Heart of Justice Chapter 8
"Look at her sitting right there. She's so quiet it's kinda creepy..."
"Heard she and Sakamoto have been bullying some of the volleyball team yesterday!"
"Dude, this mean the two biggest delinquents are a thing, now?"
"Nah, no one would go for him. Still, she's really cute, maybe I have a chance?"
"You're living dangerously, I hear she carries a knife!"
"Speaking of volleyball, anyone seen Suzui around?"
Kyoko sat silently at her desk, glancing out the window at the cloudy skies as she tried to filter out the gossip of the other students. Ann was seated in front of her, but had not even greeted her. Whatever had been going on with her, the blonde looked extremely worried and had been constantly checking and typing on her phone ever since she'd arrived.
Ann noticed Kyoko's gaze and looked back at her, she opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She just stayed quiet, looked at her phone again, then rested her chin in her palm.
At that moment, Kyoko heard her own phone hum in her bag and took it out. Sure enough, Ryuji had texted.
[So, uh, whaddya think about what Morgana told us?]
[Dunno if I get the stuff about stealing desires but...]
[So Kamoshida could go brain dead if we mess this up?]
Kyoko looked the messages over, thinking how to respond.
-We're running out of options.
[Seriously? I mean yeah I'm pissed at him and all but I don't wanna kill him!]
[Gimme some time I'll think of something else. There's gotta be something!]
"Alright! Get to your seats!" Mr. Ushimaru snapped as he came into the room and set his things down and starting up class once more, Kyoko quickly slid her phone away to turn her attention to the lecture as Ushimaru began writing the lesson on the board and started his lecture on the separate branches of the Japanese government.
Nothing could have prepared Kyoko for the sudden emergance of a black and white tuxedo cat's face from within her desk.
"Hate to say it but no matter how much thinking you do, there's only one option. You'd both be better off just listening to me!" Morgana explained.
"What are you doing in there?!" Kyoko snapped in as quiet a whisper as she could manage under the circumstances of being taken unawares by the cat's appearance. From what she'd gotten so far of Ushimaru he did not come off as a man who'd be very tolerant of his students talking while he was and the last thing she needed was to draw any attention on herself. Unfortunately, something else did that for her...
"...Did I just hear a cat meow just now?" Ushimaru asked, looking around as the students began whispering. "Heard something about a cat lurking around the school lately," he mused before facing the class again. "Settle down! We're in the middle of a lecture!" the teacher snapped and everyone immediately went silent.
Kyoko had to give the man credit for being able to instantly get the class under control with the simple raising of his voice. It was then, however, that her phone hummed once more. She waited for Ushimaru to turn around and resume talking before taking it out again.
[It's no use. Can't think of any other way] Ryuji messaged.
Kyoko raised an eyebrow at the message, looked up at where Ushimaru thankfully still had his back turned as he continued his lecture.
-You shouldn't be cutting class. she responded.
[Can't focus! I don't know what to do, but we can't let Kamoshida keep this up! Darn cat isn't there any other way?]
"H-hey! What's that?!" a student from the other end of the room suddenly shouted, Kyoko turned and noticed he was looking out at the window across the hallway.
"Enough! Sit back down!" Ushimaru growled.
"What the?! Is she gonna jump?!" a girl sitting behind him cried out, suddenly getting up from her seat.
"Oh god! Suzui?!" Mishima suddenly shouted as he looked at the window as well.
"Shiho?" Ann immediately jumped from her seat at the sound of her friend's name and bolted out the door to the hallway, ignoring Ushimaru's attempts to regain control of the class.
"It is! It's Suzui!" another student shouted. "What's she doing up there?!"
Kyoko hurriedly got up from her seat and rushed after Ann, entering the hallway and reaching the windows that overlooked the neighboring building where Ann and several other students had gathered. Her eyes widened in horror at what she saw.
Shiho Suzui was standing on the school rooftop, unmoving as she positioned herself right near the edge. Ann flung open the window, crying out to her friend desperately and pleading her to come back down. Shiho looked over, her face even from where Kyoko stood she could see was that of a thousand-yard stare as the girl silently let go of the rail she'd been holding onto and allowed herself to fall.
Students screamed. Ann backed away, aghast at what she'd just seen, crying out her friend's name and rushing off down the hall to the stairs.
"Hey! Kyoko!" Ryuji cried out, running down the hall towards her. "What the hell just happened?!"
"Suzui," Kyoko replied, still processing what she'd just witnessed. "...I just saw her throw herself off the roof."
"WHAT?! Seriously?!" Ryuji asked, shock and horror on his face as several students ran past them. "Everyone's headed to the courtyard, we should get over there, too!"
Kyoko nodded and followed Ryuji, pushing their way through the crowds of students and faculty that had gathered outside where Shiho had fallen. Kyoko had seen crime scenes before, but they had not fully prepared her for this.
Shiho lay prone and unmoving on the ground by some bushes, one of her arms and her injured leg were bent in unnatural angles, and she was noticeably scratched up from the impact, likely the bushes had broken her fall, and probably the only reason she, judging by her breathing, was still alive.
On closer inspection, as close as she was able to get as Ann rushed to Shiho's side, cradling her as the sound of an ambulance could be heard, Kyoko noticed a pair of bruises on Shiho's arms, not something she could have possibly sustained from the fall. The girl brought her hand up to her chin in thought as the paramedics rushed past her with a stretcher, ushering her and the other students back as they carefully tended to the injured girl.
"My god! Why would she do something like that?!" a student asked another.
"She's lucky she's still alive," another student said, trying to inch closer.
"You're the Student President! Help me get these kids back inside!" a teacher told a prim-looking brunette girl.
"They just saw a girl try to kill herself! How do you expect that to happen?!" the girl protested.
The teacher groaned and turned towards the students. "Class is still in session! Students, go back inside now!" he shouted in vain, not one of the students obeying.
"What the hell's wrong with these people?!" Ryuji snapped, looking around as several students took out their phones and began recording as the parameds put Shiho on the stretcher. Kyoko could only shake her head in disgust at the gawkers as one of the parameds spoke up.
"We need someone to go with her, are there any teachers available?" the paramed asked.
Ann immediately stepped forward. "I'll go," she stated, rushing over to her friend's side in tears as she sat near her. "Shiho... why?"
Shiho began to stir, looking up weakly at the blonde. "Ann? I-I'm... I'm sorry..." the girl wept. "I can't take this... anymore... K-Kamoshida... h-he..."
"Kamoshida?!" Ann asked. "What happened? Did he hurt you?!"
Shiho gave no answer as she fell unconscious.
"Shiho..? SHIHO!" Ann cried out, squeezing her friend's hand and sobbing until the parameds helped her up and led her into the ambulance while they loaded Shiho in.
"Return to your classrooms at once!" one of the teachers ordered as the ambulance drove off, Kyoko watching intently as the clues she'd gathered played in her mind.
Kamoshida... those bruises on her arms... Suzui's attempted suicide...
Kyoko's thoughts were interrupted when she heard a whimper behind her. Kyoko and Ryuji turned just in time to see Mishima shake his head, a panicked, guilty look on his face as he turned and ran away.
"He knows something," Kyoko said. "We should follow him."
"Right. He's actin' real weird about all of this! Let's make 'em talk!"
It hadn't taken long to find Mishima, and it took even less time to corner him near some lockers as Ryuji pushed him against the wall.
"Spill, Mishima! What do you know?!" Ryuji snapped.
"Th-that hurts!" Mishima protested, nursing his arm where Ryuji had grabbed him, Kyoko's gaze lingering on it a moment.
"It'd be best you explain," Kyoko answered.
"I-I wasn't running!" Mishima insisted, attempting to walk past Ryuji but was stopped when the blond boy slammed his fist into the lockers and blocked his path.
"SHE JUST TRIED TO KILL HERSELF!" he snapped lividly.
"Please! Just leave me alone!" Mishima sniffled.
"Explain yourself and we will," Kyoko replied, folding her arms and giving him a piercing stare.
"Don't worry, we're not tryin' to bust ya or anything. We won't say anything, just c'mon, tell us what happened!" Ryuji said.
"Suzui..." Mishima stammered, his eyes welling up with tears. "Yesterday sh-she was... she was called out by Mr. Kamoshida!"
"What do you mean by that?" Kyoko asked.
"I've been called by him a number of times into the P.E. Faculty office," Mishima explained, "Not just me or Suzui but... any time Kamoshida was in a bad mood he'd pick someone out, over any mistake no matter how small... and... h-he'd hit them..."
"WHAT?!" Ryuji was taken aback. "So that stuff about the physical punishment was all true!"
"But that's just it!" Mishima protested. "Suzui... he just called for her out of the blue! She hadn't made any mistakes or anything!" he explained. "Mr. Kamoshida seemed really ticked off that afternoon. Didn't say why... but something really must've set him off. Whatever he did, it must've been worse then usual..."
Kyoko mulled over this new information.
Kamoshida... those bruises on Suzui's arms... Her attempted suicide... Kamoshida in a worse mood then usual...
