Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or any content from the Megami Tensei series as a whole. I do not claim to own anything. All contents' right belong to their respectful owners. Once again, I do not claim to own anything
Not much to say here, we're at the point of the novelization where this and the two or three following chapters are only one to two scenes, mostly dealing with story and comic relief and I believe one of them is action, but this is the chapter that holds no real purpose other then to set a minor fetch quest of the storyline in play for the next two chapters and establish Reiji's canonical back-story. Yes he's the main perspective and there's a little twist on the perspectives here that you won't expect or understand unless you've either played the game with Reiji or read the chapter. And I found a theme that I think fits well at least in my opinion, so in the middle of the chapter I'll drop a A/N to note when to queue up and start the song along with it's name if you wish to listen to it during that section. With that aside, welcome to Persona: Be Your True Mind, Chapter Sixteen.
Chapter Sixteen: Castle Gates Locked
Reiji spat to the side of the empty roadway, trailing behind everyone else under the blotched out sky. Back at the Black Market, they had left Chisato and Yosuke to move onward to Kandori's castle. Yosuke had decided to take Chisato back to St. Hermelin where they'd be safe, leaving the name of his white angel with them, the one who guided him to Chisato: Mai.
Reiji thought of the name imaging a polar opposite to Aki for some odd reason. He shrugged to himself, dragging his heel in frustration. He had recalled the hours wasted in the day and a half on pointless blocks in his path.
"Why'd I join these guys anyway, for the past day I've run into bump upon bump to delay me. The mechanical rat, the punk's fist, the punk's temper-tantrum, that fuckin' turtle, the dragon, that bullshit Black Market and it's annoying-ass queen and her femme fatale servants! What's fuckin' next a moat of fire encircling Kandori's castle beyond that a bunch of land mines and bear traps with a couple of fucking demons mixed in for the hell of it and than when we reach the doors the whole fortress is a dud and he pulls the whole "SORRY CHURLISH AND ILL-CONCEIVED OFFSPRING THIS BASTARD'S IN ANOTHER CASTLE WITH HIS OBNOXIOUS BRAT!"
Reiji wanted to spit again, the thought of Kandori's mouth retorting to him with such words as churlish and ill-conceived granted a astringent taste. "Churlish, ill-conceived offspring…" He placed his fingers to his scar, feeling a shooting pain emanate from olden gauge. "You and your father won't get away with it Kandori…I refuse. You made this churlish, ill-conceived offspring Takahisa Kandori…you and your father did with your actions and you'll pay the price…I swore it on the blood in these veins, my mother's name: Misumi, and my family name…that's all your father Hotaru left me Takahisa…you on the other hand left much more…this kindly reminder etched in my skin, this mark that forever serves to empower my contempt and eternal loath for you! This scar that drives me to take vengeance to right the wronged acts you performed that ruined my mother and mine's life! I'll send you to hell with these fists! Bloodied, bruised, or broken they will take your life and if another obstacle gets in my course, they'll eradicated it! No matter what wall you built up, I'll knock it down! My patience is gone, my tolerance has withered, and my anger has boiled to the tip! If I'm delayed again, you'll see a juggernaut of destruction and blind rage heading for you Kandori! I guarantee it!"
Persona: Be Your True Mind
Takahisa Kandori rested his right leg over his left, reclining in his throne, fit as a king, plush red fabric cushioning nicely fitting his head, lower back and lumbar comfortably while preventing the rough ruby the throne was forged with irate. Aki sat in the air beside him, kicking her feet back and forth, wallowing in her creation of her Daddy's new throne. The ambiance of the darkness cast a dome of silence, the two spoke not a word, their sight normal in the black.
A mirror twice the size of Kandori was placed before him, like a squire or peasant beckoned to his Highness by his knights. The mirror was similar to the one he granted to the Harem Queen except that one was a testing medium to the girl known as Chisato Kasai. He peered at the distinct scarlet iron bat topped at the frame, which instead of being crafted of wood was of a conglomeration of tarnished silver and rusted scrap metal. It was a cruel and crimson mirror for a cruel King to gaze upon as he sat on his crimson throne.
Kandori tapped his finger to his expensive shoes, spinning two silver balls in his other hand. His leather scabbard containing his contemptible and foul saber was at his hip; the king could almost feel his blade quiver with want for blood, perhaps resonating to another's intentions…or his approach.
Kandori peered without distraction with his full-sight into the mirror, seeing various gray dressed teenagers approaching his castle. His sanctuary, his domain was far from marvelous to the eye and far from what he wanted. His castle was the generic, hackneyed medieval type with a Japanese flair. A standard two floor palace constructed of junk from the huge stacks besides the Black Market by Aki and her magic with a exterior of the west and east wings, but in truth they were empty shells. He chose a sliding door to be the entrance threshold instead of drawbridge and chain, not having servants yet to utilize it. Technically there were only three rooms, the entrance hall, decorated with a cherry blossom folding screen and a cardboard cut out of the castle's image. Aki thought it was cute. The interior was an ugly bear-colored brown not his particular chose. He'd let Aki decide and the girl favored the darker colors such as black and brown while he favored the darker but brighter ones such as blue and gray. From the doors there was a wide-open room that Aki had made that served purely as a way to the staircase to his throne room, it the same repulsive brown, but twice the size of the entrance hall with absolutely nothing held or set in it. Then came his room, the room where the king held his head up and laughed at the squirming laborers before him: the throne room.
