Disclaimer: Fate and Persona are owned by different companies, and I hold no ownership and all that jazz.
7/22
Hakuno begrudgingly woke up, she had been reading the book she and Akira had found… Something felt slightly different about today though… She was uncertain what exactly it was, so she brushed it off for now. Taking a look at her phone, she noticed a few texts.
ART: I have completed your pieces, Do you wish to have them now?
Hakunon: Yes… we can meet up at Leblanc? I'll buy you some dinner. Thank you once more, Yusuke.
ART: Apologies, but I will be busy later today Ryuji intends to teach me the art of fishing. But I can leave them with Futaba and Boss.
Hakunon: Thank you...
"Hey, Hakuno!" Ann approached her, a newly formed fire danced in her eyes, and a faint sense of at ease came from the blonde-haired girl.
"So I was thinking… Avenger has cool fire, Carmen does as well… You think we should try and combine them?"
Hakuno mulled it over, "I don't know if my fire and yours are compatible his is more like… cold?… But, you did give me an idea that can relate to that…"
Hakuno had a few ideas that could relate to her cousin's flames, the flames that burned so bright and dazzling that Hakuno just knew that she would fall in love.
Perhaps that's why she found that book? It was in a way Nero's play, in this world at least, a fiction of the girl who swung the sword made of the meteors forged by the first flame of mankind, an insane fantasy.
But… it reminded Hakuno of fonder times, both Tamamo and Nero's flames would synergize well with Ann's own, now… how to go about it?
"So… here's a few ideas."
Hakano arrived at Leblanc seeing the outside of the shop from the alley she paused. She had pushed off the time until it was early in the evening. Several emotions were in her mind. Was she ready for this? Would making a shrine for her fallen friends help her?
She still gets flashes of alternate versions of herself. They have calmed down since obtaining Avenger… she had been able to avoid overthinking about it lately due to just how busy the group is…
But her world has calmed, no pressing issue, school is almost out, and her friend is back to normal. And now…
Now she just had to deal with starting a shrine, something gnawing at the back of her mind wished Yusuke would have put it off for some reason. But the artist was loyal to his friends, his ideals, and to his very person. All the Phantom Thieves were in a way, the friend group was incredibly tightly knit.
Futaba would fit right in, given some more time, she wouldn't be surprised to see her being with them all. While Sojiro complains about them, she knew deep dow-
She was distracting herself from what she needed to do. Hakuno shook her head, pushing the wild thoughts away. She herself was even unsure of why she became so hesitant.
She even decided to buy the shrine already, she herself was uncertain how many Yusuke bought… so she picked one that could hold a decent amount of pictures…
And of course frames for the paintings, she didn't want the starving artist to pay for that. Even if Makoto was helping the guy to budget. Hakuno had a feeling that he still will spend 99% of his money on art.
The sign for Leblanc was closed, Hakuno tested the handle and it opened right away, "Yo." Futaba waved.
Futaba and Akira were waiting inside, he was adding something to the curry, as Futaba was sitting on the bar at her laptop, a small package sat on the bar next to it. "Inari left it here, he couldn't stay too long. Something about a magazine and fishing."
"The Weekly Brush." Akira added, "Sojiro had to do something about him being our guardian… Not too sure when he will be back."
"He was arguing with a hot lady with long silver hair," Futaba added, "He'll be fine though, it's Sojiro after all." Sounded vaguely like Sae… was it her? Hakuno sighed, it was strange that Sae was the one involved with their custody… Wasn't she a prosecutor?
Hakuno placed a hand on the package of pictures, it was wrapped in simple parcel paper, a small ribbon tying it all together, she hesitated as her fingers traced the ribbon. How close to what they really looked like would these be?
"Hey… are you sure you want to do this?" Futaba's voice was softer than the old AI had ever heard and it snapped her back into focus, even Akira was glancing at the duo now that the curry was set to a simmer.
Hakuno shrugged, she wasn't too sure herself. But… She had to face this music, didn't she? "Nero would… tell me I'm being ridiculous, Tamamo might have burned the pictures… Then they would get into an argument," She could just imagine the pair, sword dancing to an invisible beat while a floating mirror threw the blade off its track.
Hakuno pulled the ribbon as it became undone, beyond camera level quality picture of Nero was on top, "She was there in the beginning, her flaming sword cutting down the doll that stood before me, holding out her hand she asked if I was her Master before I fainted."
Hakuno felt a small hand on her arm, orange hair cascaded down her arm as Futba rested her head on her shoulder. "How about you tell us some stories?" Akira spoke as he cleaned his glasses, "Nothing heavy, just… a few fun moments?"
Hakuno smiled softly, "Yeah… I would like that."
"And then Cu Chulainn materialized calling Rin a pervert." Hakuno had lost track of time, her stories coming out as a waterfall of emotions, the similarities between Nero's long play and the book she had found, Tamamo's practicing of the castration fist… That one had Akira flinch.
"Wait… So you just let Rin feel you up?" Futaba piped up before mumbling something under her breath…
"Hot." Akira said, a glint in his eyes.