She remembered her previous talk with Ann yesterday, when the other girl had spilled everything about her situation, what was going on, and moreso what Kamoshida had wanted from her that Ann absolutely refused to let him have.
A dark thought crossed the girl's mind as it all fell into place.
"Takamaki..."
"What? What about her?" Ryuji asked. Kyoko's words had even gotten Mishima's attention as he looked at her in confusion.
"She asked me not to say anything but... I feel it's important. I ran into her in the subways yesterday," Kyoko explained. "She told me everything. How Kamoshida was basically blackmailing her, making her act like his lover in exchange for keeping Suzui on the team. Suzui didn't know anything about this and I don't think Takamaki knew about the abuse because they kept it from eachother, just like the rest of the volleyball team wouldn't talk about it."
"So that pervert was makin' her act like she was datin' him?! That's sick!" Ryuji growled, looking like he may get ill. Mishima's concern grew.
"So did something happen yesterday?" the dark-haired boy asked.
"Yesterday, Kamoshida tried to make her come to his place after school. I'm sure I don't have to tell you for what reasons..."
"That fucking pervert! SERIOUSLY?!" Ryuji snapped.
"She rejected him. She told me under no circumstances would she ever lower herself to that. ...I'm certain he took it out on Suzui."
"Y-you mean... he went beat the shit out of her over that?!" Ryuji asked, horror on his face.
"Worse then that, I believe. When I examined her after she fell I noticed bruises on her arms, bruises that could not have possibly come from the fall... more like bruises that come from being held down and restrained. Takamaki refused Kamoshida's advances so he made someone else take her place." The young detective's gaze narrowed. "...Suzui wasn't just beaten... she was raped."
Mishima went pale as a sheet, trembling all over as he processed her words. Ryuji, however, looked ready to explode.
"...No more..." Ryuji hissed, his voice low and seething with rage before finally hitting his boiling point. "...THAT SON OF A BITCH! I'M GONNA FUCKING KILL HIM!" he screamed, his face red with fury as he turned and rushed off down the hall.
"Ryuji, wait..!" Kyoko protested but the boy was already at the end of the hall and on his way up the stairs.
"He's probably headed to the P.E. Faculty office! This way!" Mishima said, running off ahead with Kyoko following. Ryuji, despite his leg injury, definitely had not lost all of his talent as by the time they were up the stairs he still had a decent lead over them. Kyoko ran as fast as she could, Mishima alongside her as they caught up to Ryuji when he came to a stop and opened a door at the end of the hall and went inside.
"KAMOSHIDA, YOU BASTARD! HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO THAT POOR GIRL?!" Ryuji snarled at the man seated at the desk before them, Kyoko and Mishima entering right as Kamoshida turned around, regarding the boy with a look of condescending annoyance.
"What're you talking about?" the gym teacher asked.
"DON'T PLAY DUMB WITH ME, YOU RAPIST ASSHOLE!" Ryuji snapped, furiously kicking a nearby chair over.
"Ryuji! Calm down!" Kyoko snapped.
"Better listen to the young lady, Sakamoto," Kamoshida replied, glaring at the boy.
"W-what you did... that wasn't coaching, was it?" Mishima stammered, trembling all over again.
"What did you just say?" Kamoshida growled, his tone growing more threatening with each word.
Kyoko folded her arms and glared at the man. "You called Suzui in here yesterday. And Takamaki told me about your little "phone call" you gave her as well. I saw Suzui's bruises. It didn't take long to put the pieces together..."
"I can only imagine what you did to her..." Mishima whimpered. "How could you?! What did she do to deserve that?!"
Kamoshida got up from his seat and approached, glaring dangerously at Kyoko. "You're going on and on about things you have no actual proof of, young lady" he said, his gaze turning on Mishima next. "Let me guess, you sent these two on me with these claims because you can't be a regular on the team, right, Mishima?"
"That's not what this is about!" Mishima protested.
"It's no use hiding it, you piece of shit!" Ryuji snapped.
Kamoshida shook his head, a dark, cruel smile forming on his face. "Heh... suppose it was exactly what you think, hypothetically speaking, do you kids really think you can do anything about it?" he asked. "We just received the call from the hospital. Suzui's in a coma, and her chances of recovery are looking pretty slim. How would someone like that make a statement?" He put his hand to his forehead and mock distress. "And there's practically no chance of her getting better, the poor thing."
Kyoko was seething. Without Shiho's testimony there was no way they could get the police on this, and it was all too clear Kamoshida's clout with the school would halt any investigation. Her hands balled into fists, the pain from the scars underneath her gloves ignored as she glared lividly at the man before her. "I can't believe you... you don't even care, do you? That girl tried to kill herself because of what you did to her! All because Takamaki turned you down?!"
"Or maybe you kids wouldn't stop harassing her like you did the rest of the volleyball team and she came to me for counseling. She told me she was under so much stress with tournaments coming and you pestering her and her friend just made it worse! Of course, I tried to be understanding and comfort her, tell her everything was gonna be alright, but then she read a little too much into it and started coming on to me... it's a curse, I suppose, being who I am," Kamoshida replied in a mocking smirk. "Of course, I turned Suzui down and then she ran off crying, suppose she couldn't handle it as well as I hoped. Not my fault she's much too fragile for her own good!" he said, chuckling.
"Shut up! There's no way anyone's gonna buy into that!" Ryuji protested.
"Oh, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what's gonna be floating around this campus in no time," Kamoshida answered with a grin. "The words of a pair of delinquents and a pathetic loser won't carry much against a respectable teacher and olympic gold medalist like myself..."
Ryuji had about all he could take. Trembling with rage, his fist balling as he looked ready to swing. "You goddamn..."
Kamoshida smirked at him. "Aw, this again? Does this school really need another case of self-defense, Sakamoto?" he asked, grinning widely at him.
"YOU SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH, YOU BASTARD!" Ryuji shouted, drawing his fist back, only to feel Kyoko grab his arm with her hands and attempt to pull him away. "Kyoko?! What the hell?"
"Stop it, Ryuji! This is exactly what he wants!" Kyoko hissed, struggling to hold his arm back and keep him from making what she knew would be a huge mistake on his part.
"C'mon! You know what he did! This son of a bitch deserves it!" the boy protested.
"Aw, you're stopping him, Kirigiri? Rather surprising after the accusation you just threw at me," Kamoshida replied. "Go on, no need to hold him back! Why not attack me, Sakamoto?" He chuckled. "Oh, that's right, you can't! Not if you wanna go to juvie in a wheelchair seeing as how as of right now all three of you are good as expelled once I report you at the next board meeting!"
"W-what?!" Mishima protested. "You can't just go and make a decision like that!"
"Oh, I'm quite certain I just did, Mishima," Kamoshida replied with a smirk.
"He didn't do anything wrong, Kamoshida," Kyoko stated.
"And you think anyone's gonna believe you?" Kamoshida said. "A problem child like you? Or Sakamoto? You really think anyone's gonna care what you have to say? Far as anyone will know, Mishima threatened me, too, so he's just as responsible."
"Th-that's not true! You can't just keep putting the teams through all this!" Mishima stammered, struggling to find the courage to hold his ground against a man he was clearly terrified of.
"-Tch!- To think I ever kept someone was weak and talentless as you on the team, Mishima! You're acting like such a victim when you're the one who leaked Kirigiri's criminal records all over the internet, correct?"
Kyoko and Ryuji immediately turned to face Mishima, who started cowering from them. "I-I didn't want to, I swear! I didn't have a choice! H-he made me do it!" the boy pleaded, falling to his knees and sobbing.
"You hate him, now?" Kamoshida asked, sitting back down and resting his hands behind his head as he leaned back in his chair. "You know, Kirigiri, it's a real shame you got yourself roped up in all this. I'm sure Mishima fed you some tall tales, and Sakamoto's nothing but trouble. They're through but I'm willing to give you one last chance to save yourself," he said, smirking at her. Kyoko could see the disgusting leer in the man's eyes that made her feel ill as he looked her over. "Come by the office after classes today with a good way to apologize to me for getting yourself all mixed up in this, and I'll let you off the hook and make sure this school gives you a clean slate. Whaddya say?"
"You sick pervert! No way she'd agree to that!" Ryuji snapped lividly.
"Was I talking to you, Sakamoto?" Kamoshida asked smugly, before looking back at Kyoko. "What's it gonna be, Kirigiri? Wanna get outta this mess and avoid juvie? Surely you get the situation you're in with that probation hanging over you."
Kyoko folded her arms, glaring back at Kamoshida. "...Go to hell," she hissed.
"Suit yourself," Kamoshida replied, turning back to his paperwork. "Soon as next month comes around, all of you are expelled. Now scram! Your futures are mine to take!"
Before Ryuji could react or lash out again, Kyoko promptly pressed her hand against his back and pushed him towards the door to lead him back outside, Mishima following behind as Kamoshida let out a hearty, mocking laugh.
"I can't believe this asshole's gettin' away with this!" Ryuji snarled.
"He won't," Kyoko said, glancing back at Kamoshida with a hateful glare.
"Oh, right! The thing!" Ryuji said aloud.
