Heart of Justice Chapter 12
4/21
As Ann Takamaki roamed the halls of Shujin Academy that morning, to say they were now bustling with commotion would be an understatement.
Students were gathered around the bulletin boards, unable to decide what to make of what they were seeing, for taped all over every single one of them, as well as around the halls, were strange red cards, each adoring a crudely-drawn grinning face under a large top hat, with the words "TAKE YOUR HEART!" written under the strange logo in English letters.
Needless to say, the blonde could only stare in shock. Ryuji had certainly come through when it came to getting what she assumed to be the calling card somewhere Kamoshida was sure to find it.
"What is this, some kinda... calling card?" a male student asked one of his friends, looking at the back of one he'd removed from the board.
"Hey! Miss President! Any idea how these got here?" a female student asked a prim-looking brunette girl.
"To my understanding, these were already posted everywhere before anyone got here this morning," the girl replied as she read over one she'd taken off the board as well.
"Did Mr. Kamoshida do something? I wonder if this means the rumors are true!" the other female student replied.
"What's with this weird logo, who would send this?" a male student asked.
The brunette let out a sigh, her expression neutral. "...It's... probably a prank," she said. "Still, threatening a teacher? I can only imagine what Principal Kobayakawa's going to say about this..."
Pushing her way through the crowd of students, Ann peeled one of the cards off the board and turned it over, finding a message pasted on the back from magazine clippings.
"Sir Suguru Kamoshida, the utter bastard of lust," she read aloud, trying to keep a straight face at the last part. "...We know how shitty you are, and that you put your twisted desires on students who can't fight back. That's why you have decided to steal away those desires and make you confess your sins. This will be done tomorrow, so we hope you are ready. From, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts."
Ann let out an exasperated sigh. She'd give Ryuji credit for taking the precaution of cutting and pasting for the message, but the quality of the message itself...
Turning, she spotted Kyoko and Ryuji down the hallway and walked over. The former had her arms folded and was watching the other students who were gathered at the bulletin boards, the latter leaned against the wall smirking as Ann came over.
"Not bad, eh?" Ryuji asked with a big grin. "I looked up a buncha similar stuff online for reference!"
"Perhaps I should have written it," Kyoko stated.
"Whaddya mean?" Ryuji asked, looking over at the young detective.
"To be honest," Ann said. "It sounds like some grade schooler trying to sound cool. I can only hope Kamoshida's still gonna take it seriously..."
"The logo's lacking a little, too," Morgana added.
"C'mon! So long as it works, right?" Ryuji protested, looking over at the crowd again, the murmurs growing. "Plus, it looks like it got everyone all excited!"
"WHO THE HELL DID THIS?!" a familiar, and very enraged voice bellowed down the hall, prompting the whole group to look over and see none other then Kamoshida now at the bulletin boards and looking none too please.
"WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?! ANSWER ME!" he snarled, grabbing a male student who'd been looking at one of the cards by the collar of his shirt, prompting the students to back away in fear. "...WAS IT YOU?!"
"Mr. Kamoshida, stop it! We don't know who it was!" the brunette girl protested.
"Shut it, Niijima!" Kamoshida snapped, shoving the boy he'd grabbed to the floor before tearing several of the cards off the board in a fit. "I swear, when I get to the bottom of this..."
"I-I'm sure the Principal will look into it!" Niijima said, keeping her distance and clearly frightened by the man's outburst.
"See to it he does!" Kamoshida growled, glaring at the other students. "Everyone, get to class, NOW!" he shouted, his face red with fury.
The crowd swiftly dispersed. Morgana, however, chuckled from Kyoko's bag. "Now that's the reaction of someone who knows what we mean by distorted desires!"
"Yeah, I'd say it's hittin' him pretty hard!" Ryuji said, grinning.
Kamoshida had just finishing stomping one of the cards on the floor when he turned and noticed Kyoko, Ryuji, and Ann down the hall and immediately stormed over, carrying one of the cards he'd torn off the wall with him. "Kirigiri... Sakamoto... Would I be right in guessing it was you two?" ," he asked, his tone dangerous and his glare evident he could fly into a rage again in an instant before softening slightly as he glanced over at Ann. "Takamaki, don't tell me you've been getting involved with these delinquents!"
Ann said nothing, electing instead to simply kept her head down and avoid looking at the man, there were so many things she wanted to say, anything to spite him, but she knew it'd only make her and her new friends look more guilty.
"You're risking a lot, you know," Kamoshida warned. Kyoko promptly stepped forward, arms folded and an icy glare on her face, prompting a grin from the teacher. "Care to confess to something, Kirigiri?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about," the girl replied in a cold, neutral tone.
Kamoshida grit his teeth. "You wanna play dumb, huh? Even if I can't prove it, you think it matters?" he snarled. "After next week, you, Sakamoto, and that useless runt Mishima will all be expelled and you'll be on your way to juvie!"
At that moment, reality itself seemed to flicker all around the three teens and Morgana, turning an otherworldly red before everything suddenly rippled and they found themselves standing in a pitch black void, face to face with Kamoshida's Shadow that now stood in place of the real one.
"Come on!" the Shadow taunted with a sinister grin on its face as a security alarm suddenly rang off in the darkness around them. "Steal it of you can!"
In a flash of light, the four of them found themselves back in the school halls. Shaking his head in annoyance, Kamoshida turned and walked back down the halls and disappeared around the corner. Once he was gone, Morgana poked his head out of Kyoko's bag.
"Judging by Kamoshida's response," he said. "It looks like we had an effect on his Palace!"
"Then the Treasure's appeared?" Kyoko asked.
"We'll be able to get it today, right?" Ann asked as well.
"Definitely," Morgana replied. "And it's not just "today", Lady Ann, it's ONLY today. The impact of seeing a calling card doesn't last long, and it can't be repeated."
"Then this is our only chance to steal the Treasure," Kyoko said, looking at her teammates. "I trust you're both ready?"
"Hell yeah!" Ryuji cheered. "One day's MORE then enough for us!"
"Good," Kyoko said, smiling faintly. "Once school is over, we'll meet in the alley, and go straight into the Palace."
"You can count on me!" Ann said with a smile.
"That bastard's goin' down!" Ryuji replied.
"Whoa, this place's gettin' real crazy!" Skull observed, looking around. The red sky above Kamoshida's twisted castle was far more turbulent, as if a storm could happen at any time and bathing the castle in a pulsing, crimson red light. Winds blew debris about as red smoke danced about the castle's ramparts and towers.
"Thanks to the calling card, the Treasure has appeared, but it also means Kamoshida is on high alert," Ace said.
"That's right! At this point that also means the Palace's security is probably at its maximum level!" Mona explained.
"Well, good thing we got that infiltration route secured!" Panther replied, clenching her fist and smirking.
"Yup! Now let's get going, keep your guard up, everyone we only got one shot at this!" Mona ordered. "Lead the way, Ace!"
The young detective gave a nod, and immediately dashed off to the entry point, followed by her companions.
As the group made their way to the hall outside the throne room, Ace came to a stop as she noticed something had changed.
"The doors... they're open," she observed.
"The hell's goin' on here? There's no soldiers or anythin', either!" Skull said, looking around the vacant throne room.
"They may be undermanned right now, Kamoshida's probably got them all assigned elsewhere! Too bad we slipped right past 'em!" Mona replied.
Ace, however, did not go any further forward, and slowly brought her hand to her chin as she processed the path before them. "I don't like this. It all seems too easy..."
"Hey, so long as we can take the Treasure we win!" Mona stated. "Now let's get going!"
