Key:

Menma Narrating

Guest Narrating

"Shadows/Persona Talking."

"Humans Talkings."

'Humans thinking.'

"Telepathy/Radios."

22/11/20XX

We started small, finding details on Shido that could help us figure him out as a person. One thing we all noticed is how he would often say that he would 'Steer this country' That was put down in our notes, and we put a tally each time he would say it in his speeches, it got pretty high.

"This dude is obsessed with boats." Ryuji muttered as he pulled off his headphones and yawned, pushing the laptop away from him, they were all in the Uzumaki apartment, as it was being used as the Hideout for the moment.

"Seriously…" Akira said, rubbing his eyes and stretching out. He pulled the note pad on the table towards him and scribbling 'boat' in the keywords section, and adding another tally to a phrase.

"Can we please take a break?" Ryuji pleaded, a pathetic look in his eyes getting a laugh from Akira, the Joker nodded to the Skull, "Thank you!"

"If you two are going on break can you grab me something?" Menma questioned as he spun his chair away from the table he sat at, Akira nodded easily and the redhead smiled, his long hair tied away into a ponytail that sat on his right shoulder, across his chest.

He pulled out his wallet and grabbed a handful of bills, "I've got a craving for the colonel's chicken." Ryuji whiped a line of drool from his mouth, Menma smiled and pulled out another line of bills, "Grab everyone something, here's mine." He handed a note to the black haired boy.

"Oh are the servants running errands?" Ann goaded with a cheeky grin, "None for me thanks, I already had my cheat day this week."

"Pfft, call me whatever I get to stretch my legs and take my mind off crazy bald dudes for five minutes." Ryuji shot back, Ann groaned and lamented pitifully.

"He's got you there." Akira agreed with a chuckle, "Anything for you?" The Joker looked down the table the redhead sat at, Yusuke nodded, having forgot to eat breakfast apparently, Makoto looked to Menma, seeing his smile she accepted, and Haru guiltily told the duo her order.

"Oh heavens, the Maiden Okumura purchases from the competition." Menma gasped dramatically, getting chuckles, Haru's face flushed red as she buried her face into her sweater, "No need to hide away in your cleavage Haru, this is a judgment free zone."

"You're incorrigible!" Haru faux-shouted, covering her blushing face with her hands.

"I really am." Menma admitted with a chuckle, "I tell you what though, if I ever get so bad it's too much to bear, I'll be your boy-toy for a day."

"How bold." Yusuke said idly, looking at the redhead for a moment, "Perhaps I should paint you, the 'Silver Tongued Rogue'."

"I prefer pink." Menma stuck his tongue out and waggled his eyebrows, it seemed to fly over Yusuke's head.

Makoto sighed into her hands, face red, unknowingly drawing more attention to herself, "Hehe, who knew, prez?" Ryuji goaded.

"How vulgar…" Haru mumbled, though there was a distinctive meaning in her eyes as she looked at the redhead, making him blinking owlishly and pull his tongue back into his mouth.

"Not fair!" Futaba's voice broke the group from their conversation, "I hunger!" Her face displayed on a tablet through a Skype call.

"Well if someone just came over instead of suffering from agoraphobia you'd get chicken too." Menma said with sarcasm.

"Ughh!"

"Right, we'll be back soon!" Ryuji said, moving to the door.

"Don't get distracted making out you two!" Futaba called out, making both of them turn, red faced and angry.

"We aren't gay!" Shouted both males.

"That's not what my fanfiction says." Her impish laughter made both boys turn blue in the face,.

"Hang up the call." Ryuji demanded.

"We must destroy anything linked to us." Akira said, adjusting his glasses in a way that only he could make menacing.

"Alright boys, go get the chicken, try to avoid smooching on the way." Menma said, waving the duo off, Ryuji squawked for a moment and turned on the redhead only for Akira to grab his shoulder.

"Let's just go honey." Ryuji nodded before running away from Akira as he grinned widely, "Stop running from our love, Ryuji-kun!"

The room burst into laughter as the door swung shut, several of the Phantoms doubling over.

"Nice to hear you're all enjoying yourselves." A new voice entered the fray, from the other side of the door, it opened to reveal Sae who entered the room and kicked her shoes off, she strode over to the tall redhead and placed a hand on his head, "How are you feeling?"

Menma released a few more chuckles before smiling, "Better actually. Putting my focus onto something else has made it easier to deal with… all of it."

"Good, how're things going with your search?" Questioned the prosecutor, the others at the table noted how she didn't remove her hand, the foursome passed confused looked between one another, Morgana tilted his head.

"From everything we've gathered over today I'd say tomorrow we can try and bust into his Palace, I've already checked the Nav he's on it." Informed the Uzumaki getting a nod from the older Niijima, "How are you?"

"Tired." Admitted the Prosecutor, "Work is a mess right now, no thanks to you I'm sure." Her words came without rancour, but accompanied by a smirk.

Menma huffed, "Crazy is as crazy does." He surmised with a shrug.

"Since when were you two so chummy?" Makoto questioned with a raised brow, drawing their attention to the younger sister.

Menma could have sworn he saw gold flash in those eyes for a moment, and then he realised this was a woman with a palace, part of him wanted to free her of that burden but at the same time it made her who she was, he felt like a hypocrite… but Sae does not harm others, she seems more self-destructive if anything actually.

