Chapter 6: A Queen's Resolve and The Frozen Blade

It was difficult to catch Makoto Niijima off-guard. It was a necessary skill for her to have as the daughter of a police officer. She had expected that Principal Kobayakawa would shove as much responsibility onto her as he could, but she never would've predicted the words that came out of his mouth.

"I'm sorry, sir. Could you repeat that?" She must have misheard. There was no way he had just asked her to do what she thought he did.

"I thought that what I asked of you was quite clear." Kobayakawa said, "These Phantom Thieves clearly had some sort of impact on Kamoshida and are most likely students at this school. In fact..." He reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a file, "We believe these students are involved in some capacity. Kamoshida had begun expulsion proceedings for them, only to suddenly rescind them."

She opened the file. Three photos stared back at her. Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki, and Ren Amamiya. She fought to maintain her composure. "Of course, sir. I'll begin right away."

"Good." Kobayakawa said, "If you complete this task, I will write you a letter of recommendation that will get you into the college of your choice."

"Thank you, sir. I will not let you down." Makoto said. She made her excuses and left. She couldn't hear anything except the pounding in her ears. She needed somewhere she could be alone. Right now.

She ducked into the first woman's restroom she found and locked herself in a stall. The tears were quick to come. She hunched over, her knees nearly meeting her head. This wasn't fair! "Please..." She pleaded, "Please let this be a nightmare... please..."

Reality was cruel. She rocked back and forth on the toilet and wept bitterly. She had no one to turn to. No one to confide in. Talking to Sae would be worse than useless, as she would just scold her for daring to have doubts and not doing whatever she must to secure success, no matter the cost. She had no one at school to talk to save Ren himself.

She pulled out her phone and found her favorite picture of her father. It had been taken two years before his death. Makoto had been twelve, and they had gone to a live Neo Featherman show. In the picture, Makoto was wearing a Pink Argus costume. The bright smile on her face, frozen in a moment of time... a moment of time long before everything went so wrong brought some semblance of stability back to her mental state. "What am I supposed to do, father?" She asked. "Do I betray the man I'm falling for... or do I risk everything I've been working toward?"

A half-forgotten memory of her father bubbled up. The circumstances of what led to the answer had vanished, but she would never forgotten what her father had told her. "I'm not on the side of legality. I'm on the side of justice, of right and wrong. If that puts the world against me, then so be it. Yes, the easy path could lead to quicker success in my life. But it would also force me to compromise my morals. Force me to make choices that I swore I would never make. Always choose the path of strife, Makoto. You will be able to hold your head high, knowing that you've chosen to uphold your justice. And if you should fail, that's okay. Just pick yourself up and try again. I believe in you."

Makoto raised her head and clenched her fist. She was her father's daughter. She would not despair, she would not let the chains of corruption have hold on her. She would pursue this investigation with all the zeal and fervor expected of her. But for her justice... it would not be to expose the Phantom Thieves. It would be to warn them. And if they were the particular individuals that Kobayakawa thought they were...

Well, she'd probably end up joining them.

Yes, this would mean throwing away any chance at receiving a letter of recommendation. Makoto Niijima found that she didn't care.

She had chosen to walk the path of strife.

Over the next week, Ren and the others had made great progress as Phantom Thieves. Ren had discovered sources for both weapons and medicine. An airsoft shop in a back alley near Shibuya Station ran by a man named Iwai, and a small-town doctor in Yongen-Jaya named Takemi. After talking with them for a time Ren had discovered that they each had their own problems and had forged bonds of the Hanged Man and Death Arcana, respectively.

Ren had a sneaking suspicion that he would be solving the problems of everyone he talked to for more than five minutes.

Morgana had shown them Mementos, which could be easily explained as everyone's Palace. Ren had even invited Yukari along on one of their excursions. Despite its outward appearance as a gun, the device she called an Evoker still functioned as intended in the Metaverse. Yukari theorized that it was due to the device's power source. She explained that it was an item known as a Plume of Dusk. These were glowing feathers that had been generated when the entity that her and her friends had defeated had fused with the moon.

More shocking was that Yukari's Metaverse attire was just her usual Pink Argus costume. However, given her connection to Ren and his own attire, it made perfect sense.