To his own regret it was not finished in the furbishing yet, but it soon wouldn't matter, the ruby throne, royal carpet, and special mirror was all he needed for the time being as the churlish offspring Reiji Kido and his "friends" marched to his fortress. They would do the what he could not accomplish, aiding him without evening knowing it themselves. Soon after their arrival the title of king would mean nothing to him. Kandori never wanted to be the king, because even royalty has to bow down. They bow down to the gods and that was what Takahisa Kandori wished, yearned, and begged for. He wanted to be the tallest tower, the tower that pierced farther then the skies, the universe, to the heavens itself. He would throw his cruel, crimson throne room and king image with his least-than-satisfying domain away and rise, becoming a god.
God, his palms sweat with anticipation. He was forced to rub them together, putting his balls back in his pocket. His mouth contorted to a crooked grin. He couldn't help himself, it was cracking him up. The devil wanted to laugh at his plan, laugh to his hearts-content at the ill-conceived Reiji Kido who will dance for him, who will be part of bringing the man who wronged him the key piece to godship.
Flashes of Reiji dazzled on the reflective surface, Kandori's wicked howling increasing at each still-frame of Kido's face. The clench-teethed, the balled fists, the scowl and glare at whoever he saw, and the most glorious section of all that reminded Kandori solely of his past and just made him laugh more. The "X" slashed into the once pale, subtle skin turned to a mauve, disturbing mark that to Kandori would always be his personalized brand to Reiji Kido to emphasize the churlish, ill-conceived punk as one who should know desolation for eternity and that desolation, grief, depression, never-lasting rage, and anguish was caused by a man who had become the grandest tower, Takahisa Kandori.
"Aki, dear, our guests are arriving…be a good girl and greet them with the biggest smile you can and tell them of what to do, please."
Aki grew a grinned that matched Kandori's. "Sure, Daddy!"
Persona: Be Your True Mind
Reiji was unimpressed with the outside of Kandori's fortress, not a guard, sentry, moat, or trap to prevent them from entering in through the screen door. He became cross in the entrance hall, greeted with a surrounding revolting brown, complemented by a cardboard cut-out of the castle and the little brat in black, Aki, who was grinning like a moron while she spun around a pedestal erected next to a pair of light painted wooden double doors.
"So this is your hideout!" Maki exclaimed at Aki. "It's the end of the line for you!"
Aki blew a raspberry. "Phbbt! You can't get in from here!" Aki turned to the pedestal beside the doors, floating upward. "If the one in the forest was here, yeah, but she's too much of a scaredy cat! That's how come no one can stop me and my Daddy! If you wanna play with us then tell that scaredy cat, Mai, in the forest that you need her half of our mirror! Bye bye!" With that the doors sprung open, Aki floating behind them and they snapped shut, showered in a glaze of white.
"Hey, wait!" Maki snapped at the door snap. "Ugh! Sheesh…she got away again!"
Nanjo paused, folding his arms when he heard a snarl emanate from Kido's nostrils. "Her half of the mirror, hm?"
Masao approached the doors, jiggling the handles and pushing and pulling. "Damn…it won't even budge."
The sound of scuffing echoed, Reiji was running the threads of his school shoes along the ground like a bull readying to charge.
"Won't budge…shittin me right? No more delays…Kandori's life is mine…it will be mine now…I'm sick of this…"
Kei examined the pedestal at the door, noticing a half-moon-shaped hollow.
"What do you think Kei?" Naoya asked curiously still trying to make heads-or-tails of what to do, hearing the distant crack of knuckles and a neck behind him.
"I can feel the build up within me…I'm shifting alignments completely…I can't…stopping…thinking…of….CHAOS!"
"Aki referred to this mysterious Mai as the scaredy cat in the woods, telling us if we want to reach Kandori we must ask for her other half of the mirror. That must be what fits in here…" Kei explained.
"But why?" He whispered to himself. "Could it be?" He mumbled, detached from the jangling of a chain hung from a particular choker.
"THE CHAOS IS STRONG! I CAN'T BREAK IT! I DON'T CARE! I LIKE IT! I LOVE IT!"
"This Mai is in the forest she said." Yukino repeated.
"Didn't you say it used to be a flower garden, Maki?" Masao asked.
"Yeah, but now they call it the Lost Forest." Maki replied, noticing Reiji's erratic scowl and rage-filled pit of an expression.
"LOCKS! KEYS! FETCHING KEYS FOR LOCKS! NO! I REFUSE!"
"I propose, brave leader, that we go to this Lost Forest." Eriko suggest.
Naoya nodded. "I was just about to say that Eriko. We don't have much of choice. If the mirror half is the only way, I guess Maki will have to show us the way to this former flower garden."
"Hey, N.T., Reiji's looking scarier than usual…" Brown stammered hiding behind Yukino, gulping in nervousness at Reiji's heaving breaths, almost roars.
"I'M DONE! THIS ENDS NOW!"
"Yikes! Like, he looks rabid!" Ayase huddled close to Brown behind Yukino both clutching the duffel bag tight as a shield, fearing Reiji's consistent fist clenching and un-clenching that he was thinking of punching.
