Author's note: You ever fell like your story is a tree? You make it grow as best as you can and suddenly the branch you cultivated went two time the size it was supposed to. Sigh. *Cut another mega-chapter in two*. I still should be able to finish this story by the start of december. The next chapter will come quickly.
As for the story itself, we are entering the Dreamer arc. Everything will soon come to a close with the last ranks of the Aeon's Confidant, followed by an epilogue. So three chapters instead of two, but heh, I'm way past my initial estimations anyway. I hope you will appreciate this chapter, and wish you a happy reading.
The Aeon, Rank 8.5: To Open one's Eyes
Ritsuka yawned as she left the bathroom, the sweat of morning's exercises finally cleaned off and her makeup set in for the day. As her Celtic frenemy said, one's good look was a weapon one had to sharpen for each and every occasion! Looking through her drawers she elected to get comfy, new year still had the occasion snowfall. The time to be sharp would come tomorrow for Haru's invitation to tea with her dad, and the time for sexiness in the next venue she had with the boys at the Arcade! Not that she abused her appearance to cut in line, nothing as basic at that. The real prize was making the people waiting in line behind less concerned about the time she was spending crushing Ryuji and Ren at Gun About. Or battling that Shinya boy for supremacy. Damn if he wasn't good, Nobbu would have laughed aloud how people with the Oda name should rightly be adept at sharpshooting. Not that he was of the family, but since when did the warlord care about silly things like that when it came to her amusement.
A familiar smell reached her nose. Coffee. Dad should still be taking his own, brewed with that old and malfunctioning machine mom always complained about. The taste and smell were frankly terrible, but for whatever reason her dad seemed to love it more than anything else. Even Sojiro' coffee didn't manage to knock some sense into him! Yet the smell… it was quite distinctly different from what the machine was producing. It felt richer, firmer, more appetizing. Did mom buy a new one? Probably not, she wasn't the type to do that without consulting dad first, and dad would never admit a rival machine in the household. Was it perhaps an accident? A broken clock was right twice a day, maybe whatever kami still listening to prayers made it so today would be the day the machine worked perfectly? Attaching her headband to the side in her signature hairstyle, Ritsuka descended the stairs, hearing her parents in talk with… someone? Huh, another surprise. She wasn't aware someone was supposed to visit. And why was the voice so familiar?
"Hi mom, hi dad! Who's here today…" Her eyes widened when she noticed the smiling woman drinking coffee at their table, her eyes shining with smarts behind the glasses and long wavy brown hair.
"Good morning, my little Rikka." Greeted her dad, his own cup making his glasses foggy. "We were just discussing about how proud we were of your exam results."
"Nothing I wouldn't expect from someone I tutored. I am a genius after all."
"Da Vinci!" Squealed Ritsuka with joy, the famous Renaissance man turned Mona Lisa winking. "You're in Japan? I didn't know you were coming!"
"It's a bit of an improvised trip. You wouldn't believe all the paperwork I had to fill just to get that little vacation."
"Don't we all suffer this." Commiserated her dad. "Ritsuka, you didn't tell me your tutor was also a mechanic, and a fine connoisseur of coffee to boot. The machine works better than ever."
"So that's why the coffee smell good today!"
Ritstuka looked at the old thing, which definitely didn't look like that yesterday. If anyone could make her dad appreciate good coffee, it was Da Vinci.
"Don't just stand there, dear. Your breakfast is ready."
"Thanks mom! It looks great!" Ritsuka happily said as she sat at the table. "So, exam results? You must have heard I got the best spot."
"A perfect mark everywhere. Even in sport! Someone made a good use of the tears she had shed in the training room." Teased Da Vinci, chopsticks in her hand as if she was born and bred Japanese.
"My daughter leading a sport team, I never thought I would see the day." The warm smile of her mom filled the morning even better than the meal itself. "Miss Da Vinci, didn't I tell you I tried to become captain of the archery club in my years?"
"Really? So dear Rikka here did have some family history in the field."
