Good Day Readers! Obviously, I do not own anything connected to the Persona series in general or Persona 5 specifically, I DO own Chiba Natsumi and Anais Ouvrard, along with Natsumi's immediate family members and the original Personas that will be showing up on occasion.

I've decided that regarding the Confidants, only Councillor, Faith and Judgment – who is not Sae I will say that much – will be from Natsumi's point of view.

I would appreciate any responses that you have, please enjoy

Chapter 46: - Hanged Man, Councillor, Emperor

Iwai Munehisa was a cautious man, given his previous lifestyle that was no surprise and even more so with the cops sniffing around his shop like they currently were… just because he was good at making fake guns look real. The kid was useful for being a proxy, ballsy too which caused Iwai to smirk as he remembered some of the snark that came out of Ren when he felt like it, kid looked shy, but he had fire.

Which is why Iwai was concerned if he was making a mistake, he was currently looking at bows and all for the chick that Ren had gone and brought in the other day. Iwai didn't know if she was his girlfriend, relative or just a friend but it might just get him trouble to help the girl out with her bow issues. Why were they even asking him in the first place? He made guns, not bows, perhaps Iwai could convince her to buy a gun instead.

"Good morning, Iwai-san," Natsumi's voice greeted. Iwai jumped to his feet and shifted into a basic defence stance, because how the hell had she got into the store without him hearing the bell? She was stood there, cool as a cucumber, perhaps not even realising how she had spooked him. Nah, Iwai realised, the chick was evaluating his stance, like she knew it. "Impressive moves, you clearly have experience in combat," Natsumi noted. That caused him to relax as a small sound escaped his lips and he fixed his hat.

"Girl your age shouldn't be sayin' that kind of stuff," Iwai stated. Natsumi shrugged, completely unconcerned by what had just happened, and walked up to the counter and proceeded to set a pile of books on his counter. "Before we start, I've got to ask, would you consider just buying a gun?" Iwai asked. The effect was immediate, Natsumi's expression changed with her eyes warily looking at Iwai's stock as her lips pulled into a pinched line which turned her face rather sour.

Well, that look made it clear she wasn't interested and Iwai wasn't going to force her to do so, he didn't like the idea of forcing anyone to something they didn't want now that he was out of that lifestyle of his. Iwai sighed, resigned to the fact that he was going have to figure out how to improve on the girl's bow if he wanted to help her; and helping her would mean she'd be less likely to run to the police and get him in trouble.

"Alright, let's get to work then," Iwai decided. Natsumi's expression proceeded to relax immediately as a calm descended upon her, girl swung between being an open book and a steel vault to her expressions; it was a little spooky, but kind of fun in Iwai's mind as he tried to read her. "So, what's the problem with your bow?" Iwai asked. The bow had looked fine when she brought it in the other day, so it not being good enough was confusing to him.

"I'm not too sure, but during our social activities, it didn't pierce as deeply as it did before. I've checked the arrow and that's not a problem and my arm strength is the same, so it has to be the bow," Natsumi answered. Hmm, that was an interesting choice of words, social activities without actually explaining it; could be that they did so many different things that it was just an easy umbrella term or what they did was extremely shady.

"Hmm, the draw strength of the bow might be the problem, then," Iwai mused. Whatever these kids did, he didn't have the right to tell them to stop and besides poking his nose where it didn't belong could make the two retaliate, both Ren and Natsumi seemed like the cold anger type of people and they were the scary ones. "Look, I have some… friends. One's a bit of weapons nuts, I can call her and ask if she'd look at your bow. Her suggestions would be the best for us to get started," Iwai suggested. That would be an awkward conversation to have.

"Alright, if you trust her. Just tell me where and when she can meet us and I'll bring the bow," Natsumi decided. She pushed the books towards him and Iwai noted that they each had titles on them that proved they were all connected to archery in some manner, that would hopefully be useful in learning how to improve the bow once Iwai's friend got her hands on it.

"I really don't get you girl, I could be luring you into a trap and you're just gonna come, easy as that," Iwai pointed out. As he had been ruinating on what to do, Natsumi had made her way to the door and her hand was prepared to open it, but his words caused the girl to still as she cast her green eyes back at the man who steadily held her gaze as he waited for a response.