"The hell are you two talking about?" Kamoshida asked, getting up from his desk again and approaching the door frame. "Whatever this is about, I dare you to go ahead and try. You got plenty of time to kill before expulsion if you'd rather be kicked out sooner," he said, slamming the door shut.
"I dunno what you two are planning," Mishima said, his face pale and his eyes watery and red from tears. "But whatever it is... don't bother. May as well enjoy what time we got left... what was I thinking letting you two drag me into this?!" he muttered as he turned and slowly walked off down the hall and was soon out of sight.
"Hey!" a boyish voice suddenly called out from behind some lockers.
"Morgana?!" Ryuji yelped, surprised by the cat's sudden appearance in the school. "What're you doing here?!"
"I followed you. Listened in on that whole conversation," the cat chuckled. "Trust me, I'm good at staying hidden when I don't want to be seen."
"We should take this somewhere else," Kyoko said, looking around noting the halls still had plenty of students gossiping about what had happened earlier as they headed back to their classes.
"Uggh! We'll just get in more trouble if we skip," Ryuji said with an exasperated sigh. "Let's meet in the courtyard after school."
Morgana let out a sigh of his own. "Fine, just don't keep me waiting too long!"
"We can't waist any time! We gotta hurry up and go to that other world and beat the shit outta that asshole!" Ryuji growled, his leg twitching as he smacked a nearby vending machine.
"We're not beating him up!" Morgana replied. "We're stealing his distorted desires from him!" he explained. "So I take it you're on board with this? Even with the risk of him suffering a mental shutdown?"
"I have," Ryuji replied, his words seething with anger. "Someone almost died because of him! I don't give a shit what happens to him, now!"
"Indeed," Kyoko said, bringing her hand to her chin. "...It's the only way we can possibly see to it he pays for his crimes. I find it very unlikely Suzui was the first person he's done something like that to, and if we don't stop him, I doubt she will be the last..."
"There you have it. I'd say we're in agreement, then?" Morgana asked.
"We have no choice! At this point it's him or us!" Ryuji replied.
"...Is it true, that you're getting expelled?"
The three turned and saw Ann standing there, watching them, a concerned look on her face.
"Everyone's talking about it," she said.
"Great, that asshole's already got it spreading!" Ryuji snarled.
"Suzui, I trust she's made it safely to the hospital?" Kyoko asked.
"She's stable, but..." Ann looked down, holding back tears. "She... she hasn't woke up. She's in a coma, her left arm and right leg are broken. They don't know when she'll wake up... or if she will... it was a pretty bad fall, she's lucky to be alive..."
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry that happened to her," Ryuji replied, looking down, but he quickly found his anger again. "What that bastard did... I can't blame her... for feelin' like that..."
"What he did...? Was that why you two and Mishima threatened him?" Ann asked.
"Damn right! That piece of shit... what he did... there's no way he can be forgiven for that!" Ryuji snapped.
"W-wait..." Ann stammered. "Was this because I..." she looked over at Kyoko, remembering yesterday's conversation. "Oh god...! I-is this all my fault?!"
Kyoko stepped over to the other girl. "No, it isn't. You had every right to reject him. The only one to blame is him. No one else," she said sternly. "This is no one's fault but his."
Ann slowly looked up at the two. "Well, if you're planning to do something to Kamoshida, then I want in!" she said, wiping her tears. "I can't just sit back and do nothing after what happened to Shiho!"
"No, we can't let you get involved in this," Kyoko replied.
"But Shiho's my friend! I can't-!" Ann protested.
"No way! We're not gonna get you expelled, too! Stay outta this!" Ryuji shouted harshly.
Ann grit her teeth then opened her mouth to speak, but only an angry growl came out before she turned and ran off furiously.
"Was that necessary?" Morgana asked, looking over at Ryuji.
"We can't just take her there. It's too dangerous!" Ryuji replied.
"I'd have to agree. She has every reason to want to avenge Shiho, but this would only risk getting her killed," Kyoko replied. "At any rate, we should probably get going."
"Alright," Morgana explained as the three of them stood in the alley outside the entrance to the school. "The moment we cross into the other world, we'll be treating eachother like phantom thieves, so I hope you're ready!"
"Phantom thieves?" Ryuji asked, raising an eyebrow at the cat's choice of words.
"Those who covertly and stylishly steal Treasure! That's what we become!" Morgana replied.
"Hm, interesting," Kyoko said, recalling what Igor had told her. A girl who spent her life training to be a detective would now become a thief performing what was essentially vigilantism... how very ironic, indeed, she mused to herself.
"It does sound kinda cool, actually!" Ryuji said with a smirk. "So we say Kamoshida's name, the school, and castle and we end up in that world, right?"
He took out his phone and pulled up the app. "Hey, Kyoko, any idea how this all works? Like did someone make it or something?"
Kyoko took out her own phone and pulled up the app as well. "I would say so," she replied. It had already been explained to her by Igor, but the Velvet Room experiences were not something she saw any reason to discuss, even with what they'd experienced it didn't seem likely Ryuji would be able to buy into all of it.
"That's kinda creepy, but at least it's useful!" Ryuji replied. "Now let's show that bastard!"
With a tap of their phones, reality began to twist and warp around them, the school coming apart and reshaping itself into the ominous and all too familiar castle of Kamoshida. Looking at Ryuji and herself, Kyoko noticed their clothes had, this time, instantly changed into the costumes they'd gained when they had acquired their personas, and Morgana had also become his cartoonish, mascot-like form again.
"Alright! Time to bust on in there!" Ryuji shouted, thrusting his fist into the air excitedly.
"W-WHAT IS THIS PLACE?!"
All three turned and found none other then Ann Takamaki standing behind them, staring agape at the castle that had just appeared before their eyes.
"T... Takamaki?!" Ryuji cried out, visibly surprised to see her there.
"Sakamoto?! Is that you?!" Ann asked, staring in disbelief at Ryuji, then her shocked face turned towards Kyoko. "...And Kirigiri?!"
"What are you doing here?!" Ryuji asked, still overcome with surprise.
"How should I know?" Ann protested. "I pretended to leave after you guys gave me the brush-off then I followed you to the alley to see what you two were planning, then suddenly I'm in front of a big castle!"
"Mmmm," Morgana purred as he looked at Ann, causing the others to stare at him, prompting the catlike creature to shake his head in embarrassment. "Ahh, I, uh, guess she must've been pulled in by the app as well if she was close enough, I mean if multiple people can be brought in, it stands to reason it'd take in anyone nearby," he said.
"So hang on," Ann said, looking at the flags that hung from the castle sporting the hated teacher's face on them. "...Is this place related to Kamoshida, somehow?"
"It's complicated, but yes," Kyoko replied. "However, you can't stay here, you'll only end up in danger."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Ann asked indignantly. "I'm not going anywhere! Shiho... I-I can't just-!"
"The Shadows are going to find us if you make a scene," Morgana said, prompting Ann to turn and stare in shock at him.
"Did that monster cat-thing just talk?!" Ann asked, agape at what she was seeing.
"M-monster?!" Morgana asked, a hurt look on his furry face.
"Look, I'm not leaving till you explain what exactly is going on, here!" Ann protested.
"Just send her back the way we came, that should get her back to the real world," Morgana explained, looking to Kyoko and Ryuji.
"What are you talking about?" Ann asked, confused.
"Sorry about this. We'll explain after everything's over," Ryuji said apologetically as he and Kyoko began to approach, taking Ann's wrists and walking her back towards the mass of fog that led to they alley, ignoring the girl's protests as they pushed her through, reality rippling where she fell in as if she were passing through liquid, and in an instant she was gone.
"Great, so Takamaki found out right when we were startin' off!" Ryuji grumbled.
"We'll need to take care of this quickly, then," Kyoko replied.
Morgana, however, seemed to be lost in his own thoughts.
"Ann Takamaki, hmm? What a nice name," he mused aloud, smiling longingly as he looked over at the rippling barrier they'd just sent the blonde girl back through."...Lady Ann..."
Kyoko could only give a quizzical raise of the eyebrow in response. Morgana noticed this and promptly shook his head in embarrassment.
"The Shadows have probably noticed us by now!" he said. "We better get moving! Brace yourselves, got it, Ace?"
Kyoko once more raised her eyebrow, though this time with confusion. "Ace?"
"More nicknames?" Ryuji asked.
"No, no, it's a codename!" Morgana replied matter-of-factly. "No phantom thief in their right mind goes around using their real name! There's no telling what effect yelling our real names could have on the Palace!"
Kyoko brought her hand to her chin. "I see, we're going around in a place that exists in Kamoshida's mind. If our real names are heard repeatedly in this place, it may make him become more wary of us in the real world, and expedite our expulsion?"
"Exactly!" Morgana replied with a smile. "It's just a precaution."
"Okay, yeah, I guess that makes sense," Ryuji said. "So... uh... why "Ace", exactly?"
Morgana smirked. "Isn't it obvious? She's our "ace in the hole", so to speak! Our trump card when it comes to fighting strength."