"Da Vinci!" Ristuka reddened at the insinuation. "That theory was Minotaur's sh—I mean, you know it couldn't be right! My mom is the readhead too, so it wouldn't work either!"
"Well, you did call him Mamamiya if I recall…"
"Lalalalalala, I can't hear you!" Sing-sung Ritsuka desperately, hoping her father would get the message and drop the subject.
"Tell me more, miss Da Vinci. Our daughter has been awfully secretive of many things about her internship." Said her father as he adjusted his glasses, pushing aside a strand of his black hair.
"Well, we had a Japanese cook in the staff named Emiya. Because in his youth he has similar hair color to your wife's and daughter's, there have been jokes they were secretly related. And he was a prolific archer as well, so it appears the jokes were even more accurate than we thought."
"Emiya, hum… I can't say this name rings a bell." Mused her dad.
"Me neither, dear. Though, "Mamamiya"? I thought I raised my daughter to be more respectful."
"Mooom! I respected him plenty! He made the food, and I know you never get on the cook's bad side!"
"Exactly. I'm glad you learned that lesson well." With a series of quick knife slashes the egg omelette was cut in fine mouthfuls and served to the table. "Tell us more, miss Da Vinci. Is it true she had many boys falling for her charms back there?"
Ritsuka sent her most murderous gaze at the genius, the same one that cowed the likes of Lu Bu and Blackbeard into submission, the one that promised banishment to the unused storage room summarily named the Second Archive, the one that few of her Servants ever dared to resist even when they took the other side in their ridiculous disputes.
"That she did! And just as many girls as well. You should have seen the mountain of chocolate she received during Valentine's Day, finishing them all took quite some time." The traitorous genius challenged her stare with a mischievous smile, perfectly aware that even back in Chaldea she would be one of the few to never suffer any repercussions for her actions.
"Ah, that takes me back to our college days. Did I ever tell you how I concealed the chocolates other girls wanted to give your father every year?"
"You what?" Ritsuka couldn't believe her ears before the reminiscing smile of her mom, looking at her father for contradiction.
"It's true. Though your mother only admitted doing so after our marriage." Nodded her father with a similar smile.
"The apple truly didn't fall far from the tree, it seems." Said Da Vinci, making Ritsuka blush furiously.
"I would love to exchange more but look at the time. New year or not, I cannot possibly come to work late." Her father finished his coffee and quickly stood up, taking his case with him. "Have a good day, honey. I shouldn't be too late."
"You too, dear. You know I'll wait." Her mom smiled and waved him goodbye as she left the living room, the door opening and closing. "Would you like something else, miss Da Vinci?"
"Oh, I can't. Embarrassing your daughter is enough of a treat." Ritsuka wowed to find a way to get back at the genius. Surely Sojiro would accept serving her chocolate spaghetti?
"Will you stay for lunch as well?"
"Oh no, I wouldn't want to intrude more than I have." Assured Da Vinci.
"You will always be welcome. Ritsuka dear, I'll be doing the laundry. Tell me when your tutor is ready to leave."
"Yes mom." She nodded sagely, earning a quick kiss on the forehead.
Quickly eating another roll of omelette to hopelessly try to cover her embarrassment, Ritsuka tried to ignore the knowing grin of her favorite genius. Ex-favorite genius. If she ever found another to take the top spot. Why were geniuses so hard to find when you needed them?
"Sooooo, hiding your romantic exploits from your parents? I thought you would be happy to recount the time Kiyohime wrapped herself in ribbons just for you. Or that key Fergus left, that you couldn't decide if you wanted to throw away or not…"
"Change of subject!" She stammered, almost spilling her cup in the process.
"Coward Master-chan is no fun." Pouted the genius.
"Hey you should be more proud of me! Do you know how many times I almost flubbed my history presentation because I couldn't help thinking of Okita as 'she'? And I almost called her Okita-chan in front of the teacher!"
"Poor you. Were so isolated you had to hide yourself in studies?"
