Captain Blues: Happy New Year! Wrtier's block fucking sucks but let's get it!

Persona V: Reversing the Wheel of Fate
Chapter Eighty-Six

[Opening Scene: Aoharu City - Sanada Residence (Afternoon)
Theme of the Sanada Residence: Confessions from Persona 3: The Movie]

"You didn't have to come down here from your honeymoon, Mitsu," Akihiko admonished as Mitsuru stood in his living room. To his left, Yukari sat in between Fuuka and Aigis with baby Shinji in her hands.

"When something can trigger a user's persona outside of the Dark Hour or the Midnight Channel, it is absolutely something that should be looked into," Mitsuru responded.

"Which is what Fuuka, Aigis, and I were going to do once we got there," Akihiko told her. "Look, you've been swamped with the wedding, helping that American Persona Group figure out the details of Project Morpheus with Ken and Akamaru, as well as having Naoto and Yu investigate Konoe Akira and his weird dealings. You have too much on your plate, Mitsu. You have to let go of the reigns just a bit and live. If not for me then perhaps for your new wife."

Mitsuru's gaze softened at the mention of Yukari. Since Mitsuru had started the Shadow Operatives, Yukari didn't hesitate to join her in shaping the future, which took time from her duties as a popular television-turned-movie star.

There was a part where Yukari's career was nearly over due to how much time she was putting in with the SO until Junpei and Mitsuru had to step in and tell her to let go of the reigns and focus on what truly made her happy.

Junpei later told him how that conversation turned awkward when Yukari finally broke through her wall and admitted her feelings to Mitsuru.

"I didn't know I was speaking to Shinji again," Mitsuru murmured with crossed arms.

"Someone has to bring some sort of levity to you. And since Junpei is busy assisting his pregnant wife and both Shinji and Kotone are gone…Someone has to keep your work-life balanced," Akihiko told her with a small smile. "Cause God knows Yukari won't."

"Hey, I take offense to that," Yukari said with a playful frown. "I think I've been doing a good job keeping her from overworking to death."

"Yukari, you haven't been doing a good job in keeping yourself from overworking to death either," Aigis commented.

"What? Yes, I have," Yukari replied.

"Kari-chan, weren't you that arrived at your wedding in your Pink Argus costume?" Fuuka asked with a smile.

Yukari flushed and replied, "I couldn't miss the anniversary team-up. Besides, I was the first Pink to lead in Featherman. Do you remember the amount of rumors that swirled when I teased that I wouldn't go back due to my other acting commitments?"

"It took Kanji an hour to try and turn that into a suitable wedding outfit," Fuuka noted.

"And he absolutely nailed it," Yukari proudly announced. "But, maybe they are right, Mitsu. Maybe we should let them handle it for now. It's not often we get a break."

Mitsuru sighed but then nodded. "Fine, you win, Aki. We'll return back to America to continue our honeymoon. But if anything happens, I will come back and you will be probably executed."

Akihiko paled.

"Aigis, I also want you to send me a full report once you get in contact with Amamiya Ren," Mitsuru told her. "If he's anything like his aunt, I wouldn't be surprised if he has something to do with that mysterious presence that reached out to Fuuka."

"Understood," Aigis told her. "But if I am to be honest, I hope it is not the case. If he is, then I will have broken my promise to her…"

"Hey, before we swing back, want to go visit Yosuke and Kanji? They should be back from their "Bro" trip by now," Yukari asked as she bounced the babbling Shinji on her right knee, saving Aigis from any questions regarding her comment.

Akihiko noticed that Aigis gave her an appreciative look.

"I thought that was called a couple taking a vacation?" Akihiko asked Mitsuru, who batted his arm with a small chuckle.

"Hush," Mitsuru told him. "I do want to stop by Inaba as well. Chie and Yukiko said a horrifically colored idol stopped in Inaba while they were visiting Teddie, Labrys, Dojima, and Nanako and found the citizens were unnaturally in love with her. Both Labrys and Teddie mentioned that the idol had a strange energy around her"

"We should get a move on then," Yukari said as she stood up with Shinji in her arms. "Mitsu, don't want you to want to hold Shinji before we go?"

