The Aeon Rank 1: To Make Amends
Ren glanced at the clock one more time, pen tapping on the wooden table covered in study material. While finals were next week, he had studied well enough to not worry about them. Unlike Ryuji, currently struggling with Ann despite the best efforts of Makoto to tutor them. Yusuke was downstairs, sketching while watching for the girl's arrival. A group study had been the best excuse Ren found for inviting Fujimaru to Leblanc, as he didn't want his guardian to worry, draw unwanted conclusions or unexpectedly take him as assistant for the evening. Fortunately he had business outside, and so they had all the privacy they needed.
"I give up. Sorry, I just don't get what "x" is at all."
"Honestly, same. I just can't focus at the moment." Agreed Ann, stretching with a yawn.
"I suppose we did good enough on this session." Sighed Makoto. "You two should be able to scrap by at the very least."
"Hey, I mean, it's good enough to pass. Top grade is for monsters like you, Ren, or Fujimaru…" Ryuji's voice trailed, and he looked at Ren. "She is coming, right?"
"Just a bit more patience." He advised, exchanging a look with Morgana near the window.
"Yeah, I know. It's just… I don't want to mess this up."
The forlorn look on the blonde echoed the gloom underneath their studious façade. Ryuji had been the most openly affected by yesterday's events, but it was obvious none of them had been quite able to shake it off. Even the more detached members, under their well-adjusted attitude, could not quite escape it. Makoto has been much less strict than normal when looking at Ryuji's and Ann's work, and he didn't fail to notice Yusuke's almost shameful look at the Sayuri. Himself? He regretted it, of course, all the more because he should have been the first to speak against it. Even if it was just the pride of Joker speaking, he should have recognized the situation better than anyone else.
"She is here." Said Morgana, jumping on the bed.
Three minutes sooner than expected, noted Ren. Making himself comfortable, he waited for Yusuke to come up with Fujimaru, snippets of conversation coming through the stairs. She was admiring the Sayuri, and Yusuke was obviously responding positively. He straightened his posture once they ascended, adjusting his glasses by reflex. Not that he truly needed them, they were merely an accessory to further conceal himself from most people's gaze. Yusuke nice tidy hair came first, followed the wilder orange mane of Fujimaru, one he was certain the school staff would have asked her to dye black if her grades weren't top level.
"Hi guys. Last minute cram session already?" She asked teasingly, putting her bag down. "Nice room by the way. A bit more personality around and you'll never want to leave it."
As usual, she came in with easy-going good mood. The rare sightings he had of her in school had been the same, surrounded with curious and admiring classmates, and the rumour mill already pinned five guys who tried to ask her on a date. All failing. That she approached him yesterday sadly put him back into the rumour mill as well, some people openly wondering if he was trying to blackmail her. He shuddered to think what they were imagining in their hushed whispers.
"So, uh… had a good day?" Asked Ryuji as awkwardly as a semi-truck entering an alleyway.
"Don't worry, nothing bad happened on the way back. You'll have to wait until I need your escort services."
Embarrassment reddened his friend's cheeks and Ann laughed a little. Ren noticed how the exchange had relaxed their posture, distracted them from their funk even if a little. Had this been her intent? Quite possibly, if her sharp, very sharp gaze not quite reached by her smile was any indication.
"I think she should get to the point." Said Yusuke, drowning the ephemeral lighter mood like a sudden and unexpected rain. He certainly did not realize what Fujimaru has been doing, Ren sighed inwardly, keeping his cool exterior.
"Thank you for trying to put us at ease, Fujimaru-san." Fortunately, Makoto made up for the graceless interjection, avoiding him to do so and Yusuke's eyes widened in understanding. "And I think I speak for all of us when I say we are sorry for yesterday."
"I would like to offer my most sincere apologies as well. For now, and for before." Followed Yusuke, quickly correcting his misstep. "It was an ugly spectacle we presented you, one I hope we can properly make amend for."
"In your place, I don't think I would have accepted to even talk to us again. To be honest, I'm a bit amazed… I hope you can forgive us, eventually." Added Ann.
"I'm no good with words, but… yeah, same." Said Ryuji, shifting in place.
Morgana jumped on the stair ledge just aside Fujimaru, his ears down.
