Chapter 18: Revelation

"He's hold up in a bank. Of COURSE he would be…" Queen mutters to herself, looking over the heavily fortified bank. Two tanks were outside, sunken into the ground with only their turrets showing while several machine gun nests peak out from the windows. To say nothing else of the barbed wire and sandbags blocking the entrance.

"Well, how do we do this?" Guernica asks, watching as a few troopers walk past them. It was honestly more than what they felt comfortable fighting against.

"We won't know until we get higher ground. Lets head up." Shadow replies, shooting her grapple up to the next level. Moving through the shadows of the ruined building, the team eventually reach the roof, getting a better view of the bank. Only to find it was larger than initially believed to be, spanning back around four houses long.

"Well, that might make things harder." Devil remarks, shaking her head. "Where would he even be?"

"My guess? In the largest vault." Tsuchiya replies. "It's located at the far back, and it is more than large enough to be converted into a command outpost. The only problem is getting far enough into it without alerting those outside."

"I think we can handle that." Panther quips with a grin. "Stealth infiltrations are our bread and butter."

"She's not wrong there." Outlaw quips as Queen and Skull fire their grapples towards the roof, zipping over the moment they attach. The rest of the team followed after them, surprised that they managed to avoid the guards down below as they moved into a hole in the roof.

The interior of the bank was divided into several floors, with the ground floor being the public area for cash withdrawals. The upper area was staff-only walkways leading to counting rooms and offices with a few vaults spread out.

Surprisingly, there were no security cameras keeping watch. Or if there were any, they had long been destroyed. But for that reason, several squads of troopers patrolled the area. Keeping watch for any intruders entering the bank.

"We need to take them out. Otherwise, they will call for help." Gecko points out, signalling the three squads moving around.

"How shall we do it? Obviously, using our guns will draw the attention of those outside." Medic points out. In response, Tsuchiya pulls out her sword, letting it glisten in the low light for a second.

"We ambush them from behind with melee. It's our only way." She says, before pulling herself back into the shadows as the first squad nears them. Completely oblivious to their presence. At least, until one of them was stabbed from behind by Erina's spear, before the rest of them were quickly pulled into the shadows. Not one of them managing to get a word out as the Thieves silently move on.

Using the shadows to their advantage once more, the team presses on through the main hall. Eliminating the other two squads in the same fashion as the first. However they did have a close call when one of the troopers from outside wanders into the building. Almost ringing the alarm before Spring managed to land an arrow into their head.

The team held their breath, waiting, only to let them out as it became clear that the alarm was not running. With the main hall cleared, they press on towards the main vault. Wandering through damaged halls with collapsed roofs before arriving at what was once a giant metal door. That had been blown wide open.

And sitting inside, sitting on a throne of gold bars, was Kaneshiro. Dressed surprisingly like his shadow self but lacking the moustache and pink skin. But what was not surprising was the bodyguards that were around him. Several umbrella-wielding troopers, alongside four brutes and around eight troopers.

This was not going to be an easy fight.

"Are we all ready for the next assault?" Kaneshiro asks in a board tone, picking up several coins before dropping them into a neat column before repeating the action.

"Yes, sir. We are just waiting for Commander Marika to inform us of her battalion preparations." One of the troopers replies, with Kaneshiro grunting in response.

"This resistance has been bad for business. So many opportunities were wasted because of that girl. Why the Lord Commander insists on us capturing her alive, I will never know." Kaneshiro remarks, glancing at one of the brutes. "What of our 'products'? Are they ready to be shipped off?"

"Yes, sir." The brute responds, motioning to a cage of chained hat people. A sight that made Queen and Shadow's blood boil. "The merchandise is ready to be sent. All we need is your command." Kaneshiro smiles darkly at the report, turning his head towards the cage.

"Good. In that case, send them off now. Slavery doesn't wait for no one after all."

