Chapter 10: Fitting the Era.
"How are you feeling, Yuuki? That brute landed a good punch on you." Ren asks, glancing over to Mishima. Who was currently nursing an icepack on his head.
"I'm doing better, but I swear I can still see stars…and I think I heard birds tweeting while I was lying on the ground." He remarks. No one actually told him that he did, in fact, have stars and birds circling around his head after that hit. Once more a cognition thing.
"Well, I still think you were cool when you faced down Marie." Shiho comments, kissing him on the cheek. "No matter what happens to you."
"Well, I don't know about all of you, but I'm getting dizzy from all of this, just like him. And not from booze for a change." Ohya comments, lounging on a couch.
"Yeah. It feels like we're doing a world tour all of a sudden." Sumire comments before bringing up a smile. "Although, that's not too bad in a way."
"Well, Palaces and their Rulers did share certain traits. Maybe we are seeing the same thing here?" Haru comments. "But then again, we haven't seen anything that looks like a Personal Shadow."
"The more we find that puzzles us, the more that it piles up…" Akechi groans, shaking his head. "Something tells me we are not leaving this place anytime soon." A collective sigh echoes from everyone, agreeing with the statement, while Makoto turns to Erina.
"By the way, you came all this way with us, Erina. Are you doing okay?"
"Yeah… Kind of." Erina admits with a weak smile. "Even if I wasn't, there's no turning back now. Sure, I'm anxious about everyone I left behind, but I'm not worried. Marie's dictatorship is over. I know they can rebuild just fine without me."
"With such comradery in your group, I'm sure the recovery will be quick." Yusuke remarks with a smile. "I hope they can restore their old way of life soon."
"But thinking about everyone left behind is why you can't stop thinking about this Kingdom, correct?" Yoshida asks with a knowing look at Erina. "How, even if they rule differently, that this Kingdom is suffering the same way as yours once did."
"If that talk of forced Labour is true, then we really have no excuses to leave." Tae replies as she and Iwai come down the stairs, hands gripped hard. "The suffering they must be enduring…. Such evil cannot stand."
"It's not just them, Tae." Iwai comments, changing toothpicks. "But all these people. They all deserve a chance to be free." Behind him, Kawakami, Chihaya, Shinya and Tao follow them, moving into the empty seats.
"Not only that, we could find a clue as to why we all ended up here in the first place." Tao suggests. "Because I think I'm not the only one who has questions as to why we are here."
"Plus, there is NO WAY we Phantom Thieves would just leave things as they are!" Morgana quips, jumping on the spot. While Toshiro just sighs and shakes his head.
"I had a feeling that's what you good Samaritans had to say." He remarks with a smile.
"Psh, there's no way you're not totally for this, too, old man!" Ryuji comments with a grin.
"Yeah! You're the type who acts all huffy-puffy but then is actually the one who gets fired up the most!" Futaba remarks with a giant grin. Toshiro immediately went to deny it but stopped himself before he could even speak.
"You're right. I feel the exact same. I've always tried to avoid trouble as much as possible, but… it would seem you've given me a change of heart."
"Or perhaps it's what you've always felt all along? You've just kept it bottled up." Ann replies with a grin.
"Perhaps. But let's leave it at that for now." Toshiro replies before turning serious. "Normally, I would like to conduct a strategy meeting with Yoshida-san and Hifumi-san. But, we don't have any information to go off of."
"In that case, let us be off." Yuki suddenly declared as she came down the stairs.
"Off? Off to where?" Sojiro asks at the abrupt call. For her part, Yuki seemed to realise she jumped the gun as she looked around bashfully.
"Forgive me. I still haven't explained the details yet, have I?" At everyone's nod, she takes a breath. "Well, since we need to stop the surveillance cameras and rescue the citizens, I believe infiltration is our best option."
"Infiltration happens to be our speciality." Hifumi remarks. "But something tells me your method will be different to ours."
"Yes. The Aizen Squad make short work of anyone who is suspicious. However, if you were to look less conspicuous, then you may have a chance."
"So, a disguise, huh?" Akechi asks, rubbing his chin. "There are several advantages such a play will allow. We may be able to walk right through the main door without issue."
"Yes, precisely." Yuki replies with a smile. "And that is why we are going to get all of you fitted with kimonos. I know of a silk shop that will be able to help us. That is our next destination."
"Oh yeah! I can't wait to get decked out like a samurai! Nyeheheh!" Morgana chirps as everyone gets ready to leave.
"Well, let's get going." Ren comments, opening the door and heading out. "The sooner we can blend in, the better our chances of sneaking around." No one argued with Ren as they stepped out into the street. With Yuki quickly taking the lead, she guides them through the winding alleys, being careful of Yoshiki's Eyes scanning the area before reaching a street leading out of the town.