So… there was no need to change her to begin with, because Sae is well adjusted to remove the need… that set a precedent.

"We can't wantonly change people… like I was saying. We need to be thorough with out searches, confirm guilt before acting…" Menma said suddenly, rubbing his forehead.

"Yeah…?" Ann leant up from the couch and looked at him strangely, "Isn't that exactly what we're doing right now?"

"Just because someone is in Mementos doesn't make them evil, consider Mishima." Yusuke said, he too looking at Menma oddly.

"Why do you bring it up?" Haru asked, titling her head.

"No… no reason just thinking out loud." Menma said, shaking his head, part of him missing the warmth of Sae's hand, it still felt like a lifeline to him, even though he knew he should swallow it and move on.

"As to answer your question Makoto, we've never not been close." Sae said, looking at her sister strangely, "I do have friends."

"I just thought that the way you immediately went to check on him was… motherly." Makoto noted with a slight twist in her expression.

Sae blinked, thinking it over for a moment, Menma answered, "I was… not exactly in a good place after the interrogation… even before Sae came in to speak with me. She was my lifeline in there, and on the way home."

The admittance made a flash of guilt burn in Makoto's chest, "I never did finish my story did I?" Menma suddenly questioned, making Sae blink.

"No. You didn't." She said with a smirk, "Got more juicy details for a case report?"

"Of the record of course, madame prosecutor." The redhead said with a grin.

"Let's see… we left off with… Kaneshiro right? Just after I had my episode and scared the shit out of him?"

"That's right." The Phantoms either returned to work or listened in, but all of them noticed the sombre expression on their Queen's face.

"I was in a pretty bad headspace at the time so I did my own form of investigating of the Metaverse.

The first thing I saw when I entered Kaneshiro's cognition was that he basically saw all of Shibuya as walking ATM's for him to drain dry, those that couldn't keep up with his payments were basically ruined pieces of scrap for the pile.

Getting inside wasn't as hard as I initially thought, one of my Persona, Swift is able to fly in a limited capacity, so we scaled a building and took off towards the floating vacuum, it actually took a few jumps before we made it.

Jack rolled into his landing, breathing heavily as his heart pounded in his ears, he pulled his mask off and laid out on the ground, letting himself rest to catch his breath, a single blue butterfly, seemingly made of light appeared and sat on his nose.

A chill raced down his spine, for a moment he thought he would be assaulted with another trip into the void, this however was… quite a bit more pleasant.

"Salutations, Agent of Philemon." Greeted the whispery voice, though this one distinctly male. "I see you have forgone your typical group in favour of venturing alone, may I inquire why?"

"I need some time to clear my head, and nothing helps me more than concentrating on a task… Also I can't really face Makoto at the moment." Menma made the assumption that this creature knew who his friends were if it was able to actively notice their absence.

"Mmm, while it is true your outburst scared the Priestess, that is no reason to isolate oneself is it?" Questioned the butterfly, fluttering slightly as it did so.

"No, it's not but I need a cool off period. Being broken up with hurts and the last thing I want to do is say something, or do something to hurt those I care about because I'm in pain." Menma said, wanting to look away, shame colouring his expression.

"Quite noble, but also quite selfish. Your desires for friendship and understanding are thwarted by your attitude towards your peers, if you cannot trust them to assist you in times of grief, what do you truly have?" Butterfly questioned.

"I uh…" Menma didn't really have an answer to that.

"Simply put, if you lack faith in your bonds, they will deteriorate. And with it any power you draw from them, if you continue on this selfish path you may find that your powers weaken substantially." Menma blinked, that he didn't expect.

"If you truly wish to take time to yourself, that is no problem. Many people feel it is required to 'recharge' after time in social settings, but this is no such situation. If you put faith in those you love with all of your heart, then your healing process shall be exponentially quicker." Butterfly informed, a smile audible in the echoing voice.

"That's um… really good advice actually, thanks. Can I uh… do anything for you? Ya'know in return for you basically giving me a counselling session?" Menma questioned with a chuckle.

"Oh heavens! Such kindness, I did not expect." It stated, that audible smile was now an audible grin. "There is something you could do for me, in fact. I would be remiss if I did not take you up on your offer. You see, my name is Igor. I am one of Lord Philemon's assistance, but my typical place of residence has been taken over by a force of malevolence. If you could find it within you to grant me asylum until my home is relieved of this villainy, i would be most grateful."

"Oh! Yeah, sure Igor. I don't mind… ugh, how do I do that? I'm sorry by now I should really be better at this kind of stuff but I'm still learning." Menma apologised as he sat up and held the butterfly in one hand.

"Oh no, fret not new friend." Assured Igor, "I think for one without formal training, you're on your way to being an excellent guardian of my kind, I will dwell within you, as your spirits are wont to do, do you have a specific shape you would like me to conjure?" Questioned the ever helpful butterfly.

"I've got Setesh, Swift and Cerberus… I don't exactly have a dedicated magic attacker." Setesh was support based, buffs, debuffs, that sort of thing. Swift was Nuke and Gun damage based, and Cerberus was Fire, Curse and Physical.

"Any favoured Arcana? Oh this is ever so fun, it has been years since I got to do this!" Igor actually sounded somewhat giddy, Menma felt his face flush with warmth and a smile spread across his previously dreary face.