"I'm sorry too. What happened isn't what the Phantom Thieves should be. What we want to be. I hope you can believe me when I say…"
The girl's fingers went through his fur and rested on his head, scratching Morgana's head behind the ears. His words were interrupted by a purr of contentment as she found his sensible points almost immediately, stretching to give her better access.
"It's alright." Said Fujimaru softly. "I hurt when it happened, but I can't condemn you for a single mistake. It wouldn't be right."
"Fujimaru-san…" Whispered Ann, both amazed and ashamed.
Ren took out his glasses and stood up, looking at his upper-classmen in the eyes, bearing her gaze as he extended his hand.
"I'm sorry." He simply said. "Do you want to start over?"
She smiled. An ordinary grateful smile, yet it intrigued him more than anything. As if he gazed at but the most surfacing swirl of the river, a deep and unknown beyond he could not fathom. As quickly as it came the sensation passed, as the girl shook his hand.
"Let's start over." She agreed, still petting Morgana with her other hand. "Fujimaru Ritsuka."
"Amamiya Ren."
The atmosphere lightened, and one after the other they presented themselves, Morgana even foregoing his usual habit of clarifying he was not actually a cat. A position he would have had a hard time defending, on his back and receiving on the most gratifying petting he certainly ever experienced. They all sat down, Ritsuka between Ann and Makoto on the sofa while Ren and the other guys shared the bed and chairs. For a time they spoke of nothing important, simply sharing interests and anecdotes together. Ritsuka's sunny disposition quickly swept away the rest of the gloom and soon Ryuji was passionately debating with her over some sort of endurance training. To Ren's surprise she proved able to easily find something of interest with each other member of the team: engaging with Ann over fashion, exchanging artistic viewpoint with Yusuke, commenting about Makoto's martial art training, showing interest in Morgana's thief tools making. In a way the sheer adaptability of the girl reminded him of his own habit of slipping into the right mentality, the right mask, to speak to those he encountered.
"I think it's time we come to the subject of the Metaverse." Said Morgana, and everyone agreed upon looking at the clock. They spent much more time relaxing than they realized. "Fujimaru-san, you made it clear you want to be part of the team. Everyone, what do you think?"
"Hell yeah she is in." Slammed Ryuji.
"I approve as well. We will benefit immensely from her tactical expertise." Concurred Yusuke.
"I am in favor. She proved herself already." Added Makoto.
"She has my vote for sure." Supplemented Ann.
"And mine as well. Joker?"
Ren looked at his expecting teammates, and then at Ritsuka. Part of him would have expected a triumphant smirk, or another reaction of the same caliber. Yet the orange-haired girl was stoic and patient, waiting without trying to influence any more.
"Welcome to the team, Fujimaru-san." Said the leader.
"Thank you, Amamiya-kun." Smiled Ritsuka.
"Now we can properly prepare the future…" Said Yusuke with intense satisfaction.
"Dude, we need a codename." Excitedly interrupted Ryuji.
"You're right! Does anyone have an idea?" Followed up Ann, already brainstorming.
"Let's use our remaining time more productively." Insisted Morgana, and with Ren's support he took centre stage. "First off, if you are going in the Metaverse, there are some things you must know. More specifically, how the Metaverse works. You see, Mementos and Palaces are product of the cognition of individuals and society…"
The black cat was sitting on the table, as erudite as ever when speaking of his best subject. The explanation was lengthy, with some other members of the team giving their input or comparison to quicken the lesson, until he was interrupted by Ritsuka holding her hand up.
"Huh, I may have already learned what the Metaverse is. Mostly." She admitted sheepishly.
"Wait, how? You've only been in the place twice!" Protested Morgana, visibly vindicated his teaching position was menaced.
Ritsuka's face became dead serious, and she raised her left hand. On her unblemished skin, the faint outline of a red tattoo appeared, the same stylized design that manifested once the Shadow went to her.
"Your, hum, Personae. Do they exist only in the Metaverse?"
"Yeah, you can't do it outside. Imagine all the babes I could impress with Kid…" Lamented Ryuji, looking at Ritsuka's tattoo, now entirely visible, before suddenly rising on his seat. "… You're shittin' me."
"Eligor has been with me since we left Mementos yesterday. He speaks in my mind, and I can answer."
"For real?" Almost screamed the blonde, a sentiment shared by everyone around the table, Ren included.
"He explained me the basis of the cognitive world." Explained Ristuka, putting her hand down. "I wanted to confirm with you to be sure and it checks."
