Disclaimer: All characters and events that take place within the story are fictional. Any relations to real people or events are purely coincidental. All copyrights belong to Atlus.
Art by Zengoro on Pixiv. Thanks so much!
Warning: Deviants explores psychological disorders, thoughts of suicide, attempted suicide, sexual assault, and emotional trauma both from an intrapersonal and interpersonal perspective. If you or anyone you know are suffering from any of the above, please seek professional help.
Friday, April 15
After School
"Oh man, I didn't think that would happen." Ryuji stretched his arms high above his head and leaned from side to side.
"Yeah, we have to be careful using that app from now on. I gotta say, though, she put up quite the fight. She clipped me pretty good." Joker rubbed his aching jaw.
"Maybe Takamaki really could beat up some Shadows," Skull chuckled, rubbing a sore spot. "But that's too dangerous, no way would I let that happen."
Joker smiled. "You really care for her, don't you?"
Skull looked away, staying silent for a few seconds. "Yeah, yeah I guess I do. Back in middle school we had each other's backs. At least, I thought I did. I saw what the rumors did to her, Ren. She may not have seemed to care, but I knew she was hurtin. And I didn't do anything about it. Eventually I just got so scared to talk to her that I just… didn't. Like, what if she hated me, ya know? I've always wanted to apologize, but I think I'm still scared she'll say she hates me or something."
Ren thought back to the conversation he'd had with Takamaki yesterday. He'd promised he wouldn't tell anyone, but… "How about after this Kamoshida business, you go apologize to her. I don't know Takamaki-san that well, but from an outsider's perspective there isn't a chance she hates you."
Ryuji perked up. "Really? Heh, I'll take that. I feel like if we actually pull this off, apologizing won't be that hard."
"Hmph! If I was there, there would be nothing to apologize to Lady Ann about. I would have taken care of everything," Morgana said smugly.
"Yeah right, what could you have done? And wait, 'Lady Ann'?" Ryuji eyed Morgana suspiciously.
"How else would you address such a kind, caring, and selfless girl?" Morgana's eyes stared wistfully into the distance before snapping back to reality. "Wait, stop distracting me! We've already wasted enough time as it is. Come on! We have a lot of work ahead of us if we're to find Kamoshida's Treasure. And don't forget, code names!"
"Right." Ren repeated their codenames in his head. Skull. Mona. Skull. Mona. This was going to take some getting used to. "So how do we get in? We can't possibly use the front door."
"Remember that vent that you initially escaped from? That's our ticket in," Mona was already making his way there.
"Seriously? We're crawling through a vent? Man, that's like, the opposite of cool," Ryuji visibly slumped.
"I know it isn't very exciting but what choice do we have?" Mona took point and kept his eyes and ears peeled.
Following Mona's lead Joker and Skull bent their knees and got lower, trying to minimize their risk of being seen. Joker felt oddly lighter on his feet than he normally did.
There were no guards or any signs of a patrol at all. Joker didn't know if that was a relief or worrying.
A few minutes later they stood in front of the vent. From what they could tell it looked the same as it did when they first left. Looks like the guards hadn't found it yet. So far so good.
"Okay, I'll go first." Mona easily leapt up three times his height, reaching the vent without any hint of exertion. As if it were the most natural thing in the world Mona moved into the crawl space without a word.
"Damn, that cat's got hops," Skull noted with admiration. "I haven't done a pull up in ages, but we'll see if I can do this."
Joker watched as Skull pulled himself up into the vent. "Huh," Skull's voice echoed in the crawl space. "That was easier than I remember."
Mona's forced whisper echoed back. "Hey, keep quiet! What if they hear us?"
"Shit! Sorry!" Skull continued to crawl forward.
Joker stepped up. Had he ever done a pull up? It'd be seriously embarrassing if he couldn't get by without assistance. He grasped the edge of the vent and pulled himself up hard. "Wha-" Joker had to force his mouth shut as he shot above the vent. Two or three feet, at least.
He landed on his feet lightly, another thing that amazed him. How the hell did he do that? Joker knew for a fact he wasn't that strong. The only exercise he'd ever done was in physical education. What the heck was going on?
Skulls head poked out of the vent. "Hey, you okay? Heard you give a little shout."
"Yeah, yeah I'm good," Joker composed himself. "Just caught off guard."
"Whatever you say, dude. Come on, Mona's waitin'." Ryuji ducked back into the vent.
Taking in another breath Joker easily pulled himself up into the vent. He felt like he could lift himself up all day long.
Joker followed and entered a small, familiar room. Like the vent's exterior appearance, everything here was as he remembered. Mona's theory that small changes didn't get fixed held true so far.
"So how're we supposed to steal this Treasure thing?" Skull asked as he dusted himself off.
Mona put an ear to the door. "First, we'll have to secure an infiltration route."
"A what?" Skull punched his nose to hold in a sneeze.
Mona narrowed his eyes. "Don't you dare sneeze. We need to secure a safe route to the Treasure's location. There's a few steps we have to take before we can actually steal the Treasure, so we won't be stealing it today."
"Do you know where the Treasure is, Mona?" Joker hadn't seen much of the castle's interior. But from the outside's appearance alone it was massive. It'd take them days to search the whole place.
"No, I don't," Mona admitted. "But I have some ideas. Unfortunately they go in opposite directions."
"Like, up and down?" Skull hazarded a guess.
