Author's note:
A lot of preamble I could say, but I think I'll leave most of it until the end.
Far later than I wanted again, but oh well.
-asdf
Chapter 51: Her life before mine
Friday, October 14th, 20XX After school
"So black mask is you. Why am I not surprised?"
Joker's curt words only got a laugh from Akechi. His red eyes showing through the beaked black mask seemed to glow with madness. "Ohhh, I'm so glad I went through the effort of setting this up! All day I've been planning this, and you fell into my trap perfectly!"
"Well to my eyes you've made a bad mistake."
"Is that right?"
"Yeah, you have no way of stopping me from pounding your sorry little face." Joker threatened, drawing his pistol and knife. "I'll give you one chance to—"
Akechi's wild laugh pierced his words. It sounded deranged, a laugh with no filter or mask to hide his true nature. "Fool. You can't even touch me!"
Jumping away, Akechi pulled himself up to a second level on a steel mesh balcony. It was an athletic maneuver that Joker would have struggled to pull off. The way that Akechi made it look easy was a worrying sign.
It was a long shot, but Joker lined up his sights on the detective.
"Are you sure it is me that you should be aiming at?"
Joker had been so focused that he had completely forgotten about the two shadows that had been stalking Akechi; their eyes glowing red. As if Akechi's words had been a signal, they charged.
The shadows were in the shape of tall women with six arms, swords in each one. Their steps were cracking the ground, movement beyond the capacity of shadows that Joker had ever encountered before. Doesn't matter.
"Decarabia!" Having just a second, Joker ripped off his mask. A slight warping of the air surrounded him. It was not an ability that he used often, but when it worked…
Clang!
Both swords hit his shield at the same time stopping them. The magic shield pulsed and then rebounded with the same force. That force turned out to be incredible. Both of the shadows were shredded instantly, bodies crumbling into nothingness.
Smirking, Joker looked back up at Akechi. "I hope you weren't expecting them to beat me."
"Oh no, I wasn't. Although Tetrakarn… that is a powerful ability. I am glad I didn't underestimate you."
He likely did. There was no way for Akechi to know about Joker's multiple personas. Without the imminent threat of powerful but frail monsters, Joker looked around the room, reassessing. The second-story balcony ran around the entire room, having a second entrance to the room that Violet had followed Kasumi into. There was one more exit to the room. Down a ramp, the room ended with a corner.
That was all the time afforded to Joker. From the rafters another two shadows jumped down, eyes glowing red. Akechi is controlling them somehow.
"Do you understand what I've done to them?"
Eyes shooting up to Akechi lounging around, Joker had to rip his gaze away. The sight of the cocky detective was turning his blood red. "Of course I don't."
"Really? Then I suppose you aren't the brains of the Phantom Thieves. You are the leader though, right?"
"Does it matter?" Joker growled taking a step back as the shadows encroached. They were moving more slowly than the first two but had the same aura of power and ferocity. As if their sanity was barely hanging on.
A rage effect? Joker wondered. Similar, but no.
"Ah, a little. If you aren't we will have to torture you until you tell us who is."
"Tsk. Of course I'm the leader, Goro. Don't worry, though, you'll have more important things to worry about when I smash your face on the floor."
"AHAHA! Then fight, Ren! Rage against the monsters, lose your sanity and destroy them!"
He's insane… The same red light that was in the monsters' eyes glowed from beneath his black mask.
"GRARGH!" A white tiger roared and lunged at him. Having not put up the reflective barrier again, Joker had to roll out of the way. Those deadly claws just missed his lapels before gouging the floor. As Joker was getting his bearings, the other shadow was bearing down on him. In the form of a man with a sharp spear in his right hand, Joker prepared himself for the lunge.
Thud!
His shoulder erupted in pain. The sound of metal impacting against bone ringing out through the chamber. Getting thrown back from the impact, Joker blinked in confusion, sorting through what had happened. I missed the attack!?
The soldier was now standing with his spear elongated in front of him, tip leaking Joker's blood. Holding the injury, Joker stood up far more nervous than before as the two shadows circled him.
Fear had him reaching for his mask, desperate to call upon that physical shield to save him from these monsters. Those predatory grins stopped him. It's too slow…
There was no way to call it up before the attacks would land. Left in a nearly impossible situation, Joker switched to a persona naturally resistant to physical attacks and waited, knife out. Pressed in on all sides, he could not even begin to consider the situation at large. Akechi, Violet, the other phantom thieves, Kasumi. Each one an obscure piece to a puzzle that Ren could not begin to piece together.
Perhaps noticing his rising nerves, the tiger lunged again, large claws searching for his face. The power in the attack could not be stopped. Barely reacting with honed instincts, Joker ducked, pulling out his grapple to pull his prone body across the floor and away from the spear.
Releasing the handle, he pulled off his mask as he skidded. Grappling hook skittering away, Joker bet it all on this. "Slow them, Ganesha!"
Another rare ability that got little use wrapped the shadows with cords of energy. Rune-like shapes settled in on their struggling forms before vanishing into their essence, leaving them slowed.
Rising to his feet, Joker darted back towards them, away from his grappling hook. The ability was the only reason that the wave of ice that tickled his heels didn't land a direct hit. As lightning gathered in the spear-wielders off-hand, Joker lunged.
Bolts pierced him, scorching cloths and burning a hole in his coattails. With his knife raised though, Joker moved through the blast and buried it up to its hilt in the shadow's chest. The frail defense side-effect from the madness meant the single attack was enough to kill. It struggled for a few moments as Joker rode it to the ground, but in moments it started to dissolve.
One down.
Raising an arm, Joker was thrown aside by the attack he knew was coming. Rolling hard along the ground, Joker groaned against the pain, peeling himself off the metal surface. Blinking away the stars, he looked at the surviving white tiger that was angrily stamping the ground, trying to pry away the fading shackles.