"Reiji…" Naoya said.
"Yo, Kido, chill out, what are you all riled up for?" Masao asked, leaning on the door.
"YOU DAMN WELL BETTER GET OUT OF THE WAY, INABA! I'M GOING TO DESTROY THAT GATE!" With that Reiji bolted forward at an unbelievable speed, his gloves tearing at the seems at his massive inward balling-up.
Masao clambered out of the way as the beast-like teenage boy blindly swung at the doors without an ounce of tact or care. His rocks of fists pounding endlessly at each blow, not a single reverberation or shake indicated a reaction to the behemoth-like force his physical limbs were dealing. He beat-on it harder and harder, the red fabric ripping and splitting at the muscular blows. His knuckles gruesomely cracked at his hammering, splatters of blood staining the door as the bruised and burst open knuckles seeped and splashed varying quantities of his vowed family blood on the obstruction. His overzealous frustration, anguish, grief, never-ending rage followed through with his punching, his eyes shot open as wide as humanely possible, evilness in the pupils, contempt in the irises, his death-bringing glare not a mere knife, but a hefting zweihander pointed at the wall that guarded, the wall that shielded, that wall that barricaded his blood-curdling fists from Kandori's throat, Kandori's blood, Kandori's damned bastard heart. Reiji pounded and pounded, one punch and jab after another after every single combination possible at the same speed and strength as the start.
His beastly strikes were not wavering the door did un-damaged, but still damaged him. He could hear his carpals fracture even his metacarpals shatter as his rage-full pressured strikes backfired, his own power turned on him. All the while he was screaming a cry that caused everyone to cringe for as long as he screamed: "!"
Reiji clamped his jaw shot, the adrenaline slowing, his heart beat racing faster though. His rage was not quelled. "FIST WON'T WORK! FUCK EM'! I'LL BLOW IT AWAY!"
Reiji un-strapped his assault rifle and unleashed the full clip, the spray of rapid vain gunfire into the door, each casing and bullet flying and cascading over his head at such close range. The scolding hot metal passing and singeing his neck and cheeks as they flew. He aggressively bashed the stock first to the ground at a dry click. "GODDDAMN IT! FUCKIN GUN! AAAAHHHHHHH!" Reiji's bash, broke the extendable stock off the gun without issue.
"NO GUN! NO FISTS! IT'S ALL ON YOU BRES! END THIS! BREAK THIS FUCKING WALL DOWN! I WILL KILL YOU KANDORI! I WILL KILL YOU! I WILL KILL YOU! I WILL KILL YOU! I WILL KILL YOU!"
Reiji threw an uppercut, his knuckles and hand hanging lazily limp, irrefutably worn from it's abusive attacks. A scarlet mist exploded from Reiji swallowing the entire room, including the others in it's thick, heated aura that felt demonic by nature. They could hear Reiji's shouts of commands to his Persona.
"BRES! MAMUDO! NOW! KILL EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING! KILL KANDORI! KILL EVERYTHING HE HAS! KILL HIM!"
Hundreds of Chinese characters and Japanese kanjis spun in circles of otherworldly purple energy smacked themselves onto the door, the walls, the entire far side of the room Reiji was facing. Bres swung his sword-arm, the kanji for hell emerging in the center of the multitude of 2D circles slapped onto the surface like stamps. The characters and kanjis spun and the purple shined rays of light as said circles enclosed and connected to another into an oval that doubled as a maw to hell attempting to eat half the room.
Reiji laughed. "GO TO HELL! EVERYTHING! GO TO HELL! I'M AM GOING TO SEND YOU TO HELL KANDORI! YOU WILL DIE! I GUARANTEE IT! I'VE DESTROYED YOUR WALL! THE JUGGERNAUT OF RAGE YOU'VE CREATED IS COMING FOR YOU BASTARD!"
At the sudden dissipation of the numerous circles of Mudo energy at the stabbing light of the glaze of the door, revealing everything intact, shot down Reiji's ecstasy, sending his mentality spiraling into a crash. He collapsed to his knees, his jaw hung open. "WHY? HOW? WHY CAN'T I KILL KANDORI? WHY MUST FATE FUCK ME IN THE END? WHY MUST IT BE THIS WAY? I NEED TO TAKE VENGEANCE! I HAVE TO TAKE VENGEANCE! IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO RIGHT THE WRONG! WHY WON'T FATE ALLOW ME? WHY, MOTHER?"
The Chaos left, Bres disappearing with the aura of crimson. With the evil intentions and thoughts faded at the crushing of his most powerful Mudo attack, he realized the destroyed bones of his hands, caused by his muscle mass and haymakers. He fell on his back, his gloves in ribbons. He couldn't bend his fingers enough to remove them. He banged the back of his head on the floor, wanting to weep.
"Tears are needless…all of these other idiots cry…I refuse to break down like they do. I'm tired…of this…I kicked and screamed like a whiny cur because I couldn't get my way…" Reiji shut his eyes.
"Reiji!"
His eyes broaden when he felt himself being lifted after Naoya and Masao's calls. They dragged him and laid him back in a recumbent position. "What are they doing? Do they really care?"
"Maki heal him quick!" Naoya pleaded.
"Yeah, I heard the bones pop, his knuckles are raw, bleeding badly. I think I can see the torn muscle. Heal him up as best as you can, just don't panic okay?"
