Author's Notes: Greetings again, everyone. Ready for another chapter of the best Persona 5 fic out there? Good, because I'm ready to share one with you. But first, I have to give special thanks to my awesome reviewers.

Myalko: Doing Ryuji justice, eh? Funny you should mention that...

AKANOS: I did not play P5R, though I know the details of the story and the characters. There won't be any major material, and perhaps any material at all, from P5R in this little project because the notes and ideas for this story predated P5R's release by a fair bit, and what was there wouldn't really fit. Just kinda how it went. But I appreciate your review, and I'm glad you're engaged so far. I hope you enjoy where it all goes.

UltimateCCC: I thought it was pretty punchy and snappy too, you know? A nice line that gets right to the meat and bone of the matter. I'm glad you liked it!

codywhite162: Thanks! You don't have to wait any longer!

Next, a bit of business. Some of you have inquired about a release schedule, and I'm sure that's a topic of interest for any large-scale project like this. After careful consideration, I now have an answer. The posting date of this chapter is 28 days after chapter 2. That's not an accident. Firion and I have discussed it and worked hard to create a buffer out of the next few chapters in an effort to standardize the release dates, give ourselves time to edit and avoid burnout and not have long stretches where nothing gets posted. That's a common enough story for any fanfic, my own past works included, and I'd rather this project be different. The intention, therefore, is that for the foreseeable future Casino Advantage's chapters will be released every 28 days, with the potential room for extras as the circumstances allow. It goes without saying that I do not know what will happen in the future and whether that release window will have to be adjusted, but with consideration of the factors at play I feel that this is a pace that I can maintain for the present time while keeping the content quality high.

With that said, I'll stop talking and let the wheel spin and the dice roll. Huge thanks to Firion for his input and insight, and I hope you guys all enjoy the show!

Doubling Down

"Have you got a problem?" Sakura-san demanded an hour later.

Akira adjusted his glasses. "What do you mean?"

"I got a call from your homeroom teacher. She said you skipped half of your first day, hanging out with some punk. Care to explain where you were this morning and what you were doing?"

"I met him on the way to school. He knows the area and showed me around, and we hit it off."

"Is he as bad as your teacher says?"

"I don't know what she told you. He talks rough and he has bleached hair, but I didn't have any problems with him."

"Clearly not, if you cut class with him."

"Something came up."

"Like what?"

Akira said nothing.

Sakura-san growled. "Start taking this seriously, kid. If your teacher gives the word, that's it for you. If I do, same thing. No more probation, no second chances, you're out of here and in a cell doing manual labor for three to five mandatory."

"It's up to nine years in my case. And you've said this before."

"Then pay attention when we tell you to smarten up."

Akira's blood flared, same as it had 'there' when Arsene awakened. "Why do you care whether I do or not? You've made it clear that you don't know me from the homeless guy around the block, so are you in this for the money? Or do you like kicking kids when they're down?"

The old man stepped forward. "You little shit, I'll–"

Akira pulled his glasses off and got in Sakura-san's face. "Do it. Whatever you're going to say or do, don't threaten me with it. Kick me out, call my caseworker, send me to juvie, but do it."

The silence was smothering.

Akira went on. "Here's my situation. Everyone's been giving me the shaft for well over a month, but I didn't do anything wrong. I come here for a fresh start and you treat me like a second-class citizen; someone spreads rumors about me at school and it's my fault; here you are threatening me again, and I'm supposed to thank you? I'm sick of this. If you want me out of here, say it and I'm gone, because you are on the other side of the country from being in my corner. If I talk to my caseworker, will I hear that this is supposed to be what you're doing?"

"You're here under my roof and you've got the gall to talk to me like that?"

Akira shifted into a conciliatory expression before he went that one step too far. "I apologize if I said anything false or untoward to you. I want to think that you'll help me if I need it, that this is just tough love and you actually want me to make it. I mean that honestly. This has the chance to be a good experience and I really do want to learn from it, and from you, and come out of it better off. But I'm sick of people taking shots because they think I won't shoot back. Someone who does that is a tyrant, and there's no way they have my best interest at heart."

Akira went quiet, leaving room for a reply. Nothing came except a hard glare and a conflicted look on the old man's face. Several long moments passed, and then the door opened to admit customers come for coffee and curry.

Sakura-san pointed to the stairs. "I have to work. That place is still a mess. Do your homework and clean it up."

Akira nodded. He put his glasses back on and went up to the attic, changed his clothes and stashed his sweater away, and got to it. Homework was straightforward enough – Akira had always been diligent enough to take good notes, even while being bored in class – and he got back to cleaning his new living area. Inch by inch, the stain of the wood shone through the dust, and the room became more livable. The bed was still a joke, but he had the divider up for privacy, the sofa and tables cleaned, and there were dedicated places for all the books, his own and those already there. Even the work area, complete with a heavy desk and chair and all sorts of tools, was coming together. Another day or so and this place would be good as new.

The cleaning drained what little was left in his tank, though. Without thinking of dinner, he crawled into bed and was deeply asleep by the time he turned over once.

7 7 7

Cold, dry air and the smell of iron and grease were what he woke up to. The alien sense of 'that place' pressed in on him, and he rose ready for a fight right as his consciousness broke the barrier of sleep. He got out of the cot and felt the chain on his ankle, saw the bars and the twins, and grimaced. "What do you want this time?"

Caroline slammed the bars with her baton. "Up, convict! The Master has something to say."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"He is the Master and you are his prisoner. You'll do what he says because he wants to help you. Between you and me, I don't understand why he bothers."

Akira snorted. "If I'm that much of an inconvenience, then I'll just stay in here and go back to sleep."

She glared and growled. "Don't make me come in there."

A deep, ghostly chuckle echoed in the prison. "You can understand her enthusiasm, can you not?" Igor asked from his desk. "She desires to do her duty, even if her delivery is rough."

Akira stepped up to the bars where the girls waited. A thought came to his mind. "Are you able to come in here?" he asked her.

"I'm a guard. I can go wherever I want."

"You can, as in you are permitted to, but are you able to? Is something stopping you from coming in here and using that thing like it's meant to be used? If I stay back at the bed next time, will you drag me out and beat me with it?"

"What a crude question," Justine noted.