Ace looked around, gesturing to Skull and Panther. "Give a quick sweep. We don't want to be walking into a trap."
"I don't see anything, or anyone," Panther replied seconds after.
"Yeah, me neither!" Skull said.
"Ugh! Look, the longer we stay here the more likely we get caught and have to fight our way out! Let's go!" Mona ordered, running off ahead. Ace noted that nothing jumped out as the catlike thief darted across the seemingly empty chamber, and followed as quickly as she could, Skull and Panther right behind her as they sprinted up the stairs and down the hall past the throne, and together, pushed with all their might to open the door leading into the treasury, where they were greeted with a new sight.
"AWWWW YEAH!" Mona cheered. "The Treasure is here!"
Hovering in the air before them, above the piles of gold, jewels, and trophy cups, was an ornate golden crown. Its circlet was adorned with red heart-shaped rubies, with gold arches shaped like Venus symbols framing the red velvet cap, connecting to a golden heart with an arrow protruding from its top that served as its monde, giving it the vague appearance of an upright Mars symbol.
"So, whaddya think? Just like I said, huh? Now we can steal it!" Mona said.
"How do we do that?" Ace asked, gesturing at the crown to indicate the fact that it was also almost the size of all four of them. "It would be difficult to smuggle something that large out of here unnoticed."
Mona, however, did not seem to be paying attention as he began purring loudly at the glittering sight before them.
"Uhhh... Mona?" Skull asked.
Before any of them could react, the cat lunged at the crown, wrapping his tiny body around it as much as he could, nuzzling it with his cheek among other things as he continued to purr and yowl excitedly.
"Honestly, that thing pisses me off. Something representing Kamoshida's desires shouldn't look nearly so nice," Panther muttered as she watched Mona continue to fawn over their prize.
Ace sighed and closed her eyes, walking over to the Treasure she extended her hands forward and immediately proceeded to pry Mona off of it, ignoring the cat's protests before promptly dropping him on the gold-cluttered floor. "We need to figure out how we'll get this out of here."
"Oh! R-right!" Mona replied, shaking his head and blinking his large blue eyes. "M-my apologies, Lady Ann! I should never have displayed such crudeness! I just... I dunno what came over me..."
"Yeah, you got completely out of character there!" said Panther.
"Tell me about it! You looked ready to make out with that thing!" Skull teased.
"S-sorry! To think I'd be drawn to human desires so easily!" Mona said wistfully. "Wait! Does that prove I'm human?"
"How should we know?" Skull asked. "Ace is right, though! We need to get this thing outta here, now!"
"Yeah, but you guys're gonna need to carry it, you're way taller then me, after all," Mona said, his ears drooping a little.
"And then this Palace disappears, right?" Panther asked. "Then, Kamoshida will have his heart changed and confess..."
"That should be the case!" Mona replied. "Alright, let's take it and get out of this place!"
All as one, the three thieves reached under the gigantic crown and hoisted it up, slowly carrying it back towards the open door, Mona guiding them along the way.
"My judgement was correct," the catlike thief said with a smile as he gestured towards the door. "I made the right choice making a deal with you!"
Kyoko couldn't help but smile a little at Mona's comment, and the sound of a chain breaking went off in her mind...
"Well," Mona said. "...Let's get moving!"
Moments later, the group had managed to make it down the staircase and around the throne, Skull pulling in the lead while Ace and Panther stood on either side so each was carrying an equal portion as Mona continued to guide them.
"Man... thought we were gonna get down those stairs the quick and painful way," Skull mumbled.
"We nearly did," Ace replied.
"Yeah, not gonna lie, lucky this thing's hollow inside," Panther said.
"Almost there," said Mona. "Once we get to the windows we'll toss it through and we'll be on our way out!"
"Go, go! Let's go! KA-MO-SHI-DA!" a voice that sounded like Panther's suddenly cheered out before any of them could take another step, prompting the others to look at her only to be met with an equally confused look before realization hit.
"Oh, shi-" Panther barely got the words out before a volleyball suddenly rocketed through the open doors ahead and knocked the crown clean out of their hands, sending it flying several feet away and to the ground with a resounding clatter.
"Wh-what just-?!" Mona stammered.
Ace, Panther, and Skull barely had time to look away as the scantly-clad form of Kamoshida's Shadow suddenly backflipped over them, landing on one knee right in front of the throne, prompting all four thieves to turn and face him as he extended his hand. The fallen crown began to glow, vanishing from sight in a flash of light before reappearing in the Shadow's hand in a much more normal size as he tossed it up and down in the air like a softball.
"I won't anyone take this!" Kamoshida sneered, a wide grin on his face as the equally scantly-clad cognitions of Ann, Kyoko, and Yoshizawa suddenly rushed to his side like some kind of perverse harem. "This proves that I'm the King of this castle! It is the core of this world!"
"Mmmm, King Kamoshida-Sensei!" the cognition of Ann cooed as she ran her fingers along his chest. "You're, like, soooo scary when you're all tough like that! I'm getting, like, sooooo turned on right now!"
Panther could only scowl in disgust as her barely clothed double grinded up against the man she held so much hatred towards. "That rat bastard... that's really how he sees me, isn't it?!" she asked, her voice dripping with barely controlled rage.
"Not just you," Ace hissed, glaring in disgust at the Shadow and his harem. The way they were dressed, the way they touched him. Where they touched him. All of it made her want to throw up. "A lot of girls. Girls he has no business going near..."
Kamoshida chuckled. "Awww, Kyoko-chan!" he said with a wide, condescending grin. "You already know I'm a very successful man, the kind all women throw themselves at! I got everything they're looking for and then some, who am I to turn 'em down?"
Ace folded her arms, her gaze growing angrier at Kamoshida's condescending words. "You know, I'd suspected you were setting a trap for us. This all seemed way too easy..."
The Shadow let out a laugh. "You deduced that all on your own? You really are THE ace detective's grand-daughter!" he said in a deeply sarcastic tone, the double of Kyoko giggling as it brushed its chest against him. "I knew this would make it easier to find you if I just left the door wide open and wait till you were on your way out. Now that you're here, I'll dispose of you all myself, right here, right now!"
"That's our line you goddamn rapist piece of shit!" Skull snapped, gritting his teeth as he glared angrily at Kamoshida.
"Your glory days ended a long time ago, Kamoshida," Ace said, her normally calm tone noticeably seething with contempt. "As a teacher, you're obligated to help guide students to achieving the kind of success you once enjoyed, for their sake, NOT yours! You're a despicable human being, no one in their right mind would want anything to do with you!"
Kamoshida just grinned in response. "How can you be so selfish that you can't even see it?" he asked.
"Not see WHAT, exactly?!" Panther snapped, raw fury now in her voice. "You RAPED my best friend! And why?! Just because I wouldn't lower myself to sleeping with you?! You did God knows how many horrible things to people that look up to you as their teacher and kept it all secret from others!"
"Oh, really?" Kamoshida asked, smirking. "Who was it who actually kept it secret? The volleyball team that take my training methods without a single complaint? The Principal who eats outta the palm of my hand? The teachers and parents who look the other way all the time? They wanna share in my accomplishments, because they strive to become winners, themselves! They know the only way they can benefit is if they willingly protect me!"
"You shittin' me?!" Skull protested. "The hell does anyone get from an abusive asshole like you?! Whatever the hell they get from you, it ain't worth it after what you put 'em through!"