"Uhh… Emperor? That's one right? Yeah!" Menma looked up to the right for a moment as though trying to imagine the tarot.

"A sound choice, should you require him, simply call for Ba'al Hadad, or simply Baal as he's currently addressed in the Sea of Souls." Menma blinked as before him appeared a man perhaps only a few years his senior.

Standing roughly 5' 7" foot with a bronze fish shaped headdress, a pair of horns rising from the front and long fins spread down to his lower back, he had short white hair and bright golden eyes.

He was dressed in an incredibly tight dark grey shirt that exposed his midriff, dude had a nice body all things considered. Over that was a X shaped harness of feathers that were all either made of the same brass, or dyed in some way.

His skin was dark brown and absolutely spotless and looked incredibly soft to the touch, held in his left hand was a bronze chalice dotted with emeralds and rubies. On each of his wrists were armguards with the same fin protrusions, though much smaller.

Covering his lower half was a long green skirt with a drape down the front starting from a bronze sash around his waist, it left his legs fully mobile, thankfully they were covered by yet more tight clothing, this being skin tight sand coloured leggings, the strangest thing was the noticeable curve of Baals hips, almost womanly in their appearance.

His feet were bare and instead he was anklets with fins.

You're describing him in such detail I could paint him - Yusuke.

I may have a slight man crush on Ba'al Hadad. Dudes good looking.

"For informations sake, Baal is a Semitic title that means Lord of Master, while it can refer to many deities this Baal is Ba'al Hadad, the Canaan God of Rain, Agriculture, Fertility and Thunder. His attributes as a Perona however are High Damaging, Multitarget Wind attacks, though he is also capable of learning multiple skills from other Persona, such as your Satesh's Concentrate." Igor informed, quite giddy to share in first hand Personae information once more.

Menma let out a low whistle, he extended his hand and Baal did the same, "You've got really soft hands." He noted without thinking, the deity actually pulled back and examined his hands for a moment - his cup just floating beside him - and shrugged, smiling at his new master Baal merely shrugged wordlessly.

"Marvelous to see you getting along so well." Igor gushed, how much did this guy get out?

"Hey just a quick question, if you leave… does Baal leave to?" Menma looked down at the Butterfly sitting on his shoulder, it's wings twitching slightly.

"If he wishes to remain with you I see no reason to force him to return to the Sea of Souls, the Trickster may have a duplicate but this Baal, Ba'al Hadad, may very well remain yours alone."

"I'd like that, Master." Baal said with a grin, sipping his cup… somehow in a very suggestive manner. "From what I can glean within your soul we may have similar interests."

Is this your way of coming out?! - Ann

I wouldn't be surprised, given the look on his face. - Yusuke.

No. Not exactly… it'll make sense later. We're getting sidetracked.

Anyone want to hear about how if you google the name Setesh, on his wikipedia page it says here he's a flaming bumbtumbler? - Futaba

Oh my god fine, I wanted to fuck Baal shoot me!

Zero judgement zone - Haru

I will bend you over my knee and make that ass raw missy.

I'll be good! - Haru

Aww~...

"Uhh… maybe?" Menma said with a chuckle, feeling slightly hot under the collar. "I look forward to working with you, nevertheless." Baal nodded and suffused with Menma's soul, he felt a noticeable tingle this time and actually had to steady himself, before giving up and sitting back down.

"Ahh, it would seem Hadad had to make some space in your soul. Fret not, new friend. It shall pass. You do not posses the Wild Card so having multiple Personae may feel somewhat taxing, think of it like a muscle you must develop, your soul will eventually grow and expand to accommodate more, stronger Persona ironically because you're collecting more." Igor assured, a smile once more in his voice.

"Igor I gotta ask, how exactly did you show up here? Were you just fluttering around the Metaverse trying to find someplace to crash?" Questioned the confused Uzumaki, his gut feeling unsettled.

"Somewhat, yes. Though I have been watching over you, on behalf of Lord Philemon in fact. My original function is actually being performed by my… usurper, shall we say. So at the moment I'm quite free to do as I please, and I wished to assist you, you seem like a good young human, though slightly rough around the edges. Pardon my presumption but it seems that you need a guiding voice, someone to… check in with, to make sure you stay the course in your heart." Menma felt his eyes heat up, the telltale sign of tears.

That confused him.

"No one's ever been so genuinely interested in helping me like this…" HIs shadow's voice called, from within the depths of his mind.

"Thank you… Igor. Really, that uh - sniff - actually means a lot, ya'know?" He chuckled as the sensation of crying washed over him for nary but a moment, still his body shot out a dose of endorphins to give him that 'post-cry-high'.

"Of course, I myself am an Agent of Philemon. I would be remiss to not assist one of my new dear friends." Menma actually felt a few hot tears drip down his face, "Oh dear, I did not mean to cause distress."

"No I - ugh - don't actually know why I'm crying right now… I think I - sniff - just might need to, it probably sounds dumb but… better out than in, yeah?" He leant against the metal fence of Kaneshiro's distorted palace and allowed himself to happy-cry for a few minutes.

"Truly humans are incredible creatures. I look forward to this as not only a learning experience, but a chance for us, as fellow agents and new friends, to bond." Igor spoke earnestly, making the happy-tears flow even stronger.