"As Caroline here pointed out, you're guards. Guards punish uncooperative inmates to enforce the rules and ensure compliance, or at least that's what she's threatening me with. Is that what would actually happen?"

The girls looked at him the steady stares, but said nothing. Akira had the uncomfortable feeling that there was something missing in their eyes. He couldn't name or place just what gave him the impression, but there was the sense again, stronger than before, that while these girls looked somewhat normal, truthfully they were anything but.

"You have awakened to a great power," Igor began, folding and unfolding and refolding his fingers. "Your Persona. It is a powerful one; I can sense it from here."

Akira looked at the old man. "You knew about this?"

"Of course. I mentioned last time you were here, young man, that you were meant to fight a great evil. Your Persona is the means by which you will do so."

"It sounds like you had this all planned out. How could you know about me? I haven't even been in Tokyo for a week."

Igor gestured and his tarot cards appeared, hovering and turning in the air. "I know many things."

"You mean you can tell the future?"

"Some of it. Other things I am not privy to, but I will decide what I will share with you and what I will not."

"So you're only in my corner to a point," Akira deduced. "Seems I'm on my own. Wait, not really. That phone app. Ryuji said he kept getting it even when he deleted it, and it was the same with me. That was how we got to that castle, wasn't it? Was that you? Were you testing us? Selecting for the lucky contestants or something?"

"Selecting… hm, that word works well enough for this purpose."

"And what purpose is that?"

Igor's smile widened and turned unpleasant. "There is much you do not need to know, young man. You were given this power for a reason, and now it is time for you to begin fulfilling it. Your rehabilitation starts now."

Akira's hackles rose at that word. "Rehabilitation. You said that before. For what?"

"To re-enter society, of course. Only those who abide by its rules are permitted the chance to remain, as has been the case in every civilization of Man. This is your opportunity to prove that you're more than a mere criminal. You will need to relearn the required strictures, and then you will return to your life as it was. That is what we are here for, and that is the path of any who find themselves in this room."

"Sounds like you want me dancing to your tune. Thing is, I'm tone deaf when someone tells me I have to do something. I'm not a criminal just because you say that I am, and you're not actually interested in my case, are you?"

"The details of what happened in your world, in your past, are irrelevant here. I have said as much."

"Because I'm here to fight whoever you tell me to? Do as you say with no choice of my own?"

"It will be for your own good, as well," Justine assured him softly. "We can promise you that much."

"And I should trust you that your idea of 'my own good' is what I want?"

"Of course. You will become a model citizen and rejoin society. We promised you this and we will accomplish it."

"Whether I want that or not, right? You still haven't given me the details of this great evil," Akira noted.

"If you knew what we do, you might act differently. It is for your own good that we keep our secrets."

"There's 'my own good' again. You're dictating rules and rewards from on high and not giving me a choice, you know. That's not a positive look for someone who says they're on my side, not when I'm the only one who can fight this great evil of yours."

Igor chuckled again, but the sound was low and dangerous. "Your resistance is understandable. The spirit you called to is one of rebellion, and its will is strong. I shall forgive your insolence for now. Your path is set already, whether you intend it so or not. Continue as you are."

"I will," Akira spat back. "This power is mine, not yours, and I'll use it how I want."

"Naturally. Just remember that when you use it, you better others besides yourself – even in your rebellion, you do not have all the choices you believe that you do."

The words echoed and rang in the room the same as last time. Akira grit his teeth and closed his eyes, trying to push the noise away. It swooped in around him and snapped shut like the jaws of a great beast.

7 7 7

Akira jolted awake, breath racing from his chest and heart hammering with a frantic pulse. His clothes were stuck to him in yet another night sweat, and the blankets and sheets had been kicked to the floor.

"You always this messy a sleeper?" a gruff voice asked from nearby.

Akira jerked and looked up.

Sakura-san was there, eyes dark and narrow. "This place just started looking good, and now you're going to turn it upside down again."

Akira flopped back and rubbed his face. "It wasn't my idea. Bad dream."

"Hm. You get those often?"

"I didn't, back before… Then they started, and since I got here they happen a lot more."

"Sounds like a big change."

"Yeah. I'm still getting used to it."

"You know, I used to work with things like cognition and dreams. A lifetime ago. Sometimes they aren't just random images and feelings, you know?"

"This one feels different, but none of it really makes any sense."

The old man shrugged. "They're your dreams. Just don't disregard them – sometimes they're there to tell you something."

"Right."

"Well, get dressed and come downstairs. Breakfast is ready."

"What?"

"You missed dinner. And I saw what you had yesterday. Breakfast bars, dried nutrients, you might as well be eating sand. You need a decent meal in the morning if you're going to function properly."

Akira stared.

Sakura-san turned and waved at him impatiently. "Let's go, hurry up or it'll get cold."

Akira had received worse invitations in his life. He dressed and went downstairs to the smell of curry. A steaming plate of it waited for him on the counter, a cup of fresh coffee beside it. "Dig in," he was told, and after the first bite that was what he did. The curry blend was better than any he'd had before, far superior to pre-packaged recipes. Even Grams didn't make it this good.

The coffee, when he tried it, made the flavors flow on his tongue. The two working together was better than the smells promised, and it had smelled amazing.

Sakura-san smirked. "Like it?"

Akira's manners were good enough that he covered his mouth to reply, "It's fantastic," but he couldn't stop eating once he'd started.

"When you've broadened your horizons on coffee, we'll see what you like. Then I'll give you a combination like you wouldn't believe."

"I'm looking forward to it. Thank you; I'll pay you back."

The old man brushed something off. "We can talk about that later." He looked a little closer. "You know, I knew a guy who went to juvie when he was around your age."

Akira paused in his eating. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Smart guy, always thought he knew better, and whenever he found bad rules, he worked around them. When things turned out good for everyone involved, how was that a bad thing? Especially if the system wasn't enough to do the job in the first place, right?"

"Sounds right."