There was a little snag, though. Minor, really. Mishima Yuuki had somehow figured out that Ren was a Phantom Thief. Ren quickly determined that Mishima had no intent on revealing his identity, but instead he would help them identify targets. Ren tried to dissuade him, but his mind was made up. And so, the Phan-Site was born.

It had an official name. Ren forgot it after five minutes.

Finally, there was a glimmer of possibility for their next target. During one of their trips to Mementos, one of their targets -a bank teller that was taking out his frustrations at being forced to give up art- had mentioned how a man named Madarame had made it so he could never make a living off of art, so he had spitefully abandoned it.

As luck or fate might have it, Ann met a strange young man by the name of Yusuke Kitagawa at one of her photo shoots. He approached her and introduced himself as the pupil of one Ichiryusai Madarame, he also asked Ann to be the model for his next art piece. He even gave Ann tickets -of which she made sure to procure an extra for Ren- to Madarame's upcoming art exhibit if they wanted to verify his story.

Ryuji wasn't even fazed by his exclusion from the art exhibit excursion. Apparently, he had plans and wouldn't have been able to make it. Morgana had insisted on going to see Yukari, who was now maintaining an apartment in Kichioji. He claimed that he had a matter that needed to be discussed with her.

That left Ren and Ann to investigate the art exhibit. The opening was on a Sunday, so they were able to go without their school uniforms. "We've got a tail." Ann said, "Looks like your girlfriend might be a bit yandere."

"Oh, I know she's been tailing me like that." Ren said, completely casually. "She's trying to investigate us."

Ann had a reply, but it froze on her tongue as Carmen emerged from the sea of her soul to communicate with her. "Fear not, apprentie. This supposed investigation is merely a flirtation between them. Although the boy hasn't made use of that yet."

Ann knew that this would need to wait until later. Regardless, she tried to reply to Carmen. Uh... how can you tell?

"It's quite simple, my dear. Your friend Ren strikes me as an individual who -while not particularly savvy to such things- would be rightfully concerned about someone following him in such a matter. His lack of concern should clue you in that this is nothing to be concerned about."

Once again, Ann felt very strongly that she was not mentally prepared for today. This was becoming disturbingly common. "Ren?"

"Yeah?"

"If you're going to use her following you to flirt with her, can you just do it already? We don't need her tailing us while we're trying to case a potential target." Ann said.

Ren stood up straight for a moment. "That's... a fair point." He glanced back at Makoto and activated his Third Eye. With every detail revealed, he saw that she was only looking up from the manga she was hiding behind for mere moments, to avoid running into anyone. Someone brushed up against her shoulder, and she looked in their direction and apologized...

Now.

Ren weaved through the crowd with a speed and dexterity that defied his actual abilities in reality. With unerring prowess, he ended up right in front of Makoto just as she looked up. "Hello there." He said.

Makoto was startled for a moment but caught herself. "That's rather bold of you, Amamiya, walking up to a random woman in a crowd that happens to look like me, what if you mistook me for someone else?"

"Oh, that wouldn't happen in a million years, Niijima-san." Ren put one finger on the manga she was using to shield herself and pulled it down. "You know, you might enjoy this a lot more if you weren't holding it upside down."

Makoto didn't take the bait. "Where are you going with Takamaki-san?"

"An art exhibit. An acquaintance of hers got her tickets and she didn't want to go alone." Ren raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask? Jealous?"

Makoto blushed but held her ground. "Please, you and I both know that I have nothing to worry about on that front."

Ren was at an impasse. How did he get her to leave him and Ann alone for the day? Because if Makoto really was investigating them...

"Be at peace, Trickster. The correct path is closer to home than you might think."

Ren's eyes widened ever so slightly, Arsene just spoke in his mind. What had he meant? Closer to home... wait, that was it!

"You know, this is a terrible spot for you to stop me and ask a bunch of questions." Ren said, "I'll be working Leblanc tomorrow after school. Why don't you drop by? That way you can ask me whatever questions you want."

Makoto stared at him intensely for a moment. "So, the traditional showdown between detective and gentleman thief, hm? Very well." As she turned to walk away, she gave in to a moment of temptation. She stepped in and adjusted the collar of the button up shirt he was wearing, then let her hand drag down his chest. The air between them was electric and for a split-second Makoto considered pushing further but decided against it. The longer she lingered, the more likely it was that Ren would deliver a devastating counter. She quickly found out that temptation was a cruel mistress. The instant before she pulled away, Ren caught her hand in his.