"Oh you have no idea!" She was challenging her? Time to show off! "I made a lot of new friends! First there is Ren. He looks quiet and reserved, but don't let it fool you, he is a real protagonist underneath those glasses. Picks up everything fast and learns from everyone, I'm jealous how quickly he does it! And I'm telling you, he's a sleeping ladykiller, there will be blood in the water on Valentine's day."
"Aren't you a bit too happy with your schadenfreude there, young lady?"
"Hey, I loved each of those chocolates, but without Paracelsus' potions I would have died during Valentine's day and you know it!" Ritsuka shivered at the memory of the World End Castle. So delicious. So massive. "Next one is Ryuji. He's a bit like Kintoki, minus the overbearing mom and the Berserker strength. Not too bright, but a big heart in the right place and some good legs, he got scouted by a college for his performance in the track team! He's also sweeter than he thinks when he doesn't try to perv, you should have seen how bashful he was when trying to ask me on a date."
She pointedly ignored the teasing smirk on Da Vinci's lips and started to clean the dishes. The romantic hijinks of Chaldea have been one of the staff's highlights, with entire betting pools spawning with every new servant that somehow started to develop an attraction towards her. It took her entire willpower and so many hours of explaining when she emerged from Mebd's… "educational" session, just to avoid an all-out war. Only to have it repeated when Scathach did the same!
"He's currently on his way for international runner as well, Ann was so happy for him as well, especially since he recuperated from…" From what? A wound? No, couldn't be, or else he wouldn't be on the team… "Speaking of Ann, she's the third friend I met there. A real natural born supermodel who can eat anything without taking a gram, I wish I didn't have to burn all I eat like her. She's very kind and emphatic, a bit bummed out since her friend Shiho transferred to another school early in the year, but that girl bounces back like no one elsea. And Shiho is coming back to school, so not only Ann feels better but I'll have a great addition to my volleyball team!"
"Your volleyball team? Have your master's instincts awakened so quickly after joining you ejected the previous team captain? I jest, I know you wouldn't be so callous."
"I mean, the poor girl felt she had to resign after… when… uh, that's weird, I'd swear there was something that pushed her to step down…" Ritsuka mumbled a bit, the memory refusing to resurface. "I'll remember in a bit. I still have the others to tell you about! You'll love Yusuke. He is a painter, a bit eccentric but after Mozart and the others, he looks almost mundane. And his paintings are very promising!"
"A painter? Now you've picked my curiosity." The glint in Da Vinci's eye was the moment Ritsuka had waited for.
"Oh sorry, he has a sensei already. You can play the critic, but he won't be your pupil." She said with her most insincere smile.
"How cruel to tempt me with a talented young man to teach to, only to snag it away! Bah, I bet he'll just become another Michelangelo. Who is his teacher anyway?" The genius tried to play the disinterested woman, but her pride was still stung after that bait and switch.
"He's a pupil to the famous Madarame. Well, Madarame isn't really the best painter himself, but he's a good businessman and has a keen eye for art. He was a good friend of Yusuke's mother and worked tirelessly to have her talent recognized after she passed away…" She did, and Madarame took Yusuke in, and then… Madarame… still teaching? Of course, what else would he be doing… "I'm sure you three would get together and speak pigments for hours on end. Next is Makoto, my student council president and no, before you ask, I didn't try to get the position. She's hard-working and very smart, no-nonsense. But beneath that mild and polite attitude she has a mean streak, the guys are terrified of her. Her father is a policeman and her older sister a prosecutor, and I think she's going to follow in her father's footsteps."
"Hum, more of a Raikou than a Scathach then?"
"She's a quite maternal to some of the group, now that I think about it, losing your parents do that to…" Parents? No, parents, her dad was alive, silly, Sae didn't raise her alone… Ritsuka shook her throbbing head. "Oh yeah, I think you should go to Leblanc, it's the coffee where Ren lives with his guardian Sojiro. But it's also where Futaba and her mom Wakaba go all the time too! They would love meeting you, Wakaba is a researcher in cognitive pscience, a field that's pretty close to magecraft by some aspects!"