"Except the guys who make the rules didn't see it like that. Good reasons or bad, he was still breaking the law, so they put him on probation. He broke it, and they locked him up. Four years later he got out, and it changed him. Prison in this country's no joke, not with yakuza on the inside and forced labor from the guards. That guy went back two more times. Once because he said he was going to do the right thing no matter who it pissed off, and next because he'd cracked and become a street soldier. You know what that means? It means the yakuza own you, and they can throw you away whenever they want. When he went in that last time, he didn't come out. Having friends is fine right up until the other guy has more of them. Then that guy breaks your arms and legs, cuts your guts open and stuffs them down your throat. That's how they found him."

Akira let out a breath. "That's… I hope he wasn't a close friend of yours, to go out like that."

"He hadn't been for a long time. I only heard about all this because he asked to borrow money before he went back in. By then, I knew better and he didn't." Sakura-san gave a meaningful look. "You get it? Even if the rules don't make sense to you or you think they're wrong, sometimes you have to follow them if you don't want to end up like that. That's especially true if the enforcers are the ones with the guns. Sometimes keeping your head down and your mouth shut is better than speaking up and showing off, particularly when it can ruin your life."

"It could also be," Akira offered, "that the real trick to doing the right thing is to not get caught in the first place."

The old man stared at him.

"I'm kidding, it's just a thought. I'm not planning on getting into anything that deep, and I don't want any trouble with the cops. You've made your point, Sakura-san."

"Good. I know it's tough if you've been railroaded, that you want to fight against the system when it's wrong, but trust me, from where you are, there're much worse places you could end up, and you'd never have a normal life once they got you."

"I'll remember that."

"Try to. It'll come in handy. Go on, finish your food. Maybe you'll get to class on time today. Could even try not mouthing off your teacher."

Akira smiled and enjoyed his breakfast. Even if the company left a lot to be desired, the ambiance of Leblanc was something to savor, and the food really was good.

7 7 7

"Mornin', chief," Ryuji said with a stretch. "How you doin' today?"

Akira smiled as he fell into step with his new friend. A text had been all it took for them to meet outside the train station today. "Pretty good, thanks. You?"

"Dude, I slept like a coma victim last night. I dunno what it was about 'that place,' but it wiped me out. How about you? I figured you'd be more tired than I was."

"Could be. I slept, that's for sure. I'm not sure how deep it was; I've been having these weird dreams, and– oh, good morning, Takamaki."

The blonde up ahead of them turned and waved distantly, deep in conversation with a girl whose dark hair was in a long ponytail. Judging from how it bounced and bobbed, the two were having a good conversation.

Ryuji chuffed, a wry smile on his face. "Her and Suzui. Don't worry if she doesn't answer. Those two get to talkin' and nothin' gets through to them. They've been friends for years."

"Seems you know them."

"They're together all the time, so anyone who talks to Takamaki will see Suzui with her. And I was in primary school with Takamaki back in the day, but, y'know, things changed and now she's just kinda there."

"Gotcha. Still, they seem nice."

"Compared to a lot of the clowns we're in class with? You're damn right. Suzui's got what it takes to go pro in volleyball, but she's so quiet about it that you wouldn't think it to look at her. Never shows off or rubs anyone's face in it, she helps everyone else on the team, she's just, I dunno, good people."

Akira watched the girls. Their shared laughter was strong enough that Takamaki was holding her stomach, and Suzui stepped off to the side with her, rubbing her back and wearing a face-splitting smile. "She seems like it. Good for her; it's nice to see that someone in this school is enjoying themselves."

The rest of the trip was uneventful, even though the steps up to the front doors still made Akira pause and feel like he was in 'that place' again. He expected it to waver and show him some part of the castle, but it didn't come.

"Feels weird, doesn't it?" Ryuji asked, rubbing his face.

"Yeah," was all Akira said.

"There's a volleyball game later today," Ryuji went on, "where the teachers play against the school team. It's part of our gym class, so we don't get to bow out. I'll see you there."

"You don't sound too happy about that."

"Kamoshida runs the show, and… well, you'll see."

A few hours later, Akira did indeed see.

It wasn't just Kamoshida who was playing against the boys' team. Other male faculty were there as well, but one would be forgiven for missing them entirely – this was clearly Kamoshida's show. They set him up for spikes and allowed him to take the lion's share of shots. Akira could appreciate on some level that he was very good – his form and movements spoke of long practice and dedication to the sport, and he was definitely in his element – but that was as far as any admiration could go. Kamoshida's posture and stride were arrogant, his shots were aggressive and unrelenting, and he overshadowed his teammates completely. The other teachers all went along with it like they knew full well not to overstep their welcome. And the members of the boys' team were just a farce – they may as well have been paper cut outs for all they managed to play back. The match hadn't been planned to show them where they were lacking and help them improve, nor was it a game against a worthy opponent intent on pushing them to their limits so they could reach and exceed them. No, Kamoshida played to dominate. Every shot, every block, every move was meant to show himself as the superior athlete and to mercilessly crush the opposition.

It was easy to see the arrogant sneer of the king of 'that place' on Kamoshida's face. Those with him were beneath him, and those against him were dirt.

Akira looked around and noticed Takamaki and Suzui against the wall across from him. Takamaki seemed morose and was looking everywhere but at the game. As for Suzui, maybe it was a trick of the light or how far away she was, but Akira had the feeling that she was pale and flinching at each heavy-handed hit of the ball.

Just then, a hard spike caught one student, a black-haired guy with weak posture, square in the face. Over he went, blood ran to the floor, and he'd definitely have raccoon eyes in a few minutes. Kamoshida grimaced, crossed the court and helped him up.

Ryuji hit the floor with a fist. "That fuckin' prick," he growled. "He did that on purpose. You saw all his other shots, he knew exactly where to put it."

"Is this common?" Akira asked.

"If you'd asked me before yesterday, I'd say he only goes after the people who piss him off and the others are collateral damage. Now I know he's doin' it to keep everyone down no matter who they are or what they did."

"That's probably exactly what it is." Akira noticed how the student limped off the court without help from any of his teammates, and every one of the other teachers said nothing and seemed intent on looking the other way. "Is that how big of a deal he is here? No one's calling him on it or helping that guy out?"

"Mishima's a bit of an outcast," Ryuji answered. "Quiet, doesn't have many friends, doesn't belong to the clubs and isn't a star on the team. People don't stick up for guys like him."

"Standard tactics," Akira spat out. "Single out the weak and the others will push them to the sharks thinking they won't be next in the water."