"You still don't get it, do you?" Kamoshida asked, raising an eyebrow. "Then again, you're hardly the only ones! There's also your little friend who couldn't take paying her dues to stay on the team when you weren't willing to handle that for her!" he said, smirking at Panther. "If she'd only realized it, maybe then she wouldn't have gone and tried to kill herself!"
Panther breathed deep, clenching her fists as she did all in her power to restrain herself from outright attacking Kamoshida. "It's true," she said softly. "She was an idiot for letting you manipulate her, attempting suicide... just like I was an idiot for playing along with your sick obsession with me thinking I was protecting her..."
Panther grit her teeth as she glared hatefully at him. "...But what you did to her... That was NOT her fault! There is no one to blame for that but YOU! You had absolutely NO RIGHT to do that to her!"
"Oh don't get so high-and-mighty on me, you mediocre peasant!" Kamoshida sneered, clutching the crown in his hand and spreading his arms to embrace his barely-clothed cognitive harem, who eagerly moved closer, brushing and grinding their bodies against him affectionately. "...There's nothing wrong with using my gifts for my gain!"
The Shadow gave a smug grin down at the thieves, enjoying the attention his cognitions gave him. "...I'm just a cut above all other humans!"
Ace scowled in revulsion at the display before her. "All I see is a degenerate has-been who can't let go of the past and thinks the world still owes him for it."
"No, he's worse then that!" Panther spat. "He's not even human! He's a goddamn demon obsessed with his sick desires!"
Kamoshida let out a deep, sinister laugh. One far, far deeper and less human then even the Shadow's reverberated form of Kamoshida's own husky tone could ever believably make as red and black smoke and ooze began to rise up around him. The cognitions of Ann, Kyoko, and Yoshizawa stepped away, staring at him with glassy looks of arousal. "That's right!" Kamoshida sneered in a deep, monstrous voice, "I'm NOT like you! I'm a demon, WHO RULES THIS WORLD!"
Kamoshida pulled his cognitive harem into an embrace once more as the smoke continued to gather around him, engulfing them all and growing larger and wider before bursting apart in an massive explosion. What was underneath promptly spread its arms.
All four of them.
The hideous monstrosity that was once Kamoshida loomed over the four thieves, reaching easily at least twenty feet high despite being seated. Its bloated, fetus-like body was a sickly pink color, wearing nothing but a red fur-trimmed cape covered in medals and the crown that had been the Treasure now sat atop its head. The creature's four arms now held a large golden fork, a giant steak knife, a riding crop, and a glass of wine that the cognitive Ann stood in as it grinned eagerly at monster holding it, the creature's face a horrific perversion of Kamoshida's own, with bloodshot eyes that bulged from their sockets and darted about like a chameleon's, a pair of huge ramlike horns growing out of its forehead, and its mouth a massive fanged maw with a long, slimy, almost tentacle-like blue tongue longer then its body slithering out of it, thick drool spilling out of its huge jaws. Seated before it was a large golden cup trophy, which the cognitions of Yoshizawa and Kyoko lay in along with several pink mannequin-like feminine forms, moaning erotically as the towering monster let out a loud, unearthly cackle.
"I'M ALLOWED TO DO WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT!" the demon Kamoshida bellowed. "NOBODY TELLS A KING WHAT HE CAN AND CAN'T DO!"
"What the hell IS THAT THING?!" Skull cried out.
"Kamoshida's distorted desires have twisted him into a demon!" Mona explained. "If we're gonna get that Treasure, we're gonna have to take him down!"
"Don't have to tell me twice!" Ryuji said, his mace appearing in his hand and grinning. "I'm SO gonna enjoy this, Kamoshida!"
"Likewise!" Panther said, summoning her whip and getting ready to fight.
"Let's finish this!" Ace ordered, drawing out her gun and taking aim as Kamoshida let out a ferocious roar to answer their challenge, smoke erupting around him and forming into humanoid figures with iron helmets covering their faces, connected to chains linking to gigantic iron weights laying around the demonic beast, all of which carrying volleyballs in their hands.
"YOU DAMN NO-GOOD SHITTY BRATS! DONCHA KNOW IT'S RUDE TO POINT AT PEOPLE?!" Kamoshida taunted, grinning down at the four thieves before him. "SLAVES! SHOW THESE PUNKS A LITTLE RESPECT FOR THEIR KING!"
Kamoshida slammed down his riding crop and the helmeted figures immediately leaped up into the air, spiking their volleyballs at the thieves in unison, Panther and Skull cried out as she struggled to shield themselves from the barrage despite the pain it caused, Mona had managed to jump out of the way while Ace had quickly ducked, barely avoiding getting hit.
"I gotcha!" Mona shouted, summoning Zorro who promptly waved his rapier, and his teammates were promptly bathed in green light, their bruises fading a little while Ace stood herself back up. "Let's go all in! Once Kamoshida's down we can get the Treasure!"
Ace nodded and touched her mask, summoning forth Agathion, she'd noticed Panther looked worse for wear then Skull, and cast her spell, bathing Panther in a blue light, her teammate should be able to take a hit better for a while, now.
"My turn!" Panther said, summoning Carmen and unleashing a blast of flame at Kamoshida. The monster let out an angry grunt, but did not seem particularly harmed by the attack. "Damnit! That looks like it barely phased him!"
"I got this! CAPTAIN KIDD!" Skull's Persona rose forth, unleashing a volley of lighnting on the monster, but it, too, seemed to have almost no effect on him.
Kamoshida let out a deep laugh. "YOU LITTLE SNOTS SHOULD KNOW BETTER THEN TO THINK YOU CAN TOPPLE A KING!" he declared, his long slimy tongue suddenly snaking out and swinging at the thieves, who quickly ducked out of the way.
"I get it," Ace said as quickly stood back up and fired several rounds at Kamoshida, but he barely reacted. "With his ego and the way the school treats him, he thinks he's unbeatable. That's why our attacks are barely bothering him! We need another way!"
"GET 'EM, SLAVES!" Kamoshida shouted furiously, slamming his riding crop down as volleyballs suddenly appeared in the slaves hands again as they tossed them up and spiked them down at Panther, though this time she swatted them away and was barely worse for wear thanks to Ace's earlier spell.
"Ooooh, those mean people hurting you, King Kamoshida?" the cognition of Yoshizawa cooed. "Have a taste and you'll feel allllll better!" The scantly-clad cognition arched its body up towards the towering monster raising one of its legs in a sensual way, causing Ace to turn away in disgust.
"MMMMM! DON'T MIND IF I DO, YOSHIZAWA!" Kamoshida chuckled, raising up his fork and swinging it down into the cup, snagging the cognitive Yoshizawa and pulling it up into his waiting maw. The cognition let out an aroused moan as it disappeared into his mouth and down his throat. "OOOOH, YEAH! REALLY HITS THE SPOT! COME AT ME, YOU PIECES OF SHIT! I AIN'T LETTIN' YOU SLEEP TONIGHT!" Kamoshida declared with a laugh, the faint injuries on his body suddenly glowing a red light before fading completely.
"The least we can do is try and take out that trophy so he can't heal himself!" Mona stated, whipping out his slingshot, and immediately Skull, Panther, and Ace took their guns and aimed at the cup as well. "Everyone! On three!"
"WHAT?! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH THAT! IT'S WORTH MORE THEN ANY THREE OF YOU!" Kamoshida snarled, raising his fork and knife threateningly.
"Hm," Ace said with a icy glare. "...Is that so? Open fire!"
All as one, the four thieves immediately began firing away at it. The cognition of Kyoko still within cried out as the cup suddenly shattered apart into pieces on the floor, the female figures spilling out and dissolving into smoke. Ace glared at the cognition of herself and promptly fired at it, and it, too, vanished in a cloud of smoke. "Good riddance," she muttered, tossing back her hair.