From his half-raised position, Joker began firing. The first two bullets landed to great effect as it roared in pain. The third missed as it shifted but Joker adjusted to the restrained creature. Dying, it opened its jaws one last time.
Ah, shit.
Unable to dodge, Joker fired through the storm of white that consumed his body. "T-T-Titania…" Washed over with healing light, Joker stumbled to his feet for another round. "Akechi… Goro… I'm coming for you."
"HAHAHA! Good luck, Ren!"
Another monster entered the room ahead of him. It was only then that Joker fully understood. Goro was toying with him. One monster at a time to see how long he could last. Sorry guys… I think I need you to save me again.
No grappling hook, mind half drained, and body still injured, Joker steadied himself for another round.
Friday, October 14th, 20XX After school
Kasumi stared at her sister's back in shock. It actually… worked? Well, sort of. Sumire had drawn the sword at her waist before Kasumi could do anything. Still, it was time for her to move on to the next stage.
"Stay back and keep your head low! I will deal with the monsters and—Agh!"
Shoving her sister hard from behind, Kasumi snatched the pistol as Sumire fell away from her. Darting back to a recess in the wall, she freed the knot and ascended on a small platform up to the second level.
From her perspective in the side room, Kasumi could now see everything. The path out on this level, the door blocked the monsters that were now encircling her sister. As Akechi had promised however, they stood primed but did not attack.
"Don't fight!" Kasumi yelled down. "You won't be hurt if you do not fight back!"
"W-What are you talking about!?" Sumire screamed back, hurt and betrayal clear in her voice. "Are… Are you real?"
"Of course I am," Kasumi sighed. "I'm doing this to save you. Just—"
"SAVE ME!?" The screech had a physical force to it. Staggering back a step, Kasumi felt a sudden fear of her sister whose eyes were practically glowing. An angry red light shining from beneath the elegant mask that she wore.
"Y-Yes!" Kasumi responded when she had recovered. "Ren is using you! Don't worry. I swear I'll—"
"How dare you! I'm being used. ME!? Look in a mirror, idiot!"
"Shut up!" Kasumi slammed a hand against the railing. "Just let me help you!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
Glaring at her sister, Kasumi tightened her hands pointlessly on the railing. Why? Why can't we get along anymore!?
Sumire turned away from her, looking around the circle of monsters that were surrounding her. The sight of her sister in such a precarious situation was giving her anxiety. Trust Akechi, they won't attack if she doesn't. It will be—
Sumire lunged for the rightmost one, her blade a blur to Kasumi's vision. The speed of the combat was far beyond what she thought herself capable of. "NO! They won't fight you if you don't attack!"
The shadow fell back, clearly injured from the attack. Instantly though, healing light descended upon it from its nearest comrade. Sumire's vicious attack had ended up not leaving a single mark upon it. Unfortunately, her sister's violent rampage was unabated. Ripping off her mask, she called upon that power Akechi had named 'persona', "Jeanne!"
The room turned blindingly white as a warrior maiden called down powerful strikes upon the shadows. For a moment, Kasumi stood in awe of her sister, and then everything changed.
The light bent around the shadows and was shot back at Sumire. Four powerful rays pierced her surprised form. With only a confused gargle, she collapsed to the ground.
"SUMI!" Screaming, Kasumi lunged against the guardrail, staring horrified at her sister's steaming form. On the verge of jumping the four meters back to the ground, Kasumi froze as Sumire's head moved.
With one eye focusing upon her, Sumire groaned. "Please…"
"Sumi…" The word was inaudible before it passed through her lips. Kasumi hated seeing her sister like this; tears welled in her eyes. Why? Why does she continue to struggle? Just let us put Ren on trial and be free again!
Her own tears felt like a poor imitation of the single drop, like a precious diamond, sliding down her sister's cheek. Kasumi stared at her sister, spellbound by an emotion she could not put into words.
"Please… save him."
"D-Don't worry. He isn't going to die or anything. Akechi is just going to—"
"Please…" Sumire repeated a third time. "I love him."
"I-I know you do! But he lied to you! He…"
"I can't live without him… Please… Kas."
Shaking her head violently, Kasumi staggered back from the railing. She couldn't bear to look at her sister any longer. The agony in her voice was the slow twisting of a knife in Kasumi's gut. This is for her own good! It will help!
"Please Kas."
Unable to take it anymore, she yelled out a response, "fine! I'll go check on them and make sure nothing is amiss. Just… stay here and heal. I'll help you back home soon."
Even as Kasumi fled, her mind was filled with that single eye and the lone tear trickling down her cheek. Cauterizing a wound is painful, you can not improve without pain, there were a million adages to support Kasumi's actions, yet she could not believe them. Her sister had a purity that she had tainted. An innocence that she had robbed with her own hands.
Pushing open the door, Kasumi entered the main chamber again. Ren was struggling to stand, two shadows pursuing him. They were like the ones that were keeping her sister contained. It was easy to tell that he had almost driven himself to the point of exhaustion. They were almost done here.
Nothing to worry about then… Akechi is following the plan.
"AHAHA, do you surrender yet, Ren? Come on, kneel before me!"
The madness in the voice doused her like a bucket of cold water. Akechi was standing on the platform adjacent to hers. With hesitant steps she approached the boy. The one who was not quite her lover, but far more than a friend.
Below them, Ren had managed to defeat the two shadows, shattering them into a cloud of darkness. Falling to one knee, he panted as Akechi mocked from above. "Is that your limit then? I want you lucid when I put a bullet between your eyes!"
Gasping, Kasumi stumbled. Her shoes rang on the walkway, drawing the attention of the boys. It was Ren who spoke first. His voice parched. "Run, Kasumi! Goro is not your friend!"