Akihiko noticed Mitsuru staring at her with an unreadable look in her eyes and smirked. He leaned over to her and whispered, "Don't get baby fever just yet. You two just got married."

Later on in the night after Akihiko repaired the window Mitsuru launched him through, he would tell Fuuka that his comment was totally worth it.

[Scene Change: Shibuya – Shibuya Police Department (Late Afternoon)
Theme of Loss: Aoba Park from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)]

"I wonder when they'll be done in there."

Shiho looked up at Mishima as the two sat in the lobby of the police station, waiting for both Makoto and Eleonora to come out. "I don't know," Shiho said with a strained voice as her gaze stayed on the floor.

She couldn't get the vacant look Makoto had on her face when they saved her from that Yakuza member. She had never seen the student body president look like that before. But somewhere deep within, Shiho felt angry.

Angry that Makoto had failed to tell her or Ren about what was going on. Angry that they were too late to save those two girls from being kidnapped as well as helping Eleonora, Makoto, and Ryuji. Angry at how her big brother didn't tell them what was going on and was now fighting for this life after already being weakened from Mitsuyo's palace.

"Shiho, are you alright?" Mishima asked.

Shiho closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "No," she admitted. "I'm not okay." Shiho turned to Mishima and asked, "Did you ever think this would be our life? All of the stress and danger?"

"Honestly? No," Mishima answered. "I always thought I would be under Kamoshida's heel until either I graduated or killed myself."

Shiho frowned at this but she couldn't fault him for thinking that way. She had been in the exact same situation as him with those thoughts. "But with that said, I'm glad this is our life. We've helped so many people so far. And I'm sure we'll be helping even more," Mishima continued.

Shiho opened her mouth to respond when she spotted Eleonora and Makoto being escorted from a room on the opposite side of the room by Zenkichi. They watched as Zenkichi told them something before he motioned for them to leave. Shiho and Mishima stood out of their seats as Makoto and Eleonora joined them.

"How was it?" Mishima asked Eleonora, as Makoto still looked mentally absent.

"It went…." Eleonora admitted with a look of defeat. "I hope your leader knows what he is doing."

"He does," Shiho replied in defense of her friend/crush. "He's the Shield of Shujin. If anyone knows how to help, it's him." Shiho looked at Makoto as she finished her sentence, a look of anger on her face. Makoto refused to meet her gaze. "Come on, let's go let Haru's driver know that we're ready to go back."

[Scene Change: Shibuya – Okumura Residence (Afternoon)
Theme of Loss: Aoba Park from Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)]

"…And that's the end of it," Ren concluded.

Hifumi, Haru, and Yusuke looked stunned by the tale of his and Morgana's "side-quest" into the mysterious palace. Ann on the other hand looked absolutely angry. She moved up to her feet and grabbed her book bag. "If it's not Ryuji, it's you," Ann growled as she made her way to the door.

Guilt blossomed in Ren's chest at the sight of his sister's distress and quickly scrambled to his feet. "Ann, I'm sorry. It all happened so fast. Morgana and I didn't really have a chance to—"

Ann held up her hand to stop him. "Ren…I get that. I do," Ann told him. "But that doesn't stop the anger that I feel."

Ren bowed his head. "I know," he whispered.

"God, the men in my life just can't stay out of trouble for one single day," Ann said as she stared up at the ceiling ."Ryuji was out there with Niijima and her group dealing with Yakuza for God knows how long and you nearly died saving a girl that betrayed you and broke your heart."

Ann looked at Ren and said, "So fucking stupid…." She opened the door and walked out of the apartment, leaving Ren looking dejected.

"I'll go talk to her," Haru said, only for Hifumi to place a hand on her shoulder.

"No, I will," Hifumi said. She moved to her feet and walked to Ren. "I'll bring her back." Before Ren could answer, Hifumi walked out of the door.