"Yeah. I'd wager it's either in the highest tower or the lowest chamber. Both are easy to isolate and secure while simultaneously being the most difficult to reach. Thoughts, Joker?" Mona turned to him.
"My guess is up. Kamoshida sees himself as the king, right? That means his room's likely to be higher up. And if this Treasure is so important to him he'd probably want to keep it close by where he can personally watch over it," Joker finished and turned to Skull.
"I guess we know where to start lookin'."
Joker rolled his eyes. Skull really hadn't given this any thought.
Skull looked back and forth between Joker and Mona's exasperated faces. "What?"
"Nothing," Mona's voice was flat. "Let's get moving. We've got a lot of ground to cover."
Ann wasn't sure what to expect entering this massive castle. Throne room? Sure. Gaudy tapestries? Check. Heavily armored guards? Yup. Giant portraits of Kamoshida? Not really and not welcome. She needed to have a serious talk with whoever decorated this castle.
And speaking of needing to have a serious talk... Ann mused as she wondered what the heck Ryuji and Amamiya were doing in a place like this. What even was this anyways? It wasn't a dream, everything felt and looked so real.
Ann stayed as still as possible in her current position. Uncomfortably real.
Her wrists and ankles were restrained by iron shackles secured to a wooden post shaped like an X. Upright, of all things.
Her feet weren't even touching the floor, making her extremities hold all her weight. Her wrists started to ache first, but now it began to creep into her ankles.
Fidgeting only made it worse.
The rest of the room she found herself in was sparse. A bunch of hearts were painted on the walls and floor. A disco ball hung from the center of the ceiling, casting a myriad of light around the chamber. There were other restraining devices around the room. Gags, handcuffs, leashes, and even a whip. Gross, kinky stuff.
Entering the castle had been the easy part. A group of guards quickly found and restrained her. Called her "princess," too, for whatever reason. You'd think they'd treat their princess with a little more respect, but whatever.
"Hey, you mind telling me what's going on?" Ann asked. It couldn't hurt, right?
The half a dozen guards stood on each side of the room, silent and unmoving. None of them answered her.
"Uh… Hello? I'm talking to you," Ann said to no one in particular.
Not even a twitch from any of them.
"Ooookayyy…" Ann looked around the room with her eyes. Now what?
The double doors to the room slammed open. All the guards kneeled as a tall, muscular man strode into the room. A large gold crown and white-lined red cape was worn over the volleyball uniform. A strange outfit, that's for sure. And a face Ann wanted to punch black and blue.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" The familiar voice Ann did not want to hear asked jauntily.
"Kamoshida…" Ann whispered with barely controlled anger.
"My dear, I apologize for the rudeness of my subordinates. They don't know how to treat their princess," Kamoshida bowed mockingly. "Not."
Kamoshida stepped to the side, revealing… her?
"What the fuck?" Why was she standing there in a bikini? And wearing cat ears? Ann wouldn't be caught dead in that. And she definitely would not be flaunting herself like that to Kamoshida of all people. She was sticking herself to him like glue! Ann felt the impulse to retch.
"Too bad you didn't seek me out sooner," Kamoshida mused. "Might have saved little ol'... ah shit, what's her name?"
Something snapped and Ann lashed out. "What the hell did you do to Shiho? Did you take her off her starting position? How could you? You know how hard she's worked for that spot!"
"Take her off her starting position?" Kamoshida chuckled. "Oh no, Takamaki, baby girl, I simply put her into a different position." Kamoshida bent her lookalike over, grinding his groin against hers. The sight made her want to vomit. "I made her feel like a woman."
Ann struggled to comprehend what she was seeing and heard. Kamoshida… to Shiho? She felt the blood drain from her face. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.
"It's your fault she jumped, you know. You could have spared her. All you had to do was take her place." Kamoshida stepped up to Ann and cupped her chin.
It was… hers?
"It's not too late, you know," Kamoshida whispered into her ear.
Ann felt a hand run across her waist. It left chills in its wake.
"As a matter of fact, why don't we get started right here?" The hand maneuvered beneath her shirt, touching her bare skin.
Ann shut her eyes and let out a shaky breath. Was this her punishment?
She could feel Kamoshida's lips smile against her cheek. "That's a nice look on your face. Yeah, that gets me going."
Kamoshida's hand lingered on her stomach. If she'd let this happen in the first place Shiho wouldn't have jumped. If she'd just let Kamishida… to her...
Ann felt the temperature in the room begin to rise. A flicker of blue light over her eyelids.
"Are you going to let him get away with this?" A new voice asked.
Ann opened her eyes. "Huh?"
Ann saw another her with gold eyes laced with disgust.
"I asked if you're really going to let him get away with this. Feeling you up. I know you hate it. You're going to hate what comes after, too."
"I have to do this. I deserve it." Ann glanced down at Kamoshida's head, nuzzled against her neck.
The gold eyes rolled. "Oh, here we go, a martyr, everyone!" Her lookalike spoke to no one in particular. "Feeling sorry for yourself when you should really be pissed off."
"I am," Ann swore.
"Are you? Are you really?" the other Ann wondered out loud. "Then why are you just going to let him toy with you?"
"Because I have to share her burden!" Ann screamed. "I caused this to happen to her! I don't want to feel this guilt anymore! This pain! I want it all to stop!"
"Then make it stop."
"How?" Ann quivered, breaths short and hurried. She slumped against her bindings. She was powerless. "What can I do? I can't stop him. No one can."
