Author's note:
Once again, apologies for the delay. The first section weirdly was very hard to write.
Also, P5T is quite good if you haven't played it, IMO. Not the reason for the delay, I swear.
Enjoy.
Chapter 50: Intervention
Wednesday, October 12th, 20XX After school
"Come, Ganesha!" Clenching his hand, Joker forced the persona to surface, sacrificing his own vitality to unleash a devasting blow against the shadow. Wiping his forehead, Joker took a deep breath to try and compose himself.
Each fight was a grueling battle. The shadows possessed incredible tenacity and skill variety. Many of them had received heavy hits from shadows. Those that haven't were tasked with the arduous task of bringing the shadows down.
"I think we've now got a weakness for every shadow in this area," Oracle said, voice still peppy. "I guess we should try and approach that table guy."
"I suppose so…" Joker replied hesitantly, taking an analyzing look at the group. Violet was still immaculate, perched like a bird waiting for his command. It was enough to help calm his nerves. "We do have that card, but I get the feeling only a few of us should enter. Trying to get everyone in would be hard."
"Obviously," Queen spoke up. "I want to do it."
"Then I'll come along," Joker agreed with a nod. "Everyone else, try to find a position to watch. If things go bad, I expect a rescue."
"I'll always save you."
Taking a quick look at Violet, Joker did his best not to blush. Since when can she say such embarrassing lines without any embarrassment!?
The snickers from the group did nothing to alleviate his embarrassment. "Ahh whatever, let's go, Queen." Grabbing her hand, Joker pulled her to the hallway that led to the dining room.
"So, what do we know?" Queen whispered.
"Not much," Joker admitted. "Politician Ooe supports Shido unwaveringly. As a result, he has received 'gifts' in return. Also, he is one of the big five."
"Ahh, that's what I thought," Queen muttered. "It isn't much to go on, is it?"
"Not at all," Joker sighed. "I have no idea how we are going to get this letter from him honestly."
"Bribes and threats are all we have," Queen replied, "and I'd rather do things the direct way."
Of course you do… Joker had no time to berate Queen for her rather linear way of solving problems. "Well, let's try talking to him respectfully for a little. The shadows here are so strong that I'd rather avoid fighting anything that is almost guaranteed to be stronger than them,"
"Just a weird feeling but…"
"But you think that we will end up fighting? Can't argue with that," Joker chuckled. Opening the door to the elite dining room, Joker waved a hand to allow Queen to enter. Following on her heels, Joker was momentarily rendered speechless by the view out the back of the boat. Through the glass wall, the patrons could watch as the remnants of the city passed behind them. The wreckage of a country that they completely ignored while sipping and dining on luxury items.
"I think I'm going to be sick…"
Placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, Joker provided no words, only hoping that his presence would help. After a few more seconds, she moved away from his touch.
"Thank you."
"It's nothing. Look there at the reserved table."
"Ah, I see it."
It was hard not to. The large circular table was positioned in the middle of the restaurant floor with a good four meters between it and the next closest table. Also, despite how busy the restaurant was, the ring of tables closest to the main central one were all empty.
"Should we sit at one of the closest tables?" Joker asked.
"I… Yes, we may as well," Queen sighed. "Come on, let's see why no one sits there."
Everything had a high-quality sheen to it. From the freshly pressed white tablecloths to the stylishly folded napkins that adorned each setting. Not to mention the glistening wine glasses waiting to be filled.
Sitting across from Queen at the circular table, Joker stared at the menu with a growing sense of reprehension. Written entirely in English, the items were lists of words that almost looked designed to confuse. "Umm, what is this… sauteed foie gras?"
"It's French… I think its duck liver."
"Duck liver?" Stomach roiling at the thought, he dropped the menu. He doubted that they'd serve anything like Sojiro's curry here.
"Oh? Have you decided Joker?"
"I've decided not to eat. This is all going to be weird-tasting super expensive stuff, right?"
"W-Well… I think we need to order to avoid suspicion. How about the roasted lamb and a bottle of white?"
"Sure." Raising his hand to call off the waiter, Joker ordered the recommended dishes. Whether it was an artifact of the palace or some other influence, the bottle came in mere moments with the food only a few minutes behind.
"This…" Pausing, Joker looked at the glass of wine and food in complete astonishment. "Is really good!"
"Yeah…" Queen practically drooled as she ate.
Unburdened by the restraints of reality, the food was free to bestow maximum pleasure upon its recipients. This is a dangerous use of the metaverse… One could easily become addicted to this. Joker had never considered it before, but if you were willing to risk the danger, the metaverse provided an easy avenue to fulfilling nearly all desires.
All too soon the plate was empty and Joker was staring at his empty glass and the last dregs of the bottle. "Umm, what if they don't show up?"
"W-Well… I guess we order more until he does?" Joker supplied. After all, their stomachs would never fill up in the metaverse eating cognitive food.
"R-Right, that is the only logical solution." Queen stuck up a hand and ordered new dishes for them. A bottle of red this time and a foreign dish Joker had never heard of.
Once again, the food and drink came quickly and was just as delicious if not wildly different. The red did not have the same sweet undertones but rather a bitter taste that somehow had him reaching again for another sip.
Soon, the bottles and plates were empty, so Joker stuck his hand up. Doubling down on their previous success, Joker ordered the foie gras and a bottle of Rose. When the bottle came this time, Joker slammed back half a glass barely even tasting it.
"Hehehe," Queen was giggling as she drank hers. The corners of her flushed cheeks extending past her mask.
"Hah, you're looking really drunk," Joker commented casually.
The word was like a baseball shattering a glass pane that had been separating them from their reality. With horrified eyes they stared at each other. Holding a hand to his head, Joker tried to accurately assess his condition. Raised body temperature, hammering heart beat, flushed cheeks, his buzzing head.
