Chapter 4: Castle of Lust/Femme Fatale
April 14th…
Kazumi met with Ryuji at Shibuya Station while waiting for the train to go to school:
-"Yo! Mornin', Kazumi."-he said, followed by a big yawn.
-"Morning. You look tired."-she said.-"How did it go yesterday then?"
-"Terrible. All of them said the same thing that Mishima told us."-he said changing his expression to one of anger.-"At this pace, I don't know what to do anymore, but I won't back off."
-"I think I got something…"-she said to get his attention and he looked as she pointed out the strange app.
-"What? That app?"-he said.-"So now you want to get the evidence from that place?"
-"It's not that."-she said.-"I think...if that place is on Kamoshida's mind and the Shadow Kamoshida is his consciousness...we could probably convince him to stop what he is doing."
-"Stop it? Do you think that will work?"-Ryuji crossed his arms-"Besides, I told you before that the words from the other time won't work."
-"Uhmm...Maybe it wasn't the words we say enough to enter…"-she said. Ryuji was going to ask her about it but they got separated by the matutine traffic as they went inside the train to school.
While attending to Mr. Ushimaru's class, Kazumi received a message from Ryuji:
-"Hey. So, have you figured out how to go? We didn't finish our conversation before."
"I kind of have an idea. You tried it at home right? What keywords you used?"
-"Pervert Teacher, Castle and my house's address why?"
"I checked the app a bit and found a historial tag. It says that the keywords were Kamoshida, Pervert Castle and Shujin Academy."
-"So that means…?"
"Maybe we can activate it if we are close to the school."
-"Oh! I getcha! That could work!"
-"You're awesome, Kazumi!"
"Let's do it after school then"- Kazumi put her cellphone away as she thought that the teacher will find her out.
At lunchtime, Kazumi was going towards the courtyard to buy some banana milk when she found on her way a badly injured girl looking at her cell phone. She was right on the door and looked like she was lifeless:
-"Uhmm…"-Kazumi approached to her.
-"Ah! I'm sorry. I must be on your way right?"-the girl replied as she moved apart, that girl was Shiho Suzui.
-"How did you get those injuries? They look very painful."-Kazumi asked worried.
-"...They are from my Volleyball practice…"-she answered quietly.-"Come to think of it, I have never seen you around. Are you the transfer student from Class D by any chance?"
-"Unfortunately, I am."-Kazumi said as she looked down.
-"I know it's bad now but don't let those rumors get the worst of you."-Shiho said to her.
-"Oh. Thank you."-Kazumi was suddenly cheerful-"Why do you say so?"
-"Oh. It's because I have been surrounded by them too. My friend Ann also has a bad time with them because people misunderstand her by her looks…"-Shiho replied.-"I have to go now."
-"Ok."-Kazumi said as she let her pass-"Once again, thank you!"-she exclaimed to her with a smile and Shiho waved bye to her.
After school, Kazumi and Ryuji met at the alley in front of the school:
-"Alright. Here we are."-Ryuji said a bit excited.
-"We have to make this quick. I hope we can see Morgana again too."-Kazumi said as she pulled out her phone.
-"Kamoshida. Pervert Castle. Shujin Academy."-the voice of the AI on the app said-"Beginning navigation."-the space distorted around them and they ended up in front of the Old Castle with their unusual outfits from the last time.
-"We made it!"-Ryuji said excited-"Let's talk to him some sense then!"-before he could even run towards the main door, Kazumi stopped him by pulling his shirt.
-"What are you doing?"-she said to him-"If we go by the front, they will catch us again."
-"We have to avoid conflicts before we can reach that Kamoshida."-she ordered him.
-"Ok. Ok."-he said in disgust.
-"I was wondering what was that ruckus and here you are again."-they heard a familiar voice and Morgana jumped down from the ventilation shaft they used to escape last time.
-"Morgana! I'm glad to see you again!"-Kazumi said as she got at the cat's height.
-"Miss Kazumi...why are you guys here…?"-Morgana answered a bit confused by her reaction-"You barely escaped the last time…"
-"We have business with the 'King' of this castle."-Ryuji said as he pushed his fist against his hand.
-"Huh…?"-Morgana was confused.
-"Morgana, do you think if we convince that Shadow of Kamoshida to stop his evil manners, it will affect the real one?"-Kazumi asked to him.-"We came all the way here just for that."
-"Uhm. Unfortunately, that is not the case"-Morgana said uneasy to the already pumped teenagers.
-"You're shittin' with us right?"-Ryuji said-"I mean, it should work like some kind of voice of consciousness or something like that!"
-"This is not a fairy tale."-Morgana said.-"You see this castle? This place is called a Palace. A space on the Metaverse where the distorted heart of a single person changed it completely on their twisted desires."
-"So you mean this will be our school if Kamoshida didn't have twisted desires?"-Kazumi asked.
-"Exactly. If his heart is this distorted, there's no turning back. The person just won't retract their point of view anymore!"-Morgana explained making Kazumi upset.
-"So you're saying that we can't talk with the Kamoshida of this world to stop the real one?"-Ryuji asked.
-"Are your ears working? Yes. It won't work."-Morgana said to the blonde boy in an annoyed voice.
-"So we came here for nothing…"-Kazumi said as she stood up. She remembered the Volleyball members injured, specially Mishima and Shiho.-"I actually wanted to help them…"
-"Kazumi…"-Ryuji looked at her worried that she was upset. Feeling frustrated and at the same time courageous, the boy went towards the castle to enter by their secret entry.-"I'm not leaving it like this!"
-"Hey, what are you doing?"-Morgana said in shock as he went up to the ventilation shaft.
-"Ryuji-kun, wait! We don't…"-Kazumi tried to get him to not do it but he interrupted her.
-"If we can't speak to him, I'll beat his ass until he regrets what he has done!"-Ryuji said as he went inside.
-"That idiot! The Shadows on the halls will catch him if he goes while he's doing all that noise!"-Morgana exclaimed-"Let's go after him!".
When the two of them got inside the storage room, they heard Ryuji fighting with a Shadow with the Pumpkin kid shape. He defeated with ease but that didn't cool down his frustration. Before another Shadow on the hall spotted them, Kazumi and Morgana brought him back to an strange room which environment changed between a classroom and a castle room:
-"Hey, let me go!"-Ryuji struggled to Kazumi holding his arms. She finally left him when Morgana did a signal.
-"Don't do those things here."-Morgana said in a low voice.-"If they are aware we are here, their security levels will get stronger until you can barely hit a shadow before getting kicked out from here."
-"Ok. Ok. I'll chill then."-Ryuji said as he looked down annoyed.
-"You two seem eager to take this guy out."-Morgana said to both-"Not only Ryuji…"
-"A lot had happened these days on the real world…"-Kazumi said as a excuse.