"Does that mean you're giving up? You're just going to let this continue?"
"I don't want that," Ann breathed.
"Then fight back! Who cares if you're going to lose? And if you win, you get your revenge. For Shiho."
Shiho.
Shiho!
SHIHO!
"ANN!"
She bit into Kamoshida's ear and tore. The taste of metal and the crunchy texture of cartilage filled her mouth. It was disgusting. Ann spit the bloody chunk of flesh onto the floor.
Kamoshida's hand was no longer touching her. In fact, he was no longer near her. He was ten feet away, screaming, clutching the side of his bloodied head. It was the sweetest sound she'd ever heard.
Ryuji, Amamiya, and that cat-thing rushed into the room, feet clapping loudly against the tile floors.
"Skull, get Takamaki-san!" Amamiya shouted as he pulled a knife from beneath the folds of his cloak, darting to the right and intercepting a guard charging them with its blade drawn. "I'll back you up!"
"Joker, I got the right!" Morgana moved left, saber trailing behind it.
"Huh? Why are there two Takamaki's?" Ryuji paused after taking a few steps forward, metal pipe in hand.
Amamiya side stepped and stabbed into a gap of armor with eerie speed. "I don't know! Get the one tied up!"
"I know that!"
"Then why'd you ask?! Arsene!"
"'Cause I'm freakin' out here, man!"
"Me too!"
"Will you two shut it? Get ready, they're coming! Zorro! Garu!"
"Captain Kid! Zio!"
The guards rushed the three of them, Ann barely able to keep up with their unnaturally quick movements. She had to have seen everything at this point, eyeing the towering phantasmal entities hovering behind the three of them. Bolts of lighting, rending claws, and gusts of wind clashed with heavy armor and steel blades.
Kamoshida seemed to be gathering his bearings, sending Ann a smoldering gaze. And not a happy one that "gets him going." That suited her just fine. He was backing up towards an exit.
Her golden-eyed self smiled at the bloody ear. "Are you going to let him walk away?"
Ann spit onto the floor again, more blood. "Not a chance in hell."
Flames flickered around her twin's form. "So, what now?"
Ann's eyes darted to the ear. "I do that again. And worse."
Her lookalike's voice was silky and lullaby-like. "THEN PROMISE ME… I AM THOU, THOU ART I… THOU WHOSE FURY BURNS HOTTER THAN ANY OTHER."
Ann closed her eyes and saw Shiho's smiling face.
"To think that I may never get to say a proper goodbye to Shiho... That I may wonder for the rest of my life if I wasn't good enough… reliable enough for Shiho to lean on… To spend God knows how many days looking at her sleeping face hoping- praying- that she'll open her eyes again… That I can hear her voice one more time." Ann tugged against her bindings as she glared at Kamoshida, her eyes burning with pure, unadulterated hatred from beneath a mask. She felt like she was on fire. No, she was on fire.
Kamoshida's eyes were filled with a new emotion: fear. Ann liked that look. It suited him.
"THE TIME TO RESTRAIN YOURSELF IS OVER!"
"All because of you." She felt her skin tear away.
"Because of your lust." The cold metal shackles bit into her exposed wrists.
"Your greed." The chains no longer rattle as they drew taut.
"Your ambition." The chain snapped loose. Ann collapsed onto the floor.
"YOUR RAGE WILL BURN ALL WHO SEEK TO SLIGHT YOU!"
"I'm going to tear your world apart! Just like you did Shiho's," Ann swore, rising on unsteady feet, shackles still dangling from her arms. "Just like you did mine. I'm going to make you suffer. Not even when you're grovelling on your knees will I humor the thought of forgiving you."
"CALL UPON MY NAME, AND LET THE FLAMES OF PURGATORY SWEEP FORTH AND CONSUME THIS SORRY WORLD!"
"You think you're at the top of the food chain. But I've got news for you, asshole." Ann reached up to her face, grasping the mask with both hands. "I'm not some easy girl that's going to do as you wish. I'm going to drag you down from that throne and tear you apart until your screams go silent!"
Ann ripped off her mask with a guttural wail. God, it hurt. But she felt like she could finally cut loose. "CARMEN!"
Tall red heels disappeared beneath a long red dress similar to a roses' petals. A red-lined, black corset decorated with a bouquet of thorny flowers exaggerated the waspish waist even further. The dress had a mid-back cut, exposing rosy pink skin contrasting strongly with the black choker and mask. Spiral twintails tumbled freely from the crown of Carmen's skull.
Two miniature men dressed in black latex were attending her, heads encased in hearts. Carmen viciously stomped on one of them with her heel, exposing a tantalizing glimpse of leg.
"Nothing can be solved by restraining yourself, right?" Carmen's voice was like velvet, every intonation alluring and sultry.
Ann walked over to the table and grabbed the only suitable weapon she saw. She had no idea how to use a whip, but there was a first for everything. "Let's dance, Carmen."
Carmen smiled, turning to Kamoshida. "Who would do me the honor of the first dance? Is it you?"
"Takamaki-san, look out!" Amamiya shouted from the side.
Glancing to the right Ann saw a guard rushing her, sword poised to thrust.
Ann didn't even feel her heart rate spike. She wasn't even panicking. She felt in control. More so than she ever had in her life.
Turning on a heel she held the whip from both ends, ensnaring the sharp steel in the leather cord and twisting as the knight continued forward. The sword spun free, Ann catching it and driving it into the knight. It vanished into a thick, black smoke. Ann cracked the whip towards her bikini-wearing lookalike, miraculously ensnaring her foot. Ann stepped up to her prone self, slashing her across the back. She too, vanished into smoke.
