red. "Morgana...stop...messing around..."
The trio took another step.
Then, Joker's side of the crown slipped from his injured hands.
Skull lurched forward, his knees finally giving in completely.
Morgana, however, held on for dear life. "Treasure! Don't leave me!"
The crown rolled down the stairs, with Morgana stuck to the inside of the rim.
Joker raised himself off the ground, running after it. "Morgana, let go of the damn crown already!"
Down at the base:
Ann leaned by a wall, arms crossed with a Skorpion in hand. "These guys should hurry up. All of this time snooping on these guys, and I'm being relegated to guard duty..."
She heard the clang of metal boots.
A Shadow Knight popped up, red flames surrounding him. "P-princess? What are you doing here!?"
"H-huh?" Ann stuttered.
"And what are you wearing!? You must wear the Ceremonial Bikini! King Kamoshida demands it!"
She fumed...King Kamoshida?! CEREMONIAL SWIMSUIT? You've got to be kidding me...She pursed her lips. ...Lecherous scumbag...All of what I did for Shiho probably gave him the idea in the back of his mind...
Her shame made her bellow. "King Kamoshida can go screw himself!"
"...Excuse me?"
"I-I don't have to explain myself to you." Ann pointed her gun at the Knight. "I will shoot. No h-hesitation."
The Knight began to transform.
Then, a metal clanging from upstairs...mixed with the cries of a cat.
The Knight turned to look what was coming from above.
It was too late, however. The crown collided with it, flinging the Knight the opposite way and onto a wall, creating a black splatter.
The crown settled, and the mascot of the Thieves came out, stumbling. "T-Treasure..." Morgana recollected itself and found himself in front of a confused Ann. "O-oh, Lady Ann!" he said, starstruck in her presence. "I just...uh...heard your cries from...down below...and-"
"He didn't do shit!" Skull cried as he reached the base of the stairs. "Sorry; our hands slipped." He then saw the damage. "Damn...is he still alive?"
Ann took a closer look. The Shadow Knight was lifeless-looking.
Then a jolt. "Princess..."
Ann yelled and, eyes closed, jerked on the trigger, the gun's recoil shooting her arm upwards in the direction of the loyal Knight.
Opening her eyes, she saw the Knight was more swiss cheese than Knight, a set of holes that quickly became a thick puddle on the floor.
She stared at the gun in amazement. "Never mind. These guns...work?"
"I'll explain the rules of this world later," Joker replied. "Just...two hands next time."
Ann's arms were shaking from the adrenaline. "...Ok then." She took a closer look at the crown. "...Is this supposed to be his twisted desires?"
"Pretty much," Skull said. "Heavy, too."
She sneered. "It's just...too damn pretty. It pisses me off. I was expecting something more...ugly." She sighed. "Let's just get going with this crown already."
Then, suddenly, a voice down the hallway:
"Not any time soon, you FUCKING, no good, bratty pieces of shit."
The crown hovered again and shrunk down to human size. It then flew down the hallway, busting through a locked set of doors and into a room with loud, ecstatic moaning.
The four, without hesitation, rushed into the hallway to find a mass demonstration of debauchery that would make Bacchus blush. In the two-story, marbled room sat a throne in the middle, with a crowned Kamoshida being showered by rose petals falling from the roof. Surrounding him were teenage girls in the girl's volleyball outfits, writhing in pleasure at the sight of the King. Interspersed were Shadows: angels in Templareseqe armor, imbibing from glasses of wine; and winged demons lazily hovering off the ground and muttering about the end times. And in the distance, were pillars carved in the visage of a woman's torso.
Joker couldn't believe the sight. Goddamn...we're on the verge of stealing his Heart, and his wounded ego produces this SHIT?
It was about to get worse.
"Go, go, Kamoshida go!" cried an eerily familiar voice. It was Kamoshida's cognition of Ann, purple swimsuit and cat ears like before. And to top it off, she entered the scene, crawling on all fours like a cat and pawing at the King's breast.
Then, another eerily familiar voice:
"Our Holy Majesty!" It was now a cognition of Shiho, one chained to the throne's legs with heavy chains. She was marked up and wearing a girl's volleyball outfit, with the shirt ripped down the midline. "Please...give it to me..."