"Cognitive pscience, hum? Would that have to do with the famous Change of Hearts I have heard so much about?"
"Haha, nothing gets past you. I'm sure Futaba will be able to tell you some about too, after all she experienced… she had…" Ritsuka slowed down cleaning the cup in her hand, trying to get back the elusive point she wanted to bring. It was important. Really important. Why couldn't she remember it?
"Leave me some surprises, won't you? How can I demonstrate my genius if you give me all the answers?" Complained Da Vinci.
"Right, right." It wasn't usual for her to forget things like this… "Are the Changes of Heart the reason you came here? Then you have to speak at least to Morgana. I'm sure you'll come to create a device to help you understand him in no time, since we don't have Ushiwaka or another to translate animal… speak… Animal? But he is…"
A strange vertigo seemed to take hold on her. Morgana was… not a cat? A person. Yes, he must be. He spoke, he walked, he loved fish but who doesn't, he used a sling and a sword, and when he became a bus… with animal ears… the headache suddenly spiked and she dropped the bowl she was cleaning. Why was it so hard to think?
"Ritsuka?…" Da Vinci took her by the shoulders and sat her down, examining her breathing and look in seconds. "No fever, tension is within normal range, no corporal signs. A mental strain, clearly. Did you sleep enough last night? Did nothing unusual happen?"
"Unusual? I mean if you count the giant mechanical god that… the god that was a… a…" The words escaped her, something burning within her head to be heard, to be seen, to be remembered. "Da Vinci, something's messing with me, my mind…"
"Stay calm. Good thing your mother is busy, but let's put a Bounded Field to be sure... done. Let's see what's wrong here."
The genius' ease as she examined her more closely reassured Ritsuka. She was in good hands. Da Vinci always found solutions to the worst problems, no matter what.
"Thanks gods. I can see how the director didn't want to let you go for vacation, you're way too good at… director?" Once again pain spiked within her mind at the word.
"Ah, a memory alteration spell. That's it, don't let the lead go." Da Vinci's voice soothed her, helped her focus. "Keep your attention on what it doesn't want you to remember."
"Yes… the director…"
This time she caught it, she grasped it tightly amidst the pain, didn't let it go. A young visage contorted with despair briefly flashed in her mind, screaming, crying before it was suddenly muddled and pushed away forcefully, as if Nightingale was forcibly rearranging her brain by hand. Olga… Olga Marie!
"Aaaargh," Her throat let out a rasp as she wrestled with her own mind. "Director… How…? No more… director… in Chaldea…"
"Keep going." Pushed Da Vinci, gently holding her hand.
"No director… gone… and you… you too…? You… shouldn't… No more… Chaldea...?"
Her head felt as if it was splitting open, bursting with serrated claws digging and scratching and tearing apart her reasoning, the thread she tried to follow. The Temple. The shields. The rings, the ten rings, the ring at the doctor's fing—her world exploded, nary a coherent thought left.
"Go on. It hurts, but it's proof you can overcome it. You always managed to, no matter what." Encouraged Da Vinci.
Ritsuka clung desperately to her words, even as her entire being screamed she should stop, that something horrible would happen if she kept pushing on. She continued still, prodding down the memory lane. The Clock Tower. Investigation, questions, so many questions, sending everyone away, trying to take her and stopped by a blonde man in white. Empty, the workshop, empty, no one, she was gone, Da Vinci was… She was crying. It hurt, it hurt so much, and a terrible pit digging with dread formed within her heart. She knew. She knew if she said it, if she said it aloud…
"But if I… If you can't be, then…They… you are…" Ritsuka swallowed and grabbed Da Vinci, pulling her in a hug with all her human strength, taking in the tender and affectionate embrace.
"It looks like you are finally realizing the truth."
"You… you knew?"
"Even as a ghost of your memories, I am your genius Da Vinci." The Servant's hand petted her head, a familiar comfort despite the terrible words. "It's a beautiful dream that was forced upon you. But you know well that all dreams must end."