"Goddamnit! Why are you being so nice to me! It's - haha! - so fucking invigorating and upsetting at the same time! This is so new - sniff - I've never actually cried tears of joy before!" He laughed loudly and pulled his hood down, weeping and laughing, it didn't make sense.

I am thou, and thou art I

Through the winds of fate I come, bidden unto thee by destiny.

I am the Fool trusted ally and life-long companion, guard me well.

A surge of power shot directly into Menma's chest, it was like someone hooked up a jumper cable to his heart and hit him with a few thousand volts. He clenched his teeth as he smiled, allowing himself another few moments to bask in it all.

"Igor… I may not be able to let you go, ya'know… you've given me not only a lot to think about, but an entire new life experience within… what 10 minutes? You're amazing." Menma praised, and truly he meant it, from the bottom of his heart this strange butterfly had touched his very soul in a way it had never been touched before.

"I truly do believe this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship. And fret not, I shall never truly leave you, for the Fool is the most stalwart of companions." His voice carried a grin, that spurred Menma to action.

"The Aeon and the Fool, well alright Igor!" Menma shot up, ignoring the redness of his face and his cheeks, "Shall we scout out this palace, for our friends!?"

"Indeed we shall, onward to adventure!" Igor fluttered into his heart and seemingly rippled through his armour, pulling up his hood and slipping on his mask, Jack ran into the Palace, towards great adventure.

I don't know how, but Igor pulled me from my pit and set me on my path in just a few minutes. I'm lucky to have him.

He still dwells within you? - Yusuke

Ann-chan, are you crying? - Haru

I'm not crying your crying, shuddup! - Ann

He's been dormant ever since I got caught in Sae's palace, I basically told him to hide away in my mind, or heart. Wherever he is, Igor'll come back out when he's ready. Dude's probably sleeping actually.

Do spirits sleep? - Makoto

Hell if I know, but I think that's the only reason he hasn't popped out to give me another pep-talk… actually maybe that's why?

I would have assumed you'd need a pep talk - Sae

I'm… relying on my friends, to help me." Menma said bashfully, looking down with a faint red to his cheeks.

Haru bounced out of her chair and basically skipped over to him, she pulled him into a hug, which was more along the lines of her breasts, and kissed his cheek, "Mmmmwah! There, you always told me you understand physical displays more than anything else, that's my way of saying I'll look after you."

Haru's face was basically a cherry, she didn't expect herself to be so bold, her heart was beating like a jackhammer, Ann sniffled but also gave an 'oooh'.

Menma looked speechless, his own face colouring further, "I-If I knew sharing with people would get me kisses that make my whole flippin' body tingle I'd have shared all the time!"

Ann laughed so hard she snorted, Yusuke shook his head with a fond smile, even Makoto had to allow herself a small grin.

What none of them expected was for Sae to do the same thing, though instead of the innocent-possible romantic affection of Haru's kiss, this one was soft, sensuous and made his spine turn to jelly, she whispered in his ear.

"Sharing is caring, I can show you how much I care." He swore there was a little tongue-flick on his lobe but he dare not mention it.

'WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PALACE STAYS IN THE PALACE!' Menma screamed in his head, he was met with several guffaws from the residents of his soul.

"Duuuuuuuuude~ What the hell did we miss!?" Ryuji asked, both Akira and himself carrying armfuls of brown bags with KFC emblazoned on the sides, and plastic bags with several soft-drinks.

"OH NO WHAT A SHAME FOODS HERE!" Menma stood up woodenly and walked away from the table, "EXCUSE ME FOR A MOMENT!"

"Why is he screaming?" Akira questioned, his glasses had fallen down somewhat so his steely grey eyes peered at the retreating figure of his friend unimpaired.

"Menma was sharing with us the story of our Phantom Thief adventures from his perspective, he was informing us about an entity called 'Igor' that gave him his first experience of crying with genuine joy, Haru proceeded to give him quite the kiss on the cheek as… reward for sharing, Sae-san seemed to match her with… undertones." Yusuke explained, Sae chuckled whilst Haru felt a slight fire in her belly.

'Oh, we playing this game now?' Thought the world's sweetest little cinnamon bun.

'Bring it on, little girl.' Sae thought at the same moment, it was good to know she still had that effect on the red headed boy even after two years of him staring at her ass, and unabashedly lusting after her, that when he got even a taste of interest back he melted like butter.

"Dude." Was all Ryuji could say, "I'm jealous."

"I must admit, I am too. Come Ryuji, help me feel better." Akira said, putting his bags onto the table and grinning at the blond.

"Knock it off already!" The flushed thug shouted in return, Ann fell off the couch she was laughing so hard.

22/11/20XX - Afternoon

Menma returned from screaming like a giddy schoolgirl into his pillow to a very amused group of friends, "I was gone like five minutes, get off my case."

"I thought that as your, 'Prosecutor Mommy' I was supposed to be on your case?" Sae asked innocently, Menma almost swallowed his tongue at that comment coming back to bite him in the ass.

"..." Menma looked at everyone in the room before his face flushed once more, he steeled his will and sat down to retrieve his order, "There's a dark, dark part of me that's so fucking into that right now, and I don't know how I feel about it, so I'm just going to enjoy my artery clogging chicken and think about it later."

