Author's Note: In this chapter Runa and the other met the mysterious Sneak and investigate how to get into contact equally unknown people. All while Runa deals with effects of the actions she took in the last chapter to survive.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all rights go to their respective owners.

Persona 2 EP - Chapter 7 - Heading Deeper Into The Unknown

POV Change

Maya's point of view

Aoba Park was a place where Runa had spent a lot of her time, her father worked as security guard at the park.

He worked security at other places as well, mostly as an consultant. He can't do much in the way of physical work because of his back problems, but he works as much as he can. Too much, in my opinion… If anything it's making things worse. But pushing yourself too hard seems to be a family trait among Suou men, Runa reflected. She frowned and asked herself. I wonder what my mother was like? Dad doesn't talk about her much, but neither does Katsuya… Tatsuya was too young to remember. I wish I knew if I was anything like her. Then again, I doubt it with the things I've done…

Runa gritted her teeth and felt her eyes burning. Their faces… they won't leave me alone.

"Hey, watch out," Katsuya quietly called out to her.

"Huh?" Runa lifted herself out of her thoughts.

"A demon's coming our way, we'll need to either avoid it, talk or fight. Though I doubt you walking straight into it's line of sight is going to be helping the situation," Baofu pointed out.

"You're right, I didn't notice it. Nevertheless I would of handled it. Don't worry, I'm not going to be a burden," Runa insisted

"Said the girl whose been walking around with her head in the clouds," Maya remarked as she joined in on the conversation prior to adding. "With the way you've been acting, I could almost forgive your brother and father for thinking handcuffing you to a bathroom rail, you know?"

"Really?" Katsuya's eyes widen.

"I did say almost, not quite there yet. Give a five minutes or so," Maya responded cheerfully.

"That… That's pretty quick," Runa marvelled at the journalist.

"…Oh Ma-ya, sometimes I think you're too forgiving, but on this occasion I can understand. This girl is walking danger magnet," Ulala commented with a shake of her head.

"And you would be right," Runa muttered.

"…You agreed to that rather swiftly," Katsuya carefully eyed her.

"It's true, isn't? Why deny the immediately obvious?" Runa replied with forced laugh.

"The demon passed, shall we continue onward or…?" Baofu wondered in a measured tone.

"Cool, the meeting place isn't far, let's go," Runa jumped at the opportunity.

"You know this place pretty well," Maya noted as she joined her.

"My father works security here, I used play here when I was younger," she replied.

"Did the flowers used to talk back then, too?" Maya playfully inquired.

"Ah, no. That's new," Runa half-smiled, but her heart wasn't in it.

"That smile again… I've seen that before," Maya muttered.

"Oh, um…" Runa searched for words but couldn't find any.

Maya waved away her concern. "It's nothing to worry about, I had a vision, I guess you can call it. It was brought on by a bout of Deja Vu… You smiled like that in it, that's all."

"…" Runa shrugged taking a page out of her trouble-making brother's playbook before she continued walking toward the place Katsuya said this 'Sneak' wanted to meet him.

Ulala approached Maya and asked before the she could speak again. "By the way, Ma-ya, have I met Makimura at GOLD before? I felt I have even though that was supposed to be my first time."

"I don't think you have, but I remember it happening despite evidence to contrary… This is odd. Is my Deja Vu contagious, now?" Maya puzzled.

"I should hope not, though… A lot of the people around town have been having Deja Vu moments lately too. Not as strong as yours, but it's something I've recently noticed," Ulala mentioned.

"You think it might have something to do with what's been going on," Maya concluded.

"Uh-huh, but I have no clue how it fits in," Ulala admitted before she stopped. "Hey, have we passed this flower before?"

"Um… It looks… Yes, we've passed it before," Maya determined.

"Hey, navigator! Why are we going in circles?" Ulala called out to Runa.

"I'm not a navi… Never mind. The purple flower mentioned no one could answer it's question, I've circled back it because a little while ago I figure it out," Runa explained.

"Er… What? When did you have time to do that?!" Ulala exclaimed.

Runa pointed out. "I mostly heal, even more than Maya-san,so I have more time to think than everyone else here," unfortunately… Which is why I'm trying to keep my mind occupied with silly flowers rather than the alternative.

"Right… And the answer is? Cause I honestly can't kept track of which flower is what. I like fortune-telling because it's fun, but this riddle… Not so much," Ulala commented.