She could barely see. Barely hear. The pain was everything. Her throat dry, raspy, her heart throbbing. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair! If only she had been stronger, if only she had beaten Goetia faster, if only!...
"…. Da Vinci… I… I'm…"
"There is nothing to forgive… Seeing you so happy and moving towards the future is more than I ever hoped I would see when I protected the Command Room." Ritsuka looked up, looked at the beautiful, beautiful smile of Da Vinci. "I'm proud of you, Ritsuka. And I'm glad I could see you one last time."
She swallowed once again, forcing the memory to come back to light.
"Goodbye…"
The sound of breaking glass came with the shattering of her vision. The world cracked and fell apart before her very eyes, leaving behind… reality. She was sitting alone. Her arms didn't hold anything. The old coffee machine stood broken and smelling, as it has been for years. Three sets of dishware were drying next to the sink.
"Ritsuka?" Mom's voice, muffled from the laundry room, bringing her back to her senses. "Can you please buy some tea when you got out? We used the last of it yesterday."
"W-will do…!"
Ritsuka gritted her teeth, wiping the tears flowing out of her eyes as she stood up, trying to regain some semblance of footing. She replayed the false memories in her mind, the idyllic version of a world that never took that path. Not just for her, she now realized. Were the others trapped in their own reality too? Had any of them realized it? She tightened her hands into fists. She needed to move on… but even as she tried to focus on her goal, as she laced her shoes and put on her coat, she could only think… how she wanted to tell Da Vinci about the other Phantom Thieves, about Akechi, even about Lev… if only… if only it could have lasted just a bit longer…
When Ren woke up to a Morgana turned human, with the clear blue eyes and attitude barely allowing him to recognize his feline friend, he had thought it to be a dream. Only to be disproved when he saw a living and breathing Wakaba downstair, talking amicably with Sojiro as if it was the most normal thing in the world. It said something when the sight of a thoroughly fed-up Akechi coming from the door was what gave him hope. To receive a call from Kasumi that she spotted a Palace in plain sight, the same one they discovered last year not only confirmed his fears and helped give him a direction. That it was something they could investigate and solve…
To learn the distortion in reality, the return of the Metaverse and the origin of this Palace was all due to doctor Maruki… and the cruel way he forced Kasumi, no, Sumire to revive her most traumatic memory, breaking her spirit to the point her Metaverse outfit simply disappeared. Before he or Akechi could reactn a tentacle emerged from a Shadow standing at the doctor's side and grabbed Kasumi, no, Sumire.
"What do you think you're doing with her?" Growled Akechi, regaining his bearing too late to prevent Sumire from being taken.
"I won't harm her—it's in her best interest that you turn back." The doctor shook his head regretfully as he gently laid the unconscious Sumire near him. "You've made clear that you reject the reality she desires. The reality where she lives as Kasumi Yoshizawa…"
"This isn't reality." Cut Joker harshly.
Just like when Yaldabaoth tried to make him lose hope in the world, when he manipulated the entire population into denying reality and passively accept their demise. It wasn't reality. It was brainwashing, plain and simple.
"It saddens me when you speak that way. Don't you understand? You deny her wishes when you say such things."
"'Her wishes', huh?" Said Akechi with heavy sarcasm.
"This isn't just for her—I'm doing all of this for yourselves as well." Crow stepped forward, menacing, but Maruki simply kept talking. "I honestly do want to come to terms with you. We should talk. Think about it: you both have dreams, no? I have the power to make them come true. My reality can become just the way you like."
His tone was tempting, inviting as the stage light behind coronated him with light. The very image of a saint preaching wisdom… or a cult leader spreading alluring promises. To see the kind and listening doctor he spoke with so much like this returned Ren's stomach.
"Total waste of my time." Spat Akechi.
"A shame…"
"You're one to talk about shame, Maruki!" Snapped a familiar voice behind them.
Ren turned around to see Ritsuka coming up from the corridor. Armed with the gun he had Iwai improve before their final excursion in Memento's Depths, her face flushed with fatigue and dried tears, her coat lacerated and singed. Did she really manage to enter the Palace after them? Alone?