"We're close to our destination. We only need to reach the end of this street." Yuki comments, stepping out of the alleyway. Before Athena holds her by the shoulder.
"Wait. We have trouble up ahead." She comments, nodding her head to an altercation happening outside a shop. Several Aizen Squad members were towering over a female hat person for reasons unknown.
"P-Please stop… I beg your forgiveness…" The hat person asks, only to be slapped to the ground by a trooper.
"Silence! Don't talk back to me!" The trooper shouts, clearly affronted by something this shop owner had done.
"More members of this Aizen Squad, huh? They certainly act like the Shinsengumi." Gecko remarks with a frown.
"But it doesn't look like they are looking for us." Queen remarks, wincing as the shop owner receives another slap. Someone who Yuki recognised.
"It's the duty of every citizen to make an offering in return for Lord Yoshiki's Love! You dare refuse to pay up!?" A brute shouts at the shop owner with vile.
"It's just… the financial strain is becoming… Since my husband is at the Labour of Love, I can barely make ends meet, sir…" The shop owner tries to reply, only to be slapped once more.
"Hmph. What a sorry excuse. I'll have to teach you a lesson to those who disregard Lord Yoshiki's love!" The leader commands as the Squad members circle around the shop owner. Their intent was clear as day.
"They aren't going to do what I think they are… right?" Spring asks with disgust in her voice as Panther trembles in rage.
"Authority figures threatening their citizens in broad daylight? How disgusting." Fox comments as Sensei nods his head.
"Such occurrences were all too common in the past. To see it play out before us… is repulsive." Sensei remarks with a frown, while all around them, citizens were talking about how such a situation was 'only natural'. Erina shook with anger at the remarks. Joker could see her anger building and if he was being honest, so was his.
"Guys, I know we wanted to get over here without being spotted. But I think we can spare a quick fight." He comments, grabbing their attention. "Let's do this like we always do and teach these thugs not to anger Gentlemen and Lady Thieves."
"It's only two brutes, two drummers and three troopers. We've got this." Oracle informs them as they all nod to each other. While those without Persona travelled undercover, those with Persona shadow stepped via cover until they surrounded the Squad members, with Joker giving a nod to Erina to start the ambush.
Taking a deep breath, Erina focuses on the Aizen Squad and launches her attack. "Shining Partisan!" She calls, summoning spears above their heads and slamming them down onto them. Taken aback by this sudden attack, they were unprepared when Noir caught them with Mapsi, dragging them away from the shop owner before Joker, Queen and Guernica each fire at one of the troops.
Setting up three triple threats with Skull, Panther, Mona, Shadow, Fox and Boss. Caught within the three back-to-back assaults, the Aizen Squad troops were wiped out before they had a chance to call for help.
"We should be in the clear, but I'd rather not wait and see." Crow comments, looking at the shop owner. "It's okay now. You're not hurt, are you?"
"Who are you?" The shop owner asks just as Yuki makes her way over.
"I can explain later, but for now, we need to move." She tells her, as the shop owner looks at her with wide eyes.
"You're…Lady Yuki!"
"You know each other?" Violet asks, with Yuki nodding back.
"Yes. As luck would have it, she is the owner of the silk store we were heading to." Yuki reveals. It was certainly a lucky chance that they found the shop owner, especially as she was about to be dragged off by the Aizen Squad. Speaking off them…
"You must have your reasons for coming here. But please! Follow me!" The Shop owner quickly ushered the group inside, closing the doors right as another group of Aizen members walked down the street. Passing by the shop as they search for the belligerents who attacked their members.
Inside, the group were treated to a vast arrangement of silk of all colours and styles. Each one with a distinct pattern and style. It certainly lived up to its name of Silk Shop. And in the safety of these walls, Yuki explained to the shop owner why they came to her and their intentions. Something she was all too happy to help with.
"I am sorry for pushing all of this on you." Yuki tells the shop owner as she gets some measuring tape.
"It is no problem, Ladt Yuki. If everyone is ready, I'll start with the short gentleman over there. Come this way, please!" She calls Mona, the cat quickly following her to get measured. Even if he was insulted at being called short when he was the same height as the hat-people. But while the shop owner got to work with Mona, Erina let out a sigh of disappointment.
"Erina-chan? Is everything okay?" Noir asks, hearing the sigh from her.
"Oh, I'm fine." Erina replies, glancing at the paper windows, watching as the shapes of citizens and Aizen Squad members walk past. "It's just… This town's in really bad shape, isn't it? With the Rebel Crops, we rebelled against our ruler because we'd have enough. So it'd made sense there would be some conflict. But… it's different here. Despite following Yoshiki's orders, they are still being treated like…" She leaves the sentence unfinished, looking away.