Runa inquired of the Star Arcana Persona-user. "I don't pay attention to Wang Long, but you do so what are purple dragons compatible with?"

"I'm not that into Wang Long, it's pretty new," Ulala replied.

"… Oh, my mistake… Hmm, this makes things harder…" Runa grimaced.

"Maybe try the process of elimination? If can remember them all, then try figuring out which ones didn't what dragon they were. There's a good chance it could be the right won," Maya suggested.

"Wow, Ma-ya… You remembered all of what the flowers said!?" Ulala's eyes bulged with surprise.

"No, not at all. We were running into demons far too much for me to commit any of it to memory or to note it down. That's why I'm asking Runa-chan to remember it," Maya corrected her.

She made a nervous face at this. "How am I meant to remember it all?"

"Just try, you might surprise what details might emerge," Katsuya advised.

"Thanks for help, I rather be poison by the flower if I fail," Runa bow her head slightly.

"Why are we bothering with this?" Baofu questioned.

"So, the Blue Flower was blue dragon, Greenish-Yellowish Flower was a gold dragon, Red Flower was a red dragon, yellow dragon was the Yellow Flower, Orange was moon dragon, Cyan Flower was light dragon… And then… No, that's not it," Runa frowned.

"Well, let's rule out the ones that it's not compatible with," Maya determined.

"Hey, didn't the Red Flower say something about dragons being spilt into 4 types with 3 in each which are compatible?" Runa recalled.

"Yes, so if can figure out the rest we should be able the rest," Katsuya concluded.

"Again, why are we wasting time like this?" Baofu wondered.

"Yellow likes gold, dislikes silver, blue likes navy blue, white likes moon, scarlet… I've got nothing… Er…" Runa stumbled in her recall.

"Gold likes black, right? That makes a trio with yellow, so we can rule out the Yellow Flower & the Yellow-Green Flower," Maya helped.

Runa nodded and recalled."Yes, and white is liked by light so with the moon that's another trio. Then since Blue, Navy Blue are in a group together without a third member, but both are one of the multiple choices that the Purple Flower offered. Given that, I guess that means it's unlikely to be both since the flower said we can only chose one of the choices, which in turn points towards 4th group being the one purple dragons are in. Since Silver and Red is disliked by Yellow that means they are in the same group. Thus then…"

"It's Red," Baofu told the flower.

"Ah… I am surprised. That is correct. So there are those who understand us… Humans are not as bad as I thought," Purple Flower spoke in a refined voice of some noble from an earlier era.

"…" Maya, Ulala, Runa and Katsuya turned to look at Baofu slightly annoyed.

"I'm speeding things up, there's no need for a big reveal… It's a flower, for goodness sake, don't get prissy about it," Baofu argued.

"A Flower who can poison you, if they so choose to," Purple Flower reminded him.

"I remember the threat," Baofu nodded.

"Please don't forget. Now, open your palm, I'll give you a gift. Your gift is the Akashic Ring. Please use it wisely," Purple Flower said as a ring appeared in Baofu's palm.

"Thanks. Kid hang onto to this," Baofu tossed the ring to Runa. She failed to catch it, but thankfully Ulala was there and grabbed it before it fell into a bush.

"You could be a little more careful," Ulala complained as she handed Runa the ring.

"What makes you think I can use it wisely?" Runa asked as she held the ring in her left hand.

"I'm betting on you not using it. I don't even know what it does," Baofu explained.

"Brilliant," Runa mumbled.

"You're the one who wanted to solve the riddle," Baofu commented as he lit a cigarette.

"Yeah… You have point," Runa admitted.

"Child?" The Purple Flower spoke up.

I'm the youngest here, I guessing Purple Flower is referring to me, Runa turned to it. "Yes?"

"Do you know what flowers think of? We're not much different from humans. We fall in love… become sad… and repeat the process. And yes, it applies to my kin and myself as well… Fall in love with each other… desert another… Love is splendid, but at the same time, it is painful. The same can be said for friendship… Don't you look for answers because you fear such connections with others? Don't you rely on fortunes, myths and stories of mysteries unknown because their existence is uncertain, thought fragile or easily lost? ...Flowers are the same."

"Oh, I haven't thought about that before," Runa realised.