"You mean after we're all gone, and you're alone in your room?" Ryuji asked, waggling his eyebrows.

"Probably then, yes." Menma admitted, face stoic and posture impeccable. Completely mismatching the words coming out of his facehole.

"Menma, next time I am putting a piece together pertaining to lust. I believe I will seek your input." Yusuke informed as he dipped his tenders into sweet-and-sour sauce.

"Or you could develop a sex-drive, Inari." Futaba mocked, mouth full of curry.

"I'll have you know I am currently courting a girl at school." Yusuke shot back, waving his hands at the tablet.

The table collectively leant in, minus Sae who was picking at Menma's chips, "Diiiish!" Demanded the redhead, "Does she make your heart pound like a drum? Are you lost for words when you see her? I-I-Is it like every moment away from her is suffocation, and your poor heart just can't take the agony of her absence?!"

"You are very strange." Yusuke noted, "Especially when it comes to love in any form."

"I… no that's fair." Menma sulked and leant back into his chair, Sae boldly stealing a bite from his Zinger Stacker, on instinct he whiped a blotch of sauce off her lips and ate it, his face going red immediately upon realising it.

Thankfully everyone else was engrossed in Yusuke's love life that only the woman herself noticed, as he turned to her she looked at him and gestured him forward with her find, she leant in as well, "If you wanted to kiss me, you just had to say so."

Menma felt blood rain from his face and go towards his lower half in half a heartbeat, "What are you doing to me?" He demanded softly.

"Exactly what you want." Sae shot back, "We'll talk later." She turned his head with her finger so he gave his attention back to his friend.

"Dude just give us a name already, we get it she's pretty, and you have enough in common to make ground, but not enough to get bored!" Ryuji demanded.

"Hifumi Togo." Yusuke said, with an air of finality, "I find her to be a gem, and she finds me worthy of her affections." He had that same smug smirk on his face and closed his eyes, though no actual smugness came through.

"The Shoji player?" Ann questioned, interested, "I've seen her in a few magazines."

"Yes, though she's trying to move away from the spotlight."

"I've met her, nice girl. Taught me a lot about tactics." Akira put in with a smile, Yusuke raised a brow, "I heard about her through the grapevine, her skills are what make me an more effective leader."

"I'll have to thank her, I recall you saving my life numerous times through cunning." Yusuke said with a fond smile.

Akira waved him off bashfully, grinning all the while.

"Oooh, she's pretty nice choice Inari!" Futaba's voice chimed in, apparently she'd looked up the person of interest on the good ol' internets.

"She is more than her looks, Futaba." Scolded the Fox with a frown.

"Prude." Muttered the ginger.

"So anyone else got any juicy romance tales?" Menma questioned, around his food.

"I formally broke things off with Sugimura-san." Haru informed, "Hopefully now I won't be hounded by him."

"Formally?" Questioned Ryuji, "I figured after that guy got a boot to the face he'd have gotten the message."

"Most would yes, but Sugimura-san is very… dedicated to his goals." Haru said, though the comment was less a compliment and more a condemnation. "Now that there's no documents to back up his claim, hopefully he'll leave me be to pursue my own goals." Her smile was tainted with worry.

"Let us know if he bothers you, we'll… give him a stern talking to." Akira assured with a smirk, his fellow bros matching the expression.

"What about you, Akria-kun?" Everyone turned to the slightly pink Joker, who suddenly felt the need to stare at the table in intense detail.

"Ooooh~ what devilish woman caught the eye of our leader?' Ann asked, grinning like the Panther she was.

"Her names Tae Takemi. She's a doctor in the clinic near LeBlanc we've uh… bonded." Akira admitted sheepishly.

"Cuuute~" Menma said, squishing his cheeks with his hands, "Oh look at you, you adorable little baboo you."

"You're so strange."

22/11/20XX - Evening

All of his friends bar two had left for the evening, Sae and Makoto. His father had come home and greeted him, the two had a quick discussion before Minato made some food and went to bed early, having had a draining day at work.

"So, care to share anymore?" Sae asked, having claimed a seat on his couch. Makoto smoothed out her skirt and looked to him as well.

"I'd also like to hear things from your perspective." Menma had to question why she'd want to hear about how he agonized over her but put it to the back of his mind.

"Right so… the Palace itself wasn't exactly interesting, sure it was one giant bank but in the end they all crack open. The interesting thing was Kaneshiro's Shadow.

Funnily enough after we'd send in the calling card he'd changed his cognition in a way that put a safe in front of his treasure. I guess I really did put the fear of god into him.

He also brought the same group of people I savaged with him, or at least cognitions of them, though they fled the second I pulled my mask off and Kaneshiro went bug-man.

"You wanna play? I'll bust yo' head in, man!": Swore the bugman, looking much like normal Shadow Kaneshiro, fat, suit, purple skin, quaffed hair, though now with big red compound eyes and two flimsy looking wings popping out of his back.

Jack fit his mask back into place and grinned beneath it, "Oh but you are a pathetic little man."

"Focus, Jack. We're not here to intimidate, we're here to change his heart." Queen said, looking like a sexy cross between a wasteland raider and a biker, skintight suit, spiked shoulderpads, an iron mask, and white gloves. Her Persona was Johanna, the mythical female pope. In the form of the coolest motorcycle in Japan.