"NOOOO!" Kamoshida cried out in a rage as his already bulging eyes widened in horror as he looked down at the shattered trophy, slumping over with a devastated look on his monstrous face as he picked around at the shards that lay about before him with his fork. "...THAT CUP WAS FROM WHEN I WON THE NATIONAL! HOW DARE YOU BRATS RUIN IT!"
"And you're next," Ace said, turning her gun up at his face, the other thieves following suit.
"Y-YOU THINK YOU CAN DO SUCH A THING?! DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!" Kamoshida protested. "I'M KING SUGURU KAMOSHIDA! HOW CAN YOU NOT GET THAT?!"
"No, you're a criminal. Nothing else," Ace replied coldly.
"YOU CALL ME A CRIMINAL AFTER YOU WRECK MY PROPERTY?!" Kamoshida shouted.
Skull suddenly broke out laughing as he kept his gun trained on the monster. "Wow, seriously?! Over a stupid trophy?!" he asked, laughing even harder. "Y'know, I used to think you were some condescending hotshot, but right now? It's clear you really are nothing but a pathetic loser!"
"Would you just give it up and hand that Treasure over, already?" Panther snapped, her gun on Kamoshida as well.
"SHUT UP! IT'S MINE! SO LONG AS I GOT IT I'M THE KING!" Kamoshida bellowed. "I'LL NEVER LET THE LIKES OF YOU HAVE IT!"
"Looks like we gotta up our game as well!" Mona shouted.
"Then let's do that!" Ace declared, swapping her gun for her knife and leaping into the air, with Skull, Mona, and Panther following. Kamoshida cried out in pain, flailing his arms about as the four thieves struck him repeatedly from every direction in a blur of motion before landing back on the ground in formation before him once more. The monster was noticeably roughed up, now, far more then before.
"So that's it, then. Kamoshida sees all his value in his prizes," Ace said, her hand at her chin as she gazed at the reeling monster. "We keep taking them away, he'll get weaker."
"So we snatch that crown, he's done for!" Mona said.
"NOT HAPPENING!" Kamoshida roared, flailing about like a child throwing a fit. "I'M THE KING! IF I'M NOT, NO ONE IS!"
"Oh, King Kamoshida! You're, like, soooo cranky!" the cognition of Ann purred from within the wine glass as she leaned over its edge smiling a big vacant grin.
"BETTER ENJOY A LITTLE SIP BEFORE I BRING OUT THE BIG GUNS, THEN!" Kamoshida said with a laugh, tipping the glass into his jaws, the cognitive Ann toppling into his mouth as he slathered her about before spitting her back into the glass, letting out a pleasured sigh as his entire body flashed bright red, his muscles bulking up noticeably. "MUCH BETTER!" he declared, grinning down at the Thieves, "...NOW GET READY FOR THE REAL SHOW! SLAVES! BRING IN YOU-KNOW-WHAT!"
Kamoshida slammed his riding crop to the floor, the chained humanoid figures' links promptly snapped off, and they subsequently fled from the throne room as the hideous monster let out a triumphant laugh. "TIME FOR MY "KILLSHOT" FROM WHEN I WAS ACTIVE AND ROCKIN' IT!" he declared. "MY "KILLSHOT" AS IN, "I'll MAKE THE KILL"!"
"How clever of you," Ace replied dryly. Kamoshida, however, did not seem to be paying attention as he glanced around, letting out a low growl.
"GOD-DAMNIT! WHAT'S THE FUCKING HOLDUP?!" Kamoshida roared, slamming his riding crop on the ground several times, a deafening crack with every angry strike as the monstrous creature looked at the end of his patience. "WHERE'S MY DAMN BALL ALREADY?!"
"I-I'm so sorry, King Kamoshida! I-I have it r-right here!" a familiar, meek male voice cried out. Skull, Panther, and Ace could only stare in disbelief as what looked like Mishima suddenly came rushing in towards where Kamoshida was seated, covered in bruises and bandages and carrying a large volleyball in his hands all while looking absolutely terrified.
"Mishima?! The hell's he doin' here?!" Skull asked.
"That's Kamoshida's cognition of him!" Mona explained. "It's not the real him!"
Kamoshida let out an angry snarl. "TOO SLOW LIKE ALWAYS, MISHIMA!" he growled, slamming his riding crop inches away from the cognitive double of Mishima. "NOW MAKE YOURSELF USEFUL AND PASS IT UP TO ME! DON'T TELL ME YOU CAN'T EVEN DO SOMETHING SIMPLE AS THAT!"
"He's about to do something! Keep your guard up!" Mona cried out, covering his head as Mishima's double made several attempts to toss the ball up towards Kamoshida. The other thieves quickly attempted to follow Mona's lead and shield themselves as well, just in time for Mishima's double to suddenly bounce the ball high into the air.
"GET READY FOR THE SPIKE THAT SEIZED THE WORLD!" Kamoshida cried out as he threw down his weapons and glass and leaped up to level with the airborne ball, that began to shine in a golden aura before Kamoshida raised his upper right hand back and slammed it into the ball, spiking it down at the group. The ball rocketed towards them, striking the floor with a massive explosion that released a powerful shockwave that knocked the thieves off their feet and across the room, looking noticeably bruised up and worse for wear as they struggled to get back up.
"Shit, that smarts!" grumbled Skull as he attempted to stand again.
"Ughhh, you're telling me, Panther muttered, dazed by the attack.
"I dunno if we're gonna manage if he does that again!" Mona protested.
Ace remembered what she'd been carrying and whipped out a small red vial. "This should help," she said, uncapping the medicine she'd bought from Takemi when she'd first gone to her and the contents suddenly glowed bright red, bathing the thieves in its light as their injuries faded.
"DAMNIT! YOU PESTS'RE STILL STANDING?!" Kamoshida shouted furiously as he sat down once more, his bulbous eyes turning towards the cognitive Mishima. "I KNEW IT! I CAN'T GO ALL-OUT WITH MISHIMA'S INCOMPETENT ASS PROVIDING THE BACKUP!" He reached down, grabbing the cognitive double in one of his hands. "WORTHLESS SHIT-FOR-BRAINS! CAN'T YOU DO ANYTHING RIGHT?!"
"I-I'm sorry, King Kamoshida!" the cognitive Mishima protested, cowering in the demon's grip before being suddenly flung across the room.
"SHUT UP AND GET YOUR SNIVELING ASS THE FUCK OFF MY COURT!" Kamoshida snarled, the bruised boy immediately staggering back up and fleeing out the doors as the thieves immediately rushed forward to engage him once more. "DAMNIT! SO YA WANT MORE, DO YA?! NEXT SLAVE! GET IN HERE! HURRY UP WITH MY DAMN BALL!"
"Coming right up~!" a female voice playfully sang, Panther instantly froze as she recognized that voice, looking in horror as she and the others saw what appeared to be none other then Shiho Suzui, dressed in a skimpy white fur bikini with pink pumps and a white tiara with rabbit ears on it and not much else. "I brought you your ball, just like you asked, my King!" she said in a flirtatious voice as she smiled up at the monster that loomed over her.
"NOW THERE'S A GOOD GIRL, SUZUI!" Kamoshida crooned, one of his large fingers tracing along the cognitive Suzui's backside. "IT'S GREAT WHEN WOMEN OBEY, ISN'T THAT RIGHT, SWEETHEART?"