"It's the same with many living things, we all fear connections because of what we gain from them. It can be hard to lose such connections, so many simply don't take the risk," Purple Flower said.

"That's…" Maya began before shaking her head.

"Amano-san?" Katsuya prompted confused.

"It's just incredibly fascinating to find out more about the inner workings of a flower's mind, that's all. …Don't you think?" Maya replied.

"Yes, it has it's own charm," Katsuya nodded.

She totally avoid that question, Runa observed silently before she pocketed the akashic ring and asked. "Sorry for the detour, shall we be off then?"

"About damn time," Baofu said as he kept walking along the path ahead of it.

"He must have started without us, but he did stopped to wait for us.… Ha, he's not as bad as he likes to make himself out to be," Ulala informed Maya as she moved to join him.

"That's often the case with a lot of people," Maya agreed as they went forward.

"This is it," Katsuya announced as they reached meeting spot. They all glanced around, no one was in sight.

"Maybe we did spend too much time with flower riddle," Maya said once it had seemed no one would show up.

"He'll show, it's not time yet, he said around be here before dusk," Katsuya said as he took a seat on one of the park benches and crossed his arms.

"I don't recall overhearing that," Runa commented as she also took a seat.

"Which is why you are meant to listen to what I say after the phone call rather than ease dropping, sister," Katsuya pointed out.

"Well… That's definitely… something I need to work on," Runa admitted as she leant back. Then there were the sound of footsteps which caused her to straighten herself.

She moved to sneak a peek at the man they were meeting, he was wearing a beige trench coat and he had dark bowler hat tipped to obscure his face.

"Who are you? Are you the one we're…?" Maya asked as the man sat on the park bench behind the one Katsuya was on.

"There's no time.… Just listen. I cannot reveal my identity now…" The man known to them as Sneak interrupted.

He held the collar of his coat up to muffle his voice and hid his face, whoever this man was he did not want to be identified. Runa felt the man's eyes glance at her warning her to look away, which was a familiar sensation lately. Thus she turned her head and resisted the impulse to whistle nonchalantly. I was so not trying to figure out who you were… I wasn't doing that, at all…

Sneak continued. "As you know… the police and mafia are essentially being controlled by Tatsuzou's organisation. Not just the police… The media, and even the giant companies, have the roots of the 'New World Order,' spread around them…"

"'New World Order,' you say…? What is their objective… What is Tatsuzou planning!?" Katsuya questioned Sneak.

"Obviously you're skeptical, but I gave you all that I know…" Sneak replied with weariness and strain in his voice.

"If you don't talk, then we'll just bust into the station to corner Shimazu and Togashi," Katsuya informed him.

"No…! You alone are not capable of that! They are above the law… If you move now, you'll end up like your father…" Sneak cautioned.

Runa froze at the news while Katsuya exclaimed. "You… know my father!?"

"…" Sneak was silent for some time before he spoke again. "They are still taking you lightly… I want you to find hard evidence of a conspiracy and exploit Tatsuzou… Not all the police and government are in his hands. There are people other you, and those that accompany you, who are investigating the organisation… Currently, I am the only one who knows this. Conspire with them and trade information… Here are photographs of them."

There was the soft nose of the paper being dropped on the bench behind them before she heard Sneak stand which was followed by the sound footsteps. Runa swallowed. How does he know my father? …Just who is this 'Sneak.' Can he be trusted or is this a trap?

Katsuya leaped to his feet and called out. "Wait…! I still need to ask…"

But by the time Katsuya turned around Sneak had already disappeared from sight. Maya went to the park bench where the man had been and was joined swiftly by the others. Runa hesitated before she too went to look at the photographs Sneak had left for them.

"There are two photographs. There's a man and women, I don't know who they are, though," Maya said as she picked up the photographs and showed them to the others.

"Huh, so they're investigating Tatsuzou as well," Runa commented as examined the photographs. In one photo there was a man wearing a motorcycle suit and the other was of a woman in beige clothes. Although with the woman there was man in the background who she appeared to waving to, but his image was blurry and indistinct. It was technically as clear as the rest of the photo, but Runa found she couldn't focus on the man. She kept feeling the compulsion to avert her eyes from the figure. Weird… Though I doubt it's of any importance. It's just a photo. That we need to find the people within to take down a conspiracy involving the government and the police. Which is pretty significant… …Huh? It's important, but it's not important. Argh! Why does thinking about this make my head hurt?!