Subconsciously, her fingers curled around his own. It would be so easy to just lean into it. The way Ren ever so gently held her hand was almost enchanting. The respect and admiration he had for her was clear in both his gaze and his touch. Regretfully, she broke away and left before her resolve failed.

When a dumbfounded Ren had made his way back to Ann, she laughed at him. "What's the matter, Ren? You can dish it out, but you can't take it?"

Ren absentmindedly scratched the part of his chest that Makoto had touched. It felt... almost hot, in a way. "She won this round..." He said absentmindedly.

However, the next round would be at Leblanc, what was effectively his home turf. It was time to turn the tables.

If Yukari Takeba thought her life was weird before Ren had awakened to a Persona, today had definitely blown that out of the water. Because she was talking to a cat who insisted that they were not a cat.

For a moment she wondered how Morgana and Koromaru would've gotten along.

Morgana had interrupted her morning jog and insisted on talking to her. He wouldn't say what about until they'd sat down on a park bench. "What's this about, Morgana?"

Morgana looked at the ground, his ears flattened against his head. "It's just... I'm starting to feel useless. Ren and the others are picking up on everything so quickly, and you do everything I do but so much better. Then there's my memories..."

Yukari sighed. "You know, you remind me a lot of a friend of mine. His name's Junpei. He went through a similar crisis that you are." She settled in for the long haul. This was going to take more than a few minutes to explain. "So, Junpei was more or less the Ryuji of our group. Lovable idiot, easy to make fun of, specialized in physical attacks. Because he could see all the things that our Makoto could do, he quickly became jealous of him. Especially once Mitsuru and Akihiko were able to join us on the frontline."

"What happened to him?" Morgana asked.

"He figured it out. It took some time, some tears, and some heartbreak." Yukari smiled as she remembered how Junpei's love and care for Chidori had somehow brought her back from the dead, albeit without her memories. That reminded her, hadn't they finally decided to get married? She needed to check on that. "But he found his place on the team. That place just happened to be slashing his way through about half of Nyx's forms."

"So... your guy that reminds you of how I feel basically beat half of the crap out of the concept of death?" Morgana asked.

"Yep." Yukari confirmed. "I'm pretty sure it'll be the same with you. It might not be smacking the big bad around, but you'll find your niche."

Morgana nodded. That assuaged his concerns enough for him to be comfortable again. "Okay, thank you for sharing, Yukari."

"There's one more thing, Morgana. It's entirely possible that the team may find someone else who can navigate better than you. It would probably be best for team cohesion if you start mentally preparing yourself for that now."

He nodded wordlessly, then hopped off the bench and left. He began to slowly walk back to Leblanc and think things through.

Ann was slowly getting used to communicating with Carmen. When you took it down to brass tacks, it was like having another version of herself to talk things over with. If said other version happened to be the fictional character from a classic opera that was the origin of the term femme fatale.

Her and Ren had split up. He was trying to learn what he could about Madarame while she was trying to get whatever information she could Yusuke.

Ann quickly realized that she wasn't every good at this. This required an ability to read people that she simply did not... wait a second.

Carmen, I need you.

She arose from Ann's soul immediately. "Ah, I see. You haven't learned how to see what lies behind the persona that people present to the world."

Ann's eye twitched. Ren's smart mouth was enough already, she didn't need her own Persona making puns. Yusuke noticed the tic and questioned her. "Did I say something to offend you?"

"Assure him, then redirect. Ask him about the painting to your right. He glossed over it, and had a sour look on his face when his gaze passed over it."

"Oh no, I just had something in my eye. But I really do appreciate your concern." She smiled softly. Even if she wasn't attracted to the vast majority of males, she knew that most decent men hated to see a cute girl with a sad face. "What can you tell me about this painting, Kitagawa-kun?"

"Very good, apprentie. Now keep your eyes on him. Look for his reactions. If he is indeed attracted to women, he will mistake your scrutiny for interest."

Ann managed to keep a pleasant smile on her face. But I'm not-

"It matters not. Perception is all that matters. Now, what do you perceive?"

Yusuke looked at the painting with disgust. But why? It was one of Madarame's recent works, just as good as any other. "There are much better paintings here, Takamaki-san."