"Shit."
"We really screwed up…"
At that moment, the sound of polished dress shoes on the marble floor sounded out. Three pairs were approaching that stopped right beside their table. "Now what on earth are brats doing dining in this fine establishment?"
Oh, we fucked up. Joker desperately needed some sort of wake up as he flashed the man a smile that he hoped was reassuring and professional.
"Oh hell, the brats are fucking sloshed."
Guess my smile failed… Despite that, Joker didn't feel the fear or worry that he knew he should be. Instead, he shrugged and redoubled his smile. "It's a nice day for a drink, isn't it? Take a glass, we don't mind."
"…Disgraceful. How many glasses have you children had? Losing your composure in public. I'll get you thrown off the ship for this!"
"Ahh, before that, please give us a letter of introduction to Shido, Mr. Ooe! Wait, you are Mr. Ooe, right?"
"I-Impudent girl! Of course I am Mr. Ooe! One of the chosen five! Why on earth would I give you of all people a letter of introduction!?"
With his attention on Queen, Joker took the chance to actually look at the man and his lackeys closely. His observations led him to few insights. They were all wearing generic black masks that hid most of their facial features. Besides that, Ooe was the tallest by a handful of centimeters, around 180 or so. They had the typical Japanese straight black hair and standard tuxedos. Besides Ooe's height, there was little to set him apart. Slight gold gilding on the mask, slightly higher quality fabric in his suit, his pocket square shimmered a little brighter. All in all, it was not what Joker had expected from one of the 'big five'.
Queen meanwhile fired back, standing up as she did so. "Wellll, Shido is like super strong and cool. We want to see him real bad!"
"Ohh, so even children can see the brilliance of Shido's power?"
"Of course!" Queen nodded with a drunken giggle. "I mean, who else can induce mental shutdowns?"
Even drunk as he was, Joker inhaled. It was a very bold play.
Ooe, however, just laughed. "You're better connected than I expected. You know about those? Ah, as one of Shido's primary donors and sources of political aid, he lets me request mental shutdowns."
"Eh? Really? Who did you get shutdown?"
Ooe gave them a smirk. "You remember that subway accident in the spring? I targeted the driver of that subway. Took out a political opponent and a rival company all in one move. It was brilliant."
No amount of alcohol in the world could lessen the impact in the words. All of the food and drink that he had been pigging out on threatened to come back. Holding a hand to his mouth, Joker shot a look at Queen. He was too late. She was already wide-eyed staggering away from the table.
With a disgusting sound, Queen executed the gesture that Joker had threatened to. Two loud gagging noises later, a flood of dark brown fluid poured from her mouth onto the once pristine floor.
"H-Horrid!" Ooe exclaimed in shock. "You really are nothing more than degenerate children, be gone with you all!"
"Us?" Queen asked with a hoarse voice as she wiped her mouth. "We are the degenerates? You killed hundreds of people… and call us the degenerates? Give us the letter of introduction and run away with your tail between your legs!"
"Tsk, the impudence! Prepare to die, children!" As Ooe roared, his subordinates turned and fled. He either didn't notice or care as he ripped his mask off, his body flexing as it threatened to explode and reveal his new room.
Still heavy with food and drink, Joker reacted slowly as he darted away from the table putting distance between himself and the emerging shadow. Rising from Ooe was a mass of snakes. Toxic green scales with reptilian eyes. As the body clarified, Joker gasped with realization. These were not separate creatures but multiple heads of a single, powerful entity.
"Is this a hydra!?" Joker spat, shaking his head rapidly to try and clear the alcoholic fog. The drinks weren't real! I didn't consume alcohol! The problem that he was quickly coming to grips with is that he had. The palace was a direct result of Shido's cognition, a normal man who fully believes in the intoxicating ability of alcohol. Especially for a teenager that had never experienced its effects before.
"Hydra…? No… I believe that it is the Yamato-no-Orochi from legend."
Queen's voice trembled with fear. Ooe's shadow as it resolved itself consumed a circular area of almost four meters. Besides the impossibly strong dragon in Sae's palace, this was the largest creature they had ever fought. With eight heads, it had no blind spots and the ability to attack multiple people simultaneously.
"Everyone!" Joker yelled. "You better be close!"
"Die, children!" Two of the heads' eyes glowed blue and they lunged, jaws opening as magic was expelled.
Joker dove behind a table just as the cold blast consumed where he was. Pulling his last boot into cover, he found it covered with ice. The cold was starting to seep into his body through the warm haze that was his drunken stupor. Shattering it with a strike of his knife, Joker peeked up at the eight-headed form that was once a politician.
"Whhhy are you hiding? Were you not going to send meee running?"
Ooe's speech was distorted, multiple reptilian voices overlapping to create one disturbing experience. As Joker analyzed the situation, he noticed that only five of the heads were facing Queen and him, the other three keeping tabs on the rest of the room.
Perhaps more concerning was the lack of presence from the other thieves. Just as Joker was considering panicking, there was a clang from the kitchen. From behind the bar, the body of a cognitive shadow was flung out, flipping over the bar and smacking against the ground next to Ooe.
"Whaaat is this!?"
Ooe's question was answered quickly by the clacking of heels in a slow pattern. Her black outfit backlit by the kitchen light, Violet certainly knew how to make an entrance. Three heads instantly turned to face her, perhaps marking Violet as the most dangerous person.
"Watch out!" Joker cried to her, knowing what was coming next.
True to expectations, the three heads opened their jaws, blasts of ice descending upon his girlfriend. Also as expected, Violet leapt up, her body tucked together as she spun in the air, cold air lapping uselessly at her body. Two full rotations later, she landed softly upon the bar counter, blade still held confidently by her side.
"I am here to save you, Senpai!"