"Isn't this… voyeriusm?" Ulala questioned.

"It's just too fishy… I don't trust him," Baofu stated his opinion.

Katsuya moved his head. "No… I think we can trust him… That was the voice of a man atoning for his sins…"

"Y…! Y-You can tell what sort a person people are by just hearing their voice?" Runa jumped.

"There are usually other factors, but yes. Voices reveal a lot about people, even if they themselves don't know it," Katsuya confirmed looking Runa straight in the eye.

"R-Right," Runa's eyes darted away towards the photos. "So now what are we going about these people in the photos?"

"Well, we need to find them, but I don't how we are going to be able to do that with just these pictures… Aha! I got it! We'll just spread a rumour… Let's go to Kuzunoha!" Ulala decided.

"I think that could work. Great idea Ulala!" Maya praised before she placed the photographs in a shoulder bag and began rushing off with Ulala.

At Kuzunoha Detective Agency, Maya explained the situation to Tamaki and Chief Todoroki. "So that's why we need to spread rumours about the people in these photographs. We need to find so we can figure out what they know about Tatsuzou's plans."

"Like I said, we don't even know their names? We should just lure them out with a rumour. I'm so smart!" Ulala beamed.

"You say that… but we don't know what kind of people they are. It's not right to spread rumours about people you don't even know," Katsuya had reservations about the idea.

"It's not like we're going to spread bad rumours, though. I'm sure they would understand if we rationally and calmly explained it to them," Runa assured him.

"But it still needs to be interesting to people, or it won't become a rumour," Chief Todoroki pointed out, prior to inquiring. "What kind of rumour are you going to use?"

Ulala stepped forward and announced. "Don't worry, I got it all planned out… A man or woman who has key information to this case will appear at Parabellum. So if the two actually do show up, we have a picture of them, you know?"

Runa puzzled silently at that. Why does it have to be a man or a woman? Why can't it be both? Won't that be easier?

"The media will help spread rumour like wild fire," Maya commented.

"I know, right?" Ulala grinned.

"Fool. That'll stand out like crazy… Like Amano said, the media's gonna jump all over it…" Baofu commented after he exhaled a lungful of smoke.

"Hmph! And I suppose you've got a better idea…" Ulala clenched her fists and glared at him.

"…" Baofu held up his hands and shrugged.

"That's what I thought you long-haired freak… So, what do you think, Ma-ya?" Ulala turned to her friend and roommate.

"I believe that it'll would work," Maya answered with smile that said more than she did.

"How do you plan on going about this…?" Baofu inquired after he put out his cigarette in the ashtray on the desk next to him.

"Have you been listening to anything I've been saying? Ma-ya, you know what to do…" Ulala remarked as she rolled her eyes at Baofu and then nodded at Maya.

"Of course, it's time to spread a rumour," Maya agreed whole-heartily.

"Hey… You sure about this?" Baofu questioned her.

"100%, why?" Maya answered.

"I have a bad feeling about this, that's all," Baofu admitted.

"It'll be fine. I'll show you how 'Ulala-sensei," handles the media!" Ulala waved away his concerns before giving Maya a thumbs up. "Go spread that rumour!"

Maya nodded and went to talk to Chief Todoroki. Meanwhile Katsuya sighed behind Runa and told his sister. "Serizawa-san gets pretty hot-headed. I doubt we'll be able to talk her out of it, so I guess we'll have to try it…"

"It seems sound enough plan to me," Runa shrugged.

"Compared to your plans, yes I suppose it is," Katsuya replied crossing his arms.

Runa flinched and rubbed her right hand. Yeah… My plans could barely be considered plans.

"We can only help you manipulate rumours. The rest is up to you," Chief Todoroki told Maya.

"I know," Maya assured him.

"Then… See you later," Chief Todoroki said as he folded his arms behind his back.

"What's the plan, Amano-san?" Katsuya inquired as Maya approached.

"I've got a few ideas, I'm certain Ulala does too. So let's sit down work this out," Maya decided.

"Of course…" Katsuya said in reply, but couldn't say more when his phone starting ringing. Katsuya got his phone out, and looked down at the number. He glanced back up and apologised. "Ah, sorry please excuse me for moment. Start the discussion without me. I'll be back shortly."

