Chapter 9: A Feudal Kingdom?
"Urgh… Are we finally alone yet?" Oracle asks in a slight daze as King helps her up.
"I think so." Erina replies as everyone picks themselves off the floor. While Mona lets himself fall down from the bell above them. "That was a way bigger commotion than I expected."
"Why did they have to throw me onto the bell?" Mona asks in a daze as Joker picks him up, letting Mona rest on his shoulder.
"Hey… we took down a tyrant. Can't blame the little guys for celebrating like that." Skull remarks, rolling his neck.
"Yeah… But I think some of us did not fare so well…" Guernica points out, looking at Toshiro and Devil, who were stopping themselves from throwing up. How she managed to recover during that they did not know.
"Urgh… I feel worse than drinking hard at Lala-chan's bar…" Devil remarks as Fortune rubs her back.
"I told them I wasn't a Phantom Thief… but they kept… tossing me… so sick…" Toshiro remarks as Medic tends to him, shaking her head in amusement.
"I think it's time we left." Gecko remarks, dusting his hat. "We've done what we need to do. It's time we returned back to our own world."
"Indeed. Farewells are never easy, but we shouldn't pass up the opportunity to escape." Fox comments, giving his tail a dust.
"It's a shame we didn't find out how this affects reality, but there are times you can win everything." Crow comments, straightening his cape out. "Now then, where is that door?"
"It's over here." Queen calls over, with her and Joker standing near a familiar-looking door. "And it looks just like the one that brought us here."
"Seriously? It's based on the door to my Café?" Boss asks, shaking his head. "What next?"
"But doesn't that mean home is on the other side?" King asks with hopeful eyes.
"It just might. And that's an exciting thought, isn't it?" Noir replies with a smile. While everyone was relieved that they had found the door to take them back, Toshiro was not.
"Can I… Is it really wise for me to go back?" He suddenly asks, drawing everyone's attention.
"Toshiro-kun. Do not let her words hold you back." Sensei remarks, folding his arms. "I know you are not a criminal. Whatever 'crime' she claims you have committed is nothing but a final insult towards you." Toshiro looks away, not sure what to reply, as the doubt swirls in his mind.
"You know, I was in the same boat as you once. I also had a very bad case of amnesia." Mona suddenly remarks, drawing Toshiro's attention. "I didn't know who I was or why I existed… I couldn't remember anything. I definitely know how much it can weigh you down. But…" He turns to look at Joker and the others with a smile. "Thanks to Joker and the others, I was able to move past that and forge my own identity. And you can do the same thing too!"
"That's right." Joker confirms, walking forward. "No matter what comes next, we won't abandon you. We're by your side no matter what."
"And if it turns out you're also a crooked politician, we can just beat it right out of you." Skull adds, folding his arms while Sensei shakes his head in amusement.
"I could lend as well, you know." Guernica adds, cracking her knuckles. While Toshiro gives off a slight chuckle at them.
"Well, I hope it doesn't come to that. I've seen what all you can do. Persona user or not. Thanks, everyone. I suppose I can hold my whining down until we are home. Speaking of…" Toshiro replies before looking to the door. "Well, shall we head home?"
"Let's." Joker replies, walking to the door as Erina watches on with a sad smile. She knew this was coming, but it still hurt to know they wouldn't see each other for a long time. If ever. Joker grabs the door handle, gently pulling the door open as the bell lets out a soft jingle. Filling the room with a golden light as everyone felt themselves moving. But when the light vanished, they found themselves in an alleyway surrounded by wooden buildings from Edo-era Japan.
And definitely NOT the cosy, warm interior of Leblanc.
"Uhm… Was that supposed to happen?" Devil asks as everyone looks around in confusion. The Thieves were still in their Thief attire, and Mona was not in his normal cat form.
"Something tells me no." Gecko remarks, pulling his hat down.
"Whe—Where are we?!" Oracle asks, watching as hat people dressed in Edo-period clothes and straw hats walk or run past on the main street. Seemingly not seeing the team appear out of thin air.
