"So that's how the meeting went...? I suppose it was a worthwhile endeavor, all things considered."
Mitsuru sounded as though she was at the end of her rope. Between an executive meeting with the board of directors for the Kirijo Group and trying to get Public Safety off her back taking up her entire day, Marcus felt sympathy for her in spades; he wondered if his new feelings towards his employer were a result of hearing more of her history from Akihiko.
"Despite her position in all of this, Detective Shirogane was willing to hear our side of the issue and provide us a lead for our investigation," Marcus said, lounging in one of the chairs in the reception hall of headquarters for the Kirijo Group. After gathering the necessary paperwork, he had delivered them to Naoto Shirogane in person, and then went back to his new office to coordinate with Fuuka on a plan in case Public Safety decided to be more aggressive with their inquiries. Once that was settled, Marcus went back to the reception hall and placed a call to Mitsuru; even with the number she had provided to him earlier that week, it took over an hour for Mitsuru to finally answer.
"I'm glad one of us was having a productive afternoon," Mitsuru sighed, an edge of aggravation creeping into her voice now. "I had to not only discuss with the board the direction I want to turn the Kirijo Group over the next few years, but also deal with Public Safety breathing down my neck. That's why I was only able to answer now; I've been negotiating with the director on the legal ramifications on unwarranted searches into my company."
"You don't need to justify yourself to me, not after this past week," Marcus replied gently, leaning forward in the chair he was sitting in. "I won't claim to understand what you're dealing with right now, but if you ever need to talk, you can reach out to me. I'm a good listener, as I'm sure our teammates would agree on," he added with a smile.
"…You're quite something," Mitsuru commented, sounding more relaxed. "One moment you're a rogue and a charmer; the next you're the epitome of compassion and manners. I suppose those were traits you acquired during your acting career."
"Well, I have been called a man of many talents," Marcus remarked cheekily, grinning as he spun the ring on his finger. "In any case, I'm going to look into this lead tomorrow to see if it goes anywhere. I should be back later tomorrow night if everything goes as planned."
"Very well, I'll expect a full report upon your return. Shall I cover the expenses for your trip?" Mitsuru asked.
"No thanks, I'll just use some money from the very generous paycheck you're giving me," Marcus responded, sitting back in the chair again. "I figure using company expenses on company business is the responsible thing to do. Besides, I don't want to owe you anything, any more than I already do anyway."
"Marcus…you don't owe me on any account," Mitsuru said seriously, "In fact, I'm the one who should be repaying you. After everything my company and I have put you through…"
"...Mitsuru?" Marcus was surprised; he hadn't heard her talk this way since she had recruited him into the Kirijo Group.
"…Ah, forgive me, I suppose all these events have put me in a pensive state of mind," Mitsuru replied at length, sounding slightly flustered. "I-in any case, I shall be arriving back at headquarters tomorrow afternoon. I hope your investigation is a worthwhile one. Good luck."
"Thanks. Same to you." With that, Marcus hung up and put his phone in his jacket pocket.
Mitsuru never talks like that with anyone else, as far as I know. Maybe there is some truth in what Akihiko told me, Marcus marveled, thinking back on the conversation he had with him.
I know I promised to not take advantage of her, but what kind of a person would I be if I let Mitsuru carry all the stress and pressure by herself? Maybe I'll ask Junpei for advice when I get back…
After calling Naoto to inform her on his plans to visit Inaba, she said she would inform some friends of hers about his arrival. Once the timing of his arrival and the names of Naoto's friends were exchanged, Marcus headed out of headquarters, planning on doing some window browsing while going through downtown. Now that he had a substantially larger salary to work from, he was eager to see what upgrades he could make to his life. In moderation of course; he would have to calculate taxes and rent, as well as other living expenditures, before he made any official purchases.
While he was passing through the food district, Marcus paused as he heard a voice behind him.
"No, it's not here either. Oh well, I'm sure it will turn up somewhere."
It couldn't be, Marcus thought incredulously as he turned around slowly.
There she was looking as though she hadn't a care in the world in the exact same outfit Marcus had seen her in last time. From her blue hat and dress, to those golden eyes that seemed to see right into his soul, there was no doubt about who it was.
"Elizabeth? What a pleasant surprise. What are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry, who are…" Elizabeth started, then her eyes widened as a huge smile lit up her face. "Mark! It's so nice to see you again!"
"It's Marcus actually," Marcus said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "You wouldn't still be shopping here by any chance?"
"Well, I had set my younger brother on some errands, but he gets so caught up in his own little world that I decided to take care of it myself," Elizabeth explained, absently swaying from side to side. "It has been a while since I saw him last, but that's completely beside the point."
"Really? I didn't know you had a brother," Marcus remarked, raising his eyebrows. "I do know that you have a sister, one that I've met a few times now in the Velvet Room."
"Oh! So you met Margaret!" Elizabeth exclaimed happily, hugging the book she had to her chest. "I knew you had the potential within you! I have a knack for scouting out new guests of unmatched skill and hutzpah."