King Kamoshida then kicked the cognition Shiho with a loose leg. "Quiet, peasant!" he cried. "You're just the fallback. Now that my Princess is here with me..." He turned to his version of Ann, scratching under her chin.
"Unbelievable," Joker muttered.
Skull joined in his bewilderment. "Seriously. This is effed up..."
Ann's eyes began to twitch violently. "...Is that...how he views me? And Shiho? And...everyone on the team?"
Skull's eyes dimmed. "I'm sorry, Ann. I...look, you need to know something."
"Really, Skull?" Morgana cried. "We have more pressing matters at hand here!"
"I know, but...she has to know soon or later."
Ann raised an eyebrow. "...W-what the hell do you mean?" Her armed hand was furiously trembling.
"Excuse me, peasants," King Kamoshida cried. "Cut the chatter. Piece of trash slaves like you don't deserve to speak in my presence. Isn't that right, my Princess Ann?"
"Like, speaking without permission is so, totally unacceptable," Ann said while making a duck face. She then pawed his chest. "Especially to someone with that MANLY coat of hair..."
"That's right," the King cooed.
Ann skinned her teeth. "There is no way in hell I sound like that..."
Her armed hand shook more erratically, her pointing finger curling around the trigger.
All the whispers in class flooded back:
"Kamoshida's side bitch."
"Kamoshida's private slut."
"Blonde, bimbo whore. How much do you swallow on the daily?"
For once, part of agreed: she practically did whore herself out, in a way. Massaging his ego and all.
And what's worse: she whored out Shiho. ...With a smile, too...thinking it would help with her dream.
"Well, my King," Joker simpered. "You can stop this masturbatory exercise and give us back the crown we were going to liberate."
The king chuckled. "LIBERATE!? What, you think I'm some dictator? If I am, I'm an enlightened dictator. Made from the consent of my governed."
"Consent?!" Ann cried. "You wouldn't even know the meaning of the word! Doing things in secret...For all this confident talk of yours, you act like some shameful coward, you perverted scumbag!"
"Au contraire, you fake whore. Adults willingly basked in my accomplishments, accomplishments that make me a cut above everyone else. Students with drive, unlike that Mishima, protected me and enforced my will by any means necessary. They all understood the need to win, to enforce the law of the land. Because that is how we'll all win." He then had a sour look directed at the group. "I thought at the very least the lady in your group would understand, appeasing me and all. But she, like the rest of you idiots would never understand. Just like that Shiho bitch..."
"What do you mean?" Ann blurted.
"All she needed to be was an outlet when you didn't want to be, and everything would be fine. Instead, she takes it too personally and jumps off like some idiot..."
"...I basked in his glory," Cognition Shiho said while drooling. "It was too much though for any servant to take..."
A tear rolled down Ann's face. "You son of a bitch..." She then turned to Skull, her voice weak. "...You kept this from me the whole time?"
"...I-I'm sorry..."
Joker felt a pit in his stomach. "...This isn't something you just casually talk about in a school hallway."
"...You bastards..." She scratched her head anxiously. "All of you! I...I'm such a coward...an idiot..." She started to hyperventilate.
Then, a voice in her head cried out.
My...it's taken far too long...Tell me...who's going to avenge her if you don't?
Ann then felt a burning pain between the eyes that bored deeper into her head.
Such is the scream of the other you that dwells within...
"Well then," Kamoshida jeered. "The fake bitch spoke out against me. What do you think of that, Princess?"
"Like, speaking out is like, totally-"
A shot then ripped the Princess's lower jaw out. It was Ann who took the shot, with both hands this time.
"SHUT THE HELL UP!" she cried from the bottom of her lungs. She stared angrily at the Cognitions, pawing at Kamoshida like cats in the heat.
It made voices, one she filed in a dark corner of her mind for a long time, flood black.
"FOREIGN SKANK! STOP TAKING KAMOSHIDA'S ATTENTION FROM US!"
"THE EYES AREN'T REAL! THEY'RE FAKE, LIKE YOUR HAIR."
"LIKE YOUR LITTLE BOYFRIEND'S HAIR!"
"YOU EAT LIKE A PIG, BUT AREN'T FAT! ARE YOU BULIMIC?"
King Kamoshida broke into a mortified sweat. "G-guards...SURROUND THEM, NOW!"