"Figured it out already, huh? That was pretty quick."

"I've seen it before. It never works. You can pretend it doesn't concern you right until you run out of people to throw in, or until everyone left swims faster than you."

The game ended. Kamoshida lapped up the praise from the teachers, and hearing them fawn over 'an Olympic prodigy' was almost enough to make Akira revisit his breakfast. Takamaki made tracks for the door, but Suzui trailed behind, looking lost with a hand outstretched. Kamoshida called her, and she definitely flinched and stayed where she was, head down while her hair concealed her eyes and face.

It struck Akira that even around so many people, she was suddenly alone.

Ryuji bumped into him. "C'mon, let's go. It's lunchtime and I gotta talk to you."

Akira was drawn away by his friend, but not without one last look at the girl. Then the bell went off and he, too, left.

Ryuji led him up to the roof, opening the locked door with a key he almost certainly wasn't supposed to have, and they stood by the air conditioner unit. "You saw him, right?" Ryuji fumed. "Kamoshida, I mean. He got an Olympic medal and now he's lordin' it over everyone, like if they ain't bowin' to him they have to be crushed. And the other teachers go right along with it. Hit someone in the face, no problem because accidents happen. And they happen all the goddamn time."

"It looks like that," Akira put in, "but if students are getting injured regularly, don't their parents intervene? Or does even the principal bend the knee to him?"

"Dude, you've met the principal, right? He seem like he's gonna rock the boat over what happens to a student?"

"That's a fair point."

"Besides," Ryuji went on, face darkening as he looked to the side, "he's done worse than a ball to the face before, and no one's said anythin'. Parents and teachers, they blamed the student and his mother, justified it because he 'acted out,' and now it's ancient history. Nobody here cares, and the ones who do keep their mouths shut, so what difference does them carin' make?"

That last point hit Akira where it hurt.

Silence settled between them for a few moments before Ryuji looked back over. "Remember what I said yesterday, about there maybe bein' somethin' in 'that place' we can use against him? I thought about it, and I wanna go back in. Today, after school. This shit's gone on long enough. If we can get somethin' to make him back off, then it'll be for the good of everyone here."

"Kings aren't easy to bring down," Akira noted. "But it doesn't seem like what happens 'over there' can be traced here. If nothing else, it'll be something no one's ever done or been able to find before."

"Then you're in?"

Akira reflected on his dream with Igor and the girls, and then on the conversation with Sakura-san. He smiled the smile he wore when Arsene awakened. "It'll be harder for them to catch us, so long as we're careful about it. If we can put him in his place, then it's worth taking a look around. Besides, I'm curious about having a Persona, and about that cat."

"Sweet. Then let's meet after school and see if we can get back there." Ryuji paused, then kicked the ground. "So… Thanks for doin' this. I'm kinda pushin' all my problems on you when you just got here, and you coulda told me to pound sand, but you didn't."

"You haven't been unreasonable about anything yet," Akira answered.

"Yeah, but… well, thanks."

"It's no problem, Ryuji. I'll see you after school."

Lunch went by quietly, and classes proceeded as expected. Akira kept to himself, Takamaki seemed moody and quiet in front of him, and the rest of the students lobbed rumors back and forth when they thought Akira couldn't hear them. When the last bell rang, he was the first one out of his seat.

Ryuji met him in the hallway and they left together, intent enough to ignore the sneers and whispers around them and even the curious, appraising look from the student council president when they passed her in the stairwell. They went out the front doors to the alley across the way, slipped behind a giant dehumidifier, and Ryuji pulled his phone out. "Let's see," he muttered, "bring this up, go here, and… nothin'. What the hell?"

"Something wrong?"

Ryuji showed his phone's screen, the weird app up on it. "Says we can travel to the castle, but it's not workin'. I'm sure it was lit up when we came back."

"Weird."

"No shit. This sucks; if we can't get it to work, then how're we supposed to get there?"

Akira brought his own phone and brought up the app. The touristy picture and gaudy lighting were still there, and the button titled 'TRAVEL' was circled with sparkles like an ad prize. Akira jammed his thumb on it and felt a jolt from inside him race into his phone. The button darkened and the sound of the city and the school gate quieted down, the alien pressure closed in from all sides, and there was the sense of moving fast and being tumbled even though he and Ryuji were standing still.

They came to a hard stop, almost overbalancing, and they were in front of the castle gates again. Ryuji looked around and shook his head to clear it. "That's crazy. So it works for you but not for me?"

"It felt like when I used my Persona," Akira answered. "Maybe that has something to do with it."

"But you didn't have one before, so how'd we get in last time?"

"Beats me."

"And your clothes are back "

They were indeed. Akira looked down and turned to test the fit. Just right, same as before, and he felt the weight of the mask on his face. He also noticed the dagger he'd taken from the guard on his belt in a stylish sheath. He pulled it out and tested the balance. It felt right, right enough to twirl through his fingers and spun around one finger.

"I didn't know you were good with knives," Ryuji said.

"I'm not, outside of a kitchen. I never really fought that much before yesterday. This just feels easy to use."

"I wonder… man, who knows with this place. C'mon, let's go find the entrance Mona showed us, then we can… somethin' wrong?"

Akira glanced back, then shook his head. "Thought I heard something. I must be imagining it. Now, I think the crack in the wall was over… there. Let's go."

7 7 7

She ducked back and tripped on her feet, landing on her backside with a startled squeak she tried to stop by clamping her hands over her mouth. She'd been about to talk to whoever was speaking, but the one wearing the mask started playing with a knife and she hid behind… she didn't even know what this was, some sort of stone block. She didn't know where she was or how she'd gotten here. Just a minute ago, she'd heard someone talking about something not working. She'd gone over to see if she could help, then everything went dark and weird and now she was here.

Where was here? Why did it feel like someone was sitting on her chest, and why did the wind sound like screams?

She peeked out and saw that they'd gone, whoever they were. She looked around, heart pumping fear harder and faster as she trembled. She had to get back home, had to find something – anything – she could use to contact someone, and if she found something to give her some idea of where–

She stopped. There. A fracture of light that looked like some kind of door. She turned and tripped on her feet, stumbling from trying to run and stay low and look back and ahead all at once. The fear was too strong for her to notice the gentle guidance of a phantom hand directing her to safety. She got close, then closer, and then she touched the light and she was gone from 'that place.'