"You don't come off as that sort of depraved man, I trust my judgment and I trust Ren's sense for people. You're not a bad person Iwai-san," Natsumi stated. That caused Iwai to go still as he tried to process what had just been said as Natsumi opened the door. "Besides that, I can protect myself pretty well," Natsumi reassured. With those parting words, she disappeared out the door which swung close behind her.

Iwai proceeded to slump back in his seat as he tried to process the words that the girl had just spoken. Not a bad person, hah! If only the girl knew the kind of stuff he had been mixed up in several years ago, there's no way she'd be saying such words and especially to his face. But, despite the absurdity of her words, Iwai couldn't help the smallest of smiles that graced his face as he reached for his phone a dialled an old number.

"Hey Kichō," Iwai greeted. Immediately, angry snarling words that could make even a pirate blush started to stream out of the voice on the other end, but that was par for the course. "Ah, save your cursing, I've got a favour to ask of you and you might like it," Iwai tempted. The cursing stopped but the unintelligible grumbling didn't, Iwai rolled his eyes at the woman's grumpy attitude; somethings don't ever change. "How would you like to enhance a traditional nisun-nobi?" Iwai asked. He immediately chuckled when he heard the woman cursing under her breath because he knew he had her hooked on the offer.

*Persona 5 Royal*

I decided that today would probably be a good idea for me to talk to Maruki-sensei today, after everything that had happened with Madarame's Palace it might be best for me to talk about what had happened to me. I'd have to be very vague to avoid accidentally outing us, but it might be a good choice to get the incident off of my chest. Leaving the classroom, I easily made the walk to the nurse's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Maruki-sensei's voice called. I pushed the door open and I proceeded to step inside, the brown haired therapist gave me a gentle smile "Ah, Chiba-san, what can I do for you?" Maruki-sensei asked. It was so strange how he could make you feel so relaxed, but I suppose that a counsellor would need such an energy around them.

"I was wondering if I could talk to you about something?" I asked. Maruki-sensei motioned for me to sit down so I joined him, hopefully that strange fuzzy feeling wouldn't show up again to interrupt the session. That had been such a strange sensation to be suddenly assault by, but nothing had come afterwards, it could have honestly been the drain from the Palace but it was so unusual.

"What is it you wanted to talk about?" Maruki-sensei gently probed. I looked at my fingers and twisted them in nonsense patterns as I tried to organise my thoughts much like when Morgana had sprung his Atalanta question on me, and just like the human turned cat, Maruki-sensei was kind enough to let me arrange my words how they needed to be arranged.

"I ran into someone whose situation mirrored mine in an uncomfortable way," I started off. I'd need to be careful in how to word my sentences in order to avoid Maruki-sensei getting any suspicions about me or my friends being members of the Phantoms; he might give off the aura of a bit of a moppet, but he was also insightful and I didn't want to get the wrong kind of attention drawn to us.

"Someone who lost their parents and was raised by a… actually I don't think you ever told me who took you in, but they aren't a pleasant person," Maruki-sensei clarified. Heck, I really hadn't told him that it was my uncle who'd adopted me, also of course he wouldn't understand that I wasn't referring to my adoption; looks like I'll have to come clean about that to Maruki-sensei in order to get the proper advice.

"Um, only slightly but there was a bit more similarity than that… I haven't actually told you about that. Also, it was my maternal uncle who took me in," I clarified. Maruki-sensei nodded, although I noticed that a spark of anger appeared within his eyes as if he was struggling with the information I had given him; no surprise there since most people wouldn't expect family to do something so cruel.

"Then I think you should tell me about that, before this other issue, I can't help you otherwise," Maruki-sensei insisted. I knew this is what I'd have to do but it still felt like a lead stone sinking in my stomach at the fact that Maruki-sensei had insisted I tell him about Ouvrard; I took in a deep breath in order to prepare myself for what had to be done.

"Oh-okay… I… I'll try… but it's difficult… for me to speak about," I admitted. Forcing the words out passed the block in my throat, it had seemed to swell up the moment I started trying to get the words out and my tongue almost felt like it had dried out. A warmth spread across my hand when Maruki-sensei reached over and clasped his hand around the appendage.

"Just take your time Chiba-san, remember what I said the first time you came in," Maruki-sensei gently reassured. I nodded my head, knowing that he was essentially telling me that I could run out of this room at any second and there would be no judgment coming from him which was quite comforting in all honesty and I think that is what gave me the courage to finally work passed the blockage and dryness.

