Despite diving away, the heavy sledgehammer-like strike hit the ground and sent a wave of fiery destruction washing the group away. It burned and the impact of the ground only added to Lynn's struggles.
She slid across the tiled floor and tried her best to recover her footing.
The hulking behemoth of the Gilded Guardian loomed over the lobby, dwarfing everyone else. The heat radiating from its back made it hard to look directly at it.
"Panther! Keep those fires off of us! Skull, Mona! Cover Hunter while she prepares! Merc, Mox, Badges! Do what you can to support Panther!" With orders given and resounding replies acknowledged, Joker sped towards Yusuke who was now looking on the scene with horror and amazement in equal measure. "Kitagawa, you're with me!" She yelled, grabbing his arm. Pulling the boy wasn't all that difficult. Goemon had dispersed back into the kitsune mask and Yusuke was too overwhelmed to resist.
The lobby had a few bits of cover; display podiums, columns, side rooms. It was the reception desk - a large, curved block of marble set against a thick wall toward the centre of the lobby - that Lynn had ducked behind.
Yusuke's eyes were wild and his breathing frantic.
"I know this is a lot, Kitagawa, but you've awoken to a pretty amazing power. I think we're going to need it." At least her words managed to get through to him. His breathing slowed and his eyes focused.
"Though I don't understand what's happening, I will lend what strength I can."
"Good to hear."
Lynn peeked over the desk and observed the fighting.
Carmen had taken the lead, keeping the Guardian's attention with bolts of fire and the occasional kick. It was barely scratching the thing but it was doing its job. Meanwhile, Captain Kidd had set up a defensive stance, standing over Shiho who was gathering her own strength. V was acting as Carmen's partner, dipping in to throw nuclear charged strikes and backing off to allow Carmen to block a fire attack. It was like David versus Goliath. Judy had posted herself behind a column and was using Pixie like she usually did; turning her right arm into a lightning cannon. Mona had taken to his usual role, dishing out healing and using his wind powers to help in any way he could.
Then there was River. The only one of the group who had yet to get any kind of Persona power. Although to his credit, the man was no slouch. His revolver thumped with rhythm and the bullets were actually making some sort of impact.
Only, most were absorbed into the Guardian's blazing back.
Amid the initial outbreak of conflict, Madarame's Shadow had retreated back into his private exhibit. It would have been nice to deal with it here and now, but it seemed the man was more cowardly than all that.
The Guardian roared and raked the air in a clawing motion. The fire along its thick arm mimicked the roar and a series of molten globules of gold flew across the room. On impact, they created small fountains of fire like miniature volcanoes. Weirdly, the molten metal had little to no effect on the environment despite the heat. It was another story entirely when it came to the thieves. One such spout had landed not too far from Ryuji and the sound of shrieking pierced the air.
His jacket had caught fire and he was frantically patting it out.
[A little hot-tempered ye' be there! Simmer down ye' kerr!] Kidd's chattering laughter rattled from his direction.
The Guardian was only growing in heat and ferocity.
Lynn ducked back behind the desk and tried thinking of something. Anything. Relying on Shiho all the time wasn't a good strategy. The heat was growing unbearable and despite being behind cover, Lynn felt like she was standing right next to an open furnace.
The Guardian was using its own molten gold to attack. As well as the debilitating heat.
She needed to cool down. She needed everything to cool down.
"That's it!" Lynn snapped her fingers and turned to Yusuke. From what she had seen of his power so far, it was clear that he held control over ice. He returned with a confused expression.
She felt for the guy. She really did.
So much had been thrown at him all at once. Yet despite all that, he was here now, embracing his rebellious spirit and willing to defy his supposed saviour. "Do you have a plan, Amamiya?"
"I do. But it's Joker here. Not Amamiya." She then hailed Ann on their communicators. "Panther, try getting it as hot as you can. We need it turned to eleven!" It took a few moments for the girl to reply, the frequency sending back static as Ann dodged and flipped around various attacks.
"Are you insane, Joker!? What's that going to achieve!"
"More heat means more energy. Just trust me!" Despite her reservations, Ann gave a groan and agreed.
Carmen then switched to a more aggressive engagement. A concentrated jet of fire burst from the Persona's hands, as if they had formed a literal jet engine. The Guardian raised its own hand and intercepted the jet in its palm. It absorbed the incoming energy and the fires on its back only grew larger. Molten gold bubbled and broiled under the flames and sent trickles leaking to the ground. Hissing steam gushed from the forming puddles.
Ryuji's voice was next through the radio; "We tryin' to melt it or somethin'? What are you up to!?"
Lynn's jaw locked into a signature grin. Her eyes flashed with silver malice and with a frighteningly calm tone she replied; "We're making it go boom."
"... Of fuck yes. All the yes."V chimed in between her brief engagements with the Guardian.
"When I give the order, everyone gets the hell away." Each thief responded with affirmation. It was now down to Yusuke. He had only just awakened to his power but that also meant it was at its most raw. "Kitagawa, I need you to dig deep. Find all that anger and rage. Focus it and let Goemon take charge. When I give the mark, let all that power go and freeze that damn thing."
Yusuke remained silent as he tried figuring out what the hell she was saying.
He then nodded.
He would just have to trust her.
He closed his eyes and Lynn immediately felt a change in temperature. At first it was merely a cool breeze. It then built and built until it was a raging, frigid force. The power swirled around the boy and as it grew, Lynn noted that everything around him was beginning to frost over.
It still wasn't enough.
"More, Kitagawa! We need more!"
"I am trying!"
"More!"
A sudden pulse of sheer cold knocked Lynn on her ass. It threatened to freeze her over in an instant. That was more like it.
She opened the radio once more; "Everyone, GET TO THE COURTYARD!"
Immediately, each thief broke off their engagement and ran as fast as they could toward the courtyard.
"Kitagawa, freeze hell over."
The boy's eyes shot open and a golden glow shimmered over them. His mask turned to snow and with a large leap into the air, Goemon appeared as though a curtain of snow revealed his presence. With an all mighty, double-team swing of their swords, there was a wave of sub-zero energy sailing through the air.
The Guardian turned and as it saw its impending doom, its burning eyes widened. For the first time since it had animated, the permanent sneer on its face was replaced with a look of absolute terror.
The wave struck true and within milliseconds, the thermodynamic reaction went into effect. Extreme heat met with sudden extreme cold never ended well for the hot object. And that was the case here. A cataclysmic explosion shook the entire lobby, sending a destructive wave of sheer pressure and rolling steam cascading over the area.
Lynn looked on in pure elation.
Elation that quickly turned to horrible realisation. Then turned to absolute terror much like the Guardian's.
The wave rolled towards her like a wall of death. She was so focused on destroying the Guardian, she completely forgot about her own safety. As well as Yusuke's. In that second, everything flashed through her mind. Everything terrible, everything good and everything in between. This was it. She had effectively doomed herself to her own demise.
Yusuke landed directly in front of her and without a word, he gestured to Goemon.
Instantly they were encased in a dome of thick ice.
The shockwave from the thermo-explosion hit the dome with full force. Cracks formed and steam hissed. Yusuke struggled as if he was pushing against the onslaught. His back leg dug in and he let out a thunderous war cry.
"By my word as a true artist, you shall not fall on this day!"
Even with such stalwart words and a glare of pure defiance, the destruction was too much and the dome shattered. The two were swept away. There were two things Lynn felt. The first was searing heat, then a sudden hard impact.