7 7 7

"Here it is," Ryuji grunted, "the crack in the wall. You wanna do the honors?"

Akira nodded, kneeling at the box and gently shoving at it. He stopped when he heard, or maybe felt, someone else nearby. "Mona?" he whispered roughly. "Are you there?"

A distinctly feline grumble sounded on the other side of the crate. "I figured it was you," came the reply. "Just a minute, I'll let you in."

A few clicks, clacks and hisses followed, and finally the crates shifted enough to allow the familiar cat to stick his head out. His blue eyes narrowed in recognition, and he waved them forward. "I have to put traps up around this place so no one catches me like last time. Hurry up if you're coming in."

Akira entered, Ryuji followed, and Mona pushed the crate back into place and went about setting up trip wires and springs that connected to nasty-looking bundles of something. The boys watched, impressed by his craftiness. They were equally impressed by the stash Mona had lying around under canvas sheets and behind barrels. It would be easy to overlook what was there without a thorough search, and what was there was extensive. Weapons, tools, lock picks, hooks and rope, a detailed map, notes mentioning guards and their shift rotations, and more. "Quite a collection you have here," Akira noted. "You got a lot together in such a short time."

Ryuji nodded, hefting a length of pipe that had been set up in the corner.

"It's all right," Mona answered modestly. "A good thief always has his gear, and some of this stuff was too useful to pass up. Take a look if you like, see if anything suits you." The cat peered closer at them. "Now, why are you two here? I told you to go back to your world and stay there."

Akira answered, "We did, but things happened and we had to come back. First, though, I didn't introduce myself. I'm–"

Mona held up his paws. "Stop. If you're going to tell me who you are, use a nickname or a handle or something. Never use your real name in this place, it runs on different rules from your world. Names tie you to who you really are. That's a lot of power if someone knows how to use it."

Ryuji frowned. "Just our names can do that? How, and what kind of damage could you do?"

"There's a lot to that answer. The short version is that this is a place of the mind, and things work very differently from what you're used to."

"A world where perception is stronger than structured reality," Akira mused, recalling the line Igor had used. "That means that what someone thinks takes precedence over what's actually, physically true."

Mona nodded. "You get it. Good. That makes this easier."

"Kamoshida sees himself as the king of the school on our side, so he's a king here and the school became his castle, where whatever he wants is what happens. Is that how it is?"

"Basically. There's a lot more to it than that, but it'll do as an explanation for now. But tell me, why are you here? What's happening over on your side to make you want to come back?"

Akira gave a brief rundown of Kamoshida and what he'd been doing. Ryuji added in his own longer version of things, laced with profanity and more colorful descriptions. "No one does anythin' about it, so we want to see if we can find somethin' on him here."

Mona stroked his whiskers in thought. "Hmm. This is the sort of place where you'd find someone's secrets. This whole castle is made from his view of reality, so even if it's out of whack, there's a lot of truth to what you see here."

"If he's got some deep, dark secret, could you help us find it?" Ryuji asked.

"Maybe."

Akira smirked. How like a cat. "What do you want in return?"

Mona's grin was wide and toothy. "You already understand how this works. Good. Kamoshida has a treasure locked away somewhere. I've checked most of the places on this floor and I haven't found it yet, but I know it's here. If I help you, you'll help me back."

"Would this treasure be something that could expose Kamoshida? Could it be used against him?"

"It's important enough to him to keep somewhere safe, and people value their secrets more than anything, so it would make sense if it could."

Akira nodded to Ryuji, then looked back at Mona. "Then our goals are the same. No reason we can't work together."

"Good. Someone with your potential will be a big help."

"Right back at you – you look like you're ready for a fight."

"A Phantom Thief is ready for anything."

That epithet had a nice ring to it. "That sounds interesting. We'll have to talk about Phantom Thieves later."

"Sounds good, Joker. Do you mind if I call you that?"

"Hm? Not really, but why Joker?"

"Your Persona did a lot of laughing when he came out. The joker is the wild card in the deck, right? That suits you, and I have to call you something."

Akira nodded. "Joker. I like it."

Ryuji put in, "How about me?"

Mona shrugged. "I'm not sure yet. You don't have a Persona, so you shouldn't be fighting in the first place."

"Why not?" Ryuji swung the pipe back and forth. "I could do some damage with this."

"A Persona protects the user from the effects of this place and the Shadows. That fear you're feeling right now, and the pressure on your body? The voices you hear in the background? We're going through the same thing, but it isn't getting to us like what you're going through. A Persona buffers against it, and they make it so we can fight the Shadows on even footing or better. A normal person doesn't have those advantages."

Ryuji swallowed. "How'd you know all that? About what I'm feeling?"

"You see my nose and ears, right? They're not just for show, and I know what to look for in people. I understand that you have some history with Kamoshida – a lot, from the sounds of it – but you can't fight him here, and you definitely can't fight the Shadows. That's what all his guards are, and they'll kill a normal person. Actually, killing you is the kindest thing they'll do, or maybe just break your arms and legs. At worst they'll consume you and wear you like a suit, make you into one of them while you watch from the inside, and they'll love every second of it."

Ryuji swallowed harder. "Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack."

"You've seen this before?"

Mona held out a paw, indicating the room around them. "I've seen enough. You found me here; where do you think I came from? Everything about Shadows and Personas, how names work, that's common knowledge on this side. At least, it is if you want to survive."

Ryuji grimaced, then nodded. "Okay. I'll leave the fighting to you two, but I'll keep this just in case."

"That works. You guys get what you need and we'll move out."

Akira checked the piles of gear for anything he could use. There were small piles of what looked like home-made bombs next to a discrete carrying pouch. He filled the pouch and attached it to his belt. He also found a packet of bandages and salves that smelled strong enough to make his eyes water. He added that to his repertoire and looked over. Ryuji trembled in place and gripped his weapon, nodding through pale sweats.

Mona slipped up beside him and voiced his approval. The cat wore a scimitar, as curved and sharp as his claws, and a utility belt and bandolier with tools and picks and gear. There was even a sling and a pouch for stones or shot in easy reach. He looked far more capable than the prisoner they'd met before.

