Chapter 13: Beginning of the End (Priestess/Jester, Chariot/Hierophant)

Makoto Niijima could hardly believe what she was seeing. "No… no, it can't be…"

Zenigata came up next to her. "I'm sorry for your loss, Makoto. If it's any comfort, I can safely say that neither Lupin or his associates were responsible for Haru's death."

"How do you know?" She was on the verge of tears, trying to keep them from escaping her eyes.

"Lupin doesn't kill people without a VERY good reason. Besides, if he killed anyone, it would've been that guy over there." He gestured to the mutilated corpse of Yamakawa.

"So who did?!" Makoto began to cry as her eyes misted over.

"My money's on him. The position of the bodies indicates that Haru was shot at close range, and the entry wound aligns with where Yamakawa would have been standing when he pulled the trigger."

That settled it. Another life had been lost to this man's selfish desires, sacrificed for his downfall. Makoto couldn't hold it back anymore. She ran back to the cruiser, holding her head in her hands.

Zenigata chased after her, and found her leaning against the car. After a few moments, she looked up and pulled the inspector into a tight hug, sobbing into his coat.

Any other cop may have rebuked her for this 'unprofessional' behaviour, but Zenigata knew the impact of losing a loved one, and what it did to people. So he did the one thing he knew he had to, and comforted her.

"Just let it all out," he told her. "It's alright. I know what you're going through, and I'm here if you need someone to talk to."

Makoto nodded. The inspector's usually cartoonish voice had an undertone of sympathy. "Thanks."

(Safe House, Outside)

Jigen was showing Ryuji some gun training regimens designed to calm the nerves.

"So," Ryuji spoke up. "How does this help, exactly?"

Jigen rolled his eyes. "It just does. Don't ask me how, I'm not a therapist. Just look at the target and channel your anger and resentment into your trigger finger. After a few rounds, you'll be just fine."

Ryuji stared at the target, and thought about all the negative emotions he had deep inside.

His rage toward Akira's killer. *BANG*

His regrets about his fight with Haru. *BANG*

His doubts about becoming a thief. *BANG*

His survivor's guilt over losing Haru. *BANG*

This continued for a few more rounds before the two decided to take a break.

"Wow. You were right. That really helped."

"Yep. Just… don't make a habit of shooting when you're angry. That tends to end pretty badly."

"Makes sense."

"Now, let's get started with your accuracy training for today…"

Ryuji had become quite the marksman, albeit not on the same level as Jigen. He couldn't really explain it, but the revolver just felt right for him, even after his frequent use of shotguns in the metaverse.

"Right. The more practice, the better."

(Zenigata House)

The inspector was grabbing yet ANOTHER tissue box for Makoto, before seeing a man in a red jacket walk by his apartment.

When Makoto heard Zenigata yell "LUPIN!" yet again, she jumped up and ran to the entrance of the house, grabbing a gun on her way out. She wanted answers, and she wanted them NOW.

[BGM: Tension (P5 OST)]

After a moment, she managed to corner the thief in an alleyway, and drew her weapon. "Hold it right there, Lupin!"

He turned around slowly, resting his hands behind his head as leaned against the wall. "Can I help you, Miss Niijima?"

Makoto's eyes were still red. "You're gonna tell me what happened at Haru's home when she died."

"Alright, I'll talk. She and Takamaki were being threatened, we rushed in to stop the guy, Haru ended up getting shot, and Sakamoto killed him in a moment of rage. Does that satisfy your question?"

"Wait." Her eyes began misting up again. "Ryuji killed Yamakawa?"

Lupin sighed. "Yes."

She couldn't believe it. Ryuji had actually KILLED someone? But a thought suddenly occurred to her. "Why should I believe you?!"

"What do you mean?"

"You're a thief. Your profession is one of the most dishonest someone can have. Why should I believe a word you say?!"

"True. I guess I should give you a reason to trust me."

He suddenly lunged forward, knocking the weapon from Makoto's hand and pinning her against the wall, before pulling out his gun and placing it into her mouth.

After a few moments, he spoke in a dangerously calm and quiet tone. "Walther P38. Semi-automatic, fires 9mm rounds. In moments, I could pull the trigger and you'd be dead up to 5 times over. Your continued existence is in my hands."

Suddenly, he pulled the gun out of her mouth and put it away, at the same time letting her go.

[BGM: Alright P5 OST)]

Makoto was stunned. "Why didn't you do it?"

"Simple. I don't kill people if I don't have to."

"How does that prove anything?"

"I had the ability to kill you, but I didn't. You can trust what I say because you can trust me with your life."

All of a sudden, this thief turned from scum of the earth to a chivalrous gentleman in the younger Niijima's eyes. She could see where Akira got his personality from.

His voice brought her back to attention. "Well, you should probably get going. Pops is probably getting worried. He may be a no-nonsense detective, but he's a big teddy bear deep down. Catch ya later!"

Makoto just stood in the alley for a minute, thinking about these new revelations. Perhaps, just perhaps, mind, he wasn't so bad after all. Even if she didn't agree with his methods, she couldn't argue with the results. Lupin had helped a lot of people, and stopped countless evils.

She still wanted him arrested, but after today, she decided to let him go for now. There's always next time, after all.

(Safe House)

[BGM: Restlessness (P5 OST)]

"So Makoto knows what happened?" Lupin had just told the group about the day's events, and Ryuji was understandably taken aback.

"Yes, but she's not a threat to us."

Futaba and Ann shuddered. "You might not want to tell that to her in person, she's a little touchy about that sort of thing."

"I noticed. At least now I know not to call her a little girl."

Ann immediately slapped him. "Why the hell did you say that to her?!"

"Because, at least compared to me, that's what she is."

"…That's a surprisingly good point."

"Anyway, we should be all ready to go. Ball's in your court, Sakura."

"Alright! Now, all we need is just some good ol' fashioned ammo for the Futaba Cannon…"

P5 OST composed by Shoji Meguro.