Then nothing.
It was with a start that Lynn sat up quicker than anyone had expected.
Her eyes widened and she struggled for breath.
Her first observation was that she was very much alive. The second was that it was incredibly hard to focus on anything. Like her eyes had just refused to stop working properly.
The third observation was that she suddenly felt very, very nauseous.
Her head spun and without warning, her guts let loose whatever it could find in her stomach. All over her Joker attire. Which brought her to her fourth observation. She was still in the Metaverse. A warm feeling washed over her as a green glow pulsed from somewhere nearby. Gradually, the glow helped ease the nausea and overwhelming dizziness. She could hear voices, but she couldn't understand a word they were saying. It was all muffled nonsense.
She even had trouble keeping her own thoughts in check.
At the very least, she made the assumption she was very likely concussed to some degree. It certainly wasn't the first time she had suffered such a thing. Though not nearly as bad.
As the green glow continued, Lynn's vision began to slowly centre itself before focusing enough to see her immediate surroundings. It was a safe room within Madarame's Palace. The very faint distortion of various bits of furniture was a tell tale sign of that.
She had been laid out on what seemed to be a sofa. Its surface occasionally switched between a comfy cushion and hardwood. An unfortunate effect of Safe Rooms. Ann, Shiho and Morgana stood at her side looking incredibly worried. Morgana turned out to be the source of the green glow as his healing powers worked its magic on her. Finally, Lynn was able to focus enough to understand their voices properly.
"Joker, can you hear us?" Mona uttered urgently.
"Y-yeah… ugh. What happened?"
"You nearly got yourself killed! That's what happened! What the hell were you thinking?" Although Shiho was definitely worried sick, it still didn't stop her anger from flashing through. "That was one of the most reckless and unnecessarily risky things you've ever tried! We were so scared when that explosion went off!"
"Explosion?" For a brief moment, Lynn had no clue what Shiho was talking about. The memory then shot back through her mind. The thermodynamic experiment, the reaction and resulting explosion. "Right… yeah. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea. Where's Kitagawa?"
"I am here." The boy raised his hand. Sitting on a chair not too far away, Yusuke looked rather banged up himself. However he looked in a lot better shape than Lynn. "We both may have been swept away, but it was you who seemed to have taken the most damage." He was speaking calmly, yet the thousand-yard stare brought up alarm bells regarding his mental wellbeing. "While you were unconscious, some things were explained to me. Specifically why Mr. Doe - uh… Badges - and Merc broke into sensei's atelier."
"Sorry again about all that." River chimed in from the other side of the room.
V Team were all currently bunched around one of Judy's laptop devices. A thin wire snaked from its side and ran along the floor directly towards Lynn. It was then that she saw her wrist had the wire attached to a sensor stuck to her skin.
Likely a vital monitor of some description.
"So you know what we're trying to do here?" Lynn asked.
The artist nodded. "You're attempting to change Sensei's heart. To force him to come to terms with his crimes." His head lowered and his eyes closed. As he thought, his grip had not once loosened on his katana's sheath. It only tightened. "I wish to lend my strength to your cause. Sensei cannot be allowed to continue destroying the lives of innocent, troubled children. I swear I will be the last of his victims."
Lynn took a quick glance at the other thieves. Each one held an agreeing smile.
Notably, Ryuji was nowhere to be seen.
"Welcome aboard, Kitagawa."
"Fox."
"Pardon?"
"Each of you have codenames. Mine is Fox. It was Panther's suggestion."
Lynn perked an eyebrow at Ann. She was met with a happy, innocent smile. "Y'know… because most of us chose our names based on our outfits. Only made sense."
"True. Well, welcome aboard, Fox."
At that point, Ryuji slinked in through the Safe Room door trying his best to remain quiet. Though once inside, he dropped the attempt, sighed and wandered up to the rest of the group. "It's a mess out there! The Shadows are on the warpath! Almost got caught a few times, but I managed to give 'em the slip." His attention then shifted toward Lynn. His eyes flared and a grin crawled across his features. "Sleepin' Beauty's awake, then? Awesome show out there, Joker!"
"It certainly was not awesome, Skull! She and Fox could have died!" Shiho scowled and firmly - yet not maliciously - slapped his shoulder several times.
"But we didn't." Yusuke plainly uttered. "If Joker had not instructed us as she did, we may have perished against the Guardian." An incredibly small grin tugged at his lips. Slowly and shakily, the artist rose to his feet. "It was a flash of true beauty! A momentary instant of clashing forces vying for dominance! Destructive in its pursuit yet inspiring in its sheer power! I never thought it possible to witness such… elegance in violence."
"Is this guy for real?" Ryuji smirked and casually leant on Ann's shoulder. He was met with an irritated glare.
It looked like Yusuke wanted to continue his monologue, however his legs buckled and he fell back into his seat. His shoulders sagged and a long sigh flowed free. "I'm… quite exhausted." Plumes of cool vapour swirled with each breath. Despite his fatigue, the frost inside his soul was still strong.
"It's your first time using your powers. That'll happen," Lynn struggled to her own feet as she spoke, "we should leave for now. Four R's."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Despite not making all that much progress, they still had made it past their biggest obstacle. A night's rest was more than called for after fighting the Guardian. Especially now that Lynn knew she was mildly concussed. Tomorrow, they would delve back in and secure their route. After all, the deadline was fast approaching. Even if the reason for said deadline had now joined their fight.
Perhaps a discussion on that subject was called for before everyone split off for the day.
But not here.
"I'm pretty Hank Marvin. Let's go to the diner. We can debrief there." Lynn grinned at the confusion she was met with. Her little English slang seemed to have gone completely over everyone's head.
Even still, the sentiment was there. It was a simple Safe Room Shift - a trick Ann had discovered that involved what essentially amounted to Fast Travel between Safe Rooms - and a slow stumble to the exit.
Now that the group was safe in the local diner, Lynn finally had a chance to breathe and take in what had happened.
She had put not only herself, but Yusuke as well, in mortal danger. It might have gotten the job done, but that really wasn't an excuse. She glanced toward Ryuji - stuffing his face with steak like usual - and remembered his little speech back in V's apartment. This wasn't just a Rin Spin. This was legitimately her fault. It was her orders and her idea. Frankly, she and Yusuke got off incredibly lightly with just a few mild burns and - in Lynn's case - a mild concussion.
All of which had already been treated by Morgana and Ann.
Lynn's head was still pounding, but at least the immediate effects had been taken care of.
"So what was the deal with that door explodin' anyway? I thought it'd just slide open real easy like." Between mouthfuls of meat, Ryuji set off the conversation in true fashion. Eyes then fell on River and V.
Surprisingly enough, it was River who had the look of guilt.
"That was probably on me," he said, "things got a little desperate when V collapsed, so I had to take over and… rip the lock off the door wholesale."
"Damn, stronger than ya' look!"
"It's the chrome." River replied flatly, raising his robotic hand in demonstration. "Almost fried the servos." Ryuji stopped gorging himself for a moment to kick his brain back into gear. V Team were so casual about everything that it was pretty easy to forget that they were all mechanically enhanced in some way. "On that note, Kitagawa… I have to apologise again. I don't like lying. Especially to someone in a bad situation."
Up until now, Yusuke had been silently watching as the group conversed. A reserved smile always on his lips. Now that he had time to process everything, the boy seemed quite content.
"There is no need for apologies, Mr. Doe."