"Over my dead body!" Tsuchiya shouts, revealing herself and catching the attention of Kaneshiro and his goons, much to his surprise and shock.

"You!? How did you get in here!? Where are my guards!?" He shouts as his bodyguards move into position. As for the answer to his question, his eyes narrow in anger as Queen and the others reveal themselves along side her. While Gecko stays in the shadows. "Phantom Thieves… Of course it would be you… That you would show up just as I am about to reverse the change of heart you imposed on me!"

"Well, I suppose we arrive at the right time, fly." Shadow growls, spinning her kunai in her hand.

"So sorry to rain on your parade, Kaneshiro. Not." Queen spits, aiming her revolver at him. "But we are brining you down. You are not influencing your shadow or other self. Not while we are here." Kaneshiro scoffs at her, not bothered by the stare he was receiving.

"And what makes you think this will be the same as the last two?" He asks, staring back right at her. And that question was all they needed to know if he remembered or not.

"For one thing, you don't have your 'Piggytron' with you." Shadow quips, earning a growl from Kaneshiro. "You're just a weak person without your money."

"And I don't need it to beat the tar out of you! I can see that you are missing several of your members. Including your leader. Without him, you punks are worthless!" Kaneshiro puts on a grin, grabbing a machine gun from his side as he racks the bolt. "It's time I had some payback and made good on my promise to turn the two of you into my personal slaves! And once I fuse myself with my shadow and real self and get myself out of prison, I will rebuild my empire, one slave girl at a time, starting with the two of you!" He points a finger at Queen and Shadow, who scowls back at him in anger just as Gecko steps from the shadows.

"You haven't changed at all, Kaneshiro. You always were deluded." He comments, earning his gaze and a sharp gasp from Kaneshiro.

"Munehisa!? What are you doing here!? Wait… You are a part of the Phantom Thieves!?" Kaneshiro asks, fear in his voice for the first time. Gecko scoffs at him, folding his arms as he locks eyes with him. "Giving me the silent treatment? That's just like you. Always judging us. We're both criminals, so what makes you think you are better than me!?"

"I don't." Gecko responds, pulling his cap down. "I know what I have done, and I am not proud of it. Unlike you, who let himself become a monster."

"And if I'm a monster, then what about her!?" Kaneshiro shouted, pointing a finger right at Tsuchiya. "Do you knot know she is the sister of Commander Ichiro!?"

"What?" The team asks, looking at Tsuchiya, who looks at the floor.

"She didn't tell you? What a shame to withhold such a crucial piece of information from your allies." Kaneshiro gloats with a grin. "How does it feel to be betrayed like that?"

"Ichiro is NOT my brother!" Tsuchiya shouts back with anger. But Kaneshiro just laughs at her as though it was a joke.

"You can deny it all you want! But you can't escape the fact that you are both related by blood!" Kaneshiro shouts back with a grin. "And blood runs thick between family. You can never escape!"

"That's where you are wrong." Gecko remarks, drawing his gaze. "There is more than family blood that runs between people. That lesson I learned long ago in the Yakuza. A lesson you ignored. Just as always." Gecko's gaze hardens, spinning his pistol in his right hand. "You see the world as nothing but money. I see it for what it really is."

"And why is that? Because of the son you adopted? You've grown soft, Munehisa! A spineless coward who fled the moment he found an out!" Kaneshiro fires back. But Gecko stands impassive.

"Insult me however you like, but my path is my own. My code is my own. The family I choose is my own." He casts a glance at the Thieves, Guernica in particular. "And it is my job to make sure people like them don't end up like me. And stopping people like you from taking advantage of them." He glares back at Kaneshiro, aiming his gun right at him. "We'll show you that Phantom Blood and Gecko Blood run thicker than anything you can muster, punk."

Are you willing to continue fighting fate with your hands?