-"If that's the case, I can tell you a way to take him down."-Morgana said while crossing his little paws-"However…"
-"For real? How is it?"-Ryuji asked excited.-"We just have to beat that Shadow right? Just like on video games!"
-"If it was that, you guys will probably lose against his high-leveled guards."-Morgana mentioned.-"You lack of any proper training on infiltration and battling on this world."
-"So what is that method then Morgana?"-Kazumi asked.
-"You have to steal the cause of the distortion, his treasure."-the cat stated.
-"Treasure? That sounds interesting."-Kazumi said farly more interested on the theme.-"So we'll become 'Phantom Thieves' to stop him, isn't that right?"
-"Phantom Thieves? That sounds cool."-Ryuji said.-"Hey Monamona, you will help us right?"
-"I'm Morgana!"-the cat replied.-"Also, I can't help you guys out like that. I have my own issues."
-"Come on, Morgana. You said it right? That we don't have any knowledge on infiltration and battling."-Kazumi tried to convince him.-"We need you for this."
-"Well, if you put it like that…"-Morgana started to considerate it.-"Ok. But only if Kazumi goes with us all the way…"
-"Of course I will. Why do you ask?"-Kazumi said confused by Morgana's condition.
-"Remember the last battle? You did very well guiding us like that."-Morgana said.-"I hate to admit it, but if I go only with Ryuji, we'll rush things a lot."
-"Hey! Don't treat me like a pushover!"-Ryuji said angry.-"I'm glad Kazumi is the leader anyways, I don't want to be commanded by a cat."
-"I am not a cat"-Morgana hissed angry-"Say it again and I'll leave you bald!"
-"Hey, no fighting."-Kazumi scolded them.-"Remember that the enemy is outside."-they calmed their fighting stands.
-"Before we go, you two better stop calling each other by your names."-Morgana said.-"We'll go with code names for now on."
-"Code names? Woah, woah. This is getting interesting."-Ryuji paid attention.-"Why don't we start with our leader then?"
-"Me?"-Kazumi asked confused.
-"I actually thought about one."-Morgana said in pride.-"Joker. Cool, huh?"
-"...?"-Kazumi thought that sounded familiar somehow...very familiar.
-"Isn't that always a guy? Let's go with Heart!"-Ryuji commented.
-"That's too much! Her color doesn't even match!"-Morgana discussed.-"What do you think, Miss Kazumi?"
-"If you guys are going with card names, then, I'll be Ace."-Kazumi said to end the dispute.
-"Ohh. That sounds even better!"-Morgana said admiring her with shiny eyes.
-"Ok. What would be Ryuji's?"-she asked to the boy.-"Yellow beard?"
-"Huh?"-Ryuji said confused by such an odd name.
-"I go with Thug."-Morgana said.
-"Hell no! Can't you guys come with a stylish name for me!?"-he exclaimed.
-"Quiet down!"-Morgana had to remember him of their situation-"What about Skull then? Like your mask."
-"Nice, Morgana. That actually sounds cool!"-Kazumi praised the cat by scratching his chin.
-"Mew~~"-he meowed.
-"At last, it's the cat."-Ryuji said causing Morgana to react aggressively again.
-"But Morgana, if you're not a cat then what are you?"-Kazumi asked.
-"I'm a human. A very good human."-he replied.
-"What? You are all like a cat!"-Ryuji said in shock.
-"I'm serious. I just lost my original form…"-Morgana said-"But that's why I'm here! I know how to recover my form… If only…"
-"Back to topic, I vote to name it Mona."-Ryuji said completely ignoring Morgana's backstory.
-"I like it!"-Kazumi said with a bright look on her eyes.
-"Ugh…"-Morgana sighed-"Fine. If Miss Kazumi is ok with it…"
-"Alright. Enough talk, we'll get going when Ace is ready."-Morgana said.
-"Oh wait. I didn't came unprepared this time."-Skull said checking something on his pocket.-"Here. I bought this."
Skull passed to Ace a real-looking Tkachev gun and some medicine:
-"A gun!? You brought this to school?"-she replied in shock.
-"Chill. It's a model."-Skull said.-"It doesn't shot bullets but it looks real enough to scare someone."
-"It's almost scary how prepared you are…"-Mona said.-"But it'll actually be useful!"
-"I guess I'll carry it then."-Ace put the gun on a pocket.-"I had some banana milk packages on my bag but…"
-"Don't worry about those. This is a cognition world so if you need them, they will appear on your pocket."-Mona explained.
-"To be honest, I also wanted to buy a heavy looking gun for me but...I'll probably be broke for the rest of the month."-Skull said.
-"Is that true?"-Kazumi felt bad to leave Ryuji on disadvantage after he gave her some goods.-"Let's go to the store next time. I'll gather some money so we can buy it together."
-"Ace is so heartful…"-Morgana said tendered.
-"That sounds good...Hopefully that scary man will give us a discount."-Skull murmured.
With preparations ready, the three of them started the infiltration. While eliminating some guards on their way, they started investigating the first floor:
-"More Pixies…"-Ace said as she saw about three of them.-"Mona, what's their weakness?"
-"They are weak to gun fire!"-the cat said as he got an idea.-"This might be a good chance to use the gun Skull gave you!"
-"Huh?"-Ace was a bit flustered.-"You want me to shoot at them?"
-"Hehehehe."-you could hear the Shadow Pixies laughing at her which somehow pissed her off.-"What a coward girl."
-"...They are dead."-Ace put up the gun and pointed at them shooting without mercy.
-"Damn girl. Didn't you befriend one of them the last time?"-Skull said a bit scared of her reaction.
-"Who do you think told me to do it?"-Kazumi answered as she changed her mask back to Arsene's mask. A chill feeling made Skull tremble.
-"Don't stay there, rookies. It's time for a new technique now that they are on the floor."-Mona said as he prepared his sword.
-"Let's go All-Out on them!"-Mona said and went towards the Pixies. Ace and Skull went after him. They rushed to attack the fairies with their melee weapons in a ninja fashion. Ace landed without facing them and took out a Heart Ace card while she passed her fingers on the lower line of her hat. "THIS IS OUR TRUMP CARD" appeared on the background as the Pixies died bleeding.
A couple of battles later, Kazumi, Morgana and Ryuji's Personas got a bit stronger and learned some new moves. Kazumi also allied with two more Shadows, Jack o'Lantern, the Pumpkin kid, and Agathion, a little blue demon inside a golden jar with the Magen David symbol on it. Eventually, they found another Safe room before accessing to the second floor, after revising both east and west of the first one. According to Morgana, it was to secure an infiltration route so they could track their steps next time they went in. Infiltrating a Palace was more complicated than it looked like.