"Oh… right, the name's actually River Ward. Not John Doe. Would have said so sooner but we have to use codenames in the Metaverse."
"Very well, Mr. Ward," despite the smile remaining, there was a slight twitch to Yusuke's eye, "still, you needn't apologise. I understand the need behind it. Besides, I no longer consider that place my home."
"Don't blame you. Your room was only slightly better than some of the squats I used to call home." V's casual talk on her past hit Lynn in the chest, once again reminding her of the mysterious depths V Team had. All three of them had such storied pasts, yet they were all still here, stronger than before in spite of their individual traumas. That aside, Yusuke looked on blankly until Ann was kind enough to translate.
At the words, he lowered his head in solemn understanding.
"Do you have anywhere to stay?" Shiho managed to speak up. "I don't think it'd be safe for you to go back to that shack."
"I was perhaps hoping to stay with Takamaki."
"Not happening." Ann was immediate with her response. The girl had even opted for delaying a mouthful of cake. "I get you're in trouble, Kitagawa… but I live alone and my parents would probably kill you if they found out you stayed over."
"Amamiya?"
"That's a hard no. I wouldn't hear the end of it from Boss."
"I see…"
The V Team looked at one another in silent discussion. Finally, V shrugged and made a gesture for River to speak up. "If you don't mind staying with a bunch of adults, you can crash at our place. It's just across the street from Rin's place, too. The curry there is almost addicting."
"Love is in the air~ Love is in the~ee~e air~" V's singing earned her a baleful glare before they started chuckling to themselves.
"That would be acceptable. Thank you." Yusuke nodded in reservation. Although he might have been gracious, his hopes had definitely been crushed somewhat. It seemed like his infatuation with Ann hadn't left completely. In fact, the way he had moved immediately on to Lynn, it appeared the infatuation had spread. She wasn't quite sure how to feel about it if that were honestly the case.
Breaking the flow of the conversation, Morgana finally had enough of laying low and had popped his head out from Lynn's bag. He glared at Yusuke before pouting. "Don't think for a second you're getting ahead of me, Kitagawa!"
For a moment, the artist stared back at Morgana with a blank expression. As if he were looking at a plain wall or a mundane paperweight.
"What is that?"
"How dare you! It's me! Morgana! Expert in all things Metaverse and the original Phantom Thief!" The expression continued. That was until the artist leaned over, reaching for what seemed to be Morgana himself. "W-what are you doing!?" The cat recoiled into the bag only for the sound of a bell to chime. Yusuke had merely reached over to call for a waiter.
"I was hoping to order some red bean jelly."
Each thief sighed at the awkward exchange. It was painfully obvious the boy really wasn't used to interacting with others. He wasn't exactly anxious - at least he didn't appear to be - he just seemed clueless.
Still, there was something weighing on Lynn's mind. Up until now, it was Yusuke's assault charge that had spurred them on. Now that he was on their side, that threat was no longer an issue. What was an issue was the trouble River and V got themselves into. From what little Lynn picked up from the misadventure, things went south and violence ensued. Which meant yet another potential assault charge.
"Will Madarame try to press charges for the breaking in?" Lynn asked. Even if it wasn't the thieves themselves, she still felt responsible.
Yusuke's solemn and reserved look caused her stomach to turn. "I have no doubt he will…" of course they were still on the clock, "however, I don't think he will try anything until after his exhibit closes. Sensei is quite particular about his public image and he doesn't want any sort of hassle muddying the water." It wasn't definite and was completely opposite to ideal, but it was something. They still had time. "I should imagine his report would involve pressing charges against me, rather than Mr. Ward and Ms. V."
"In that case we should pick it back up tomorrow."
"No, Rin. You're hurt."
"Shiho, I appreciate the concern… but we need to get this done. I'm fine, seriously. Morgana and Ann's healing really helped clear my head."
"... Rin…"
"I'll stop by Takemi's on the way home. If she forbids me from doing anything strenuous, I'll step back for a day. Ok?" Lynn aimed the latter part toward everyone. As much as she wanted to shrug everything off and push herself regardless of her own wellbeing, she understood that it would just lead to putting everyone in more danger. To be the best possible leader, she had to also look after herself, not just everyone else.
"I'll make sure she does."
It was rare for V's tone to be so serious. It immediately caught each thief off guard and grabbed their attention. V herself was glaring down at Lynn with piercing eyes. It was like she knew Lynn wanted to ignore her injuries.
Even Morgana had joined in on the glaring.
Two against one really wasn't fair.
"Oh… I don't have any money…"
And just like that, Yusuke had managed to deflate all the gloominess in their air with a simple airheaded comment.
The languid and apathetic stare of Tae Takemi studied Lynn for quite some time, watching as the girl put her shirt and blazer back on. Although she had just come in for a head examination, Takemi all but demanded to perform a full body physical. Gently, she tapped her pen against a clipboard.
"So, you say you fell down some stairs and banged your head."
"That's right."
Takemi held her stare. Only to start twitching her eye. A sigh flowed free and she planted the clipboard against her forehead in frustration. "When are you going to start telling me the truth? You banged your head, that much is obvious, but it certainly wasn't because you fell down some stairs."
Lynn felt as though she was being seen right through. Like any kind of defence was absolutely useless. Still, she tried keeping up her act.
She couldn't exactly tell the doctor it was because of getting hit with a steam explosion.
"I am telling you the truth."
"Explain those burn marks, then. And the bruising on your chest and back." Again, Takemi sighed and glowered at Lynn from her desk. The girl had no response. She briefly contemplated claiming the burns were from spilling hot water on herself, but it was highly unlikely Takemi would believe that. "I'm not even going to bother trying to ask about that old impaling wound of yours. I get it. You're a teenager. I'm just some shady back alley doctor with a cloudy reputation. Who would trust that? I certainly wouldn't."
"It's… complicated, Doc. If I could tell you I would."
The doctor groaned and reclined in her chair. Her feet then casually planted themselves on the desk and Takemi's demeanour shifted to a colder, more distant attitude. "Fine… whatever. In that case all I can do for you is give you some painkillers and some aloe ointment for the burns. Anything more will cost extra."
For some reason, Lynn felt as though she had let Takemi down in some way.
She felt bad. The woman clearly just wanted to help. Even if Takemi presented herself as a distant, apathetic goth, it was obvious she genuinely cared for her patients. Even if she didn't have a whole lot of them.
After Lynn first met her, she did a little background research on the doctor.
She hadn't expected much, but she found a lot. Articles aplenty were spread across the internet. The official story stated she was responsible for sending a child patient into critical condition by using an untested experimental drug. There were lawsuits and she was ousted from her position, forced into obscurity. Although the whole 'experimental drug' was certainly in line with Takemi's practices, Lynn just couldn't see her using one on a legitimate patient without it passing rigorous testing.
She briefly remembered the first clinical trial she was subjected to and certainly shuddered at the memory. However, Lynn was a fit and healthy subject who consented to it. That was an official trial that had been approved. Lynn had even signed several forms of consent for different ethics boards. All of which meant Takemi knew full well that it was safe and wouldn't cause harm.
That definitely didn't seem like the sort of person who would carelessly administer something potentially dangerous. Especially to a child.
It was just another case of something fishy happening and no one bothered to think about it for longer than a few seconds. An increasingly frequent situation. One that boiled Lynn's blood to no end.
Still, she mustered what little courage she could and addressed the doctor.