"After I was taken in by my uncle, my life became very empty. There wasn't much I could do, in my uncle's house as he had forced me to either give up or very cleverly hide all things tied to my family. Anything he found, he destroyed. The one thing I… found real… comfort in… was… my… singing," I explained. The words were still difficult to get out but at least I managed to get them out.

Maruki-sensei had surprisingly remained silent, I could feel his eyes gently resting on me. His silence wasn't painful or uncomfortable, it actually made me think of a blanket that my mother used to swaddle me in when I was cold; something incredibly warm and encompassing, causing the tension that was building in my shoulders to slowly ebb away and they slowly started to move down from the bunched position near my ears.

"One day, my uncle heard me and he decided to bring in a former opera singer in order to train me. But her training was… brutal," I continued on. The memories of what Ouvrard had made me undergo, how I started to retreat into myself more than before; after losing my family it had been a reaction to my uncle's words and probably a defence mechanism, but the training just made me cut myself off from everything and everyone in the world.

"How was it brutal?" Maruki-sensei tentatively asked. He sounded almost scared, as if he didn't want to image what I had been put through by someone else, all at the willing hands of my family member; perhaps I shouldn't have smiled ever so slightly but his natural concern was rather endearing and it helped to ease the memories that were taunting me.

"She… ran my voice… ragged. It w-would h-hurt during… her training a-and s-she just w-wouldn't… let me r-rest. B-But… that w-wasn't… the w-worst p-part… of i-it… a-all," I began to speak. The words just wouldn't come out easily, it was a chore or more accurately a battle to drag the words out of my throat and I could feel my breath getting much heavier as I forced each word to come out.

"You don't have to force yourself to speak, Chiba-san," Maruki-sensei gently soothed. But I shook my head, I was holding onto what happened and it wasn't healthy; Shiho, Ann and Ryūji were working towards getting better by overcoming their own pain but how could I keep encouraging them to heal if I never did, I was essentially being a hypocrite by encouraging what they were doing yet not doing it myself.

"No… I need to do this," I insisted. Maruki-sensei nodded, in an almost grim manner but he neither said nor did anything to stop me, merely kept his hand gently pressed to my own. "I can't sing anymore. It's not a matter of capability in a physical manner, but an emotional manner, I… I l-lost any… interest in singing d-due to what she d-did to me," I finally forced out. It was almost like a heavy weight was off my chest and I slumped back into my chair, all energy feeling like it had been drained from my body, I actually find of felt exhausted yet relieved at the same time.

"That must have been hard for you," Maruki-sensei stated. He finally pulled his hand back, perhaps realising I didn't need the comfort anymore, but it had been nice almost like Hikaru-nii's touch, soft yet strong in its' comforting energy "Is there any chance you could sing again?" Maruki-sensei wondered. A scoff escaped my lips at that question.

"I highly doubt it, that was so viciously soured it would be a miracle for me to feel like ever singing again," I admitted. A scowl dragged my lips down and I folded my arms across my chest as I tried not to let all the kindness Maruki-sensei gave off be washed away by the bitterness that was escaping from me at such a question.

"But if you could, would you sing again?" Maruki-sensei asked. I perked up at his question, completely surprised by the words, I looked at the man and found nothing but his compassion and empathy staring at me; none of the others who knew what I went through had asked me such a question, maybe they didn't want to push me into talking about it, but the question was rather intriguing to ponder.

"If I could, without remembering what happened," I wondered. Maruki-sensei grinned broadly, practically lit like a sunbeam, as he nodded his head almost eagerly "In a heartbeat," I honestly answered.

*Persona 5 Royal*

Yusuke was relieved that he had didn't have to pay for the train ride to Yongen, he was quite terrible about manging such a material insignificance that it often ended up disappearing before he realised it. Fortunately, his school benefits still encompassed the Yongen area for train travel which made his ability to get away for the evening much better.

Yusuke had quite enjoyed today, being able to head with Ren into Mementos and finding a magnificent use for his painting skills in order to copy those odd Skill Cards Ren had. Mementos was such an awe-inspiring, if slightly horrifying, place to walk and he could feel his mind swirling with ideas. But today, Yusuke must put aside the paint brush and take up the new tool that he had gained, a short knock on the door of the building summoned his teacher.

