Ch. 112 - Bake-Kujira, Pt. 1

The cove was tranquil. The rocky coast expanded from shore to shore without end, the gravel and stone worn smooth from the ocean tides. It stretched a far distance before finally reaching the distant plains beyond, dotted only by a few trees and foliage. In the distance was a single large hill rising over the coast, with a large wooden tower that served as a lighthouse once upon a time. The heavens were clear and cloudless, revealing the stars above and with the full moon gleaming like a brilliant golden coin in the sky.

The surrounding natural beauty contrasted with the fishing village. The waves quietly splashed up against dilapidated wooden buildings, many of the rotten timbers broken and collapsing. Rusted spears, moss-covered fishing rods, and torn nets lay against the walls, long since neglected. Small docks jutted into the waters, some of them in disrepair and sank below the tides, while others stayed, dark with moss and rot. Small, wooden fishing ships either were tied to them with fraying ropes or lay scuttled on the shore, many of them falling apart from neglect and disuse. And yet…

"This little village is rather quaint, non?" Marie commented, looking over the run-down buildings in curiosity. "There's a certain charm to it that makes me… nostalgic? Is that the word for it?"

Ren chuckled as he stretched. "I don't think you've ever visited this village to be nostalgic over it," he pointed out. "But I get what you mean. It does have that feeling." The architecture of the buildings reminded him of those old villages he saw in TV shows, though maybe less run down. The rustic locale certainly put him more at ease than he expected. The salty air was surprisingly refreshing as well. Maybe once he got back to Japan, he should find a similar locale just to explore.

"Such villages were common during my time," Tamamo noted, looking about with only minor interest. "They weren't my favorite though – once you've seen one you've seen them all. Such people are only focused on survival, after all, and there's only so much they can do before they all follow the same patterns."

"Well, those living their lives day to day often tend to be boring," Loki drawled with a shrug. "Far more entertaining to meddle with those who have far more to their possession – and far more to lose, wouldn't you say, Caster?"

The fox miko shot a glare at the Avenger, who simply grinned wider at her frustration. "This is not the time for your impetuousness, Avenger," she snapped. "You best realize I am keeping an eye on you."

"I'm not hearing a denial," the trickster god pointed out easily. Tamamo simply clicked her tongue and turned away, the swishing of her tail indicating her frustration and annoyance.

Ren had to hold back a tired sigh. This was going to be a fun hunt. In the meantime, he tapped his communicator, displaying the holograms of Artemis and Orion. "We're on site," the Phantom Thief reported. "Looks like we're at a fishing village of sorts. I'm guessing the Bake-Kujira is off the coast from here?"

"Right in one," Artemis confirmed cheerfully. "The village you're in was known for its fishermen, particularly whalers. The Bake-Kujira and local yokai killed or terrified away the inhabitants, so this is all that's left. It's a good staging location for your hunt, provided you know what to look for."

"Hunting aquatic species isn't my usual thing," Orion admitted, his paws crossed in consideration. "It's definitely a different pace than hunting on any kind of land, be it forest, mountain, or desert. If you want my take on it, I'd say treat it like fishing. Really, really big fishing."

"Really big fishing, huh?" Ren echoed with an amused grin. "Good to hear. Anything we should know about the Bake-Kujira in particular?"

"As you're aware, the Bake-Kujira is created by the hatred and grudges of the whales that have been killed in the past," Artemis supplied. "A creature driven by such wrath can be both predictable and not at the same time. I say be prepared for even the best-case scenario to turn on you, or find unexpected opportunities in the most impossible of times."

"So same as always then," the Phantom Thief joked. "Alright. We'll make our preparations and let you know when we're ready to set out. Thanks a lot, guys!" With that, the screen winked out as he breathed out a sigh as he began pondering what was the first step here.

"That was distinctly unhelpful," Tamamo sniffed.

Ren glanced over and shrugged. "Gods," he replied as if that explained everything. The Caster glanced off to the side with a scoff but otherwise made no comment. "But anyway, the Bake-Kujira is out at sea. We're gonna need a boat in order to reach it. Let's find one first and get things ready."