"Hm, gambling terms. It seems, though, we are truly being placed in a game of chance," Kyoko mused, thinking of what Igor had said to her. "...If I can place the odds in our favor, then I can go with that."
"That's the spirit!" Morgana said with a happy nod, then turning to look over at Ryuji. "As for you, I'm thinking... "Thug" should do."
"Thug?!" Ryuji snapped indignantly. "You tryin' to pick a fight with me?! I'll choose it myself!"
"Any ideas?" Kyoko asked.
"Well, I figure it's gotta be this mask, ya know? How about Skull? That'd be pretty awesome!"
Kyoko offered a shrug. "Whatever you choose."
Ryuji slumped a little. "C'mon, be a little more enthusiastic!" he protested. "Well, Skull it is, then!"
"And you?" Kyoko asked, looking down at Morgana.
"How about "Mona"?" Ryuji asked.
The cat looked less then pleased as he let out a sigh. "If it's easy to call me, then sure. But at any rate, we better get going. Ace, Skull, Mona, we have to be absolutely thorough about those codenames!"
"Alright, well let's go steal this Treasure-thing, now!" Ryuji cheered as the small group made their way through the castle gates.
"The main entrance is still closed up," Kyoko remarked. "With any luck he won't be expecting us."
"Good thing we've got a secured entry point!" Morgana replied, pointing to the opening they'd used in their previous visits with his paw. "Lead the way, Ace!"
Ace. She'd have to get used to that for their trip through this place. The pink-haired teen gave a nod and led the group to the small opening, crawling through first and climbed out into the small room she'd grown more and more familiar with the past few days, Skull and Mona emerging right behind her, the girl promptly brought her hand up in a halting gesture.
"Wait," she said in a hushed tone. "You hear that? Right in the main hall..."
The three ducked behind the corner of the doors leading into the main hall where Kamoshida's Shadow and his Captain stood at the top of the stairs before at least thirty armored guards.
"Those intruders the other day were quite entertaining," Kamoshida stated to his small army. "However, I can't allow that trash to ransack my castle!"
The guards cheered loudly in agreement.
"Strengthen security! Kill 'em on sight! I'll reward whoever brings me their heads!" the Shadow declared, eliciting more cheers from his armored minions.
"PRAISE BE TO KING KAMOSHIDA! DEATH TO THE INTRUDERS!" The guard captain bellowed, the cheers grew louder.
"Look at that asshole! If we could just go beat the shit outta him right now..." Skull grumbled from his hiding spot.
"There's too many. We won't stand a chance," Ace whispered.
"Besides, if you wanna make him confess his sins, we gotta steal his distorted desires!" Mona said. "We gotta go after his Treasure!"
"Then where is it?" Skull asked.
"It has to be somewhere in the depths of this castle," Mona replied.
"He's distracted, it'd provide us the perfect opportunity to infiltrate this place while he's occupied down here," Ace stated.
"Very perceptive!" Mona answered. "So like a phantom thief, Ace!"
Ace gave a quiet nod. "I believe there was another door down the hall, let's see if it leads elsewhere," she stated, leading the way as the self-styled king continued to lecture his guards in the main hall.
As Ace opened the door at the end of the hall, they were promptly greeted by a guard, though fortunately its back was turned to them. Glaring, Ace rushed forward and leaped into the air, landing on the guard's back as she grabbed its mask, tearing it clean off and landing on one knee on the floor in front of it as the guard melted apart into red and black sludge, a single female fairy in a blue leotard with gossamer wings similar to the one Ace had seen their last trip in emerged from the puddle and engaged them. Touching her mask, Ace called out for Irene, who promptly emerged from a mass of blue flame above her.
"Wait! Hold on! Try shooting it!" Morgana shouted. Deciding to do exactly that, Ace lowered her hand and whipped out her gun, firing it at the fairy, the shot knocking it to the ground in a dazed state.
"W-wait! Please! Don't kill me!" the fairy suddenly cried out before any of the group could do anything else. "I'll give you anything!"
"Hm, this might be a chance to negotiate! Shadows are made from the human heart as well and they don't want to die, so they might give us something in return!" Mona explained.
"Negotiation isn't really my strong point," Ace said, glaring down at the Shadow with her gun still drawn.
"N-no! Please!" the fairy begged. "I... this all just happened so suddenly! I don't have anything to give! Please just let me go! What is it you want anyway?"
"To bring Kamoshida to justice," Ace replied sternly.
The fairy began sweating nervously. "Well, good luck with that! He's not to be trifled with. Still... he is a real jerk, I can see why you'd... want... to..."
"What's up with this thing?" Skull asked, raising an eyebrow at Ace.
"Oh! My apologies! I just... I feel different, like something just came back to me!" the fairy said, fluttering back up into the air and towards Ace, but no longer in a threatening manner. "I'm not some slave of King Kamoshida! I'm a being formed from the sea of humanity's souls! My real name... it's... Pixie! Yes!" The fairy, Pixie, smiled big at Ace. "I am thou, thou art I! I shall now live on inside your mask! Allow me to lend my power to yours..."
Before Ace even processed what was going on, Pixie vanished in a flash of light that flew into the white mask adorning her face, making it flash brightly for an instant as the girl felt a new power join with her, much in the same way as when Irene had first manifested. Ace brought her hand to her mask for a moment, before turning and noticing both Skull and Mona staring at her.
"Whoa... did you see that?!" Skull asked. "The enemy just got sucked into Ace's mask!"
"I did! But I've never seen anything like it before!" Mona asked, eyes the size of saucer plates and his mouth hanging open.
"Look out!" Kyoko shouted, pointing to a guard that had come down the hall and now stood behind Skull and Mona. The guard convulsed before bursting apart into a pair of horned stallions much like the ones Kamoshida's Shadow had sent on them the last time they were there. Kyoko recalled how they seemed especially vulnerable to electricity but durable to most else.
I wonder... Ace mused as she touched her mask. "PIXIE!" she called out, and sure enough, the fairy from before materialized above her. Immediately, the Pixie made her move, firing a blast of lightning at one of the creatures and knocking it down.
"Nice work!" Mona cheered.
"I got this one!" Skull shouted as Captain Kidd appeared above him, unleashing a volley of lightning on the other horselike creature before it had the chance to make a move, it exploded in a burst of smoke.
"H-hey! Hang on a sec!" the remaining creature pleaded, and Ace promptly drew her gun, while Mona whipped out a slingshot. With no gun to speak of, Skull simply kept his distance.
"Please... don't hurt me..." the horned stallion begged. "I'll give you... anything... please..."
Ace thought for a moment, it worked before, perhaps it would work again. "Give me your power. The way I see it, you don't have many options, do you?" she asked coldly.
"Sure thing, Miss!" the horse insisted, getting up and looking at the girl before him. "Name's Bicorn! No need for formalities! I am thou... thou art I... my power is now yours..." Like the Pixie before him, the Bicorn faded into a bright light that flew into Ace's mask, making it flash briefly as she felt its power add itself to her own.
"I think I get it now!" Mona said. "You just sealed the enemy's appearance and power into your mask! Ace, you made that Pixie and Bicorn into new Personas!"
"Is that unusual?" Ace asked, folding her arms.
"It's definitely unusual!" Mona cried out. "I mean think about it: Everyone has only one heart, so naturally with the Persona being a manifestation from one's heart, normally a person would only have one!"
"Then this ability to hold more then one should prove useful," Ace replied. "We'll need to see how many others we can find, then."
"Hell, yeah! We'll catch 'em all!" Skull cheered. "...Seriously, though, I gotta get myself some weapons, too."
"Pfft! Amateur!" Mona chuckled. "Just look around this place, a real phantom thief knows when there's something useful around worth taking!" he gestured to several racks propped against the wall with his paw, several different weapons hung and propped on them. Like a kid who just found the toy section of a department store, Skull slowly walked over, looking in awe at the different weapons on display before his gaze fell on a mace and picked it up.
"Hm..." He gave it a few swings and then slung it over his shoulder. "Whaddya think, Ace? Does it suit me?" he asked with a grin.
Ace couldn't help but smirk a little at her friend's brief display. "I'd say it does."
"Cool! I'll call this baby a keeper, then!" Skull declared, only for the mace to vanish. "Hey! What the hell?!"
Mona sighed. "Still clueless, notice how me and Ace's weapons disappear when we aren't in a fight? They appear when we're threatened, when we're forced to defend ourselves. This is a cognitive world, after all! Things work differently, here!" he explained.
Looking at his empty hand, Skull gave a shrug. "Eh, doesn't really add up for me, but I guess it would be a little easier not havin' to carry it around everywhere!"
"It is rather convenient," Ace mused. "At any rate, we should probably continue."
"Right!" Mona replied, his ears twitching and pointing at the end of the hallway ahead with his paw, his eyes squinting at a door and noticed it was rippling and surrounded by a hazy aura. "I think there may be a safe room right there! Let's head in and we can strategize our next move!"
"Is this the app they were talking about?" Ann mused to herself as she looked at her phone. "Just said that stuff Sakamoto said and... what is with this thing?"