"Hmm… How fascinating…" Fox comments, admiring the building around them. "The scenery reminds me of the Keio-era but with a hint of the Genroku-era's splendour and a dash of Edo. Quite the collage."
"Now's not the time Fox." Queen comments while shaking her head. "Focus on the problem at hand."
"Like how we went from Renaissance France to Feudal Japan?" Teach asks with a frown. "If I had known this was happening, I would have studied history more."
"Haha…I suppose this isn't the world you were talking about?" Erina asks awkwardly.
"That's right." Medic replies. "How we went from one timeline to another, I don't… Hold up! Erina!?" She asks as the penny drops, with everyone else sharing her shock.
"Did you get dragged here with us?" Spring asks with worry in her voice.
"Well… After I saw you guys off, I went and had a small peak through the door… And I found myself coming along for the ride…" Erina admits with an awkward smile. "I had every intention of going back, but…." She turns around to the empty alleyway. "The door's not there…"
"Well… That's awkward…" Outlaw says out loud.
"B-But that door was supposed to take us home, right?" Toshiro asks with slight panic in his voice. "But somehow, we're gone from a strange world resembling Europe to a town that looks right out of Bakumatsu-era Japan? If there are any more inexplicable occurrences, it might fry my brain." Before anyone could comment on that, a robotic jingle echoes through the area, startling the group.
"What was that?" Fortune asks as everyone glances at the street. Noticing how all the hat people were now looking at the giant stone castle with a giant TV Screen on it. Displaying a news real with what looked to be a Shinsengumi Legionnaire giving a report.
"Now we are pleased to announce our daily bulletin on Lord Yoshiki. Today, just like every day, Lord Yoshiki bestows his boundless love on us. Not a drop of love is spared in preparations for his lovely meet and greet, and an air of harmony spreads…"
And it was at that moment that Toshiro's brain short-circuited, and his eyes turned white.
"Woah… he actually broke down…" Panther comments with surprise.
"I've never seen someone short-circuit before!" Noir comments with awe.
"I don't blame him. What was that all about?" Athena asks, shaking her head. "And who is this, Yoshiki?" She casts a look at Sensei, seeing the narrow gaze he held on the screens. It was clear to her that he knew, but if this was anything like Marie, then it was something Toshiro needed to remember.
"Why am I getting the feeling that these places are connected?" Queen asks while shaking her head. Joker shoots Fortune a look, remembering the tarot cards she read before the final fight with Marie. Looks like she was right again.
"Either way, we need information." Joker speaks up. "Let's start by finding out—"
"P-Please stop!" A woman's voice echoes from not too far away, grabbing the Thieves' attention. Where they see a woman dressed in a white kimono with flower patterns being confronted by a squad of Legionnaires.
"Hey, wrench! You dare defy Lord Yoshiki!?" One of the troopers asks in anger.
"Like I said, I haven't done anything!" The woman pleads, but the brute slams a fist down.
"Lies! Do you think we are fools!?" It shouts as two troopers grab a hold of her arms.
"Please let go of me! I didn't do anything…" She pleads, but the Legionnaires don't listen. Fully intending on dragging her back to the castle.
"Hey! What are you doing!?" Erina shouts, rushing out into the street while the Thieves collectively facepalm. Her heart was in the right place, but the execution was poor.
"Huh? Who the hell are you?" One of the Legionnaires asks with indifference. "Just stay out of this!" Before one of them glances to the alleyway and spies Toshiro leaning out.
"Hmm? That face… Isn't that Toshiro Kasukabe?"
"Uh oh…." Oracle quietly quips, silently summoning Al Azif.
"That's him! The notorious criminal who opposes Lord Yoshiki! Seize him!" The Legionnaires let go of the woman as they turn to face the Thieves as they all exit the Alleyway, ready for a fight.
"So, going from getting married to being arrested, huh? You have the worst luck." Guernica quips to Toshiro.
"I am starting to believe so as well…" Toshiro remarks, quickly hiding behind a box of hay.