"Mhm." Jack said, his grin falling into a flat line, Mona smacking Joker on the thigh and saying.

"Get him Joker, let's show this money grubber who's boss!" Joker looked slightly put out for a moment before summoning High Pixie and using an ability to reduce Junya's defensive capabilities.

"I'm in!" Skull said, a shark-like grin on his face, "Per-sona!" A powerful Zio fell from a conjured cloud directly into Kaneshiro, making him cry out in pain. "Tag in!"

Fox leapt forward, Goemon appearing to mirror his movement, the katana wielding artist performing a Rising Slash, a large spray of shadowy blood pouring from Kaneshiro, the shadow stumbled back gasping for air as the twisted desires within him clotted the blood and made the wound appear superficial.

"Panther!" Fox called, the red latex wearing blonde summoned Carmen and released a powerful Agidyne via her femme fatale Persona.

Kaneshiro though, appeared unharmed, "Hahaha! You little bastards are just gonna keep on goin' aren'tcha? Well guess what I ain't gonna forgive you for all this!"

"You've got a lot of balls for a guy who's outgunned and looks like he crawls on shit." Ann said with a vicious snap of her whip.

"Nyahaha! Oh I like you! You I'll keep, that biker girl'd probably tear someone's dick off with her shitty attitude, but you! I could make a fortune outta you!" Kaneshiro said, laughing, and grinning in a way that filled Ann's stomach with disgust.

"Keep talkin' pal, just makes us wanna crush you all the more!" Skull snapped, slamming his sledgehammer on the ground.

"Ahh but I was having fun, all good things must come to an end though. So here it is, the big guns, my guardian robot!" Kaneshiro turned and waved at the safe, it quickly fell away but revealed a large spherical mass behind it.

"A… pig?" Mona questioned, disappointed.

Kaneshiro's voice blared out from speakers within the mechanical pig, "This aint' a pig yo! This is my Palace's guardian defence mechanoid, Piggytron! Goin' against me was a bad idea, now you're all gonna die, hahahahah!"

Jack frowned beneath his mask, but grinned shortly afterwards, "All I'm hearing is that we don't have to hold back to avoid killin' ya!" Jack cracked his knuckles and ripped off his mask, throwing it skyward he revealed his yellow eyes to the droid.

Kaneshiro's voice gave a visible strangulation as he spoke, "Y-You little shit, you think I'm scared ah you!?

"You should be Junya…" Jack spoke, a grim promise in his voice, "Shall we ladies and gents?"

"Hell yeah!" Kidd formed behind Skull, the captain and the thug shared a menacing grin.

"He's gonna get it." Panther said, Carmen appearing, both had crossed arms.

"People really should stop underestimating us, it's sad really." Fox spoke, Goeman taking a big hit from his pipe and blowing out a cloud of smoke, smirking.

"Well, it's always been sad. How the Shadows react to us." Joker said, Arsene appearing in a flourish, the leader spun his gun on his finger and sighed, leaning into his left leg. "Almost pitiful actually."

"Pathetic, Shadows know your place!" Mona and Zorro both stood puffing their chests out.

"I'll beat the decency into you, Kaneshiro." Queen revved Johanna's engine and snarled.

"That's what I wanted to hear, come Baal!" Menma ordered, his eyes flaring dangerously as his Persona manifested, "Debilitate that swinge!" Baal took a deep drink from his cup as a flash of dark energy soaked over Piggytron, its shell was no longer shining steel but rusted and chipped.

"M-My Piggytron, you little shit!" Junya said, firing on the Red Rogue only for the guns to jam. "Nghh!"

"Joker!" Jack said, offering his hand, Joker accepted it and turned to his blond compatriot, "Skull!"

"Hell yeah!" Energy flooded the trio.

"Let me in on this." Panther said, grasping Jack's other hand, the power within them all cranked up several notches.

"I shall assist as well." Fox placed his hand on Joker's shoulder smirking, all of them were snared in blue flames that had a golden edge.

Baal's cup multiplied, all of the Persona took a hearty swig, Captain Kidd turned into blue fire and leapt onto Carmen, Carmen's pets burst and her leashes burnt away, leaving only heady, cloud balls of fire that sparked and sizzled with electricity.

Goemon and Arsene flew into one another before becoming mere energy, that energy then shot into Baal who body shot up in size, now towering over his master, the Persona grinned menacingly.

"Together!" Jack shouted.

"Firestorm!" The flames of Carmen's desire, and the ferocious, whipping winds of Baal's thunderous reign, tore Piggytron, literally in half, metal scraps flew everywhere as the machine was torn asunder, heavy golden bars falling down in a pile before the thieves.

Kaneshiro quickly joining the gold, slamming into the ground with a groan.

Mona and Queen stood agape at the sight, each of the Phantoms retreated from the connection and gasped for air, "Phew… that was… intense…" Panther spoke first, grinning like a fool.

"Damn right it was, it was like… all of us were connected, like more than just physically." Skull tried and failed to put into words the gravity of said connection.

"Like all our souls were bound into one." Fox said, his face alight with glee, "Truly, never have I experienced anything quite like it."

