Authors Notes: Not going to lie this Palace set up was a doozy as when the rp it was based on made its first arc it was actually in recovery as a revival. Yep the rp this is based on was a reattempt at a failed idea by three of the original members who were to stubborn to let it die.
They made some great strides in effort to resuscitate the Rp, and in my honest opinion that was pretty impressive on their part... of course it suffered a little trying to find its identity in its first Arc/Palace, and in fact the second attempt had a lot of its first wave of members dip very fast unfortunately, but those three held strong. For that strength more able people would join them, and form a group so strong we stole each others hearts (Okay gah my soul that was super freaking corny as hell...)
...
Persona 5: Alternate
Chapter 3 Part 2
...
Both girls were on opposite sides of the wreckage and were quick to make for the dry standing pulling themselves up before plopping against the cold cement and getting a view of their bearings. While not a sewer it very much had the feeling of a water irrigation system. In front of them was an entrance of some sort to which there was no idea where it led. To their right was a sealed route by another iron shutter, and to their left an upward funnel of sorts that must have been how water was sent to other sections of the castle meaning most likely the iron shutter was holding back immense amounts of pressured water. Intriguingly in design, a bit above them was a small bridge of sorts from one side to the other with one side leading to a walkway to a crank of sorts while the other seemed to return to the Castle.
"Sorry," a small deflated, and defeated sigh escaped Shiro's lips as Masami rather run ragged pulled herself up. She had no response, no frustration, no care... she just wanted things to be normal... why couldn't things be normal? Why did other people's problems, and life keep shattering her ability to escape it all? Why couldn't she have a life away from what others could touch? Why was everything reaching for her aimed to drown her? Her crimes? Her parents? Herself? Her desire for survival? Her want of a true life? Why did she freaking save that hostess... when nothing redeemable would come from it?
Shiro looked no better the weight of her rage destroying their escape was not lost on her, but something about what Kajik had said had triggered something deep in the delinquent. Something she couldn't stop that she judged herself for. Who were those girls she named? Her business? Why? They would just turn on her like anything else. Why bother helping people? Masami's spiteful thoughts were paused as the platform debris and water were sent everywhere in a mass explosion.
"Grrrrrr. Kill the plague, wipe anything it touches Nerrrrrrrrr," A bellow growl spoke before entering a strange nay-like sound. Upon the clearing the War Horse appeared but mutated no longer was it just a behemoth with war spike armor. No, now it stood on hind legs with massive muscles with humanoid arms ending in wrecking ball-like hands. It looked around dazed for a moment before locking sight on Masami. It started to take a step towards her lifting its wrecking ball arm just like Baonko had that night. Masami froze as fear of that night's trauma came back in full swing allowing her to be paralyzed prey. Lifting its arms a loud nay was released as it brought it down.
"MASAMI," the attack missed with a wrecking ball hand cracking the very ground underneath it. The horse in its confusion turned to the left seeing that Shiro had tackled Masami out of the before standing up and guarding her like a lunatic. The horse sneered amused as it opened its maw unleashing a wave of cold that quickly lifted, and trapped Shiro in a block of ice. "...Run." Was all Shiro could say with freezing breath no concern for herself... accepting what was to come next as she could no longer struggle.
"OHHHH DEAR Gyōbu-danuki Tanuki," from above the mystery thief's voice yowled as a massive furry pinball dropped from the sky covered by a red robe, and in the center of it formed a ring of prayer beads like a Beyblade ring. The creature was some sort of raccoon... no like the name shouted a circular pinball top like Tanuki. Masami watched her senses telling her to run in the chaos of the distraction as the fur ball began to spin like a top before charging the horse. In the sudden change of situation, the horse with all its might spun its attack slamming into the mass of fur that came at it as something came flying off it from the stalemate of impact. The horse and the pinball Tanuki continued to clash as a pink-dressed entity landed hard next to Masami. A rather peculiarly dressed Tanuki whimpered from the poor display, but it was without a doubt the entity Masami had originally charmed before.
"Why," Masami asked as she continued to slowly back away from everything happening. Why were they all trying to save one another they had no reason no rhyme if anything it was the exact opposite. Masami had brought Shiro to this hellscape, Shiro had ruined their chances to escape, Masami & Shiro had ruined this creature's chances of stealing its target. Everyone was ruining everyone's life so why were they all trying to protect one another?