"Of course, King Kamoshida!" the cognitive Suzui giggled, playfully leaning forward and blowing a mocking kiss at the thieves. Despite her flattering appearance, after what Kamoshida had done to her and it being a clear representation of how Kamoshida saw her, it came off as nothing but repulsive to Panther, causing her to grit her teeth in disgust.
"I don't believe this! Shiho too after what you did?!" she protested.
"That piece of shit's really gone too far!" Skull snapped.
"Calm down, it's just his cognition of her!" Mona said.
"I-I know, but still...!" Panther stammered, unable to bear seeing her best friend like this.
"You're going to pay for what you did to her, Kamoshida," Ace hissed, getting her gun ready.
"AWWWW, WHAT'S THAT KIRIGIRI? YOU'RE READY TO SEE MY "KILLSHOT" AGAIN?" Kamoshida said with a laugh. "SUITS ME FINE! GET READY TO PASS IT UP, SUZUI!"
"SHOOT HER!" Ace ordered, turning her gun on the copy of Shiho as it began throwing the ball up and down.
"W-wait...!" Panther protested.
"It's not the real one, Panther!" Ace replied sharply. "We take it out, he won't be able to spike us again! Just do it!"
"ON IT!" Skull shouted, taking aim and firing his shotgun at the fake Shiho, the cognitive copy cried out in pain as the impact knocked it clean off its feet, Mona and Ace using the last of their own ammo to knock it back down before it could stand up.
"I'm so sorry, Shiho..." Panther whispered, glaring at the double of her best friend that now looked significantly more roughed up and staggered about as it struggled to stand and pass the ball before she took a breath and charged at it, swinging her whip and slicing the cognitive copy vertically in two in a single stroke, the double letting out one last anguished cry as it and the ball it'd been carrying burst apart in a puff of smoke as Panther leapt back to where her teammates stood.
"WHADDYA KNOW? GUESS SUZUI REALLY WAS ONLY GOOD FOR ONE THING, AFTER ALL!" Kamoshida said, staring down at where Shiho's double had once been and letting out a deep laugh. "...SHE BETTER BE READY TO GIVE ME SECONDS IF SHE EVER WAKES UP!"
"Kamoshida..." Panther was seething with rage, hot tears in her eyes as she glared at the towering demon before her with pure hatred. "...What you just made me do... I swear to God, I'll NEVER FORGIVE YOU! CARMEN!" The gowned Persona suddenly rose from Panther's mask, unleashing a blast of flame at Kamoshida before he could pick up his weapons again, engulfing him as he screamed out, his arms flailing as he struggled to nurse the burns all over his body.
"It's a promise, Suzui... we're gonna beat this bastard's ass for you!" Skull said. "CAPTAIN KIDD!" the pirate Persona immediately rose forth before rocketing straight at Kamoshida's chest and ramming into him, causing the demon to tumble back a little as it cried out in pain.
"SAKI MITAMA!" Ace shouted, a golden Persona shaped like a sideways raindrop with a grinning face appeared, unleashing a blast of ice at the monster and causing Kamoshida to recoil from the assault.
"DAMNIT! DAMNIT! DAMNIT!" Kamoshida bellowed in a rage as he flailed about in a rage, grabbing his riding crop and striking the ground furiously. "SLAVES! BRING ME MORE BALLS SO I CAN KILLSHOT THESE LITTLE SHITS!"
A second passed, and no one arrived, Kamoshida's grotesque visage took on what could only be described as a hint of fear. "WHAT?! WHERE THE HELL ARE MY SLAVES?!" he snapped, before glaring lividly at the thieves. "FINE! I'LL FINISH YOU OFF MYSELF!"
"Bring it, ya sonovabitch!" Skull shouted, his mace ready.
"I'd say you're running out of options, Kamoshida," Ace remarked.
"Oooh, let me help, King Kamoshida! Drink me up!" the cognition of Ann cheered from the wine glass. Kamoshida grinned, his tongue slithering about the glass as he picked it up.
"I THINK I WILL! DOWN THE HATCH!" Kamoshida declared, his fanged maw opening wide as he poured the wine and Ann's double down his throat, his long tongue slurping his fangs clean as he tossed the glass aside and a red light emanated from his body. "OHHHHH, YES~! YOU KNOW HOW TO GET ME GOIN' TAKAMAKI!" he shouted with a pleasured moan as his muscles bulked up once more, though moreso then last time and he proceeded to grab up his oversized fork and knife.
"That does it!" Panther snapped, reaching for her mask once more.
"Wait, with him all buffed up, brute force won't get us anywhere!" Mona stated.
"GRAAAAAAAAHHH!" Kamoshida slammed the fork down at the thieves, the ground shaking as the golden utensil embedded itself nearly skewering Ace as she leaped out of the wayy before the hideous monster yanked it back out and swung his arm, knocking Ace off her feet and across the room. "COME ON, YOU WERE ALL COCKY JUST A MOMENT AGO!" he roared.
"Ace!" Skull cried out as he and the others rushed towards her, pulling her behind a column.
"NO USE HIDIN'! I CAN DO THIS ALL DAY!" Kamoshida bellowed, a hideous grin spreading across his mouth full of fangs. Regaining her breath, Ace glanced over at Skull.
"Get to the balcony," she whispered.
"Huh?"
"The balcony. Get to the balcony and on my signal, go for the crown," she said, glancing up at the balcony overlooking the throne room that they'd used during their infiltration. "He got weaker after we took out the trophy. The same should go for the crown."
Skull looked back at where Ace was indicating, a grin spread on his face. "Ohhh, I see! No prob!" he said with a thumbs-up.
"The rest of us better keep Kamoshida distracted. Panther, you're our key to helping keep his attention while we pummel him!" Mona said.
"Ugh... seriously?" Panther protested. "Fine, just hope Skull can get it done fast."
"Alright, let's go," Ace said, getting back up and rushing at Kamoshida along with Mona and Panther. "CAIT SITH!" she shouted, and a red light briefly engulfed her body.
"ZORRO!" Mona shouted, firing a gust of cutting winds at the hulking beast that sat before them.
"CARMEN!" yelled Panther, gripping her mask as her Persona appeared, unleashing another fierce blast of flame.
"CAIT SITH!" Ace summoned her catlike Persona once more as it swung its blade, Ace's increased power managing to wound the demon even more.
Kamoshida let out a furious roar as he swung his long tongue at the three thieves, who quickly ducked out of its way. "NOW LISTEN UP!" he snarled, "THIS SCHOOL ONLY EXISTS BECAUSE I'M AROUND! YOU LITTLE PUNKS ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO DON'T RESPECT ME, YOU KNOW?!"
"Pfft. Yeah, whatever, man!" Skull scoffed from his hiding place behind the nearby column before leaping atop it, Ace noticed him out of the corner of her eye clinging to the balcony as he attempted to pull himself up and smirked slightly, turning her attention back on Kamoshida.
"A washed-up has-been no one else cares about?" Ace asked, glaring up at the demonic Shadow. "Why would anyone respect you?"
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH, BITCH!" Kamoshida bellowed, swinging his knife down at her, Ace leaping out of the way just in time as she touched her mask once more, Bicorn appearing and ramming Kamoshida in the chest and causing him to grunt in anger, but the attack did not seem to hurt as much due to his bulked state.
"Zorro!" Mona shouted, his Persona swinging its blade and Ace was bathed in a green light, giving her a second wind but Kamoshida had already turned his attention elsewhere.
"MMM-MMM-MMM! I BEEN WANTING TO GET A TASTE OF YOU~!" Kamoshida sneered as he looked down at Panther with a lustful gaze, his tongue slurping across his maw and making Panther wince and disgust.