Tamamo frowned. "It would be a trivial matter to simply walk on water," she pointed out. "The mystery is easy enough to cast for us."

"No doubt," the Phantom Thief acknowledged. "But the ocean's pretty big. We're gonna need bait to lure it in – and in this case, what better than a fishing boat? The same thing that hunted it down in the past?"

Loki blinked several times, then burst out laughing. "Oh, that's just cruel!" they laughed. "That's one devious idea you have there, Ren. I approve!"

"Thought you'd like that," Ren remarked with a grin. "So, let's see if we can find a fishing boat here and get things underway."

With that, they began walking through the village, the gravel crunching softly underneath their steps. As they approached, the smell and sounds of the ocean became stronger – and accompanied by a strong odor of rot, enough for Tamamo to wrinkle her nose in disgust and Marie to pinch her nose. "Mon dieu!" the queen gasped. "I do hope most fishing villages don't smell quite so horrid!"

"They normally do not," the miko replied as she drew a talisman out from her sleeve. Muttering a quick incantation, she threw it into the air and it burst, creating a bubble around the group that filtered out the horrid odor. "I only smell the rot of fish and not humans, however – likely from the catches that were left behind. At least, in this part of the village."

Marie nodded slowly in understanding. "Well at the very least, we are very glad for your company," she complimented with a smile. "Having to work on our preparations alongside such an odeur would be tedious to the extreme!"

Tamamo flashed a smile in return. "It is nothing," she lightly dismissed, raising a hand so her sleeve hid her lips. "But I thank you for your comments. A modicum of pleasant company at least shall make our work less troublesome in turn." The Rider smiled happily in turn at the compliment.

Meanwhile, Ren noticed Joan was just staring impassively at the village. Despite the conversations around her, she hadn't spoken a word the entire time. 'Joan?' he asked gently though their connected thoughts. 'Something on your mind?'

The Lancer started a bit at being addressed suddenly, her thoughts a jumble as she worked up how to respond to him, then she sighed aridly before running a hand through her hair. 'Just… thinking about the village and the Bake-Kujira,' she admitted with a grumble. 'It's nothing special.'

'What about?' Ren prodded. "Were you thinking how you were similar to it or something?'

Joan's eyes widened, then narrowed into a glare. 'Nothing gets past you, huh,' she muttered ill-temperedly.

The Phantom Thief smiled apologetically with a shrug. Loki glanced over with a raised eyebrow but for now, he ignored them. 'It was the first thing I thought too, to be honest,' he confessed. 'How do you feel about it?'

She sighed. 'Does it matter?' the Lancer growled. 'We're tasked to kill it, so we'll kill it. It's an unnatural creature born from wrath and vengeance, and already it caused destruction. Maybe not as widespread, but it still did its damage.' She knocked on one of the small houses nearby for emphasis. Underneath her knuckle, the timber felt soft to the touch, like it would yield if she put even a tiny bit more force into it.

'If circumstances had been different or more straightforward,' she stated. 'Then I would've also been killed too. Don't try to pretend otherwise, Ren Amamiya. I know damn well that should be what happened, instead of… all this.'

Ren didn't even flinch as he looked over at the former doppelganger. 'You're right, we would have,' he agreed. Maybe he and Morgana would've hesitated in landing the killing blow, but if they had a clear shot to Orleans back then, Joan would have perished as nothing more than a twisted doppelganger of Jeanne. 'But that didn't happen, nor are we going to something similar here.'

Joan scoffed lightly. 'Yeah, even you wouldn't be that distasteful,' she muttered before looking away at the ruined village. 'It's just something I'm thinking about. I'm not gonna pull my punches here because we're similar or anything.' A bitter smile creased her face. 'If anything, considering its existence, I'd say we're only putting it out of its misery.'

The Phantom Thief didn't reply as the Lancer fell silent. Instead, all he could do was breathe a quiet sigh through his nose. Walking on a metaphorical tightrope was something he was more than used to, but rarely did it get easier.

The wood on the docks was dark and slick with moss, algae, and slime. Ren had to step carefully to avoid slipping, though he adjusted quickly enough. The fishing boats bobbed alongside the docks with each wave. They were small, simple wooden affairs with a singular oar at the back, along with a perch in front to hang a lantern for evenings and nights. They were rustic and simple. Perfect for fishermen sailing out, getting a good haul of fish, and coming back home with ease.