"Not… my friend? A-Akechi what is that suit!? Why did you say that!?"
The princely garb was gone. In its place was a striped suit of blacks. Some rip on jester's garb. The red mask had changed to a pitch black, contrasting his red eyes that burned like embers from within.
"Ah, my dear Kasumi. Go sit with your sister until I'm done here, alright?"
Please Kas… With her sister's words floating through her mind, Kasumi shook her head instinctively. "No, I need—"
"No?" Akechi cut her off, voice dripping with malice. He took a few steps closer, closing the gap so he could lift her chin with his hand. "Do you break your promises so easily? Return to your sister and I'll fulfill all of your fantasies tonight."
"A-Akechi…" She wanted to believe. Desperately, Kasumi hoped that she had done the right thing. But the insanity and lust in his voice degraded that hope. As the pillars slowly collapsed, she begged one desperate question. "Are you seriously going to kill him!?"
Smack! Stunned, Kasumi touched her cheek that now burned with a red-hot pain. Finding herself seated on the ground, she looked up at Akechi with confused eyes. He… slapped me?
"W-What was that for?"
"For not obeying me. Crawl back into the room with your sister and don't come out until I get you!"
I want to listen… Kasumi shut her eyes, fighting the swirls of emotions. Shoulders hunching in, she was not sure if she had ever felt quite so powerless. She wished things could have stayed how they had been. It had not been ideal, but it was better than nothing.
Now, they had tipped. The final pillar crumbled away as Akechi turned back to Ren, insane laughter bubbling up once more.
Kas, I love him! Sumire's words haunted her.
Slowly, head lowered, Kasumi regained her feet. Standing still, she struggled to act. Why? Haven't I given her enough? Taking one, then two small steps, Kasumi felt Akechi turn back to her.
"Why are you still here!?"
"You know Akechi… I thought you were intelligent."
"Huh? What are you babbling about!? I said GO!"
This time, Kasumi caught the right-handed slap with her left hand. Lifting her head, she stared Akechi in the eyes. She knew not what he saw there but he staggered back a step, ripping his arm from her grip.
"But I suppose to an idiot like me, even passing intelligence can appear like genius."
"W-What the hell is wrong with you!?"
"You still don't get it, do you?" Taking a step forward, Kasumi glared at the boy she had hoped to fall for. Her savior, her crutch. "How many times have I told you? Do you think me a liar?"
"Spit it out!" Akechi demanded, backpedaling another step, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
"No matter how many times I am offered, no matter what I am forced to endure… I will choose her happiness over mine every time. I told you that. Again and again! You truly are an idiot, Akechi Goro!"
"Ahahaha! Oh, this is funny! So, you will turn on me, doll? Stand there and accept your role as my toy! Face it, you are powerless. This is your only option!"
"No, it isn't." Standing resolute, Kasumi felt something swirling within her. "Even if it kills me, I will protect my sister's love."
"And how do you plan on doing that?" Akechi drawled, pulling out his gun. The pitch-black pistol was pointed at her head, but Kasumi felt no fear, only a calm reservation. She had chosen her fate.
I guess my borrowed time is up…
"Kasumi! No! I-I'll be fine. Return to Sumire, save her, please!" Ren desperate plead seemed to sap his remaining energy as fell on all fours, panting heavily.
Smiling down at him, Kasumi addressed him once with a soft smile. "I'm sorry I doubted you, Ren. Do you think in another timeline it would be me that… No, it does not matter."
Returning to Akechi, Kasumi found herself devoid of the rage she expected. On the verge of dying, she could not muster the emotion to hate the man in front of her.
Instead, she spoke calmly as she accepted her fate. "I'm sorry, Akechi. I'm going to kill you."
As her almost lover recoiled, Kasumi felt what had been swirling within her all day. As her clothes transformed into something more, a mask formed on her face. Even without seeing it, Kasumi knew that it was identical to the one that had adorned her sister's face but with the color palette inverted. A deep black touched with gildings of gold. Indeed, that was the pattern for the entire outfit that covered her. A shiny obsidian black dancing dress and coattails gilded with gold. It was gaudy yet beautiful and drew the eye.
"T-The power of a persona!? You dare!?"
"I do." Kasumi replied calmly. With her left hand she pulled slowly yet steadily on one side of her mask, savoring the excruciating pain as its removal peeled off her face. Gritting her teeth, Kasumi shoved out the words while continuing to pull. "To achieve her happiness, I will sacrifice myself. I will stain my hands with the blood of thousands as nations fall around me. I will burn the world down to warm her hands! Come, Paris!"
With a final yank, Kasumi threw the mask to the ground, revealing the bloody mess that was left behind. Agony slowly dissolved into a sense of renewed energy as adrenaline and something greater poured into her. Above her head a persona formed. It was an androgynous man with Greek features wearing silver battle armour and wielding a spear in his right hand.
"You have found your resolve?"
"I have."
"Then let us walk the path of betrayal together, following the footsteps of Aphrodite's whims!"
"Ahh, let us." As the persona reformed into a mask, Kasumi felt by her side and found what she had been searching for. With a pure gold hilt atop a sheath of onyx, Kasumi slid the rapier free. The steel sparkling with ostentatious gold filigree.
"Ahh, fuck this!" Whipping his silenced pistol back into position, Akechi fired at her.
Kasumi didn't even need to think. Her body knew what to do. With a casual swipe of her blade, she sent the bullet ricocheting away.
"H-Huh!?" Backpedaling, Akechi kept firing.
Each bullet was met with her sword and another step forward. In moments, there was no longer the bang of a gunshot but the soft click of an empty chamber.
"Seems like times up." Kasumi whispered.