A plan began to take shape in Ann's mind. "Maybe, but I like this one."

Yusuke bluescreened. "Y-you do?"

She could hear Carmen's laughter in her head. "Oh, you can be downright devious when you want to be."

Ann knew she had to choose her words carefully. They already had intel on Madarame thanks to the Shadow of one of his former students they had encountered in Mementos. But they needed proof. "Yeah, I do. But there's something I just can't put my finger on. Now, I know I don't have much of an eye for art, but there's something off about this piece compared to Madarame's older pieces. Why do you think that is?"

As she observed him, it was clear he was panicking. He was good at hiding it, but there was definitely something wrong here. "I'm honored that you would say such things, Takamaki-san."

"You are?" Ann asked, "Why is that?"

Yusuke looked into her eyes and only saw a pretty girl willing to listen to his woes. He looked around to make sure that no one else would overhear. "Because it is my painting, but Madarame... "

"He's taking the credit?" Ann prompted.

After a moment of struggle, Yusuke nodded sorrowfully. "Yes. This is why I hoped you would agree to be the model for my next art piece. If I can create a work equal to the Sayuri then perhaps he will relent and let my name be the one lauded..."

Even Ann knew the Sayuri. It was the painting that started Madarame's meteoric rise in the art world. And now Yusuke wanted to attempt to equal that? How?

"... Even if if kills me." Yusuke finished ominously.

Sensing Ann's distress, Carmen stepped in. "Be still. Remember that he needs you and not the other way around. If he makes a certain request that you are dreading, refuse. He cannot afford to lose your cooperation; you have all the power here. It is nothing like it was with that dreadful man."

"I'll be your model on one condition, Kitagawa-kun." Ann said, "I will not model nude. That's not up for discussion."

Yusuke frowned. "But..." He trailed off before shaking his head, "Would you wear a yukata, then? I believe that will give me the inspiration I need."

"I can do that. Looking forward to working with you... Yusuke."

As she left to go catch up with Ren, Carmen contacted her one final time. "Masterfully done, apprentie. While you did need more prompting than I would like, that boy has divulged his darkest secrets to you for the mere pittance of a smile and chance to render a depiction of your beauty upon his canvas."

She met Ren outside. "Well, what did you find out?" She asked.

"He has a Palace, and I think I know where it is in reality." Ren said, "Couldn't find any proof of the alleged crimes though."

Ann laughed. "I did. There's plagiarism happening. I got Yusuke to tell me himself."

Ren raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"Would you believe me if I told you that my Persona gave me a crash course in how to manipulate people?"

Ren took out his phone and called his sister. "Hey, Yukari. Quick question. Since when can our Personas talk with us?"

"Oh yeah. That's a thing. You get used to it."

When Ren had told Sojiro what he needed, he had expected some form of resistance. Instead, the old man had agreed pretty damn near instantly. It was simple. The afternoon after school let out was classically the slowest time for business at Leblanc, so it didn't matter if it closed for an hour or two.

The plan was put in place. When Makoto arrived, Sojiro would step out and he would flip the sign to closed, that way they could have some privacy for their teenage romantics, as Sojiro had eloquently put it.

This showdown had another purpose. Ren needed to figure out why Makoto had taken it upon herself to investigate him and the others. Clearly, she had been asked to do so by the principal, but something didn't add up. For better or worse, Makoto wore her heart on her sleeve. She would never have been openly flirtatious with him if she regarded him as an adversary to be brought to heel.

Ren's planning was interrupted not by Makoto's arrival, but by a wave of memory and emotion. That fleeting moment that he shared with her yesterday still haunted him. For those few seconds where their hands met it seemed like all was right with the world and that nothing could ruin that peace.

The bell on the front door rang as it opened, shaking him from his reverie. Standing there was Makoto. Wordlessly, she entered the café and took a seat in front of him. Sojiro executed the plan flawlessly, making his excuses and leaving, flipping the sign after the door was closed.

He held out a cup of coffee for her to take. She did so, causing metaphorical lightning to jump between them as their fingers brushed. Just the barest of touches, yet it set both of their hearts ablaze. She raised the cup to her mouth and took a sip. "Perfect as always, Amamiya-san." He didn't say anything, he just waited for her to speak. It was necessary for this conversation for her to believe she was in control.

"Why do you wear glasses?"