"Right, Masao-kun!" Maki stated, raising her hand up. "I'm not sure how much spiritual power I have left, I've been using it left and right, but Maso and I should be able to put out a Diarama." A velvet mist wrapped around her.
"She's going to heal me? I wrecked myself that bad, huh? Wow, Kido, you are a moron of the highest caliber thinking the Chaos Alignment you is the better when that you was the one who threw down with the punk and nearly bled to do death. Now I've nearly ruined my body beyond recognition. What the hell is wrong with me? This damn Persona…it's such a pain in the ass…"
Persona: Be Your True Mind
Kandori tried to stifle his incessant laughter, having basked in his amusement of Reiji's writhing strives to break through fail repeatedly. He loved every punch, every bullet, his wide-spread Mudo Skill go up in flames and harm himself. The burns and slashes upon his face, the ripped and torn apart gloves that were reduced to shreds along with his muscles and knuckles, the bones of his hands broken, Kandori admired each having seen them flash in the mirror.
"Reiji Kido, you are pathetic. You are nothing. You will never reach me. I am higher than you can comprehend."
A string of images ran by on the surface of the mirror. The first was Maki Sonomura healing Reiji with a Diarama, consuming him in a empowering green aura, that regenerated the spent skin, blood, and bone, but was unable to recreate his gloves. The second image was Reiji standing, Naoya Todo and Masao Inaba trying to push him back down, but he charged through. The third and final image was Reiji approaching the pearly gates again, acting as if he was ready for round two.
"Interesting, does he believe he can win like this. This other Maki can keep revitalizing him all she wants, but he will push onward until he's dead. That's how steadfast he is; that is how much he hates me. I've infected his soul with a all-devouring hatred which festered as he grew. He'll never let what I did go. The hatred plagues him, fatigues him, caused him to seek me out when I made my move with the Deva System. He'd reached his limits and the rage had took his mind with the Persona he was granted, sending him on this path of self-destruction. It's hilarious to watch him struggle, always coming close to me yet being set back miles. Poor, poor churlish spawn, you will never kill me. It is impossible."
Persona: Be Your True Mind
There Reiji stood, glaring down the obstructive gates. He removed the remains of his once finely sewn gloves, flexing each individual finger to make sure Maki's spell did the trick. "Let's try this scene again!"
Reiji winded up his arm, bending his legs to tackle the door again. He set it in his sights, Masao and Naoya putting themselves in the way. "What are they doing?" Reiji growled.
"Reiji, what do you think you're doing?" Naoya asked.
"I'm going to destroy that gate! What the hell do you think?"
Masao coolly raised his hands up in protest. "Whoa there, Reiji. This isn't something you can just smash like that. We all saw, man! You yourself should've felted it!" Masao exclaimed.
"He's right, Reiji." Naoya added.
"You do seem to only act this way when it involves Kandori, Kido." Kei stated.
Reiji glared at Kei. "Shut up, Four-Eyes! You don't know shit!" He turned back to Masao and Naoya. "Inaba, Punk, outta the way!" He put up his fists.
Naoya grimaced. "I'm not going to fight you, Reiji. I'm not going to let the Chaos take you."
"This ain't the Chaos talking anymore Punk this is me! Now, out the way! Kandori dies today!"
"You know as much as I hate to agree with Nanjo, he's right, Reiji. You're obsessing over killing Kandori and I'm not gonna ask why, but man you don't have to carrying whatever it is all by yourself!" Masao snapped.
Reiji gasped, dropping his arms. "What? Carry it by myself? Is that stoner for real?" He folded his arms, tucking his chin in the nape of his neck.
"Masao-kun's right, Reiji. We're all in this together, after all." Maki announced.
"Yeah, so quit the tough guy act and fess up." Yukino commanded, not concerned but wanting to move along.
"Like, hurry up!" Ayase complained.
Reiji directed one eye at Ayase, causing her to squeal and hide behind Brown who was hiding behind Yukino.
"They won't understand. It's pointless." He shook his head to Maki. "I have no reason to play nice. "All in this together"? You disgust me." Reiji spat, his mouth filled with the familiar sour taste. "And you, Masao?"
"Huh?" Masao pointed to himself.
"You disgust me most of all."
Maki gasped herself. "Reiji, that's not very nice!" She scolded.
"Spare me your air-headed bullshit, I've had my fill."
"Reiji-" Maki was cut off by Masao.
"It's cool, Maki." He said, stepping away from the door and to Reiji. "Get disgusted or don't, dude, but we have to go back together for now. Cause' we're all after the same thing. So, c'mon let's go."
Reiji slammed his foot. "You're all idiots, huh? You don't understand. I hitched a ride with your dumb asses and it's gotten me nowhere. We're all after the same thing, my ass. You all aren't trying a damn bit to kill Kandori! Especially you three!" He accusingly aimed his index finger at Maki, Masao, and Naoya. "All you care about is saving the world or finding the real her!" He pointed back to Maki. "I have my own goals, my own reasoning! Come to think of it, I don't need you guys anymore! Piss off to find your mirror half or whatever! I'm staying here! Don't be shocked when you see Kandori's dismembered corpse laid at the doormat! So long, ass-"
Reiji's goodbye which involved him flipping the bird was interrupted by Eriko who slapped him square-across the face. "You're despicable, Reiji Kido! The way you talk and the way you act is nothing short of evil!"