"Take your best shot," she said, glaring him down as Kamoshida's long tongue shot out, Panther suddenly leaped into the air and swung her whip down, cracking it across Kamoshida's tongue and causing the hulking demon to scream out in agony, nursing his tongue with his remaining free hand.
"YOU LITTLE...! THIS HOW YOU REPAY MY KINDNESS?!" Kamoshida snarled.
"Your "kindness"?! I don't even want to think of how many girls whose lives you've ruined with your "kindness", Kamoshida!" Panther snapped as she landed back on the floor and whipped out her tommy gun, expending what she had left of its ammo as she opened fire on the demon.
"YOU'RE MISUNDERSTANDING IT ALL!" Kamoshida roared out indignantly as he reeled back from the shots. "I NEVER SEXUALLY HARASSED ANYONE!" He let out a low, lascivious chuckle. "...THEY ALL CAME ON TO ME! THEY WANTED TO GET ON MY GOOD SIDE! WOMEN ARE ALWAYS THIRSTY FOR SUCCESS STORIES LIKE ME!"
"Keep telling yourself that," Ace said with a glare, noticing Ryuji had finally managed to pull himself up on the balcony and ran behind a rose bush for cover.
"YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE, KIRIGIRI!" Kamoshida sneered, clicking his giant fork and knife together. "I COULDA TURNED YOUR WHOLE LIFE AROUND IF YOU WERE JUST WILLING TO PUT OUT A LITTLE!"
The demon suddenly froze as he looked around, noticing someone was missing. "WAIT A MINUTE?! WHERE'S SAKAMOTO?!
"NOW!" Ace shouted.
A shotgun blast rang through the air accompanied by a loud clang as Kamoshida's crown suddenly flew from his head, falling to the floor and and rolling away.
"Ha! Lose somethin', ya pervy piece'a shit?" Skull asked with a grin as he blew the smoke off the barrels of his gun from his vantage point.
"NOOOOO!" Kamoshida cried out, his muscles deflating back to their original state and utensils and riding crop falling from his hands as he reached in vain for the crown but his bloated form and weakened state leaving him unable to move. "I-I CAN'T! WITHOUT IT... NO!"
"DAMN that felt good!" Skull said, leaping down and rejoining the others as Kamoshida paid them no mind, staring longingly at his fallen crown that lay just out of reach.
"Let's finish him off!" Mona shouted, Ace, Panther, and Skull nodded in agreement, their weapons drawn as they leaped into the air as one, surrounding the dejected Kamoshida in a flurry of blows from all directions that he no longer had the will nor the strength to defend against before landing all around him. Kamoshida let out one last cry of agony before finally toppling forward with a great crash, smoke rising from his form and slowly engulfing it before it dissipated seconds later, leaving behind his defeated and once more human-looking Shadow in its kingly attire as it lay prone on the floor.
"Alright! We did it!" Mona cheered. Panther and Skull shared a high-five, and Ace glanced over at her celebrating teammates, a genuine smile appearing on her face before turning her attention back to the fallen crown that shrunk back down to a much smaller, normal size once more in a flash of light.
"N-no!" Kamoshida's voice suddenly cried out, the Shadow suddenly getting up and charging the crown, grabbing it up and rushing for the open windows leading to his tower's outdoor balcony. Seeing no way out, it became all too clear to Kamoshida he was now cornered as he turned and saw the thieves begin to approach.
"What's wrong?" Panther asked in an angry, condescending tone. "Not running away? I thought you were a great athlete, I'd think running would be easy for you."
Kamoshida growled angrily. "It's always been like this!" he snapped, clutching the crown to his chest and his face twisted into a look of indignant rage and desperation. "...All those goddamn hyenas forcing their expectations on me! After everything I did for them, what's so wrong about demanding a reward for that?!"
"You're making excuses?" Ace asked, folding her arms and glaring at him in disgust. "What you did to Suzui, to the volleyball teams you coached, to Ryuji, to so many others... Nothing excuses that," she said coldly.
"We're gonna take that distorted heart of yours whether you like it or not!" said Skull, cracking his knuckles.
Kamoshida let out a whimper as he stumbled back, nearly falling from the balcony before turning and looking in horror at the long drop waiting just behind him.
"Scared?" Panther hissed. "I bet you're seeing the same view Shiho did." She began to approach, hate in her voice as she glared daggers at him. "She was probably scared, too, but thought she had no choice but to jump. How about you? Will you jump, or die here? CARMEN!"
In a burst of blue light, Carmen rose up behind Panther, her mask vanishing and allowing Kamoshida to look not Panther but Ann Takamaki right in the eyes as her Persona raised its hands, flames hovering over them. Kamoshida cowered, a terrified look now on the once arrogant Shadow's face.
"Wanna finish him off? It's your call," Mona said.
"N-no! Please! Don't hurt me! I beg you!" Kamoshida pleaded, "PLEASE! FORGIVE ME!"
"Shut up," Ann snapped, her tone low and dangerous. "I can't imagine how many people told you the same thing... and still..." Tears formed in her eyes once more, her teeth grit as she felt all her rage come surging forth. "YOU WENT AND TOOK EVERYTHING FROM THEM!"
Carmen thrust her hands forward, twin blasts of flame flew straight at Kamoshida as he let out a frightened scream, cowering against the balcony in a fetal position. As the smoke cleared, however, Kamoshida was still there, trembling all over as he cradled the crown in his arms. He looked up, noticing the burn in the window frame inches away from him then looking back at Ann.
"I... I accept defeat," Kamoshida whimpered. "You want it? Take it!" he immediately bowed his head, tossing the crown over to Ace, who quickly caught it in her hands while Kamoshida fell to his knees. "Now finish me off," he said, tears forming in his golden eyes as he looked down at the floor. "If you do that... my real self will die, as well... you have that right, since you've won..."
Ann's breathing grew rapid, her hands balling into fists as she let out a feral scream, Carmen flung another blast of flame at Kamoshida, but once more, missed, only grazing his shoulder. "No," she said, Carmen slowly vanishing and Panther's catlike mask reforming over her face.
"You're kind, Lady Ann," Mona remarked, looking up at her.
"No, it's not that... If his mind shuts down, he can never confess to his crimes..."
Skull stared in shock, Ace's eyes widening noticeably. Indeed, the plan had not been to kill Kamoshida, but their friend's resolve was impressive nonetheless after what he'd put her through.
"Then I've... I've lost," Kamoshida whimpered, tears dripping from his eyes and his voice quivering. "...You're through... when you lose... What am I... supposed to do, now?"
"Atone," Ace said, gazing down at him.
"Alright..." Kamoshida looked up at her and the others, a soft smile on his face as light began to emanate from him, glowing brighter and engulfing his body as he spoke. "...I'll return to my real self, and make certain that I..."
In a bright flash, the Shadow of Kamoshida was gone.
A second later, an intense rumbling began to shake the castle.
"Hey, just so you know, we don't have time to waste!" Mona said urgently as chunks of the ceiling suddenly began to come down around them. "This Palace is about to collapse now that it's ruler is gone and we got the Treasure! Let's get back to the entrance!"
Bounding down the halls, Mona suddenly morphed back into a normal-looking cat, taking the lead as Ace, Panther, and Skull ran close behind.
"We're not gonna make it!" Panther protested as they fled down the crumbling hallway, hearing a loud grunt as she saw Skull trip and fall face first onto the floor. "Ryuji!" she quickly reached down, taking his arm.