Hakuno felt cheeks warm slightly, "Well… I still wasn't fully myself for a few days…Even after that, I wasn't really me until the second week."
Yusuke had far outdone himself, the descriptions she had given them were not… the clearest, her inability to remember exact details and it wasn't like she covered every part of their bodies…
"Dan…" The grizzled old man looked slightly more heroic in the painting, "When I was poisoned by Robin's arrows he sat beside my bed in Sakura's office and told me stories of his life with his wife, their times in gardening…" The bell jingled.
"Kid you-" Sojiro spoke, "Oh, Hakuno-chan, Futaba your still here?"
Futaba smirked, "Just getting some nice lore." Akira had passed out a few plates of the curry…
Did it smell… different?
Sojiro's expression went from his normal smirk to a quick scowl in half a second, "Kid…"
Hakuno took a bite, it tasted good, something was different than the typical recipe that gave it a bigger kick Hakuno had a vague remembrance of a certain priest…
Futaba jumped over the counter, to the refrigerator throwing the door open she grabbed milk? But it wasn't that spicy… Hakuno actually enjoyed it more than what he normally brings in the Metaverse…
Hakuno shrugged as she kept eating, "Did you deviate?" Sojiro's voice sounded pissed.
"I followed my heart…" Akira picked up a spoonful and brought it to his nose, he flinched. Futaba shoved the spoon into his mouth.
"EAT THE FIRE!" He was gagging.
"I think it tastes good…" Hakuno mumbled as Sojiro slumped.
Hakuno felt eyes on her as she left Leblanc, glancing around she couldn't see anyone… Hakuno fiddled with her Garu ring.
If worst comes to it…
7/23
A tiny spark, the faint smell of incense hung in the air, and eight picture-no paintings dotted the shrine, so life-link that they would easily be mistaken for pictures. All were wearing slightly different expressions, but all seemed so at peace.
A light blue shard glowed, and a small charm with a red string hung loosely from a chime.
A quiet clap, then the closing of a door symbolized the only human having left the room.
Pirateboi: Heeeeey when we goin to sushi
Makoto: I did say we were didn't I…
Catburglar: Come on Makoto! School just let out!
Makoto: Fine. Futaba did you want to come?
MemeQueen: SUSHI!?
Hakunon: But people.
MemeQueen: …
Tricky&Kitty: Can ya do it?
Pirateboi: You were fine with me an Ann!
MemeQueen: We watched movies!
Catburglar: So?
MemeQueen: Mrrrrrr… I can try.
ART: Free sushi?
Hakunon-MemeQueen
Hakunon: Im proud of you.
"How would I know that it would be closed today!?"
Hakuno sighed, they stood outside of the sushi shop that Ryuji had looked into a large closed sign hung on the door.
"I just looked on their page it was posted a week ago!" Ann and Ryuji were arguing now.
The sushi place turned out to be closed for the day because the owner's adopted daughter had just gotten married. Hakuno was paying attention but Futaba dragged her to the side for a moment as she saw a Feathman poster.
"I know someone that might help." Akira pulled out his phone, "Hey… Lala-Chan?" Hakuno feels like she heard that name from somewhere… Perhaps Akira had mentioned her?
"Thanks, I'll be in at 6 tomorrow… Yes, I can make time. See you then." Akira sighed, "Got a place, let's head to Jinbocho."
Akira's place in Jinbocho was … interesting? It was a Sushi restaurant… But…
The place looked way more expensive.
"How?" Hakuno was the only one who seemed to find her voice. Hakuno was fairly sure that you would need a reservation for this place.
"I have my ways," Akira smirked.
Due to… how upper class, the shop was pretty quiet at this time of night, Futaba was scarfing down sushi left and right with no regard, only being outpaced by Ryuji in pure speed of eating.
"Is.. this ok? I-I don't see any prices listed here…" Yusuke sounded worried… which from what she could think, the price for just the sushi on his plate was worth more than his entire monthly budget of food.
"It's called market price, Don't worry 'bout it; we got the cash!" Ryuji exclaimed, Hakuno sighed before leaning towards Makoto.
"Do we?"
Makoto nodded slowly before whispering, "Should be fine… nothing left over for new gear though, even less so for Futaba…"
"Nah, I don't need gear, Necro is full support. No front lines for me." Hakuno wasn't too sure how Futaba managed to speak with a mouthful of sushi…
The chef was glaring at them…
"Soooooooo goooooooood~"
Hakuno tossed a piece of sushi toward the not-a-cat in Akira's bag, he caught it with ease.
It was dark when they left the restaurant. Exiting the place Hakuno could briefly hear the chef complaining about 'Lala-Chan'. Hakuno hopes that they didn't push their luck too far…
The sushi was great though but the fact of market prices plus the fees for the restaurant Hakuno labeled this as an experience that she probably won't have again. The streets were bare allowing Hakuno to watch as Futaba bounced around, she seemed still slightly nervous, but the orange-haired hacker had opened up with the thieves in their own little hangouts.