"I…" Lynn desperately wanted to at least try to confide in Takemi. It was nice to have friends who cared for her, but honestly, Lynn felt like she needed a medical professional. "I'm…" She tried again, to no avail.
To Takemi's credit, she wasn't trying to push anything. She merely sat in her lounged position and waited.
The rush of courage surged forward and Lynn was about to finally blurt everything out.
However, they were interrupted by the sound of the waiting area's door barging open. The clattering sound and a panicked, muffled grunting set Takemi on edge. They both sprang to their feet and bolted for the reception area. What they found was something quite unsettling. A small child was coughing, wheezing and suffering. She looked frail and completely drained of all vigour. Directly behind her was - presumably - the father, hurriedly placing magazines back on a rack.
"Sorry… but we're closed, sir." Takemi briefly stopped in her tracks. It was definitely getting late, yet the father's desperate look seemed to strike the doctor with some unseen force.
"Please! My daughter, she's had bronchitis for some time now. She's been out of school and on bedrest, but she's only getting worse!"
"Bronchitis, huh?" Takemi perked a brow.
"How long has it been going on?" Lynn suddenly asked, earning her a surprised - yet irritated - glare from Takemi.
"It started two months ago. She's always coughing, always crying. It's hard for her to eat and drink. She can barely keep herself upright for longer than a few minutes. She can't breathe properly, God damn it!" As if to add emphasis to that last bit, the girl fell back against her father's legs and slid down to the ground.
"It hurts…" The girl managed to squeak. Her voice was barely a whispered cry.
"Don't worry, sweetie! Takemi will take care of you!" Instinctually, Lynn knelt down and gave the girl a warm smile. She completely ignored Takemi's growing irritation directed towards her. Now wasn't the time to get petty. "Hey, hey, I'm Lynn but my friends call me Rin. What's your name?"
"C-Chizuru…"
"Can I call you Chi-Chi?"
The girl managed to nod before another coughing fit wracked her body. Lynn kept her smile despite wanting to cry at the mere sight of the poor girl.
"Ok, Chi-Chi, let's get you to the exam room so Dr. Takemi can help. Can you stand?" The girl shook her head. Taking the hint, Lynn looked up to the father, his expression wrought with fear and anxiety. "Could you carry her through?" He nodded and gently picked the frail girl up in his arms.
Takemi let her shoulders sag and a growl fell from her lips. "Alright, alright. Give me a minute to wipe everything down from your examination… honestly, people might think you run this place…" Despite her reluctance and clear dissatisfaction, Takemi was still quite concerned for Chizuru. A barely noticeable twitch to the eye and a glance in her direction was all Lynn needed to figure that out.
Once inside, the father gently laid the girl on the freshly prepared exam bed.
With that done, the "kind" doctor all but pushed both Lynn and the father out of the examination room and back into the reception area. The door slammed shut - but not before Lynn received a death glare - and the two were left alone.
The dad tried massaging his forehead and wandered over to the waiting area's seats.
He barely managed to stay on target as his entire body slumped against a chair. The old thing creaked and groaned but held steady. "I haven't slept in days. She's been coughing, passing out, coughing some more on repeat for a while now. Our regular doctor keeps insisting it's just common Bronchitis. It'll clear up on its own."
"I don't have any medical training, so I can't say anything about that." Lynn felt oddly guilty about the whole thing. Like her lack of knowledge was somehow causing harm. With any luck, Takemi would come through for little Chi-Chi. Still, it fell on Lynn to try and calm the nerves of a distressed father. "You did right by coming here, though."
"My wife was dead against it. Have you heard the rumours?"
"Yes, but Takemi is a great doctor. She's helped me more times than I care to admit."
Time passed and the two talked. As she found out, the father's name was Junichi. He was a salaryman working at some IT consultant firm as a technician. Long hours and lots of stress. Yet the guy always made his family his top priority. His wife was a teacher at a local Elementary school and was generally the main caregiver. Between the two, they made a comfortable living. Of course, that was until Chizuru fell ill.
As the illness progressed, Junichi had to quit his job in order to find one that allowed him to work from home. All to provide his daughter with full time care. A mutual decision between the couple.
Lynn really felt for the guy.
A bad run of luck had just kicked the family in the teeth and from the sounds of it, round two was only just around the corner.
Eventually, the door to the exam room creaked open and Takemi stepped out, a look of concern on her face. Junichi feared the worst and almost immediately began to cry. Preemptively getting his emotions out of control.
"Your daughter's fine, sir." The doctor scowled. At those words, regardless of her tone, Junichi's tears stopped and relief set in. "However, I can tell you she doesn't have Bronchitis."
"Are… you sure?"
"I'll know more when I run some blood tests but if I were to give my opinion right now; Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. It's a pretty rare disorder, sadly genetic. So if it is Alpha-1, you and your wife will need to get tested too."
"Dr. Oyamada was certain it was just Bronchitis…"
At the mere mention of the name, Takemi's eyes widened. Shock took her by storm before a rather sinister grin crossed her lips. It didn't escape Lynn's notice, but it thankfully managed to fly over Junichi's head. "Is that so…" Takemi uttered, tapping a finger against her chin. "Well… it is quite common for doctors to mistake Alpha-1 for something simpler. Like I said, I'll know more when I get her results. For now, I've given her some corticosteroids and bronchodilators. Her breathing has eased up and her coughing looks to have calmed down for now."
"R-really!? Thank you doctor!"
"Ah ah! Don't get mushy on me. She isn't out of the woods. Not by a long shot. The meds I've given her are only temporary relief. Short term treatment. I'll be frank, if the tests come back positive; it's going to be a lengthy battle." Junichi had gone through so many emotions, it seemed he simply couldn't handle it anymore. He settled on a muted and reserved anticipation. "With regular treatment and proper care, she'll be back on her feet before you know it."
For the time being, Takemi had ordered Chizuru to stay at the clinic for observation. She did also say that Junichi was welcome to stay with her, but then followed with the suggestion that he should go and sleep.
The man was exhausted and it showed.
Reluctantly, he agreed to try for some rest of his own. Once he left and was out of sight, Takemi turned to Lynn and scowled. With a thwack, she firmly tapped the clipboard over Lynn's forehead, earning the doctor a little squeak.
"You put me in one hell of a tight spot there, young miss. I should punish you."
The cold tone elicited a shiver down Lynn's spine. Whatever Takemi was thinking, it was bound to involve causing harm. The mental image of leather and a riding crop sprang to mind. Then immediately was forced away. All she could do was give a sheepish smile. "Sorry, Doc… Chi-Chi just looked so helpless I couldn't help it."
"Yeah… well, I expect you to make this up to me somehow." For a silent moment, the two stood in the reception area in a strange quiet. It may have been the lingering effects of her concussion, but Lynn could have sworn she saw a genuine smile on Takemi's lips. Sadly, before she had time to even point it out, the smile vanished and the doctor made for the exam room. Just before disappearing into the darkened confines, she turned back; "You'd make a good mother someday."
That was enough to send Lynn into a blushing mess of embarrassment.
What made it worse was Takemi completely vanishing with a distinct click. The damn woman had locked the door behind her and had left Lynn stewing in her own flustered mess.
Saturday - May 28th
Once again, Lynn dragged herself out of bed in a groggy haze. Once again, she tried doing some morning stretches. Once again, she gave up with a frustrated huff. Once again, Morgana was quick with the witty commentary and once again, Lynn had absolutely no patience for it. "You know, Rin, if you smiled a little more, people would see just how cute you can be!" The cat barely had time to dodge out of the way of a pillow. It smacked against the open window Mona was sitting in front of and fell down to the streets below. "Hey! That's animal abuse!"