And absolutely the wrong kind of boat they needed for their hunt.

"Quaint," Loki snarked. "I'm sure the Bake-Kujira would notice a particularly large piece of driftwood sailing on top of its territory."

"The timbers are rotted too," Tamamo pointed out. Taking a nearby branch sitting on the dock, she poked hard inside the boat – and it replied by splintering and immediately flooding with water. Within a few moments, it sank beneath the surface and came to a rest at the bottom, barely visible through the waves. "These would be smashed to splinters by a large fish, let alone a yokai."

Ren frowned as he considered. "I'm guessing the other boats are no good either?" he asked.

"They aren't fit for fishing, let alone for whaling," Joan answered as she checked on the other boats. "I saw a few larger ships scuttled on the coast, but they're in even worse shape. If we try to use them, the only direction they'll be going is down."

The Phantom Thief crossed his arms as he tried to brainstorm any ideas. Marie tilted her head in curiosity as she looked over at her Master. "What are you considering, monsieur Ren?" she inquired.

"I was thinking of a traditional whaling boat," he replied. "The Bake-Kujira is a spirit made of grudges and hatred, right? If it saw a whaling boat, then no way would it be ignored. It'll lure it out into the open so we're not looking for it in the ocean like a needle in a haystack."

Tamamo looked pensive as she listened. "Yes, that could work," she murmured as she thought about the characteristics of the yokai. "It would never tolerate a target of its grudge so boldly sailing into its territory. There's no doubt it will confront us – and it will be extraordinarily angry when it does so."

Ren gave a broad grin at the last sentence. "Well, we better take advantage of that, then," he summed up. That said, he didn't see anything here that's fit for whaling – or at least, nothing in good enough condition. As Loki had noted, a fishing boat was unlikely to garner the spirit's attention – and if it did, it wouldn't last more than a minute before being destroyed – and everything else was too rotten. They didn't have a lot of options, so the next step would obviously be…

"Tamamo, are you able to restore the condition of the wood around here as well as shape it?" he asked, looking over at the miko.

The Caster raised an eyebrow at the odd question but checked the boats regardless. "There aren't any mysteries or magecraft interfering with these boats – or anything in the village," she noted. "Adjusting the wood would be child's play."

Joan's frown deepened as the Phantom Thief's smile grew. "Ren, what are you thinking?" she inquired warningly, already feeling a chill down her spine.

"I was just thinking we build the boat ourselves," he responded nonchalantly as he raised his communicator. "We just need to get the blueprints and then get to work. It'll take a bit of time, sure, but preparation is key to a good hunt, right?"

The Lancer's jaw dropped. "You're just… going to build a…. whaling boat…" she stammered. Then she buried her face in her hand. "Goddamnit, of course you are," she grumbled. "Why am I even questioning your actions or decisions anymore?"

Ren smiled apologetically when he felt his arm being lowered. Looking over, he blinked in surprise to see Loki. "Already calling for backup so soon?" the trickster god remarked with a smirk. "I thought you were more capable than that, 'Master'."

The Phantom Thief raised an eyebrow and smirked back. "Can't exactly make a boat without proper blueprints," he replied matter-of-factly. "I was gonna contact Chaldea to see if they have some for a Japanese whaling boat. Unless you're telling me you know it off the top of your head?"

Loki's eyes widened at the taunt, then laughed. "Know? No," they denied. "But one of my dominions is 'fishing'. Funny how so few people know that." They looked around and nodded. "I believe I should be able to sketch the blueprints. I only need some paper and a pen to write it all down. Pity we won't be find such a thing here unless we dig around-"

"Will this do?"

Both Ren and Loki turned to see Marie offering a small notepad and a pen. "I find myself in the habit of carrying these around lately," she elaborated. "In case something happens to be interessante. You would be rather surprised how often carrying these around comes in handy."

The Avenger blinked multiple times, then chuckled as they plucked the items from Marie. "You are full of surprises, Marie Antoinette," they commented with a grin. "Yes, these shall work just fine. Give me a bit and I'll have it all written up."