"Not only that, everyone here has been constantly fed lies. Deluding themselves into thinking everything is as it should be." Boss comments, dipping his hat. "Unfortunately, that is more common than we want to imagine. More tragic than if they were being oppressed outright."
"A situation I myself was in a long time ago." Fox comments, grabbing Erina's attention. "Sometimes, wanting to believe in something clouds the mind's eye. But even the smallest spark of doubt should make it impossible to stay completely unaware. It was thanks to that doubt that I escaped my own self-imposed prison." Erina looks at him in shock while Toshiro remains silent. Just as the shop owner returned with a slightly grumpy Morgana.
"Forgive me for intruding, but may I take your measurements as well?" She asks Erina. Erina nodded in response, but before she walked over, she had a question to ask.
"Can I ask you one question? About what just happened and how people said it was 'only natural', have you ever thought it was even the slightest bit— "
"My dear, all I do is run my humble silk shop. I have no complaints about my country." The shop owner gently interrupts, with no anger or malic in her voice. "My only wish is to live peacefully under Lord Yoshiki's protection. However…" She pauses in her speech, glancing around for a moment before walking closer in. "You never know when Lord Yoshiki's Eyes may be. Please listen to me as I think aloud. A world without conflict is best… Of that, I am certain." The Thieves all turn to her as she continues aloud.
"I would also like to believe in Lord Yoshiki. I'd like to, but… Those who are taken away never return. Those who are left behind suffer more and more each day. I heard from Lady Yuki that you intend to fight the Aizen Squad. If it's all true, then please…" She looks at them all with desperation in her eyes. "You must save them! Help us see the truth for ourselves!"
"And we intend to do just that. We promise." Joker tells the shop lady, patting her on the hat/head.
"Yeah. We'll bring them back no matter what it takes." Skull replies with fire in his eyes. While everyone gathered around the shop owner, comforting her, Devil had her eyes locked on the outline of a camera outside.
"The truth… It has always been my weapon… And I intend to still use it." She comments to herself before turning around. "Say Oracle, about those cameras…." As Devil draws Oracle away from the group for a minute, the shop owner returns to taking measurements. Starting with Joker.
Eventually, after some time had passed, everyone was kitted up in their new disguises. Joker and the boys were all dressed as Aizen Squad members, including King, while Queen and the girls were all dressed as geisha. But with two small exceptions.
"Is it just me, or am I the oddball out around here?" Mona asks, wondering why HE was dressed as a citizen and not a samurai.
"You look like a rice ball." King comments, fiddling around with the hat on his head.
"Gotta agree with King. You do look like a rice ball, Mona." Skull agrees, tightening the katana's around his waist. "Man, how do you put up with this Fox?"
"Quite easily, I assure you." Fox replies, looking as though he was born to be a Samurai. "And I must say, the eleven of us dressed as Samurai, ready for battle. What a brilliant picture we make."
"I quite agree. There is a certain aura that fills you when dressed as an important Samurai." Crow admits, drawing one of the blades to inspect it before sheathing it slowly.
"Yeah…. Somehow, I think Skull wouldn't do well on the battlefield." Outlaw comments as Skull still tries to fix the katana and wakizashi to his hip.
"Here, Skull. Let me help." Panther comments, walking over to help tie the two blades to his side, much to his gratitude.
"Still surprised that she ran out of outfits for Panther." Gecko comments, tilting the samurai hat down.
"These things happen. At least she's not bothered with it." Boss comments, folding his arms. "How are you two holding up?" He asks, turning to Toshiro and Sensei. Both are dressed in high-ranking samurai gear.
"I admit I feel much more comfortable in this than the handkerchief. I can keep my entire face hidden." Toshiro remarks with a smile.
"I will admit, I had always dreamed of being a samurai as a child. To think I would end up living my fantasies now." Sensei remarks with a chuckle. "I am forever blessed to have met you, Joker."
"It goes both ways, Sensei." Joker replies, tightening his own hat after making sure his daishō is properly attached. "I couldn't ask for a better family than what I have now." The older men smile at him while the others chuckle at Joker just as Yuki enters the room.
"We have finished dressing everyone. Please come in." She tells them before turning around. The boys follow after her into the next room, where Joker, Outlaw, Fox and Crow feel their hearts momentarily stop.
Standing before them in form-fitting kimonos and hair done up with stylish headdresses, Queen, Noir, Spring, and Violet greet their significant others with warm smiles. And chuckling at their expressions.
"Looks like we caused them to short-circuit." Spring while walking up to Outlaw and snapping her fingers in front of him. Breaking him out of the trance.
"Mission success." Noir agrees, walking up and wrapping Fox in a hug. Violet giggles to herself, hugging Crow as he snaps out of his own daze. As for Queen, she simply kisses Joker on the lips to bring him back.