"I don't remember who... but someone told me when you want to be a good person you have to throw sanity and logic to the wind," the Tanuki whimpered in a soft sincere voice even amid a concussion surprisingly understanding the question being asked. The answer itself alone halted Masami in her tracks. The escape of her prior life... wasn't it to be a better person?
Ahhh there it is.
A massive migraine immediately hit as Masami's brain was overwhelmed by a voice that was hers, but not at the same time.
Truly an unjust game isn't it all this thing we call life?
Hyperventilation clashed as Masami's thoughts swirled wildly between running away and helping someone who was in a moment of death. The flashes between her memory of that night collided with the present. Baonko, the Warhorse demon... Shiro, the Hostess...
Your chances of winning are almost none.
Masami looked at the tanuki before turning to Shiro tears running down the mossy green-haired girl's eyes as she wanted it all to stop.
But if your voice can finally reach you there is still a possibility.
Masami wanted to scream as the stalemate between the War Horse demon, and the Pinball Tanuki was finally broken. The War Horse demon sent the tanuki ball spiraling away to the left slamming into the iron shutter as water leaks started to spirt out around it. As this happened amid all sanity trying not to crack a blue butterfly innocently flapping its dusty wings passed Masami's view a moment of logic becoming illogical.
Are you going to forsake those who have reached out a hand to save yourself?
No... when Masami had saved that Hostess it wasn't to be rewarded was it? Shiro and the Tanuki were no different. They were doing this to save someone cause it was their moral of right versus wrong against the odds.
Society has deemed that girl a disease like yourself, and law dictates she, and you must perish.
"I refuse... TO ACCEPT THAT BULLSHIT," Masami suddenly screamed as a wave of energy erupted from her wildly out-of-control order throwing chaos in the mix as she took a step illogically towards danger her mind still torn between retreat and madness.
Than your previous decision was it a mistake after all?
"NOT AT ALL," she yelled remembering that night bashing that skateboard against that bastard all in the moment to be something better than a common thief. Without any incline to her safety, Masami once more found herself throwing everything to save someone else.
Yes, never forget that ember of rebellion that burns in you now.
Vow to me
I Am Thou
Thou Art I
Thou whose flag would spit upon the Order, and Law of society to sacrilegiously perform thine own justice!
Hoist your colors, and CALL MY NAME IN YOUR EMBARKED RAGE UPON THE SEA'S OF REALITY.
SHOW THE STRENGTH OF THY WILL TO ASCERTAIN ALL ON THINE OWN,
THOUGH THOU BE CHAINED TO THE BRINY ABYSS OF HELL ITSELF
"ANNE BONNY," With every ounce of pained energy built up in her body Masami charged jumping on the ice block as a mask of unknown origin covered the upper half of her face making a strange bedfellow of sparrow feathers fused to what appeared to be a pirates bandana wrapping up the entirety of her upper head hair, and all. Without any need for logic, she jumped off the ice with one hand jabbing into the mask pulling it off as red blood turned black in an intense showering display. The ice trapping Shiro was slowly lit aflame wherever the black blood touched.
Upon the words that escaped her mouth, she was engulfed in blue flames as the War Horse demon took another swing this time at Masami as two wide-bladed swords swung out from the flames shattering the wrecking ball arm to pieces in an X slash. As the demon pulled back bellowing in pain the fires burned away from the girl releasing her to form a larger blue flame in the air. Descending into a viscous drop down upon the War Horse the demon was consumed in the flames and sent straight into the waters creating a massive splash as Masami landed back down on the ice shard Shiro was trapped in.
Free from the fire Masami was now completely decked out in a dark swashbuckler-like shirt covering her torso with a V-chest shape revealing a dark brown corset keeping her modesty. Attached around that was a large dark brown bullet belt from her right shoulder and parallel to her left hip holding what appeared to be hollow point magnum shells. Her arms were covered in white frills folded against blue cloth to her elbow with her forearms covered in leather-bound arm guards. Her legs were freely covered in baggy dark brown pants flushed down to a pair of buckled shoes. A rather large belt hugged to her waist holding dual sheaths to her sides, and a viscous pirate-like magnum flintlock hybrid of a gun in the front.