"T-Thanks…" Removing his own dagger from its sheath hidden in the folds of his cloak, Joker stalked to the position opposite her. Despite flanking the shadow, neither of them had an avenue for attack. Queen joined moments later, letting them form a triangle.
"Where are the others?" Queen asked.
"Busy," Violet bit back. "While you were dining, we had to relocate a couple of times. Security goons were tracking us all. I was the only one that managed to hide in the kitchen."
"Tsk," Joker twirled his gun as he withdrew it. "Then we will get this letter by ourselves."
Testing out Ooe's defenses, Joker unloaded half a dozen shots into the snake monster while strafing counterclockwise, widening the gap between himself and Queen. The shots land with clear impacts, one of the heads writhing in pain as they all hissed. It was a sign of damage but did nothing to ease Joker's growing worry. It would take a long time to bring down this behemoth.
"Let's try this, come Johanna!"
"Jeanne, purify the shadows!"
Overlapping areas of blue and white consumed the massive monster, causing it to thrash and writhe in agony. "That seems to work!" Violet chimed in brightly.
"Indeed," Queen smirked, smacking her fists together. "Let's fire off a couple of rounds and…"
"DODGE!" Joker screamed, interrupting her. Head spinning with alcohol, Joker stumbled as he dove behind one of the tables. Hitting it with his shoulder, Joker barely managed to get it up as a shield before the magic came. A multi-directional barrage of ice coming from all heads at the same time.
Mist curled around his boots, the floor slowly freezing as heat was leached from the entire room. Shivering, Joker jumped out from around the barrier to observe the resultant disaster. Queen, in the middle of the room had crossed her arms and tried to resist the blow. The result of that rash decision was a statue of ice.
"Damn it!" Swearing, Joker looked for the counter. Violet's head popped up shortly followed by her gun. As she took shots at Ooe, Joker darted for Queen. The icy floor was treacherous, his boots sliding while he windmilled his arms. Pulling out the grappling hook, Joker fired it at the counter and pulled himself across the floor to Queen.
Storing the grappling hook, he took out a vial. Pouring it on Queen's head, the ice instantly began to crack. "Come on, come on, come on…" Muttering to himself, Joker wanted to hold his head and cry. The acrobatics were upsetting his stomach and gave him a splitting headache. It made each second of this fight a grueling problem as he laid a hand on Queen's shoulder, waiting to shove her to the side if need be.
The only thing going right was Violet. Perfectly utilizing the cover granted to her, she was able to fire effortlessly from where she was against the immobile Ooe and gun him down, one accurate shot at a time. Six of eight heads were now focused on her, eyes glaring and following her angrily. One watched Joker and Queen and the last its back.
Crack!
"Urgh!"
"Come on, Queen, shake it off!" Grabbing her wet shoulder where the ice once was, Joker followed his advice and violently shook the girl.
"A-Ahh!" A cry of surprise was interrupted by her chattering teeth. Falling to one knee, Queen hugged her body.
"Get up quick. Violet needs our hel—up." Covering his mouth, Joker staggered. I screwed up. I screwed up so bad…
"Joker, what's wrong!?"
The concern in Violet's voice as she yelled at him only made him feel worse. I let her down. I let them all down!
His stupidity was endangering all of them. "Urgh… Ganesha, cut that bastard into pieces."
Ganesha's blade carved from the bottom up and through the center of where the necks converged. Despite the heavy blow looking deadly, it only received a scream of pain and a few of particles of red flying through the air.
"Foooools, you cannot defeat—"
With a loud bang the main door to the dining room was thrown open, a cognitive shadow tumbling through comedically. To Joker's relief, Skull stepped in behind it, mace resting confidently on his shoulder.
"Sorry for the delay! Had a few assholes that needed punching." As the rest of the phantom thieves filed in behind Skull, Joker allowed himself to relax. Ooe's shadow was a formidable foe, but without being able to move, a barrage from their personas and guns would take him out in short order.
Fox followed in on Skull's tail, closely followed by Mona and Noir. Bringing up the rear were Panther and Oracle, completing their group.
Joker called out to them. "Get over here behind the tables, it has powerful ice attacks!"
Moving flawlessly as a unit, they were in moments arranged in a line near the windows, guns out and firing at Ooe.
"Woowzers that a strong shadow!" Oracle gasped. "We've taken out make a quarter of its health only!"
"Yeah, and its ice is deadly. Panther, stay far back, got it?"
"Y-Yeah," she stuttered in answer. The fear in her voice was palpable. "I'll focus on healing. Go nuts."
"Got it, Ooe seems to be preparing something big. Fox and I will advance with our ice resistance. Everyone else I want you to—"
Chi-chick! It was the now familiar sound of a gun cocking. Muted from distance, it froze Joker's heart in an instant. Whirling around, he stared horrified through the glass at the stern of the boat. Standing on the rearmost deck were five figures. Four were cognitive shadows in military garb, while the fifth in center was a tall Japanese man with a cigar in his mouth. Even from here, Joker could feel the danger that the man presented. Right now, however, it was the shadows that were threatening them.
Joker had no time to issue any orders before the gunfire started. With the tables between them and Ooe, Joker could only cross his arms and pray, no obstacles hampering the shadows' aim.
"AHHHH!"
Oracle! The young girls' scream was a dagger to the heart. Their most vulnerable member had been exposed directly to the shadows' attack.
"Ahaha, now perish!"
From his back, Ooe tensed up, all eight heads' eyes beginning to glow with an intense blue light. More than that, each head had a sense of power surrounding it.
"FOX!" Joker mentally switched personas, rushing forward, closer to Ooe. Thankfully, Fox did the same, blade out and crossed in front of him. Looping an arm around Fox, Joker braced himself for impact.