Skull also found out that he could get to shot with his desired shotgun although it wasn't as strong as the gun he gave to Ace but it worked on a similar fashion as the banana milks they were drinking right now:
-"I could drink this my whole life."-Ace said as she was pleased with her milk which made her spiritual energy flow.
-"Cutie…"-Skull said with a smile trying to fluster her and effectively doing it.-"I have seen you drink this thing almost everyday. Why do you like it so much?"
-"When I was a kid, my mother told me that I'll grow bigger and stronger if I drink milk."-she explained-"I disliked the normal milk so my father brought some of these from his trip to Korea and I loved them."
-"Bigger huh?"-Skull looked at her with a dumb look and certainly it was not at her face, it was a bit lower.-"I can tell why."
-"What an idiot…"-Mona murmured.-"That's just a myth."
-"Huh? What?"-Skull said mad.-"They are totally natural! There's no way she got them that big without milk!"
-"...What are you two talking about?"-Ace was seriously confused about their debate. She suddenly hear the scream of a girl.
-"W-What was that!?"-Skull exclaimed shocked.
-"A slave? But why would we hear it from this point?"-Mona said.
-"I have a bad feeling about this."-Ace said as she drunk the last of the box.-"Let's go!"
-"Wait, Ace!"-Skull and Mona went after her.
Guided by the screaming voice who exclaimed for help, the thieves ended up close to the torture room on the west side of the palace. They found the source, a girl was struggling with two guards avoiding to be tortured. Ace looked at her more closely and saw that it was that girl she met on the way to the courtyard:
-"Ace, we have to go back to work…"-Mona said.-"Remember that the people in here are not the real ones."
-"I know that but I have seen that girl before."-she replied.-"So, she was abused by Kamoshida too…"
-"That girl…! She's Suzui!"-Skull suddenly said.-"Takamaki's best friend."
-"Help! Help!"-the girl exclaimed as one guard stomped on her back-"I can't hold this anymore… Ann… please help me!"
-"I can't watch this anymore…"-Kazumi started to get desperate. Suddenly she ran towards them at the speed of a shadow and grasped the mask of both guards to reveal their true forms.
-"Ace!"-Skull and Mona went to her side. The Shadows put on a fight but they were just as weak as the ones they were fighting previously and were easily ended.
-"Are you ok…?"-Ace got closer to the Shadow Shiho who tried to get up on her feet.
-"I...am…"-she replied and suddenly tried to attack Ace out of her guard but Arsene protected her as he saw it coming. The Shadow Shiho backed off.
-"Ugh. I thought I could carry out the King's plan to get rid of you, thieves…"-she said on a Shadowy voice.
-"What…?"-Ace said shocked.
-"It was a trap, Ace."-Mona said.-"That thing is not a simple image… It's an actual Shadow!"
-"Hehehehe. What a foolish girl."-the evil Shadow said.-"You fell on my act very easily."
-"As soon as I kill you, King Kamoshida will finally give me a place next to the Princess."-the Shadow said as she transformed into a female angel, she was blindfolded and her hands were held up by cuffs.
-"I don't get it. The other slaves were fine with being tortured."-Ace said.-"I thought that you were the only one trying to escape!"
-"It's not time for foolish talk. Here she comes."-Arsene told her as the angel casted a skill of piercing light against her. Ace fell on her knees when she got hurt by it.
-"Ace! Oh no, she hit her Persona's weak point!"-Mona said.-"You…!"-he pointed out with his slingshot and shot 7 silver marbles at it.
-"You'll pay for this, faker!"-Skull casted a physical attack sending Captain Kidd to directly hit the Angel.
-"Ugh. That really hurt…"-Ace complained as she stood up by herself.-"Arsene!"-she released her initial Persona.
-"I won't forgive you for this!"-Ace said with hate at her before ordering Arsene to use Eiha on her which was her weakness.
-"I can't believe this…"-the Shadow complained as Ace ordered an All-out attack, however, such attack didn't kill her.
-"It's a rough one. We have to hit harder!"-Mona said.
-"Ehehe. Take this!"-she casted a blinding light on Kazumi making her dizzy.
-"My eyes…!"-Ace was vulnerable now.
-"This is bad."-Morgana used Dia to heal the previous hit.-"Skull, we'll have to keep pressing until Ace can recover herself!"
-"Huh? Gotcha!"-he didn't understood well what was wrong with her friend but if Morgana said it was bad, better pay attention to that this time.
-"Get reck'd!"-he exclaimed as he casted Zio on the objective.
-"You…!"-Ace tried to shot at her with her gun but most of her bullets missed.
-"You two are so annoying!"-the angel said as she casted Hama, an insta-kill skill on Morgana. Blessed seal papers surrounded the cat until he felt an intense pain and was knocked out.
-"Mona!"-Ace said worried. Morgana stood up and went hiding on a corner.
-"Don't worry. I'll back out and focus on support you two!"-he said.-"Skull, hold a bit more!"
-"Now, the girl."-the Angel said as she casted Kouha, the piercing light on Kazumi.
-"Kazumi! Watch out!"-Skull yelled at her as she couldn't see the attack coming. She reacted right on time to avoid it.
-"That was so close, thank you Skull."-she said.-"Now I can see clearly."
*Status aliment recovered*
-"All right. Wreck her, Ace!"-Skull cheered her.
-"Ravege her, Arsene!"-Kazumi exclaimed hitting her weakness one more time. She and Skull surrounded her with their guns on point.
-"No...I can't die here…"-the angel said.-"I have to be his Princess… If not, he'll torture me to no end!"
-"How can you think about him so highly?"-Ace asked.-"He's hurting you all the time. Think about Takamaki-san too! She is also in pain because of Kamoshida!"
-"She is? Of course not…"-the angel said in denial.-"Lies! She is with Kamoshida so she can be untouched. If I could be like her…"
-"That's enough…"-Ace felt pity for the Shadow.-"Skull, let's do it."
-"Sure!"-he nodded at her and killed the Shadow with an all-out attack. The Shadow went back to the shape of Shiho.
-"She's not gone yet?"-Morgana approached-"No way…"
-"You are right. I should be more aware of Ann's pain."-the Shadow said.-"I was a fool for coming here on ambition. I thought Volleyball was the only thing I had."
-"Now you know that is not."-Ace said with a smile and the Shadow vanished in white light leaving something behind. Ace took it, it was a necklace with Ann and Shiho's initials.
-"What is this?"-Skull asked.
-"It was that girl's treasure."-Morgana explained-"But I don't understand...how come the Shadow of someone else could escape from that place to enter in a Palace?"
-"That place..?"-Ace asked.
-"I can explain that after."-Morgana said.-"We have to go back on our tracks before more enemies show up."
-"Can you two keep going?"-Kazumi asked worried about the other two when they were running carefully on the halls.-"I can heal you with Agathion. Also, we already ran out of medicine…"
-"I don't think I have the spirit to keep fighting…"-Ryuji said.-"Let me hit them hard for now!"