Well, that was a loaded question. "Fashion, mostly."

He could tell that Makoto was unsatisfied with that answer. That adorable pout that was on her face for a fraction of a second proved that well enough. She pivoted topics, undoubtedly an attempt to confuse him. "So, these so-called Phantom Thieves. What's your take?"

"They took down Kamoshida, they've got my full support." Ren said.

Makoto leaned in. "You're talking as if they're real."

"Isn't that why you're here? Why were you stalking me?" Ren said, "It's pretty easy to assume that I'm at least a person of interest in the case of Kamoshida. I was the only student since Ryuji to stand up to him, and he broke Ryuji's leg for it. And you know what Kamoshida did to me." At her sharp intake of breath, he continued. "Also, we had an... altercation the day the calling card was posted."

"What happened then?" Makoto asked.

"He accused me of posting the calling card." Ren said.

Makoto narrowed her eyes. "Did you?"

"Nope." That certainly wasn't a lie. Morgana had put them up. Somehow.

Makoto leaned back and frowned. She was clearly ordering the facts as she knew them in her head. It was Ren's time to strike. "What is justice to you, Niijima-san?"

"Right and wrong." She answered, almost automatically. "Following the law is good and should be done the vast majority of the time, but when the law protects evildoers and corruption, it needs to be rooted out."

Ren hid his surprise by raking a hand through his hair. Makoto's sense of justice perfectly lined up with his own. "So, you would agree that what the Phantom Thieves did to Kamoshida needed to be done?"

Makoto nodded curtly. "Yes. Kamoshida's..." Her eyebrows scrunched up as she searched her vocabulary for a word that could accurately describe her feelings toward the ex-gym teacher's criminal acts, "Violations needed to be stopped. The adults that were supposed to protect us did nothing but protect him." She hung her head. "I should have found a way to do more. I must sound like some kind of hypocrite, going on about justice while having done nothing to stop Kamoshida."

Ren decided to take a chance and reached across the counter to hold Makoto's hand. "You're not a hypocrite."

Makoto laughed at that. "Takamaki seems to think so."

"She's also very close to the entire situation due to Shiho and herself being his prime targets." Ren pointed out. "Niijima-san, if I thought that you didn't believe in justice, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

She lifted her hand, silently telling Ren that the moment had passed. He obliged her without complaint. "Do you believe that the Phantom Thieves are on the side of justice?" She asked.

"Yes." Ren said. "Without a doubt."

Makoto tilted her head "But how can you be so sure?" She realized a moment later that there was only one way he could give that answer with such conviction. "Oh my God."

"So, what now, detective?" Ren said with a grin, "Going to turn me in?"

"If you don't wipe that grin off your face I might." Makoto said with a smile. "No, I'm not going to turn you in. I've grown much too fond of you to betray you in such a manner." She finished off her coffee.

"Wait, so you're going to defy Kobayakawa? Doesn't that mean you're basically flushing your college recommendation letter down the toilet?" Ren asked.

"Yes." Makoto confirmed. "The... easy thing to do would be to turn you in. Yes, I'd secure my future, but I would also shatter my heart into a million pieces." Her voice cracked but she kept talking. It was like a train wreck, there was no stopping it. "It wouldn't matter what success that I achieve, because if I had to sacrifice my beliefs, my ideals, and my heart to get there... I know I could never forgive myself." She looked Ren dead in the eyes, "I will not choose that path. Like my father before me, I will choose the path of strife. No matter the risk, cost, or danger -even if that cost is my own life- I will hold my justice high."

Ren extended his hand for a handshake. "Welcome to the Phantom Thieves."

Makoto took his hand and shook it. "It might be some time until we actually tell... it is Sakamoto and Takamaki, yes?"

Ren nodded. "My cat too."

"Pardon?"

"It'll make sense eventually."

"I need to at least maintain the illusion that I'm investigating you, probably for a month... maybe month and a half. So it would be best if we keep up me following you as our... little game."

"Sounds good to me. Don't forget to tail the others too." Ren added.

"Are going to tell them that I'm joining?"

"Nope." Ren said.

"Why?"

Ren laughed. "Because it'll be funny."

Makoto shook her head at him indulgently, "You absolute dork."

A comfortable silence descended, until Makoto broke it. "So where does that leave... us?" When Ren just stared at her, she blushed. "I'm sorry, this is my first time... ah..."