The previous attacks were like a brisk autumn breeze next to a mid-winter blizzard. Even with Belphegor's resistance to ice damage, his hands coated over in frost instantly. That ice thickening and growing as it threatened to consume his whole body. Fox was in the same situation, his once thin katana a cudgel of ice.
Joker's limited vision receded further. Is it… getting stronger? But no, that wasn't right. His eyes were freezing over. As vision faded so did Joker's sense of time. Suspended in an odd stasis, there was no pain, no urgency. Am I… dying?
Latching onto that thought, Joker pulled back his emotions. Growling to himself, he forced his head back up, a loud crack sounding. His arms felt mired in concrete but there was no giving up at this point. Welling up the required force, Joker felt the alcohol burn away as he shattered his icy cage. Shard by shard, his movement returned, eyes forcing themselves open.
As he blinked away his own obstacles, Joker got to assess the room again. His legs were buried in ice up to his knees. Fox beside him was a frozen statue, only minor futile movements still occurring as Fox clutched to consciousness.
Turning his gaze back to Ooe, Joker thought the eight-headed monster had a smug grin, causing Joker despaie as to the condition of his teammates. However, one person had not been hiding behind the tables. Unnoticed by any of Ooe's heads was Violet. Standing atop the bar counter once more, her rubellite eyes were shining with malevolent anger.
"Oi, asshole. That was my boyfriend."
"Hmmm?"
Leaping into the air, Violet descended with horizontal momentum, rapier slashing at the heads. The force of the impact knocked the heads forward, slamming three of them to the ice, sending up another cloud of mist.
I can't wait! Taking his dagger, Joker began to strike the ice as Violet continued her assault against Ooe. Standing on the main body, she slashed mercilessly again and again at the necks, her blade cutting deeper each time as damage ramped up.
With mobility increasing, Joker glanced back at where the security guards were. The man in the suit was gone but the four shadows had materialized their true form, ganging up on the half-frozen and injured members on the thieves. Ironically, the person in the best condition was Panther, the girl having prematurely fled from the cone of ice that had consumed the party.
Covering Oracle with her body, Panther hurled fire at the shadows, not backing down before their superior numbers and powerful attacks. Mouth working, Joker chattered out commands. "Q-Queen, help me and Violet with Ooe. Everyone else, deal with those shadows."
Pulling first his right boot out, Joker was slow. Very slow. His command had been optimistic but also necessary. With Violet's helpful distraction, Joker managed to free his left boot as well, stumbling and falling to his knees.
Looking back at Fox, Joker whispered a silent thanks before advancing. It was without a doubt a result of Fox's staunch determination that the people behind them were able to extract themselves from the ice. Queen, off to the side, still had both legs firmly entrenched in ice but was otherwise free. Noticing Joker's movement, she got to freeing herself.
Joker did not care anymore. He had a girlfriend to save. Ooe had recovered from his surprise. Using magic, he weakened Violet's defense, leaving her vulnerable. The heads had the speed of snakes, coiling and lashing out with their sharp teeth searching for skin. No longer was her rapier constantly slashing away the shadow's vitality. Her place of strength now one of weakness as she struggled to avoid the attacks from all around her.
Getting out his grappling hook for a second time, Joker took careful aim and fired. The hook striking a coiled head. Pulling himself to it, the transference of force slammed the head hard against the ice, flipping Joker into the air. Flying straight over Ooe's shadow, he spread his arms and tackled Violet from the lunging heads.
"S-Senpai!?"
"Sorry." Setting her down, Joker whirled to face Ooe. Already, one of the heads was lashing out at him. Raising an arm, Joker winced as the sharp fangs bit into him. His fleeting stamina drifting even lower. Pain and aches were starting to consume his body as the numbness faded. Gritting his teeth, Joker slashed back, leaving a wide gash in the snake's head.
"Oi! I told you to leave my boyfriend alone!" Violet yelled, her voice lowering with anger. "Destroy the idiot, Jeanne!"
Cruelly ripping off her own mask, Violet called down purifying light upon the shadow. One of the heads collapsing against the ground, eyes steaming. It was the first visible sign that Ooe had given that he was weakening.
"Ready?" Joker asked Violet.
"You know it."
Moving in perfect synchronization, Joker dove in first as a perfect distraction, pulling eyes to him as Violet slipped around his back. Her blade struck out to cut down the unsuspecting heads. With only a look, they communicated their intentions.
Joker felt a new rush of energy filling his body. It was not born out of desperation or fear but a far simpler source. Propelled by his love of his girlfriend, Joker found it easy to predict her movements and fulfill his roll. They transformed from a pair of deadly fighters into a single untouchable entity that countered with divine wrath.
Together they danced a duet around the shadow. When Violet's long sweeps left her open, Joker parried the strike. Each time Ren was left overextended, Violet covered for him. After a point, the adrenaline of fighting for his life faded and the simple joy of being with Sumire replaced it.
With the entirety of his attention on Ooe, the surroundings and conditions of the other thieves were driven from his mind. Freed of the responsibility of managing the group, Joker could fully let loose. Between slashes and shots with his equipment, he cycled through personas, testing for a weakness.
Oddly, the blast of fire that he had expected to work, was no more effective than Queen's nuclear attacks or Violet's light-based onslaught. Wind, lightning, and dark all fell flat as well. Ooe continued to stand strong, six of the eight heads continuing to lash out and land scrapes that were sapping their flagging strength.
"Senpai!"
For the first time in a minute, Violet spoke, her gasped word drawing a sharp look from Joker as they fell out of rhythm. It was only because of her gesture that Joker observed what she had managed to pick up on. Two heads, half hidden behind the other four, had charged up and were ready to unleash another devastating blizzard.