The Templar Angels (referred to as Archangels in Akira's mind) and Incubi formed up around them.
Shit, Akira panickily commented. I suppose...if I have some smoke bombs to spare...He pulled out his lighter and one of his metal canisters and put the flame to the wick. Then, the panic crept in. ...It's not lighting...Why?
He then remembered his bag was wet. ...Shit. SHIT. SHIT! The wick's probably too wet! He then slammed the canister on the ground in frustration and pulled out his kukri and shock rod in desperation. "Goddamnit, Morgana, this is why I just use a contact ignition method rather than a wick!"
"Like that would have made a difference!" Morgana responded.
The voices in Ann's head continued. Now, let us form a contract...
"I hear you...Carmen," she muttered, walking towards Kamoshida's throne.
Joker's attention diverted to Ann for a minute. Shit...I forgot she had an app. And in her state...I don't even want to imagine what's going to happen...
"Joker, what's happening to her?" Skull yelled. "She's going nuts!"
"I think...she's going to be one of us soon," Joker replied. "If we survive."
Ann's inner voice was pleased. There, you go...you gain nothing by restraining yourself. You understand this...and thus I'll lend your strength...
A red cat's mask appeared on Ann's face. Her eyes were yellow and her pupils were narrowed on Kamoshida.
She then ripped off the mask, crying in agony when she did.
She was then enveloped in a blue flame, coming out in a kinky red leather outfit with a cat's tail trailing on her back. Above her was her Persona: a lipsticked woman in masquerade, wearing a magenta ballroom dress. Strung to her was a man with a heart for a head, flailing in the air like a lifeless dummy
By now, Kamoshida had fled to the opposite side of the room, teetering between fear and indignation, and leaving Shiho chained to the seat.
"This just pisses me off," Ann said while looking at "Shiho." She grasped the cognition by the neck, digging into its skin so as to draw sludge. "Thinking you could be manipulated to such a point..." She clenched her jaw. "I'm sorry I didn't believe in you enough as a volleyball player...so that I didn't have to do all of this for HIM.
She sobbed softly. Then:
CARMEN!"
The cognition was then swallowed in a warm flame. Amidst the bloodcurdling screams, the flesh melted off her bones, and the bones turned to ashes.
She then turned to the crowd of startled nymphs and Shadows, with tears rolling freely down her face and Carmen brandishing flames in her hands. ...It's funny. Some of these girls here I recognize.
They're the same ones that would harass me for my hair...my eyes...my lack of weight gain...and now, for 'being so close to Kamoshida.' I was used to it. I wore the fact I was different with pride...but now, being here...
I'm sick of it.
She yelled out the pain, and with that, Carmen unleashed a rapidly expanding circle of fire, evaporating some of Kamoshida's nymphs.
The rest of the team ducked down low enough to avoid the incoming flames. Some of the Shadows ducked down, but others had their faces burned off.
By now, the ring of fire had made the rose petals cinders floating in the air, and set the tapestry hanging from the ceiling aflame. Slowly, the room became the ninth circle of Hell, with Kamoshida observing in terror as he attempted to flee from an open window.
Ann realized the outfit came with a long red whip.
She shot the whip out and curled it around Kamoshida's neck, tugging him back like a swine escaping its pen.
Akira was still surrounded, however, and more Shadows came through the doors.
Ann now had Kamoshida's neck under her foot, tugging harder at the whip.
Another nymph crawled desperately at the pair. "Princess! Stop hurt-"
She ordered Carmen to put her in a sudden, deep sleep.
Whip twisted around her left hand, she went to work on her head. She smacked down on the back of the nymph's head with the gun's grip, repeatedly softening it into a black jelly.
She cremated the remains to make sure the job was done.
All of Ann's fiery destruction gave him an idea. A risky one.
He quickly grabbed some items, flash powder included, from his bag and shoved it into his coat. Now...Here goes nothing! He threw his bag of materials on the ground. "ANN! LIGHT UP THE BAG!"
Ann stared confusedly at him.
"DO IT! AND MAKE THE FIRE HOT!"
"Shit! Joker, what are you doing!?" Morgana cried. "The collateral damage..."
Skull stared at him blankly. "...Seriously, what is he doing?"
Morgana dragged Skull down to the floor. "Duck down, Clueless!"