"Is that what you think!? I am the lord of the metaverse! I mastered this place! You think that you, a newcomer can defeat me in a fight!?"
"Maybe not, but I will kill you."
"Bitch!" Akechi swore lifting his sword in his left hand. Pausing, he took a moment and switched hands. "Fine then, come! I will cut you down, you useless, broken toy!"
"Ahh, let's end this farce." Twirling her blade, Kasumi relied on her baton and ribbon experience to face him. Pausing only momentarily, she charged.
Friday, October 14th, 20XX After school
"Gaaa!" An unintelligible sound left Akechi's mouth as he tried to parry the first swing. The speed and power were beyond that of even enraged monsters. Forced backwards, Akechi's mind reeled as he tried to keep up with these developments.
Why!? Why did she betray me!? She should be mine at this point! Her sister abandoned her and hates her!
Akechi swiped back with his blade. It was less of a serious attack and more of a gambit to buy distance and time. Even as panic threatened to consume him, his top-tier mind produced an answer for his predicament.
The awakening produces a rush of power. Just delay her.
Smirking, Akechi gave his old confidant a final warning. "You should have stayed in that room. Come, Loki!"
Debilitate was one of the strongest abilities that he had access to. In terms of fighting one vs one, the skill was essential to defeating palaces and causing mental shutdowns.
"Paris." The slowdown and weakness that Akechi had applied melted away in moments.
As Akechi continued to retreat, Kasumi lunged. Caught by surprise at how fast she had reacted, Akechi's parry was slow. Catching the lunge in the middle of the blade, he felt the cold metal sink into his left shoulder.
"Tsk," Taking another step back, Akechi ran solidly into a wall.
"Well, well, nowhere to run…"
"Ahaha… So it seems. Finish me, Kas. Do it."
Akechi thought there was a brief moment of hesitation in her eyes. It did not stop her from pulling back and lunging for his heart.
Victorious, Akechi crowed, "LOKI!" A barrier forming between them that caught and completely halted the blow. Kasumi's eyes widened with confusion before she was blown backwards. The force of her great attack had reflected, sending the girl somersaulting to a halt.
Stepping forward to end it, Akechi gaped as she rose again, looking completely fine.
The only difference was that the mask of calm was shattered by a puzzled frown as Kasumi ran a hand over her chest. "Reflection… single use. Interesting."
Shit! Akechi cursed as she figured it out almost instantly. The skill was powerful but the mind that it drained in combination with even a small gust of wind making it go off meant that it was very possible for Kasumi to fight around it.
With the gap between them restored, Akechi knew that he would have to utilize the only difference between them: knowledge about their personas. "LOKI!"
Forcing the god of mischief forth once again, Akechi used another ultimate ability. It started from one blackish-purple drop that fell from nowhere in front of Kasumi. Her alert eyes picking it up and raising her sword warily.
Boom!
With a gigantic roar, the drop exploded into a sphere of destruction that warped and bent the air. Metal railway bending and deforming underneath them. As the palace screeched in protest, Akechi laughed.
"AHAHA, how do you like that!? Still threatening to—"
A black-and-gold shadow penetrated the sphere rushing straight for him. The damage was plainer to see now as her coattails were frayed, left arm dripping blood from a series of wounds upon it.
Kasumi had apparently no care for it as she rushed straight forward.
"Ehh?" Stepping to the side, Akechi was far too slow as the blade pierced his right side just above his hipbone. With a solid thump the tip of her rapier connected with the wall behind him.
She… ran me through!? ME!? Face twisting in rage as pain started to envelop his mind, Akechi roared and swung. The force of his attack generated the force necessary to rip himself off the blade, side cut completely open.
Screaming in agony, Akechi thrust his sword toward at a stunned looking Kasumi. "BITCH!"
"Eh?"
With her sword tip still impaled I the wall she had to release the blade entirely and failed to dodge the swing that cut deeply into her forearm before lodging in her shoulder. Giving his sword a vicious tug, Akechi used the serrated edge to saw through her.
"AHHH!" The scream of pain from Kasumi that had echoed Akechi's earlier one buoyed him.
More confident now, he placed a hand on his side and found that the 'blood' had stopped. While the damage was quite real, it wouldn't be replicated to the same extent upon exiting the metaverse. That didn't mean his mind hadn't provided a very real pain response to it.
Bloodlust peaking, Akechi screamed, his vision turning red. He felt additional power entering his body as his persona's defenses were lowered in exchange.
Kasumi was left without a sword meaning she had only one out. Predicting it, he matched her cry at the same time.
"Paris!"
"Loki!"
The large strike that was coming toward him would be perfectly reflected by the shield that he manifested. Waiting with a wide-mouthed grin for the destruction of the girl that had betrayed him, Akechi blinked in surprise as a bullet clinked off his chest.
What… was that?
"GRAGHHH!" Howling in pain, Akechi felt the spear from Kasumi's persona pierce through his chest entirely. Getting suspended against the wall for a second time, his red-tinged vision turning black as his consciousness threatened to flee. A moment later the persona dissolved leaving him to collapse to the ground. With his hazy vision he looked across at Kasumi. She was holding her stomach where the bullet from her flintlock had pierced her.
Not enough damage. Akechi's mind supplied. She had taken hits, but she should still be able to fight. One more summoning of her persona and that would be it.
"Ahh…" Kasumi fell to one knee.
Her awakening! Akechi huffed out a bloody laugh. Using the wall, he pushed himself to his feet. "This has been entertaining. I will be back momentarily for the justice that I am owed."
Stumbling from the room, Akechi left to find what he needed.
Friday, October 14th, 20XX After school
"No… You can't…" Struggling desperately, Kasumi was helpless to stop Akechi from fleeing the room. Her clothes were flickering between the outfit she had summoned and her regular clothes.