The blonde barely had a moment to register the strange red eye-like icon on her phone when she noticed the large, imposing castle she'd seen earlier now looming over her once again. "The castle from before..." she wondered aloud. "What is going on here...?"
"Princess?" a distorted voice suddenly inquired, prompting the girl to look at the now open gates. There, standing before them were three tall humanoids, perhaps about seven feet tall or so, each wearing full suits of plate armor and carrying a sword and shield, their faces were vaguely humanoid masks that seemed to serve as faceplates for their helmets.
Ann barely hard time to scream as the guards rushed over and surrounded her before proceeding to drag her inside.
"All those Shadows, this is nuts!" Skull protested.
"Our confrontation with Kamoshida earlier may have had something to do with it," Ace said as she leaned against the door of the safe room, her arms folded as she held her chin in thought. "We did indirectly threaten him, after all."
"Yeah, but did it sound like he took us at all seriously?" Skull replied.
"I saw some fairly compelling evidence in the main hall that suggests he did," Ace retorted. "Still, he seems to have some degree of confidence that he has little to fear from us, or he would not be waiting till a school board meeting to have us expelled."
"Well at any rate, how're we gonna get to this Treasure thing?" Skull asked.
"What we need first is to secure an infiltration route," Mona explained. "The quickest yet safest way to the Treasure so we can take it without Kamoshida stopping us. Still..." The cat looked at the door leading back out into the halls. "With what we're up against, and Kamoshida having his guard up, we're gonna need a little more manpower, I think. There's no telling what the rest of this Palace is like after what we saw in the main hall..."
"How do you know all this stuff, anyway, despite you havin' no memories and all?" Skull asked.
"It does seem odd," Ace mused as she looked down at the cat.
"Seriously?! How should I know, I can't-" Mona didn't get the chance to continue as a deep voice that sounded like one of the guards spoke outside the doors.
"Strange that the Princess was outside the castle like that," it said.
"It doesn't matter! She must be returned to King Kamoshida at once!" another deep voice said as the loud metal footsteps faded off into the distance.
"Whatever's going on, we should probably check this out!" Mona said abruptly, opening the door and rushing off down the hall.
"Sheesh, castles and weird apps, Morgana's got 'em both beat," Skull remarked as he watched the cat disappear around the corner. "What do you think?"
Ace narrowed her eyes as she held her chin, glancing out the door and back at her friend. "I can't say, yet, but I do feel he is witholding some information from us."
"Heh, for all we know he's some stray cat that wound up here and got turned into that thing!" Skull said with a laugh. "Still, does make me wonder..."
Before either could dwell on the matter further, Mona came dashing back to the door, his eyes and mouth wide with terror as he skidded to a halt before the two thieves. "This is bad! Really bad!"
"What's going on? That sure was fast," Skull replied.
"This is no time for jokes! Your friend, Lady Ann! She's here again! She's been captured!"
"WHAT?! How did she come back in here?!" Skull asked.
"You remember how you got the app after coming here?" Ace inquired. "The same may have happened to her. She did eavesdrop on us earlier, so she probably has some idea of how to work it. She may have attempted to follow us in again."
Skull facepalmed, letting out an exasperated growl. "We told her to stay out of this!"
"What matters now is we need to find her," Ace replied.
"This way!" Mona explained, running off ahead back the way they'd come, Ace and Skull following close behind.
Ann was not having a good day, that much she could be sure of. She couldn't remember the last time she'd ever really had one, but this one was unlike anything she'd ever dealt with in the past. None of them involved winding up in a strange castle, and even her most bizarre dreams did not involve her being chained to a rack in some large chamber that looked like the interior of an overly gimmicky love motel. The gawdy pink walls, the red curtains folded in an uncomfortable v shape fanning out from where she'd been chained, the candles littering the floor, and the odd pillars that clearly resembled breasts, all of which were nothing compared to the weird phantomlike apparitions that looked like pink, translucent female figures in their underwear moaning loudly into an almost unbearable cacophany after having to hear it long enough as they writhed about on the floor. All of it as if to complete the image was a massive portrait of Kamoshida, wearing a king's crown and cape and little else as he flexed his muscles, the portrait earning only revulsion from Ann the moment she'd seen it.
"What is this all about?!" Ann protested at the two armored guards standing before her with their swords drawn as she struggled against the bonds holding her. "Let me go or I'll call the cops, I mean it!"
"So, this is the intruder," a voice that sounded deeper then usual but Ann immediately knew and despised with every fiber of her being stated. And before her eyes emerged the man himself, dressed in little more then what he had on in the portrait behind her and sporting a pair of almost glowing golden eyes. Just looking at him made Ann feel ill.
"Kamoshida?!" Ann's shock was only compounded when she saw Kamoshida was not alone. Standing beside him was... herself. An exact replica of her, clad in an immodest string bikini and pumps, with a tacky-looking tiara with cat ears. What put Ann off even further was the copy's face, it was exactly like hers except it had a sort of vacant, glassy stare to go with its wide smile, making it seem more like a doll then a human being.
"W-what is this place?! W-why did the school turn into this?!" Ann demanded, her voice trembling as she struggled to overcome the shock of what she was seeing.
Kamoshida chuckled as he looked her over. "I can't believe you incompetents mistook my Ann for this pretender!" he said with a wide sneer as he took a step closer. "Are you afraid, sweetheart?"
Ann cringed, struggling against her bonds as she wanted to get as far away from the man as possible. "H-have you lost your mind?! And what's up with that outfit?!"
Kamoshida smirked, spreading his arms and causing his cloak to billow out, showing what little he had on underneath save the pink speedo. "You like it? This outfit befits a king, after all! This is my castle, I can do anything I want, here!"
"Seriously?! What is this? Some red light district motel or something?!" Ann demanded, attempting to struggle. "This isn't funny! Enough of this bullshit, Kamoshida!"
Kamoshida sneered, turning to face the scantly-clad double of Ann. "Can you believe that? The girl's decided to tell me off!"
The double let out a swoon as she traced her finger along Kamoshida's chest. "Talking back is, like, totally unforgivable!" she moaned in a tone that sounded like that of a complete bimbo, causing Ann to grimace in disgust at seeing herself looking and acting in such a way.
"Hm, I'm inclined to agree!" Kamoshida said with a chuckle. "In that case, she should be executed!"
With a snap of Kamoshida's fingers, a gold-armored guard began to approach Ann, causing her to shudder in terror and struggle more to free herself.
"Now, what shall I do with you?" Kamoshida asked, stroking his chin as he leered at Ann, the double draping her arms around him. "It's no fun to just kill you without playing with you a little bit..."
"A-are you kidding me?!" Ann protested, feeling tears start to well up in her eyes as her struggles got her no where, and feeling the shame of being looked at in such a disgusting way by the man who had preyed on her for so long with her being helpless to do anything about it.
The sound of a door opening, however, caught her attention and she saw what looked like Ryuji, Kyoko, and the cat-thing from earlier burst into the room, stopping in their tracks as they looked at their surroundings.
"This is sick! Is this what he thinks of the girls on the volleyball team?!" Skull snapped as he looked around at the moaning, writhing, faceless female figures on the floor. Ace shook her head in revulsion.
"Disgusting," she remarked.
"Takamaki! We're here to save you!" Skull shouted as the small group rushed over to where Ann, Kamoshida, and the guards were standing. The self-styled king let out an exasperated groan as his guards turned to face the small group.
"Seriously?! I was just about to have some fun!" the Shadow snarled. "How many times are you knaves gonna keep coming back?" Glancing back over at Ann, Kamoshida narrowed his gold eyes and sneered. "And you! I bet you're just like those thieves! Did you come here 'cause you're pissed at me?"
The Shadow's sneer widened as he approached till he was right next to her. "But you know, that little friend of yours, Suzui, I believe? It's all your fault she jumped, you know..."
"Th-that's not... that's not true!" Ann protested, tears forming in her eyes as she remembered watching her best friend attempt to kill herself, and the horrible state she was in as they took her to the hospital. "Y-you did something to her, didn't you?!"
Kamoshida let out a cruel chuckle. "Nothing that could have been avoided if you hadn't been so reluctant to throw yourself on to me," he said, bringing his hand up to her chin, holding it in place as Ann struggled to turn away. "...I simply had her take your place, sure she put up a struggle, but in the end she realized there was no way out of it. To her credit, she was a pretty good lay, nice and fresh!"
It did not take long for Ann to realize what Kamoshida had meant. Terror had quickly become replaced by pure, seething rage. "YOU BASTARD! I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, lunging for him but being stopped by the bindings around her wrists and ankles.
"That's it! You're going down, you son of a bitch!" Skull snarled as the mace reappeared in his hand, Ace's gun appearing in hers.
"Take one more step and I'll kill her on the spot!" Kamoshida snapped, glaring at the thieves while his guards crossed their blades in front of Ann and the captain pointed his sword at Ann's neck. "Now just stay right there and enjoy the show..."
"No... please... don't...!" Ann wept, her body going limp as she realized there truly was no escape at this point. She could feel Kamoshida's repulsive leer on her as he drew closer, sniffing her hair.