The voice echoes in Gecko's mind as a sharp pain splices into his skull. He gives out a grunt, stumbling in place as he places a left hand on his head. Kaneshiro, seeing what was happening, orders his troopers to fire at him, only for Outlaw to jump in the way and deflect the bullets.

Too many people depend on us.

Their dreams depend on us.

Tell me, are you done with fighting?

Or are you willing to continue this battle?

"I made that choice once, but it's time I gave a different answer." Gecko replies back, glaring up to Kaneshiro with golden eyes and an intense stare. More than enough to make the man squirm and stumble as Gecko straightens his posture.

That you have.

I am thou… thou art I

There is always someone new to help, someone else to protect.

Show them that the dragon is here to give them the shelter they need!

In a flash of blue, a mask appears on Gecko's face. Stylised like the top part of a Chinese dragon's head, coloured in silver with gold highlights. Without hesitation, Gecko grabs the mask and rips it off with a grunt. Engulfing him in blue fire. While the Thieves watch on with proud smiles, Kaneshiro growls in anger as Gecko emerges from the flames.

His outfit, at first glance, didn't look different from his normal look. However, his jacket now looked to be padded, coloured in a deep silver with red highlights, while numerous pockets lined the chest. A ring of golden fur lines the hood, while his hands are encased in brown padded gloves with metal covering the knuckles. Camo-style trousers rush down his legs in silver and red, vanishing into deep black combat boots. Black belts holding spare clips line his legs, while a black belt crosses his chest, holding a knife over a deep red shirt. A peace symbol, framed in gold was etched on the back of his coat while his hat and ear protectors remained the same.

While hovering behind him was a man dressed in a white suit and pink shirt covered in silver dragon scales with red edging. Flame-like patterns extend over his shoulders, wrists and ankles as though they were like golden flames, while a pearl was held in his right hand. Short black hair framed his head as he stared at Kaneshiro with a narrow and unimpressed gaze.

"You as well!? How many of you punks can use that power!?" Kaneshiro shouts in anger as Gecko cracks his neck, shooting off a rebellious smirk.

"Wouldn't you like to find out? How about we clean this up, Kiryu? Rampage!" At Gecko's command, his Persona unleashes a wide kick at some troopers who were out of cover, knocking them back and into some piles of gold bars. While unknown to him, Queen's eyes were locked on his persona with a mixture of awe and slight jealousy before refocusing herself back on the fight.

"What are you idiots doing! Kill them!" Kaneshiro screams, letting his machine gun rip as the umbrella shields take position right in front of him. The surviving troopers fan out behind them as the brutes charge forward. One of them rushed right towards Outlaw, ready to send him flying with a punch. Only for Gecko to jump between them, taking the punch to the chest but not moving an inch.

The brute looks at Gecko in confusion as Gecko falls into a fighting form and kicks the brute away before diving into cover. With Outlaw right next to him.

"Are you immune to physical damage?" He asks excitedly, peering around the cover and letting some shots fly.

"Looks like it." Gecko remarks, firing some shots in return. "Looks like I'm the opposite of you." He lets off an Agi towards a brute, grabbing its attention before it can slam a fist into Skull. A moment of distraction that allowed Skull to blast it with Zionga.

"Better stay with me then." Outlaw remarks, attacking with a Double Shot. "I'll keep the rounds off you." Gecko smirks at him in response before turning his attention back to the fight. A loud boom from Shadow's rifle shook the room, only for her round to bounce off Kaneshiro like it was made of rubber.

"Great… He's bulletproof." Shadow remarks to Queen in annoyance while Fortune lays down some supporting fire. Queen grunts in response, scanning the areas while bullets fly. While the brutes had been taken care of, there were still six troopers pinning them down. While four umbrellas stood in front of Kaneshiro, blocking their way to him. At least… from the ground anyway.

"I've got it. Shadow. You, me and Gecko will ambush him from behind." Queen tells her, nodding her head to the catwalks above them. "Everyone else keeps him distracted."