"Tsk." As Joker dove for Violet, he brought out the grappling hook, firing it at the ceiling. Tackling her around the waist, Violet still would have fallen from his grip if she hadn't anticipated his action and held onto him with her left arm, drawing her gun with her right.
Suspended by the wire, they began to rotate, barely suspended off the floor, around Ooe. The ice blast went off at the same time. Racing against the blast, they turned in a circle, barely keeping ahead of the cold air and biting crystals of ice.
Bang! Bang!
With two well placed shots, Violet nailed the heads that were firing the magic. The impact cancelling it and giving them a gap.
"Senpai, it's your turn!"
"Ahh," Dropping Violet, Joker pulled himself higher, arcing above Ooe. Five, six meters in the air, he reached the peak of his trajectory. "Now fall, Decarabia!" Calling forth the power of one of his numerous personas, Joker prayed that there was a single weakness this thing had. The waves of psychic power ripping into all six still active heads.
"KYAAAA!" The howl of agony that was emitted from Ooe calmed Joker's nerves.
"Checkmate." Lifting his dagger over his head, Joker brought it down with all his might upon the place where the necks converge. Amplified by the force of his fall, the dagger split the skin with ease, sending up a burst of energy from the damage dealt. The fallen Ooe spasmed and then fell silent.
Joker pulled his knife out and repocketed it as the body of the politician reformed under his feet. That was unimportant right now. He had barely turned around before Violet hit him, her upper body colliding against his own. Catching her back as she wrapped her legs around his waist, Joker received the deep kiss without complaint.
I love you… Sumire.
Like all great things, it was shattered by an angry woman yelling at him. "What the hell are you two doing!? The others need help, and we need that letter!"
Damn responsibilities… Reluctantly, Joker lowered Violet. His girlfriend had other ideas however, keeping her arms locked around his neck.
"Get… off him!" With Queen pulling one side and Joker straining, she was eventually pulled off. Her face flushed with ecstasy.
"W-Why are you stopping us!?"
"Our comrades!"
As Queen yelled in her face, Violet's reasoning and self-awareness crashed down upon her like a divine strike from the heavens. "…I will throw myself from the boat after helping. Please excuse me."
As Violet strode off, Queen nodded as if it was a job well done. Upon viewing Ren's gaping face, Violet's meaning settled on her. Smacking her forehead, Queen took off after Violet with Ren only a step behind.
"Why'd you have to be so curt with her?"
"They need help, and I didn't think she'd commit seppuku out of embarrassment!"
"It is very much like her though," Joker sighed. Her embarrassment could rear its heads at odd times following extremely bold actions. Despite Queen's frantic warnings though, it looked like things were basically wrapped up. Everyone was free from the ice and the shadows were being summarily repelled.
Violet had nothing to even do as an angry-looking Fox viciously impaled the last one, leaving it to die screaming impaled on his sword.
Slowing to a halt, Joker called over to Violet. "Don't throw yourself off the ship, alright?"
"…I will consider it."
Assuming that she would not throw herself off, Joker returned to Ooe's body. Flipping him over with his foot, Joker stared down at the shadow's unconscious body. Feeling sleezier than ever before in the metaverse, he knelt down and began going through the man's pockets. Besides some interesting baubles, Joker found the letter in his inner suit jacket. Confirming it was what he wanted, Joker pocketed the letter in his own bag.
"Well, that's one." It was a depressing statement that sapped the last of his energy. Shoulders slumping as his back arched forward, he ran a hand across his tired face. Turning, he stared at the slowly assembling thieves. Oracle was being held in Fox's arms, her face twisted in pain.
While she was in the worst condition, no one was looking healthy. Panther had taken a great deal of abuse from the shadows while protecting Oracle. Leaning on Skull for support, Mona looked up at her with worry in his eyes. That meant Noir and Queen were their last fighters. Violet, like Joker had exhausted herself completely.
"We're heading back," Joker sighed. "Let's get out of here."
Wednesday, October 12th, 20XX Evening
"I still don't understand! Why stay in this dump!? It's so rundown, you could have come back to our home. We were—"
Raising a hand, Rose cut her sister off. "You've said this all before, Orchid. Please calm down, all will be explained shortly. This was necessary."
"Still, Sister… You seem, well, different."
Smiling at the youngest sister, Lily, Rose reached over and rubbed her head. The college aged girl pouted but accepted the touch. All three of them were sitting on the fraying couch in the apartment that Akechi had gotten for her. The sounds of the café that she worked at were floating up from below.
Rather than those, Rose's attention was on the voices of her neighbors. As the outcasts of Japanese society, they were far rowdier and less considerate of their neighbors than most were. Those sounds muffled and hid the ones that she was waiting for.
"You have changed. Rose… what happened in those cells? Why do they think you're dead?"
Freezing up, Rose could not stop the images from running through her. The nightmares that she had every night twisted the shadows, whispering the words and taunts that she had heard in captivity.
"Shut it, Orchid! Why'd you have to bring that up?"
"S-Sorry, I just… I want to know."
Taking a deep breath, Rose repeated her litany in her head. Akechi saved me, I am free. Akechi saved me, I am free. Akechi saved me—By the time she got through it the fifth time, the shadows had fallen silent, their writhing motions and sly smiles disappearing. Standing up, Rose approached her sister that had asked.
"R-Rose?"
Bending down, she hugged Orchid's head tightly to her chest. "I will never let you experience what happened to me, okay?"
"…Thank you."
The peaceful silenced lasted only a moment until a pair of dress shoes clicked against the floor outside. Heart fluttering, Rose released her sister to stare at the door. As she hoped, the signal was rapped upon it. Flinging the old door open, Rose shot Akechi a brilliant smile. "Hey!"
"Rose," he replied in greeting, striding into the apartment to stare at her sisters. "So, you are all here now. The three Owada sisters."