"… forgive me if I can't take what you said at face value immediately, Fujimaru-san." Said Makoto with moderate scepticism.
"I'll tell you what he said about Persona, then. Feel free to correct me."
Ren nodded, curious to see where it would go.
"Well, here we go. A Persona is a manifestation of the psyche, created from accepting your inner self, the Shadow. Tamed and accepted during a powerful emotional unbalance in the cognitive world texture you call Metaverse, the true nature of someone take the form of a construct, whose identity shares with you a common archetype within the collective unconscious. Good so far?"
The complete silence at the table was her answer, their surprise illustrated by the comical gaping cat mouth of Morgana. There were no faults to be found in her explanation, though Ren noted the particular vocabulary she had employed in some places, keeping that note safely tucked in his personal to search list in case no one else picked it up.
"I suppose it makes sense a Shadow would have insight on the Metaverse." Admitted Morgana, his pride obviously stung. "Yeah, that's about it."
"You certainly have a way to surprise everyone, Fujimaru-san." Commented Makoto. "By the way, I have a question. Is this, Eligor, currently present and listening?"
"Of course he is." Flatly dropped the girl.
"Wait, what? Where?" Ann frantically looked around the room, as if the horseman was about to come from underneath the potted plant.
"Hey, don't worry about it. I guess you can think of him like a guardian spirit? He can't get far from me and sometimes give his thoughts on some matter. Aren't Amamiya-kun and Morgana like that?"
"That's totally not the same thing! How do you even find that remotely similar?" Protested the cat in question, almost outraged by Ritsuka's sheer nonchalance.
"When you say it like that, it's pretty close. Minus the bag." Snidely said Ryuji.
"Ren, please don't listen to Ryuji's monkey brain and help me!"
"I guess it isn't that different." Said Ren, shooting down Morgana's hopes and leaving him a stuttering mess. Fair payback for the comments of three days ago, when he "botched" those lockpicks.
"Just one seconds. He follows you everywhere, right? Then… does he… is he… also present during… those times?"
It took Ritsuka full second before she got what Ann meant and her eyes widened angrily.
"Eligor! You better be convincing right now!" She snapped out loud, and to the shock of everyone else the voice of the Shadow answered.
"I have no interest in the matters of flesh, Master. War and strategies are my calling, and protecting you my duty. Nothing more."
It's voice echoed around them, as if coming from a dozen directions at once, reminding Ren of a horror movie he watched not too long ago, but he did not show it. Of the rest, Makoto's reaction was the most spectacular as she actually jumped from the sofa assuming a defensive posture.
"… I guess I can believe that." Simply said Ritsuka, once again attracting odd looks.
"And I can't believe you can stay calm like that." Said Ann, flabbergasted.
"Dude, this is so freaky." Whispered Ryuji toward Yusuke.
"Shadow or not, to focus on his art above all wordly matter is an inspiring work ethic." Commented the painter to the despair of the blonde.
"Not the point… man, I'm so glad the boss isn't here right now."
"Fujimaru-san." Interrupted Ren, his serious tone bringing back attention. "Can he materialized in the real world as well?"
"You don't think…" started Morgana, grasping the implications.
"It is within my ability to take shape in the World of Man, Trickster, albeit only briefly." Confirmed the Shadow with neither pride nor restraint, simply as a matter of fact. "The Common Understanding of Man rejects beings of the Reverse Side, and I would need to rely on my Master's magical energy to stay corporeal."
"I didn't get a thing beside 'holy frick Ritsuka can sic a demon on my ass'." Admitted Ryuji with an odd mixture of fear and respect. "Gotta admit, that's metal."
"I think this is something we can discuss later…" Said Makoto, obviously still shaken and trying to find another subject. "I don't think your physical abilities changed in Mementos, right?"
"Nope, still myself. I don't think I could pull off your crazy acrobatics."
"That means bringing you into Palaces would be quite the risk." Pointed out Yusuke.
"I'm sorry to say I agree, Fujimaru-san. I realized quickly how dependant we were on the clearly superhuman abilities granted by our Persona in the Metaverse. Even in my limited experience, I can assure you Palaces are giant deathtraps, and I don't think you would be able to navigate them with us." Developed Makoto with a sorry face.
"Bummer, but alright. I'll stick to Mementos." Agreed Fujimaru without fuss, to Ren's relief. "Do you often make your little trips down there?"
