While I was walking in the direction Arsene told me too, I couldn't help but feel strange as I walked. It felt as if I was in the metaverse all the time, as if shadows lurked past each corner. "Hold, there is a deathstalker on thine right." Suddenly a giant scorpion with white armour and gold stinger crawls forward, crushing a fallen tree trunk on the way. "SCREEE!" I pulled out my gun and shot it, pushing it back a few feet and breaking the bone like mask, making a large indent as well as releasing black spraying liquid out of the cracks. "That was underwhelming." "Tell me about it."

After walking for a few more minutes Arsene spoke again. "Akira stop!" "What's up?" "Thou needs to change back. If thou is seen in thine outfit right now, think of what the people will do." "Good point, but how do I do it?" "You know how thou mask is stuck to thine face until thou wishes to take it off or summon a persona?" "Yeah?" "Just make it disappear with the same thoughts thou uses for thine mask." I then thought about looking normal again and just like Arsene said, blue flames engulfed me and changed my clothes back to my shujin uniform. "What about my other clothes?" "I only remember thine self from thou's days as a phantom thief. Those are the only clothes thou can "change" into." "I see."

A few more minutes of walking and I found a giant wall with what looked like a checkpoint. Walking up I was met by a girl in white police uniform, grey bullet proof vest and a white beret. "Hello there. Are you trying to get into Atlas?" Her voice had an Australian accent but she was still speaking English, guess I have to bring out my English. "Yes I am." She looked at her clipboard and talked again. "What are your reasons for coming here?" Even though she was trying to be professional, she was betrayed by the kindness in her voice. "I'm looking for a place to stay." "Oh no! Did your colony get destroyed?" 'What does she mean by colony Arsene?' "Colony's are towns outside of the city's, in more remote and dangerous parts of the world. When a colony is being built, it is really hard to keep it safe before it's overrun by grim, making colony's hard to establish. However there are colony's that do last but after awhile, are destroyed." 'Ah, ok.' "Yes, my colony was a rather new one. I never had even seen a grim in my life." She looked down. "Wow… seems peaceful." I gave my best smile. "It was… until the grim showed up and wreaked havoc. I had almost died until a power rose up inside me and I found I could hide in shadows." She put both hands on her cheeks. "My how terrible!" She then looked at the clipboard again and suddenly shot up her head. "Oh did you see any weird grim?" 'They all look weird to me.' "What do you mean?" "You know any that were acting weird or different. We always ask so we know of new threats." "I believe I had already told you that I have no experience with grim." She sheepishly rubbed her head with the back of her head. "My apologies. I'm a trainee and am trying to get a job as an atlas officer, so I have to read off the questions." 'You should not be telling me this if your on border control.' She then motioned me towards a metal detector. "This way." I walked through and nothing went off. I let out a small sigh. "Thank you for your time!" She waved me off, but I left her with something interesting. "Oh, by the way. I remember a very odd looking shadow along the way." "A shadow? Don't you mean Grimm" "I am unsure if it was a grim or not but something was not quite right."

(Flashback. A little before he changed into his student clothes.)

Walking through the thick forestry and snow was no easy task. Snow got in my shoes, in my gloves and even in my mask! This did not stop me from asking questions though. "Arsene. What is the town ahead like?" "Well it has a checkpoint like a an airport and it has one of the most powerful Militia at it's disposal, plus it is more like a city than a town." "Well won't they be overly reluctant to let in a man who randomly appeared with weapons that could potentially level a forest in a day?" "Don't you worry, thine weapons will disappear into thy soul once thoueth changes back." "How do I change ba-" Suddenly I felt a presence that felt more familiar than before, not Grimm but something equally foreboding. Looking around I found a creature with long arms, prowling like it was stalking prey. It had long claws on the end of its long bone like arms, spine like a tail slithering behind, on its chest, a bunch of strange lanterns hung from the black rib cage with a deep red glow. When I looked at its head the familiar feeling made sense. It's head looked like a black pumpkin with dark deep red seeping through its crooked smile and triangular nose and eyes. "Isn't that Jack-o-lantern?" "It is, but it seems corrupted. It's like it merged with a grim." It suddenly crawled up a tree, leaving behind a trail of dark smoke. "Let's get moving before it comes back." "Agreed."

(End flashback.)