The Phantom Thief nodded in acceptance. "Tamamo, mind giving Loki a hand?" he asked, turning to the Caster. "Just make sure their design resembles enough of a whaling boat that it'll lure out the Bake-Kujira."

Tamamo narrowed her eyes slightly, then nodded. "This is not my specialty, but I shall assist where I can," she accepted. "Not to mention, it would be a great pleasure to make sure Avenger doesn't get up to any mischief, whether during the design or construction."

She shot a glare at Loki as she made the last sentence, who grinned sardonically in turn. "Oh?" they snarked. "I believe that the adage of 'takes one to know one' applies here quite well. Though at least during my time here I did not drag others who didn't deserve it into my 'mischief', as you call it. I wonder if you can declare the same, Tamamo-no-Mae."

The Caster's eyes widened in shock before scowling back at the Avenger, her tail swishing angrily. As she opened her mouth to retort, Marie cleared her throat to catch their attention. "Perhaps this would be a more constructive conversation later on, when we are at rest," she pointed out. "Right now, I believe we have a hunt we must prepare for, non? And I would prefer if my notebook doesn't get damaged by any altercation."

The bright smile and near-innocent demeanor of the Rider stopped both Tamamo and Loki cold, unable to come up with an immediate retort. Ren just chuckled slightly. "She's got a point," he followed up. "We better not take too long for our preparations. I'm counting on both of you to have a boat planned out – and knowing the two of you, it won't be anything short of perfect."

Loki stared at Ren, then burst out laughing. "Schemers and plotters, every one of you!" they exclaimed. "Very well, very well! I'll answer your faith in me, Ren. And you have my word I won't needle Caster too much – if she doesn't deserve it anyway. Will that suffice?"

Tamamo scowled beneath her sleeve. "So long as you behave," she muttered. "Then I shall cooperate."

Ren nodded in satisfaction. "Joan, can you check on the scuttled ships and flotsam around here?" he asked, turning to the Lancer. "We're gonna need a lot of lumber and metal. Mind seeing which ones are a good size and not too rotten?"

Joan frowned slightly but nodded. "Don't have the greatest eye for this, but I'll find what I can," she grumbled. "I'll try to see if I can scrounge up some other supplies too."

"That would be greatly appreciated," the Phantom Thief replied gratefully. "And Marie, you're with me – we're gonna try and find some tools to work with."

The queen clapped her hands happily. "Carpentry, monsieur Ren?" she asked. "I must say, I am quite intrigued! Please, lead the way! This shall be a marvelous time!"

Ren grinned in response as the other Servants looked at each other warily, all with their own reactions: A sardonic smirk from Loki, exasperation from Joan, and irritation from Tamamo. "Alright, we all have our jobs," the Phantom Thief declared. "Let's get to it. Report in if you guys find anything interesting. Let's move out."

Everyone split up to get to their jobs: Loki and Tamamo to a nearby desk, Joan left the docks and marched down the beach to investigate the scuttled boats, and Ren and Marie delved deeper into the village to find the tools. The night was calm and gentle, though the occasional breeze that flowed through left Ren shivering slightly. He idly wondered if it was spring or fall in this singularity. When was the season here? He had many questions, though most were just idle curiosity.

As he rummaged through the village, he couldn't help but be curious. Despite the rot and degradation of the village, he still found small things here and there that caught his attention: An old, tattered scroll rendered illegible by water damage and time. A wind charm crafted from what appeared to be bones. A small shrine sitting off to the side, its carvings and paintings long worn away (he stopped to offer a quick prayer). So far, they hadn't found what they were looking for, but he didn't mind much at the moment.

Marie meanwhile seemed to be the same: Curiously peering about houses and buildings, looking at things like a small earthen stove or the long-dried herbs hanging up in kitchens, and even joining Ren when he prayed at the shrine. During that time, she had found a wide-brimmed reed hat that was in relatively good condition. With a smile, she replaced her usual elaborate red hat with it, securing the straps underneath her chin. "How do I look, monsieur Ren?" she asked.