"I really stepped in it this time," Ren sighed as Haru placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's been a trying day for her," Haru said. "Seeing Ryuji—" Haru's voice caught in her throat. Ren turned his head and he saw a look of unusual sorrow in her eyes. "Seeing Ryuji hurt like that wasn't easy for any of us. Her most of all."

"I agree," Yusuke said as he placed joined Ren's side. "Finding out she nearly lost you yesterday and then nearly losing Ryuji today put her over the edge. Allow Hifumi to speak to her and get her to calm down."

"It's hard to do that," Ren softly admitted. "Ann…She's important to me. She's my sister, after all. I just never want to be the reason she's hurting…"

Something deep in him also seemed hurt at seeing Ann so distraught but Ren couldn't place what it was. "And if she's reacting like this, there's no telling how Shiho will react to this as well," Ren continued.

"She will probably react just as badly," Haru answered. "If Makoto was able, I'm sure she'd be irked with you as well."

Ren felt a burst of anger and concern at the mention of Makoto. "I still don't know how I feel about Makoto, even with knowing the truth of why she did what she did," Ren said. "If she had only told us, all of this could have been avoided. Why didn't she tell us?"

"Something about Makoto tells me she thought she could do it on her own," Haru told her. "I don't know why I feel that way, but I do."

"I feel the same way," Yusuke said. "Makoto feels like she handles things alone, even if it is a danger to her own life. But, that is something we should discuss later. For now, we must continue to think about what Arsène told you and what it truly meant."

Ren let out a small sigh as the word of one of his favorite Naruto characters reached his mind.

"How troublesome… "

Ann's heart was warring.

She knew that she had reacted poorly to the fact that Ren and nearly been killed last night on top of Ryuji nearly dying today. But at the same time, something deep within her was infuriated that Ren had put himself in danger without her. She had made herself a promise the day Ren barred his heart to her. She would be the one to protect him but time and time again, she failed to be there.

When Ren confronted Sumire, she was absent.

When Ren and Morgana (Who would not get away from her anger) nearly died saving her.

When Ren was arrested and killed by that damn tra—

Ann paused.

Why did those words appear in her head? Ren had never been killed and yet, her anger had willed those words as if it had happened.

Ann's mind then floated back to the working theory they had made just the day before.

The New Game Plus after the bad ending…

Ann shook her head.

No, it was a theory. That's all.

"Ann!" Hifumi called out. Ann turned around to see Hifumi slow to a stop in front of her. "Man, you really walk fast."

"Sorry, I just wanted to get away," Ann said as she held herself. "How could they be so stupid?"

"Ann," Hifumi started as she placed a hand on Ann's shoulder. "I can't speak about Ryuji because the only one who could explain his actions is him. But for Ren, there was nothing he could have done. He watched her go into this mysterious palace and then get kidnapped by her shadow. What was he supposed to do? Let it happen while he went to get help?"

"No!" Ann replied, only to bow her head. "No…I know it's stupid but I just saw red after he told us what happened."

"Hey, I get it," Hifumi smiled. "After Haru did what she did on Shido's boat, I had tunnel vision until I saw her again. I get it. We can't help to overreact when it's someone we care about."

Ann gave her a tiny smile. "Thanks for understanding…God, I feel so bad. You're out here consoling me when you're going through so much," Ann told her.

Hifumi's smile turned somber as she turned away. "I'm trying not to think about it too much," Hifumi admitted as a black limo pulled up to the front of Haru's building. "I doubt she'll go to jail but her reputation, as well as mine, has been ruined. But that's something future Hifumi has to think about. For now, let's head back upstairs."

"Yeah," Ann replied as she saw Shiho and Mishima step out of the limo, followed by Eleonora and Makoto. "Because I have a feeling things are about to get even messier…"

Captain Blues: So, we're starting to see some bleeding of the previous game's Phantom Thieves and our NG+ Gang. I wonder how this will change things? The next chapter will have Makoto finally speak and the palace. Until then, time to set sail.