I told her the description while leaving out the parts about me talking to myself. She had a halo graphic device of some sorts and was typing in the details, although she was obviously shaken by it. "W-w-well thank you f-for the description. It s-sounds quite f-frightening." "Indeed." An imposingly powerful voice came from behind her, making her jump. A man in a white military uniform with a red tie and a white glove on his right hand walked up holding another one of those see through tablets. "Trainee Lazuli, please go with . I am going to take over now." "But sir-" "Now! Lapis!" A woman in similar looking clothes came from behind the bigger man. "Do not talk back against general Ironwood." "Yes ma'am." They walked out of the room and the man known as Ironwood took a seat. "That is quite the story young man." "Hard to forget when you stare death in the face." "Can you explain why you have no records in the database." "This one is quite sharp. don't let your guard down" "Well you see sir, my colony was rather new. When I was in school, they told us that we were all born around the time are town was made. Last I remember it was fourteen years old." "Remember, the more technical the harder it is to lie over and over." 'Don't worry I got this.' "So young man. You're saying that your colony was fourteen years old. Meaning you would still have a record if you were born elsewhere and relocated." "Burn!" 'Zip it!' I mentality recomposed myself. "Yes that would be correct but my colony was my birthplace. It was just destroyed two or so years ago. Making Me have to wander from area to area." He nodded. "I see, that makes sense. That would definitely explain why you would look seventeen. Sorry for the questions, we are looking into a case right now." "May I ask what it's about?" "Of course, just not any serious information. We are looking for the one who made that giant explosion of energy a day ago. I was going to ask, was that you're doing?" "Oooo, busted!" 'You were much more bearable when you couldn't speak.' "thou wounds me so." "If you are looking for the culprit of that weird energy, I might have seen him." Ironwood looked surprised. "Him?" "Even though thou and I are the same. I am confused." "There was a man in a black trench coat, grey shirt and red gloves." General Ironwood began typing on the glass in his hand. "Anything else?" "Yes. He had a black cane that he fought with and pistol with enough power to crush the skull of a deathstalker." With a nod, Ironwood put the device in his pocket and started out the door. But before he could. "He also had a white mask." Ironwood slightly turned his head. "Thank you. You may go now."

(Later.)

With that, Ironwood left and I packed my things to leave. Just as I was leaving I saw something in the corner of my eye. Someone was hunched over, hands on their knees and coughing...blood! I rushed over only to find a pale yet familiar face. It was Lapis and she looked like she was dying. "Are you ok!?" She suddenly got up and turned. The blood was everywhere and I saw a empty pill container to the left. "I'm f-fine, see." She tried to smile reassuringly but the blood dripping from her lip said something different. "Are you hurt? We should find you a doctor or something!?" "It would not help. I have an incurable disease. But I have good medicine and a job to do, so I can't show weakness! Please don't tell anyone or I'll be out of the job!" "Only if you get treated, you are in no state to move." She shook her head and tried walking off. "See I'm totally fine. There is nothing to worry abo-" The keyword was tried. A second later she was flat on her face. I walked over and pulled her up so that her arm was over my shoulder. "Let's get you someplace private so we can talk."

I found a secluded area with an unkempt bench off to the side. I sat Lapis down and sat on her left, she slumped down a bit, but was able to keep herself up. "Do you want to talk?" She sighed, then looked at me. "I was born with a weak body. My household was poor so we did our best to keep everyone together and happy. We soon found that there was a kind of medical procedure that could help increase my body physically and make my immune system to that of a normal persons, this made me happy. So throughout the year my parents saved up small amounts of money during the course of a year, they all had kept it as a gift for my birthday in a year or two, once they saved enough money. But when they surprised me by taking me a year early I was so ecstatic. When the doctors had put me to sleep for the surgery I thought that things would finally go our way. However when I woke up, the surgery had successfully made me stronger and made me immune to sicknesses. But I soon found out that my life was being shortened by the effects, making us pay more money to keep me alive."

It was a sad story, no doubt, but there was something odd about having a surgery effecting someone's life and not telling people about it. The doctors had probably made a mistake, trying to cover it up. "However I also found out that the reason I was able to get the surgery so fast was because my parents got a loan from some shady people. Now not only do they have to pay for my medical bills but also a monthly dept." She was now in tears, hands balling up into fists. I decided to pat her back. "I needed to get a job to help them pay for everything. But the only thing I'm good at is fieldwork such as hunting, tracking or farming. Plus with my semblance, which is a radar, I can help in a lot more fields. Since this job pays good and I can work with many high ranking officers I can finally be of some use. The problem is, the medicine I'm using is getting weaker and weaker and I might need a stronger dose. But that will just bring me back to the unforgiving cycle, I pay for an examination, I get stronger medicine, the medicine gets less effective. The only difference is that it will cost more." It truly is unforgivable to have someone in this state and extorting them out of money. Plus if my theory is correct, than the loan sharks are not the only ones in on it. I then proceeded to pat her back as she cried some more.

"Could you please keep this a secret. If they found out I'm like this they will fire me without question." I smiled, if I can make life better for people in this world, what better way is there to start. 'Hey Arsene.' "Yes Akira?" 'Could you find some of Takemi's medicine from the bag.' "Which one?" 'The one I was a guinea pig for.' After some mental searching, Arsene "came back" so to speak. "I could only find the early kind that was less potent but not harmful. I'll send it to thou via thine bag so you don't have to come to the velvet room to get it." 'Thank you' I was snapped back to reality by Lapis poking me. "Are you going to tell or not." "I'll do one better." I reached into my bag and brought out the medicine and handed to her, she hesitantly grabbed it and tried to read the contents. However it was in Japanese. "What is this?" "It's medicine that was used to fix someone in a similar kind of condition as you. This may be the early stuff but it is still effective." She looked at it thoughtfully, then spoke. "How much." "Pardon?" "How much does it cost." "That's the real kicker, it's completely free. Just take one a day." "Wait!" She grabbed onto my collar before I could leave. "What is your name?" "My name is Kurusu Akira, Kurusu being my last name." "Well mister Kurusu I cannot accept this. I have to work for it, that's my family motto." "Then how about this, in exchange for the medicine, I want access to the armoury at atlas." "I mean, I could give you my old card to the trainee armoury but why would you want that?" "Because I am tired of going around hitting Grimm with sticks I find around the forest." She laughed and held out her hand. "Deal! I will send the card to you when I find it."