Ren glanced over from the cupboards he was scouring and grinned at the sight. "Like the queen of the fishermen," he easily replied. "Or would you prefer a beautiful water nymph among humans?"

The Rider froze for a moment at the compliments, then laughed softly with a faint blush. "I must remind myself you've quite a way with words," she murmured, turning away. "Do you say that to every lovely woman you meet?"

"I only speak from the heart," the Phantom Thief answered with a wry smile.

Marie could only giggle in response. "A delightfully trite line," she remarked.

They continued looking around the village, eventually finding what seemed to be a small smithy. The furnace and smelter had long since gone cold, covered in hardened soot and ashes. Though the main building itself didn't have anything, it connected to the living quarters in the back followed by a storeroom. While Marie checked the living area, Ren decided to poke around. He found some spears and a collection of fishhooks, all long rusted, as well as things like kitchenware, both ceramic and metal.

Digging further into the back, he came across a small box. Opening it, he found to his surprise an entire carpentry set: Hammers and mallets, wood saws, files, planes, and more. A few seemed a bit more esoteric but that didn't matter too much. They had all rusted as well thanks to the ocean air but no matter - he'd ask Tamamo to clean them up and reinforce them a bit.

As he looked over the tools, a smile crept across his face. It had been a long while since he worked with his hands ever since his days in Tokyo making phantom thief tools. He couldn't wait to get started. "Marie, I found some tools!" he called out - only to be met with silence.

Ren turned around, instantly wary. "Marie?" he called again. His eyes turned red as he activated this Third Eye. From what he could see or tell, there was nothing hostile. Quietly setting down the toolbox, he slowly made his way back to the living quarters and silently opened the sliding door. His hand was ready to draw his knife as he prepared his personas, his circuits warming up-

Only to see Marie standing in the middle of the room, pensively staring at something she was holding in her hands. His curiosity renewed, he quietly walked over to see what she was looking at: A doll. Its straw hair was rotting away and some of its fabric had disintegrated, causing the stuffing to spill out, but its shape was unmistakable.

"Didn't take you to be a fan of dolls," Ren commented lightly with a small smile, causing the queen to jump and squeak in surprise.

"Monsieur Ren!" she gasped, holding her chest. "My apologies for not responding. I was… somewhat distracted."

"I can tell," the Phantom Thief accepted easily. He nodded over to the doll. "Something about it caught your eye?" he asked out of curiosity.

Marie glanced back down at it, then shook her head with a sad smile. "Not the doll itself, per se," she murmured. "More just… those who found great enjoyment from them."

He considered making a joke, but his instincts warned him the atmosphere was too heavy for one. "You mean children?" he quietly inquired.

The queen nodded slightly. "Oui," she whispered. With a wan smile, she gently placed the doll on a nearby table, positioning it so it was sitting – or the closest approximation to it, given its damaged state. "I was blessed with wonderful children. Four of them. But… only one of them – my daughter – lived a full life. The rest…"

The Rider fell silent, her eyes resting on the doll once more. Slowly, her expression morphed before his eyes. He watched as her normally jovial, kind features hardened and her lips pressed together until they were little more than a thin line. The atmosphere around her rapidly became colder and colder, sending a chill up his spine.

Looking back down, he could see her grip on the doll shaking, yet it never tightened, as though she was doing her utmost to avoid damaging it any further. The moonlight shone on her through the window, rendering her pale features almost translucent. However, instead of enhancing her beauty as it normally would, it instead gave her an otherworldly glow, like he was staring at a vengeful wraith. From someone like Marie, it was terrifying to witness… and fascinating.

"How are you feeling?" Ren asked.

The sudden question once more caused Marie to jump slightly and blink owlishly at Ren. "Pardon?" she asked, unsure if she heard correctly.

The Phantom Thief nodded to the doll. "Exactly what I asked," he confirmed. "How do you feel, Marie Antoinette?"

Marie was left blinking several times at the question as she tried to parse out his statement. How… did she feel? This would be a faux pas under any sort of circumstance, be it a formal gathering or even just a normal social situation. In spite of herself, she could feel an overwhelming wrath almost overcome her better nature and her senses. With practiced patience, she restrained herself. He simply didn't know any better, that was all. It would behoove him to be more aware of his surroundings.