"Like what you see?" She asks with a wink, earning a blush out of him as he hugs her around the waist.
"Very much." He replies simply, earning a giggle from Queen. While Athena looks on with a smile.
"At this rate, I'll be an aunt before I know it." She quietly comments, earning a chuckle from the girls next to her.
"Those girls have them wrapped around their fingers." Devil remarks, shaking her head.
"Are you even surprised?" Teach replies, fixing the obi on her kimono while Fortune chuckles at the four couples.
"They are only doing what we told them." Medic remarks with a grin before glancing over to the other guys. "You guys look not bad yourselves."
"Totally! You're rocking the Samurai look, Dad!" Oracle says with a giant grin, while Boss suddenly gets a little emotional over Oracle calling him dad instead of Boos or Sojiro. Shadow shakes her head before turning to look at Ann.
"You look good as a Samurai, Panther. Maybe you should use it as inspiration for modelling in the future?"
"You think so? I suppose so. It'd have to be specific, though. Oh! How about an action movie!" Panther asks, not seeing the looks she is getting from the others. As for Toshiro, his eyes were stuck on Erina. Seeing her deep purple kimono and red obo with back details. He found himself mesmerised for reasons he could not explain.
"Toshiro? Is everything okay?" Erina asks, snapping him out of his funk as he hides his face with his hat.
"It's nothing." He quickly deflects before clearing his voice. "So, going back to our plan, while everyone was preparing, Yuki-san, Sensei, Shadow, and I discussed how to proceed before getting dressed ourselves." At this, Sensei brings out a map from inside his kimono, opening it and laying it down on a table with everyone gathering around. "We're going to explain the entire operation, so listen carefully." With that, he motions to Sensei.
"Considering our new attire, charging inside is no longer our option. However, it has opened up a new path. And for this, we will need to split into three teams." He taps his finger on the map, indicating the base they were targeting. "One team shall pose as members of the Aizen Squad and infiltrate the main base via the front entrance. That will consist of Joker's team, consisting of Joker, Skull, Panther, Fox, Outlaw and Crow. As well as Queen's team, consisting of Queen, Spring, Noir, Erina, and Shadow."
"A second team, comprising of Boss, Gecko, Sensei, King, Teach, Athena, Fortune and Devil, will enter from the top and act as the second diversion team." Shadow continues, tapping on a large central building. "With each team, we geishas will be carrying food and drinks to distract the guards, while our 'samurai escort' will help keep the Aizen Squad off us. Hopefully, we can give them a valid excuse to throw a banquet and allow us to explore the compound."
"And that leaves the final team. Consisting of me, Oracle, Mona, Medic and Yuki-san." Toshiro ends, tapping his finger on the map.
"You're coming too, Yuki-san?" Noir asks, a bit surprised, with Yuki nodding to her with fire in her eyes.
"Yes. You're doing this for our sakes. I can't simply sit by and do nothing. Plus, I know all about the streets and alleys around here. I can help them infiltrate from where security is at its weakest."
"Just like what Erina did for us." Athena remarks, shooting her a smile.
"In any case, our team will find an opening and sneak in. Our objective is to disable the security cameras, if possible permanently, while also finding the labour camps and rescuing the citizens. It's why we are bringing Medic with us as well for any emergency medical attention."
"Honestly, I wanted to bring you with us, Spring, but our team is large enough as it is." Medic tells her with a frown.
"It's okay. I understand." Spring replies, a little bit unhappy she can't be there to help.
"Once our mission is complete, we will withdraw from the compound and return to the hideout. And hopefully, with a better understanding of how these cameras work." Sensei remarks, folding his arms. "There is one more point we should make. All of what we have said relies on the chance that everything goes according to plan. However, as we all know, no plan survives contact with the enemy."
"Which is why, should worst come to worst and we are found out, we will have to pull back and try again later." Shadow says with a frown. "Toshiro was adamant on this part, for a certain someone." All eyes turn to Erina, who was conveniently looking up at the ceiling.
"Why are you looking at me? I'm not the only reckless one around here."
"Because you are the one who needs to hear it the most. Need I remind you of your precious track record?" Toshiro asks, walking up to her arms folded. "If you act rashly again, you could jeopardise the entire mission."
"Yeah, yeah…" Erina replies nonchalantly.
"Wha—!? What is with this attitude of yours!?"
"Waaah. This is Old Man Kasukabe harassment…"
"There is no such thing! That's it—today, I'm going to speak my mind! You're—" As Toshiro rants towards Erina, everyone else just looks on with amused smiles.
"The way they are going, you'd think they were already married." Boss comments, earning a giggle from Yuki. Before the group leaves the silk shop and returns to the teahouse. Easily blending into the town as Aizen Squad members and security cameras paid them no mind.
Just like the Phantom's that they are.