Kaneshiro told us more about the Black Mask, about how he was using Palaces to control people. That information fucked with me, how many palaces are there that we don't know about? Too many from from the way he was talking." Menma said, leaning back into his couch and rubbing his forehead.

"I still remember that, it was… amazing." Makoto said, lost in the memory of that moment.

"I can only imagine." Sae admitted.

"Hmm…" Menma had a thought, it was slightly crazy but it may just work. "Sae… how'd you like to see the cognitive world for yourself?"

Makoto's eyes widened, "Menma is that such a good idea, without a Persona-"

"I just mean the upper levels of Mementos, just to give her context of what we do." Menma assured, Sae seemed to consider this. She looked at her wrist, clicking her tongue.

"I'd like that, how's tomorrow for you, before you go into Shido's palace?" Sae asked, Menma grinned and nodded.

"You have time off work?" Makoto questioned with a risen brow.

"I can take an early lunch break, what with everyone scrambling to find 'Jack' it's easy to slip out for an hour or so."

"I had another idea actually, we should get uniforms." Menma said, "Black suits… arm bands, probably have to leave the masks unless we can change them somehow."

"Uniforms, I can understand the appeal but for what purpose?" Makoto asked.

"It'd make us harder to pick out, certainly. Especially if we have to pull some big show-stopper to 'reveal' ourselves at some point, make our silhouettes less conspicuous." Menma shrugged, Makoto considered this.

"I think it's a fine idea, the less chance you all have of exposing yourselves the better." Sae said, a small smile on her face.

"I'll get some mock-ups done. I'll see you tomorrow Sae, now sorry to boot you guys out but I should probably get to sleep." The Niijima sisters nodded and thanked him for having them before exiting the abode.

"What are your intentions?" Makoto asked her sister, a narrowed gaze as they entered their home.

"I have no intentions, Makoto. I'm merely concerned for him." Sae said with a smirk.

"Then why did you kiss him earlier?" Questioned the younger of the two.

"Because I thought it'd be funny?" Sae explained with a careless shrug, Makoto had never seen her sister so… flippant. "He's usually so high-strung, it's cute to see his brain shut down."

Makoto had a flair of… inadequacy burn in her chest for a moment, that nostalgic sensation that made her feel, not like Queen, but like the Honor Student she tried to hard to break away from.

"If you do anything to-" Makoto began only for Sae to round on her, for a moment her eyes-no that's silly, her eyes couldn't flash gold, it must have been a trick of the light.

"Makoto, there's nothing I could do to him, that you haven't done already. You broke his heart, in a way I've never seen it done before, he would have and almost killed for you. Yes it would have been reprehensible, but do you know the level of dedication that takes?" Sae looked at her sister with something akin to pity.

"And you passed it up, you let it slip you by. Don't project your insecurities onto me just because you lost your chance, that Haru girl did the same and I don't see you calling her up and jumping down her throat." Sae crossed her arms and awaited a response.

Makoto looked hurt, something Sae had shamefully become accustomed to over the years, "I know I overreacted but he… he was too much for me." Makoto looked down and Sae lifted her chin to look her in the eyes.

"Tell me." Ordered the elder.

The two sat down for a moment and Makoto tried to get her head straight, "This is… going to be something you may not want to hear about but it does revolve around sex."

"I assumed as much, go on. I'd rather hear about it from you than him anyway, he get's this… look in his eyes." Sae admitted, though her lips pulled up slightly as she said it.

"He really does." Makoto agreed, exasperated.

"Okay so… our first time was… amazing, he gave more focus to me than anything, he was so gentle and caring, and warm... " Makoto's face had a slight flush to it and she smiled fondly. "And afterwards we just… melted."

"That's good. I"m glad you had a pleasant experience, most people are… not so lucky." Sae said, and it was true. At least from her experience. Most of the stories her female friends told her, predominantly in college were more akin to ghost stories than saucy teenage romances.

"Now I've always known Menma's a bit… out there. And he even told me to take the reins our second time, so that I could… figure it out for myself." Makoto's face was slightly redder now, "Turns out I… like to be in control, and he's probably got a few more marks on him from me than either of us would like."

"What, you bit him?" Sae asked, amused.

"And scratched him… his neck was a mess." Makoto admitted shamefully, "So anyway, I start to notice this weird pattern, each time he'd ask me over we'd do something else and inevitably end up having sex. That wasn't such a problem but it just felt like that was all he wanted from me once he got it. We started going out more and he got me a bunch of really nice things that I really wish he'd consulted me about first." Her tone was slowly getting a little tense.

"He never did anything I didn't want, and never forced me to do anything but all felt like… like he was making me something he'd want, and he never did anything like that for me. He always stayed the same, always acted the same. And then it started to bug me, wasn't I good enough the way I was? Why'd he keep giving me all these things? Was he paying me off? Did he think I was so shallow that I wouldn't want to be with him if he didn't shower me with gifts!?"

The room went silent for a moment, Sae allowing her sister a moment to get back on her train of thought.

"I just… felt like I was never enough for him, but at the same time I thought that he thought he was already perfect, that he didn't have to change. And like I said that started to bug me, his attitude, his… carelessness, his stupid speeches about how much he loved love and how he was so enamoured with me. L-like it was his job, like he was some host trying to bed me!" Makoto wanted to hit something at that moment, resentment burning in her eyes.