The very image of a pirate lass now stood above Shiro as the ice began to melt from the residual blue flames bringing both girls to equal level as Masami watched before chains wrapped around her hand grip with the dual wide silver-bladed cutlasses that had shattered the arm of the demon.
The water shower from before cleared revealing the War Horse Demon now pinned down with a massive saber plunged into its chest by an equally massive feminine entity about the same size. Similar to Masami it was in the form of a pirate Anne Bonny decked in red, and white cloth upon its torso much more revealing than Masami's design though with equally dark blue tighter baggy pants with numerous dark brown belts all over its body. Its head held wildly long and bushed-up white hair flame flowing unnaturally without any wind. The eeriest detail was that its skin was not skin but something akin to wispy demonic black and red flames that held the form of the feminine entity and also converged with the same chains around as Masami. With the creature temporarily handled Masami reached one of her chained hands to Shiro before saying.
"You never have to apologize for being you to me ever again. Now let SURVIVE," as soon as Shiro clasped her hand she pulled herself up as Masami ripped the chains apart releasing her and Anne Bonny to do as they pleased followed by Masami's mask returning in an ember of blue flames to her face.
Upon this from the hole they had traveled through prior the other two War Horses already transformed dropped in with about ten foot soldier shadows following suit. In the distraction of this, the pinned War Horse lifted itself up causing Anne Bonny to jump away landing above Shiro, and Masami. The area was quickly crowded with the sounds of reinforcements clearly out in the distance. The broken War Horse nay in rage taking into a charging stance as the others pulled their weapons out.
"CLEANSE THE IMPURITY FROM SHUJIN. PURE, ASTUTE, PRI..."
"LISTEN UP YOU GOOPY GLOBBED MOTHERFUCKERS. IN THE LAST FIVE MINUTES I HAVE EXPERIENCED EVERY EMOTION POSSIBLE, HAD THE ELEVATOR EXPERIENCE FROM HELL ON A PIECE OF WOOD, HAVE NEARLY DIED, GOT CONSUMED BY FIRE SUMMONING A DEMON TO MY AID, AND HAVE THOUSANDS OF QUESTIONS UNANSWERED. IF YOU VALUE YOUR PRISSY PRUDE EXISTENCES YOU WON'T FUCK WITH ME," Masami screamed letting all that was left of her frustration out in one breath breaking the nonsensical chant. The soldiers and two non-damaged War Horses stood baffled by the retaliation of words. Shiro still trying to register everything that had taken place gave Masami a shocked look before slowly clapping to the verbal abuse lashed out. The Broken War Horse however gave no damn roaring as it charged causing Masami to point her right blade at it as she sheathed her left.
"CLEAVE," Masami commanded with wrathful intent as her mask burned wildly away and she felt her life force drain a little. The motion was faster than the eyes could perceive as Anne Bonny's blade touched the ground in a fluid slash with the charging Broken War Horse now split in two. It halves slamming into the wall on opposite sides of the trio of females as the carcasses explode into black mist. This caused the remaining enemies hesitation as the tanuki rushed over to the girl's side skidding a bit to halt at their feet.
"Oooooooh Soooooo AMAZING HEEEEEEEE. Gyobu let's not be forgotten. PINBALL ARCADE STYLE: MAGARU," the Tanuki proclaimed a similar blue ember coming off the animal's face in excessive excitement at Masami's display. The originally stuck pinball top-like furball entity dislodged itself from the the iron shutter as five of the Foot Soldiers suddenly found themselves uplifted and spinning wildly in miniature green swirled tornados. With a soft adorable face suddenly turning to one of revenge the entity released an aggressive chu sound before spinning in place intensely. The fur ball Gyobu launched pinballing off all five in a chaotic zigzagging motion sending them hurdling into the walls all around before it impacted against the back of one of the War Horses returning the predecessor's favor by lodging its masked face into the bridge. As this was all going on the entity known as Anne Bonny laughed in joy causing the girls to look up as its wispy faceless demeaner looked down at them.
"I am the pillager of the seas - Anne Bonny the rebel's souls residing in you. If you so desire I shall grant you the power to overwhelm this crisis," the entity spoke to Masami in her voice yet with a notable Irish accent. Well, that at least answered a few of Masami's questions. Turning to the remaining unharmed War Horse Masami gave a devilish smirk.