Ann then had Carmen shoot a jet of flame at the bag. A few seconds later, it exploded, shooting smoke everywhere.
Joker, wasn't as fast with ducking as the other boys. He was knocked back from the shockwave, slamming his back in the wall.
Everything for him turned to black.
"Welcome back, Inmate," chimed Justine. "This'll be quick. We expect you to awake soon."
Akira lifted himself off his cot. "A small consolation, knowing that hit on the head isn't fatal."
"Now, listen up!" cried Caroline. "It's time you use the Master's special gift! The one he's been saving for you!"
"So kind," Akira said dryly. "What, do I get...special Vision or something? Cut the crap. I got friends to protect."
Igor maintained that freakishly wide smile. "Patience is a virtue. But back to business. I'll direct you to the guillotine previously shown. Or rather, two guillotines." He pointed to two guillotines behind him, each on his side. "I notice you've been very busy expanding your compendium of Personas..." Tarot cards appeared in front of him, floating in the air. "Separately, they are marginal. But together...in the right way, they can be even more than the sum of their parts." Two cards shot out from the grouping of floating cards and started to glow. "It is time...to let go."
From Akira's head came Arsene. This time, Arsene decided to speak. "I am Arsene, the other you within. Though I may disappear at this time, I shall always be at your side. Then, a brief pause. 'Til we meet again...Pipsqueak Bro."
Akira did a double take. ...I haven't heard that since...
As Arsene cackled, he was sealed into a burlap sack and laid into the guillotine; the same thing happened to the other Persona, a Succubus with fangs that Akira wooed from a previous expedition.
Each of their heads was placed in the guillotine receptacle. Then...the twins pulled down the switches, sending the blades down. Cutting through the blades sent out two jets of blinding light that fused in the middle, revealing a blindfolded woman with angel wings and black straps for clothing.
She opened her mouth. "I am Angel. My strength is at your command...Evil is on the horizon. We must make haste." She made her home in Akira's mind, flying towards him while in his cell.
"This will hurt, Inmate," Justine foreboded. "But this will make the process of returning faster."
"Act fast. Danger's close." Caroline struck Akira directly in the face with the butt of her baton.
Everything went black again.
Akira opened his eyes and found himself surrounded by more smoke than before. ...It's darker too. Like...an accelerated burn. He looked up to find the fire from before reaching the ceiling. In front of him was smoke opaque enough that he could only see a few feet ahead of him.
He then heard a cry for help in the smoke. "Kamoshida, save us!" It was an Archangel with its left arm dismembered, clambering towards him.
He searched for his weapons on him, only to come up empty-handed.
He then noticed the small bonfire of nymphs next to the Knight and a sharp piece of aluminum from his canisters.
He slipped into the smoke.
The wounded Templar unsheathed his sword and swung around trying to him.
Several seconds passed.
Suddenly, Akira rolled from the smoke, grabbing the aluminum piece. He climbed up the Templar, ripping its mask off and stabbing at the area around his face.
They were shallow cuts, meant to disorient. Leaping off, Akira then pushed the Knight into the bonfire.
Akira watched it scream for life as it disintegrated into black dust.
Behind him, pieces of the ceiling fell off, crashing into the ground.
"SKULL!"
It was the sound of Morgana yelling in the distance. Following it reunited him with the rest. Skull was pinned by a fallen piece of marble, and Ann was busy spraying at several Incubi, ripping the winged devils to shreds.
"Sorry about that," Joker said. "You see my stuff anywhere?"
"I got you, dude..." Skull then tossed his equipment to Joker.
Akira heard the clackings of hooves. A Bicorn charged after them.
"I got it..." Skull said weakly. "Captain Kidd..."
His Persona didn't appear, and it was dangerously close.
Ann decided to step in. "Carmen?"
Her Persona sprayed the horse with a powder that made it go to sleep.
Joker then found his shock rod to be functional still. He jammed the rod into its eye and sent some watts into its skull, incinerating it.
"And that is why you always have a Plan B." Pulling it out of the newly formed pile of cinders, Joker monitored the power. ...No charges left. Well then... "You ok, Skull?"
"...I probably got a little bit in me before I'm done."
"He's being modest again," Ann clarified. "He's banged up to hell. Probably doesn't have the energy to fight, to be frank. Morgana, can you lift that marble off him?"