"Will he even fall for it?" Fortune asks with Guernica sliding up to them.

"We can only hope so." Shadow replies back before she and Queen rush over to Gecko, sliding into cover as a fresh round of bullets zips over them. "Gecko, we have a plan."

"Let me guess, ambush from behind?" Gecko remarks with a grin. "It's clear we're not getting anywhere like this. The only way through is from the back."

"That's right." Queen replies, glancing over to the catwalk. A part of it ran behind a wall, giving them cover and a way to access it without being seen. But it still looked like a risky move.

"We've got you covered, Queen." Skull suddenly says as he and Panther slide up to them. "We'll keep his attention on us."

"Just don't do anything reckless." Shadow comments as the trio head for the wall as Skull and Panther open fire at Kaneshiro. Drawing his attention as he unloads at them. Rounds ping off their cover as Tsuchiya and Spring fire at the troopers, drawing their ire as Queen, Shadow and Gecko grapple up to the catwalk.

Moving along as quiet mice, the trio follow its path behind Kaneshiro's throne. With the trio dropping to the ground, they move up towards the throne. Seeing the umbrellas still holding their wall. But with their focus facing forward, unaware of what was coming from behind.

"Frelia!"

"Psio!"

The two girls yell, with Shadow sending the umbrellas into a hypnotic walk into the line of fire while the troopers are all squashed together in a vortex. Before, the troopers were engulfed in flame from Panther while the umbrella-wielding troops were picked off one by one.

As for Kaneshiro, he was taken aback by the sudden turn around just as Gecko rushes out from behind and punches his gun out of his hands. Before Kaneshiro knew it, he was on the receiving end of a no-holds beatdown from Gecko. Kicks to the stomach, elbows to the back of the head, open palm punches to the arms, Gecko did not pull any punches. Before giving him one final punch into his throne, sending golden bars everywhere as Kaneshiro slams into the ground.

Before vanishing into smoke, Gecko breathes heavily before falling to one knee as Queen and Shadow help him up.

"That…felt good… I'm tired." Gecko remarks as the team leaves the torn-up vault.

"Let's get back to the hideout and rest up. Ichiro will be furious with what we have done. And…" Tsuchiya takes a long sigh, shaking her head as she glances at the Thieves. "It's time I told you why I'm here in the first place…"

"Commander! You're back!" Kusumoto exclaims as Makoto's team enters the café. Ren's team had already arrived before them and were giving the hat person space. "I've been waiting to give you a report on Ichiro's movements! It's about Marika and Kaneshiro!"

"We've already taken care of them." Tsuchiya tells him, earning a shocked gasp from the hat person. "In fact, we just came back from defeating Kaneshiro."

"So the fly has been swatted? Good to hear." Futaba chimes as Ren starts handing out coffee while Makoto and Hifumi settle Iwai on a couch. He had already fallen asleep along the way here. "Marika put up a hard fight, but it was nothing that Isara couldn't handle."

"Only because you took out the radiators and damaged her plating. My shots weren't doing anything until then." Isara comments from atop the bar, Morgana giving her a pat on top of the turret. Kusumoto looked around in shock before shaking his head to clear his mind.

"I see. In that case, my report is meaningless. I'll head back out to find out about the last three generals." He remarks before rushing out of the café, not saying another word. Ignoring all the suspicious stares he was getting from everyone in the café.

"I don't trust him." Toshiro suddenly says, drawing everyone's attention. "He kept asking us about who we were. Constantly asking for more and more and what our plans are. I'm afraid Yuki and I failed to make any meaningful progress because of this."

"I wonder why." Ren comments from the bar next to Sojiro.

"We can talk about that later. Right now, there is something I need to tell you all." Tsuchiya remarks, drawing all eyes. With a tired sigh, she sits at the bar, grasping her hands together. "As Makoto's group found out when fighting Kaneshiro and before Iwai awoke to the same power you all have, Kaneshiro spilt a secret I didn't want to reveal. That I am Ichiro's sister."