"Then let loose," Masami commanded as Anne Bonny with a wild-hearted laugh lunged at the horse forcing it into defense as she turned to Shiro still shocked by it all.
"Hey I need you to thug back up, and get some wits about you. We can't just hole up in here. That iron shutter over there is our escape ticket. I need you to get to its crank and unleash a flood to cover our asses can you do that," Masami asked grabbing Shiro's shoulder needed her extremely. The look shared between the girls seemed to kickstart Shiro's functionality realizing her part needed in their survival.
"Ya let's ditch this shit hole," Shiro smiled violently before running towards the stairs to the crank.
"Um... Tanuki let's cover her with all we got we need to escape together," Masami motioned looking down to the red, and pink critter hoping the level of gullibility so far shown would earn an ample element of the impression-earning alliance.
"Aye, aye captain," the Tanuki sang eagerly dropping to all fours and rushing into a jump as she pulled out a slingshot and proceeded to pelt the enemies with ball-bearing fire. Excellent she was a gullible idiot... thank someone for small favors.
As Shiro charged towards the stairs a foot soldier got in the way swinging its blade ready to cut her in half. "Die for the cleansing of Shujin demon," Shiro with a pissed-off look on her face dropped into a slide dodging the attack before grabbing the rail at the bottom of the stairs and swinging onto them with one motion.
"Not even for your wildest of dreams loser," the shadow turned around ready to reengage before four intense shots pierced it from behind dropping it dead into a smoky pile of nothing. Masami twirled the magnum before bringing the barrel to her now gray-glossed lips puffing the smoke out of the barrel. Swapping the gun for blade Masami charged at the other foot soldiers dual-wielding wildly as she blocked an incoming blade swipe, and parried the enemy using her free sword to bury into its left shoulder kicking the foot soldier into the water.
Near the top of the stair Shiro reeled back barely dodging becoming a skewered corpse on a thrown spear now plunged into the pathway. Not letting a small obstacle stop her Shiro jumped onto it using the flexible polearm like a trapeze sending her straight to the top as another spear came flying for her before receiving a few shots from the Tanuki's slingshot. Turning to see the little critter at work the Tanuki oddly waved at her to which the thug girl smiled giving a thumbs up before running over to the crank.
In the midst of it all Anne Bonny and the War Horse continued their dance of steeling sparks keeping the bigger monster away from the humans as Gyobi pulled away from the bridge once again spinning right for the fighting War Horses feet as it was uprooted falling flat on its ass as Masami could feel the call for another attack.
"EIHA," Masami beckoned causing the giant female entity to jump back before extending its hand and unleashing a volley of dark magic-like spindly lines to erupt from her being piercing and exploding the War Horse into a mass of defeated mist. Only one now dislodging War Horse remained wrenching itself away from the bridge it had been indented to. At the cusp of it all Shiro was now at the crank giving everything she had to pull on it as something seemed to click starting it to auto-move itself in the direction needed.
"IT'S TIME TO BOLT," Shiro yelled out to Masami jumping hazardously off the other side to land near the unknowing exit and running for it. Masami started to back up looking towards the War Horse as a pure white beam of energy shot at where she had once been. A hole perfectly clean had been made through the torso of the demon that dropped to its knee before falling over and popping into a pile of mist. The attacker a trench coat-wearing individual holding a high-caliber futuristic sniper rifle that looked oddly like two different concepts fused together. However, what caught Masami's gaze momentarily was a massive white watch belt that at first said 00:58 turned to 00:57.
"IT'S THE MURDER HOBO," The tanuki called out in a panic causing the gunner to halt taking the very sight of the critter pointing at him with a paw.
"Is... that a talking tanuki," he exclaimed out loud stunned at the very notion apparently as Gyobi spun into a rushed charge jumping at the gunner trench coat man. Quickly adjusting grip the gunner used the sniper rifle like a sword using his trigger hand to hold it like a sword while his stock hand now held its forearm against the barrel holding against the spinning top attack. During the chaos with more soldiers dropping down the tanuki rushed over hopping onto Masami's shoulders.
"We need to run."
"What about Anne and Gyobi."