Pain was coursing through her from a dozen different places that Akechi had hit her, but that wasn't what was debilitating her. There was an exhaustion deep in her bones that left her struggling to move. It was a weariness unlike anything that she had felt before. From long runs to brutal practices, nothing could compare. Mind and body both had a sluggish feeling that resisted her attempts at movement.
"Why…? WHY!?" Kasumi yelled to herself. It made no sense. Only minutes ago, her body had been coursing with what felt like unlimited energy.
I need to get Ren out…
Looking down over the railing, Kasumi found her sister's lover trying to reclaim his feet. It was a slow process, but he seemed to be slowly recovering mobility.
It was, however, a long drop to where he was. Groaning, Kasumi threw herself at the railing before she could reconsider. Her limp body hit the waist-high railing and flipped over it. The world around her rotating a full time and a half before she crashed facedown unto the unforgiving floor.
Kasumi let out a whimper of pain, but the pain was not as great as she expected. Her body was still capable of movement, or well, it should be. Yet there was that exhaustion that kept her laying there, panting, muscles limp.
"Kasumi! Are you alright!?"
Groggily she stared up at Ren. "Ahh, there you are. I have to… get you out of here."
"Never mind that, what happened to Sumire!? What about the rest of my friends?"
Kasumi shook her head as she slowly forced herself onto all fours. The motion causing red-hot lines of pain to shoot from her chest that had borne the brunt of the fall. "Urgh, no… Akechi wants you. I have to… save you for her."
"And who will save you?"
"Huh?" Kasumi tried to look up but found her vision enveloped in a world of black as his arms closed around her.
"It's because I'm so weak that you have to go to this extent for your sister. I'm sorry we never told you."
Kasumi wanted to complain but she ended up sinking further into the darkness. There was a warmness here that she had never experienced from Akechi. Kasumi wanted to drown in it and never emerge. Every fiber of her body screaming out for rest. Her guilt would not let her. "You should… leave me. I… I betrayed you."
"No, I did. I was your friend and abandoned you. We should have told you everything and now…"
"Is… Is that right?" Kasumi no longer had the energy to argue. The darkness called to her, and she could no longer decline it. Eyes closing, her consciousness slipped away.
Friday, October 14th, 20XX After school
"Have a good sleep…" Stroking her head once, Joker laid Kasumi down upon the cold metal floor. His body was on the verge of failing, but hope buoyed him and let him stand.
Kasumi had rejected Akechi completely when it would have been easier to listen to him. In many ways, it probably would have been better for her to listen to him.
Ren wasn't naïve enough to think that Kasumi had done all of that for him. It had been for her sister. It was the visible representation of that unbreakable bond that had Joker moving again. As long as he created a situation where Akechi was forced to leave the metaverse, then they should hopefully be okay. It was a low bar to set, but with how badly they had faceplanted into Akechi's trap, it was the best he could do.
Sorting through his pockets, Joker looked for an item that could be useful. Coming up with nothing, he sighed and looked at the main door. That was likely where Akechi would reemerge from.
True to expectations, it squeaked open a minute later as Akechi entered, eyes blazing with anger. "Hey, Ren, how about this. If you step aside, you can live for another five minutes while I deal with that traitorous bitch behind you."
"Tempting," Joker replied. Behind Akechi were two of the floating shadows that Joker had defeated last. They were weaker than the others physically. Their most annoying part was their healing skill. If you took that away, they were weak enough.
Did Akechi run out of fighting units?
That was likely to be Joker's salvation if true. The other one would be his teammates breaking out their trap to save him. If Sumire was still in that room, then something was keeping her trapped there and Joker expected no help from that side.
And Kasumi? Joker took a brief glance at the collapsed girl. She was stirring, but the energy was not there. The crash after awakening was intense. That was before the life-and-death fight against a powerful persona user like Akechi.
Even at full strength… Would I win? It was a humbling consideration that Joker didn't have the luxury to consider. The firepower that Akechi and Kasumi had thrown at each other was considerable. The only advantage Joker saw for himself was versatility. That advantage felt like having ten different knives to cut through steel with. He needed a weakness to exploit, not more knives to chip away with.
"Oi, answer me."
"…Why are you doing this?"
"Huh? You still want to talk? No, no, no, that's not how this goes. I kill you and tell the news that the leader of the phantom thieves committed suicide to avoid justice. That is how this goes."
"And then Shido becomes prime minister?" Joker filled in. "I hope the soles of his shoes taste good."
Akechi's features contorted to an uncontrollable fury. His body started twitching as if demanding violence immediately. "You think I serve Shido? HAHAHAHA, you are stupid! I plan on killing him! Just when he wins. Right at the moment he thinks he was claimed the wheel to steer the country… That is when I will kill him. Personal regards of the whore he abandoned."
"…Your mother," Joker surmised. They were hard to see, but after listening to hours of Shido speeches for clues, Joker thought that there were a few family features shared between them.
"Ah, that's right. Shido knocked up my whore mother and threw her away with the money to get a black market abortion. Does knowing this make it easier to die?"
Joker ignored the teasing, readying himself for another round of fighting. He no longer had the strength to even hold the knife steady. Another ten minutes would probably send him to the floor again. He was sure that he had run out of mind two fights ago and then stamina right after.
"Do you think she'll cry when she sees that she betrayed me pointlessly?"
The unusual question shook Joker. "You… You care for her."
"Huh? I care for all of my possessions. It is a shame when any of them break. No more, no less."
"You practice that line in a mirror?"
"…I'm going to make your death slow and painful, Ren."
"Bring it on, Goro." Please don't… Joker still had less than a phantom of a plan. It looked like Akechi was in a similar situation as he looked back at his remaining shadows frowning.
Before Joker could increase his hope any further, Akechi swung his sword forward. "Go."