"You're Ichiro's sister?" Akechi asks with wide eyes, with similar looks of shock plastered on the rest of the Thieves. Tsuchiya nods her head, leaning forward in her chair.

"In truth, I was sent here on a 'diplomatic' mission. But in actuality, I was to be used as an unwilling victim in a car bomb incident. While that plot failed, thanks to the people here finding out, it was still enough of a 'reason' for the Crimson Tyrant to invade. All this damage in the city feels like it was because of me."

"But you didn't know that was happening, right? So, why do you feel responsible?" Sumire asks.

"Because I feel like me even being here is what caused all this to happen." Tsuchiya reveals. "It's why I fight with the Phantom Resistance. It's my own way to make up for all the damage and pain I've caused by coming here. And I've long since cut all ties with Ichiro. He's no longer the brother I know." She stands with a sigh, glancing at everyone in the room. "Sorry to have kept this a secret. I just didn't feel the need to bring it up."

"Why are you apologizin'? There's nothing wrong in keepin' that hidden." Ryuji suddenly says, drawing her attention. "I mean, it's a personal thing, right? That's not something you'd just tell people right out the gate."

"That's right. And if it's something that even hurts to remember, then that's even more of a reason to keep it hidden." Haru comments, leaning forward. "None of us are mad at you for staying quiet about it." Tsuchiya glances around at everyone, seeing the supporting smiles and assurances from all. It was enough to remove the iron bar that had settled onto her from Kaneshiro's gloating.

"Well, if we are talking about secrets, there is something that we forgot to mention to you earlier, Toshiro." Ren suddenly comments, grabbing the politician's attention. "This might sound random, but did you find January to be a strange month?"

"Strange?" Toshiro asks before narrowing his eyes. "Now that you mention it, January did, in fact, feel strange. My mother was alive for the briefest moment, and my father seemed to have had a complete personality change while Marie was nowhere in my life. And… there were other things as well that… I can't remember… Why do you ask?"

"Remember what you said when we first talked back in Marie's Kingdom? About how this could all be a dystopian experiment?" Morgana asks. At Toshiro's nervous nod, he continues. "Well, during that month, we were actually in an alternative reality."

"Alternative reality?" Toshiro parrots, taken aback by the claim.

"That's right. A reality where all of our deepest desires were made manifest." Makoto interjects. "For example, Ren and Hifumi, instead of being adopted by Boss early this year, were adopted by him for five years prior. And Futaba's mother was alive and married to him."

"Honestly, there are a LOT of examples we could use from that time. It was a crazy month for all of us." Futaba remarks, shaking her head.

"But there is one person here who was affected the most." Yusuke comments, glancing over to Sumire. While a little uncomfortable at being under the spotlight, Sumire glances at Toshiro, folding her hands on her lap.

"I'm not sure if you would remember it happening, but last year, my sister was killed by a car." Toshiro gasps in shock while Tsuchiya's eyes widen. Yuki and Erina were in similar states of shock as Sumire continued. "The person was struck by a Mental Shutdown and was about to crash into me. But Kasumi pushed me out of the way at the last second, and she died instead. After that… I was locked in a depressive state. Unable to move on, blaming myself for what happened. It was during that time I was assigned a councillor, Takuto Maruki."

"Maruki was someone who worked on cognitive psience, aiming for it to be implemented in medical practices." Ren chimes in, pushing his fake glasses up. "But Shido stole all of his work, and his dream was cruelly snuffed out. Despite that, he continued to work on it while working as a therapist, but he had a different power. Because of unfortunate circumstances he went through, Maruki was given the powers of a Persona that allowed him to rewrite a person's cognition."

"Rewrite? Do you mean brainwashing?" Toshiro asks, going slightly pale.

"In a manner of speaking, yes, that is what he was doing." Makoto replies, glancing at Sumire. "And Sumire's case was not so different in a way."