"I would never have wanted to suspect you of all people, but you were the only one I could think of that would pull off such stunt. And that Palace's location just cemented it! Right where your laboratory for studying cognitive pscience was supposed to be built until Shido ran it to the ground!"
"Humph. So that's one thing cleared." Commented Akechi.
"Fujimaru-san… why are you here?" Maruki seemed genuinely saddened, and not just because she was hurt. "I'm not surprised you would manage to get here, but this wasn't supposed to happen."
"Of course it's never supposed to happen, and yet every time it does!" She pointed her gun at him, stepping forward. "Who do you think you are, toying with everyone's lives like some two-bit Amakusa!?"
"… I am aware of the similarities between him and me. I also don't believe he was in the wrong. Think about it. A world where no one has to suffer. A world where everyone's dreams can be reality. One where everyone can have the second chance they deserve. Especially for your friends, Fujimaru-san."
"So that's the second chance the dead get. Replaced by a cheap cognitive copy, some ideal ghost plucked from the memories people had of them, so their loved one would be chained to the dream you put them in?"
"You misunderstand. I did not create copies of the dead." Maruki lowered his head, his glasses reflecting the spotlights as he spoke clearly and deliberately. "I actualized a past where their death didn't happen."
Ren froze before the outrageous claim. If he said the truth… That changed everything. His mind was in swirl. Futaba wasn't hallucinating a projection of her mother. She was living the life she would have had Shido not plotted for her death, with all the promises Wakaba made becoming reality. Sojiro was not serving coffee to an empty seat, he was truly sharing a meal and a table with a woman he obviously loved…
"You suspected this, didn't you. You hoped she was only a cognitive double, a mere memory of that brave woman who never got to tell you goodbye." Maruko shook his head regretfully. "I understand. I wish I could have done more, and sooner… but your circumstances don't make it easy, even with the power at my disposal. You have seen for yourself how fragile my reality can be once you start to have doubts in it. That is how you and Akechi-kun broke through." He extended a hand, with a pleading, understanding tone. "It's not too late, Fujimaru-san. You've been tied down for the longest of the time. You deserve better. Believe in me; you don't need to suffer anymore."
Ritsuka stood still, silent, a complicated expression on her face. It made Ren wonder; who had Ritsuka seen in the false reality Maruki put her in? Who did she had to let go?
"Bullshit. Don't tell me you're actually thinking about it." Sneered Crow. "Of all people, I thought you would have the spine to shove that crap down the gutter."
"Akechi-kun, that is enough. You have no idea what Fujimaru-san wen through, what she faced. Even you should respect that."
"Big deal. We all fought the God of Control. We all have lost things in our lives."
"You still don't understand. We all owe her more than anyone you can imagine…"
"What do you mean by 'owe'?" Ren didn't miss the look Ritsuka sent, but his curiosity was getting the better of him.
"Explaining would be difficult. But if you wish to see it for yourself..." Ritsuka shifted her stance hearing Maruki's words, suddenly alert.