And yet, as she looked in his eyes, that wasn't the case in the slightest. His sharp grey eyes were abnormally serious as she met his gaze with her own. Was it bemusement and anger? Or perhaps it was sympathy or pity? No. None of those answers fit. Rather, the intensity came from a place she had not expected, neither in her past life nor this one:

Empathy and understanding.

He wished to know. Even if the answer was obvious, he wished to know and share in it with her, for better and worse. When was the last time she had seen something so… intrusive yet kind?

Had she ever?

Marie laughed. It wasn't the usual mirthful sound that escaped her lips. It was hollow, bitter, and cold, akin to cracking ice. "You are quite a rude man at times, monsieur Ren," she whispered. She silently walked over to a window, her pale eyes staring outside at the ruined village beyond, with Ren silently joining beside her. Outside, the moonlight danced with the still shadows of the ruined town, a performance of light and dark only accompanied by the distant waves from the ocean.

"Ah, how can I describe it," Marie whispered as she stared up at the moon, her eyes glimmering with near-madness. "Hate? Non, that word is not nearly adequate enough to describe it. It gnaws away at my insides and at the crevices of mind every time it appears. Enough that I wish to tear something to pieces – anything. Yet I could tear the world itself apart and it would not be enough to sate it. If only hatred was all I felt, then perhaps this anguish would be easier to handle. And yet, even if I accept the cruelty of what had happened, that it's in the past, it is all still there like a misshapen jewel, wretched yet indestructible."

Ren was silent as he listened and observed Marie – no, an anguished woman let forth a torrent of vitriol and bile, dark as the night. He could see the hatred in her eyes and hear it in her voice. But there was more to it. Beyond the cold anger, there was pain from unending grief and sorrow. One that could only be borne by those that not only had been wronged but had been through a loss that she couldn't – and never would - accept. While he wanted to ask, he knew this wasn't the time for it, nor was it his objective.

Slowly, as though some semblance of rationality had crawled back into her soul, the Rider clenched her hand into a tight fist and pressed it against her chest. "There are many, many times I wish to lash back against the world," she murmured. "To make it experience the same pain and bitterness I felt then. But that isn't what I wished for. I am all too aware the world can be cruel and ugly, but so too can it be wondrous and enchanting. It is a clear contrast that many I believe find frustrating, perhaps incomprehensible. But that simply makes the world all the more beautiful in my eyes."

Unclenching her hand, she leaned up against the windowsill with a wan, sad smile. "I suppose it's a lesson I've done my best to take to heart," she finished. "That hatred will always be a part of me in the end. I won't deny it, but neither will I let it drive me forward. In the end, all of that is what makes me, me. Life is simply far too grand to allow such matters to dictate how I should ultimately live my life."

Ren was silent as he considered her words. The sheer amount of rancor Marie held was both surprising yet not. He studied long ago the violent end of France's monarchy, and the fates of Marie Antoinette and her husband: the last of the French royal family. It was undoubtedly a cruel end for such a kind woman like her, even more so when she had been made into more or less a scapegoat and figurehead for the population's fury. He knew far too well the wrath of the public when they were united and kindled.

He considered their group once again: Loki, Tamamo, Joan, and now Marie, and thought about their target. As he did so, a wry smile twisted his lips. It seemed this hunt had a theme going for it.

A sigh from the Rider brought Ren out of his ruminations. "I must apologize," she murmured with a small smile. "What I have shown you was… admittedly unsightly. While I did say I have accepted that bit of ugliness within me, it is still unbecoming to show it so openly. You must have found that rather unpleasant to witness."

The Phantom Thief shook his head. "Not in the slightest," he disagreed. "If anything, it was fascinating to witness. I've seen people do a lot with that ugliness within themselves: Bury or suppress it and end up letting it fester, masking it as they pull off atrocious acts, or just letting it consume them – sometimes even knowingly."

He thought back to the people they dealt with. From their mementos targets to the Palace rulers to Akechi… being a Phantom Thief certainly brought unique perspectives and sights on humanity.