"Maybe I'll start by taking off your clothes..." Kamoshida sneered, puckering his lips as his hand began to slide down lower and lower towards Ann's skirt, the double of her giggling from behind him as she watched excitedly.
"TAKAMAKI!" Skull cried out, the guard captain promptly stepped closer, his blade nearer to Ann's neck.
"What did I say, Sakamoto?" Kamoshida snapped, glaring back at Skull for a moment before turning his attention back to his captive.
"I-Is this... my punishment for what happened to Shiho...?" Ann sobbed, unable to struggle any more.
"That's more like it. You shoulda been a good little girl and be willing to give it all to me from the start," Kamoshida replied, grinning as his hand stroked the girl's leg, moving closer to the bottom of her skirt to slowly lift it up.
"Takamaki!" Ace shouted. "This wasn't your fault! I told you this already! You know this scum's the only one to blame!"
"Alright, that does it!" Kamoshida snarled, turning away from Ann. "You can't stop interrupting, now I have to stain my floor with her insides!"
"She's right..."
"What did you just say?!" Kamoshida growled, spinning around to face Ann, who was looking down at the floor.
"She's right... This wasn't my fault! It was always yours!" she hissed at Kamoshida. "You sick son of a bitch... thinking you could force me to be your little plaything?!"
Kamoshida gave her a hard slap across the face. "Mouthy little bitch! Slaves like you should just behave and-"
"Shut up...!"
"What was that?!" Kamoshida snapped, drawing his hand back again.
"I SAID SHUT UP!" Ann screamed furiously, a look of pure, seething hatred on her face as she glared lividly at Kamoshida. "I've had enough of this! What you put me through... what you did to Shiho... YOU'VE PISSED ME OFF YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
At that moment Ann felt a powerful presence within her, traveling throughout her body before forcing its way into her mind.
"My... it's taken far too long." a sultry female voice within her head crooned. Ann cried out as a terrible pain began to build up in her head, as if something were inside her very thoughts trying to force itself free.
"Tell me, who is going to avenge her if you don't?"
"Forgiving him was never the option, such is the scream of the other you that dwells within!"
Ann screamed in pain as the throbbing in her head grew stronger, her body trembling as she struggled against the bindings that held her in place.
Ace stepped back, bringing her hand to her chin in thought, certain of what was happening before her eyes. Kamoshida and his guards stepped back, unsure of how to react as waves of energy burst from Ann in a mighty gust, pushing them back. Skull and Mona stood agape.
"Not again!" Kamoshida protested as he shielded his eyes.
"It's happening... I think she's awakening!" Mona observed.
"Holy shit, dude!" Skull replied, watching in awe.
Ann's struggling grew more frantic as a red light emitted from her, the sultry voice spoke again in her mind, practically booming in her head, now.
"I AM THOU! THOU ART I! Let us finally forge a contract!"
With a final scream of pain, Ann felt the agony in her head subside as blue flames surrounded her face, forming a red mask resembling the upper portion of a cat's face over her own.
"I hear you, Carmen!" Ann shouted, feeling a new wave of power and resolve coursing through her. "You're right, no more holding back!"
Kamoshida slowly backed away, aghast as blue flames surrounded Ann's hands and ankles, shattering the bindings and freeing her.
"There you go, nothing can be solved by restraining yourself! Understand? Then I'll gladly lend you my strength!"
Digging one hand into the side of the catlike mask, Ann pulled with all her might and tore it clean off in a single stroke, letting out a scream of pain as a cyclone of blue flame engulfed her, blasting back Kamoshida's guards, while Ace, Skull, and Mona shielded their eyes. A second later, they were all standing in awe.
The flames subsided, revealing Ann Takamaki standing proud in a crimson-red leather catsuit, complete with tail hooked to the back and unzipped at the bust, with thigh-high red boots and pink gloves. Above her, wreathed in flames, loomed a tall pink female humanoid in a flowing red gown covered in heart-shaped patterns and black elbow-length gloves, the corset undone to show off its generous bosom in a manner that seemed to almost form a heart shape as it stood upon a small black humanoid figure with a large pink heart for a head while another hung from its left hand on a leash. The female humanoid donned a black, panther-like mask that covered the top half of its face, yellow catlike eyes peering through as a cigar hung from its mouth, its black pigtails, similar to Ann's own, billowed from the powerful gusts of blue flame surrounding both Ann and itself.
Pure rage in her eyes, Ann immediately leaped forward, drop-kicking the sword out of a guard's hands and catching it, then with a mighty swing, chopped the scantly-clad double of her in two, the double letting out a cry as it dissolved into black smoke. Terrified, Kamoshida immediately backed away, hiding behind the guard captain as Ann flung the sword into the face of the unarmed guard, causing it, too, to dissolve apart in seconds.
"You know what," Ann snarled, glaring at Kamoshida as she snatched a whip off the rack she'd been shackled to and cracked it angrily. "I am NOT some cheap girl you can just toy with, you goddamn scumbag!"
"You little BITCH!" Kamoshida snapped. "Captain! Do something!" he ordered, pointing frantically at Ann and the others as they came up beside her.
Ann swung the whip, cracking it inches from Kamoshida's feet as she stared him down, seething. "You stole EVERYTHING from Shiho! I'm going to make sure you suffer like she did!"
"How dare you threaten the king!" the guard captain shouted as Kamoshida immediately fled down the hall. "Enough of this insolence!" at that moment, it and the remaining guards convulsed before exploding apart into puddles of red and black ooze, all forming together into a singular being, wreathed in smoke as it took shape. When the smoke dispersed, a large gray ogre-like demon with long, curved horns and a thick beard framing its toothy maw loomed over them, as it sat upon a massive, filthy toilet while it hovered in the air.
"How dare you reject King Kamoshida's love, you insolent brat!" the demon snarled at Ann. "I'll make you pay for defying him!
"With what that filthy piece of shit does to women, how dare you call that "love"!" Ann snapped. "Let's go Carmen! Let's give him hell!"
With a wave of her dress, Carmen unleashed a blast of flame upon the demon, knocking it down from the air and to the ground, engulfed in flames.
"He's on fire! Check this out! Zorro!" Mona yelled, summoning his own sword-wielding persona as well and releasing a sweeping gale upon it. As the wind struck the hideous creature, the flames suddenly and briefly grew wild, engulfing the demon completely and causing it to topple over on it's back.
"Niiiice! We got it, now!" Skull shouted with a smirk as he pointed his mace at the fallen demon. "Shall we, Ace?"
"I'd say so!" Ace cried out, her gun drawn on it as well. "Let's take it down, all at once!"
In perfect unison, the four leaped into the air, raining down on the demon all at once in a flurry of swift and brutal blows as the demon cried out and recoiled in pain from each strike.
"Oh my god! That was awesome!" Ann cheered as she turned and saw the demon explode in a burst of smoke and ashes. Her expression fell very quickly when she looked down and saw what she had on.
"Wh-what the hell?! What am I wearing?! Why am I dressed like this?!" she protested, quickly crossing her arms over her chest and blushing as she curled up on the floor. "...And more importantly, WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE WE?!"
"J-just calm down, Lady Ann! Everything's going to be alright!" Mona insisted.
"...Lady Ann?! How am I supposed to calm down?!" Ann demanded, looking the catlike creature over. "And what the hell are you, anyway?! How can you talk?!"
"...No time to explain, now," Ace replied. "Kamoshida's already run off, I'm sure he's got backup on the way..."
"She's right. We need to get out of here, NOW!" Mona explained.
"Just when we were gettin' fired up, too!" Skull grumbled.
"Thanks," Ann muttered, still blushing as she took in the more familiar surroundings of the streets in front of Shujin Academy and back in her normal attire.
"Hey, looks like we made it back okay. How're ya holdin' up?" Ryuji asked.
Ann sighed, brushing back her hair. "I'm still really confused by all this."
"You're safe, now, but a lot happened back there," Morgana explained, now an ordinary cat again. "At any rate, we stand out way too much here, let's go somewhere safer."
Ann's eyes widened in shock. "W-wait... are you the-"
"We'll explain later," Kyoko interrupted. "...Let's go to the subways. We'll stand out less, there."
"So, Morgana, right?" Ann asked as she processed all she'd been told over a soda Ryuji had offered her after they'd found an unoccupied corner of the Aoyama-Itchtome subways. "I really am talking to a cat, huh? That's... weird."
"It's only natural, Lady Ann," Morgana said, smiling as much as a cat could manage to smile as he peered out from Kyoko's schoolbag.
"As I understand it, when you see or hear him in that other world, you can hear his voice here as well," Kyoko explained, drinking a bottled water she'd elected to get over a soda. "After all you've experienced, I suppose it would be unsurprising you're confused. I didn't understand much of it at first, either."
"I honestly still can't believe any of it... that power I got... Personas... all of it," Ann replied.
"A Persona is the will of your rebellion, Lady Ann," Morgana explained. "With it, you'll be able to fight in that other world."
"I see," Ann replied. "So from what you told me, we can make Kamoshida have a change of heart and confess to all his crimes? Is it really possible?"