"What are you…"
The world faded. And then returned. Darkness encasing fires in the ruins of a large city, tempestuous clouds rolling under a starless, moonless night. The taste of ashes sullied his tongue, he choked from the heat and flying cinders, from the graveyard of humanity shattered by power beyond the comprehension. Desiccated corpses, petrified bodies oozing bloods from the cut of a metallic scythe, the eye, the eyes of the demon condemning humanity—
His legs burned from overuse, running and running and fleeing. Echoes of panic and agony filled the air as a massive castle burned to the ground. Dragons, dragons everywhere breathing death and fury, claws lifted helpless people in the air dropping them to their death, before hungry jaws teared them apart without mercy, before smoke took them to poisonous sleep. A queen stood alone and defiant before the carnage, looking back and smiling as the guillotine dropped—
Battle cries rolled in massive waves strong enough to shatter eardrums, the odor of sweat and blood and feces mixing in the air, the squishiness of flesh underneath his boots as he moved to stay alive. Metal against metal against flesh ringing and shrieking, spear piercing bodies, swords cutting limbs, arrows and stones crushing skulls, war, war, war everywhere, desperate, angry, senseless as a golden sword flashed towards—
Cold and damp rain lashing against his bruised skin, bleeding palm holding the mast as another round of canons fired from the two ships. Shards of wood piercing his legs and lacerating his cheek, bullets whistling and hitting deck and people, lightning striking the mast and illuminating the raging sea. Another boom of powder and a cannonball flew through, half a man's side exploded in gore and cries, barely moving and screeching helplessly as a large pirate trampled him, pistol in hand pointing—
Impenetrable fog in a city's night, chilling air in and out of lungs, acrid fog, cursed fog, shadows within the fog. Houses broken open, mechanical limbs twitching in disorderly walk, creaking of turned gears carrying bloody machetes, ticking of bombs crawling on the walls, on the ground, in the ground, red eyes stalking in the mist, lightning crackling in the fog, where, where to go, where do they come from, red eyes looking from afar, close, a voice, childish, are you my mom—
Great plains covered in gun smoke, hurried orders, retreat, flee the green tide, the fearless and merciless tide, mechanical armors opened and trampled and broken and bloodied by spear and bows and swords, things on the plains, black twin-horned horses impaling and crushing the lost, leonine chimera clawing and poisonous and eating men alive, bullets and canon fire bouncing living stone trampling hopes and freedom underneath. A man, a towering man clad in black spikes and wielding red death killing, killing, killing without emotion, without care, without pity, without anger, lunging—
Towering and glistening white walls at the dawn, people, hundreds, praying, kneeling, hoping, for light, for help, for salvation… blood on his cheeks, blood on the sand, rejected, impure, unworthy, blades upon helpless flesh, burning sun, burning sword catching its preys, its victims. Night, the mountains echoed with screams, fire torching peaceful homes, harmless homes, a knight, walking, unfeeling, holding a child's broken skull, dropping it remorselessly as a string sung and blue lines of sounds surrounded him and closed in—
Skittering things, crawling things on four legs and tiny bodies and open smiles of white teeth, cackling as they opened a man and toyed with its inside, laughing as they eviscerated a woman and waved it around, snickering as they killed and mutilated and tortured curiously, childishly, sadistically. Tide, a black tide, an endless sea of mud, covering ground, covering trees, covering walls, birthing those things by thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, darkening the sky with twitching wings and limbs. All from a titanic giant, star-eyed and crescent horned, advancing, advancing, razing the ground, razing the city, its jaw opening too large, with too many teeth—
Stone in columns and floors upon rocky terrain, platforms floating in the infinite void, attached together, linked together by great pillars covered in black scales and red eyes, pillars rolling and crushing and swirling. A white throne, a white throne behind a Beast, a gold and white and red demon with a great crown of flame, standing under a ring of light, bands of light of incinerated history, of sacrificed humanity… the stone fizzled. The rocks cracked. The heat singed him, burned his hair, boiled his eyes, his eyes watching the shield planted on the ground, standing alone as a last gesture of—
"HOW DARE YOU!"
Ren blinked. What happened? Maruki's Palace, he was in Maruki's Palace. A voice had cut through the vision, no, through the vivid scenes he was just trapped in, before that rageful echo shattered it like glass.
"How dare you pillage my memories! HOW DARE YOU USE MY MEMORY OF MASH LIKE THIS!?"
Maruki stumbled back, his composure lost before Ritsuka as the redhead yelled with unbridled rage, her weapon high and pointed dead on the doctor, seething like a living fire.
"And how dare you speak of respect when you scorn them like this! You insult everything they stood for, everything they fought for!"
Ren tried to speak but couldn't, his words lost, watching with disbelief and shock what his friend looked like when she was truly well and beyond holding back, trembling with righteous, wounded wrath and pain far above her display at the beach.