It was Eriko's turn to be glared at, but she didn't back-down. "Say that again! I'm evil, huh? That's funny! I feel like dying of laughter at your jest!"
"I said your despicable, Reiji."
"Why's that, bitch? Is it because I want to kill a man who screwed my mother over? Who threw my mother's and mine's life into despair? Because if that's the reason why, then to me the bastard responsible deserves to be torched, poisoned, stabbed, mutilated, tortured until ever second of his suffering makes up for every second of mine me and my mother had spent striving to live!"
Eriko swallowed spit for a moment and retorted. "It's ironic Reiji, in your journey the anti-hero has become the antagonist."
"Anti-hero, a.k.a. me has become the antagonist," Reiji was taken by surprise at Eriko's comment. "This isn't one of your books, Kirishima. I'm clearly in the right, anti-hero or not!"
"Your no longer that Reiji, all this time you've run your mouth saying the same thing over again, throwing aside all other innocent lives for your own objective, not caring what happens to anyone else in the process. You're a selfish man! You're no better than Kandori! You have become the man you wish to kill! You have become Takahisa Kandori!"
Reiji's eye twitched in a frenzy, raging flickering in his pupils again. "I'm Kandori…I've become Kandori…no…no…I'm nothing like him…she doesn't…no…the Chaos is…" Reiji shout his hands out and clasped them around Eriko's neck, cutting her oxygen supply off. (A/N)
"BITCH, I AM NOT KANDORI! I WILL NEVER BE! NEVER COMPARE ME TO THAT BASTERD BROTHER OF MINE EVERY AGAIN!"
Reiji's yelling caused all to react, Masao and Kei jumped on his back to pull his arms off, Yukino and Maki went for his legs while Brown and Ayase cowered afraid to go near the monster of a boy who was almost frothing at the mouth.
Eriko gasped for breath as Reiji's jostled her back and forth his grip increasing. The others could not move him, his strength and stamina was restored with the Diarama, and now in Chaos Alignment he was an unmovable force; a juggernaut as he described himself.
"DIE! DIE! DIE! I AM NOT HIM! I AM NOT HIM!"
"SIRE! SIRE! STOP THIS MADNESS PLEASE!" A renowned toned voice pleaded in Reiji's mind.
"BRES! CAN IT! I TOLD YOU NOT TO TALK TO ME! I TOLD YOU NEVER TO SPEAK TO ME! NOW LEAVE ME BE! I'M GOING TO-"
"Sire, it appears you've lost…to him…again…"
"WHAT?" Reiji's grip loosened, his body un-straining at the feel of cold steel by his jugular.
"LET HER GO, KIDO! NOW!" Naoya sternly stated his demeanor completely changing from prior. He had drew his katana and extended it across Reiji's throat.
Reiji did as told, Eriko's frail figure slipping easily out his grasp. Naoya caught her unconscious body, swooning her in arms as he sheathed his katana. "Calm down, Kido, or else next time I won't hold back, Chaos Alignment or not."
Maki and Masao went to Naoya's side. Yukino and Kei went to Brown and Ayase.
"I…I…tried to…" Reiji thought. "Kill her…why?"
"Sire, I know you told me never to address you when you heard me those months ago, but this is important."
"Bres…what?" Reiji's thoughts sounded weak.
"Your thoughts and actions attract the Chaos Alignment. It's a magnet for such behavior, Sire. When you enter this Alignment you're a danger to not only yourself, but your…friends…"
"They're not my friends, Bres! I could care less about them!"
"Then why do I feel your regret, Sire? Perhaps it's maybe time to share some of your burden. You've all ready given away a key detail, Sire. Your friends will be curious."
"They won't understand."
"Why not try, Sire?"
"Go away, Bres…I told you to not speak to me."
"Yes, Sire, goodbye…"
Reiji kneeled and then sat Indian-style, sighing all the while. "I'm sorry, punk…"
"Your apology won't make up for the fact that you tried to kill her, Reiji."
"I know, but if you all are willing to listen, I want to explain to you all why I hate Kandori so much. If you'd let me that is."
Naoya nodded. "Maki can you wake Eriko with that Recarm Skill?"
"I should be able, Nao-kun, but after it I'll be pretty drained."
"It's all right, Maki. Do it please. Everyone else gather around."
Kei, Yukino, Brown, Ayase, Masao, and Naoya sat as Maki used Maso to revive Eriko who reluctantly sat to here the story of the man who strangled her, but was secretly giddy that Naoya had saved her.
(A/N: If you want to listen to a theme for this backstory that I believe fits it well, search up Epitaph by King Crimson and queue it up and start it at the next A/N. Thank you)
Persona: Be Your True Mind
Kandori heard and saw what had happened in the entrance hall via the mirror. He kept looking, listening, his ears perked at Reiji's readiness to tell the tale, the tale of his scar, the tale of how he was ruined.
Persona: Be Your True Mind
(A/N) "Now, what I'm about to say is a long story and I'd appreciate it if you don't ask to many questions or say much during it. It's hard enough for me to do this. First, let's start off with what I let slip…Takahisa Kandori is indeed my brother…" He hung his head in shame as everyone gasped.