"I am thou, thou art I. Thou hast restablished the vow of the Death arcana. Granting thou back the forgotten power."

[Death lvl 1: trainee armoury.]

After I walked her home, I began the search for a new place. After looking at the buildings however, I could not find one that looked like an apartment at all. But I found something better, I found a mask shop! I was just walking around when I was suddenly called out to. "Hey kid!" I looked over in the direction of the voice and found what looked like a hippie in a booth that had the words 'the masks we wear' on the top. "Could I interest you in some masks? We have many to choose from, here have a look." He handed me a paper mask with three triangles for the eyes and nose, it seemed ordinary until I used my third eye.

[mask of the bringer of misfortune]

[Shiki-Ouji. Price 60L]

"How much is it?" He crossed his arms and sighed. "It usually costs sixty or so lien, but I have a lack of customers recently. So for you how about three seventy five?" "Deal!" He took the mask and brought it to the back. He came out again with a bag and card. "This is a membership card that will gain points the more you buy from my store. If you come back that is." I nodded and walked off. "Akira, break the mask and send it to the sea of souls." I crushed the mask and it erupted into blue flames that went straight into my eyes. [Shiki-Ouji, lvl 21.]. We will most definitely come back here. I started walking once more but was soon stopped by a sudden obstacle. "Ooff!" I had bumped into a girl in a white dress with a gold trim that was as long as her ankles, she had a gold scarf that covered her shoulders perfectly and her sleeves were surprisingly puffy looking. I held out my hand to pick her up. "I'm so sorry! Here take my hand." "Nice going harvinder." 'The sarcasm is not needed.' I pulled her up once she grabbed my hand and let her brush herself off, once she did she bowed. "Thank you very much." Her voice was soothing and fair. While she bowed I could see what looked like ears that a wolf would have, however they were barely noticeable. "A fanus huh?" 'What's a fanus?' "People with animal features and enhanced senses that are discriminated as a result."

She suddenly hides behind me as a group of men in white come running up. "Hey kid! Hand over the girl!" 'Arsene, how do you think I should deal with this?' "Talk them down and act if necessary." 'Got it! Oh crap I have to sneeze.' The guy walks up and grabs me by the shirt. "Hey! Harry Potter, I'm talking to you!" *Heechooo* I slammed my head into his when I sneezed, causing him to fall back. "Or you can just fight and ask questions later!" "That bastard! Come on guys!" He waves over his two friends who start pulling out weapons. The one on the left pulled out brass knuckles while the one on the right pulled out a great sword. 'What in the world!' "Don't be surprised. A lot of people have weapons in this world."

The person on the right tried to do a stab attack. The blade was a lot lower than it should have been, showing that this was just a common thug with no skill, hell, even the knights in Kamoshidas castle, the slowest shadows I had encountered, were faster than this. I used my foot to push down the blade and got it stuck in the ground. I then ran up the blade and jumped on his face. Propelling me up in the air and making me land palm first on the leader of the group's head. Using my momentum I fliped him over the faunus girl. When I saw the one with brass knuckles coming, I quickly blocked and shoved my fingers in his eyes. I looked over at the girl and motioned her to leave. "Go!" Without any hesitation she left, leaving me with with the three fuckstkateers. The leader and maybe rapiswt got up again, his face, more red than panthers costume. "What the hell are you guys doing, get him!" I looked around to see I was surrounded. "I think you know what to do." With a smirk I switched my persona to shiki-ouji and watched as all my assailants attacks were nullified. "What the hell!" I changed into my phantom thief attire and spoke the words that always send a chill down my spine. "Persona!"

—

[Akira Kurusu] lvl 50

[Melee attack] 250

[Ranged attack] 300

[Defence] 0-50

[Money] 4.25-0.50

[Skills] Lvl 1 death: trainee armoury.

[Arsene] Lvl 50

[Eiha, Cleave, Sakunda, Dream needle, Adverse resolve, Maeiha]

[Strength] 40

[Intelligence] 49

[Vitality] 33

[Agility] 60

[Luck] 27

[Shiki-Ouji] Lvl 21

[Tarukaja, Taunt, Snap]

[Strength] 21

[Intelligence] 11

[Vitality] 15

[Agility] 16

[Luck] 13

For those who wanted to know.

Thank you again for reading the second chapter of this story while I plan out how our protagonist will end up in vale. As always, please tell me where to fix grammar and spelling as well as give ideas to make it better. The next chapter will have our Thief come up with a way to introduce himself to the world while he tries to figure out how to access people's hearts.