"Preaching to the choir, sister." Ren quipped. "Let's keep things the way they are for now. I think we're both enjoying the flirtation of the cat and mouse routine."

Makoto acted on an impulse and reached out, catching Ren's chin in her hand. "Oh, you don't know how true that is, Amamiya-san." It was true, this whole situation was allowing Makoto to experiment with how she attempted to twist him around her finger, even as Ren tried to do the same to her. "You make me feel seen. Wanted. And I am going to fight for that. Even if it sets the world against me." She let her hand fall away and began to walk out. "Be seeing you, my darling thief."

"Only if you catch me, detective."

As soon as she left, Ren blushed and facedesked on the counter. "WHY ARE WE LIKE THIS?" He cringed. "Detective? Darling thief? Whyyyyyyyyy?"

Unbeknownst to him, Makoto was having a similar crisis. "Darling thief? Why did I say that? Why?" She blushed, "Oh my God, when I said he'll make me worse I didn't mean puns and corny flirting!"

The news that their Personas might communicate with them was news to both Ryuji and Morgana. They both tried, but Morgana was unsuccessful beyond a trite actions speak louder than words. Ryuji made contact with Captain Kidd, but he quickly discovered that Kidd wasn't much of a talker.

Regardless, it was time to start the infiltration of Madarame's Palace. Ren had already confirmed he had one. Ann had a burst of inspiration that his shack that he shared with his students -only Yusuke at the moment- was the location. All that was left was what he saw the Palace as.

It took all of two minutes for Morgana to suggest a museum. With that, they were in.

"Alright, it's showtime!" Ren said.

"You really going to say that every time, Joker?" Ryuji asked.

"The art of the catchphrase is a sacred responsibility." Ren snarked.

"That's enough of that." Ann said. "Let's blow through this, I'm worried about Kitagawa-kun. I don't think he's eating well."

They began the infiltration...

... only to run into a wall. Of lasers.

Ren activated his Third Eye. "There's no way to deactivate them from here. We're stuck. But it looks like there's also some sort of external control..."

Morgana waited. He wanted to wait and see if they figured it out.

"I got it!" Ryuji yelled. "There must be something in the real world that is connected to all of this! Panther, did you see anything in there while you were doing your thing?"

Ann nodded. It had been three days since the art gallery and she'd already modeled for Yusuke once. "Yeah, there was a door with a big padlock on it."

"I can handle that." Morgana said, "You'll just have to sneak me in there."

"So, me and Skull will wait in the Palace the next time we come and blitz our way to the controls. Seems simple enough." Ren said. "Alright, that's it for today."

They returned to the real world for now. The extent of Madarame's abuses had been made clear to them. It wasn't just plagiarism. Madarame was effectively a figurative artistic vampire. He forced his students to cede all their work to him until their artistic drive was exhausted.

This could not be allowed to stand.

The very next day, they put their stratagem into play. As she walked up to Madarame's residence, Ann was contacted by Carmen. "This will be your greatest test yet, apprentie. Do you need me?"

Ann shook her head, not that her Persona could see it. No, Carmen. I can't rely on you all the time.

She could feel her Persona's approval. "Very good. You are becoming more confident in yourself and the power you wield. I speak not of my magic, but of your magic as a woman. Keep that confidence close, and you will find victory."

She knocked and was greeted by Yusuke. As soon as the boy's back was turned, Morgana hopped out of her bag and silently proceeded to the locked door. She then received a text from Ren. A single word.

Showtime.

That was the signal. Ren and Ryuji were in place. Now all that was left was for Morgana to unlock the door and give his cue once it was open and Madarame was home.

The plan worked almost perfectly. Morgana meowed loudly. Well, to Ann he said, "Mission complete."

"How did a cat get in here?" Yusuke asked. He got up and soon found himself facing down Morgana at the now unlocked door. He looked at the padlock and back to Morgana. "How did a cat do this?"

"Yusuke, I'm home!" Madarame called out.

It was now or never. Ann grabbed Yusuke by the arm and dragged him inside the room, just as Madarame turned the corner. Morgana scampered in after them. The plan had been to escape into the Metaverse, but with Madarame and Yusuke there, that was impossible.

Madarame stormed in and turned on a light. "Get out of there this instant!"

