Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.
7/2
Hakuno barely made it to class before the first bell, she had slept in slightly. Checking the group chat on the way there, apparently Makoto had cracked the lock on the briefcase and it was full of fake money.
Seems though that Ryuji and Ann were going to sell the briefcase somewhere. Probably to Iwai.
Hakuno sighed as classes began…
Hakuno wasn't at one hundred percent, but she didn't like the idea of putting off Futaba's Palace…
She knew she was close to finishing Futaba's Palace, and if she finishes it fast enough then the rest of the Thieves won't have to worry… She can make up an excuse why it's gone later.
Hakuno stocked up on cheap medicine she could get at the convenience store in Shibuya and stocked up on a few more smoke bombs from Iwai before heading on out.
Two large statues stood sitting in thrones, green crystals floated lazily… From her understanding when you get closer to the Treasure then the distortion gets heavier…
Making a large use of her personal stash of smoke bombs Hakuno avoided most of the Shadows… Unluckily, one of their gazes pierced the smoke as she was rounding a nearby corner.
The Shadow split into three owls with human bodies that sported large wings… Andras most likely. As a marquis of hell Hakuno believes he would have a strong resistance to her Cursed Magic. And a quick test proved that they were either immune or highly resistant...
Hakuno barely dodges a claw that vaguely reminds her of Avenger's own attacks…
Maybe they have similar skills?
If she can't hide from them then… She has to kill them fast before they fear her…
"Flames of Love and Hate!" Avenger dashed forward as the Spheres of Almighty smashed into the Shadows, Hakuno was barely feeding the Skill as it was a bit… overkill as they are normal Shadows.
She is just going to have to watch her step better… somehow.
Hakuno had managed to barely reach the top of the statues, walking on light again was something she didn't care much for… But Hakuno had a feeling it wouldn't be the last time.
Futaba's Shadow was standing in her path. Hakuno hasn't seen a look of pure annoyance mixed with exasperation since she saw Rin back in the Moon Cell… Futaba's Shadow just shook her head and disappeared…
Glancing up she saw a Will Seed Room. A Shadow had a red aura as it stood guard. From what the rest of the Thieves discussed, it wouldn't bother her unless she made motions to enter the room and add in that the one protecting the last Will Seed in Kaneshiro's was powerful..
But…
Hakuno was curious. What would be the next twisted memory of her friend?
Removing an Idaten Ofuda that she found earlier in the pyramid Hakuno felt her speed rise as Avenger sprung forward and ripped the mask off of the Shadow, a huge black stone obelisk floated gently above the ground. Red lines formed vaguely female forms on each side.
Purple energy roared around the Shadow as Avenger blasted it with Eiga knocking it to the ground.
Curse weakness?
The Shadow floated up as huge blasts of ice froze the area forcing Hakuno to jump back down onto the Statue's head. The Shadow was firing Bufula rapidly forcing Hakuno to counter with her own Eigas, the Ofuda giving her just enough speed to dodge the few she couldn't hit.
A lot stronger than she would have thought… Twisted blue lines seared across her skin as Hakuno pushed Avenger forward.
"Flames of Love and Hate!" Almighty smashed into the obelisk knocking it into the wall, She knew better to let up!
"Eiga! Eiga! Keep at it, Count!" Hakuno's head pounded as Avenger drained her pools of energy, blasting the obelisk until it layed on the floor.
The Shadow grunted as it fired a final wisp of ice at the pair in pure stubbornness before it started to flake…
She was only clipped once and she felt like she might have died from that shot alone…
Standing in front of the Will Seed door Futaba's Shadow appeared.
"This memory… will show how bad her view has been corrupted." Hakuno nodded as she pushed the doors open…
Grabbing the blue skull the world shifted.
Hakuno and Futaba were sitting in Big Bang Burger, Futaba had her long orange hair… 2012?
"Haku… do you think my mom loves me?"
"Hmm… I don't know. She does seem to be constantly annoyed."
"Oh…" Futaba was hiding her eyes behind her large glasses, "I just.. She got so mad at me I know I was asking for the impossible but she is my Mom!"
"Futaba, I don't care much about your mom, She has always looked at you like a disappointment."
"... What?"
"Maybe-"
Cursed flames blanketed the area as Hakuno forced Avenger to tear through the memory.
This… is not how that happened at all.
The light beam reached another mural, Hakuno's headache was rising slightly as she fixed the mural…
It was a scene of Futaba pulling Wakaba's shirt. A Blue wing was in the right corner while a Red wing was in the left corner… Futaba's computer was sitting on the floor… Wakaba was scowling…
"...Mom? I'm tired of eating dinner alone all the time. It's always just convenience store bentos…I wanna go somewhere…. Take me on a trip!" WRONG
Wakaba brought Futaba over anytime she would be forced to stay by herself when they were kids…
"Don't be so selfish! You know I'm working hard to support you right!?"