-"Maybe we should retire for now."-Morgana said, shocking the other two.-"I have the feeling you two are not ready to steal the treasure."
Meanwhile on an upper floor, Kamoshida was relaxing himself in a room with girls craving for his "grandioseness":
-"Hahahahaha. I love this part of being the King."-he said with his sinful smile.-"All these sluts shall satisfy me…"
-"You are the best, King."-a girl with ash blonde and blue eyes, dressed in seductive underwear and using kitty ears as an accessory clinged to his arm.
-"King Kamoshida!"-a guard interrupted him.-"Those intruders! They beat the rogue prisioner you used to kill them!"
-"What did you say!?"-he was angry.-"Unforgivable! It was a really good strategy! Those damn thieves…"
-"We registered the whole castle for them but it seems like they have left."-the guard mentioned.
-"I'll let it aside this time. We have to reforce the security on the front! Hurry!"-it was the order of the King.
-"Those who oppose to you are totally trash."-the girl next to him said.
-"I happy you agree with me, Princess Ann."-he said as he went back to his lustly business.
Outside of the castle, the three thieves were trying to take a breath after running for so long:
-"There was a lot of guards there…"-Skull said tired.-"We finally made it outside…"
-"Mona."-Ace spoke to the cat.-"Why did you say that we are not ready to take the treasure?"
-"Three issues our team has."-Morgana said as he fixed his mask a bit-"The first one is that the Shadows on upper floors are way stronger and numbered than us. We'll need at least another member to confront them."
-"The second, the ruler of this castle has no awareness that we will steal his treasure. Therefore, his treasure won't appear on this world."
-"What the hell? So even if we get there today...There'll be nothing to steal!?"-Skull reacted shocked.
-"I wanted to train you two as a possibility to win."-Morgana explained.
-"I don't know how we could find a new member since everyone on the school refuses to go against Kamoshida."-Ace went back to topic-"and about the treasure, I suppose we can't do nothing until we secure the route to it right?"
-"Exactly. The last issue is you, Ace."-Morgana said a bit undecisive.
-"Me…?"
-"You're really heartful and that's actually a problem."-he said.
-"Hey, cut her some slack! At least we made Suzui's shadow react!"-Skull defended her.
-"It's not that! There are implications about taking the treasure."-Morgana explained.-"I don't know too much but there's a possibility that the ruler of this Palace will die in reality if his treasure is taken."
-"Huh?"-Ace and Skull were in shock.
-"What? Did you just say that we can kill him if we take it?"-Skull asked confused and Mona nooded.
-"No...T-This is not what we want to do!"-Ace was a bit flustered.-"How could that happen?"
-"The treasure is the source of his desires. If it is taken they will dissappear, but if they do, the individual could lose other human desires as well like eating, falling in love and all sorts."-Moma explained.-"Therefore, they will lose consciousness of themselves and probably die."
-"That doesn't sound great."-Skull spoke.-"I mean, I hate this guy a lot but I don't wanna kill him."
-"Me neither…"-Kazumi said.
-"This is why I said it."-Mona said.-"We are back to square one until you two take your decision."
-"I guess we should go home for now…"-Skull said to Ace who was still flustered.
-"Hey, wait!"-Morgana spoke before Ace pulled out her phone.-"I told you everything you guys wanted to know! Now it's your turn to help me!"
-"Huh?"-Skull said confused.-"Oh yeah, thanks for the info...Morgana. I hope you recover your human form or whatever."
-"What?"-Morgana said indignated by his behavior-"Aren't you go to repay my hospitality? Miss Kazumi…"
-"I...We'll see you later, Mona. Take care."-Kazumi was still flustered by the issue of killing someone that she couldn't bring herself to anything else.
-"No way…"-Morgana was shocked. Both teenagers ran away from the distortion when the app activated.-"Hey, wait! I haven't finished here! Grrgh...GRARRRRRGHHHH!"-he yelled angry as he ran towards their exit.
When both rebels came to the real world, they decided to separate to go home as it was going to get very late. Kazumi was still flustered about the fact that she might have to kill someone in order to help others. She was back to square one too. What happened with all the courage she got when she awakened Arsene and decided to steal to the ones that stole to others?
As she was going to change lines, she heard a familiar voice talking on the station:
-"Would you please give it a rest!? I told you I'm not feeling up to it."-when she turned around, she realized it was Takamaki talking on her phone.-"Wait, what!? That's not what you promised! And you call yourself a teacher!?"
-"A teacher…? Could she be talking with Kamoshida?"-Kazumi thought as she got a bit closer.-"I knew something was off about them."
-"This has nothing to do with Shiho!"-Ann exclaimed and Kazumi stopped.
-"Shiho? She's involved? How?"-Kazumi was having more questions than answers right now. Ann's call was hanged up and she fell on her knees depressed.
-"Shiho's...starting position…"-Takamaki murmured as she was about to cry.
-"Uhm. Is something wrong?"-Ann heard next to her and noticed Kazumi. Surprised, she stood up.
-"Since when you are here?"-she asked to the girl.-"Where you listening?"
-"I...was passing by and heard you angry so…"-Kazumi tried to apologize.
-"Have you ever heard of privacy?"-Ann said a bit disappointed as she put her hands on her hips.-"Well. How much did you heard?"
-"It was something about Suzui-san…?"-she replied which made Ann more unstable.
-"I was arguing about other stuff."-Ann looked away.-"Anyways, it has nothing to do with you. Please leave me alone."
-"Takamaki-san!"-Kazumi exclaimed as she saw her go back to the underground of Shibuya.-"I better check on her."-she followed her until the walkway of the station, close to a smoothie bar.
-"Takamaki-san…"-she called her out when she reached her.
-"Stop following me! Leave me alone I said."-Ann said angry at her.
-"I can't do that…"-Kazumi said.-"You don't look well now."
-"Why? Why do you worry about me…?"-Ann said a bit flustered and she started to sob like she definitely wanted to cry.
-"P-Please calm down!"-Kazumi tried to help.-"Shall we talk on another place?".
-"Huh? What the heck is with you?"-Ann tried to calm down.
-"Uhm. Let's discuss this over hamburgers?"-Kazumi suggested. Although Ann was sceptical about it, she went along with Kazumi to Big Bang Burger, a restaurant on Shibuya's Central Street.
After they ordered, Ann started the conversation:
-"Just to be clear, I have nothing to talk about with you."-she said with a rough expression on her face and then, she looked down on the table.-"It was just an argument…"
-"Was it with Kamoshida?"-Kazumi mentioned a bit insistent. Ann gave a deep breath before she started to talk about the issue.
-"You have heard the rumors about him right?"-she started.-"They said that we're on a relationship."