"Surround them and capture them! Bring them all to Lord Yoshiki at once!" The lead Legionnaire commands as three troopers open fire at them. The drummer boosts the brute's speed as it charges forward towards Outlaw, slamming its fist right into him and sending him flying and almost knocking him out in one blow.
The troopers see the down Outlaw and, thinking he is weak, open fire at him, only for their shots to bounce off. As for the brute, it found itself right in the middle of the Thieves' formation before getting hit in the head by a Great Partisan by Erina, followed quickly by a Zionga from Skull. With the brute taken care of, Spring rushes over to Outlaw's side, healing him with a Diarama even as the four troopers focus fire on her.
"Agilao!" Panther shouts, enveloping three of the Legionnaires in fire as the fourth one watches in horror. Before, it, too, was swept away by a blast of wind from Mona. But even as they took out this squad, five more seemingly appeared from nowhere on either end of the main street.
"This is turning into the same situation as last time!" Shadow comments with a frown.
"How did they even get here so fast!?" Fox asks, sending a flurry of bullets down the street at the charging foes. At the rate this was heading towards, they would continue to fight until they all fell from exhaustion!
"Everyone, this way!" The woman from before calls out to them from the alleyway they arrived in. "Please, follow me!"
"Everyone! Go!" Joker shouts, firing his gun as everyone rushes for the alleyway. With him, Queen and Devil gave covering fire as they slowly backed into the alley, Joker being the last one in. The Legionnaires chase after them but quickly find themselves lost in the maze of twists and turns.
Losing track of the Thieves and their two targets.
"We made it… We'll be safe here." The woman tells the group as they arrive outside a building. Those without personas were taking hard breaths of air, while those with personas were breathing slightly. Toshiro himself was being carried by Gecko before being dropped to the floor unceremoniously.
"You need to work out more." Gecko remarks as Toshiro pushes himself up.
"Once again, I run another marathon of a sprint…" Medic replies, glancing at Boss. "I am so envious of you right now." Boss gives a chuckle at the remarks as Sensei stretches his back out. Before noticing what the building in front of them really was.
"Well… This is a surprise…" He remarks, pulling on his fedora. The others look at him, confused, before looking at the building proper. Before they all gasp in shock once more.
"What the hell!? My Café!? AGAIN!?" Boss asks in shock as the Thieves are once more standing outside Leblanc.
"Who would have imagined another one was here?" Spring asks, shaking her head. While the woman looks at them with a tilted head.
"Oh. Do you know this place well?" She asks as everyone sweat-drops at the question.
"You have no idea…" Skull replies with a slump.
"I wonder…could our cognition have something to do with this?" Queen asks, motioning to the café.
"It's possible. Leblanc has always been a safe haven for us." Joker agrees.
"But that still doesn't explain why it's here in the first place." Oracle comments, shaking her head. While Toshiro just stares at the café with a faraway expression in his eyes.
"What's wrong? Brain melt again?" King asks, patting him on the side.
"N-No, I'm alright. But thank you, King." Toshiro replies, giving him a smile. "I'm just baffled, really, but… There's something very familiar about this coffee shop… Perhaps even nostalgic." Boss, Joker and Shadow raise their eyebrows at him. They KNOW that he is a daily regular to Leblanc. Was that also something he forgot? "My mind must be playing tricks on me. Please forget it."
"In that case, please come inside." The woman asks gently, opening the door. Thanking the hospitality, the team enter the door to find, once again, a perfect copy of Leblanc inside.
"It even looks like Leblanc as well…" Haru comments as they enter. The woman they saved bows to them, not even startled by how they suddenly changed clothes.
"First, allow me to thank you for saving me." She says with gratitude in her voice. "My name is Yuki. I am the proprietress of this teahouse."
"Sounds like you have competition, Sojiro." Akechi remarks with a grin.
"Keep that up, and you'll be washing dishes the next time you're here, Goro." Sojiro snarks back, walking around the bar and grabbing an apron. "Hope you don't mind Yuki."