"But to me, he's no brother of mine. He and his father Hotaru Kandori are to blame for everything that has happened to me. To tell the story, I have to began before I was born, back when my mother Misumi Kido was eighteen years younger and Takahisa Kandori was a high-ranking employee in the S.E.B.E.C. Building, his father the head of the company. My mother was his personal maid and secretary. She had worked at the company for several years, as long as Hotaru was president. It was a job that paid well, she needed the money, her husband had left her and our immediate family was gone, dead for ages. She had to make ends-meet for her apartment and S.E.B.E.C. paid more than enough even if she had to clean-up after the head of it. She told me that the only reason they probably hired her was because of her looks, she could tell because Hotaru was always eyeing her she said. She returned his eyeing she told me. They were attracted to each other and that was all they needed. Around in a company were the sunshine barely reached and enigmatic and deadly technologies were crafted, a romance had bloomed."
Persona: Be Your True Mind
As Reiji spoke more Kandori thought of his own point of view at these events. "It was far from a romance…Father had his way with that…slut in his own office no doubt…a one-night stand to him. The bitch ended up pregnant after that, telling my father she was going to keep it and she wanted him to known. From that point father lost his sanity, he kept preaching to me that I'd soon be president, he was going to retire and use his pension to support this new ill-conceived family. I wouldn't have such a travesties! I wouldn't allow Father to dig his own grave! The slut only wanted money, she had to be bluffing! It was all just leverage to manipulate my father! It had to be! Twelve months rolled by my Father was to resign at the child's birth and there the churlish spawn was: Reiji Kido! My brother! The filthy little thing was brought to me by that slut and Father. He wouldn't quit crying and crying! Wailing!"
Persona: Be Your True Mind
"Hotaru and my mother were going to marry. She'd brought me to the office to meet my brother, not even a month old. Hotaru was ready to retire at that point, but it was odd she told me he asked her out of the room, leaving me with Takahisa. She said that Hotaru accused her of trying to steal his hard-earned money using their affair child. She didn't understand, because prior to that he was fine with it."
Persona: Be Your True Mind
"If Father wasn't going to see the skank was trouble I had to persuade him in a unique way. I bribed the phone company to put calls to news organizations on her company phone and had a copy made. Then I had my Father's credit cards maxed and his checking account cleared and paid the bank off to say it was transferred to the account of Misumi Kido. I confronted Father about this the day before, he said he'd take care of it, but Father was soft. I had to push more. Then, he'd left me with the ill-conceived brother of mine on his desk, his pen knifes and papers by a box ready to be packed. He wouldn't stop his crying! It muffled my Father and slut's back and forth! I couldn't hear! The brat, my brother, who shamed my family with his dirty Kido blood, who was also meant to receive a portion of my share of the will was laying there screaming because of a lack of his mother's nipple! I wouldn't have it! I wouldn't have such a nothing, such a useless cur be a part of this family! I'd brand him! I'd make sure for all his life, he'd be marked as unwanted, as nothing!"
Persona: Be Your True Mind
"What Takahisa Kandori did that day haunted me for life, for years, his words and laughter echoing in my nightmares. He took up his Father's pen knife and…" His lips whimpered.
Persona: Be Your True Mind
"AND I STUCK THE KNIFE IN THE WHINING BRATS FOREHEAD, AS SHALLOW AND DEEP AS MY HANDS ALLOWED! THE POINT WAS TO SCAR NOT KILL! I CARVED AN "X" IN THE PORCELAIN SKIN AND HE CRIED AND CRIED! AN X FOR HIM TO KNOW HE WAS NOTHING! NOT WANTED! I YELLED AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS, WITH EVERY OUNCE OF BREATH: REIJI KIDO, YOU ARE NOTHING, A PITIFUL CHURLISH PRODUCT ILL-CONCEIVED BY YOUR WHORE OF A MOTHER! THIS X REMEMBER IS YOUR BRAND FROM ME YOUR DEAR OLDER BROTHER TAKAHISA KANDORI! THIS BRAND IS MY SPECIAL MARK TO YOU SO YOU FOREVER KNOW WHO CAST YOU OUT OF A GOOD LIFE! WHO CAST YOU INTO HELL! CRY! CRY! CRY SOME MORE! YOU'LL CRY THE REST OF YOU LIFE WITH ANGER BOILING INSIDE YOU FOR ETERNITY HAHAHAHAHAAHAAHAH!"
Persona: Be Your True Mind
"Only a month old, I can vividly remember those words, hear them knowing my own brother scarred me. After that Hotaru fired my mother and threw us out. He wanted to make sure that she'd never be able to collect or go to the press. Takahisa planted drugs at her work station, Hotaru submitted that's why she was fired. They both spread the word far and wide destroying her creditability. She couldn't find a job and she couldn't go to the press, she couldn't even sue. The Kandori Family had made sure, paying through the noses to ensure she wouldn't reach anyone who could help her. They left her beaten and broken for cash, all she could do from then on was what she had to do." Reiji gulped, not wanting to emit what his mother had to do to raise him.