"So you're only a cat when it's convenient for you." Lynn smirked before turning and going about the rest of her morning routine.
Largely, that involved shooing the cat downstairs so she could change.
All things considered, after a night's rest, her head had cleared up quite nicely. She could still feel a dull ache at the base of her skull, but the general cloudiness had cleared.
After her visit to Takemi's, Lynn wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. She desperately wanted to spill her guts, but now that she had slept on it, she knew that she couldn't. It would just put both Takemi and everyone else in unnecessary danger. It was a safe assumption that if she did tell Takemi everything, the doctor - a woman of science, facts and logic - would definitely want to see some kind of proof of a metaphysical dimension created from human cognition.
No. It was safer for everyone if that kind of information was kept between the Thieves and V Team.
Finally, Lynn emerged from her room and into Le Blanc's shop floor to a peculiar sight.
It was Yusuke behind the counter instead of Sojiro. The slender boy looked quite at home in an apron, though the sight begged the question of why he was there to begin with. Sojiro, himself was found casually sitting in one of the booths like he was a regular customer. The only thing that had remained the same was the newspaper he was glued to, mumbling about crossword puzzles.
Still, Lynn's regular morning curry and coffee was ready and waiting on the counter.
"Well this sure is a change of scenery." Lynn addressed Yusuke as she sat to eat. The boy nodded and gave a rather refined looking smile.
"Mr. Ward asked Mr. Sak- uh… Boss - if I could work here for the time being."
"What about school? You go to Kosei, right?"
He nodded and the smile slipped for a split second. "Thanks to a fine art scholarship sponsored by Sensei. However, I was informed late last night that he will be rescinding that sponsorship." Guilt flashed through Lynn's chest. "I will be appealing to the school board, but for now… I'll be out of school."
"The boy picks things up quicker than you, Rin. Damn sight more polite, too!" A wry grin spread over Sojiro's lips. It may have only been playful teasing, but it still stung to hear aloud. She wasn't exactly a talented cook, nor was she particularly skilled with brewing coffee. Most of the time when she did help out it was usually just taking customer orders or washing the dishes. "You best hurry and eat."
Lynn snapped out of it and did as told.
When she was done, she addressed Yusuke once again; "there's something we need to talk to you about. Today's a half-day so when the rest of us get off school, we should meet up in Shibuya."
"... I see. Would that be acceptable, Boss?"
"Hm? Sure. Just make sure all the evening prep's done before you go."
Thankfully, the school day went by quite painlessly.
A few of the more daring students tried asking Lynn about the burns on her arms, but they were quickly sent off with a glare and a growl. She did feel a little bad about it. Some of them were genuinely concerned. Although others just wanted a juicy bit of gossip. Just something to add to the rumour mill surrounding her. Some absurd - grossly exaggerated - story was probably already in the making. It didn't matter in any case, only those that mattered to her knew the truth.
With school over with for the day, the group headed to Shibuya, opting to wait in Big Bang Burger.
Today's agenda was going to be a rough one. Especially for Yusuke. No one knew exactly how he was going to take everything, but everyone agreed they would be as supportive as possible. It was merely a question of Yusuke's willingness to proceed.
As the minutes ticked by, Yusuke finally appeared with the strong scent of coffee clinging to him.
Much like Lynn whenever she helped in the shop.
Gingerly, the boy sat down, clearly apprehensive about the meeting. "What is it you wish to discuss?"
Lynn came up with the idea originally, so it was only fair she dropped the bomb. If there was any anger to be felt, it was better he felt it towards her than anyone else. She took a moment to collect her thoughts and with a gentle, understanding tone she spoke; "it's about your mother. Hitomi."
Yusuke's lips stiffened into a straight line.
"I… see. I haven't heard her name in… quite some time." There was no falter to his expression, yet his voice was barely holding together. So much had happened to him over the last forty eight hours, it was a wonder he hadn't completely shut down from it all. "I assume you know her name from Sensei's Palace?" Lynn nodded and the boy reciprocated.
"We also learned a bit more from Ishida's Shadow."
"Ms. Ishida? What does she have to do with my mother?"
"They were close friends back when they were Madarame's students. We learned just how wonderful of a person Hitomi really was. Beautiful, talented and strong willed. Just like you. We just wanted to make sure you know we're all here for you." Lynn struggled to get the words out but the sentiment at least appeared to come across. The stiff, frozen lips of Yusuke slowly tugged into the smallest of smiles.
"Thank you, Amamiya. Thank you all. I believe I would still be frozen and stuck in that shack were it not for you and the… uh… V Team I believe you called them." He paused and thought for a moment. "I think I'd like to pay Ms. Ishida a visit. Though I think it'd be best if I didn't go alone." Half expecting his gaze to fall to Ann, Lynn was certainly caught off guard when he instead looked to her expectantly.
Everyone was just as shocked, yet took it in stride. Ann giggled to herself and gave Lynn a wry wink.
"We have some prep to do anyway. Crowding a little shop like Ishida's wouldn't do anyone good. We'll meet back up at V Team's attic when you two are done." Ann was quick to take the lead and even picked up Lynn's bag. Morgana popped his head out and was about to complain when he realised who had actually disturbed his nap.
Before Lynn knew it, she was suddenly alone with Yusuke.
All she could do was sigh and shake her head with a smirk. "Are you sure about this? I don't actually know what Ishida's going to be like. V Team somehow allowed her to change her own heart and we haven't checked in on her since."
"I'm sure. I'd like to hear more about my mother. Sensei never allowed discussion about her."
"Alright, let's get going then."
The walk to Ishida's art shop went by in total silence. Although Yusuke knew exactly where it was and had visited it countless times to run errands for Madarame, he seemed hesitant. He dragged his steps out. His eyes twitched every so often. Despite that, every time it looked as though he was about to change his mind, he pushed forward with a renewed determination.
Minutes later, they arrived. It took a moment for Yusuke to collect himself. Carefully, the boy pushed the door open and let the familiar chime of the old fashioned bell above the door calm his nerves.
Lynn was right behind him, doing her best to silently support him.
"Welc- oh. Yusuke darling." Ishida's voice came from within. This was actually the first time Lynn had entered Ishida's store. In fact, the only experience she had with Ishida was the cognition in Madarame's Palace.
Immediately, the soft scent of paint tickled her nose. The gallery area - according to River - housed replicas of Sayuri. However, there were none to be seen. In fact, the artwork on display looked nothing like anything in Madarame's exhibit.
"Good day, Ms. Ishida. I'm… not here on any errands."
"How many times, Yusuke! Call me Kimiko. Oh, and who's this cute girl? Is she your girlfriend?" Lynn's first gut reaction was thankfully held back. Being called cute tightened her chest, yet she let it go. Just this once. That said, she couldn't help but giggle at the latter question.
"Uh… n-no. Not at all. She is… a friend."
"Someone pinch me! Yusuke is embarrassed!" Ishida cupped her hands on her cheeks and let a long squee escape. The exchange was a simple one but it had the same energy of an excited mother fussing over their child. It was honestly heartwarming to see.
It definitely reassured Lynn. It was nice to see Ishida's change of heart hadn't done anything obviously negative to her.