"...I'll try." Morgana then summoned its Persona and had it lift the marble.
Skull got up slowly, panting heavily. "Damn...we gotta get out of here before the Castle comes down on us..."
Then, a swoosh. Akira saw the speedy object briefly: a flaming volleyball. One that crashed through the wall that was behind the party.
Kamoshida then came out of the smoke, limping and with half of his body charred. In his hand was the crown. "...You...fucking son of bitches. My kingdom...it's burning..."
"My word..." Akira said. "Wait, Morgana...what happens if this Kamoshida dies here?"
"Then he dies in the real world," Morgana responded. "Don't worry though. They won't die from being one hundred percent burned. Only if their life energy is snuffed out completely..." Then, terror struck Morgana. "...GUYS, GET READY!"
"Why?" Ann asked. "Is there something bad coming?"
"Right in front of you," Kamoshida said smugly. He formed into slime, a bleb carrying the crown (now original size) towards the ceiling. The shaft of the bleb started to develop arms. Some with large, sharpened, golden knives that kept stabbing the floor wildly upon formation; and in others, a knife or a fork that ate from a cup between a set of formed legs. Then the face appeared: a purple, twisted, demonic representation of Kamoshida with a long slithery tongue slipping between jagged teeth.
"...What the hell," Skull uttered. He struggled to aim. "Well, looks like we're going to have to take this asshole down a notch then."
"Not unless I spike you to oblivion." He spiked down a larger volleyball this time.
The trio spread out, avoiding the shockwave the ball caused. It left a large crack in the floor.
"Shit, shit." Akira then threw the last of his flash powder at Kamoshida's eyes, the impact blinding him temporarily with light.
The floor then split into two, the pieces slamming into a cathedral down below, decorated with a stain-glassed mosaic of King Kamoshida himself.
Everyone tumbled down into the bottom floor.
Reaching the floor, the Thieves made a mad dash behind a set of scattered pews.
Joker went first. "Damnit. At this rate, he'll tear apart the entire Castle trying to rip us to shreds."
"...I know," Morgana muttered. "This is a quagmire we've gotten ourselves in. If it isn't going to be Kamoshida, then it'll be the fire that'll kill us." It then blushed. "No offense, Lady Ann!"
Ann groaned. "...None taken."
"That cocksucker really seems to covet that crown a lot," Skull added. "I really would relish knocking that effin' thing off his head, smug piece of shit."
Joker smiled. "Then, let's do that. Like we got anything to lose." He looked up at a loosely hanging chandelier on the intact side of the ceiling. "That chandelier up there could pin him long enough to smuggle the crown to the real world. Morgana, sounds like a plan?"
"Sure does. I'm the smallest. I'll go for it. The rest of you guys try and distract it as long as possible." Morgana then transformed into a regular cat.
"Whoa, you could do that?" Skull exclaimed.
"Of course. Plus, I'm nimbler and faster this way. Don't this mess up guys." Morgana then lept up the pews and onto rubble stacked to the left of the group.
The trio then unloaded into Kamoshida, the bullets leaving only minor wounds.
"AGATHION!" The jarred demon came out and sent a bolt of lighting down the way. Ann joined in, shooting a ball of flame at the towering demon. Skull kept firing buckshot.
Morgana made its way to the second floor. "Looks like the exchange of fire down there is keeping him busy."
Sipping wine from his cup, Kamoshida flung another explosive volleyball down the way, scattering the Thieves' cover.
'...Stupid fucking volleyballs," Akira grunted from the ground.
Kamoshida now glared at Ann. "...You know you want to come over to this side...you glory-seeking cunt. Sexual harassment? Don't kid yourself!"
Ann couldn't believe it. "He still has the energy to say this crap?"
In a flash, Kamoshida lashed his long, cyan tongue at Ann.
She ducked down just in time, and Joker took a swing using his kukri, cutting cleanly through it.
Kamoshida fidgeted his arms about, crying heavily. "MY TONGUE! YOU'RE PLAYING TOO ROUGH!" He flung a knife across the room, cutting the space between Ann and Skull.
Ryuji was dry. "HURRY UP ALREADY, YOU STUPID CAT! God, I wish we could have used real ammo for this! That way, I'd know when I'm going to run out!"