"Not at all. Please make yourself at home." Yuki replies with a smile. All the while, Yoshida had his eyes closed in thought. "And forgive me if I'm being rude, but none of you look to be from around here… Oh, and your manner of dress has changed as well."
"Right…. We have a lot to explain about." Morgana quips, jumping on the table. "Might as well start from the beginning…."
"Um…so in other words…" Yuki states with slight hesitation. "You come from a far-off land where you engage in 'phantom-thievery', and now you are looking for a way to return home."
"Yes, that's right." Ren replies. "I know that it sounds crazy, but it is the truth."
"I should also add that I'm a bit of an exception." Toshiro suddenly points out. Yuki turns to look at him before gasping in shock. "Hm? Is something the matter?"
"No, I just feel as though I've seen your face somewhere before…" Yuki replies with a sad frown. While Toshiro sighs in resignation.
"Well, I probably shouldn't be saying this, but I'm supposedly a wanted criminal. Perhaps you've seen me from the posters throughout the town?" Yuki looks away, not meeting Toshiro's eyes.
"Oh, yes, that must be it. I never thought I'd see you in person. In that case…" She takes a deep breath, looking at him with determination. "You never know where Yoshiki's Eyes may be, so for now, please take this." She takes out a large cloth before tying it around Toshiro's head.
"Wow. That's a perfect look for you, Toshiro." Tao snarks with a grin as Futaba gives out her signature chuckle.
"She's right! It looks good on you, pops!" Futaba remarks, placing the model of the Edelweiss on the bar. Not seeing how the light seemed to flicker as though it was laughing.
"Yep, totally suits you! They'll never figure you out now!" Ann agrees with a head nod. But Toshiro was not convinced.
"How is this perfect!? Half my face is still showing!" Toshiro argues as half the café devolves into laughter. "In fact, I look even more like a common thief now!"
"Let's get back on topic for now." Sae interrupts before Toshiro can continue his rant. "Yuki-san, if you do not mind me asking, but who is this Yoshiki?" Yuki sighs to herself as she sits on one of the couches, folding her hands.
"Yoshiki is the general who leads… Now, who controls this country." Yuki reveals, giving a long sigh. "His conduct may very well make him a dictator. Anyone who even slightly defies Yoshiki will be captured by his eyes."
"You said that before, but what are his 'eyes'?" Akechi asks, hand on chin.
"Most likely all those security cameras on the roofs." Kawakami points out. "That, and the ones that seem to be floating in the sky. I caught a glimpse of them as we were running."
"You are correct." Yuki confirms. "He says he uses them for the people's safety, but it's only an excuse for his surveillance."
"Meaning that if Yoshiki finds someone he doesn't like, he'll just throw them in jail, no questions asked?" Ren asks with a trembling hand. Makoto sees this and gently grasps it, calming him down.
"Yes…" Yuki confirms, before looking to the stairs. "Can everyone come downstairs?" At her request, a group of hat-people come downstairs, some of them with fear in their eyes.
"Is that… No, it's not the Rebel Crops, but there are some similarities…" Erina says to herself, seeing the look of fear in their eyes.
"These are citizens of the country who have become victims of Yoshiki's reign." Yuki reveals gently.
"Some of us were falsely accused of crimes… Others had their family taken away…" One of them reveals hitting a very close nerve with the Phantom Thieves. They know that loss better than anyone. "Ever since we lost our homes, Lady Yuki has taken us in and kindly lent us shelter."
"Just like what Boss did for us." Ryuji says quietly as he and the thieves send him a grateful look. One that, Sojiro returns with a warm smile.
"However, my actions had caught the attention of Yoshiki, which is why his men were interrogating me…" Yukie ends with a sad sigh, patting one of the hat people on their… head? Hat? While Toshiro grips his hands in anger.
"More citizens being exploited by a tyrannical ruler… Just like the last world."
"Last time, Marie ended up being your fiancée. Does 'Yoshiki' ring any bells at the moment?" Mona asks, wondering if more of his memories have returned. But Toshiro shakes his head.