-"But it's so no true… It's a fake out."-she wasn't looking at Kazumi and her hand was playing with a handkerchief on the table to ease her stress.-"He was calling me to go to his place right now. You know what that means right?"
-"I see…"-Kazumi frowned her eyebrows in sadness.-"Why don't you cut him out?"
-"I...I didn't want to give him my number. But if I turned him down, he said he was going to take my friend out of the regular team…"
-"I've been telling myself this is for Shiho's sake."-Ann reclined on her seat and looked down.-"I can't take it anymore."
-"I always thought Volleyball was all that I had."-Kazumi remembered the words of the Shadow Shiho and made the guess that if Shiho was off of the team, she would have been devastated. But not anymore.
-"Have you ever told this to Suzui-san?"-Kazumi asked and Ann didn't say a word.-"So, she doesn't know…"
-"I can't tell her about this. She'll be devastated to know that she lost her place because of me."-Ann started to cry.-"I've... had enough of this. I hate him!"
-"But still Shiho is my best friend. She's all I have in that sorry excuse of school!"-Ann finally looked at Kazumi while she was crying.-"Hey, Asaka. What should...What should I do?"
-"I...I can't say."-Kazumi said.-"But, please consider that maybe your friend cares more about you than her position."
-"Huh?"-Ann dried the tears that were falling from her eyes.-"Why would you said that?"
-"I met Suzui-san before and I think she's a good person."-Kazumi explained.-"But you don't have to do what I say after all…"
-"It's ok. It is not your problem but you still tried to cheer me up."-Ann's face finally showed a smile.-'I wonder why...Usually, everyone else just ignores me."
-"Are those rumors about you really true? You seem healthy enough to not be on drugs either."-Ann commented.
-"Rumors are rumors. I'll just be myself."-Kazumi answered with a smile.
-"Honestly, they are so wrong then."-Ann corresponded her smile.-"I always see you getting out of the classroom. You seemed lonely...like you were covered in spines and nobody gets closer to you."
-"Maybe that's why I could talk to you so easily. We're a bit similar in that regard."-Ann concluded.
-"I hope you can help your friend some other way."-Kazumi told to her. The waitress came with their 'to-go' orders. Ann took hers and left as she said to Kazumi to not talk to anyone about it. Kazumi promised not to and she also went back home as she ate the burger.
She arrived at evening, which caused Sojiro to scold her again for being late. Kazumi was cheerful enough to not be intimidated by that and told Sojiro that it was because she found good people to be friends with these days. When she went to sleep, she saw unread messages from Ryuji:
-"Hey, Kazumi. What have you thought about Morgana said?"
-"It is pretty crazy. I can't believe our only way to stop him has a chance to kill him."
"I know, but it's really scary."
-"Ikr? What if someone discovered it was us if he died?"
"I'll be on jail at the speed of sound."
-"You seem very cheerful now. Did something happen on your way home?"
"That's a secret between girls. Srry."
-"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"Good night!"-she cut out the conversation again and went to sleep.
April 15th…
It was cloudy that day. Kazumi kept hearing rumors about the Volleyball team on her way to school. It certainly reminded her how big was the charge of responsibility on her to stop him. Before getting to the gate, she stopped by the drinking machines close to the school and bought tea. Banana milk was not enough to calm her down:
-"So you can drink something other than banana milk huh?"-she heard a voice from somewhere and saw a black cat with white stains on his face, paws and tail, the cat's eyes were blue and he had a yellow collar on his neck.-"I'm glad it didn't cost me a lot to find you, Miss Kazumi."
-"M-M-Morgana!?"-she muttered in shock. That cat was actually talking like Morgana. The cat jumped off from the machine and landed on her shoulder.-"Why are you here? That form…"
-"I followed you guys and got lost. Also, I don't know why but I'm keeping this form in this world…"-he said as he licked his paw.-"I was expecting to be human here though…"
-"Anyways, you seemed stressed out."-Morgana kept talking.-"Have you two decided to take Kamoshida down yet or you're too nice for that?"
-"We can talk about this later…"-Kazumi said as she held him on her hands.-"Are you going to stick around me until then?"
-"Probably."-the cat said.-"I'm still mad because you two left me behind."
-"We can deal with that later on."-Kazumi put down her bag while she made sure no one was seeing her.-"Stay on my bag for now."
-"What? I don't want to be with your unlimited supply of banana milk."-Morgana complained.
-"I have a tuna sandwich for lunch in there."-Kazumi mentioned and the cat got in by himself.
-"Deal!".
During Mr. Ushimaru's class about the branches of power in the government, Kazumi received a message from Ryuji:
-"Kazumi. What if we don't kill Kamoshida?"
-"That cat say that he would change his mind if we stole the treasure but how will he change? Any ideas?"
-"Tell him that he will have a change of heart and he will confess his crimes."-Morgana murmured to her, surprising her that he was no longer on her bag but on the space under her table. How the heck can a cat slide in there?
-"What are you doing?"-Kazumi murmured to him.
-"I finished your tuna sandwich and I wanted a nap. Your bag was not very comfortable."-Morgana explained.
-"Is that a cat I hear?"-Mr. Ushimaru said interrupting his own lecture.-"It must be that cat that was meroding yesterday…"
-"Quiet down. I'm giving an important class!"-he said before he went back to his task.
-"So nobody can hear you talk huh?"-Kazumi murmured.
-"It seems so."-Morgana meowed lower.
"He said that he will confess his crimes in that case."-she wrote to Ryuji.
-"For real? That's sick!"
-"Wait. What do you mean by he said it?"
"..."
"I found him on my way to school."
"He's a cat now."
-"He was always a cat tho."
-"I swear I'm going to kick his ass so hard…"-Morgana said angry but before he could say anything else...
-"Hey, what's that!?"-a student from the other side of the classroom exclaimed.
-"Oh my god...She's going to jump…!"-another girl on the next row said.
-"Suzui?"-Mishima said when he approached to that side of the classroom. This alarmed both Kazumi and Ann.
-"Shiho…!"-Ann went out of the classroom as fast as she could. Kazumi followed her close leaving Morgana alone on her seat.
A lot of students were looking through the windows with sight towards the courtyard. Kazumi and the others saw Shiho staying on the edge of the rooftop. The girl closed her eyes and without second thoughts, she jumped away and fell hard on the ground of the courtyard. The screaming of everyone nearby at the presence of such gruesome incident could be heard.
Indignated, Ann ran towards the courtyard to check the state of her friend. Kazumi just looked her go farther and farther:
-"Kazumi! What's goin' on!?"-she heard Ryuji's voice in front of her but couldn't answer back. She was flustered. She just saw somebody die in front of her again.-"Are you OK? We have to go to the courtyard too!"