"Uh, sure thing," Marcus mumbled, grinning at her enthusiasm. "So are you staying in town?"
"No, but something about this place keeps drawing me back," Elizabeth replied, smiling as she looked at Marcus. "Or perhaps, it's not some 'thing' but some 'one'."
"You don't say," Marcus teased, grinning at the girl in front of him. "Would it be anyone I know?"
"Well, I think you know this person," Elizabeth responded mysteriously, leaning forward slightly, "although there's more to this person than meets the eye. I think you might be surprised what you find out about this person, if you look hard enough."
"Sounds like someone worth getting to know," Marcus answered smoothly, feeling a thrill run down his back. "Maybe we can spend some time with this person."
"That sounds delightful," Elizabeth said warmly, "unfortunately, there are a few events I must attend in the near future. Once the dust all settles, I will be sure to seek you out, my tall, dark, mysterious acquaintance."
"I'll hold you to that, my dear," Marcus declared, giving her a dramatic bow. "Until we meet again, may you have a wonderful evening, my fair lady."
"The same to you, good sir," Elizabeth avowed, returning the gesture with a small curtsey. "May fortune smile upon you and fate always be kind." With that, she turned and walked down the sidewalk, vanishing into the throng of people going down the street.
That girl has a crush on me, if I do say so myself. Next time we meet, I'll be sure to ask her out, Marcus thought idly, smiling as he continued towards his apartment.
The scene was almost identical as last time; the full moon, the eerie silence, and the castle with the enormous tower rising from its center. Now, however, there was an unnatural light that bathed everything, casting all the city in an orange hue with shadows that appeared unusually long. The gate to the castle was open this time, as I walked by my own free will into the darkness within, curious on what I may find inside.
What I discovered was beyond my expectations: the chamber I found myself in was comprised entirely of crystal. Absolutely flawless, it shone with an inner light, causing an almost blinding effect as this glow came from the walls, ceiling and even the floor. As I crossed the foray, a luminescent staircase revealed itself to me, and I ascended towards a door at the top, one also comprised of crystal. This one was different from the rest; the light that radiated out was erratic, and comprised of multiple colors, as though a rainbow was thrown into a lightning storm. Upon reaching the door and opening it, darkness surged through the threshold, dragging me once more into the abyss.
When light returned to my surroundings, I found myself once more in the chamber with the great golden doors. The rift that had appeared across them was still there, and darkness seemed to ooze out of it like blood from a reopened wound. A hooded figure stood before the gates, and I knew instinctively just from looking that this was the same being I had encountered previously. As I watched, the figure raised both hands into the air, and something emerged out of the orange fog as though summoned. It was huge beyond belief, and seemed to be crafted from the darkest recesses of the human mind: a beast comprised of a black seething mass, with a decayed ribcage and skull possessing enormous horns, vicious teeth and red eyes that seemed to burn with boundless rage. Not even half of the monster was visible through the fog, and it easily matched the height of the golden gates.
A primordial fear spread from the pit of my stomach, the instinct to run from a predator before it finds you. As though sensing my dread, the beast turned in my direction, and as I gazed into the blazing orbs that were its eyes, I knew this monstrosity would destroy the entire world if left unchecked. As the hooded figure turned to look in my vicinity, the behemoth let out a piercing, deafening roar and reached a mangled hand towards me, bent on either catching or crushing me in its unforgiving grasp.
Marcus threw himself awake, half blinded by fear and expecting the claw-like hand to descend upon him any second. Drenched in sweat and shaking all over, it took several fast gasps and heartbeats for him to fully become conscious of his surroundings.
Okay, I'm not going to die…it was that same dream again…but it felt so real…what's going on?
Looking down at his hands, Marcus willed himself to take slow, deep breaths to calm his heart and stop the shivers running through his body.
"You don't look so good; almost like you've seen a ghost."
Jumping slightly, Marcus glanced up to see the same boy who had visited him a few nights previously.
"Pharos…do you know what's happening to me?" Marcus asked darkly, frowning at the sudden intrusion.
"Hmm…some people say dreams are projections of your subconscious mind," Pharos replied, tilting his head slightly as he looked at Marcus with his unnaturally pale eyes. "Maybe you're trying to process memories that you consciously try to subdue."
"But I'm not…I never had memories like those before. I can't repress a thought I didn't have in the first place," Marcus muttered, cringing at reliving the nightmare he had just escaped from.
"That's true," Pharos said thoughtfully, as a shadow crossed the window in Marcus' room, and seemed to blend into Pharos as he slowly faded away. "Then perhaps they're not your memories at all…"
Marcus stared across his room, trying to wrap his head around what he had just heard.
Not my memories? Then whose are they? And why would I…
A wave of exhaustion suddenly overtook him, and almost against his will, Marcus fell back onto his bed and into the dark embrace of sleep.