"It depends, really. Most of the time we solve requests on the Phan-site, and other days we push as deeply as we can."
"Last time was the first type of deal I guess. Do you run the website yourself, or?…"
"Nah, that's Mishima's deal. He really helps us tons with that forum." Said Ryuji, imitating a keyboard and mouse with his hands.
"One of our classmates." Clarified Ren. "He guessed who we were early, but he supports us."
"Man, I don't envy him though. Just imagine diggin' through all those posts all day…" Shuddered Ryuji.
"Is the brave Phantom Thief afraid of a little web diving?" Teased Fujimaru, to the embarrassment of the blonde.
"You haven't seen the things I saw there!
"Guys, it's really starting to get late." Nodded Ann, noticing how the sun was setting. "I guess we could call it a day?"
"I agree. We still have school tomorrow after all." Reminded Yusuke.
"Not cool, dude. Not cool." Lamented Ryuji.
"I'll stay just a bit. Someone told me the coffee is to die for." Slipped Ritsuka.
It only took a few minutes for everyone to help bring back the attic to its previous state and for the rest of the group to leave, bidding their goodbye to Ritsuka. With only the orange-haired girl now present with Ren and Morgana, she sit at the bar while he was working on the coffee.
"You don't look half bad in that apron." Commented Ritsuka, idly tapping on the counter. "I'm sensing a lady-killer in the making."
"You're not half-bad yourself."
"Flatterer. Whatever am I to do against such overwhelming compliments." She teased, stretching intentionally to distract him.
Ignoring the obvious ploy, Ren stopped the water before it could get too hot, following the mental steps Sojiro taught him. Though now that he looked closer, she definitely had a nice body. Not exactly a model like Ann, but he could see why she was turning head in Shujin, novelty aside.
"Hey, Fujimaru-san. I'm guessing you may not want to talk about it, but we have to ask." Said Morgana, standing on a chair with his paws on the counter. "Where did you learn to do what you do? I don't think anyone can just do that on the fly. Even Ren needed some time to get into things."
This time, there was no witty answer, no charming tease, no belly rub. Ritsuka was holding on Morgana's question, a complicated expression on her face as she seemed to think about her answer, if answer she was willing to give. Ren trusted Morgana would not pry too far, and simply waited as he finished the cup of coffee.
"Here you go."
"Thanks." All levity had left her voice. She tasted the coffee with a small sip that was almost instantly stopped, the beverage proving itself too hot. "It's not against you guys. I just… don't feel comfortable speaking about it. To anyone."
"You don't have to force yourself." He assured her, bringing a faint smile on her lips.
"Thank you." She took another sip, more prolonged, before putting it down again with a grimace. Was it only the heat, or did he made it more bitter than expected? "Not bad. I could buy that an evening or another."
"You should try the chief's coffee and curry. They're incredible." Praised Morgana.
"Curry, hum…" She was reminiscing, yet it didn't seem to bring her any joy to consider the meal.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing. Actually, I'm holding you on that praise."
Finishing her coffee, she picked up her bag and walked toward the door, Ren following. Before putting her hand on the doorknob, she turned to face him.
"Once again… thank you for listening, and for accepting my help. It means a lot."
"You would have gone to Mementos anyway, don't you?"
"Guilty as charged." Admitted Ritsuka. "Still… I spent a great moment with you guys. If you don't mind… I hope we can meet more like this. Not as Phantom Thieves, but friends."
"Anytime." He promised.
She smiled, and shook his hand, sealing their agreement. Time seemed to freeze, and a familiar, mysterious voice spoke.
I am thou, thou art I… Thou hast acquired a new vow.
It shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh the chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Aeon Persona, I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power…
Confidant: Ritsuka Fujimaru
Arcana: Aeon
Rank: 1
New ability: Emergency Evasion
Chance to evade the first critical attack or attack targeting a party member's weakness each combat.
Time resumed with the faint sound of chains breaking, and he let go of her hand. She had quite the grip, stronger than what he expected.
"Oh, don't worry about adding me to the group chat. Ann just sent me an invitation." Ritsuka showed him the screen, where indeed, their avatars were appearing above the recently added discussion. "See you later."
He bid her goodbye, closing the store for the night once she left. After cleaning the counter and making sure everything was in order, Ren sat down on the bed, allowing his exhaustion to finally catch up.