She snapped and nodded at him and both of them ran towards the courtyard overcoming the crowd of students. An ambulance was already there and checking on Shiho in a patient bed. Ann was in front of the crowd of students who didn't care a single bit about her friend and were just taking photos of the incident:
-"We are still in class time! Return to your classrooms at once!"-the teachers were trying to make everyone remain calm but the chaos was uncontrollable.
-"Is there a teacher who can come with us?"-one of the paramedics said as they got the ambulance ready to carry the patient.
-"She's not on my class…"-one of the teachers closeby excused.
-"Maybe we should leave this to Principal Kobayakawa…"-another teacher said. They were totally useless, Kazumi thought.
-"I'll go!"-Ann exclaimed and the paramedic let her go with Shiho.-"Shiho, why?"
-"Ann. I'm sorry...I thought it will be fine if I quit…"-she said in the few moments she could maintain herself awake-"But...I couldn't take it...anymore…"-she murmured Ann something before fainting.
-"Kamoshida!?"-Ann said out loud and when she noticed Shiho was not responding-"Shiho! No, Shiho!"-the ambulance took both of them to the hospital.
Kazumi couldn't believe what she saw. She was in shock and she was so furious too. But that was nothing against the guy next to her, Ryuji. He clenched his fist so hard that he was about to bleed:
-"Ryuji-kun…"-she thought worried. Probably Ryuji was not going to do something reasonable right now.
-"I'm ok."-he said although he was lying.
-"No…"-Mishima said flustered as he ran away from the scene. Ryuji and Kazumi noticed it.
-"Was that Mishima-kun?"-Kazumi asked.
-"He acted weird right now. Maybe he knows something."-Ryuji said and both of them went after him.
Finally, the rebels cornered the boy close to the gym lockers:
-"Auch! That hurts…"-Mishima muttered since Ryuji just happened to corner him by force.
-"Why were you running away just now huh?"-Ryuji asked with his pissed off thug attitude.
-"I wasn't running…"-the kid tried to denied it.
-"She almost killed herself just now!"-Ryuji yelled as he punched one of the lockers very hard-"Are you going to keep quiet for Kamoshida now!?"
-"I…"-Mishima was a nerve wreck and Kazumi noticed it but maybe Ryuji was the appropriate one to handle this while she tried to organize her thoughts.
-"Listen. We're not going to stich you on this if you say something."-Ryuji kept saying
-"Mishima-kun."-Kazumi dragged her attention to him-"What if the one who jumped was you? Wouldn't you want someone to make justice for you?"
-"Please. Tell us what you know about this."-Kazumi took on his hands on hers making him blush. Not like Ryuji was ok about this.
-"It was yesterday."-Mishima finally spoke as he looked away.-"Mr. Kamoshida wanted me to call Suzui to his office."
-"It's his usual thing. Every time he's on a bad mood, he'll call one of us to his office to take his anger on us."-he admitted
-"So this was the actual physical abuse on the team…"-Ryuji said.
-"He was pissed off more than usual yesterday. But Suzui didn't commit any mistakes or anything."-Mishima explained-"He could've been more severe because of his state...Maybe he…"
-"He didn't…"-Ryuji thought such punishment was more humiliating than psychical-"That son of a bitch…!"-he rushed out of the scene with his face red of pure rage.
-"Ryuji-kun! Wait!"-Kazumi went after him. Who knows how hardheaded was that guy if he was this angry? Not only she but Mishima also ran behind him. All while Morgana watched everything from the top of the lockers.
Kazumi lost Ryuji out of her sight when she arrived to the second floor. For having a broken leg, he was pretty damn fast:
-"Asaka-san!"-Mishima reached her on the stairs.-"Sakamoto...He probably went to the PE office. That's where Mr. Kamoshida is right now."
-"That doesn't sound good…"-Kazumi said as she started to run again-"Are you coming?"
-"Yes!"-Mishima went with her and they entered on the PE office along with Ryuji.
-"What is this about?"-Kamoshida said as he saw the three students on his office.
-"You bastard...What the hell did you do to that girl!?"-Ryuji yelled at him.
-"I don't know what are you talking about."-the teacher cut him out.
-"Don't play DUMB WITH ME!"-Ryuji violently kicked a chair as he yelled that. Kamoshida got angry and faced the teens.
-"That's enough."-he said-"You better get out of here or there will be consequences."
-"What you did wasn't coaching…"-Mishima spoke against him.-"You ordered me to call Suzui out here. I can't imagine what did you do to her…"
-"Hold on. What is this you're muttering about without any proof of?"-Kamoshida said.-"I get it. You're just making lies because you can't be a regular on the team."
Such comment made Mishima's blood boil:
-"This is not what it is about…!"-he said in a clearer voice.
-"You scum! How could you do that to Suzui-san?"-Kazumi also spoke.-"You even threaded Takamaki-san using her too!"
-"What is this? More gibberish?"-Kamoshida stood up from his chair-"Even if you accuse me of all those things, what do you think you guys can do?"
-"We received a call from the hospital saying that Suzui entered in a deep coma after being hospitalized."-he said.-"How can you expect her to make an statement now?"
-"No...this can't be…"-Mishima and the others were in shock.
-"You goddamn…"-Ryuji was not going to hold his rage anymore.
-"What? This again? Shall we have another case of 'self-defense', Sakamoto?"-he looked at Ryuji with a serious face that you could tell he was laughing at him from the inside.
-"Shut up!"-Ryuji was going to hit him until Kazumi clinged on his arm to stop him.-"Kazumi, stay back…"
-"Stop it. He's not worth it!"-she said.-"We can't do anything for now."-she murmured to him and Ryuji took a deep breath before stepping back.
-"How cute. These poor excuse of students think that they can do something to me."-Kamoshida said making fun of them. He proceeded to sit down on his place again.-"Everyone present on this office right now will be expelled. I'll report you on the next assembly."
-"Expelled!?"-Kazumi yelled on surprise. Her father and Sojiro will kill her if that happens.
-"You can't make a decision like that! We haven't done anything!"-Mishima said.
-"Will you speak to me like that again? You also threaded me, Mishima, so you're just as responsible."
-"...Huh?"
-"To think I kept someone as talentless as you on the team."-Kamoshida was clearly up against the poor boy.-"You act like a victim but you were the one who leaked Asaka's criminal records to everyone, weren't you?"
-"What?"-Ryuji said just as shocked as Kazumi.
-"Tha - That's because you told me to!"-Mishima accused him back.-"I had no choice…"-he looked at Kazumi and felt guilty about it.
-"Are we done now? You're all expelled! The least you can do is to wait for me to ruin your futures…"
-"I don't think so."-Kazumi said to him.-"You have just took down your own reign."
-"That look…"-Kamoshida was pissed off-"You criminal. Girls like you should just commit to the most powerful alpha male."