The streetlights flickered, and Hakuno had an uneasy feeling… "Guys…" The rest of the group didn't seem to have her feeling and were still chatting happily. Hakuno idly noticed that they were close to the store where she bought her book from.
Then the street lights went out.
Some- Makoto and Futaba screamed.
Hakuno felt something was coming, "Circle up! Futaba and Makoto in the middle!" Akira shouted, her eyes quickly adjusted to the change of light.
Akira, Yusuke, Ryuji, and Ann kept Makoto and Futaba behind each of them, Morgana's eyes shined his Cat-biology granting him a bit of dark vision.
Hakuno saw a blur dash from the building, she can smell a heavy smell of copper coming from the bookstore. "It's from the bookstore!" Morgana hissed.
It was human. Tall, unnervingly tall, "mOre FOoD? oh MY... buT I'm to FulL Now…" Hakuno felt the person's eyes on her. "oH THerE'S ThE TASty MORSEl! EvEn thE wOlF wAS gOiNG to LOok fOR yOU! COuldN'T haVE lEt tHAt HaPpEeeEnNNn~"The voice cackled.
Hakuno couldn't make out a face, nor pinpoint if she had ever heard or seen this thing with a feminine voice. The person dashed towards them, she knew she had to defend her friends.
The wind whirled as Hakuno's Garu slammed toward the person. Who from some twisted miracle dodged. "How Did You dO thAt? food fIghTING back ThOugH? NAugHTY NauGhTY!"
Hakuno could hear distant voices.
The person was too close! Morgana pounced his claws shining as he dug into what sounded like porcelain, "Stay away from my friends!" The being grabbed Morgana and threw him to the side the human-cat grunted in pain.
"Morgana!" someone shouted.
Wind smashed into them, the person staggered as flashlights came from the side, "Freeze!" Three lights flashed onto the figure and Hakuno can now see them clearly.
Short curly hair, a clown mask, and wearing some strange sort of mascot costume with black and purple boots making the already tall woman even taller. Her head tilted at the police who seemed just as unnerved as the Phantom Thieves were.
A glint of steel was poking from her overly long sleeves, the black, green, and white not even hiding the dripping blood. "tO manY pEOpLE... BYE bye fooD! CYa SoON!" She moved like a ragdoll as she sprinted at speeds that Hakuno has only seen in the Metaverse or the Moon Cell down more alleys.
The cops gave chase, "Stay here kids!" One cop stayed behind as the two other officers went chasing after them.
Hakuno knelt down beside Futaba who was now in the fetal position. "WHAT WAS THAT!" Ann shouted at the cop who took a step back.
"Morgana, are you ok?" Morgana stood up unsteadily, his legs appeared to be buckling as Akira picked him up. Morgana puffed up his chest before coughing.
"Why are you kids out at this time of night?" The cop tried to sound calm and strict but his voice betrayed his attempt. Unease was clearly in his voice.
"Who was that?" Akira's voice wasn't calm as he had a hand on Makoto who still seemed to be shaken from the lights being out.
"None of your business, call your parents and get home." Hakuno could agree to that… wait. Half of them didn't have parents in the area… and Yusuke didn't have parents… Most of them were huddled around Makoto and Futaba...
Hakuno could faintly hear the sounds of a gunshot, "Dammit!" The cop shouted as he bolted towards the sound.
"Hey, guys…" Ryuji pointed at the door, the power flicked on from the shop, and Hakuno could faintly see blood dripping from the edge of the door.
"Let's… Call boss, see if he can't meet us here." Akira said, his voice calmer now that the immediate threat was gone.
"I'll… call Sis, her car is big enough for a few of us." Hakuno nodded, and Futaba grabbed her arm. Futaba gave her a pleading look, one that Hakuno knew.
"Please?" Hakuno nodded it was her fault Futaba was in this mess…
From the sound of the deranged clown, one of them might be the target… Should they leave it for the police? Or…
Hakuno glanced at the anger on Ryuji as he comforted Ann, Hakuno doubted the blondes would even let that happen. And with a threat so personal now…
Something about the clown was eerily familiar, she couldn't place it, and it mentioned a wolf? Hakuno didn't even know what it meant. But… For now, the group will need to stay in groups until that clown was caught.
Breaking news! A gruesome sight, cannibalistic murder in Jinbocho! Cops working tirelessly to catch the escaped convict Ran Rū! Citizens are advised to remain vigilant and exercise caution. Current witnesses say that the murderer has left the following statement about the Phantom Thieves!
COps? USELeSS. Gods? usElEss. PhAntoM ThievEs? uSelEss. you ARe AlL jUST fOOOd foR me!
Author's Note: Welllll to make it clear, it was Beryl Gut that was the attendant in the previous chapter, he was watching over the shop for Kadoc who is now married, I didn't plan on adding any more FGO characters, but well things change. Of course, this is still a world where the events of FGO didn't happen, but cause Mash and Ritsuka are here, I might include a few little things about them.
And here comes Ran Rū! So, I picked them cause if anyone remembers the clown craze of 2016? I just felt that it would be an interesting thing to have, and she would defiantly have a Palace, and I got a good amount of ideas for it.