"Sorry about that. Been a while since I'd run this fast!" Skull said with a smirk, getting up but then yelping as he saw the hall collapsing behind them.
"Let's go!" Ace called out, waiting for them to catch up before they all rushed for the open doors of the castle entrance, and were promptly engulfed in white nothingness...
"That... that sucked..." Ann gasped between breaths as she, Kyoko, Ryuji, and Morgana all stood in the alley near the Shujin entrance completely exhausted.
"H-hey! Check out... the nav!" Ryuji said, holding up his phone for Kyoko and Ann to see while Morgana slowly stood himself back up.
Ann took out her phone, and Kyoko hers, the Meta-Nav app was still on the screens but Kamoshida's name, the school, and the palace location were now replaced with a message that simply read "Deleted".
"The destination has been deleted," the Meta-Nav's voice said, as if to emphasize the point.
"It seems the Palace is truly gone," Kyoko said.
"And the Treasure?" Morgana asked, worried. "Tell me we have it!"
Kyoko felt something in her coat pocket, and pulled it out.
"What the...?!" Ryuji stared agape at the gold Olympic medal Kyoko was now holding in her hand.
"A medal? But where'd the crown go?" Ann asked, confused.
"Yeah, good point! What's goin' on, here?" Ryuji asked, looking down at Morgana.
"It means that is the source of Kamoshida's distorted desires," the cat explained. "To him, this medal is worth as much as that crown from the Palace."
"An Olympic gold medal, huh?" Ryuji asked.
"Winning it for Japan was the day he no doubt felt much like a king with all the praise and attention he received for it," Kyoko explained, examining the medal as she held it out. "...And he couldn't let go of that past glory no matter how much time had passed, leading to him becoming the entitled hedonist we came to know him as."
"Exactly," Morgana replied.
"But now that we got the Treasure, that means his heart will change, right?" Ann asked.
"Probably, yeah," Morgana said flatly.
"Hey! Our expulsion's on the line, here! And Kyoko here's in for way worse if this didn't work!" Ryuji protested.
"Hey, come on! This is the first successful example for me, too!" Morgana replied indignantly. "Though, for what it's worth, I'm certain this has affected Kamoshida's personality a lot! We saw the change in personality in his Shadow before it left, and the Palace has disappeared on top of that!"
"I'm seriously antsy, now!" Ryuji fumed. "Ain't there a way we can check 'em out?"
"Unfortunately, it looks like we have no choice but to wait," Kyoko said, pocketing the medal in her blazer.
"Yeah, true," Ann muttered.
"Come on, guys! We just completed a successful heist, here! Be a little happier!" Morgana protested.
"Yeah, but we still don't know if everything's okay, yet!" said Ryuji.
"I'm sure it'll be fine," Morgana explained. "Like I said, Kamoshida's Shadow changed after we beat him, and he said he's returning to self in the real world to atone? Suguru Kamoshida was unrepentant scum, but his Shadow clearly regained some of his conscience before disappearing. Furthermore, I think there's a lot of people who have been saved thanks to what you've done!"
"Yeah, you're right," Ryuji replied. "But at any rate, it all boils down to what's gonna happen to Kamoshida... or if we're gettin' expelled for real..."
A moment of silence passed between the small group before Kyoko turned and glanced at the setting sun. "For now, we should probably get home," she said, turning to head out of the alley, the others following as they reached the subways. As she prepared to board the train, Kyoko paused and turned towards her teammates... no, her friends... a small smile on her face. "Whatever happens next, Morgana is right... we did well. I'll hold hope for things to work out."
"Heh, yeah, back at ya!" Ryuji said, managing one of his goofy grins.
"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow!" Ann replied, smiling back and waving as Kyoko and Morgana made their way onto the train and were soon on their way back to Yongen-Jaya.
It had since gotten dark as Kyoko walked down the streets of Yongen-Jaya, the illumination of the stores and marketplaces, and the street lights framing the sidewalks providing all the light, now.
"It's nice to see you smile a little more," Morgana said as he peered out of Kyoko's bag.
"It's been some time since I have," the young detective replied as she made her way to the alley leading to where Leblanc was, pausing as she saw a boy about her age emerging from the door.
"Thanks again for the coffee!" he said with a smile, his tone polite, perhaps a little bit much so, as he closed the door behind him only to pause as he noticed he was being watched and stared back a moment in surprise.
He was a bit on the thin side and by Kyoko's guess maybe several inches taller then herself, though her heeled boots did give her some extra height. His hair was a light brown mop that framed his rather fair complexion and delicate features, and he wore a school uniform consisting of a khaki-colored peacoat over a white dress shirt with a striped tie, and black slacks and dress shoes, a red clip on his lapel that signified him as a third year. Black leather gloves covered his hands, his left carrying a metal briefcase with a large black A painted on the side.
A second passed, and the boy laughed nervously. "My apologies. You just... caught me by surprise is all!" he said, scratching the back of his head with his free hand. "Are you a regular, yourself? I would deduce you are not on your way to the bathhouse." he said, folding his arms and bringing his free hand to his chin.
"Something like that," Kyoko replied.
"Well, you've certainly got good taste," the boy said. "...Both the coffee and the atmosphere are quite wonderful."
"They are, yes, though I've not gotten the full experience, yet," Kyoko said, returning the gesture as she studied the boy before her.
"Well, at any rate, I should really get going. I actually have a rather busy night ahead of me!" the boy said, perhaps not wanting things to grow awkward and gave a polite bow. "I hope the rest of your evening goes well!" he said, heading off down the alley and towards the station, Kyoko watching as he left.
"Strange boy," Morgana mused from his spot in her schoolbag.
"Perhaps," Kyoko mused. "...Though intriguing..."
The matter settled, Kyoko walked over to the door and opened it, stepping in.
"Welcome back," Sojiro said with a smile as he cleaned some glasses at the counter when Kyoko walked in. "That kid you probably saw on your way in sure was a quiet one. Least he's polite. Kinda reminds me of you a little," he teased.
Kyoko glanced over, a neutral look on her face. Sojiro smirked and came around the counter. "You got some time? I wanted to ask you something."
Kyoko set her schoolbag on the nearby booth bench and folded her arms. "I do," she replied. Morgana slid his way out of Kyoko's bag, electing that they could probably use some privacy and made his way up to the attic.
"Well, for starters," Sojiro asked, leaning against the counter. "How's school been? You've been staying out of trouble?"
Kyoko gave a nod. "I've behaved," she replied.
"And so, you've apparently made some friends, too?" Sojiro asked. "Hope they've been a good influence on you."
"They have, yes," Kyoko answered.
"Good to know," Sojiro replied. "I still have to report to your probation officer twice a month, and it's already a pain in the ass as is, so I hope that doesn't change. I don't think I need to tell the grand daughter of a renowned detective that our society is kept in check by laws and authority figures."
Sojiro let out a sigh. "Look, I get it, that sense of justice your grandfather put in you is admirable, and it meant you just couldn't turn away from what you saw. You simply had to do something, right? Well, sometimes... even when you try and do the right thing, it doesn't always go the way you hope, and you wind up dragging other people into the mess that's left behind."
Kyoko glanced down, memories from years ago coming back to her. "I'm no stranger to that, sir. But I still feel-"
"What you feel, isn't always what's good for you. Now personally I think that story they spun that got you arrested is a load of nonsense. A girl like you, at the top of her classes at a gifted school and having an otherwise spotless reputation with the most exclusive prep school in the country ahead of you, just up and assaulting a man like that?" Sojiro asked. "But it doesn't really matter what one person thinks, does it? Only what the law and the ones that enforce it believe. It is what it is and all you can do is try to come out of it as clean as possible. Step out of line, framed or not, it'll be all over for you."