"Back then, I was so depressed about everything that I was on the verge of going down a suicidal path. So, in an effort to save me, Maruki changed my cognition so that I believed I was my sister. Even though I was running away, it still managed to save me so that when I broke out of the illusion, not only was I in a better headspace, but I was surrounded by those who would support me." Sumire glances around at everyone with a beaming smile. "And I can never thank you enough for that." The Thieves return the smile, with even Toshiro giving a warm smile at the exchange.

"I see. While I feel the pain you went through, and I'm glad you are much better mentally, how does Maruki fit into this?" Toshiro asks with Ren giving off a sigh.

"Because, in a way, it was our fault that allowed him to rewrite almost the whole of Japan." At Toshiro's concerned glance, he continues. "Over the last year, we held counselling sessions with him where we told him about our deepest desires and dreams. And when we defeated Yaldabaoth with the support of everyone in Tokyo, we willingly gave up that power that allowed us to kill a god. The only problem is that it allowed Maruki to fill that void and become a god himself. And because we helped him finally complete his paper…"

"You inadvertently helped him reach godhood." Toshiro finishes shaking his head. "That must have been quite the shock."

"Shocking doesn't even come close to describing it." Ann comments, shaking her head. "Maruki was our friend. To see him not only create a Palace but become a god hell-bent on making everyone happy through brainwashing was heart-breaking. Even more so when we found out he was but an unwilling pawn for another person's schemes."

"But we stopped him and helped him come back to his senses. These days, he's a taxi driver. Lettering people decide where to go rather than guide them." Ryuji comments with a grin, with Toshiro giving out a relived sigh.

"I see. Well, that is good to hear." He remarks, glancing at the window and noting the darkening sky. "It's getting late again. I think it's best if we retire for the night."

"No complaints there…" Futaba replies, leaning on the bar. "I'm about to…zzzzzz…."

"Out like a light again." Hifumi remarks as Sojiro gently picks her up.

"Well, we have had a long day." Akechi comments, giving out a yawn. "I believe sleep will be best for all of us right now."

"I'll stay up for a bit longer. Pin down what our next target will be." Tsuchiya offers as she comes to the map.

"Don't stay up for too long." Yuki calmly tells her. "You need your beauty sleep." Tsuchiya blushes in embarrassment as Yuki laughs gently at her before following everyone else upstairs. Tsuchiya draws new lines on the map, indicating her Phantom Resistance moving forward towards their main goals, with her smile growing with every new line.

"How did this happen? How did two more of my generals die to these rabbles? Didn't you say you would feel her false information?" Ichiro asks angrily to a shadowy figure on a screen. On the screen next to him, Shido's armour stood tall, the crimson glow shining through.

"She moved without consulting me! By the time I arrived to give her the false information, she had already left!" The shadow retorts although the green glow from Shido's armour made him shrink back.

"Regardless, two more generals are dead. The tethers tying them to their real selves are broken. We are close to undoing our changes of heart, and yet we have lost three backups!" The thrusters on the back of his armour flare briefly, illuminating the wall behind him a blazing blue.

"What good will undoing our changes of heart do anyway? We are in prison! Any power we had is gone!"

"Which is why Shido placed me in my position." Ichiro remarks with a frown.

"And with the Metaverse on my side, I can easily regain my lost power. But your failings so far are making you a liability." Shido coldly replies, crossing his bulky arms and revealing a giant shield on his left arm.

"But I found something important! The two you have been looking for are here!" The shadowy figure exclaims, stemming the anger from Ichiro and Shido as they stare at him impassively.

"Them? Are you certain they are who you think they are?" Ichiro asks, folding his arms. "If you are lying…"

"I am not. I questioned them at length and I can confirm that it is them." The shadowy figure folds their hands together as the glint of glasses can be briefly seen. "Toshiro and Yuki are here."