-"Ryuji-kun, Mishima-kun, we have to get out of here."-Kazumi was the first one to leave at the shocked face of Ryuji, who never saw her act like a visionary of sorts.
In lunchtime, Kazumi and Ryuji gathered on the courtyard. She let Morgana out of her bag:
-"Ahh...Freedom, sweet freedom."-the cat said on relax.-"I see that a lot of things have happened."
-"Kazumi...Is this cat really talking?"-Ryuji asked as he knew nothing.
-"That's Morgana."-she said.-"He actually came here as a normal cat."
-"For real!?"-he exclaimed.
-"Ahh… You are just this moron, aren't you?"-Morgana said to Ryuji, pissing him off.
-"What did you just say!?"
-"Time out."-Kazumi separated them.-"Morgana, I have made my decision."
-"Oh? Is it about how to stop Kamoshida?"-Morgana said interested-"You realized that it is our only option?"
-"Hold on but wouldn't we kill him if we steal his treasure thing?"-Ryuji said. Not that he was worried about that scum, but it was because Kazumi suddenly changed about the situation.
-"It's a risk I no longer care."-Kazumi replied.-"Not like I'm saying that we'll kill him at the first chance."
-"I see. Not to mention, we'll be in deep shit if he doesn't change his heart before the assembly."-Ryuji said annoyed.-"I'm on this too! I can't let that bastard do whatever he wants anymore after someone almost died and he doesn't even care!"
-"It's a deal then."-Morgana said.-"But this time, you guys better help me as well!"
-"It's the least we can do for you for helping us all this time."-Kazumi said and she turned to Ryuji-"Right?"
-"Fine, fine."-Ryuji agreed not too motivated.
-"Is it true that you two are getting expelled?"-Ann said as she directed towards them. Kazumi hid Morgana as soon as she heard her.
-"Rumors surely run fast."-Kazumi replied.-"Are you ok, Takamaki-san?"
-"Don't worry about me."-Ann said.-"If you two are planning something against Kamoshida, let me join too."
-"Huh?"-Ryuji reacted first.-"The hell with that! This has nothing to do with you!"
-"Of course it does! It's his fault that Shiho-"-Ann yelled at him frustrated.
-"Don't butt your head on this, Takamaki."-Ryuji was harsh with her.
-"...!"-Ann was angry but instead of confronting them, she ran away.
-"That was harsh of you."-Morgana said.-"I hope she doesn't blame herself about it."
-"I agree with you."-Kazumi said.-"But we can't let Takamaki-san to go with us to that world."
-"Her name is Ann Takamaki…"-Morgana murmured for himself-"Lady Ann…".
After school, Kazumi, Ryuji and Morgana went to the alley near the school:
-"Alright. Today, our job as Phantom Thieves starts! Give your best you two."-Morgana said.
-"We are going to take him down."-Kazumi said as she put up her phone
-"Oh! Let me use the app this time, Kazumi."-Ryuji said as he put out her phone.-"I want to try it out!"
-"It's ok with me."-Kazumi said smiling.
-"So they are actually planning something…"-Ann was spying on them behind a wall of the alley-"What are they saying? A name, the school and...castle?".
The space distorted itself wrapping Ann inside as well. The rebels stayed near their secret entry:
-"I did it!"-Skull said pumped up.
-"Geez. It's nothing to be happy about."-Mona said.-"Anyways, is this what you used to travel to the Metaverse?"
-"Yes. It's called Metaverse Navigator. I found it on my phone a while ago."-Ace mentioned-"We activated it by accident the first time."
-"How do you know how's called?"-Skull asked.
-"Well, that's-"-before Ace could explain…
-"What is this!?"-Ann said as she saw the castle.
-"T-Takamaki!?"-Skull and Ace reacted at the same time.
-"Those voices…"-Ann recognized them behind the mask-"Sakamoto and Asaka!?"
-"How did you get here!?"-Ryuji said.
-"Don't be so loud! The Shadows will come for us!"-Morgana scolded him.
-"I followed you two and suddenly, everything turned so weird."-Ann explained.-"What is this place? This IS related with Kamoshida right?"
-"Also, what is that? A monster cat!?"-she yelled pointing at Morgana.
-"M-Monster…?"-Morgana was clearly upset by this.
-"You don't need to know."-Ryuji said.-"We'll do our thing so you should just go back."
-"That won't happen! So tell me what's going on and why do you have those costumes?"-Ann was being very stubborn.
-'Hey cat, how do we turn her back?"-Skull asked to Mona.
-"Why do you ask me? I don't know about your app!"-the cat said.-"Anyways, I guess we can send her out from where we came…"
-"U-Uhm...Should I be of help?"-Kazumi recognized the voice inside her head. It was the timid Agathion.
-"I'll handle this."-Kazumi approached Ann as she changed her mask.
-"Asaka? What do you say?"-Ann directed to her-"I want to do something too!"
-"Takamaki-san."-Kazumi suddenly took her hands-"You can't go inside…."
-"Why…?"-Ann saw directly on her eyes, they were shiny as she was going to cry.-"Why do you look at me like this?"
-"This place is really dangerous. I-If something will happen to you, I wouldn't be able to look at Suzui-san on the eyes."-she said as she started to actually cry-"W-We are doing this for her too. Would you please leave it to us?"
-"A-Asaka…"-Ann was a bit flustered by her actions.-"I'll...leave it to you then."
-"Yay! Now, see you later!"-Ace suddenly turned back to her changing her mood completely and pushed her back to reality.
-"H-Hey, wait!"-Ann snapped after she was out of the distortion.
-"You pulled out a very nice act!"-Morgana said impressed-"But it wasn't like you to be so childish…"
-"Sometimes, the Personas in my heart call out when they want to act."-Ace mentioned-"It first happened with Pixie and Arsene also did it back with Kamoshida."
-"That explains why you were talking so diligent to him!"-Ryuji said-"It was like you declared war to him!"
-"So you can change your personality that easily? You're indeed a very rare Persona user."-Morgana said with a smile.-"Not like I have seen others though…"
-"Shall we go inside?"-Ace said-"As far as I remember we were going to secure a route…"
-"Yes, but why do you sound so insecure about it?"-Mona asked.
-"How are we supposed to know the route if we don't have a map of the place?"-Ace asked leaving Mona on stone.
-"You're right. I don't remember the way so...We'll be totally lost today."-Skull said.-"Hey, Mona. Do you have a map with ya?"
-"I…"-Mona was still in shock of forgetting such an important detail-"I-It was stolen! We gotta look for a Shadow who has one!"-he was the first one to get inside. Ace and Skull followed after him.
While they were ambushing Shadows in order to earn a map, they noticed how the number of enemies was bigger than the last time they were there. Mona mentioned that it was because they provoked the Kamoshida of the real world. They finally got a map of the first and second floor and headed right to a new safe room.