Kyoko scowled, once more hearing things not so different from what her grandfather had told her before she'd boarded the train to come here in the first place.
Before Sojiro could speak further, his phone suddenly chimed, his frustration seemed to quickly melt away as he looked at the screen and answered, a smile once more on his face.
"Hey, what's up?" he asked, his smile faded a second later, however. "Oh? What's wrong? ...Oh, sure thing. I'll head out in just a moment... Sorry about that." Sojiro's concerned look soon returned to a smile as he chuckled lightly. "I know, the usual, right? I'll see you soon."
Hanging up and pocketing his phone, Sojiro noticed Kyoko was watching him and folded his arms. "As you can see, I'm pretty damn busy both at work and in my private life..."
"What do you mean?" Kyoko asked.
"Well, you definitely impressed me with how well you cleaned up the other night," Sojiro said with a smile, the phone call seeming to have improved his mood once more. "So if you could lend a hand like we discussed, that would be a really great help."
Kyoko gave a faint smile and nodded. "I would be glad to. You've done a lot by taking me in."
Sojiro chuckled lightly. "Now we're talking. And don't worry, I won't ask you to work for free. If you agree to help out around here," he paused a moment to think, then smirked. "I'll show you how to make the perfect cup of coffee. I remember our conversation from your first day of school, you were quite knowledgeable of the blend I used. But knowing your coffee and making coffee are two very different things."
"You'd show me?" Kyoko asked, blinking in surprise.
"Let's just say, you'll have your grandfather investigating you to find out my secrets when you head back," Sojiro replied. "So how about it? Not a bad trade, huh?"
Kyoko nodded once more, bringing her hand up to her chin as her smile grew ever so slightly, glad to see Sojiro opening up to her some more. "...I would like that."
Sojiro smirked again. "...Then it looks like we've got ourselves a deal."
?/?
Kyoko nursed the bruises on her wrists from where she'd been cuffed, the pain had faded some more but she still felt queasy and dazed from the drugs as she sat at the table, Niijima continued to sit across from her, an eagle's gaze in her eyes as she looked down at the girl before her.
"You may call yourself a phantom thief. Hell, you were a detective before this, weren't you? But no matter what title you were wearing at the time, you were still just a minor nonetheless. Pretty far from your grandfather's estate, too. Someone was looking after you and would have had to support you..."
Kyoko simply looked away, remaining silent.
"Furthermore, they clearly knew you were a part of that group, didn't they?" the lawyer asked.
Kyoko gave no response, continuing to look away.
"Isn't the owner of that café an accomplice of yours?" Niijima asked sharply. Her question immediately gaining the teen's attention...
4/21
The gentle voice once more spoke in Kyoko's head as time around her seemed to stop.
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 Hierophant Persona
I have obtained the winds of blessing that
Shall lead to freedom and new power
The sound of chain breaking entered Kyoko's mind as time seemed to return to normal.
"I'll be counting on your help," Sojiro said with a smile. "I'm gonna go get ready to head home. You can start with cleaning up the rest of those dishes. It's a bit late to test your coffee prowess since you still got school tomorrow and I want you asleep at a normal hour, but we'll give that a shot another time."
A short while later, Sojiro had returned with his coat and hat, Kyoko had since turned to washing the dishes, the water having given her hands some relief as she worked on the last plate.
"Heh, I owe you one," Sojiro said.
"It was the least I can do, Boss," Kyoko replied. "I will not disappoint you."
Sojiro smiled, giving a nod. "I'll be counting on you, then. Just keep doing what you can, and stay out of trouble. Just lock up once I'm out and I'm sure I don't need to tell you don't go too overboard with the stuff in the shop."
"Of course not," Kyoko said. "I would never impose."
"I'm glad to hear it," Sojiro replied. "You can head on upstairs or study, whatever you want once you're finished up. I'll see you tomorrow."
With that, Sojiro made his way to the door and headed outside, locking it behind him as he made his way home.
"It's been quite a day, hasn't it?" Morgana asked, the hint of a smile on the cat's face.
Kyoko had just finished changing and getting ready for bed, sliding her sleeping gloves on and letting down her hair braids as she suddenly heard her phone chiming. Picking it up, she noticed a message from Ann in the chat.
[Thanks again. I finally got to avenge Shiho thanks to you guys.] the message read.
[I doubt I could have done anything on my own. So seriously. Thanks. I owe you so much!] she'd added.
-You should be proud of yourself, too. Kyoko replied.
-Ryuji and Morgana as well. We all took him down together, she added.
[You're right, I'll have to thank Ryuji too. He's probably asleep by now! And thanks, Morgana!] Ann replied.
[Can he see this?]
"Mweh-heh-heh! I sure can!" Morgana said chuckling. "Thanks, Lady Ann!"
Kyoko glanced down at the cat for a second then typed away.
-Morgana says thank you. He appreciates it.
[Great to know!] Ann replied.
[Still, that cognitive world, it was so crazy!] she mused.
[It's such a mysterious place, too. I can't believe we actually stole someone's heart!]
[Speaking of mysterious, I noticed how Morgana turned back to a regular cat before we were out of the Palace?]
Morgana fawned as he read the text. "Lady Ann... she's so sharp! I'm impressed!" he swooned, gaining a brief stare from Kyoko. "Um... understand, in a Palace, the Treasure changes the shape of things, since it's the source of the distortion. Once it's gone, that power goes away with it!"
"Interesting," Kyoko replied, bringing her hand to her chin as she looked at Morgana then at her phone's screen.
"...Of course, it's also because of how incredibly skilled I am!" Morgana added. "Pretty amazing, huh?"
Kyoko raised an eyebrow, curious of what Morgana was trying to get at with his add-on, before looking back at her screen.
-He says it's because he's skilled, she texted.
[Oh, right, yeah. He's reading the messages, too.] Ann replied.
[I definitely feel better now after talking to you.]
[We may not know the results yet, but it feels like a big weight's off my shoulders, now.]
[Hope you don't mind talking to me too much. It's just nice to have another girl to talk to, again, and be totally honest with.]
Kyoko paused a moment, thinking about the time she and Ann had first gotten to know one-another a little, when she was at rock bottom. Kyoko wasn't much the consoling type, but she'd managed to give her what she needed, then. She tried to think of the best way to respond.
-Yes. It is nice, she replied.
[Totally! Well, I'll see you at school tomorrow. Night!]
"Meowww... Lady Ann..." Kyoko heard Morgana talking to himself again. "Maybe when I become a human again, I can spend more time getting to know her, too!"
He noticed Kyoko's stare. "R-right! It's getting late and I'm sure we're all tired from taking down Kamoshida. We should probably get to bed!"
"Of course," Kyoko said, she was exhausted and just wanted to sleep, now. Switching off the lights and climbing under the covers, Kyoko plugged her phone into its charger and lay back, staring at the dark ceiling and listening to the faint sounds outside.
They had accomplished their mission, all she and her friends could do now, is wait...
A/N: And at long last, the heist is done! Hope everyone's enjoyed this chapter and the story so far. I'll update again when I can get around to it and decide what will happen next chapter, likely more Confidants.
The Fool: Rank 2
The Magician: Rank 2
The Hierophant: Rank 1
The Lovers: Rank 1
The Chariot: Rank 2
Death: Rank 1
Kyoko's Personas: Agathion, Bicorn, Cait Sith, Succubus, Saki Mitama