"Get clear, you three!" Ann shouted over her shoulder. "I've got a score to settle here. Carmen, if you would."
"With pleasure, my lady." Carmen curtsied.
The remaining guards were engulfed in fire. Melting the armor and whatever else laid beneath into white-hop piles of slag. They didn't even have the chance to scream. A pity.
Embers happily danced around the room, a fine layer of sweat now coating Ann's skin.
A door burst open and Ann turned just in time to see Kamoshida's red cape disappear through its threshold.
"Wait!" Ann took a step forward. Her leg betrayed her, buckling beneath her weight as she stumbled onto the floor. She reached towards the door. "You don't get to run away! Get back here, you sonuvabitch!"
Ann felt a pair of hands hoist her up.
"Not now, Takamaki," Ryuji said from her right. "We've gotta get outta here."
"Skull's right, Lady Ann," Morgana agreed. "More guards are undoubtedly on their way."
Ann struggled in vain. How were they so strong? "But Kamoshida-"
"We'll deal with him, Takamaki-san," Amamiya easily pulled her along. "I promise. He'll get what's coming."
Ann relented, letting out an explosive sigh of frustration. "Fine." Reflective red caught her attention. "Wait, why am I dressed like this?!"
She was in a skin-tight latex catsuit with a cleavage cutout and an impractical number of zippers. It was extremely revealing. And embarrassing.
"You uh… look great?" Ryuji nervously laughed.
Ann stared daggers. "I'm going to flay you alive."
"Please don't hurt me."
"Okay, I think I get it," Takamaki set down her iced tea on the table they'd secured themselves.
They'd entered a cafe, a different place than the one Ren and Takamaki had been to the other day. Takamaki needed an explanation, and an alley wasn't the most conspicuous of locations to have a talk about a supernatural world, superpowers, and a bunch of stuff related to potentially illegal activities. The cafe was packed and noisy. They'd picked this place on purpose. The chances of someone overhearing them were slim. They were just a bunch of kids hanging out after school. Nothing out of the ordinary. That and it allowed pets, which Morgana got really prickly about.
Between Morgana, Ren, and Ryuji, they explained the Palace, Personas, and the Treasure to Takamaki as best they could. It took a while, given how emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausted they all felt. But it was something they had to get out of the way before moving on.
"So we're going to steal this Treasure then, right?" Takamaki asked, glancing at Ren and Morgana across the table and Ryuji who sat beside her. "To change Kamoshida's heart."
"We?" Ryuji asked. "Takamaki, you-"
"Sakamoto-kun," Takamaki interrupted, "I have more right to this than you do. Shiho tried to kill herself. Maybe she succeeded. Even if you don't let me join you, I'd go in by myself."
Ryuji slouched into the booth. "That ain't fair and you know it."
Takamaki smirked.
"We can use the additional member," Morgana piped up. "I thought we were lacking in firepower and an extra pair of eyes is always helpful. And besides, I think Lady Ann will do just fine."
Ren stirred his drink before reclining into his chair. "I agree with Morgana, Ryuji. We barely know what we're doing. I have nothing against Takamaki-san joining us in this." Ren kept the idea of using this as a way to mend their relationship to himself.
Ryuji could only sigh. "Fine, do whatever you want."
"Was going to anyway," Takamaki sassily sipped her tea.
"You're unbelievable," Ryuji mumbled.
"And you're credulous," Takamaki shot back.
"Wha- Don't use words you know I don't know! Hey! What'd you just call me?"
"Oh, nothing." Takamaki continued to sip her drink as she turned away from Ryuji.
Sensing that he wasn't going to get the response he wanted Ryuji rolled his eyes and grumpily drank his soda.
Ren had a feeling he knew who was in control of their friendship.
Takamaki set her drink down and turned to Ren. "I know why Sakamoto-kun is in on this, but what about you, Amamiya-san? What do you have against Kamoshida?"
"Well, we confronted him in his office today. Had a nice little exchange which resulted in him saying he was going to expel us. And, don't know if you know, but I'm on probation at the moment so being expelled would royally screw me over. Permanent criminal record, sent to juvie, the whole nine yards. Nothing compared to you, though." Ren realized his mistake upon watching Takamaki's face slowly drop.
"I didn't know what Kamoshida did to Shiho that made her jump. I assumed it had to do with her volleyball position, but… hearing it straight from his mouth. That he..." Takamki's voice trailed off. A tear rolled down her cheek.
"Hey, you don't have to say it," Ryuji placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I hate him," Takamaki spat his name, her knuckles turned white as she squeezed her plastic cup.
"Yeah, I know, Takamaki," Ryuji agreed. "I hate Kamoshida, too."
Takamaki eyes became accusatory. "Do you? Do you really hate him?"
"What?" Ryuji appeared just as confused as Ren. "What do ya mean? 'Course I hate him. He broke my leg, ruined the track team, and… bad mouthed my mom."
"Can you go ahead and describe your hate of Kamoshida for me?" Takamaki's eyes didn't grow any gentler. In fact, Ren thought they grew harder.
Ryuji released Takamaki's shoulder and folded his arms. "Well… I hate-"
Takamaki cut him off. "Don't use that word."