"Regrettably, no. But like Marie, I get the feeling that I SHOULD know him, but I can't." Toshiro replies with a sigh. "But, giving enough time here, I am bound to remember. Whether part of me wants to or not."
"By the way, there is one more thing I would like to ask." Erina speaks up to Yuki. "Yuki-san, how do the people here feel about Yoshiki? Despite how badly he is running this place as the tyrant he is, the town still seems to be peaceful."
"Well, that's because…" She begins to answer before a horn interrupts her, drawing her eyes up to the window. "That's! Everyone, look outside!" Turning around, everyone looks out either the window or door as a giant statue of a green Buddha wearing a golden robe on a moving pedestal shaped like a pink lotus floats past.
"Hohoho… I'm pleased to see you all quietly gathered here." The Buddha says, floating through the town, with all of the hat people kowtowing towards him. "Excellent. All citizens who are righteous and happy exemplify a beautiful state of perfect harmony. And thus, unhappy citizens are truly nothing but useless—no, injurious to this country." As he speaks, he leans forward as twenty-four hands emerge from his back. Each one is holding a camera in the palm of their golden hands. "Now tell me, are you all happy?" As one, all the citizens give out a fearful yes as he emits a golden glow.
As for those in the café, they look on with shock.
"Hey… Is that walking statue Yoshiki?" Tao asks, looking towards Yuki.
"Yes. That is him. The General who rules this land." Yuki reveals as all eyes turn back to her. While Yoshida frowns at the voice.
"Ahhh, it brings me such joy to see my citizens display their love for me." Yoshiki speaks, looking around at the kowtowing citizens. "Today, once again, peace reigns in my country once more as it should be."
"Yes, sir! Only possible because of your love, Lord Yoshiki!" A brute agrees while two troopers salute to him.
"Hohoho! You're exactly right. Yes, this is real—"
"L-Lord Yoshiki!" A hat person suddenly speaks up, earning the ire of the guards, only for Yoshiki to stand them down. Motioning for him to speak. "Well, some time ago, my family was given the honour of being selected to join your Labour of Love. But many moons have passed, and they still haven't returned."
"Hey! Watch your mouth! Are you objecting to Lord Yoshiki's methods!?" One of the guards asks in a harsh tone, while another readies its gun.
"O-Of course not! I would never! I-I just… I miss my family…" The hat persona admits with Yoshiki shaking his green metallic head.
"Well, this simply won't do. All citizens in my country are my family. In other words, your family is my family, and I will not let you endure such sorrow." His purple eyes dart about as though he was thinking before grinning to himself. "Oh, I know! How about this? You may also partake in the Labour of Love. That way, you and your family can be together again. Isn't that nice?"
"You'll let me see my family again?" The hat person asks with hope in his eyes.
"Why, of course! I'll make the arrangement immediately." Yoshiki replies with a beaming smile as the hat person thanks him repeatedly with other citizens talking about how compassionate he is. As for those inside the Café, they had other ideas about his 'compassion'.
"As you can see, this is the current state of our country." Yuki tells them as they all back away from the windows. "On the surface, Yoshiki serves as a well-meaning ruler…"
"That surface seems paper thin as is…" Makoto comments, folding her arms.
"For real… just hearin' this 'Labour of Love' shit reminds me of Kamoshida and his 'Training Hall of Love'." Ryuji remarks bitterly. "Wouldn't surprise me if it was just as worse."
"You are right. It is all a false pretence to serve his own ends." Yuki replies. "He claims the cameras are for safety and that he takes people away for protection. However, he only wants to be rid of any potential dissent that threatens his power."
"And this Labour of Love?" Iwai asks, although they already had a feeling about what it was.
"It is exactly as you fear. Although he calls it 'love', people are actually taken to a forced labour camp. Once he takes them, most never return…" The implications of what Yuki was monstrous. If not even just as worse as what Marie was doing. But there was one question on their minds.