The two shadows rushed at Joker. Tsking, he identified instantly the need for a persona. Calling upon Ganesha, Joker instructed the persona to rampage around, striking at both of the floating medics. They were 'Kushinada' a strong shadow, but one that could be countered.
If I strike their ice weakness… I won't get up again, Joker finished for himself. The powerful attack from Ganesha had cost enough stamina to execute that it left him staggering. Seeing Akechi still hadn't moved, Joker lunged for the rightmost one as they tried to heal themselves. Grabbing unto it, Joker rode it to the ground, knife rising and falling half a dozen times.
Rising amidst a cloud of its blood substitute, Joker dashed through the light attack of the other, ignoring the damage to replicate his feat. Grabbing onto the shadow with his left hand, Joker stabbed it multiple times with his right, cutting it to ribbons as the shadow returned the favor, beams of light piercing his body, sending up steam from the blood its attacks boiled.
"AHAHA, too late, loser!"
Akechi!
The pitch-black outfit darted past him at Kasumi's groggy form. Her mind not yet attentive enough to even notice the danger that she was in. Throwing aside the dying persona, Joker rushed for Akechi. Throwing first his knife and then empty gun, the attacks forced Akechi to turn and deflect.
Skidding to a halt in front of Kasumi, Joker spread his arms wide and accepted Akechi's sword as it was rammed through his midsection.
"GAH!" Coughing up a stream of blood, Joker's hands closed on Akechi's hand that was gripping the hilt.
"HAHAHAHA!" Akechi let out another stream of insane laughter. "You actually dove in front of her? Did you forget that it is her sister that you're dating? This is the one that tried to kill you."
"That's… only because I failed her."
Akechi laughed again, slapping his left hand over his face, staring at Joker through his fingers. "Oh, I see how it is. You want both of them. How Medieval of you!"
"GUH!" Joker stumbled and grunted in pain as Akechi pulled on his serrated blade. Vision going black for a moment, he found his head resting against Akechi's shoulder.
An embrace between enemies huh?
Knowing that this was his last chance before death, Joker tightened his grip with his right hand while letting his left drifted toward his mask. Head hidden still, Akechi was oblivious to his motions.
"Now trying to woe me, huh? You really are a shameless perv, aren't you?"
"Ahh, that's right," Joker coughed. "Unicorn, finish this."
"What are you…? SHIT!"
The instant kill ability was already forming around Akechi by the time that he noticed. I just need to—Joker's mind went blank as he slumped lifelessly to his knees. Mind completely drained, he lost his grip on Akechi and any chance of finishing this.
Joker knew that it was over when Akechi yanked his sword free, and he didn't feel anything. There was another spurt of realistic blood before the wound closed over. The circle of purification snapped closed right before Joker's face and included less than half of Akechi.
The detective swung his sword wildly, cutting his way through the cards. The light flashed and Akechi's outfit seemed to change from black to white, and his mask was… red? Joker wondered if he had hallucinated but it didn't really matter. He had failed.
A panting Akechi glared at him. "You are a tricky one, aren't you? Almost caught me there…"
Akechi took three slow steps back. He hadn't escaped completely unharmed, smoke rising from the leg and arm that had gotten caught inside. It was a small victory in a sea of defeats.
Forcing his mouth to move, Joker croaked out a word. "Please."
"You… You're begging for your life? Seriously!? No, no, no, try again! You're not allowed to beg for your life!"
"Not… mine. Kasumi's, the others…"
"Ah, yes, the sister you stole from me. Well, I'll consider it. Now, farewell, Ren, my rival!"
Joker wanted to close his eyes but couldn't manage it. Staring up at the sword as it descended, regret flooded through him.
My parents.
Sojiro.
Kawakami.
Tae.
Yoshida.
Hifumi.
Iwai.
The Phantom thieves: Futaba, Makoto, Ann, Ryuji, Morgana, and Haru.
And the two in most danger: Kasumi and Sumire.
All of the bonds that he had forged were about to be severed. Ren could only stare at the blade descending to end his life and wonder where he had gone wrong. What days he should have used his time differently. If there were other people out there that could have given him the skills to avoid this, or maybe just a conversation that he had failed to bring to its best conclusion.
As Ren watched, the fate he expected changed.
A harsh shriek of metal on metal sounded out as Akechi's sword was stopped by a cross of twinned rapiers. Glancing from side-to-side, Ren found himself flanked by the twin statues of Sumire and Kasumi. Dressed in inverted outfits, the sight made Ren's breath catch as his heart fluttered.
"Huh? H-How!?"
Akechi's outburst was ignored as the sisters stared at each other. Ren felt on the outside of a world looking in as whole lives were lived in the look that they shared.
"You're both on the verge of death so just sit down and wait while I get to you!"
It was an astute observation. Kasumi was still panting having barely shaken off the awakening exhaustion that had knocked her out. Ren had no idea what Sumire had been subjected to, but the flickering life force surrounding her and holes in her white outfit suggested an excruciating challenge overcome.
Ren wanted to call out to them, to save them from fighting further, but the sentiment was pointless. He couldn't move, he could barely think. Consciousness held on by a fraying thread.
"MOVE!" With a roar, Akechi swung from right to left.
It would have hit Kasumi if Sumire hadn't stepped in and blocked it. Kasumi, ignoring the attack against her stabbed out at an exposed Akechi.
Roaring in pain, Akechi stumbled back. Before he could retaliate, Sumire had stepped forward after him, rapier slashing at his flank. Evan as he blocked it, Kasumi's blade pierced him.
"W-WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THNIK YOU ARE DOING!?"
Akechi could scream, but he could not fight back. There was no time for a persona summoning, no time to get his bearings.