"Then this is him, your savior," Orchid spoke flatly, her distrust shining through clearly.
Closing the door, Rose wrapped an arm around Akechi's shoulder. 'Yep! This is the great Detective Prince. We're going to help him change the world."
"Huh?"
The surprise was to be expected. What Rose hadn't expected was that Akechi left her arm where it was. He had been so diligent in refuting her advances that she figured he was gay. Do I… have a chance? The potential in her future to be more than another tool to this amazing man set her heart fluttering again.
"First," Akechi said, staring hard into the eyes of Lily and Orchid, "we have to bring down the phantom thieves."
Lily and Orchid linked hands, rising from the couch. Emotions fled from their faces as their guards were raised to maximum security. Panic driving past her hopes, Rose raised a hand to them. "Y-You two why are you—"
"We refuse," Orchid spoke over her. "Move aside detective, we're leaving."
"No, you aren't. Also, you will help us. It is the only way to save your sister."
"…No, it isn't," Orchid hissed, taking the lead once again. "The phantom thieves will change society and free my sister!"
"I will change society!" Akechi growled, stepping up to Orchid's face.
Rose was left behind as a bystander, unable to do anything to change the outcome as two of the most important people in her life came close to blows.
"You? You look like a pampered rich boy. I've met the thieves, and they are real people with real lives and actually care about people!"
"And that's enough to let you forgive them for killing your father?" Akechi whispered.
The sharp retort silenced Orchid, her face twisting in pain.
"Are you so far gone that you cannot even admit that they should tried in a court of law?"
"I-I well…"
Snapping herself out of it, Rose walked over and stared straight into her sister's eyes.
"Rose?"
With a sharp crack, she slapped her sister as hard as she could. Orchid's head snapped to the side as she staggered and fell hard on her rear. There was silence in the room as Orchid stared up at her with disbelieving eyes.
"How dare you."
"W-What?"
"You heard me," Rose growled down at her. "They're good people? Are you serious? They killed our father! They are the reason that we are wanted right now! It's because of the phantom thieves that I was raped!"
Throwing a hand across her mouth, Rose turned away from her sisters, shoulders hunching. No, I wasn't going to tell them that! She didn't want her sisters to see her that way. To think that she was now a broken doll in need of protection.
"Rose…"
She expected one of her sisters to approach but it was Akechi. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he whispered in her ear just loud enough that the others would be able to hear as well. "Don't worry, I'll never let anyone touch you again."
"T-Thank you." Sniffling, Rose soaked in the contact for a moment. After composing herself, she wiped her eyes and turned around to see her sisters' reactions. They looked stunned, the information overwhelming them. Rose knew exactly how they felt.
Akechi, however, was not letting them get their bearings. Going down onto one knee, he spoke directly at Orchid, eye-to-eye. "All I want is for justice to reign. For the phantom thieves to stand trial and Shido as well. Isn't that the same thing that you want?"
"…I like them," Orchid choked out, tears welling in her eyes. "I always considered criminals scum but… I like them."
"Then stand for them at their defense trial," Akechi suggested. "Speak to their good character there. Plus, only their leader needs to be arrested, Amamiya Ren."
Both girls were shocked again. "Y-You know who-?"
"Ahh, I do." Akechi nodded. "I know them all. I will be arresting them this weekend and need your help."
"I-I still…"
"We will do it." For the first time since Akechi had come in, Lily spoke up. Kneeling down to place a hand on Orchid's shoulder, she spoke to the whole room. "If you can deal with Shido and bring real change so that no one has to go through what my sister did then we will help."
"B-But Lily, Makoto and—"
"And we let emotions blind us, choosing to cling unto hope. I trust my sister more than them. Don't you?"
Rose found the attention back on her. Giving them her biggest, most reassuring grin, she spoke happily. "Please put your faith in us! After all, Akechi already saved me. He will save all of us!"
"…Fine." Orchid gave up. She didn't look happy about it, but she did not argue the point. Instead, she glared at Akechi, giving him an ultimatum. "You better live up to your promises. If you show us for a moment that…"
"I got it, I got it," Akechi raised his hands in defeat. "Put your trust in me. It will go great. Now then, let's eat!"
"Oh, how about pancakes!" Rose suggested. Clapping her hands, she got to cooking as the mood in the room slowly lightened as loose bonds were formed between them all.
Thursday, October 13th, 20XX Morning
"Ahh, that's him." Dressed in her best suit, Sae pointed a cold, uncaring finger at the man in front of her. Her icy gaze piercing enough to send even hardened criminals to the floor in fear. However, the man that she was pointing at could only gape in confusion.
"What… What is the meaning of this Sae?"
"Meaning? I'm getting my job back. Goodbye Zenkichi Haegawa."
"SAEEEE!" Chased by the man's screaming voice, Sae walked away, struggling to keep her composure. I had to do this to protect Makoto. I had no other choice!
"We will take it from here," the burly officer next to Sae spoke quietly to her. "Not quite as fun, but it will be done in a week, I promise you that."
"Make it five days." Striding past him, Sae left the building and got in the expensive black limo waiting for her. It was only a short ride before she got out at SIU headquarters. The police and security stared at her with reservation, unsure about Sae's position there.
I'll be your boss soon… Trying to project that aura, Sae got into the elevator and punched her way to the top floor. Only with this brief break did she allow herself to lower her guard for a moment. Closing her eyes, Sae placed a hand on her racing heart and took a reassuring breath. Pulling out her phone to check her reflection, Sae ensured that her looks were flawless.
With only a second left before the doors opened, she pocketed the phone and confidently strode out. The top floor was an exclusive place with its own secretary desk, a meeting room and the director's office. Ignoring the secretary, Sae went to the office and knocked loudly.