"We're out of options when the volleyball team is too afraid to speak out and the faculty is complicit," Kyoko answered, folding her arms and finishing her water.
"Yup, and it doesn't exactly help with reputations like ours, so either of us try and say anything they'll just shoot it down," Ryuji added. "Like Kyoko said, it's our only chance we got if we're gonna have any hope of stoppin' him."
Ann gave a nod. "Then let me help, too. After what he did to Shiho, I have to make him pay! The way he keeps going on like nothing happened even after what he did to her... I'll never forgive him!"
"Wait, you sure about this?" Ryuji asked.
"Hey, don't act like I'm gonna drag you down!" Ann protested. "You saw me back there you know I can fight, too!"
"She has a point," Kyoko said. "The extra manpower will make this plan more likely to succeed, and with us facing suspension if Kamoshida isn't dealt with, we can't afford to fail. We have a lot to lose if that were to happen," she explained, the thought of being sent to juvie lingering in her mind as it would no doubt lead to irreparable damage to her family's name, and no doubt neither her father nor her grandfather would want anything to do with her, then, and whenever she got out there'd be no future for her to return to.
"Very true, we need all the help we can get," Morgana said. "And don't worry, Lady Ann, I'll protect you!"
"Thanks," Ann replied. "And besides if you all said no, I'd have just gone in alone."
"Right, you got the app, now, so you can actually do that. Guess it's decided," Ryuji muttered.
"Well, I hope we get along, then!" Ann said with a smirk before her expression turned serious. "I want to make Kamoshida pay for what he did. Not just for Shiho's sake, but for everyone else he hurt! I won't let anyone else suffer because of him!"
Kyoko gave a nod, a faint smile coming to her normally stoic face as she could see the sincerity in Ann's resolve.
I am thou, thou art I
Thou hast acquired a new vow
It shall become the wings of rebellion
that breaketh thy chains of captivity
With the birth of the Lovers Persona
I have obtained the blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power
The sound of a chain being broken could be heard within Kyoko's mind once more, causing her to look around in curiosity. Ann then spoke up again, getting her attention.
"Hey, Kirigiri?" Ann asked. "Just let me know when you're going in again. Let's trade numbers and chat IDs so we're on the same page, alright?"
With a nod, Kyoko took her phone out, fiddling with it as she attempted to get the proper menus up while the three of them shared numbers, it took less time then it had in the past and the young detective was relieved she was getting better at working the device. Ann seemed to take notice, though.
"Hey, you might have an easier time if you took your gloves off, first."
"I'm fine," Kyoko replied. "They're made to manage touch screen, I just... have little experience with a smart phone." the young detective did her best to avoid a blush coming to her pale face.
"Yeah, I've been a bit curious of that. What girl doesn't know how to work a phone?" Ryuji asked, getting a look from Ann
"My grandfather did not allow me to have one until... my transfer here," Kyoko responded plainly. "That's all you need to know."
"Oh, I see," Ann replied. "Sorry, didn't mean to pry or anything."
"Right, no offense meant," Ryuji said.
"It's fine," Kyoko replied as she put her phone away once she'd gotten Ann's information. "I'll see you both tomorrow."
"Right, I'll be counting on you!" Ann said with a smile. "Same goes for you, too, Morgana!"
The cat smiled. "The pleasure is all mine, Lady Ann!" he said, getting a look from Kyoko as Ann turned and headed off. Kyoko could have sworn she heard the cat swoon.
"What a kind and beautiful girl, so considerate of others and willing to cast herself into the jaws of death to achieve her goal," Morgana sighed. "What a girl, she's captured my heart!"
The cat quickly realized both Kyoko and Ryuji staring at him. "Uh... hey, it's probably a good idea if we find a place we can all meet up quickly!" Morgana quickly stated. "We need a secret hideout where we can discuss our plans!"
"Perhaps the school rooftop?" Kyoko offered. "It would seem almost no one goes up there and may serve our needs."
"Hmm... for the time being, it may work out!" Morgana replied.
"A secret hideout, huh? I like the sound of that!" Ryuji replied.
"Since I can't contact you from within a Palace, so I'll be staying in this world, but I need someone to take care of me!" Morgana explained, before looking over at Kyoko. "I'm nominating you."
Before Kyoko could object, Ryuji promptly spoke up. "Yup, gonna have to be you. No way he can stay at my place. Anyways, I should get going. Seeya tomorrow!"
Kyoko and Morgana watched as Ryuji ran off to board one of the trains, leaving the cat and the girl by themselves. A moment later, Morgana decided to break the silence.
"Well, let's go have a look at my new residence in this world!" Morgana said, sliding back into Kyoko's schoolbag.
"Just don't expect much," Kyoko said, zipping up her bag and making her way over to the train that would take her back to Yongen-Jaya, making a mental note to buy a quick dinner as well at the slight growl of her stomach.
"Hmm... it's nice and quiet out here," Morgana mused, peeking out of Kyoko's schoolbag as he looked around the neighborhood. It had since gotten dark out, and while some people were mingling outside or browsing the stores. Kyoko was more interested in getting to LeBlanc and not disappointing Sojiro again.
"Indeed. I've not had much of a chance to explore, yet." she replied.
"We'll have to when we get the chance!" Morgana replied in a chipper tone. "I want to get a lay of the land and all, you know."
"Perhaps," Kyoko answered.
"Not much for conversation are you?" Morgana asked, his tone more concerned, now.
"Is that a problem? I don't really do "small talk"," Kyoko replied. "I consider it an attempt to break awkward silence, but often it only makes things more uncomfortable and appear desperate. Conversations should be more meaningful," she explained as she made it to the cafe door and pushed it open with a jingle of the bell.
"Mmmm. I like this smell," Morgana said, taking in the aroma of coffee and curry that Kyoko had already become quiet fond of. Sojiro, however, did not appear to be in the mood for lingering.
"Hey, stay upstairs while we're open for business," Sojiro said almost right away as Kyoko stepped in. The girl instinctively looked around, noticing the only patron at the moment was a young woman who looked in her mid-20s that seemed vaguely familar sipping a glass of milk. She wore a teal minidress with spiderweb patterns, torn stockings and black leather boots and a jacket, and her hairstyle, studded choker, and dark makeup gave her a definite "goth" vibe. The woman noticed her and glanced up, "hmm"-ing to herself as she finished her glass.
"I apologize, Doctor," Sojiro said.
"Oh, it's no problem at all, sir." the woman replied as she left money on the table and left. Kyoko looked over at the woman as what Sojiro had addressed her as crossed her mind, and she soon recalled having seen the woman when she'd first arrived in town. She certainly didn't look like someone who'd be a doctor, but her career as a young detective at taught Kyoko appearances were often deceiving.
"Yeah, she's the head doctor over at the clinic just down the street, got a bunch of rumors around her about crappy examinations and weird medicines, but that's just stuff I hear. Never actually been over there," Sojiro said as he looked over at the door. "They should really just leave her be, though. She's not getting in the way of their lives or anything, after all." He sighed and shook his head at the thought. "Well, I guess that's it for tonight, might as well close up... need to get home and start making dinner, anyway..."
As Sojiro started cleaning up, Kyoko felt her bag shift while she made her way up the stairs and Morgana poked his head out. "Hey! Is it okay to come out, now?" he asked. "It's kinda cramped in there, I need to stretch."
Immediately, the cat stared agape at his surroundings. "What the... what is this place?! You seriously live here?!" he asked, looking around the attic room.
"I was wondering why I heard meowing earlier!" Sojiro snapped as he suddenly came up the stairs. "What is a cat doing here? Why would you bring it here of all places?"
"It followed me home," Kyoko said, looking at Sojiro then at the cat that was now laying on her bed. "It's getting cold and it seems to have nowhere to go."
"Hm, nowhere, huh?" Sojiro asked. "Look, this is a restaurant. Animals are a no-go..." he explained sternly, though his expression began to soften, despite his best efforts, as he glanced down at the cat looking right up at him. "Though..." he watched as the cat stretched and curled up on Kyoko's bed. "...I guess you'll behave yourself better if you have a pet to take care of, right?"
Morgana looked up at Kyoko, who looked back at him, then at Sojiro, who seemed to be trying unsuccessfully to keep a stern look. "Look," Sojiro explained. "Keep it up here during business hours and definitely don't let it roam downstairs then or I'll toss it out. Also, feeding it and all, that's all on you."
"That's fair," Kyoko replied.
"Good, just so we understand that," Sojiro replied, turning and heading back downstairs.
"Was that the ruler of this place?" Morgana asked. "He seemed pretty understanding for someone who keeps you cramped up here!"
"It's not that bad," Kyoko remarked.
"Trust me, this place could really use a little more decor, you know..." Morgana mused, looking around the room once more, his gaze resting upon the work desk across from Kyoko's bed as Sojiro suddenly returned upstairs with a plate of meats in his hand.
"Seriously, it just had to keep meowing in that cute little voice..." Sojiro grumbled to himself, Kyoko couldn't help but smirk a little at his statement and the smile Sojiro was trying to hide as he set the plate down on Kyoko's bed in front of Morgana. "Just make sure you wash that dish, alright?"