"Okay…" Ryuji sighed and scratched his head. "Crap, I don't know. I can't stand the guy. Just looking at him pisses me off. He does all this awful shit and somehow gets away with it. Doesn't even seem human, at times. No, uh, compassion, I think it's called? Empathy? Like, that ain't right, ya know? He ought to pay for everything he did. Regret it. Is that good enough?"
Takamaki stared right into Ryuji's eyes. It wasn't the look in her eyes that sent chills down Ren's neck and made his hairs stand on end but the seething, yet disturbingly calm voice Takamki spoke with while tears openly slid down her cheeks. "You're right about that. Him not seeming human. What I feel for him... When I look at him... when I think about him… I don't even see a human being. I see an animal that's done something so heinous and terrible that it makes me want to abandon all rationale, morals, and values I have just so I can hunt that motherfucker down and murder him. That's what I feel. So, I'll ask again, Sakamoto-kun. Do you hate Kamoshida?"
Ren didn't look away from her eyes, even when they turned to him after Ryuji averted his gaze. Ren felt like he could really look into her soul through those steely blue eyes and the hardness in them. And her soul told him if she really wanted to she'd do exactly what she said. She'd hunt down Kamoshida like a dog and kill him. Ren had watched her bite off his ear and look ecstatic doing it. The only thing that stopped her was an opportunity for Kamoshida to atone in a different way. Their way.
Ren still didn't break that gaze. "I can't claim to feel as strongly about this as you do, since this is much more personal for you. Nonetheless, I can't forgive him for what he did. To you, Ryuji, Suzui-san, and everyone else he's hurt along the way. And I agree… he didn't even care. Doesn't care. He could move on to tomorrow like nothing happened today. Like he did nothing wrong."
Takamaki nodded slowly. That edge was still there.
Ren looked between the three of them. "We're going to make him realize what he's done." The determination in his own voice surprised him. "We're going to change his heart. We're going to make sure that what happened today won't happen tomorrow or any day after." Ren let a weak, pitiful smile appear on his face. "'Cause I'll be honest, I feel like shit right now."
Everyone shared that smile with him. It felt right.
"Yeah, let's do the right thing. Let's make sure that that sorry excuse for a human being gets what he deserves. We're doing this so other people won't suffer from that bastard's actions… and so we don't ever feel like this again," Ryuji held out a fist over the center of the table.
"I won't say I'm doing this without ulterior motives… But we all want the same thing: to bring Kamoshida down," Takamaki put her own fist next to Ryuji's. They turned to Ren and Morgana.
"This will help with my own investigations. And seeing what this Kamoshida's done, I can't let him get away scot free either." Morgana hopped onto the table and placed his paw on to Takamaki's.
They were going to get this done. No matter what. His chest felt ticklish. Ren reached out with his own hand. "Fuck yeah, let's do it."
?
In a room adorned in velvet, a piano resounded off the cold, stone floor. A calming, yet ominous sonata. A ring of cells, all empty… for now.
Justine was able to ignore the heavy atmosphere in this room since it was all she knew. From the beginning of her existence, all she knew was this tune and that she, along with her sister, were Wardens. Their charge: a guest whom the Master expected grand things from. One "Amamiya Ren."
Justine turned her attention to the Master. A long-nosed, shrewd-faced of a man. Spindly and hunched, with bulging bloodshot eyes that never blinked. Justine mused that maybe the Master's eyes would be white if he did blink. She dismissed such thoughts, they were rude to the Master.
The Master sat behind his desk, a slim stack of paper and a pen were all that sat on the wooden surface. His long, thin fingers covered in white gloves intertwined in front of that beak-like nose. His right forefinger tapped against his left hand like clockwork.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
…
Justine's eyebrow raised a millimeter.
The Master smiled a wide grin that crossed his entire face. His voice rumbled, deep and like a growling animal. "The Trickster will stay at last."
Justine made eye-contact with Caroline and nodded. Bringing her clipboard up from her side, Justine crossed out a line. It was time for the Rehabilitation.
Evening
"How did it end up being me?" Ren wondered aloud standing before LeBlanc.
His bag shifted as Morgana poked his head out. "Like I said before, I have no way of getting in touch with anyone."
Ren sighed. "I know, Morgana. It was a rhetorical question."
Takamaki and Ryuji both said they couldn't keep pets. The former for residency reasons the other for parental reasons.
"Remember, Morgana, keep quiet and hide whenever Sakura-san comes up stairs, okay? I really don't know how he'd react if he found you." Ren couldn't help but be nervous. What if he got kicked out?
"Don't worry! If he's willing to take in a kid on probation he can't be that bad."
"Yeah, well my parents paid him," Ren clarified pointedly. "Alright, let's get this over with."
The now familiar chime announced his arrival. The nose-tickling aromas of curry and coffee washed over him in a wave. He almost bumped into someone who was coming out.
"Apologies, that was my fault," Ren instinctively bowed.
The short woman in front of him wore… unique attire. A blue dress with a white spiderweb design, short black leather jacket studded with spikes, black ankle high combat boots, and ripped black leggings.
"Oh, no worries," the woman dismissed him nonchalantly.
"Hey," Sakura directed to Ren from behind the cashier. "Go upstairs while we're open for business. Sorry if he was rude, doctor."
"Nothing rude about him. Thanks for the coffee. I'll come by again."
Ren got out of her way as she left LeBlanc. A doctor, huh? He'd never seen one dress like that before.