Hearing the voice of the director, she opened the door and entered without being beckoned to enter. As the secretary began to rise, her face paling with fear, Sae closed the door on the woman and faced the director. In the middle of a phone call, his voice drifted off, cheeks mottling with rage.
The director was smart to end the call, slamming it back down with a harsh click. Standing up, he growled in a menacing voice. "On the ground, or I'll get security to kick you out the short way!"
"Now don't be like that," Sae replied, walking over to the window. She had been in this room many times but had never fully appreciated the height of the building. Even among the numerous impressive buildings in Tokyo, the SIU still stood out. Whoever had pushed for its height was definitely corrupt. The sheer scale of the building made many of the company headquarters that surrounded it look puny and insignificant.
"W-Why you… When security—"
"Oh, don't be like that," Sae gave him a reproachful look. "You should have gotten a message already. Follow its instructions and promote me to co-director."
"Co-director? There is no such position. Stop making up… things."
Looking at him through the window's reflection, Sae watched as the anger gradually faded to be replaced by fear and disbelief. It seems that Akechi did come through… Releasing the breath she had been holding, Sae felt the nerves fade away. From here on, things should be easier.
"Well, it seems that you've changed your mind. I'll be in my old office. Call me when my new office is ready."
"H-Hold on! How is this possible!? S-Shido is my confidante! Why would he—"
"Retire while you still can director," Sae advised, pausing at the door. "A country with new leadership requires new enforcement. See ya."
Friday, October 14th, 20XX After school
"Once more into the breach… and all that." Speaking mostly to himself, Ren's fingers fiddled with his phone. They were in position and time was ticking but Ren still could not bring himself to start the navigation. Looking at the group, it seemed his hesitation was shared among the group. Wednesday had not gone well. Shido's goons had a power that they had never experienced before.
Can I bring them all into this? What I lose one of them?
They were not new worries for Ren, but every time it was harder than the last. Dangers continued to pile up and it felt like they were gambling against the house. How long until snake-eyes showed up? A single critical failure and that was it.
"Yeah, club will be starting up again soon with a new coach. Guys have invited me back. Doc says my leg is good enough to train on too."
"That's great Ryuji! My modelling has been going better as well!"
Everyone's lives are getting on track…
"Hmm, I am in a but of slump still. I will not deny it, but with these many experiences I believe I am gaining new depth as an artist."
"Whoa Inari! You almost sounded like an adult!"
Clenching his hand, Ren felt himself hating their power all of a sudden. It was too much, too cruel to place this burden on teenagers.
"Senpai, let's go."
"…Are you sure?" Ren asked, his words carrying to the whole group. His intention was clear, and they struggled to meet his gaze. All but one that is. Sumire's indomitable will shone through her ruby eyes. There was no need for further words. Opening his phone, he prepared them to transport to the ship.
"By the way, have any of you heard from Kas? A teacher told me she missed last period."
"Is that right?" Ren paused long enough to double-check that he hadn't gotten anything from her. "Maybe she's sick. Are you coming or…?"
"Kas will have to survive without me," Sumire forced a laugh. Rather than lightening the mood, it only furrowed brows further.
Is her absence important? Ren could only sigh and give up thinking about it. It wasn't unheard of for students to miss a period here or there. Instead, he started the navigation, bringing them all into the metaverse.
The ship was a now familiar sight. Its beauty and terror undiminished despite that. Looking over the railing, Joker could still feel the pull of the destruction eating away at his willpower. "Let's go. There is more of the ship on the far side of the dining room. We will start there and hope to find more information."
"We know, we know," Skull sighed. "Believe it or not I can read the text messages."
"Can you?" Panther teased. "Your last score on the Japanese test suggests otherwise."
"S-Shut up!"
The old fashioned bantering helped to calm their nerves as Joker led them back through the ship. Using a clever anchor point, he pulled them up to the higher level bypassing a few of the guards.
From there it was through the main hallways to where the entrance to Shido's central room was. Only having one-fifth of the required letters forced them to turn aside and plunder the halls for the remaining four. Preparing himself for another long day of challenging fights, Ren found himself stopping as words from the cognitive shadows caught his ear.
"Do you think those girls snuck on?"
"I heard that they got on Shido's bad side. Or do you think… the executor's?"
From the other side, Ren heard more of the same.
"Oh dear, that poor thing was absolutely shaking with fear. And being escorted to the basement? How dreadful."
Ren could no longer ignore this. "Something is wrong. Something has changed in the palace."
"I must agree," Queen sighed, having heard the same thing.
"But what is it? If we continue to collect letters, I'm sure we will find out at some point."
"Not so sure if I agree, Inari. The way the shadows are acting… Isn't this more like outside interference?"
"W-What does that mean?"
"Don't be stupid Skull," Panther huffed. "Obviously it means umm… W-well, you tell them Joker!"
Sighing, Joker took up the mantle. "Oracle may be right. I think we should pursue this. This palace is dangerous enough without mysteries lurking that could give us trouble. Come on."
Abandoning the staircase that would lead to the dining room at the stern, Joker instead lead them down the stairs into unknown territory.
The door was locked last time. Can we break it down? Ren couldn't remember actually overpowering a barricade in the cognitive world before. However, given that it was a simple door, Shido's cognition about it being unbreakable shouldn't exist. That would be the test here.
Preparing himself to swing, Violet strode past him and opened the door.
"Huh?"
"What do you mean, Huh, Senpai?" Violet scolded him. "We are in a hurry!"
"R-Right…" Concern rising, Joker felt like there was an ominous air from the hallway ahead. Possibilities flowing through his head, Joker could not separate the paranoia from the justified concerns.
Rather than become paralyzed from fear, Joker's speed increased. For right alongside that fear was a thrill of excitement. To seek out a challenge, the rush of danger was also there as it always was in the metaverse.