"This should do it." He looked at Joker. "Hm. Come on, follow me."

"I planned to, but what's up?"

"You seem to be new at this. We need to break you in a little." The cat led them down halls and around corners until they found a guard at the furthest part of his patrol. "When you're up against Shadows, you can't hesitate. You also can't rely on blowing them away and going nuts like you did last time – I saw the dungeon after you were done with it. Have you ever fought before?"

"Not… not really."

"That's what I expected. Which is fine. Just attack that one, and be fast about it so he doesn't call for help."

"Um… okay, but how do I do that?"

"Bring your Persona up. Not out completely, but close to the surface."

The way Mona gave the instructions was oddly familiar, like Joker knew how to do it just for asking. Arsene arose, humming along the skin with raw power and violent intent.

The cat sniffed, then nodded. "There he is. Remember that you're the one in charge, okay? Don't let him take over."

"Right."

"Now, see how you do."

It was easy. Observing the timing of the Shadow's movements, moving to the obscured spots for a swift approach, the light movements to reduce sound and the certainty of the kill, it all felt simple and natural. Joker hadn't been lying, he really hadn't been in a serious fight before outside of tussling with his friends, certainly nothing with the intent to kill like this. But none of that seemed to matter. He jammed his knife into the Shadow's knee from behind, severing the joint and dropping his foe. What should have been a quick fall turned into a surprise backhand swing, driven by desperation and pain. Joker swept underneath the strike like it was moving in slow motion, darting in to cut. The Shadow was good enough to fight well while injured, but Joker wove and whipped about, making the most of his movements to defy expectations and stay ahead. The weak points stood out to him, and once the openings were obvious, he struck again and again. The Shadow died in a gurgling hiss, nothing but muck left over.

"Good," Mona noted as he came over.

Joker looked over, the fighting thrill still rich in his veins.

"Two things, though. Don't play with them so much, or you'll get cornered and caught."

"A cat's saying that?" Ryuji muttered.

Mona ignored him. "And second, it's done when it's done. Do it and move on. There are always other Shadows, so don't tire yourself out with one or two."

"I'm good for more," Joker insisted.

"Maybe now, but this place takes a toll on you. The Shadows are from here, so they don't get worn out. You aren't, so even with a Persona you have to fight smart. Other than that, you've got what it takes. Did it come to you?"

"Yeah, pretty easily."

"Good. Now, let's go."

Before they could leave, a card glowed bright and white from the remnants of the Shadow. It turned, spun the muck off, and floated to Joker.

"What's that?" Ryuji asked.

Joker touched it and felt a new presence in his soul, something like Arsene but different. "A new Persona," he realized aloud.

"A second one?"

"It seems so. Pyro Jack." He pulled the card from his soul and held his hand up. The outline of the cheery little fellow could be seen swaying back and forth.

"More than one Persona," Mona mused. "I've heard of that, but I've never seen it before."

Joker checked the inside of his left sleeve and materialized Pyro Jack's card next to Arsene's. They settled along his wrist, in easy reach to grab with his left hand. He tried it a few times and nodded once he got it down; what a fitting place for a thief to carry cards.

"He gets two and I can't get any?" Ryuji groused. "With how everyone's gettin' them, how hard can it be? Where do I sign up?"

"It's complicated," Mona mentioned. "It's something you feel and have, not something someone can give you. It looks like Joker's kind of an exception. Come on, I'll explain as we go."

He did, telling them what he could. Most of it was familiar or intuitive to Akira, and Ryuji seemed to follow along even if it didn't get him any closer to acquiring one for himself. There were other Shadows, and Mona helped in bringing them down, introducing them to his Persona, Zorro, as wind blasts and sword cuts left the enemies in pieces behind him. Cat and swordsman moved quick and killed clean, living up to the advice he'd offered before.

Soon enough they were in the depths of the castle. Pained groans and distant screams guided them further in, leading to what had to be the dungeon.

What they saw when they got there, however, beggared belief.

A sadist's playground greeted them. To the side, Shujin students in gym uniform ran on a massive treadmill, a dripping bucket of water ahead of them and a meat grinder behind. Further along, a student was hung upside down and shot at with a cannon to the cheers and applause of an audience sitting in surrounding sports bleachers. The loudest ones were those who most resembled the other teachers at Shujin. Further down the hall came more screams, these ones of girls all begging for it to stop.

Persona or not, Joker felt like he was going to be sick.

"This is insane." Ryuji was pale and green and red at the same time. "Having people down here like this…"

"It's not real," Joker answered, praying he was right. "No one could survive these conditions, so this has to be how Kamoshida sees the students. Right, Mona?"

"Right. None of these are real people, and they'd disappear if you tried to pull them out of here. They're illusions like this whole castle is, and Kamoshida's showing off what he can do without anyone pushing back. But remember what they look like. If they seem like real people here, then they exist in your world and they've probably had something bad happen to them. If you find them, maybe they'll talk to you."

Ryuji stared at the students. "That's a lead we can use. All right, let's go. If I watch more of this, I'm gonna kill him the next time I see him, real world or not."

They went up a floor and were stopped by Mona's twitching ears. "Someone's there. Up ahead."

Akira grimaced. "That's the way we came. Is there another way out?"

"Not that I found."

"Then we're in for a fight."

Joker had his dagger at the ready, and a card glowed up his sleeve. Mona brought out some sling bullets and hefted his sword. When Ryuji rolled his shoulder, the cat looked up. "This might get serious. You'll have to watch out for yourself. Be careful and don't fight if you can help it."

"I'll try, but no promises."

"Let's go."

They went up the stairs and down the hall. It was almost obvious that there was something waiting for them – none of the patrols they'd dodged were anywhere to be seen.

When they came out to the main hall, they were greeted by a nauseatingly garish spectacle.

Guards were lined up in ceremonial formation, swords out and armor polished. They stared with dark eyes, the eyes of Shadows in thrall to their master, and were one command away from executing these thieves on the spot.