Katsuya answered the phone and headed outside the room. Runa took a seat on one of the couches and waited to hear what Maya, and Ulala had planned for them.

That night a least than two hours later, out the front of bridal shop across the street from the bar called Parabellum, Runa stood with Maya and Katsuya. Baofu and Ulala were inside the bar, and were to act as a distraction for the media. Baofu wasn't pleased about, but he did draw the short straw. Runa was simply glad she didn't have to abuse her idol status again. Especially when the media didn't take long to appear at the location.

Baofu and Ulala were going to have their work cut of them, Runa though prior to speaking up. "I'm surprised that they got here so quickly."

"As I said. the media has ears everywhere," Maya said before she puzzled. "Though, you're a member of a idol group… wouldn't you be used to seeing even more media than this?"

"Ah, well… I'm… I kinda just sing, and try to pretend they're not there. And, I don't really like being surrounded by too many people," Runa explained.

"I see… Then why join the Muses?" Maya questioned.

"Er… It kinda just happened, I guess. I hadn't put much thought into it beyond hanging out with my friends… Heh, I'm not much for forethought, am I? Ha-aha…" Runa frowned then she laughed bitterly at herself.

"… You never told me that," Katsuya said as he joined the conversation.

"Huh? Which part?" Runa was confused.

"The not liking the being part of an idol group. I thought you had fun," Katsuya clarified.

"I do, but it's a little much… I rather just sing karaoke with my friends," Runa replied.

"So you don't enjoy the thrill of performing in front of a big crowd?" Maya inquired.

"Ah, n-no… I like that part, I just don't enjoy the bit after when I stop singing, and I realised there's so many people watching me," Runa answered.

"Oh, you're just shy! How adorable!~" Maya giggled at her and hugged her.

"…" Runa froze and her hand went to grab her naginata. She didn't know why, she just did.

"You okay?" Maya released her and held her at arms length.

"Er, yeah… Fine, just fine," Runa awkwardly nodded.

"…" Maya and Katsuya shared a concerned look.

"Really, I'm fine," she insisted holding her hands up as she took a step back out of their reach.

After a moment or two of dubious looks, they returned to waiting for the unknown person to show up. After awhile a breeze went passed, Runa and Maya shivered slightly.

Katsuya turned towards them. "It's getting chilly… You two alright?"

Maya answered first. "I'm good, it's only a brisk breeze, I've been on stakeouts before. I'm a reporter, remember?"

"And, don't worry about me. It's not that cold," Runa added.

"That's kinda impossible," Katsuya remarked prior to him adding. "Are people really going to come… If so, are those two gonna get it right? I'm worried…"

Maya laughed before she placed her hand on his crossed arms. "Have faith, Katsuya-kun, and… Let's Think Positive~"

"…." Katsuya locked eyes with her and blushed. Katsuya swallowed, turned away and readjusted his sunglasses. "Ah… Well, either way we'll play it by ear…"

"Heh-aha-aha!" Maya laughed at him with her hand over her mouth.

Runa's lips twitched into a smile at Katsuya's actions. Runa then lowered her gaze, why is it so weird… It's a moment where I should be smiling yet, should I be? After everything that's happened… yet… Argh! What's wrong with me?!

"What's so funny?" Katsuya questioned upon noticing Maya's laughter.

"You are," Maya commented with smile as she lowered her hand.

Katsuya closed his eyes momentarily and told her. "I know what you thinking… I'm the guy who worries too much… I've always been like that… I'm sure Runa has told you that before."

"Well, I believe it suits you," Maya informed him.

"…" There was a pause before Katsuya asked. "Do you get tired of who you are?"

"No, I like who I am," Maya shook her head.

"I see…" Katsuya muttered before he gently smiled at her. "You're strong person, Amano-san. Don't let anyone tell you any different…"

"I won't," Maya assured him before turning to Runa. "What about you? Do you get tired of who you are, Runa-chan?"

"… Maybe, I'm not really sure who I am, at the moment… I thought I did, but a lot has happened lately and I don't know anymore… I can't get really get tired of myself if I'm not even sure who am I," Runa shrugged and leant on her shoulders against the wall behind her.

"I should have never let you get involved with this business in the first place," Katsuya told Runa.