"I guess I do just sound like an ordinary, meowing cat to normal people," Morgana mused aloud. "Still, I guess I can't complain!" he said happily as he began eating.
"See what I mean? I swear..." Sojiro's attempt at hiding his amused smile eventually gave in as he watched the cat eat. "So, have you... decided on a name for him, yet?"
"Morgana," Kyoko replied. "He seemed to like it."
"Aww, was hoping I'd get to name him," Sojiro said with a slight frown, giving Morgana a scratch behind the ears and causing the cat to purr before resuming the meal. "Well at any rate, I need to be getting home, don't stay up too late, alright?"
Kyoko responded with a nod as Sojiro turned to leave again, a moment later she heard the sound of the bell jingling and the door locking as she watched Morgana finish his meal with a chuckle.
"I'd say the chief has taken quite a shine to me, wouldn't you say?" Morgana asked, licking off the plate and sitting down. "I guess I was a bit harsh earlier, this place is paradise compared to the cells in Kamoshida's castle!"
"I'm certain many places would be. Wait here, please," Kyoko remarked, taking the plate and heading downstairs to wash it. As she filled the sink with soap, the girl quietly slid off her blazer and hiked her shirt sleeves up. What came next, she never looked forward to. Taking a breath, a second later Kyoko began to peel her gloves off. The girl looked away as she did, ignoring the discomfort as she quickly slid on a pair of elbow-length rubber ones near the sink before dipping her hands into the soapy, lukewarm water and began scrubbing the plate, relieved she was at least alone for this.
"Hey..."
Kyoko turned, seeing Morgana on the bar table. The girl's eyes narrowed. She'd forgotten how quiet cats could be. "How long have you been there?"
"I came down just now," Morgana replied. "Sorry, just... remember how you all wondered what I am exactly?" The cat's ears drooped as he looked down at the table he sat on. "To be honest... I don't remember a thing, about my birth, where I come from... anything, really."
If a cat could look legitimately sad, Kyoko deduced, Morgana was successfully expressing that right now with the look on his face as he continued. "I think the Metaverse's distortions made me lose all my memories and my true form..."
"You believe you used to be human?" Kyoko asked, draining the sink and grabbing a nearby towel to dry off the plate.
"I have to be! I mean, why else would a cat be able to talk or think like a human can?" Morgana protested. "The distortions must have done this! I'm sure when they're purged I'll become my true self again! That's why I was in that castle in the first place!"
Kyoko put the plate away, turning away from Morgana as she took the rubber gloves off, one at a time and putting her normal studded black ones back on. "Seems we all have our reasons to go back there," she replied at last, turning to face Morgana.
"Well, let me make something clear," Morgana explained. "Your taking care of me won't be for nothing. C'mon back upstairs, I'll explain more, then."
Following the cat back upstairs, Kyoko watched as Morgana hopped up on the work desk and looked back at her. "Due to my knowledgeable and dexterous nature, I know a lot about infiltration and making proper tools to successfully do so. In exchange for keeping me here, I'll show you how to make them! I mean... obviously these paws aren't gonna be much use for me doing it myself here, are they?" he said with a chuckle. "So, whaddya say?"
"Very well," Kyoko replied, folding her arms. "If we're going to succeed in stealing Kamoshida's Treasure and changing his heart, we'll need all the resources available to us."
"Great! Then it's a deal!" the cat replied.
Kyoko looked down at the cat and nodded, their agreement having been made. There was still a lot she did not know about him, but she felt certain she could trust him for now...
I am thou, thou art I
Thou hast acquired a new vow
It shall become the wings of rebellion
that breaketh thy chains of captivity
With the birth of the Magician Persona
I have obtained the blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power
Another faint sound of a chain breaking could be heard within the depths of Kyoko's mind.
"...I'll lecture you on how to make them later, this work desk and toolbox here, though, will really come in handy!" Morgana stated with as much of a smile as a cat could make. "Also, that power you used in the Palace, where you were able to make Shadows become additional personas? That was amazing! I bet the more you take in, the stronger that power will become, and you'll be an even bigger and more reliable "ace in the hole" for us!"
"Indeed," Kyoko replied, she would have to discuss that matter with Igor later the next time she found herself in the Velvet Room.
"I'll stick with you wherever you go from now on," Morgana explained. "You see, a persona's strength comes from the heart, so depending on what kind of life experiences you gain, it might affect that power as well! Not to mention if you become acquainted with capable people, you might learn some skills from them as well!"
Bringing her hand to her chin in thought, Kyoko recalled what Igor had said about how there would be those she would have to connect with over time, causing her to look down at the little cat before her, their words seemed similar in some ways and it made her wonder if the strange warden and Morgana shared some kind of connection. Morgana did seem sincere in that he could not remember anything about his past, so it was unlikely she'd get any answer from him, however, and Igor had always been rather frustratingly vague, making her begin to feel more and more like she was caught up in some sort of game by a higher power. She resolved she'd get to the bottom of it but for now it seemed the only way to solve her questions was to play along until things grew more clear.
"Hey, you listening?" Morgana asked, gaining the young detective's attention. "You were kind of spacing out there."
"Sorry, I sometimes allow myself to get lost in thought," Kyoko answered.
"Anything you want to talk about?" Morgana asked.
"Nothing in particular," Kyoko answered, walking over to her boxes and pulling out her sleepwear. "...Please turn around."
Kyoko had just finished sliding on her pajama shirt when she heard her phone chime. Turning her screen on, she noticed Ann had texted her.
[Hey, thanks for everything today]
[You all saved me and I didn't even really thank you properly]
-It's fine, don't worry about it Kyoko replied.
[Still, thanks. Anyway, I'll see you all tomorrow!]
-You too. Goodnight, Takamaki
[No need for formality. We're friends now, right? Just Ann will do!]
-Very well. Good night.
"So, you all are able to send messages to eachother with that thing, too, right?" Morgana asked as Kyoko plugged her phone in to recharge. "Hey, I want in, too, so if I got something to say, just let 'em know, alright? Can't exactly type, after all..."
The cat hopped off the work desk and walked over to the makeshift bed. "At any rate, you're probably tired from running around the metaverse like that, right? That world can have a very exhausting effect if you stay in it for too long. Probably best we go to sleep, now!"
Though Kyoko was used to staying up late with her previous detective work that demanded such a sleep schedule of her in the past, she could not argue with neither the cat nor Sojiro's earlier advice as she did indeed have school the next day and whatever they planned on doing next that would require her full attention. Giving a nod, she pulled the cord on the light switch and climbed into bed.
"I'll be expecting great things from you, so don't let me down, alright?" Morgana asked, curling up next to her.
"Likewise," Kyoko replied, a million thoughts still on her mind as she allowed the following silence to slowly permit her to drift off, tomorrow was another day, and she simply could not afford to lose, so for now, she would take on the role fate had apparently assigned her as a phantom thief and get to the bottom of whatever goal Igor had ultimately in store for her...
Kyoko ran her hands through her hair, the pain from the injuries she sustained were probably all that kept her conscious as she struggled to keep her thoughts together and focused on the woman seated across from her.
"Acting as a Phantom Thief would have been more efficient alone, you could have gone about it that way," Niijima explained. "However, you did not. There are merits to having associates, correct?"
Kyoko gave no response.
"Furthermore, I doubt something as dangerous as your group could have been pulled off with orthodox methods, could they?" Niijima asked, glaring down at Kyoko with a stern look. "It wouldn't be odd at all to have someone proficient in deceiving the eyes of others. Am I wrong about this?"
The girl seated across from her rubbed her temples, looking ready to pass out at any time.
"Stay awake!" Niijima snapped, hoping to help jolt the girl back to attention. "Do you understand your position right now?!"
"I..." Kyoko dug her hand into her other, gritting her teeth but the pain reminded her she was still conscious. "I'm awake..."
"Good, stay that way," Niijima replied sharply. "Now, deception and associates are not the only things that could have gotten you as far as you did, are they? Skillful infiltrations and escapes to all manner of places would also be vital. I imagine you used special tools and had someone who manufactured them? All of these concepts together would make for a functional team at least at the start of your so-called "heists", wouldn't they?"
Kyoko simply stared at her, keeping her gaze as firm as she could manage with the pain and the effects of the drugs she was dealing with. "Possibly," she replied plainly.
Niijima returned Kyoko's gaze with one of her own as she leaned forward in her seat. "Then with that sort of arrangement on your side, tell me what happened next..."
A/N
And another chapter at long last done! Sorry this took so long, work has been very busy and this chapter had been quite the whopper, bigger then I expected. Also soon the main plot of the game will take a break and allow Kyoko free range to work on confidants, so I imagine at least part of next chapter will be less formulaic and finally allow her a chance to break away and do her own thing.
To answer questions, I'm gonna try the approach suggested and have occasional interrogation room scenes for different confidants either at the start or end of chapters where major things go on, or once a major arc has started or concluded so it's not constantly bouncing back and forth. The events of Q2 will not be happening though as I haven't played that game.
Seeya all next time!