"How do you know so much, Yuki-san?" Yusuke asks with a hand on his chin. "Forgive me for saying this, but that seems more than what a humble proprietress would know." Yuki sighs in response, looking away to the floor.
"It's because I myself had to feel from Yoshiki's castle." Yuki reveals, shocking the group. Well, apart from Akechi and Sae, anyway.
"After Lady Yuki learned of Yoshiki's crooked ways, she fled and took us with her." One of the hat people reveals. "But… she could grab so much of us. The rest of us are…"
"And even if you wanted to spread the truth, the people are so enamoured with him that your words will fall on deaf ears." Yoshida remarks with a grim expression. "I know that feeling better than anyone." Yuki nodded slowly at him, knowing he was right.
"In that case, they need to see the truth with their own eyes." Ohya remarks, downing a mug of coffee. "If words don't do anything, let pictures do the talking!"
"But all I can do is hide people here. I have no support to call my own." Yuki replies, sighing to herself. While Erina looks on with a determined look. One that Toshiro recognised.
"He's a dictator who exploits the people—I'll never forgive him! Right?" He says with a knowing look, earning a chuckle out of her.
"Am I that obvious?" She asks with a sweatdrop.
"You do tend to wear your heart on your sleeve." Hifumi remarks. "And we are thinking the same thing."
"But shouldn't we focus on our goal of getting you guys back home?" Erina asks with surprise on her face.
"We appreciate it. But you can't deny that Yoshiki is related to our goal." Mona replies with a grin.
"If this place is like Marie's Kingdom, then the door we need is located inside Yoshiki's castle." Shiho comments, leaning forward.
"Furthermore, we may already be on Yoshiki's wanted list from all his security cameras. Negotiations are non-existent at this point." Makoto remarks.
"Meaning that our only way forward is through Yoshiki." Ren surmises, pushing his fake glasses up. "And that is fine with me."
"Do you all really intend to go against Yoshiki and the Aizen Squad?" Yuki asks with worry on her face.
"Aizen Squad?" Shinya asks, tilting his head.
"I think she's talking about those shadows that look like the Shinsengumi." Tae remarks, sipping her coffee. Yuki nods her head at Tae with a stern expression.
"Yes. They work for Yoshiki and are responsible for keeping the public order. However, all they do is control people through violence and surveillance. And as you have seen, they will rush in if they sense anything amiss in town."
"This will be hard." Sumire remarks. "Our usual method of moving via the roofs won't work with the security cameras keeping watch. Unless you can find some way to deal with them, Futaba."
"Well, if they are spread out through the entire town, it is likely there is more than one surveillance sight. Mostly likely spread out around the town hidden in either masked location or inside bases." Futaba replies before getting an impish grin. "But if I can hack into one of them, I should be able to bring down the entire network."
"Then our next step is to find these sites and shut them down." Chihaya remarks, turning to Yuki. "Do you know where they are, Yuki-san?"
"I believe so. The Aizen squad has several bases around the town that could serve as sites." Yuki replies before nodding to herself. "But, if you are going to do this, can I ask a favour? There are rumours that these bases also hold labour camps as well. If possible…"
"You want us to find them, document them and free the people inside?" Ren asks with a smirk. "I think we can do that."
"Agreed." Makoto replies, brushing some hair back. "It's only fair, after all." One by one, each member of the Phantom Thieves agrees to help, letting Yuki and the citizens with her smile in joy for the first time.
"Thank you so much." She tells them. "But, before we go anywhere, please let me make some preparations. To give us an edge. In the meantime, is anyone able to use the facilities upstairs? I have neither the medical knowledge nor firearm expertise to use them."
"There is an armoury and medical here as well?" Sojiro asks with surprise before shaking his head. "Why am I not surprised."
"In that case, I'll head to the armoury. See if they have any weapons to replace our current ones." Iwai remarks, heading upstairs. Followed by Tao and Shinya. While Tae, accompanied by Kawakami and Chihaya, heads up to the medical area to check on supplies.
While everyone else rested for the upcoming mission. It was time to start a second Revolution.