Morgana was in position, transforming back to his pudgy self. "Piece of cake." From the chandelier, he jumped across the room, knocking the crown off Kamoshida's head.
Kamoshida was struck with fear. "NO! MY CROWN!"
As planned, the chandelier swung towards Kamoshida, knocking him back into the mosaic. Caught in its hoop, Kamoshida was weighed down, immobile and his back poked with hardened glass.
Ann saw the window of opportunity. "ALL OUT! EMPTY EVERYTHING!"
The Thieves unloaded everything they could, pushing up a cloud of dust that covered the entire room and deafening their ears.
After a good minute of bullets tearing the scenery, the cloud of debris around Kamoshida faded away.
Kamoshida was still in his demonic form, albeit weakened.
Akira grinned. Time for the final piece. "ANGEL!" His new Persona came out, stretching her angelic wings.
"What the hell?!" Morgana yelled. "Where the hell did you get that?"
"...I made it."
"YOU WHAT!?"
"It's what it sounds like. Now...no more delays."
'Tis the time to cleanse his soul of foul temptations, Angel acceded. She summoned scrolls around Kamoshida. With a snap of her fingers, the scrolls gave way to blinding, white light, as she the words "Hama."
He slowly faded back to his more familiar form, burned, bloodied and whimpering. "...Mercy. Please...I am...King Kamoshida..."
Skull hobbled over to see him up close. "Yeah. We know." He got the butt of his shotgun ready. "Nobody cares."
Then, the whack.
Skull then set himself down on a splintering bench and slumped in it, staring at an unconscious Kamoshida. "That...was for Shiho." And with that, Skull took off his mask to rub the dust caking around his eyes.
Ann walked up next to him and set down, a scowl still on her face.
Ryuji turned to look at Ann. "Ann...I'm sorry. I should have mentioned this a while ago. I thought I keep you away from this crap...You didn't deserve to find it out that way, Especially from him."
Ann leaned on her shoulder. "You're right. I didn't...you jerk..."
"I know...I'm sorry."
She then hugged him. "...You were right... I should have put my foot down sooner."
He returned the favor, smiling softly while doing so. "It's ok. He ain't getting up soon. For now...let's just relax."
In his arms, she didn't hold back. She let the tears flow, shoving her face deep into his pirate coat.
Joker took off his mask and took a deep breath.
Morgana trotted next to Akira. "Goddamnit, Ryuji...getting all of Lady Ann's attention..."
Akira gave a hearty laugh, knowing that even if it didn't pan out in the real world, seeing this moment, this genuine, human moment, the type that warms the blood and livens the soul...was a nice consolation prize.
"Yes," he said, beaming. "He is."
Hey guys!
So yeah...sorry about not updating as often. I guess I didn't make it clear I was still traveling in some remote areas still, so that was interfering with my ability to upload.
And to make it worse, the original draft I originally had (which would have meant another chapter early last week) was lost. That...bummed me out for a bit.
Unfortunately, it bummed me out to where, as of 10/29/2018, Fool's Oddysey is now on hia-
Just kidding.
I'm not abandoning this story.
In fact, that trip gave me a lot of ideas for the next arc. Ideas that I'm pretty excited to write about!
In the meantime, for all those that have read, commented, and fav/followed:
Thank you, guys. Honestly. You guys give me the energy to continue writing, and I appreciate that.
Apologies for the long chapter. I guess I'm just overcompensating at this point for the lack of posts.
I will say the final confrontation feels a bit...rushed? I dunno.
Either way, I'm going to shoot for Friday/Sat. for the Kamoshida epilogue.
11/3: Making a few edits. Particularly towards the end. I realized that the end was particularly sloppy in comparison to the first bit, both in editing and pacing, so I tried to make a few changes (It probably didn't help I basically wrote this after getting back from hiking before, so I was probably too tired for my own good. That, or I was just self-conscious about the length of the chapter and wanted it wrapped up as soon as possible.)
Hard to say. But I'm not going to try to spend too much time on it, as I really want to focus more on the epilogue.
I will say though that I want to push the epilogue more towards Monday/Tuesday just so I can take another look at the chapters I have before.
Stay tuned!
P.S. The next chapter will also be weak to Pancakedyne.