She gave a quick bow and smiled with a sweet greeting. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Lynn Amamiya. Everyone just calls me Rin, though."
"Cute and polite. Quite the catch!"
The tight feeling gripped at Lynn again. She kept from letting her frustrations show by reminding herself that this was Yusuke's moment. Not hers. He was the focus and she needed to be emotionally ready for anything. "Thank you, Ms. Ishida." She smiled and gestured to Yusuke to take the lead. Hesitantly, he stepped forward.
"I… see you've taken up the brush again." He nodded towards the art pieces on display in the gallery area. "It's very warm to see."
The boy even smiled with a fond, distant look to his eye as they studied each piece.
Honestly, they were very impressive as far as Lynn could tell. Mostly landscape pieces. Each one involved a beautiful vista of rural countryside. Upon closer inspection, some pieces actually lined up with each other to create a lush, vibrant garden surrounded by verdant hills. They practically radiated a soft summer breeze and the feeling of freedom.
"Thank you, darling!" Ishida beamed. "I'm not sure what happened but the other day I just felt like painting and… well… I just couldn't stop! I feel like a weight's been lifted from my soul. I feel… I don't know… giddy. Do I sound weird? I sound weird…"
To that, Yusuke shook his head. "Not at all. However, I hope you don't mind but I wanted to ask some questions… about my mother."
The woman's smile cracked for a second. She looked Yusuke square in the eye and studied him deeply. Her jaw stiffened and Lynn could almost see the scales weighing things up in her brain. "You've matured. I can see a certain spirit burn in those frigid eyes of yours. The same spirit your mother once harboured. Rebellious yet restrained and tempered." Her tone had ceased its bouncy, bubbly nature. Replaced with one of complete and utter respect. The shift was like night and day. When they first entered the store, Ishida looked at Yusuke as though she were a doting aunt, yet now, there was nothing but a sense of equality. Loving equality to be sure, but there was also respect. "What do you want to know?"
"What was she like? What kind of person was she growing up?"
"Hitomi was… a true friend," Ishida started off with a fond, reminiscing smile, "smart and attentive. We'd spend hours playing, running in the fields, climbing trees. We were free. Of course, it didn't last, it never did. We always had to return to him. I always had to return to becoming his slave. Hitomi - however - braved everything with a smile and a fierce tongue. It landed her in more than a few beatings, but she never broke. She inspired me and yet I never had the strength she had."
Listening intently, Yusuke nodded along. "Memories are quite a beautiful thing. It sounds like you had many good memories of my mother. Could I trouble you to tell me some?"
"Of course, Yusuke. But… may I ask why the sudden interest? I thought he forbade you from ever talking about her."
Lynn noticed that Ishida was actively avoiding using Madarame's name. It was a similar mechanism to Shiho's. She felt a pang of guilty understanding. The poor woman likely felt that simply uttering his name would somehow summon him. At least that was the impression Lynn got from V's description of Ishida's Seedling Palace. Although, now that Ishida had changed her own heart and had broken from Madarame's clutches, the mechanism was likely more out of habit than fear.
"I no longer associate with that man." Yusuke replied with a flat voice. "I have finally opened my eyes to his crimes and seek his downfall."
"You and me both, Yusuke." A wistful smile tugged at Ishida's lips. The statement appeared to have shocked Yusuke slightly, yet he remained collected. Even so, there was a certain spark to his eyes that hadn't appeared thus far. He may have broken from his own cage and demonstrated a fierce determination, yet hearing Ishida's conviction seemed to have stoked the flames.
Ishida tapped a finger on her chin as she thought. She then clicked and a bright smile warmed her features.
"Ah, of course. The two of us once found a stray cat injured and starving. It looked on the brink of death and despite Hitomi's physical constitution not being the strongest, she strove to nurse the poor thing back to health." As she spoke, her hands began to move seemingly on their own. Picking up a pencil, they started to doodle on a slip of paper. Her story quickly sprang to life in the form of small, adorable sketches. "Hitomi might have been incredibly strong willed, but she was cursed with illness. That included an allergy to cats. I remember her all but refusing to leave the cat alone. She wrapped her hands in her school blazer and carried it back to his home with us. All the way sneezing up a storm."
"You were under his tutelage while in school?"
"I was placed in his care just after entering highschool. Both my parents died in a car accident and apparently my interest in art was enough to earn his attention. Hitomi was already under his care when I arrived. She never did say just how long she had lived with him."
The doodles of a girl holding a cat danced across the page. Each flick and motion of the pencil added to the vibrant memory. Lynn was transfixed and couldn't take her eyes off the miniature world taking shape. According to what V had said, Ishida didn't think she had any talent and that was why Madarame turned her into a slave and a scapegoat.
The truth was Ishida was filled with love, passion and talent.
It was just that Madarame had locked it all up deep within her soul through oppression and systematic abuse.
"By the time we got to our room, Hitomi was a complete mess. Eyes watering, nose running, lungs wheezing. The whole works, but she still wanted to treat the cat as best she could." The doodle began anew on a fresh scrap of paper. Hitomi was caring for the tiny cat, accompanied by little creatures akin to fairies. "We gave it food, medicine and let it rest up, hidden away from the other students. She suffered in order to help an innocent creature. The cat was eventually strong enough for us to take to a shelter. We were almost caught more than once, but it was worth it to see the smile on her face. Doubly so when we got the news that the cat had been adopted by a loving family."
"Thank you for sharing that, Ms. Ishida."
Yusuke had an honest and content smile creep across his lips. The story swirled around his head with a comforting presence. As if the words alone had conjured a fragment of Hitomi's love to prance around the boy.
"It was my pleasure, darling. You know… you have her eyes. It's like looking back in time."
The sentiment struck a chord and Yusuke's usual stoicism was replaced by something that could have been called a blush. Bashfully, the boy turned away from both of them, as if to hide his face. Despite that, both Lynn and Ishida instinctually shared a giggle at his expense. Even if Yusuke hadn't known his mother all that well, it was abundantly clear just how much he loved her.
All that aside, Yusuke seemed to have had his fill. He turned to Lynn and did his best to resume his usual stoic act.
To very little success.
"We should hurry to our meeting. I assume we'll be quite busy for the rest of the day."
"Sounds important! Don't let me keep you. Yusuke darling, just remember you're welcome here any time. Even if it's just to chat."
"Thank you… uh… Kimiko. I have countless questions but they'll have to wait for another time."
"Jesus Christ, this place is fucked…"
The group looked around the lobby in awe. The previous day's absolute destruction was still fresh and barely touched.
Debris was strewn across the room and toward the centre stood what was left of the Guardian. What was once the Gilded Guardian was now a crumbled, frozen pair of brittle, frozen legs. Its torso was completely shattered and destroyed. Injuries aside, Lynn's little stunt had indeed worked. Amusingly, the Guardian's head was embedded in a distant wall. The look of absolute terror still carved into the cracked and brittle gold.
"Just keep your eyes open. There's bound to be a lot of Shadow activity now." Lynn gestured to where the Wellspring Sculpture was; "let's head deeper in. Mona, can you sense the Treasure?"
"I can pick up a faint hint. We're getting closer."
As expected, the Wellspring's room was almost swarming with Lesser Shadows. As were the corridors past the sculpture. As a single unit, the group carved their way through as swiftly as they could.
Much like the first half of the Palace, this second wing held a bunch of exhibits, each one dedicated to none other than Madarame. In true garish fashion.