"It's not your fault, it was all me. I brought this upon myself, all on my own," Runa disagreed as her gaze went to her feet. A sudden ripple of energy echoed in her mind, it was a Persona resonance. It wasn't one she recognised. She looked up. "Hey, do you two sense that?"

"Sense what?" Katsuya inquired.

"There's a Persona-user nearby… It's getting closer," Runa informed them.

Maya and Katsuya searched the street with their eyes until Maya explained. "It's… The man from that photo… He here!"

"Do you think he's…?" Katsuya questioned.

"Yes," Maya nodded. Then they sprinted over to the man wearing a black motorcycle suit with a white helmet and approached him. Katsuya greeted the man and asked the man if he was here for information about the case.

"I am," the man nodded.

"Then we have some talking to do. We know you're investigating Tatsuzou, and what's been happening in this city," Katsuya told him.

"Also we know you're a Persona-user?" Runa added

That certainly piqued the man's interest and took him off guard. "…! How did you…? Wait, those resonances they were you three, aren't they?"

"Partly, yes," Runa nodded.

"That still doesn't explain how you knew that I was investigating this city and Tatsuzou," the man eyed them suspiciously.

"We're investigating the same thing," Maya explained and asked. "Do you want to talk about this elsewhere before the media swoops in?"

The man from the photograph agreed, though he continue to keep a careful watch on them. Runa moved to follow Katsuya, Maya and the man when she heard sounds coming from the inside of Parabellum. It sounded like someone was getting beaten up.

Runa reached to Ulala and Baofu with her Persona. Baofu was getting injured by blunt force, and a hell of a lot of blunt force, too…

I thought they were meant to pretend to have a fight, and not to actually have a real one… Baofu's going to be sore after this… Runa commented silently as she moved away from Parabellum.

"Hm-hm," Maya covered her mouth and chuckled as she heard the ruckus going on in the bar.

"What on earth did you tell Baofu to say to Ulala-san?" Runa questioned her.

"Oh, just something that would get Ulala into character… Don't give me that look. It's working rather well, don't you think?" Maya replied.

"That's the issue. I think it might be working too well," Runa grimaced.

Once they got away from Parabellum, they arrived in the Narumi district and began sharing information at a restaurant there. There they leant the man's name was Kei Nanjo, and that he was a Persona-user who had heard rumours about Sumaru City that made him wanted to come to the city to investigate further. Maya and Katsuya told him about what they knew also.

Then Nanjo decided that they were welcome to join his investigation, to which Katsuya and Maya agreed. Runa didn't say anything she ordered some food at Clair De Lune because she felt thought she would be hungry, but… She couldn't eat it, so she just played with it as she half listened to conversation.

"Since we'll be cooperating with each other, I suggest you stay at the hotel I'm staying at for tonight. We'll discuss this further in the morning, Amano-san & Suou-san. My friend, whose picture you have is chasing down a lead tonight and will not be back until tomorrow," Nanjo told them.

"Of course, I can't see why not?" Maya nodded.

"It would be easier to communicate and we would not need to worried about being followed as much if we stay there compared to staying elsewhere," Katsuya added.

"I'll give you the address, meet me there. I'll have rooms for you and for your associates when they have alluded the media. I'll send someone to collect them," Nanjo decided handing Maya a card.

"Thank you," Maya took the card.

"Goodbye. I'll see you two tomorrow, then," Nanjo said before he left.

After Nanjo left, Runa noticed something. "Hey, why did he say 'two?' What does that mean?"

"I'm going to order us some drinks. I'll be back in a minute," Maya announced as she left the table.

"Katsuya? What's going on?" Runa asked her voice shaky as anxiety built up. Please don't leave alone… Please, brother don't leave me by myself…

"When you left to order some food, I told Nanjo-san that you aren't going to be involved any further. I won't allow it. You're going home, father called earlier, he didn't go to the warehouses outside of Sumaru. He shifted shifts so he did his usual shift at Aoba Park… He saw us at the park earlier. He'll be waiting for you at home. He'll keep an eye on you, so don't stress him out. Please, Runa… Just stay out of this, I don't want you to get hurt," Katsuya requested of her.

"….I know. A-Are you certain our father will be there?" Runa wondered before she held her breath.

"You won't be alone," Katsuya assured.