"Beside that she was a seamstress. She weaved and sewn clothes for each of us and sold them as best as she could. She did this for years, developing arthritis in her hands and back. She found the money to put me through elementary school and eventually high-school by that time she was detrimental to her own health. I couldn't sit by and watch. I went out at night and I picked a fight with whoever didn't suspect it, I hadn't to get the cash to help her out. I couldn't watch her destroy herself anymore. I didn't want to wake up one more and see she had driven herself into the ground. When I was old enough to understand what had happened with my scar, understanding the words I often heard in my nightmares. I promised not to cry, I promised to my mother and myself I'd right the wrong. I didn't know how until I was eighteen when I picked those fights because I did not want to wake up the next day an cry because of my mother killing herself with the consistent pain."
"One night, there was bet on the streets. It was an all-out brawl, everyone putting a thousand yen plus in a pot. Whoever was the last man standing gained the winnings. I entered, taking the money I had beaten-out of others and went into the brawl. I barely made it out, but I was the hungriest, the most devoted at of any of those guys. Then out of nowhere, when I pocketed the cash I hear this voice, then I lost consciousness and found myself in a platform like the one Philemon has, but this guy was different he was shrouded in darkness and wouldn't give me his name. He told me he had plans for me to help my brother and gave me the ability called Persona. From there I could feel the power having discovered how to utilize it on my own. From there I knew what I had to do. I had my way of killing the man who wronged my mother and marked me with a permanent scar as an infant. I just needed the time and when the Deva System went up, I knew it was Kandori's move and I had to take the opportunity. I'd kill him, take my revenge, and then take a piss on his father's grave. Hotaru's death didn't stop it, Kandori kept the despair and grief up, I had no one to turn to but myself. That's why I have to kill Kandori. If it wasn't for him, my mother wouldn't be like she is now. She'd be happy, she'd be lively, she'd be able smile and say "I love life."
"Now do you see? I can't leave this place! Kandori has to die today! My brother has to die today! I can't allow him to laugh at the name Kido any longer! I can't let his foot keep stomping us! He has to die and know that I did it! It's the only way!"
Naoya pondered his words, taking in the story just as the others were. "They won't understand. I'm a detached son of a bitch. I've stewed in this situation for eighteen years. They can't sympathize with me. They can't empathize with me. They can't comprehend the things my mother has done, has to do just to get by. Bres is a moron! Just like them! They're damned fools and the world is in there hands."
"Reiji…" Naoya slowly said.
"Are going to leave now and let me do this?"
Naoya stood as did Reiji, both staring at each other, Naoya having to look up. "I'm sorry, Reiji, but…"
"Punk! I'm-"
"I can't let you sit here and suffer on your own, Reiji!"
Reiji stopped. "Huh?"
"I don't care if what we say disgusts you or if you think were idiots who don't understand what your reasoning is. All I care about is the safety of all of us and that includes you Reiji. I won't willing leave this place knowing you're going to wreck yourself beyond belief. This motivation is warranted, yes, but there's an easier way to do this. Come with us, I know your itching to kill Kandori, but we all have to get out of here, back to our world, we all have to kick Kandori off his throne to save our world. We all have the same motivation, Reiji, to get to Kandori and right the wrongs he has done. Yes, you may want to kill him and we don't, but it wouldn't sit right with me if you killed yourself and I could have stopped it. It's how I am, how I act. I know Mark wouldn't want it like that either."
"Why do you two care? I've been a ass to every single one of you for the entirety of our time-together! I don't even call any of you by your names! I glared you down and antagonized you punk! I questions Four-Eyes intelligence and leadership skills! I choked out Kirishima! Blondie and Ass-hat over there can testify that I've rode them like horses to a "t" since I've been in with you guys! I held a gun to the Yankee's head and I'm sure she loathes me! I roughed up Sonomura because her compassionate whining! I threaten Inaba into making a decision to kill the Queen or I would! I've done nothing that deserves compassion from any of you! So, why do you care, punk! Why would you care for my well-being? Why would any of you?"
Naoya sighed in annoyance. "You don't get it Reiji do you?"
"NO! I DON'T PUNK!"
Masao grinned, stepping in. "Okay, dude, let's employ a little Anime into this shall we."
Kei rolled his eyes. "Typical,"
Yukino agreed. "That's Masao."
Reiji was off put a bit, not knowing what Masao would say at all. "This'll be interesting."
"We're nakama, Reiji. That so difficult." Masao said, smiling.
"N-nakama?" Reiji was struck with the words. "We're nakama?"
"Like, what's that mean?" Ayase questioned.
Brown found that he'd be best to answer this one to avoid others from yelling at her. "Well, Ayase, it's a term that's," Brown halted his explanation at Yukino's join in the conversation.
"Explain it to me, Brown. I'm a Yankee remember, not originally from here, not all to familiar with these weird terms."
Brown rubbed his chin, amazed that the great Yukino Mayuzumi asked him for answers. "Well, it's a term that's used to describe-"
Reiji stole his thunder. "It's a term used to describe comrades or friends. Used by a protagonist to describe those who fight beside him or with him or his friends in general. Do you really see me as a friend or a comrade, Inaba? Punk? Four-Eyes? Kirishima? Sonomura? Blondie? Ass-hat? Yankee?"
Masao gave him a thumps up. "You can be asinine sometimes, man, I almost hated you forever for grabbing Maki like that back in the Kama Palace, but you're okay just need to keep it easy and chill out sometimes, dude."