Meanwhile, on the entrance:
-"No way. I'm back on this place…"-Ann said as she stepped in near to the entrance-"It's all thanks to this strange app and the words Sakamoto said…"-she looked at the Megaverse Navigator before doing a big sigh.
-"Those two…! I won't forgive them for deceiving me like that!"-she exclaimed and a shadowy voice called her.
-"Princess?"-it was a guard of Kamoshida's Castle.
-"Princess!"-not one but three of them. Ann panicked out and fainted from a scare.
The Thieves were resting on the safe room:
-"We should've prepared a little more before entering…"-Ace thought as she remembered that they barely had any equipment, other than the ones they found in some random treasure chests along the way.
-"Maybe we pressured things because of emotions…"-Mona said as he looked at Skull.
-"Don't look at me like that!"-Skull said annoyed-"I wasn't the only one who forgot to prepare."
-"It's fine. We have plenty of time to do this."-Ace said as she checked her calendar-"The assembly is on the first Saturday of May after all."
-"In that case, we should totally go to the gun shop!"-Skull advised.
-"It will be nice if we could get some quality medicine too…"-Mona said.-"Remember how Shadow Shiho dizzied Ace? There's another dangerous aliments the shadows can affect us with and could be problematic in battle."
-"Got it. We need stronger weapons, guns and medicine."-Ace annotated mentally.-Maybe some kind of armors too…"
-"Why was Princess in such an odd place?"-they heard one of the guards outside.-"I thought we were following the readings of intruders…"
-"Princess…?"-Skull asked as they heard this.
-"It doesn't matter. We shall return her with King Kamoshida."-another Shadow said.
-"Who's this Princess they are talking about?"-Skull asked but Ace had no idea either.
-"I should probably look into this!"-Mona said as he opened the door for a bit
-"I'll leave it to you."-Ace said to him and the cat sneaked outside.
-"Hey, Kazumi…"-Skull directed to her when Morgana was gone.-"I have tried to accept everything that it's going on here but definitely I can't get a hold about you and Morgana."
-"Codenames, Skull…"-she reminded him.
-"Oh yeah, sorry."-he snapped.
-"Do you think am I strange?"-Ace asked him.
-"It's not that…"-he scratched his head in nervousness and looked away.-"I just think you are very mysterious, you know? You accepted this weird place and Mona so quickly. Not to mention, you even hang out with a punk like me."
-"That's not mysterious."-Ace smiled at him.-"You said we're similar right? Maybe that's why we connected instantly."
-"C-Connected!?"-Skull reacted surprised. Was she flirting with him!? For real!?
-"I kinda had that feeling with Mona too."-well, that definitely wasn't a flirt. Skull stood in silence disappointed.
-"We are in trouble!"-Morgana came back alarmed.
-"That was fast."-Skull said.-"What's wrong?"
-"That classmate of yours, Lady Ann!"-Mona said.-"She was taken by the Shadows!"
-"No way…"-Skull said.-"I thought Ace sent her to safety earlier! How did she came back!?"
-"If she had that Metaverse app, it will be possible for her to do it."-Mona said.
-"We have to help her!"-Ace ordered.-"Where is she right now?"
-"Follow me!"-Morgana guided them through a hall. It was full on guards but their infiltration skills were good enough to avoid them.
When they arrived to the room she was in, they saw she was about to be executed in front of Shadow Kamoshida and his Princess, a version of Ann in bikini:
-"Takamaki!"-Skull exclaimed as they interrupted the execution.
-"Just when I was about to enjoy myself…"-Kamoshida said.
-"What's the deal with this guy!?"-Ann asked to the thieves. She was thinking nothing of that was real.
-"Let her go!"-Ace yelled at Kamoshida.
-"How many times are you going to come back?"-Kamoshida asked stressed.-"Oh, I see."-he turned towards the real Ann.
-"I bet you came too because you are pissed off me."-he said.-"But that girl's...What was her name again? Yeah, she killed herself because of you."
-"What?"-Ann asked in shock.
-"You were so reluctant to devote yourself to me that I had her to took your place as she wanted."-Kamoshida said.
-"You liar!"-Ace said angry as she remembered Shiho never intended so on purpose.
-"Bastard!"-Ann also was angry at his statement.
-"You three, give one more step and she'll dead in an instant."-Kamoshida threat the Thieves as one of his guard captains was going to execute Ann.
-"No! Don't!"-Ann exclaimed as she tried to release her from the cuffs that were holding her.
-"We have to do something…!"-Skull said nervous to his teammates but there was no way they could save her with those three guards and Kamoshida there.
-"Takamaki-san…"-Ace said as she clenched her fist, then she found on that hand, Shiho's treasure, the necklace.-"This…"
-"Is this my punishment for what happened to Shiho?"-Ann said in sorry while she looked down.
-"That's more like it. You should have give yourself in from the start."-Kamoshida said.
-"Shiho...I'm sorry…"-Ann was still lamenting on herself when Ace stepped in front of Skull.
-"Do you really think this will please her?"-Ace said to Ann. She looked up to her.-"Giving yourself to the man who stole both of your lives? Suzui-san is your friend! She'll never want that and you know it!"
-"...You're right."-Ann was cheered up now-"I can't let this piece of shit toy with me as he please…"
-"Like I said, you women should just behave and-"-Kamoshida said.
-"Shut up!"-Ann said-"I've had enough of this! You piss me off you son of a bitch!"
-"My...It had taken far too long."-a seductive female voice sounded on Ann's head as her eyes turned yellow and she started to twitch her body on pain.-"Tell me. Who's going to avenge her if you don't?"
-"Forgiving him was never an option. Such is the scream of the other you who dwells within…"
-"Takamaki-san...Could she be…?"-Kazumi thought as everyone saw what was happening. The King had a disgusting pleasant look this time, as Ann's suffering looked like she was being raped.
-"I am thou, tho art I. We should finally form a contract."-the voice sealed the pact with her host.
-"I hear you, Carmen."-Ann said as she looked down and a red catwoman mask appeared on her face.-"You're right! No more holding back!"
-"Yes. Nothing can be solved by restricting yourself."-Carmen said as her aura helped Ann to break through the cuffs.-"Understand? Then, I will gladly let you my strength."
Ann ripped her mask and skin off and she was caught on fire. When it was reduced, her Persona Carmen appeared. A woman using a red and black Spanish dress, curly black twintails, one foot over a man with a heart-shaped head and her finger attaching another one of those as he was seduced by her. Ann's outfit was changed as well, she now had a latex red suit with a cat tail attached and the chest top uncovered, along with pink gloves.
Her fierce look pierced through Kamoshida. It was at that moment that he knew he fucked up against this femme fatale.
Take Your Time.