"What a day, huh?" Sighed Morgana, slumped on the bed. "To be honest, I'm not really sure what to think of Fujimaru-san yet. I'm feeling she is sincere, but man, she is tight-lipped."
"Aren't we as well?" Quipped Ren, thinking of the many things the team wasn't exactly aware of. Not to mention what Morgana wasn't aware of.
"I guess that's fair." Conceded the black cat, yawning. "Still, what I'm not very comfortable with is that pet Shadow of her. Just the idea that Shadows can appear in the real world is disturbing enough…"
And wasn't that a disturbing tidbit of information. While in the Palaces they never really worried about the Shadows going anywhere but the place they were chained to and the ones in Mementos did nothing but mindlessly walk around (though he felt sometimes they were slowly moving toward the depths…), the possibility they could, theoretically, follow them back to the surface was chilling. Or, if what the Shadow said was true, they would run out of energy and disappear by themselves, as being of cognition trying to stay in the real world. He shared those thoughts with Morgana, who scratched his ear pensively.
"That's true. In the same way we cannot use our Persona outside the Metaverse, Shadows can't naturally exist within our reality. On the other hand, Fujimaru-san seems able to keep one around. But how?" Frustration was piling up in his voice as more and more questions without clear answer came to light. "I don't like having to rely on a Shadow's words, dammit. How does she even controls it anyway? They don't follow anyone, they are just creatures of pure desire! Only a Palace Ruler should have enough influence to…"
Ren looked at Morgana before picking up his phone. Opening the Meta-Nav, he pronounced the name "Fujimaru Ritsuka" as clearly as possible.
"No target found." Answered the mechanical voice.
They both let out a sigh of relief. At least the worst case option was closed out. Though, given the Shadow had been freed from its mask, that should have probably been obvious. Yet the question still remained. What was exactly the link between Ritsuka and the Shadow? Was it a unique ability she possessed, like the Wild Card Ren himself had? Or perhaps, thought the leader of the team as he tucked himself into his sheets, it truly changed into something else…
"Don't tell me you think it's really some sort of demon." Said Morgana with some derision. "Shadows merely take their appearance from stories of the collective unconscious. They aren't the real deal, if there is a real deal at all."
"Probably." Acknowledged Ren, feeling himself drift into sleep. It was probably nothing…
His eyes opened to a familiar velvet blue. Sighing in resignation, he got up from the bed, feeling the weight of the shackles on his limbs. He barely reached the end of the cell when Caroline struck the bars harshly with her baton.
"You're late, Inmate!"
"Our Master has important words to share. Heed them carefully."
Obviously, or he would have waited for him to actually enter the Velvet Room by the doors in either Mementos or the street. Refraining from commenting, knowing it would lead nowhere, Ren stared at the master of the place, whose ever-smiling face and table-tapping fingers were no different from usual.
"Today, you have entered a partnership with quite the curious individual. One whose power is far different from yours. That is why I have summoned you."
Ren didn't comment. Ritsuka was the only person Igor could be talking about. The question was, why speak of her specifically? Chiyaha too had an ability that could only be described as supernatural, and Igor made no mention of her. Probably because Ritsuka's interacted with the Shadows, and thus, with the Metaverse itself…
"What are your thoughts? Is that unknown power something you can rely upon?"
"I cannot say." Prudently answered Ren.
"Good." Igor chuckled, as he often did without Ren being able to determine the exact reason. "The success of your rehabilitation depends on the bonds you nurture. However, some bonds are deceptive, and may actually bring you closer to ruin."
"Master?" Asked Caroline hesitantly, but Igor ignored her.
"Deepen your bond with them, and bring your findings to me. Whether they will grant your strength or hasten the ruin, that is what you must discover. I look forward to it."
A shiver ran down Ren's spine. For a fleeting instant, the deep, raspy voice of the Velvet Room's master gained a menacing undertone, as if speaking of an unexpected stain on the floor. The attendants themselves seemed disconcerted by the change, though they quickly resumed their usual behavior when Igor's gaze fell on them.
"… You should return to your reality." Quietly told Justine as the alarm started to ring, and the room feded into obscurity…
I'm glad to see this little project get positive return. I'll be honest, I did not expect to write this so quickly. It really must have simmered in my head for a longer time than I imagined. And a great thank you to those leaving a comment. I hope this chapter satisfied you, and that you'll look forward for the next.