As they moved, Yusuke suddenly stopped in his tracks and subsequently halted the rest of the group. Curiously, Lynn followed his line of sight. He was staring at a doorway leading off to another exhibit. At first, she assumed it was just another show of vanity. However, she then clocked the name above the door. Unlike the glamorous and flashy signs around the rest of the Palace, this one was dirty and barely functioning.
"Madarame; A History"
"Curious…" Yusuke uttered. He stepped toward the opening absent mindedly.
Honestly, it wasn't a bad idea to check it out. If it meant learning a bit more about the man, they could probably use it. As such, Lynn gestured for the rest of the group to keep going while she and Yusuke checked out the exhibit.
Gingerly, Lynn opened the door and followed Yusuke inside.
The section was dimly lit with flickering light fixtures barely hanging to the ceiling. From first glance, the display was a series of five paintings. Though it was a little hard to see them clearly from a distance.
As well as the stagnant, dusty air making it hard to keep her eyes open.
Yusuke approached the first piece in the series. The glass covering the image was grimey, but a quick wipe cleared it up. As the image came into focus, the two thieves looked on in curiosity.
It depicted a young child. The style was very in line with traditional Japanese art and was painted with care and precision. The boy was clad in a drab looking robe and was drawing something in the mud with a stick. Although the image was simple, it certainly conveyed a sense of reflection. Yusuke's eyes studied the piece intently before looking down at the plaque underneath.
"A Child's Innocence - Ichiryusai Madarame - Ink on Parchment." He read the words aloud. "This is certainly within Sensei's style. I don't recognise it, however." He studied the piece again. "It speaks of innocence, yet all I see is loneliness. Look at the muted colour palette; this is not a scene of idyllic innocence. I think it's a reflective piece. Looking back on a time through the jaded perspective of a matured artist."
Lynn was completely lost. Even still, she took in what Yusuke said and somehow, meaning slowly came to the piece. "Maybe Madarame came from poverty? I don't suppose he ever spoke about his past?"
Yusuke shook his head. "Not once. Even if I asked, he avoided such topics." He tapped a finger against his chin. "Perhaps you're correct."
They moved onto the next piece. It was of the same boy working in a field. The tools he used were oversized and it was clear he was struggling. Yet looking further along the piece, there was an adult male watching the boy working. A cruel sneer prominent under a bushy beard. Despite the simplicity of the traditional style, the adult's sheer contempt was as plain as day.
"A Child's Toil - Ichiryusai Madarame - Ink on Parchment…" Lynn was the one to read the title this time. "It… looks like he had a pretty messed up childhood. Assuming the boy is Madarame." She glanced at Yusuke who was still studying the piece with narrowed eyes.
"Look at the detail on the adult. It has more attention put into it than the boy himself."
Lynn followed his eye line. True enough, compared to the boy, the adult's figure, form and garb were painted as though it was the main focus of the image. Despite the boy being in the centre of the composition.
"If this is a memory like we suspect, it shows Sensei's vivid recollection of whoever this man is. They clearly had a lasting impact on Sensei."
They moved onto the next piece almost habitually.
The boy was now somewhat older. A little more mature. He was standing in a depiction of a grassy field and painting on an easel. A genuine smile curled his lips and unlike the other two pieces they had seen, this one was vibrant and full of life. A simple and refined beauty filled the image as though it held hope itself.
"This one's called A Child's Discovery. He seems… happy."
"Although we - as the viewer - can't see what he is painting, it's bringing him joy. I can certainly relate. The rush of emotion you get when creating something. Seeing your vision come to life through your own effort. It's intoxicating."
"Perhaps that's how Madarame originally felt. Somewhere deep down, he had a genuine love for art."
Yusuke let out a contemplative sigh. Genuine sorrow briefly took hold. Sorrow over what could have been, if Lynn were to guess. In time, he shook his head and furrowed his brow. "Even if that's the case, there is no excuse for the suffering he has caused. He has soiled the very concept of art and must be brought to the light."
"I get you. Nothing excuses what he's done. Not just to you but to so many others as well."
"Indeed."
"Do you want to continue?"
He paused at the question. "Yes. I need to understand what drove Sensei to such twisted crimes."
The next piece was difficult to see. By far it was the most filthy up to now. The grime and dust covering the glass almost seemed to cling to the surface, refusing to let whatever lay beneath to be seen. After a few moments of rigorous scrubbing with Yusuke's gloved hand, the painting finally revealed itself.
The adult from earlier had returned. The boy - still painting at an easel - was being loomed over by the fat, almost pig-like adult. The smile on the boy's face had vanished. Only a neutral, pained and half focused gaze remained.
Meanwhile, the adult was clutching gold, jewels and other luxury items. All while the boy still wore his drab and worn out robes.
"A Child's Exploitation…"
"I see. History repeats itself." Yusuke took a step back. There was only one piece left in the exhibit and it was the largest. Unlike the others, it was free of any grime or dust. In fact, the frame reflected as much with opulent gold filigree, polished to a shine.
The final piece loomed over the two thieves. The boy - now fully grown - was laughing with a twisted and disturbing look to his eye. The fat, greedy adult was at the boy's side. Only he was in a hospital bed. Wires and tubes coiling his body like a morbid cocoon. It was clear the adult was dead. No life was in his form. Yet the boy was laughing. One could mistake it for joy, but at closer inspection, there were tears streaming from the boy's eyes.
It was despair, joy, vindication, sorrow, anger, relief and dread all mixed into a single expression.
"A Child's Bitter Triumph. I… think I understand." Yusuke took a moment in quiet thought. He was piecing the story together in his head. That much was certain.
A myriad of different emotions tugged at his features as he thought.
"If these are indeed Sensei's memories of his past," he began, taking a deep breath, "then he was born into poverty and was exploited by - I assume - his father. Forcing him to do manual labour. Sensei then discovered a passion and talent for art." Yusuke approached A Child's Exploitation once more and glared with a cold gaze. "His talent was no doubt noticed by the adult who likely forced Sensei to create against his will for profit. The adult is lining his own pockets and neglecting his child." He then returned to the final piece. "Only for the adult to perish. Sensei believes he has prevailed over his demons… and yet, the adult is still a figure he cares deeply about. A loss mixed with a victory. Conflicting emotions warring for dominance."
"It… sounds familiar. You alright?"
"I'm fine. Sensei has fallen too far to be redeemed."
Yusuke had all but ignored the issue Lynn was trying to get at, but for now, she let it go. Forcing something so personal was only going to end in disaster.
"So Madarame has become like his father? Assuming the adult actually is his father." Lynn scratched her head and shuffled a little awkwardly. There was at least something here they could use. "Despite everything, there's still a part of him that holds genuine passion for art. Buried deep and hidden away, sure… but it's definitely there."
"Are you suggesting there is hope he sees the light?"
"There's always hope, Fox. Always."
"Find anythin' useful in there?"
Now that both Lynn and Yusuke had regrouped with the others, it was Judy who had made a point to speak up. While the two were looking at the exhibit, the rest of the thieves had managed to find a map of the second wing.
They also found another safe room.
Lynn took a few minutes to explain what they saw.
"So this guy is just doing what his deadbeat dad did to him? Ouch." Despite being distracted with performing equipment checks, V somehow managed to pitch her own two cents. "Pretty shitty, I won't lie." She finished off reassembling an unfamiliar assault rifle and handed it to River. In turn, he checked the sights, loaded a magazine and chambered the first round. It was then onto the next one. The two made the motions almost fluid like they had been doing this for their entire lives.