Ren knew that in that situation he would have been equally helpless. For what Akechi fought against was not two girls on the verge of collapse. It was a tornado of assault that doubled as an impenetrable fortress. The outcome was a series of steps away that only the sisters knew the rhythm to.
"AHH! GET AWAY FROM ME!"
Terror had entered Akechi's voice as he was overwhelmed in moments. The healing that the shadows had provided him with was gone.
"NO! STOP!"
The pleading was merely another note in the song of death that the sisters danced. Ren had thought himself an able partner for Sumire once. Their takedown of Ooe was a team effort where they had read each other's movements perfectly. Only now did Ren understand how far he had been from making the perfect partner.
This dance that he was witnessing… this is the true duet that he had been seeking.
"P-Please… Stop…" Doing exactly what he had criticized Ren for less than a minute ago, Akechi was reduced to a shredded mess, sword and gun discarded where they had been cut away from him. On his knees, the two rapiers lay crossed across his neck, each one a flick of the wrist away from a beheading.
Hearing the plea, Sumire backed away, sheathing her sword. Kasumi copying her a moment later. That double checking a clear indication that the total synchronization was over.
No, Kasumi is…
Finding latent energy within himself, Ren resumed activity as Joker and darted forward, picking up his fallen knife as he ran.
"Joker?"
Ignoring Sumire's question, it was Joker's turn to save a life as he just got his knife in front of Kasumi as her blade whipped back out of its sheath, intent on Akechi's neck. Halting it only a handsbreadth away, Joker groaned as the effort threatened to make him pass out.
Thankfully, Kasumi stopped pressing. "What are you doing, Ren? He tried to kill you."
Panting, Ren let Sumire answer as she grabbed her sister, pulling Kasumi away. "Ren!? What do you think you're doing!? "
Kasumi looked genuinely confused. "What I promised to. Do you plan on changing his heart as well? He will not give up and allow you to live peacefully."
"I-I know but…" Sumire had no answer and Ren felt the same way. Akechi was no longer boasting or pleading in terror. In fact, there was a look of waiting in his expression. The beaten detective taking his time to analyze how things were playing out.
Kasumi may be right. Ren forced himself to admit. It would be a crime without evidence. Nothing would ever tie Akechi's death to their hands.
Just like mine was supposed to be…
Immediate decisions were postponed as the door was forced open again and the phantom thieves rushed in. Joker's heart unclenched from a hidden tension seeing them all file in. Right behind Oracle were three more people that shouldn't be here.
Two he was familiar with in person, the other was supposed to be dead. "Rose Owada…"
She ignored him, focusing on the kneeling detective. "Akechi!"
Stunned by the entrance, they had forgotten about Kasumi, still intent on her mission. With her rapier brought back, Rose rushed for them, throwing herself between them much as Joker had done for Kasumi.
The thrust was cancelled late, tip penetrating an inch into Rose's chest between her breasts. "More loyalty than I expected from a whore."
"And I see you were less of a dog and more of a snake."
Ren could not begin to guess the relationship between the two, but it likely centered around the chuckling detective that Rose had hidden behind her. Not willing to let Kasumi kill an innocent, Ren wrapped his arms around her, grabbing both of her wrists and pulling her away.
As her blade left Rose's chest the blood did not stop flowing. Having no persona to keep her alive, her injuries here were as deadly as they were in the real world.
Damn you, Akechi! Bringing non-persona users here was unforgivable.
Thankfully, Panther was paying attention and quickly healed the injury with Carmen. A moment later, Joker himself received a steadying boost as Mona healed him and the Yoshizawa sisters.
"Members with healing magic… No wonder you were able to escape faster than planned."
"Is that all you have to say for yourself?" Queen growled. "We could have died! What the hell were you thinking!?"
"Don't touch him!" Rose insisted, covering Akechi with her own body. "How dare you blame him!? If you weren't criminals and murderers, then he wouldn't have to go to such lengths!"
Is she correct? Joker wondered. He didn't regret the decisions that had led them here, but he wondered how a bystander would see this situation. Was Akechi a villain for the heroic phantom thieves to take down or could it be the exact opposite? The villainous phantom thieves seeking to take down a future prime minister and defeating the detective prince that was set up to stop them.
"He was using you, idiot," Kasumi continued unperturbed. "You fell for your abuser."
"How dare you, say that. He took you in like a lost puppy and gave you a reason to live again!"
"…Maybe. It doesn't mean I won't cut him down."
"I won't let you touch him!"
"You can't stop me."
Finally regaining some semblance of thought, Joker pulled Kasumi back further and put himself between the girls. "Stop arguing. We need to figure out what to do quickly, palaces aren't safe. Rose, I understand why you don't trust us, but I have no intentions of killing anyone else. I am so sorry about your father and if we could do it again—"
"Shut up, murderer! Stop trying to brainwash me like you tried with my sisters!"
"Can I kill them now?" Kasumi growled.
"Sister…"
"Snake," Rose bit again.
"Slut," Kasumi replied.
Creeeak. Joker whirled at the sound of the final door opening from deeper in the boiler room. "Whoa, quite the cat fight I hear. Guess I'll have to do some extermination work!"
"Ahh, so that's how it is…" Akechi muttered. "Using me to stop myself, clever."
Indeed, the newcomer was the model detective that Joker had grown to dislike. Dressed in the tacky suit that only highlighted how young he is, the cognitive shadow was every bit the punchable git that the real one was.
"Then can I stab that one?" Kasumi muttered.
"No, run." Looking over his group, Joker confirmed their condition. No one was in good form. Joker could feel the power from the cognitive shadow from here. It was based on Shido's expectation that Akechi could take down any of the big five and was therefore going to be even stronger than the Ooe shadow.
"But—" Kasumi protested.
"RUN!" Pushing her along, Joker grabbed onto Violet as well, trying to get everyone moving.