Runa release her breath and whispered as her eyes began to burn. "Ok… I'll home… I won't get involved anymore, I'm sorry… I didn't think it would be like this… Anna-senpai is going to hate me forever and I let you down… I thought I was helping, but I just made things worst, huh? Brother, I'm so sorry… I didn't mean for…"

"I know, Runa… Do you want me to call him to take you home?" Katsuya said softly.

"…" Runa nodded silently as Katsuya got out his phone and dialled the number. Maya came back with a few drinks and sat down next to Runa who was trying to maintain whatever composure she had left. Runa stared down at Maya's glass, her heart in her throat as looked at saw her reflection. She saw her face and found it was hard to believe it was her reflection at all.

She expected it to change somehow, she grimaced. What did I expect? That suddenly my sins would be imprinted upon my forehead for all to see? Ha, what a joke… But it's strange to see that I still look the same, after everything I did… Why isn't a difference!? I taken lives today… and yet nothing… I guess what people say, appearances can be deceiving… Who people really are can be quite different from what they might seem on the outside.

"Runa…?" Her father called to her.

Something brushed her shoulder and Runa paled and took a sharp breath. "…"

"It's just my hand. We're home, go take a shower and change out of those clothes," he told her as he opened the door and ushered Runa inside.

Runa soundlessly obeyed as slipped her shoes off and went down the hall. She felt numb and disconnected as she went about the usual routine. It was normal yet… it wasn't.

She stepped into the shower and let the water rush over her. Her hair felt gross and dirty. She watched the water travelled down the drain. It was tinted slightly with colour. I guess Joker Noriko's water spells didn't manage wash it all off…

Runa looked at her hair closely and understood why. Some of the blood had dried, it was flaking off slowly. Her feet and hands were worse, it was beneath her toes and in her scarred right hand and lower arm. Runa began rubbing the blood off until she was certain it was gone. Then she sat down and let the water wash over her. She closed her eyes to rest them, images flickered through her mind. She opened her eyes immediately and whispered to no one. "I don't want to see them… I don't want this… I had to… didn't I? I had to defend myself, right?"

She buried her face in her hand for a second before she reached out blindly and turned the taps off. Drops of water fell on her as she silently talked herself into getting out of the shower.

In living room, Runa sat dressed in some clothes she grabbed and threw on. She wasn't really sure what the details of the clothes were, but they did their job. That was enough for her. Runa sat on the couch staring at the wall next to the TV, she wanted the illusion of her watching TV as she stared off into space. Her father was seated on an armchair, if she had to guess, he was probably watching TV. Runa felt goosebumps on her skin. It was cold… She began fiddling with the hem of her top's sleeve. She didn't why, she just did it out of habit, she supposed.

There was a dull sound and her father got up. Then he came back and was holding something. He said her name a few times before she could convince her mouth to move and respond. "…Y-Yes…"

"Your friend, Shibata-chan is on the phone, she wants to speak to you," he informed her.

"..Oh…" Runa said as she took the phone from him. "Hello, Mami-senpai?"

"RUNA-CHAN, WHY ARE YOU NOT HERE! YOU FORGOT DIDN'T YOU!" The voice yelled.

"Forgot what? Where am I meant to be?" Runa asked unfazed.

"Argh! You got to kidding me… The Muses thing, remember? We talked about at the photo shot."

"We did…?" Runa blinked slowly and mumbled.

"Just get here! Your father said he'll drop you off. You'll need to get changed here, your lucky that there are other people on tonight otherwise you would of gotten us into big trouble. We perform in a little over an hour! And you are going to have to improvise, a lot! We don't have time to prepare you! Now, hurry!" Mami ordered before hanging up.

"…" Runa lowered the phone to her lap. Her father picked it up and placed it back in it's spot.

"Get what you need. From the sounds of it, your friends want you there an hour ago," he told her.

"But aren't I grounded?" Runa was confused.

"Yes… You remember hearing that, then?" her father asked.

"When you picked me up, you yelled at Katsuya and me. I don't remember most of it, but from what I gathered; I was grounded," Runa stated.

"That's true," he confirmed.

"Am I not grounded now?"

"No, you won't be not grounded for a very long time," he shook his head and added. "But I've decided you're going to go be with your friends."

"…I don't understand…" She muttered.

"I rather my daughter to be with her friends and be a person rather than for her to remain here with me. I think it might help her more than just sitting around at home like a hollow shell."