"THEY"LL BE FINE THEY CAN'T DROWN," the tanuki pleaded causing Masami to mad dash for the exit as she turned just once to see Anne Bonny was fading away. To follow the escape an ominous metallic groan sound gave way as the foot soldiers all turned to the iron shutter now lifting up.
"Sturdy little children's toy I don't have time for this," the gunner grunted finally pushing back the persona as he broke his sniper rifle back into its two-handgun form ready to finish off the Persona before it faded out revealing a moment for the gunner to register the sight of multiple Shadows being flung out of control by a massive force of hydro pumping. Within a second the gunner was consumed by the water-pressured blast.
A minute or two later a soft ding sounded off as the crank re-spuned itself sealing the water pressure. The now purged canal room found itself with only one occupant remaining in a kneeling position with his fingers dug into the cement bridge the trench coat individual shook the water off before dislodging his fingers casually shaking his fingers as he stood there a moment as the clock watch went from 00:57 to 00:56.
"And so the vultures set in... perfect. Let us clean house I guess," the gunner mumbled taking a few steps forward before calmly taking a step off the bridge landing with no issues. Upon the subtle landing, he noticed the still surviving blue embers from Masami's Awakening a soft realization causing him to shack his head in disbelief.
Continuing his little jaunt to the exit on the side of the irrigation system revealed a small hallway leading to one door. With a soft push, he entered finding nothing, but an empty supply room. Walking around once over he found no sign of exit or hatch. With all things considered what the intruders had been had the Gunner highly amused at the wrong time.
"Well damn. Impressive, outright speech-worthy. WELCOME TO THE METAVERSE WHOEVER YOU ARE," he laughed clapping with no one to hear as he realized he had been bamboozled in some clever way. It was an unknown feeling to run into competent folks this effective against him on a first meeting. He felt no rage just was impressed at the craft given before he entered a bit of a sigh placing a hand on his face shaking as the other softly held him against a shelf. Tapping on his watch activating an app much like the one on Masami's phone to appear before selecting exit as he began to fade away unknowing of the secret wall press behind the shelf.
"Too bad though. You chose the wrong place to play in."
Three audible screams followed down an irrigation slope as the Shiro, Masami, and the Tanuki came barrel-rolling right out of a faraway pipe from the Castle. Landing in a lake bed the trio arose from the depths with no fight left to their name they let themselves drift off with Masami now completely spent body, and mind fried at the moment.
"You know you would make a good leader... just saying," Shiro spoke starting an odd conversation.
"Hey... don't sell yourself short you got us through the first half. I just happen to be able to pull us past the line. Besides while you gave us hell I did get us in hell," Masami groaned a bit loopy sounding raising a hand before it just plunked back into the water. Shiro was about to ask if she was okay before the critter spoke.
"Don't worry it's just awakening burnout she will be fine," the tanuki spoke as the three floated.
"Alright," Shiro left the scenario unchallenged any further.
"May I ask a question?"
"Sure," a loopy yet relaxed Masami responded.
"You guys aren't professionals or thieves for that matter are you?" There was a soft guilty silence mixed with a bit of regret for tricking the critter, especially coming to save them like she had.
"No, we're not. Sorry about lying, but we had no choice. We have no clue about anything here. We just wanted to get out." Masami explained in full earnest.
"I see... I guess I am not recognized as a professional. It's fitting I haven't even stolen a single treasure yet." The raccoon dog mumbled a bit in defeat realizing its over-eagerness having hampered its own progress.
"Hey, don't you sell yourself short either that's my schtick right now. You may not be a professional, but you are one badass little furball roguishly gallivanting to our rescue as you did. You have guts, and I can respect that," Shiro praised.
"...HEEEEEEEE I did, didn't I? Tanuki the Gallant Rogue." Tanuki gleefully giggled a bit in a quick one-eighty. Easily swayed she was, and for that, her charming effect to "live & let go" was rather infectious.
"Wait you're a Tanuki that's name is Tanuki," Shiro asked coming back to the fact of having a once over on the revelation of the critter's non-ironic name.
"Ya, why is there something wrong the that?"
"Ahem... Hey, what is all this "place"," Masami asked dodging the line of questioning.
"OH. Ya, you're in the Metaverse. It's the other side of reality a realm of cognition, a place where human thought takes tangible form like our Persona's." Tanuki explained.