Making his way upstairs under the scrutinizing gaze of Sakura, Ren gently placed his bag onto the floor. "Okay, Morgana, we're here."
Morgana leapt out of the bag and stretched. "About time! I was just begin- what the hell kinda place is this?! An abandoned house?"
"It's the second floor of a cafe, you know that."
"Yeah, but I wasn't expecting it to be so dusty." Morgana wiped his paw against the floor, a line of dust appearing on the wooden boards.
"I haven't had the chance to really clean the place up, okay?" Ren slid the blazer off his shoulders and placed it on a hanger. "Cry me a river."
Footsteps coming up the stairs made Ren freeze.
"Morgana," Ren hissed, "Quick, hide!"
"There's nowhere to hide!"
"Who are you talking to- a cat?" Too late, Sakura had already reached the landing.
Morgana and Ren both stared at him, wide eyed.
"I was wondering why I heard meowing," Sakura scratched his head. "What did you bring it here for?"
Ren swallowed. "It uh… it doesn't have a home." Shit, what else could he say?
"No home, huh?" Sakura furrowed his brow. "Look, I get it but this place is a food establishment. Animals are a strict no-go. What if the health inspectors come in and-"
Sakura's sentence trailed off as he continued looking at Morgana.
"Well… I guess keeping it might help you stay on good behavior. Fine," Sakura consented. "But keep it quiet during business hours. And don't let it roam downstairs or break anything, otherwise it's back on the street."
Ren let out a breath of relief. "Thank you, Sakura-san."
"Don't thank me yet, kid. And I'm not helping you take care of it," Sakura waved his finger.
"Of course, I understand."
Sakura made his way back down the stairs.
"So that's the ruler of this place? See, what'd I tell you? Told you he couldn't be that bad if he took you in."
Ren waved him off. "Did he say he heard meowing?"
Morgana raised an eyebrow. "You caught that, too, huh?"
"So do you just sound like a cat to everyone else?" That would be nice. It would save them a lot of explaining if they were ever caught talking to a cat.
"We can find out."
"Please, don't give anyone a heart attack."
Sakura appeared back on the landing, this time holding a plate of raw fish. He bashfully placed the plate on the floor. "It uh… kept calling out in its cute little voice. Make sure you wash that dish."
Ren almost smiled at Sakura's uncharacteristic timidness. "I will."
"By the way, uh… have you decided on a name?" Sakura asked with innocent eyes.
"Yeah, his name's Morgana."
"Morgana... I was hoping I'd get to name it," Sakura grumbled as he returned downstairs.
"Looks like the chief likes me more than you," Morgana laughed as he circled the plate. "But seriously, this place is infinitely better compared to Kamoshida's palace."
Ren picked up the plate and sat on the edge of his bed. "I bet. You don't have to sleep with one eye open ready to run from guards every single moment."
"That will certainly be nice." Morgana's voice grew somber. "Hey, to be honest… I don't remember anything before Kamoshida's palace. About where I come from, or what I am. I think the Metaverse's distortions made me lose both my memories and my original form."
Ren leaned against the wall, patting the mattress beside him. "And you think it's human?"
Morgana hopped up next to him. "It has to be! How else would I be able to communicate with you three? What other explanation could there be? I'm sure that once we get rid of the distortions that change me, I can return to my former self. And I have a hunch on how to do it, too."
Ren held out the plate of food to Morgana, who chewed thoughtfully. "You know, I never got hungry over there."
"Are you hungry now?" Ren picked up a piece of raw fish. Tuna, by the looks of it. He popped it into his mouth.
Morgana mulled the question over before answering. "The more I eat the more it grows. How weird is that?"
"I can understand it. Sometimes if I don't eat for a long time I don't realize how hungry I am until I actually start eating. Maybe it's kinda like that?" The tuna was pretty good.
"Hmmm… maybe," Morgana hummed. "No, that's gotta be it."
They ate in thoughtful silence until the plate was empty. Ren set it aside.
"By the way, I appreciate you taking care of me while I'm over on this side," Morgana licked his paws. "It won't be for nothing, I promise. It'll be give and take. I'm pretty knowledgeable about infiltration tools. Like lockpicks, basic security systems, stuff like that."
"Really? Where the heck did you learn that?" Ren honestly asked. How does a cat learn that in an alternate dimension?
"Whoa, I can't reveal my secrets until we make a deal. As long as you keep me here, I'll teach you what I know. How's that sound?"
Ren shrugged. "I'm taking care of you now, aren't I?"
"It's a done deal, then. Looking forward to working with you." Morgana held out a paw.
Ren smiled and shook. "Likewise."
A ding turned Ren's attention to his phone. He had a new message.
"You guys can talk to each other with that thing, right?" Morgana hopped onto Ren's shoulder and curiously looked over it.
"Yeah, it's really convenient to have. They're called smartphones. Or they were. Now they're just called phones. Kind of a basic necessity at this point," Ren explained as he opened his messenger app. The message was from Takamaki. Only to him, curiously enough.
Takamaki Ann: I wanted to thank you for everything today. You helped me out of a dicey situation, and I didn't even thank you properly.
Ren smiled and began typing.
Ren: Don't worry about it. You should thank Ryuji, too.
"Hey, tell her something for me, too!" Morgana patted Ren's hair.
"What'd you want to say?"
"Umm… How about 'glad everything turned out well.'"
Ren: Also, Morgana says he's glad everything went well.
Ren felt Morgana patting his head more energetically. "Hey, that's not what I said!"