Upon exiting the room, Joker realized his mistake. The Owada sisters hadn't followed. Standing on either side of the double doors, they grabbed the handles and pushed.
"Sorry," Orchid mouthed before Joker lost sight of her.
"No… but… why?" Left on the outside looking in, Joker could only hope that he would see the Owada sisters again. He still owed them a debt that couldn't be repaid.
Friday, October 14th, 20XX Night
"Good night."
Giving an awkward wave to her family, Kasumi staggered to her room. It wasn't the debilitating exhaustion that had knocked her out, but her body was struggling to move. Eyelids closing, Kasumi desperately wanted to sleep.
As she entered her room, Kasumi heard what she figured was coming.
"Ah, me as well, night!"
Pausing, Kasumi stared at her bed while her sister's footsteps approached. "Can we… talk?"
"…Sure." Sitting on her bed, Kasumi stared at her entwined hands rather than her sister who closed the door after her.
"Why won't you look at me?"
"…"
Unable to answer, Kasumi's mind was a mixture of self-loathing and regret. Feeling her sister's hand on her chin, she looked up.
Thwak!
Sent sprawling across her bed, she held her aching cheek. The rush of pain driving sleep further away. Working her jaw, Kasumi looked briefly into her sister's angry face before lowering her eyes back to the bed.
"…How many times do I need to hit you before you'll fight back?"
"There is no number," Kasumi mumbled. "Do what you like."
"Fine."
Kasumi was genuinely surprised as Sumire climbed on the bed and then atop of her. Heart contracting slightly in fear at the beating to come, she forced her arms to stay still and closed to eyes to wait for the blows to start.
"Oh Kas…" A gentle touch of Sumire's lips upon her cheek shocked Kasumi's eyes open. "That will be the last time I hit you, okay? I was just jealous…"
"Jealous?" Kasumi didn't understand anything. "I almost killed you and Ren… You should be furious at me…"
Sumire chuckled, hugging her tight. "Akechi could have ambushed us at any point. "You saved us. You left that door open, remember? I heard every word you spoke to him."
"Oh… right." The memory was a haze of red in Kasumi's tired mind, but she was pretty sure there were some cringy lines in there. "Umm, is that really everything?"
"No, of course not! We need to pick out your thief name! Maybe executor or something!"
"Thief name? Hold on…"
"That's right! You'll be a great phantom thief, you're so strong!"
"Sumi… I'm not joining."
"Huh?" Her sister finally released her to stare in disbelief. "But—"
"I still don't agree with the changes of heart."
Sumire's face lost a lot of its energy. "Oh, I guess that makes sense. But even Ren thinks it's the right thing to do!"
Why bring up him? Shaking her head, Kasumi reminded her of the end of the day. "Rose Owada may be an idiot, but she is right about one thing. The phantom thieves killed her father."
"No," Sumire whispered, "I did."
"What?"
"I don't want anymore secrets between us. Its also why I'm sure Ren stopped you today. It isn't… It isn't something that's easy to recover from. Maybe it is something you aren't supposed to recover from."
Kasumi touched the tears on her sister's cheeks not understanding. The world had gone sideways again. Even as strange as the realization was, Kasumi was reminded of that brief minute today where they had become one and had danced together rather than against each other. Kasumi had found a peak that she had only dreamed about. One she could not reach by herself.
"I-I want to understand you again!"
Sumire sniffled. "Even still? After you know this? And knowing Ren is my…"
Again, she brings up Ren…
With blurring motion, Kasumi's slap sent Sumire sprawling off of her. With a funny coincidence, her head landing perfectly on a pillow. Smiling, Kasumi laid beside her sister on the other half of the bed. "And that's the last time I'll hit you."
"W-What was that for?" Sumire complained.
"Ever a crybaby. Come here." Leaning over, Kasumi kissed it better and rubbed Sumire's hair. "It was to assuage your guilt, how about that?"
"Grr…"
"Hehe," Giggling, Kasumi felt her eyes closing. The tribulations of the day would not wait for anything, even for the reunion Kasumi had been seeking for nearly a year now.
She felt herself get wrapped in Sumire's arms as her sister snuggled into her. "I'm going to sleep here, alright?"
"You can sleep with me whenever you want," Kasumi muttered, eyes closing as sleep began to claim her.
"Haha, hey, Kas, before you fall asleep, can you please tell me straight, do you love Ren?"
"Ren?" Kasumi could see him standing before her, taking Akechi's blade with his own body. The rush of emotions she had felt, the words she had said to him. "I don't know. I just hope that somewhere, somehow… there's a world where he looks at me."
"I see… Goodnight, Kas."
Kasumi could not reply as she was already asleep, overjoyed to be in the arms of her sister once more.
Post Note:
First, I want to mention that this chapter or more particular the one scene of the two sisters was one of the primary inspirations for this Fic and is one of the main things that I was trying to build to. I think it was executed... okay. Not as great as I hoped, but readable.
Last note on the chapter contents is of course Kasumi's personas is a bit of an odd choice. I wanted the sisters' personas to be related but that ended up being hard. I considered more options for Kasumi, but nothing fit perfectly in my opinion.
On why the chapter is so late, a big reason is of course the holidays which I hope went wonderfully for everyone. The other is because I used my pre-holiday free time to play Eternights instead of write. Oops. In a shameless plug, I really enjoyed the game despite its mixed reviews and think it should be on every persona fans radar. The humour is a bit juvenile but all the references and shameless answers you can choose made me giggle. The combat may be too hard for some people, but I don't think I'm great at action games and finished it on normal. Would recommend, especially as it will probably start going on sale in the coming months.
I think there was something else... Oh well. Have a good new year! Here is to finishing this fic in early 2024! :)