Amidst them were girls, not in armor but in every variation of slinky, scandalous ensemble Joker or Ryuji could imagine. Some were dressed just in sheer, expensive underwear; others in gym bloomers and uniforms that were two sizes too small, or in swimming speed suits, dripping wet; a few were dressed in lingerie and bustiers and garters, complete with pumps and bedroom pouts; here and there were girls in Chinese dresses, showing miles of leg and canyons of cleavage – the outfits had been 'adapted' to show as much boob as possible; and there were nurses and maids and policewomen and office ladies, dancing dresses and babydolls and pajamas of any color and every style. The one unifying factor of all the outfits on display was how they seemed designed to emphasize the figure rather than conceal it.

But as titillating as the scene should have been, Joker felt only the chill of frozen centipedes tapping up and down his spine. For one, the girls were ridiculously built, stretching their clothes to the limit as they knelt and looked up in adoration and worship to the back of the line. Two, the castle's banner made much more sense now. Each wore the mark 'ka' on their bodies somewhere, either tattooed elegantly or burned on like a cattle brand, made to be impossible to miss. And three, Joker couldn't see their faces. Most looked away from him, some had their faces obscured by their hair or by impossibly angled shadows as though the light itself were trying to keep them incognito, but a few, he realized, were entirely featureless. Walking, breathing meat mannequins, that's all they'd been reduced to. And in a flash of insight, Joker realized that this was either because Kamoshida didn't know who these girls were in his grasp, that he had them and didn't care who they were; or that they meant so little to him that they were no one, and thus had lost their most basic defining characteristics.

He felt a familiar heat in his blood, and Mona growled next to him.

Where the guards and girls led to was a litter borne by subservient muscle men, faces down and backs bowed as they carried the gilded platform. Upon it was a throne, and upon that sat Kamoshida. He wore his arrogance more richly than his cape, and he watched them with amused contempt and indignation. Perched on the arm of his throne, draped over him, was a lushly endowed Takamaki in a red bikini. She wore matching stilettos and a fuck-me smile, looking at them as she might a vaguely interesting insect right before it was squashed. Behind her knelt another girl, dark hair up in a ponytail and face concealed as clearly Takamaki was meant to be the star attraction. A closer look showed the outline for Takamaki's own 'ka' tattoo above her cleavage, not yet completed but well on its way.

Kamoshida rose, smacked Takamaki on the ass, and declared, "So the rats have returned. I thought you scurried away last time."

"You were the one running with your tail between your legs," Joker spat back. "What can I say, though? That's your best side."

Kamoshida glared. The muscle men bowed, bringing the platform down and letting him off, Takamaki following along. "That was a fluke," Kamoshida hissed. "You won't get lucky this time. My men know who their king is. Isn't that right?"

The guards raised their swords and cheered, "Yes, King Kamoshida!"

"They're rewarded well. Loyalty is best bought with one's desires."

"We're going to stop that," Mona promised. "We'll put an end to everything. This place shouldn't exist."

"Do you think what I have here is unique? You think other people don't imagine this? I'm the strongest among them, so naturally I would rise to the top, but other desires can create the very same thing. Perhaps you're doing that, creating a world in which you're the heroes vanquishing the evil villain. How would you be any different?"

Joker answered, "If you have to ask, then talking to you is meaningless." He glanced at Mona and nodded. "It's meaningless anyway." He pulled a card to call up Pyro Jack and brought flames to his hand. Mona dove forward and summoned Zorro. The guards morphed into Shadows and the hall turned into a war zone.

7 7 7

Ryuji clung to his pillar, ducking each time something flashed or flew by him. That seemed like every other second. Joker darted in amongst the Shadows, cutting and kicking and killing like a madman with his blade and Personas. Mona scampered here and there, slicing at limbs or blasting Shadows apart with wind bursts and throwing packets from his utility belt. Whatever they were, they exploded into ice shards or flaming explosions that left the Shadows hobbled or dying and thrashing around. The girls had transformed into Shadows as well, and the noise of the fight was louder than a rock concert.

Ryuji clung to his pipe. He knew he was outmatched, but staying here made him feel like dead weight. He wanted to pitch in, to get into the fight and do something and not be useless. Those two had Personas, why couldn't he? They were threading the needle as they fought, even he could see that. One wrong move and they'd both be in trouble. If there was some way he could help them, it was worth–

There. Kamoshida, his back turned, fuming angrily as his minions were culled. It was the perfect opportunity. Ryuji checked his surroundings, made sure he had a clear line, breathed–

And then bolted forward, pipe raised. He brought it down as hard as he could, harder and with more hate than he'd ever had for any other person. It flashed in its descent, its aim was true–

And it slid off Kamoshida's cape like it had been a paper tube.

The tyrant turned, an ugly sneer on his face. "You have a lot of nerve, swinging at a king." He backhanded Ryuji, and the blow made his vision darken and waver. Then he grabbed Ryuji by the throat and lifted him with one hand, taking the pipe with the other. "Don't you see? I'm the one with the crown, and you're nothing. You're filth beneath my feet, Sakamoto."

Each syllable of Ryuji's name thrummed through him and rang through his veins. He flailed, trying to break free. "Fu… go to… hell, you…"

"Words again. You're all about the words, aren't you? You'd be far better using them to speak the praises of your betters, then maybe you wouldn't be such utter trash."

That alien pressure vibrated on the wavelength of pain, running along bones and digging down to the marrow. Ryuji shivered as the command Obey blasted through his head, followed by the heavy compulsion to do exactly that.

"You should know who the best is," Kamoshida went on, "and what they are afforded. This is a winner's due, so why are you fighting it when you could share it?"

This time, the command was Serve. Ryuji had to bring up every ounce of hate in his body to fight from bowing.

"You've already seen what can happen when you get on my bad side, right?" Kamoshida smacked the pipe against Ryuji's bad leg, hard.

Ryuji cried out, failing to stifle the sound.

"Do you need a reminder? Shall I break the other one?"

A Shadow nearby ignited and boiled, exploding in a sizzling puddle of muck and slag. Joker ducked under another strike and Mona turned and fired a shot from his sling. Kamoshida turned and grimaced as it clipped his cape, loosening his grip enough that Ryuji kicked and thrashed his way loose. He fell on his bad leg and felt the familiar shot of pain, the grinding, and he tumbled and crawled back. But he caught Kamoshida's eyes, furious and heavy with authority, and he couldn't move. The vibration in his body rose in frequency, spelling out every character of his name and pulling him to the floor in servitude. Under the weight of that ego, the inherent desire to follow this leader, Ryuji felt his rage and hatred slip away.