"Personas?"
"Anne Bonny, and Gyobi. The other side of us rebelliously taken form to fight back against our oppression."
"So those demons they were also Persona's."
"No those are Shadows the physical manifestation of the human subconscious. Their just distorted thoughts of all kinds very hostile to real people or critters like myself. There are also Shadow Selves which are the literal consciousness of actual people as a whole."
"I saw myself in that castle. Along with classmates from our school... does that mean I created it, or them with something born of my subconscious?"
"Hm if it's in a Palace no that would make it a cognitive existence. A manifestation of the ruler's view of you also only something as highly concentrated as a Ruler of a palace can create such things without unique hands involved."
"You called that castle a Palace earlier what's that about?" Masami inquired as the water of the lake started to feel less supportive of their weight as their floating trip neared its end.
"Well, a Palace is a manifestation of "distortion," mixed with strong negative or corrupt thoughts that warp the perceptions of people into a hazard for themselves, the environment, and anything else caught in the transformation. When someone basically gets too big for their twisted britches their Shadow Self takes on their desires a Palace that then attracts shadows depending on the level of their corruption," Tanuki expressed a bit winded on that particular explanation.
"Heh, finally have proof Kajik's a damn culling monster out in the open, and I can't say how aloud without sounding like I have gone deranged," Shiro scoffed slapping her face and sending a bit of water around as she laughed in frustration before aggressively slapping it back into the flow.
"Oh is that who that guy is? I rather avoid him he's very intense on this whole purity thing I keep hearing everything spout. Honestly, if the will seed didn't smell so concentrated on the treasure he hid I would probably be creeped out, and out to hunt elsewhere," Tanuki expressed shuddering at all the zealot lingo from her time laying out the Palace.
"Will Seeds?"
"Oh ya, it's the concentration of distortion, or maybe better to say the core of a Palace. The more prominent the distortion the more powerful the Will Seed's scent, and with it the bigger the treasure hidden amongst them," Tanuki proclaimed in excitement to the point it almost sounded like she was drooling over the thought of it.
"So your variant of catnip than junky," as soon as the words escaped Shiro's mouth a soft splash of water came after her from Masami who chuckled at the humorous yet rude comment. There were a few other questions asked for basic understanding that gave some form of tangibility to the girls about the Metaverse though even with the knowledge of it the acceptance was still hard a grasp.
To that the watered journey was over as they all made it to the end of the lake. Their water ride of tranquility over. After a bit of sloshy movement, the trio sat at the edge of the lake looking to Shujin Castle out in the distance. Shiro and Masami now having a chance to give Tanuki a look over turned to fully comprehend the unique creature.
The critter had red and black fur much like the species it appeared to be based on presenting it was rather bushy if not chubby. Though not to its animal design it stood completely on hind legs with little paw hands, and a well-puffed up adorable tail that looked so comfy the urge to grab it was very much a possible future event. Her face was an irony in of itself with a legit old school simple thief mask covering perfectly against her face's thief fur pattern of the same design as a raccoon. Even more wacky to the mind her outfit was that of the old-school cartoony design of a thief a two-color striped shirt, a snow cap hat, and pure colored pants. Where things went a bit out the door instead of the old aesthetic of black, and white Tanuki wore bright pink with white instead of blazing prominent. The moment she came into view how she hadn't been caught already was a mystery in of itself. To add to the finale of the oddity punch was an equally eye-catching pink cape around her neck creating the question: Was she just too adorable to search for an answer that could harm the feelings, or would the madness of accepting the level of skill in stealth she had to have to unbearable to their common senses.
"So what are you then," Shiro bluntly asked earning a temporary stare from Masami though in truth she wanted that answer as well.
"Oh? Well, I am... not sure. I know I was somebody's partner in crime, but my memories really fuzzy. Thus since I had no leads I thought stealing valuable treasure would catch the attention of my partner so we could find one another. That way they can help me recover what I lost," Tanuki sweetly smiled causing a much real sobering feeling of pangs in Shiro, and Masami's sympathy for her.
"I am sorry for asking."
"Don't be. You won't get anywhere unless you ask things. That's what my partner said... I think," Tanuki nodded in confidence putting her hands to her sides with the utmost respect for the question being asked.