It also didn't show the part right after the part that they were planning to go on vacation after her research was done…
The light shifted and pierced the mural stabbing into the final barrier.
The locking mechanism beeped and shifted out of the way, jumping down. She was so tired…
"I killed her… so I must die… that's why I am in this tomb." Hakuno ignored Futaba's Shadow. "But… you know the truth don't you?"
Hakuno made it to the door as it slid open… another barrier… Caution tape surrounded it with a sigh that stated Private Do not Enter!
It was Futaba's door in the real world.
"I'm surprised you made it this far…"
"You know how stubborn I can get…"
"Beyond here lies the Pharaoh's Chamber. You need her permission to open this door. It won't be easy… Neither the Monster nor Guard will make it easy."
… So Futaba has to let her in? Futaba's Shadow disappeared…
Black ink swirled in front of her as a large sarcophagus appeared blocking the door, a blue and red arm reached out as Avenger flew forward cursed flames doing nothing against the coffin.
Hakuno barely got nicked from a blast of Almighty Magic…
Immune to Curse and has Almighty Magic… Hakuno felt her headache grow worse…
"Avenger!" Avenger slashed at the Coffin while she used her gun's pulse to hit it… It took minimal damage but it was hurt. She will just have to rely on Terror Claw then…
Claw after claw, Curse and Almighty magic rained down on Hakuno… Avenger being her Servant/Persona gave her some resistance to Curse… Dodging Almighty while blocking Curse led to a strange dance as she bit into another Life Stone, the stone healing her body slowly.
"Time to finish this! Flames of Love and Hate!" Almighty magic screamed into the coffin as it was pushed into the Cognitive Wall, both sides slowly erasing it from existence… Black flakes signified its death…
Hakuno had just left Futaba's Palace for the night. Her mind was completely exhausted… Appearing in front of Futaba's door, she checked the time and realized just how late it was…
Multiple Calls and texts from Ann as well…Hakuno slowly made her way towards the station. If she hurried she would make the last train.
Was it supposed to be this cold? Hakuno shivered in the cold air.
Her headache was growing worse. She could see Leblanc the sign flipped closed… Her steps became slightly uneven…
And then all she could see was the ground coming right at her.
Akira's phone was freaking out, he was sure he turned it off before he started this trial…Unknown Caller?
"Inmate! You are with Death correct?"
"Caroline? If you mean Takemi… then yes?"
"Take her to your home immediately! This is an order!"
"What? Why?"
"We are already overstepping our boundaries as Wardens…Just do as you are told." The phone clicked as Morgana came screeching into the office.
?
Hakuno awakened slowly, her mind hazy and body extremely warm… Seems she overtaxed herself… in the Metaverse all she had was a headache but it seems that she caused actual damage to herself this time… She felt pin pricks going down her Magic Circuits.
"Rescuing a girl and laying her in your bed? You're going to owe me for my silence, you know?" A feminine voice? Slightly Familiar?
"She is a friend." Male voice. Extremely familiar… Akira?
"I know… just teasing. She is the girl you had me write that note for isn't she? She has a high-fever…When she wakes up make sure she takes a few of these." Hakuno vaguely heard something being shaken. "You probably should take her to a regular Hospital if this happens again, you know?"
Hakuno heard the other person sigh, "I trust you more than a random doctor."
"I'm awake…" Vision was blurry, dull aching pain sprouted from behind her eyes. She smelled coffee and curry Leblanc then. She struggled to sit up…
"No no no, you need to lay down. You're not going anywhere young lady." Gentle hands pushed her back down…
"Takemi?"
"Yes yes, your lovely doctor Takemi. You sure are lucky the cat found you..."
Morgana had found her?
"Now the little Guinea Pig will make sure you take it easy. I don't want to have to write another doctor's note for you." The sounds of creaking wood was the only real sign of the doctor's departure.
Akira and Morgana were giving her looks of pure exasperation.
It looked… strange on a cat's body.
"So are you going to tell us why we found you passed out?" Hakuno rolled over to hide her face, she really didn't know how to explain how she went behind the team's back to try and help Futaba.
"Hakuno, we are just trying to help." Hakuno felt a soft paw arm.
"Akira… you really need to wash your sheets more often."
"... Don't try and change the subject."
Hakuno sat up, the world became fuzzy for a moment before clearing, "I overused my circuits, turns out in the real world it can cause a lot more drawbacks then I expected."
"And just why were you using them right after leaving Boss's house?" Morgana must have seen her leave… "You're lucky Akira and Takemi were doing some trials or else she would have been long gone by now."
"Hakuno… You were in Futaba's Palace weren't you?"
Hakuno sighed before nodding slowly.
"Hakuno, why."
"She needs help."
"We know that but you're going to kill yourself!" Morgana spat out.
"I know my limits now."
"... How far did you go?" Morgana asked.
"... I think I can send a Calling Card."
"Did you ever intend to ask for help?" Akira pushed.