"Did you ever say anything about this to him?" Sae questioned, making Makoto's fire fizzle somewhat, "You didn't, did you?"

"No…" Makoto admitted, her tone filled with regret. "But when we were away in Hawaii… he cornered me on the beach and basically forced me to listen to his side of the story."

[Hawaii]

Makoto was dolled up in a lovely white two piece swimsuit, showing off her toned legs, her flat stomach, she was proud of her body and she felt pretty damn confidant that she would at least get a few gazes.

She was right, in hindsight she wishes she wasn't.

The eyes of several of her peers made her weary, as well as those native or visiting to the tourist location.

One pair of eyes made her spine tingle, because they did not burn with desire as they once did, they were like shattered glass, a minefield of emotions.

Menma Uzumaki was a prime human specimen, he stood at a round 6 foot, and would probably grow more as he got older, he had broad shoulders and a strong build, his physical attributes were somewhat contrasting to his face, his eyes were like gems, deep purple amethyst orbs that peered into the soul.

His hair was long enough to be tied away into a ponytail, it was red like fresh blood, just like his mother, and silky like soft fur. His jawline was sharp, and slightly angular, like his father, and his all around demeanor was friendly and open.

But now it was solemn, quiet. There was a lingering bitterness to him.

Even seeing him interact with his closest friends, there was a hesitance to it, like he was dipping his toes into the conversations before jumping in.

And he was-When did he get so close?

"We need to talk." Menma said, his voice tense.

"Do we?" Makoto deflected with a quirked brow.

"Don't play with me Makoto. I'm done with this cat and mouse. I get it, I scared you-" Menma began only for his face to explode in pain.

Makoto lowered her hand, her palm stinging slightly, "I can't believe you still think that's what this is about?" Her voice stricken.

Menma ignored the pain on his face, his pupil dilated somewhat and for a moment Makoto saw Jack rise up, but he took a calming breath. "Explain to me, how I hurt you. Because you screaming at me didn't help me understand the situation."

"You used me, made me feel like I wasn't good enough, dressed me up like some… toy, and bought me all those things to… pay for my time." Makoto spat, Menma's eyes widened.

"You thought, that me wanting you to have nice things was me paying you off?" Menma hssed, his hackles up, "You thought that I wanted you to change, for me? Makoto if I wanted you to change I would have stopped talking you all together, I don't change people!" Snarled the Red Rogue.

Makoto felt a chill go down her spine as he continued, "I just wanted you to have nice things, because I wanted as many things in the world to remind you of our time together, because I wanted to make sure you never felt underappreciated! Did you think all the time we spent together the memories we made together, stopped having any meaning to me the second I blasted you?" He said in disgust, "I severely underestimated my worth to you."

"Don't try to turn this around on me!" Makoto snapped.

"Oh? And why not!" Boomed Menma, "You refused to talk to me about anything of this nature, I don't care how new you are to dating, you've known me long enough that conversations shouldn't be outside the realm of possibilities." His voice dropped then, misery lacing it.

"Why did you assume the worst of me…? What did I do to make you think so little of me, Makoto? I loved you so much that it hurt. I couldn't think about anyone but you all the time, it actually started to become a problem." Menma admitted, spreading his arms out slightly and shaking his head, "I just… I wanted a physical representation of how much I loved you, I get it showering you with gifts wasn't the way to go, I see that now how it could of/was interpreted but you can't just think so lowly of me and make that fact in your head."

"Relationships are built on trust, and communication. You didn't trust me enough to talk, so you took your own path." Menma said, leaning onto his right heel somewhat he shook his head, "I don't get you, I thought I did. I thought I could make you as happy as you made me. Obviously not. I'm sorry Makoto, for whatever perceived slight I caused you." Menma shook his head once more and started walking away.

"Menma-" Makoto called after him, only for him to wave her off.

"Enjoy the trip." He said, finality oozing out of is words.

[Niijima Household]

"So he really just talked at you until you listened to him?" Sae questioned, raising her brow.

"That''s a slightly condensed version of what happened, but mostly. Yes." Makoto admitted, nodding.

"Why did you think he was treating you like some common street walker?" Sae asked, leaning forward somewhat, trying to grasp the thought process of her sister.

"I don't know." Makoto admitted, sighing, "In hindsight I feel stupid for it. He's too much of a sappy romantic to earnestly think so little of me but I was just… insecure I guess, he's not exactly promiscuous but… well you know him."

"He's Menma." Sae filled in blankly.

"He's Menma." Makoto agreed with a sigh.

"A ball of sexuality, gushy romance, cute things and punching things." Sae chuckled to herself.

"Generally that's where his mind is… what happened in that interrogation, before you got there? He's…. different now."

Sae took a breath, steadying her will.

"He was… drugged, beaten and tortured before I got there. He had a bullet wound in his shoulder the entire time. The bruises he's got at the moment are what he looks like after recovering.I don't know what he used to fix himself up, but on the way home he, broke down into tears, thanking me over and over again. When I got him home he almost ran into the shower, I waited outside and I heard him sobbing and saying he 'wasn't clean'." Sae informed, the look of horror on Makoto's face completely understandable to the silver haired woman.

[End]

Hope you liked it, if you did lemme know. If you didn't also lemme know.

Raxychaz!

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