"It means the same thing! Oh, see that ellipses? It means she's typing," Ren pointed at his screen.
Morgana inched his face closer for a better look. "Huh, that's pretty cool."
Takamaki Ann: I did a moment ago. I wanted to let you know, at least. And tell Morgana I'm glad, too!
Takamaki Ann: Kinda weird to be talking to a cat via text.
Takamaki Ann: Oh, sorry! Not a cat. Anyways, I'll see you tomorrow!
"Smartphones really are convenient," Morgana said admiringly.
"Yeah, sometimes I think they're too convenient, though." Ren stifled a yawn. "I'm pretty tired, so I'm gonna see if Sakura-san has left yet and lock up. Need water or anything?"
"Eh, sure why not. Mind if I come with you? I didn't get a chance to look downstairs, yet."
Ren got up and made his way to the stairs. "Be my guest. Oh, but don't break anything or you and I are on the street."
"Don't worry, I'll be careful. Promise."
Long after Morgana had slipped into slumber Ren still laid wide awake. He was tired. His eyelids were aching yet sleep evaded him just like it had on many previous nights. Ren finally had a chance to think about the events that had transpired on the longest day of his life. He wasn't thankful for the opportunity.
He fucked up. He was a hypocrite. The reason why he'd stepped forward that one night was so this wouldn't happen. So some savage wouldn't have his way with an unwilling person. And the second time this situation occurred, Ren didn't do anything. Suzui Shiho had been raped by a sorry excuse of a man who didn't even care that he'd caused her to jump off a goddamn roof.
I'm such a failure. What was I afraid of? His chest felt like it was being squeezed by a vice and a lump started forming in the back of his throat.
I'm better than this. If only I'd done something. I did it before, why couldn't I do it again? Ren mentally kicked himself over and over. He swallowed. Damn lump didn't go away. He did what he did because it was the right thing to do. He didn't care about the consequences. But now? What kind of person was he if he couldn't do the right thing no matter what? And now the consequences weren't his own. Other people were paying that price.
Damnit if only the clock would rewind twenty four- no- forty eight hours, I could do something so none of this would have happened. I-
Ren squashed the thought with difficulty. It was pointless to think this way. Why was it that regret always felt like this? "If only if only" on repeat. He really wasn't going to get any sleep tonight, was he?
I'm sorry, Suzui-san. I'm sorry, Takamaki-san. I failed to save you. Apologizing for the rest of his life wouldn't be enough. Ren clenched his jaw as his chest burned. But I sure as hell am going to make things right.
?
Ren woke with a start to the tune of a haunting, yet gentle piano melody. The first thing he noticed was the unfamiliar, plain ceiling. He sat up, seeing a toilet, sink, and mirror to be the only thing that accompanied him in this…
This..
… Cell.
Ren gasped for air, his throat squeezing shut. His hand instinctively went to his chest. It burned. His lungs burned.
Not this. Not again. Please, anything but this!
Someone was saying something. Words that fell on deaf ears.
He was wearing black and white stripes. Prison garments.
Prison.
Ren tried to calm down. His brain knew but his body didn't. His body wasn't listening. Frustration intermingled with the terror of not being able to breath. He would scream if he could.
He curled into a ball, the cold stone somehow comforting. He wasn't able to break out of it. He had no choice but to ride it out. What was mere seconds felt like years of agony.
When it ended Ren lay on the floor covered in a cold sweat, his eyes shut tight to avoid seeing those bars. To avoid seeing those walls that held him in.
"Inmate? Can you hear me?"
The voice calling out to him obviously belonged to a girl. And a young one, at that.
Ren slowly sat up. He kept his eyes closed. "Yes." His throat was dry, his voice raspy.
"Inmate, come towards my voice."
Ren stood shakily, knowing better than to disobey. He slowly trudged towards the voice. He felt something heavy on his right leg. Walking was a bit more of an effort with that side. He stopped once his hands held something vertical and round. He knew what it was, but he didn't dare think about it.
"Inmate, can you open your eyes?"
"No."
"Inmate, can you please open your eyes?"
"Please, don't ask me that."
Ren felt something… hands… small hands… cup either side of his face.
"Inmate, you're not alone here. Can you please open your eyes?"
Ren swallowed and nodded. Slowly he relaxed his eyes and opened them.
Only to stare into the golden right eye of a young, platinum-haired girl. Her expression, while blank, had a gentle demeanor to it. Her left eye was covered in a black leather eyepatch, a golden letter "V" elegantly stitched into it.
"Thank you, Inmate." The right eye closed and she stepped back, releasing her hold of him.
"You're too considerate of the Inmate, sister." A similar, but harsher toned voice to the girl in front of him spoke from the side.
The speaker was a perfect mirror image to the girl who'd just stepped back. Eyepatch on the opposite side, the only real identifiable difference was their hairstyle. While the one who initially spoke to Ren had a braid, the harsher speaking one had two buns.
"You say that, dear sister, but you were the first to panic and reach for your keys."
"Wha-!" Ren saw the two bunned girl blush furiously, embarrassment and anger mixing together on her face. With a huff she turned away.
Her sister, the one with the braid, smiled calmly.
Ren took in this new environment he found himself in. It was a round chamber, prison cells, all empty other than his, it appeared. In the center a rich blue carpet and wooden desk. Sitting behind it was the strangest proportioned man Ren had ever seen. Beak-like nose, unnaturally large eyes, thin, spindly limbs, and a wide mouth that defied anatomical logic.