Hakuno's silence spoke louder than anything she could say. What could she say… "I could escape if it comes to it."
Akira sighed as he glanced at Morgana, "Can you keep an eye out for Boss?"
Morgana huffed, "I'll be back…" He jumped out of the open window.
"Hakuno. We are a team aren't we?"
"I can't just let her stay like that. She needs help now."
"...How bad is it?"
"Her… Palace is made of her Distorted Memories, parts of her past keep changing as her memories warp to her new … darker perspective."
"We could have postponed going into Kaneshiro's Palace by a few days, the deadline is still far off."
"It would have been too risky, too many people could have gotten hurt." Hakuno said, "Who knows if he wouldn't have jumped the gun."
"But you got hurt. Hakuno… remember this isn't the Moon Cell all your friends are ready to help you. It's fine to ask for help."
"Kaneshiro… came first, he was the bigger threat to everyone. Futaba is my friend… I couldn't save my friends before but now I have a chance." Hakuno knew deep down it was a completely different situation.
There was no threat of instant deletion at the end of the week… but seeing Futaba's distorted memories hearing the Cognitive Wakaba scream and curse? Futaba might do something she regrets sooner than later. How could she not try and help her?
Akira sighed, "Hakuno…" he gave her a sad look, "I like to think the Phantom Thieves are like a family, a group that is willing to help each other through thick and thin." He paused before continuing, "I understand losing people is hard… But losing yourself in the process to save someone just isn't right."
Hakuno felt her body deflate the arguments for her recklessness she herself couldn't put into words... Hakuno's journey inside Lunar Seraph was one of survival… and here she was risking her life. Yes, Futaba was a dear and important friend… but wasn't she betraying her current friends by doing it herself? Why was she rushing so fast? Why didn't she bother with getting help?
Was… it because she didn't value the bonds she has made in this world? Was it because she knows that this is one world of many? Or was it that she viewed her bond with Futaba as the more important bond?
If only she had her actual Servants to help her with this…
…
Does she not truly trust that the Phantom Thieves have her back? Is that the reason? Hakuno sighed, she needs to work on that… trusting the Thieves in fights when the only people before she fought followed her every command. Now she was the one that followed… She is going to have to work on this.
"I.. understand." She needs to value this life, the bonds she has made with her new friends and teammates. She will need to find a way to build a stronger connection to the rest of the Thieves.
"For now, just focus on getting rest…" Akira sighed, "and Ann is pretty pissed…" Morgana whooshed back into the room from the open window.
"Boss is almost here, are you guys done?"
"Yeah Morgana, I think it's over…" Hakuno got off the bed, her head was slightly woozy but she should be fine… "Akira was just trying to cement his position as the Dad of the group…"
Morgana snorted before bursting out in laughter.
Akira rolled his eyes, "Good luck explaining to Boss why you're still here."
"Sojiro actually likes me and Morgana though?" Hakuno pointed out, technically it was a lie, as Boss was a bit more hands off on Akira then the Not-a-Cat and her. Akira looked offended.
"I swear I'll get him on my side one day…"
Hakuno paused, the downstairs bell rang as an exhausted Sojiro walked up the steps, "Kid, you should really pay attention to the time…"
"Sorry Boss…" Hakuno had a soft smile, "I was just helping Akira with some studying… We have exams coming up," Akira's face morphed into one of shock, "I then fell asleep as the trains were wrapping up for the day…"
Sojiro glared at Akira before sighing, "You need your kōhai to teach you?" Akira was sputtering as Morgana was laughing, "You're that desperate? Why didn't you invite that Niijima girl over instead? She seemed to have her head on straight."
Akira paused as he smirked, "Makoto was busy, and Hakuno was already in the area… Weren't you spending time with Futaba?"
Hakuno nodded, "You could say that…"
Sojiro rolled his eyes, "Come on, you can sleep on the couch. I already warned Futaba… Damn kids these days…"
The door creaked open, it was after midnight as Futaba snuck downstairs to get some hot water for her ramen.
She passed by the living room and paused, ever so slowly she walked towards the couch spotting a mess of brown hair…
Futaba watched.
And watched.
Futaba slowly poked the sleeping girl's cheek. Seeing no reaction, Futaba debated internally on what to do.
She saw Sojiro's text, but she wasn't expecting her to actually be here. That plus the voices have been silent since this morning made it… an actual good day? She looked over Hakuno…
She hasn't changed at all over the last few years. Maybe longer hair?… She glanced down at herself, she hasn't either… not really sense the end of elementary school…
Hakuno stirred slightly before she rolled over. Futaba quickly scrambled into the kitchen, seeing no further movement she sighed in relief. Ramen! Then games!
Author's Note: Hakuno Collapses! Little Squirrel did her best but man she will get breaks soon! She is nowhere near as strong as she was in the Moon Cell... She will learn to take better care of her bonds.
Futaba investigates sleeping Hakuno! Also, there will be an actual break for all of them after Futaba's Palace for a while.