"My pops was a drunk asshole, beat mom and Joss - my sis - regularly. There were times I'd catch myself acting like he did - drinking myself dumb and being a complete dick to those around me - and it disgusted me. It's one of the reasons I became a cop." River said as he moved on to loading bullets into magazines, ready for backup ammo. "I can understand where Madarame's coming from, but it's up to the son to be better than the father."
"And here I thought you were born with a badge in your hand." V smirked, winked and continued her prep. River flipped the bird but chuckled nonetheless. "Anyway, Fox, you need a gun. As cool as that sword of yours is, it ain't going to be enough."
Lynn translated as quickly as she could.
Yusuke was taken aback, eyes widened in shock. He didn't quite know what to do. He looked to the other thieves for some sort of reference. Only to be met with almost all of them fiddling with their own firearms.
Ryuji was busy restocking his bandoliers with shells. Shiho was cleaning the barrel of her Contender like Lynn had shown her. Ann was loading rounds into smaller magazines together with River. Even Morgana was performing some checks on his slingshot, pulling its drawstring, testing its sighting, examining his pellets, so on and so forth. The only one who wasn't doing anything gun related was - surprisingly - Lynn herself. Though that was only because she had just arrived along with Yusuke.
"You all seem… quite comfortable with such dangerous equipment."
"To be fair, a lot of our stuff is actually fake. They just act real when in the Metaverse."
"Excuse me, Hunter! They are not fake! Airsoft weapons are highly de-"
"Oh here we go. Joker's on with her rants again! Nice one, Hunter."
"Screw you, Skull."
Each of them laughed with a chorus of levity. Though despite the casual nature of it all, Yusuke was still pretty rigid and not sure what to say or do. Lynn could tell he still saw himself as an outsider. With time, perhaps that would change. For now, it was better to focus on their equipment. As such, she turned to V.
"What sort of things do we have available?"
The merc flashed a wide grin and grabbed Morgana's yellow sack of goodies. Much to the cat's annoyance.
"Well, let's see," she dove a hand deep in the bottomless sack and rummaged around. As she did, she gave Yusuke a quick study. "Lean body, likes precision… not all that sturdy… hmm… ah!" She pulled out a long, hefty rifle with a thick barrel and thicker muzzle. Though as soon as she did, she paused. "Better not. The Grad's recoil would tear your arm off." Understandably, she placed the gun back in the sack. "Copperhead? No… Ajax? Maybe… oh? What do we have here?"
The next weapon she pulled from the back looked a lot like a conventional assault rifle. It was still an unknown make, but looked a lot less intimidating.
Judy even laughed as V pulled it out. "Y'know… that's actually fuckin' perfect! Wait… ain't that one of mine!? Merc, you damn asshole!" The techy went from amused to vaguely annoyed and then back to amused quicker than any natural mood swing. Sure enough, the rifle was covered in decals similar to Judy's tattoos.
"It's just a lone, babe. I'll fabricate his own one later." The two lovingly stuck their tongues out at one another before V turned to finally address Yusuke. "Tsunami Defense Systems' very own Kyubi. Light weight, semi-automatic, built in laser sights, top of the line ergonomics. Lots of room for added mods if the need arises. Ammo's pretty cheap, too."
Yusuke had absolutely no clue what was being said.
He blinked and gently leant over toward Lynn. "Forgive me, but where exactly are these people from?"
"It's… a long story." Lynn barely held in a snorting laughter. Despite that, she relayed the translation and Yusuke finally understood. He graciously took the rifle - mercifully, it wasn't loaded - and gave it an inspection. "Merc and I will teach you to shoot later. For now, just get a feel for it."
"It's… lighter than I thought it'd be."
"That's because Tsunami's known for light and effective iron. It suits you." River gave a smile and a thumbs up with his mechanical hand. "It's strictly just for use in the Metaverse. When we leave, you hand that right back to us. Got it?"
"Yes… uh… Badges."
"Awesome. We should get a plan together before we head back out. I want to find that Treasure today." Lynn's voice turned unexpectedly authoritarian and nearly immediately all of the thieves stood to attention. The V Team - meanwhile - casually placed down their current task and made it apparent they were listening.
Quickly, Ann unfolded the second map they had found and spread it over a large table in the centre of the Safe Room. The second wing was much larger than the previous one. Thankfully, a good chunk of it had already been explored. The Infinite Wellspring led off into a complex series of corridors and small rooms. The map unhelpfully neglected to label any of them, but at least they had a basic layout.
If Lynn had to make a guess, it was likely some kind of staff area. Which meant it would be swarming with Shadows.
However, she felt more concerned with what came after.
"There's just a long expanse of… nothing." Ann mentioned with confusion. She ran a finger along the mentioned space. From the layout alone, it looked like another courtyard. Only much longer and vastly wider.
Eventually, it capped off with a large building that was simply labelled as 'Sanctum'. "Hundred Eddies says that's where our Treasure is." Confidently, V wagered. It was sound logic. Plus it was the only path they had yet to take. By now, Lynn knew enough to know that 'eddies' was a shorthand name for the currency V Team used back home. How it converted to Yen was another question entirely. Even that said, Lynn was still used to dealing with Pound Sterling. Which just confused her even further.
"I can definitely smell it coming from that direction! We're getting close, that's for sure." Morgana confirmed their theory and with that, Lynn ran with the assumption.
She tapped a finger on the table, humming to herself as she thought. "This section seems a little too cramped for all of us to go through at once. If my hunch is correct, we'll be up against a bunch of security. We'd just get in each other's way." The maze of corridors followed several branching paths but all of them eventually wound up at the same exit point. It wasn't ideal, but there was only one thing for it. "We're going to have to split up and work through the area in a wide sweep."
"Ain't that a little risky? I'm all for crackin' heads, but we'd be cuttin' our strength down a whole bunch"
Ryuji's concerns were, indeed, bang on the money.
Lynn studied the group and weighed things up in her head. "Fox, Panther; you're with me. Mona, Hunter and Badges; you're taking the left branch. Merc, Mox and Skull; you're taking the right. Keep in contact, everyone. Update regularly and try to keep from engaging Shadows too much."
"Smart. Each group has at least some medic support. Badges, try not to lag behind! You still don't have your own Shadow buddy." V gave him a smirk. All she got in return was a fed up glance in her general direction. She brought up a good point, despite the friendly ribbing. If Lynn understood it correctly, V Team could form pacts with Shadows who would then follow given orders. It was similar to the power of a Persona, but obviously worked completely differently.
Even still, they were getting closer and the end was in sight.
"Finish up your prep work, people! We move in five!" Lynn ordered and got to work checking her own weapons. Taking the order in stride, everyone went about finishing up and packing away. Mona's little sack was put to a lot of use as the team passed it around to put the spare pieces back in storage.
Five minutes later, the Phantom Thieves and V Team were ready, locked and loaded.
Lynn's trademarked sinister grin creeped over her jaw and with a chilling calmness, she let a final statement out; "Showtime."
Author's Notes:
I know a lot's changing from what's presented in canon Persona 5, but I'm enjoying weaving this little tale. Next chapter will wrap up Madarame's Palace and will include the aftermath. Poor River. We need to get this man a Persona! Anyway, be sure to leave a review if you have any feedback or questions!
Shout out to Kerrowe. It's really nice to see interaction with each update. Keeps my motivation going!