He went ignored, because the overhead lamps shed light on more sins of Madarame. The room was full of copies of the Sayuri.

Yusuke shook his head, "Sensei, what is this? I thought the Sayuri was stolen!"

"Ah, well you see-"

"Wait." Yusuke cut him off, "These aren't authentic, are they? They're counterfeit!"

"One more word." Madarame growled. "One more word, and you're out on the street with nothing but the clothes on your back." He turned his ire on Ann. "If you are not gone by the time I return to lock this door, I will file harassment charges. You'd be wise to leave now." He turned and left.

"I'm sorry, Ann. I thought..." Yusuke started to say.

"That you could change him. Make him how he used to be before all of this?" She prompted.

He nodded glumly. "It doesn't matter now."

"What if you still could?"

He looked at her in confusion. "How?"

She took a hold of his arm and pulled out her phone. "There won't be a lot you understand right away. I just need you to trust me." She opened up the Meta-Nav and activated it.

Beginning Navigation...

"What in the world?" Yusuke said. "Where are we?" He turned to look at Ann at the others. "What are you wearing? And is that a monster cat?"

"I am not a cat!" Morgana snapped. "I am Morgana!"

Bringing Yusuke had not been discussed before, but Ren decided to give Ann the benefit of the doubt. "You're in Madarame's mind. Specifically, what's called a Palace. We're trying to make our way through to where his Treasure is. If we can steal that, then we change his heart."

Yusuke nodded, his confusion rapidly vanishing, "I see, and Ann brought me here because..."

"Because you said you wanted him to change back to how he was before he got so greedy." Ann said.

"Alright! That settles it!" Ryuji clapped Yusuke across the back. "Welcome to the Phantom Thieves!"

Ren had to hide his smile. He had basically done exactly that with Makoto, the others just didn't know yet. "Okay, we've got to move. With Yusuke here and unprotected, it's only a matter of time until-"

At that moment, several Shadows materialized and surrounded them. "Speak of the devil and he shall appear." Yusuke mused.

"Oh, you don't know how true that is, Yusuke."

The group whirled around to find themselves face-to-face with Madarame, dressed in a golden robe reminiscent of a shogun. "I see. This is the distorted form that Sensei takes in this world." Yusuke said with disgust. "Then if this attire is how you see yourself, and this museum is how you see your residence... then your public persona is just one big lie, isn't it?"

"Of course, you foolish boy!" Madarame said, "What person of my renown would live in those rags and that shack! I have another home under a mistress's name."

"Disgusting." Ren spat.

"The original Sayuri was stolen. Everyone knows that." Yusuke said, anger beginning to marr his face and voice as the ugly truth behind his mentor became undeniable. "Then why do you have the real painting? And why make copies?"

"Yusuke, Yusuke, you should know better than anyone that art is about perception." Madarame taunted before laughing.

A flash of inspiration from Carmen clued in Ann. "It's a half-truth, he stole it from the original artist!"

Madarame raised an eyebrow. 'I'm impressed, girl. No one but me knows that, so that had to be a leap of intuition. Yes, I stole the painting and altered it. The foolish woman who painted it was a prodigy when it came to her ability as an artist but had no awareness of what makes art sell. I fixed that after I stole it... well, you can't really steal from a dead woman." He smirked, "And now that it has a reputation, I can sell copies to wealthy private collectors for exorbitant amounts, because I've miraculously found the real Sayuri, but it can't go public..."

"What about all the kids you'd teach?" Ryuji snapped.

"Oh, that's simple. I'd build them up, nurture them, bring them as close to my abilities as was possible. Then I would claim all their work as mine. It's not like I took any of them in out of the goodness of my heart! It was only to make use of their talents for my gain! And if they try to revolt... Well, they can try to make something of themselves in the art world, but with the opinion of the renowned Ichiryusai Madarame holding them down?"

Yusuke found his voice. "You... You are unforgiveable! You aren't the man who raised me, who rushed me to the hospital on a bicycle because I had a fever that wouldn't break! You aren't the man who taught me to how to create beauty from nothing with ink and paint! You are none of those things, because that man would never commit your litany of crimes against the sanctity of art! I don't care who you are! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!"

"Enough of this!" Madarame said, "Men, dispose of these thieves!"