"Trickster…" The man rumbled. "Welcome back to the Velvet Room."
"I've been here before…" Ren struggled to remember. This felt familiar. They felt familiar. When had he been here before?
"Indeed you have. For a brief time. Too short for you to recall in your waking hours, it seems. Then let us introduce ourselves once more. I," the man placed a hand on his chest. "Am Igor. Owner of this Velvet Room."
"To your left-" Igor gestured towards the girl with the braid. "Is Justine. To your right is Caroline. They are your Wardens."
Igor's mouth curved into a smile as he folded his hands in front of him. "And you are our esteemed Trickster, our guest."
"Trickster…" Ren furrowed his brows. Joker.
"Ruin is quickly approaching, Trickster."
"You talking about Kamoshida and that expulsion?" It was the only "ruin" Ren could think of.
A baton slammed into the prison bars, wielded by none other than Caroline. "Speak to the Master with some respect, Inmate!"
Igor chuckled and held up a hand. "It is forgivable, Caroline."
Caroline huffed. "Be thankful, Inmate. The Master is kind."
"Yes, that is but one part of the Ruin that approaches. But worry not what lies too far ahead. You have awakened to your power. Your… Persona."
"You know about Persona's? About Arsene?" That meant this Igor likely knew about the Palace. "Can you tell me anything about the Palace?"
Igor held up a hand. "One thing at a time, Trickster. For now, familiarize yourself with your powers. Wear it like a mask for confronting otherworldly matters. A warning, Trickster. The Metaverse will adapt to your newfound powers and seek to… eliminate you in other ways. And in doing so, your rehabilitation can begin at last. I have high expectations for you."
"What do you mean it will adapt in order to eliminate me? What do you mean by 'rehabilitation?'"
"Exactly what it means," Igor said without explaining anything. "By the by… have you come to appreciate the Metaverse Navigator? Like you've discovered it allows you to travel between reality and Palaces."
The app. So it's called the Metaverse Navigator. And Igor was responsible for it.
"I bestowed it upon you as a means to train you as a thief."
"Train me as a thief." He wants me to improve… for what? To steal something for him?
"Be thankful for the gift from the Master, Inmate!" Caroline ordered. "You better take care in using it!"
Justine solemnly lowered her head, a slight nod. "Devote yourself to your training so that you may become a fine thief."
"I will," Ren said carefully. "Did you put those on Ryuji's and Takamaki's phone as well?"
"Ah yes, I did grant it to them. This is all for you to grow as a most excellent thief…"
He's emphasizing that point rather strongly.
Alarm bells rang loudly, causing Ren's eardrums to throb painfully.
"It seems our time here has come to an end. We shall see you soon, Trickster."
Ren's consciousness slipped to black.
"...can..."
"... final..."
"...you..."
A/N
Sorry for going silent these past couple months. Nothing to worry about. Healthy and what not. Just kinda hit a writing wall and couldn't work up the motivation to write. That and my PC got bricked so I had to deal with that. And Cold Steel IV got released. And preparing for Girl's Frontline Shattered Connexion. Knee got injured while running. Then my shin after my knee healed. So uh… kinda not busy?
Anyways, moving onto a topic of relevance. I'm changing the rating of the fic to T for now. If people think that the topics I approach in Deviants aren't appropriate for the T rating then I'll change it back. But from what I've gathered the line between T and M is just the sex so I'm giving T a shot. This is to approach a broader audience, therefore getting more feedback and bringing a little bit of entertainment and joy to people (hopefully). Again, if I get enough feedback asking for a change back to M, I will.
Now that that's out of the way, onto the chapter itself.
Ann's Awakening felt less impactful in regards to the "cool" factor largely because I went so over the top with Ryuji's that the one following was doomed to appear tame in comparison. Not that I'm really complaining, I'm really proud of what I came up with for Ryuji's. And the fact that Ann's takes place shortly after doesn't do it any favors, either. So to balance that out I really went for the emotional aspect of Ann's awakening. The emotion behind her awakening is one of, if not the strongest, amongst the Phantom Thieves as a whole. Everything about it is raw and as intense as they come. Which is a shame, since in-game it doesn't really explore that part of her during her awakening or afterwards.
I also took this opportunity to delve into my interpretation of Ann's headspace during all this. She's grief-stricken, shocked, worried, afraid, and angry. She's bundled up her emotions for long enough and it's all coming out. She's beyond the point of holding back, and everything she says is blunt and to the point because she's just sick of it all.
As far as the in game text messaging goes, I think that's the format I'm going to use. Simple enough and within the limitations put in place with its word processor. Maybe if I find a more intuitive way of implementing it I will, but for now, this is it.
I really enjoy writing those small, seemingly insignificant daily interactions. In this chapter, the small bit with Ren and Morgana in the attic and the short exchange with Ryuji and Ann in the cafe. It makes their interactions seem more natural, pointless, and silly, much like interactions with people in real life. Makes them and their relationships seem more authentic and real. At least I think so.
That's all for this week. I've been wanting to play P5R again, and I can't play it in good conscience without working on the fic. So now I get the chance to play while working on the script.
Also, feel free to PM me about grammatical errors you find. I can't find them all. The words kinda jumble together after a certain point, especially when I'm reading it over and over again. I'll quietly correct them with eternal gratitude.
You'll definitely be hearing from me again next week with a new chapter.
'Till then, take care!