"Fujimaru-san—"
"SHUT UP!" Bullets flew at the Shadow standing beside Maruki and peppered it with holes until it was nothing but a standing Swiss cheese that slowly dissolved into black puddles. "You make a mockery of all these deaths, of all these sacrifices, of all these tragedies! Humans aren't pets for you to cage, Maruki! I'm DONE listening to anything you have to say for your so-called paradise!"
Ritsuka pointed her gun at Maruki again, shaking with such intensity Ren couldn't believe she managed to only hit the Shadow instead of the doctor.
"Tch. I'm fairly certain even you can see further negotiating is pointless." Spat Akechi, drawing his own gun a little too fast to hide the visions perturbed him as well.
"That seems to be the case, unfortunately…"
Maruki's voice was regretful, remorseful, as he took the still unconscious Sumire in his arms…
"Hand her over." Commanded Joker, but the doctor only shook his head.
The world shimmered and vibrated, and then he was gone, as well as Sumire. But his voice was still here, as if projected from a faraway place.
"Don't worry about her. I already told you I won't harm her, and I'll swear by it. Go. See the reality I've created for you all. See how your friends are enjoying it. We'll meet again one week from today: January 9th. I genuinely pray you'll change your mind by then. And lastly… forgive me, Fujimaru-san. But I will make your dream a reality, no matter what. This is the least I can do…"
Silence fell on the hall. Maruki was gone, without a doubt somewhere in the Palace they had no way to access yet. Chasing him would be pointless. The only thing left to do was…
"What say we head back for now?" Said Akechi, on the same wavelength. "Oh, and you too as well."
Ritsuka didn't bother speaking and just nodded, clutching her empty weapon as if it was the doctor's neck. Fortunately, the trip back to the entrance was quick. Maruki, in his graciousness, seemingly made them all disappear so that they would leave without further issues. Seeing how Ritsuka walked angrily, perhaps something to destroy and at least evacuate some of that emotion would have been welcome.
"To think Takuto Maruki of all people would be the mastermind behind this absurd situation. And he just happens to be warping the very fabric of reality while ranting about making everyone's dream come true." Akechi scoffed. "Talk about incomprehensible motives… I can't even wrap my head around such intentions."
"Not surprising coming from the resident patented psychopath." Snapped Ritsuka.
"And somehow you still manage to hide the most incredible things after pretending to have come 'clean'. I should clearly take lessons on manipulation from you." Shot back Akechi.
"That's enough." Ren placated them both. They had no time for this, no matter how shaken they were. "What's our next step now?"
"We need intel first. And as luck would have it, we have the perfect source right here." The detective pointed at Ritsuka. "And this time, I'd rather have you tell us everything from the start. I'm getting tired of your surprises."
"You know that's also why you like me." Retorted their friend quite rightly. "I'll help you on info gathering as much as I can. Ren, you still have access to the Velvet Room?"
"Oh right, this place. Mayhap the residents could help us deciphering what the hell is going on." Agreed Akechi. "In the meantime, try to shake up those idiots you call friends. You're the best placed for that."
Ren nodded, having full intention of going to see what was that false reality like for each and every one of them… as well as trying to make them break out of the golden cage. If Ritsuka and Akechi did, then it was possible for them too. Though it worried him that Maruki didn't seem to include himself in those who broke free…
"I hate that we have to do as he says, but Maruki told us he would only see us in January 9th. Let's meet up here next week. As for you…" The detective turned to their friend, who immediately cut him.
"Don't even try that angle. You know that as long as we're in the real world, even without demons I can kick your ass to next Sunday." Threatened, no, reminded him a slightly calmer Ritsuka. "But fine, you win. I wanted to spare you all from the risks of knowing the full details but guess who's rudeness made it moot. I'll tell you everything, but not before the team is gathered. I don't want to tell this twice and I don't even think I will have the strength to tell it twice, so grin and bear the wait."
"You will really tell us everything? No more hiding?" Checked Ren one last time.
"I just hope you won't regret it."
Her tone was somber, solemn, still boiling with a slowly receding anger as she slowly enunciated her words, then turning her back on them and leaving.
"At least we don't have to worry about her choosing Maruki's reality." Mumbled Ren.