Maki smiled holding her chest. "You can be rude and mean sometimes, but your story made me cry so I can't say I won't help you or heal you anymore. I want Kandori to pay to, just no more death, okay?"
Ayase pouted. "Like, I don't care! As soon as this over, I'll forget I ever met you!"
Eriko adjusted her ascot, covering the minor bruise on her neck. "Well, your story is understandable and I apologies for what I said earlier. You're still the anti-hero just watch those antagonistic traits. I won't forgive a second strangulation."
Nanjo pushed up his glasses. "I have a deep-seated opinion of you Kido and I don't want to offend you with what I truly think, because it would be in poor taste for this moment. You should know that I value you as a comrade to help this battle against Kandori. This is as much your fight as it is ours."
Brown waved casually as if breaking-the-ice. "Well, I can't really say, R.K., but…I know the feeling of being alone, you know, I had a close-nit group of friends and squandered there friendship away because I was a cowered. Then all I had from there was people who were entertained and I'm just now feeling what that true friendship again. So, as much as you make me your bitch because I'm scared shitless of you, I know where you're coming from R.K. and I'll help you fight."
"Wow, didn't expect Brown to say something like that?" Yukino stated, flabbergasted.
Brown snickered, rubbing the underside of his knows. "Heh, it was all Tyr, baby. Don't get use to it."
"With that aside," Yukino addressed Kido. "Friend your not to me Kido, I don't know you and you put a gun to my head. Companion you are, we'll need all the help we can get to take down Kandori and you're strong enough for me to say keep your around."
Masao was up again. "I all ready said what I have to say, Reiji. We're companions and maybe when this is over, you can open-up that tough exterior and you can hang with Nao, Maki, and I."
"That leaves you, Nao-kun?" Maki said.
Naoya and Reiji continued to stare, he offered his hand. "I know we all ready shook hands before after I agreed to keep being leader, but I want this handshake to express my feelings. We're companions Reiji, I would say we could be friends. I know I cannot talk you out of wanting to kill Kandori, but I want you to be a part of this group. I want you to come with us. Shake my hand if you agree."
Reiji hesitated, but soon did. "On one condition, punk. I'll follow you guys till the end, I'll help you save the world if need be, but when we get to Kandori, he's mine. You got that! You agree to that and I'm all yours!"
Naoya shook. "Agreed!"
Reiji's scowl, broke into a half-smile. "What are we waiting for then? Let's hit the Lost Woods and get that mirror half. I'll wait for the crack at Kandori."
They group came close together and exited the castle, Reiji reflecting on their words. "We're nakama, huh? Mother always said to try and make friends, but I couldn't. I was a rough-houser, I was anti-social, I was quiet, and I wouldn't let a soul talk to me. I was fixated on Kandori that I let things I thought were trivial such as friendship pass me by and now I've developed it. These people care for some reasons. They've healed me, choose to keep me along with them. Hell, the punk, agreed to let me take Kandori down when we get there and I was sure he hated me the most. Inaba I was sure hated my guts, but maybe they all understood my story…understood this scar…empathized with me….sympathized with me…is that what friendship is…people who know you…people who care for you…is this friendship…do I deserve it?"
Persona: Be Your True Mind
A/N: it may be in poor taste, but "Is Reiji Kido gonna have to choke a bitch?"
Also for those of you who have never watched One Piece, you probably won't know what I was getting at with the Nakama and Anime intertwine there.
Phew that was a doozey. I don't know how to explain anything. I couldn't find the words at times to proper express what I wanted to express. I hope everyone understands and I don't really want to try to explain why I feel Epitaph relates well to his back-story. I did embellish a tiny bit in a few cases to better explain it and it's never explicitly stated that Kandori gave Reiji his scar, but in my novelization that is how it happens that is his back-story and that's how it its. Now, I know you've just read filler, I know it myself and I hate writing filler, but this was a perfect opportunity to introduce the reasons of WHY Reiji hates Kandori and WHY he wants him DEAD. Also if you didn't catch on back in Chapter 7, Reiji was granted his Persona in my novelization by Philemon's competitor, if you didn't realize it. I didn't go into detail, because I'm trying to keep his identity, motives, and design a secret for later chapters to explain WHY he gave him Reiji the ability of Persona. And the reason as to why Bres was able to talk to him from months ago than the others not only because they were granted them at different times will be revealed in chapter 20 I believe because that's when it's explained why they can hear their Persona's words. Be patient if you're wonder. And not gonna lie next chapter's gonna be a litter filler inspired to create some running characters you'll see throughout the rest of the novelizations in the series. So, I hope you enjoyed Chapter Sixteen of Persona: Be Your True Mind, and I'll see you next time for Chapter Seventeen: Jack Bros.
Ayase: Like, yay! We said stuff this chapter!
Yukino: It's about damn time!
Brown: Yeah, I mean I realize you decided to take a cast of nine characters and some how equally develop them all and give them each dialogue, but come on I'm awesome! I deserve more lines!
Kei: You are fantasizing, Uesugi. If any of us needs additional lines it is Yukino.
Masao: Hey, Nanjo, you're actually sticking up for your girlfriend, that's a first.
Kei & Yukino: *Blush* Shut up, Masao…
Maki: Bye bye everyone! See ya next time!
Myself: Peace out!