"They sound pretty smart and very nosy," Masami chuckled which quickly turned to a pained groan as she felt her legs give out with Shiro barely catching her by the shoulder. Within a soft flash, Masami's gear dispersed returning her student garbs.
"Oh. You're still adjusting to the metaverse you really should exit before you both completely collapse," Tanuki concerningly expressed.
"What are you going to do?"
"Well, this wasn't as bad as the last enragement caused by the trench coat mannequin. So I just have to wait it out a day or two," Tanuki nodded planning to head right back in when things calmed down.
"Two days," both Shiro and Tanuki turned to a heavily breathing Masami perplexed at the words that had come out of her mouth. "Can you hold off specifically for two days?"
"Oh? Why is that," Tanuki asked confused about what this was all about.
"I am processing a lot of stuff, and baggage at the moment that I just threw out the door myself in fact. I need to confirm some things. Once I do I'll potentially be coming back here, and need your help," Masami asked. No pleaded with the critter. At first, Tanuki showed signs of hesitation though upon hearing someone needing her skills the scales quickly tipped in the girl's favor.
"Oh... Alright but if I wait, and you do show up again. You have to promise me your assistance in nabbing the palace treasure deal?"
"Deal, Tanuki," Masami weakly smiled offering her hand to shake on it. Elated at the prospect of a helping hand Tanuki skittered right up taking Masami's hand into hers and shaking it with boundless energy as Masami felt something of a strange wave of comfort.
I am thou...
Thou art I...
Thou hast acquired their first vow with a binding contract...
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of The Magician Persona
I have obtained the winds of blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power...
The feeling past as quick as it came followed by a beeping sound from Masami's phone. Struggling to pull it out while Shiro acted as her crutch Masami was greeted with the bastard of a app still open on her phone. Staring at it she was blessed with a fortunate question.
Would you like to exit: Shujin Castle?
"Oh you have no idea you programmed garbage," Masami mulled pushing the button with noodled arm haste as a wave of essence swept around the two girls. Slowly they were disappearing, and as Shiro watched their presence fade she looked to the fur ball with a thumbs up which caused Tanuki to wave at them both. Once they were gone the critter sighed.
"Oh... I better start prepping then, but first a nice mental fish," with a small leap Tanuki dived into the lake seeking nourishment after the famishing performance of the day.
...
After reappearing in the real world the setting quickly was one of night with the duo surrounded by alleyways deeply in the furthest point of the Shujin district. Not really any form of comfort, but the school was out in the distance of their sight an unwanted reminder of the day's event. Slowly Shiro got Masami to the bullet train on a limb of a walk to the station thankfully before the arrival of the final trip of the night. Dropping them both onto a bench chair the two sorta just laid their depleted.
"Fuck you, and thank you, you sickly dragging douche," Shiro muttered causing Masami to give a soft scoff.
"Fuck you, and thank you as well you bursting bubble prick," Masami sharply responded before both girls erupted into laughter over just... everything. The weight of the world and the moon's glow seemed to fade away as the two were finally able to "celebrate" their joint survival. However, the laughter eventually died leaving an uncomfortable silence in its wake.
"Are you going to be okay tonight?"
"Ya... I texted some of my girls they're going to meet me here so I can get a carried home."
"Listen..."
"I know some of your questions are on why I did, and what I said today. Yet let's be honest I think for your own safety it's best to just cut ties with me alright? Let me handle my problems, and just... enjoy a good school life alright. Stay out of trouble and stuff. Don't be stubborn trying to help yourself into a hole," Shiro dryly spoke a sense of not wanting to drown Masami in her complications evidently clear. Even with all the trouble Masami had pulled her into the delinquent girl had no desire to drag her through the mental mud of her problems.
"Look who's talking."
"Heh, no shit right," Shiro sneered a smile at that pulling herself up and turning to the medical mask-covered Masami with hesitation. She wanted to say something... let something out, or slip. Though try as the night might it seemed it wouldn't be an easy venture getting answers directly from Shiro.
"Have a good night Masami see you around maybe," Unable to give chase Masami was forced to watch Shiro limp away into the lonely dark of the night. Turning to the sound of the train off in the distance coming in Masami closed her eyes for a moment before forcing herself up... life was about to get extremely complicated again. Yet this time? It would be by choice.
...