"Yusuke? What are you doing here?" Natsumi asked. The girl's wide green eyes blinked in confusion at his presence, which is no surprise as Yusuke hadn't exactly sent anything ahead to warn Natsumi that he would be dropping by; it had honestly been a spur of the moment decision instigated by the man he had once admired to the point of foolish zealotry.

"I was hoping to get some training done, I would like to take my mind off Madarame's current predicament," Yusuke admitted. Natsumi's eyes softened and Yusuke was struck by the urge to capture her gaze in painting; it was the sort of gaze that evoked a gentle warmth within Yusuke's heart, perhaps because it was born of understanding more than such an almost empty thing as pity.

"Sure, come on in," Natsumi agreed. The weapons master – a fine nickname for the girl in truth – proceeded to step back and allow Yusuke to follow after her, they moved towards the dojo and it was unlocked. "Do you want to practice with me in sparring for go through a kata on your own?" Natsumi wondered. Yusuke shifted his stance as he contemplated which route to take.

"Perhaps both, I've found some videos of different sword styles and I'd like to hear your thoughts on how to best utilise them, a spar would greatly help with that and after I can put your recommendations into practice with a solo kata," Yusuke suggested. A grin appeared on Natsumi's lips, apparently pleased with such a suggestion.

"Sounds perfect, get your weapon," Natsumi agreed. Yusuke eagerly darted in, surprised at how much he had come to look forward to this; but there was such beauty within Natsumi's movements when she had torn into him that day, a deadly grace that Yusuke had the deepest urge to recreate in his own style… Natsumi might not believe herself to be a master but in Yusuke's heart she certainly was one.

After Yusuke retrieved his weapon, they proceeded to set themselves into their stances. Yusuke took the time to analyse Natsumi's stance as he gripped the pommel of his blade. Within his mind's eye, the videos he had watched flittered across as he pulled forth his sword. Natsumi remained steady, rooted, as if she was an ancient tree and unwilling to bend to the young sapling challenging her.

Yusuke quickly pushed off with the balls of feet, darting across the flooring as swift as he could. Even though he advantaged on her at a decent speed, Natsumi remained stationary except to move her weight onto the balls of her feet. The moment Yusuke got close, he attacked, swiping the blade from the sheath to attempt a cut.

But Natsumi was much quicker. Yusuke could only watch as with a surge of strength through her legs, Natsumi leapt out of the way of the attack. Once her feet hit the ground, she thrust out with her weapon towards Yusuke. The artist barely twisted himself to the side to avoid the blow. Yusuke lifted the sword and attempted to slash down onto the weapon. But a force hit his foot, sending him off balance. Yusuke scrambled to stay upright and lost his aim for the weapon.

Natsumi used the distraction to pull her weapon back. Thankfully Yusuke had recovered his foot before she could strike. Acting quickly, Yusuke pulled the sheath free and blocked Natsumi's strike. Twisting his katana around, Yusuke struck out, attempting to land a blow on Natsumi. However, the girl twisted to the side to dodge the blow.

The change of her position brought the girl's face to a different angle and in that moment, Yusuke noticed something that had him staring. The centre of her irises were different colours, one was an almost golden yellow almost like sunlight while the other one was a much lighter blue, like the clear summer sky. Yusuke was so entranced by the different colours, that he wasn't entirely sure how he ended up disarmed and on his back. Natsumi stood over him and proceeded to reach a hand down, which Yusuke grabbed to haul himself upright.

"Impressive," Natsumi complimented. Yusuke couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at his lips at the words that slipped passed the woman's lips. "However, you ended up getting distracted right at the end. Now, I don't know why but, focus on the battle. All its' components, your capabilities, the enemies' weakness, your allies' capabilities, their health, your health, everyone's movements and many more that you can only learn by experience. The artist must be put aside so that the warrior may flourish, the battle is a moment, and in that moment, you must exist," Natsumi lectured.

"I should probably try to practice that," Yusuke admitted. It would be difficult for him to block out the artist compulsions whenever he spotted something incredible enough for him to want to capture it within canvas and paint, but if his compulsions endangered the others then better that he learn here, where it was safe, than out in combat which could result in serious injury to himself or the rest.

They broke apart and Yusuke assumed his stance. The false katana hovering right between his eyes as he stared straight ahead. He began to move, swiftly cut up and down, then side to side, recalling the image of what the swordsman had done in that video. Yusuke turned the intense focus from when he was painting to his practice. The world fell away as he envisaged the movements of his sword slicing through enemies and carefully stepping forward or backwards and even a few shuffles side to side.