Darting through tight corridors, Ren broke out into a luxuriant hall. With a large golden fountain in the center with gardens in the four corners. There were some cognitive shadows here and on the railings above that were normal guests. More striking was the large number of shadows.
Skidding to a halt, Joker listened in to their conversation.
"The three have been taken to the holding rooms. The special one is being moved to the boiler room for questioning by the cleaner. If the thieves come, don't let them past you."
Three? Special one?
The new information bordered on helpful and entered frustrating. He needed only a little more to figure it all out. Whether it was his frustration or speed that had disturbed the environment, the guard turned and looked at him.
"Ah, the thieves! Keep them from the Owada girls, I'll help moving the Yoshizawa girl!"
"K-Kas!?"
Violet's strangled voice was a mirror of Joker's own thoughts. It lasted for only a moment. "Mona, Panther, Skull, Fox, and Oracle, look for the Owada girls. Everyone else with me!"
Darting after the shadow, Joker pulled his gun out and raised it to fire at the shadow's back. Finger tightening on the trigger, Joker stopped himself just before the bang. What am I doing? It's leading us right to her!
The shadow looked back at them, and seeing their pursuit, redoubled its efforts. Leading them through the door at the far end of the chamber, it called out to the two guards standing there. "Stop the thieves!"
"Yes sir!"
"Noir, Queen, hold them off for us."
"Yes, Joker!"
Getting affirmatives, he moved back in their chase order, raising his gun to shoot at the guards, breaking their disguise. With near perfect coordination, Queen and Noir followed up with fists and axe, keeping them from hampering Joker and Violet as they closed distance on the fleeing shadow.
Seeing Violet had murder in her eyes, Joker pulled on her cape, slowing her down. "Don't scare it! We need it to find Kas!"
"A-Ahh, right…" With Violet back in control, they pursued ten meters back from the shadow. From the looks it stole at them, Joker had the feeling that it knew exactly what they were doing.
Then why continue? Information was biting at Joker's mind. Things that may be obvious with only a moment to stop and think eluded him. But from overhearing the conversation less than a minute ago until now, Joker had been in motion.
Those potential ideas and insights flowed from his head as he took a staircase in three strides, instincts on high-alert for ambushes and attacks from the sides. In their sprint they passed at least half a dozen other shadows patrolling hallways.
This is stupid, this is stupid!
Either way, they were committed and continued to spiral down to the boiler room. Arriving at a large door, the shadow finally stopped and knocked. "Let me in!"
"Aye aye!"
"Senpai, this is…"
Whatever thoughts Violet had on their situation were left unspoken as it opened and they caught a glimpse of a figure beyond. Trussed up in ropes with a gag in her mouth, Kasumi was thrown over a shadow's shoulder.
"KASSS!"
Joker had no chance of restraining her. Violet exploded in a hurricane of motion. Gun and sword flashing as she pushed through the guards, pursuing her sister.
Tsking angrily at his slowness, Joker threw himself through the door and looked around the crew area of the ship. There was an ominous looking end ahead, but Kasumi was being brought off to a side room. "Hold up, Violet!"
Calling after her, Joker could only watch as she followed Kasumi into the room and the door shut behind her, the sound of a heavy lock being turned.
"Ahh, finally alone."
"That voice…" Turning around as a heavy thump hit the ground behind him, Joker stared at a figure all in black, bearing an ominous blade of red and stalked by two shadows. He didn't want to believe it, but the name rose unbidden to his mouth. "Akechi… Goro!"
Friday, October 14th, 20XX After school
"What am I missing?" Bent over the old, rickety table, Maruki stared listlessly at pages of research. There had to be something more in here. A secret that would allow them to unlock true cognitive medicine.
The papers before him were all that remained of Wakaba's research. Each line was a precious treasure in some ways, in others they revealed the madness behind the brilliance. The scrawled lines of text frequently made jumps of logic so large they left canyons of unanswered questions between them. It was as if Wakaba had seen the cognitive as something completely different than the rest of them did.
"Is that why she killed herself?" Maruki could only mumble with no answers.
Creak!
The sudden noise startled Maruki as he jumped to his feet. It was a reminder of the state of the building. Compared to many Japanese buildings, it could be considered brand new. But being derived from the World War 2 era, the creaky lab continually made alarming sounds. The old incandescent lights flickering constantly, broken floor tiles, and rusting walls. It was easy to see it as haunted or cursed.
"Dr. Maruki, Dr. Ubakata wants you to go over the newest options in the app."
"O-Oh, Ms. Nakano, I didn't see you there. Thank you for letting me know, I'll head right over." Trying to calm his racing heart, Maruki placed a hand on his head as the lady approached. Nakano was a strange character. She didn't say much, only doing her job and providing the very rare suggestion.
As she walked over to the desk, she shuffled through some of the papers. "I met Dr. Isshiki once you know."
Nakano is talking!? Per Maruki's professional psychiatric analysis, Nakano was either excessively shy or suffering from unresolved trauma. It was unprecedented for her to be so open.
"She talked at a conference when I was a grad student… It was… so long ago now. She spoke with such passion."
"D-Did she? Her notes are certainly proof enough of her intelligence. A real shame how it ended up."
"She didn't kill herself."
"…What?"
"It was a mental shutdown. Someone targeted her because she knew too much."
What is she saying? Shivering, Maruki felt like the building was watching him. Unseen specter's monitoring every word, every action. Swallowing, he tried to say something but could not generate words to counteract the claim.
Nakano's black eyes turned and focused on his own, hammering him to the spot. "I would be careful following in her footsteps if I were you, doctor. You can never be certain where the line between usefulness and dangerous lies."
Maruki was left behind as she left the room, her passing that of a ghost, floating over the floor. As the door closed, she whispered one final word.
"Don't forget Dr. Ubakata."