"I see…" Runa felt a tinge of guilt.

"I don't know what happened, but something did. And clearly it's affected you," he said.

Runa brought her knees up to her chest. "I don't know how to deal with it… And if I tell you anything more, you'll… you would be ashamed of me…."

"I could never be ashamed of any of my children, it doesn't matter what they've done. That includes you, Runa… You're good person in my eyes, nothing will change that," he assured her.

"B-But what about my own eyes? Did I do the right thing? If I was stronger could I've done better and not hurt people?" Runa responded.

"That's up to you to determine, I can't do it for you… I often asked myself the same questions when I think about how I raised you and your brothers… Whatever is weighing down on you, know that as long as you are able to question yourself, you're heading in the right direction to fix it," He told her as he moved to stand in front of her.

She took a breath and asked. "And what if it's something that can't be fixed?"

"No reason not to try," he replied.

"Noriko-chan was kidnapped today, she used the Joker curse and… She turned into a Joker, some mafia guys kidnapped her. I was stupid and went after her alone… One of the mafia guys he… He attacked me, I… I freaked out and he… There were others, too. I was so scarred, I didn't want to die and just wanted to help…"

"What did they do to you?" Father asked his tone abrupt.

I think I had a lot of broken bones… They shot at me fair bit… I fixed it my injuries pretty easily, though… I'll just tell him that… "The men I ran into, they just roughed me up a bit… They threaten to kill me and pointed their guns at me, a lot… I'm fine now, though."

"Runa, my dear sweet girl…" He muttered as he knelt down in front of her. She felt something touch the top of her head. She drew in a sharp breath and the feeling went away. Her father sighed heavily. "Who are these men, do you know? I'll make sure they…"

"They were Taiwanese mafia, but they can't hurt me anymore… I don't even know their names… Yet I was… I did it… I'm responsible for… taking their…" She choked back a sob, but her throat felt tight and she couldn't speak.

"Oh, my dear… I'm sorry wasn't there, you shouldn't of have to do that…"

"I brought it upon myself, I went alone… It's my fault, if I hadn't…" Tears blurred her sight as she clutched herself tighter.

"Shush, you cannot change the past… What you did was self-defence… They were going to kill you or worse… It's ok," he whispered as he stood and wrapped his arms around her.

"If it's ok… Then why do I feel so… so empty? I feel like there's something's wrong with me… It's my fault they died because of me… I did that to them… I took their lives to save myself, that makes me selfish, right?" Runa sobbed.

"That only means you didn't want to die, you're not a monster," he assured her as he held her.

"Father? Are you ashamed of me?" She asked.

He pulled back and straightened her so he could look her in the eye. "Never…"

She closed her eyes then swiftly opened them. "…I don't feel any different… I can still see their faces when I close my eyes… When is it going stop?"

"I don't know if it will," father admitted. There was a long pause before he broke it. "What do you want to do, Runa?"

"…I want to forget what I did… I want to pretend that I have never hurt anyone in the entirely of my life…!" Runa admitted after wiped her eyes with the back of her hands.

"Then let's make that happen. It's not healthy in the long run, but it'll do for now. What would you like do to help you forget?" He asked his brown eyes watching her carefully.

Runa looked around the room, she saw an newspaper with an article about the MUSES on it and she answered. "I guess I should go met Mami-senpai, Miho-senpai and Lisa-senpai… Mami-senpai sounded pretty angry, that I forgot about tonight… I rather not pushed our friendship too far."

"I'll grab your bag and drive you there," father decided.

"Where is it again? I forgot where I was meant to go," Runa asked.

"It's in the Aoba district at Sumaru TV," he informed her before went to get her bag.

Oh… Yeah… I'm going to be on TV… I should probably be more excited about this, Runa recalled.

Yes, Runa Suou is going on TV with the MUSES… If you played Eternal Punishment before, you might know that it's not going turn out the way Runa might be expecting it to. The timeline is a different than it is in the game, but I wanted to include the Sumaru TV section as well as the science lab/sewers section. :)

I hope I've done this chapter well, I've never killed anyone before so I'm little nervous about portraying how a person may deal with that. If anyone who reads this has thoughts about it, please leave a review. I want to become better at writing so constructive criticism is more than welcome. Either way, thanks for reading this.

Well, until next time and have a great day or night!