"No…"

Even that pathetic bit of defiance had mass greater than a train car. What had he been angry about? What was the point? When you were outnumbered and cornered, wasn't bowing and becoming silent the smart thing to do?

A distant rumbling sounded around him, the creaking of planks and the boom of masts and sails. The smell of brine filled the air as a presence half-formed alongside, looking down upon him.

"Giving up," a phantom voice noted in derision. "Is this all you amount to?"

Ryuji jerked, gaining enough of his will back to look up. "What? I wasn't…"

"The one who slandered your name, who oversaw your fall to the gallows, stands before you upon a pedestal crafted from the obeisance of fools. He sees you as beneath him. He acted with a tyrant's impunity before. He will again."

"Right… I mean, no, it's not right. He's an asshole. But I tried, and you saw what happened."

The voice crashed, "What are these excuses!? What man permits this to occur before him – to him – and does nothing?! Or is nothing your intent? Will you wait for others to act for you, like you did before? Will you abide as the tides turn until he strikes you down again, as one would a filthy cur?"

Ryuji rose against the pain and compulsions. "It wasn't like that! I tried! I did what I was supposed to and everyone dog piled me! They even went after... I couldn't do anything!"

"Is that your vow, so half-hearted and weak? Are you surprised that you could not topple him before, that you were cast aside and left in his wake? What do you think can be accomplished with such callow spirit?"

"I… I could do it now. If I had a Persona, I could fight and change this. I could help them. I could make this right."

"Speak with conviction, boy! Nations are brought low by the will of Man! Find your mettle and bring it to bear before me!"

Ryuji clenched his leg where the damage had been done. Agony cut through the haze in his head. Killing rage, familiar and worn smooth, coursed through him until he stared back at Kamoshida and bared his teeth. "I'll pay him back for what he did to me, for what he's done to all of those guys. I don't care what happens to me, so long as I can bring him down! Him and anyone like him, no matter who they are! I'll make them all pay!"

The outline filled itself in, revealing a ship and the fierce, dauntless captain who commanded her. "Pledge yourself to me then! Hoist the black flag of rebellion and wage your war forevermore! Let the wicked fear your banner, and sail the seas of your soul until every people of every land know of your justice!"

The mask materialized on Ryuji's face, and he knew what to do. With a savage grip, he tore it and his face off, erupting in torturous pain. Fury deadened it. Months and months and months, all the shame and spite, the voices at his back, everything he'd suffered, it all exploded through his wild, defiant scream to the heavens. The ocean crashed. Thunder shattered the air, and lightning arced in gleeful destruction around him and struck every Shadow in sight.

Blue light spiraled upward, responding to his will. It mended his wounds, wiped the fear from his mind, and filled him with the certainty that his path was set. He'd desired power, and someone had answered. In return, he spoke his vow to his inner self: "I am thou, Captain Kidd."

The rebellious pirate gave a jagged grin and vanished into Ryuji's soul.

He looked down. Just like with Joker, Ryuji's attire had changed. He wore black pants and a captain's coat, both leather and studded and plated. His pipe carried weight now, and he knew he wouldn't miss again. On a sling was a 12 gauge sawed-off shotgun – a stand-in for Captain Kidd's blunderbuss – and bandoliers for ammo and a shell belt completed his arsenal. His gloves were yellow, his ascot was bloody red, and the storm raged around him as his other self awakened.

Shadows mutated and attacked with the emergence of this new threat. "Save Kamoshida! Protect our king!" went the cry, and soon enough Kamoshida was borne away on his platform. The remaining foes fought with desperation, seeking to sell their lives dearly.

They failed. Mona and Joker had taken full advantage of the chaos, and Ryuji waded in and fired with abandon. Kamoshida had escaped, and the door was locked and sealed shut, but in short order the hall was thick with the scent of burnt muck and smoke. Panting breaths were all that could be heard over the harsh silence.

"That's it?" Joker managed.

"Looks like it," Mona replied, quivering with adrenaline. "You were right, they know a lot about running." The cat looked over at Ryuji. "Good work, bringing that Persona out. Your timing was perfect – they were getting to be a challenge even for me."

Ryuji chuckled, weary now as the high left him. "Glad I could help. Man, was it like this for you? I feel…"

"More yourself?" Joker offered.

"Run dry was more what I was going for. But yeah, that's a word for it. Like my head's clearer."

"Two guys from the same place, both who have Personas," Mona mused. "This can't be a coincidence."

Ryuji looked at the cat. "Does this mean I get a code name like you two?"

"Seems like you'll need one if you're going to fight with us."

"Any ideas? Make it a good one."

They looked amongst themselves for a moment, until finally Mona offered, "Skull?"

"Skull," Ryuji echoed, rolling his shoulder. "I like it."

"We should use this chance to leave. The guards will really come down on this place soon, and you got the information you need." Mona looked at the two. "You'll have to be careful around Kamoshida, too. On that side, he has a small sense of what's going on here – this is his subconscious, after all – so he'll react to you more than he would before."

"I saw that yesterday," Joker confirmed. "He knew me from somewhere and couldn't remember why. That's plenty if he's got the principal's ear." He looked down at Mona. "I guess this is farewell again. Where will we meet you when we come back? That storage room?"

Mona looked up with a smirk. "Hardly. I'm coming with you."

"You can do that?"

"Of course. I'd be bored just waiting for you, and I can use my time over there better than dodging those idiots. I want to see this school you go to; maybe we can find more people with Personas."

The two looked at each other, then shrugged and nodded. "I guess that'll work," Skull said. "He's gonna need somewhere to live."

"He can stay with me," Joker offered. "I've had a cat before."

"Good, cuz my mom's allergic."

"We can use this time to plan our next move," Mona went on. "And I'll teach you everything you'll need to be Phantom Thieves."

"That gets us to where we're heading ourselves," Joker noted. "All right, you've got a deal."

Mona grinned. "You won't regret it."

"Definitely not more than Kamoshida will."

Skull growled. "That's a promise."