Yusuke laughed, almost seeming to teeter on the edge of sanity. "I wanted to believe it wasn't true. I clouded my own vision out of a desperate, vain hope. The scales have fallen from my eyes, and I will face your true self, Madarame. I will take you down!"

Have you finally come to your senses?

Yusuke clutched his head and fell to his knees. His entire existence was pain.

How foolishly you averted your eyes from the truth. A deplorable imitation indeed. Best you part with that aspect of yourself!

Yusuke groaned under the weight of his burden and began to claw at the ground. So strong was his fervor that he left blood in the furrows he left behind.

Let us now forge a contract... I am thou, thou art I. The world is filled with both beauty and vice! It is time you teach people which is which!

Yusuke rose to his feet with blood dripping from his fingers, his trial by fire concluded in his favor. "Very well." He raised a hand to his face, taking hold of the stylized fox mask he now wore. With little effort he ripped it off. "Come, Goemon!" A pillar of azure fire erupted around him, a signal of the awakening of his Persona. He stamped his foot, and the fire parted. "A breathtaking sight. Imitations they may be, but together they make a fine spectacle! Though the flowers of evil blossom, be it known. Abominations are fated to perish!"

"How many dreams did you trample upon?" He asked. "How many lives did you exchange for riches?" Yusuke clenched his fist, "No matter what it takes, I will bring you to justice!"

"Yusuke, are you alright?" Ren asked.

"I am better than alright!" He said, a crazed smile gracing his face, "I am ready."

His Persona let out a blast of ice, freezing the Shadows surrounding the Phantom Thieves solid. A katana materialized in Yusuke's hand. He took a classical Iaijitsu stance. "Hm, an elegant weapon." He drew, and with lightning speed sliced up all the Shadows around him before resheathing his blade. An instant later, the Shadows were all cut in two. "For a more civilized age."

"Where are my guards! Kill them all!" Madarame demanded. More Shadows appeared and attacked Yusuke. He slipped the katana into his belt and drew an assault rifle. He dispatched the Shadows with accurate bursts that were undoubtedly drawn from fiction and not personal experience.

"We've got a hole! Let's go!" Ren said. They all ran for the exit as fast as their legs would carry them.

Yusuke walked back into Madarame's dwelling.

"Are you done with your temper tantrum, boy?" Madarame asked.

Yusuke had a very many unkind things that he wanted to say to the man. However, Ann and the others had told him to save that for the version of Madarame in the Palace. "I walked Ann to the train station." He said simply.

"Forget about that whore." Madarame said. "I threw out the canvas you had started to waste on her. Focus on your actual work."

"Yes, Sensei. I'll do that."

Yes, Yusuke Kitagawa would focus on his actual work. His work as a Phantom Thief. He would dive into the darkest recesses of the heart of Ichiryusai Madarame and excise the malaise that had claimed his teacher. Justice would demand that he be punished for his crimes. Yusuke knew that was unavoidable.

He had never been religious before, but yet as he prepared for bed, he knelt to pray. He prayed to whatever gods that were listening, asking for mercy for the version of Madarame that Yusuke knew as his mentor. And prayed that the gods would guide his blade in wiping out the corruption that had stained his soul.

A/N: Once again, Kobayakawa proves exactly how useless and clueless he is. In trying to root out the Phantom Thieves, he somehow blunders his way into ordering the one person in the entirety of Shujin Academy who will never betray Ren Amamiya to investigate his involvment with the Kamoshida case.

Yes, I did have Makoto have a crisis of faith for a time. You can't be told to investigate someone you hold dear without a little angst. Through this we gain some insight on her relationship with her father, why exactly she's so afraid of the dark, and a certain superhero show and character that she's a fan of. Surely this will never be brought up again.

It will.

The investigation into Madarame goes significantly better thanks to Ann unlocking the ability to talk to Carmen. I see their relationship as mentor and student, with Carmen helping Ann to reclaim her own power and understand her worth in the wake of Kamoshida... being Kamoshida.

In defense of my pacing, I do not like fanfics that force the main couple to wait to the very end to get together. That's not interesting to me. I would rather read a fic where they get together sooner, and focus is put on how they naviagate the troubles of the plot together.

Ren and Makoto are dorks in love for the first time in their lives. They're going to be corny, and they will be cringe. My darling thief indeed.

The rest of the chapter is pretty by the numbers. Yusuke awakens, and the battle with Madarame is looming. Next time.