Eventually Yusuke stopped, allowing the world to come rushing back, and with it an image of perfection. All the while he had been practicing his kata, Natsumi had been performing her own set of movements. Her movements were of such fluid grace that it was like the girl was part water creature, yet each strike was filled with such strength that Yusuke was certain she could pierce a samurai's armour. He could not resist the urge to raise his fingers and frame the scene. An Onna-musha, peacefully training in her sanctuary before the next battle to come. Yet looking at her, a thought sprang to mind that Yusuke did not stop.

"Natsumi, may I ask you something," Yusuke asked. The girl did not even break her focus as she moved through her motions, her only response was a curt nod of her head as she swiped her naginata horizontally around her as she twisted. "You were taught singing by Ouvrard, weren't you?" Yusuke asked. That certainly got a reaction out of the girl.

Her naginata slashed down in an almost violent manner, extremely at odds with her previous poise and grace, her entire body went rigid and her eyes were wide as they drilled into the floor with great intensity. Yusuke did not forget how she had almost violently lashed out at Madarame's Shadow after learning of his mother's fate – a fact he respected Natsumi for immensely – and this position gave off the same energy.

"Yes, I was," Natsumi admitted. She pulled back, only slightly more relaxed but not by much, the tension still rolled off of her in waves as she flicked her naginata around to rest it on the ground as Natsumi raised her green eyes to pierce into Yusuke. "I just don't like talking about it, even now. It's nothing against you Yusuke, it was an entirely personal reason that I'm just starting to learn to get over. Why do you ask?" Natsumi added on.

"When you spoke to me, after that time I… threatened all of you," Yusuke began. A feeling of shame welling up within him as he spoke, dismayed with how he had acted towards people only trying to help him, not out of misguided self-righteousness or a presumption of better-ness but from genuine empathy. "You happened to touch your throat as you mentioned your own experience with such a mentor and you spoke in depth about Ouvrard's distortion. It wasn't hard to make the connections," Yusuke admitted. He could still vividly recall the way Natsumi's hand had moved and tighten around her neck in an almost violent manner.

"Of course, you're an artist and it's become apparent that I'm still hung up on my voice," Natsumi mused. She seemed contemplative as she twirled her weapon around in her hand, Yusuke watched the girl in silence for a few moments as he tried to figure out what to say next, it was quite the conundrum for the young painter; especially with the things he wanted to say to the girl about what he had deduced.

"It may not be my place to say such things, but I can't keep this quiet," Yusuke decided. This stopped Natsumi from twirling the weapon as she gripped it and inclined her head to look at Yusuke. "I think it is a shame that you are turning your back upon something you once loved and must have some skill at to have become the focus of a woman skilled in singing herself," Yusuke stated. Natsumi's eyes widened in surprise at his words and this embolden Yusuke to push on to what he truly wanted to say. "I think you should try to continue pursuing your singing," Yusuke admitted.

"You're right, it isn't your place," Natsumi stated. Her voice was very cold, enough that Yusuke actually felt terrified, before Natsumi's body slumped and she slipped to the floor in an almost dejected heap, Yusuke moved over to sit beside her though in a more graceful manner. "But I appreciate your candour. Someone else has actually spoken to me about my voice, something she seems to have an understanding with," Natsumi added on. Her normal warmth having rushed back which relieved Yusuke; to know he hadn't really angered her with his opinion.

"Perhaps she might be able to help you. I think it would be a shame if you continued to deprive yourself of the joy of singing," Yusuke admitted. This caused Natsumi to look at him with a raised eyebrow as she adjusted herself into a proper seating position, much more befitting of a woman of her skills and appearance.

"You haven't even heard me sing, how do you know I'm any good at it," Natsumi questioned. Ah, such a simple question with quite a simple answer in truth; Yusuke knew talent when he saw it, plenty of the other students had none but their hard work more than made up for their lack of innate ability, others who barely put in the effort thanks to their talent, then those like himself in possess of talent and skill. Yusuke might not know her skill, but if there was one thing Yusuke knew for certain, it was that Natsumi had talent.

"Because no one would be so hurt over something they weren't capable of doing better than anyone else," Yusuke answered.