"It's very rare for someone to simply accept the worst part of themselves as part of who they are," he elaborated. "And the fact that you do makes it just as fascinating as you are normally, Marie. No – if anything, it only emphasizes your own beauty. It's just as striking as the rest of you."

Marie stared at him, wide-eyed in surprise at his words, then looked away while pouting with a slight blush. "It does not please a woman to be told that, even if it is a compliment," she gently admonished.

Ren chuckled. "I guess not," he easily admitted. "But I stand by what I said. Everything about you, including – and especially – that dark part of you is beautiful in their own right."

The queen blushed a bit more at the assault of praise – then an idea sprang into her mind. "And what of you, monsieur Ren?" she shot back. "What of you and your own inner darkness, so to speak?"

The Phantom Thief glanced over at the Rider with a raised eyebrow. "Oh?" he inquired. "What do you mean by that, Marie?"

"Do not play coy," she replied with a mischievous smile of her own. "You have explained before that your personas are essentially part of you, non? Aside from the angels and mythical beings I have seen you summon, I have also seen you summon demons and devils, and even le Diable himself!"

The queen leaned on the windowsill toward him, her eyes sparkling eagerly. "I am curious, what is it like using those parts of yourself?" she asked. "They are undoubtedly evil, yet they are still part of you and you use them with aplomb. What is that like?"

Ren paused as he considered his answer. Then he smiled and stepped back from the window. Switching personas in his mind, his circuits warmed up in the chilly night air as he tore off his mask. "Lilim," he called.

With a burst of blue flame, a new persona came forth: A dark-skinned young woman, seductively and tantalizingly beautiful. She wore a short, white jacket that was unzipped up to her collarbone, almost exposing her breasts, while her white shorts showed the entire length of her bare legs, including a serpent tattoo marked on her thigh. All of that only brought into clearer emphasis the small pair of demon wings emerging from her back and a whip-like tail from behind.

Raising a gloved hand, the persona brushed aside her shoulder-length black hair, revealing pointed ears, and blew a kiss to Marie, who raised an eyebrow in response. As Lilim floated down next to Ren, he looked over his persona contemplatively. "Well, like you said, Marie, my more malevolent personas are a part of me," he stated. "But that's just it – they're as part of me as my good parts, my serious parts, my silly parts, and everything in between. And since I accept them, I can utilize them to help myself, and anyone else in the process."

Marie observed the floating succubus persona with curiosity as she listened. Ren could understand that – he hadn't brought her out during his tenure in Chaldea. Even now, he could feel the faint aura of her seduction through the air. It was noticeable, but hardly enough to charm anybody unless they really let go of their mental faculties.

"Tres curieux," the Rider murmured. "It is no small feat, monsieur Ren, to be able to use your own darkness to your will. It is quite impressive. Though…"

She looked the lascivious persona up and down before shooting the Phantom Thief a wry smile. "It seems you've certain… tastes, non?" she pointed out.

Both Ren and Lilim looked at each other, then they both broke into grins. "I'm just a fine appreciator of beauty of all sorts, Marie," he simply replied as the persona giggled in response.

"Hm, so I see," Marie mused, her wry smile widening in amusement – then her eyes lit up as she had an idea, one she was now unfathomably curious about. She stepped up to the persona with a mischievous gaze. Before either Lilim or Ren could react, the queen threw her arms around Lilim and pressed her lips against the persona's. The succubus blinked once in surprise, then immediately returned the kiss, her arms wrapping around the Servant in turn and pressing against her.

The Phantom Thief raised an eyebrow as they kept kissing – and rather passionately too. He could tell tongue had gotten involved between the two. He had to mentally restrain Lilim from going any further with Marie, which ironically wasn't too much different than restraining himself if he was in a similar situation. It was a minute before they finally broke, with Marie taking a shaky breath of pleasure while Lilim simply smirked knowingly in response. "Didn't expect that," he remarked, leaning up against a wall. "I'm guessing you had a reason for that?"

The Rider giggled a bit with a nod. "I did indeed, monsieur Ren," she cheerfully confirmed. "I wanted to see if it was similar to kissing you – a succubus, yet it's a part of you? I was wondering where one ended and the other began, or if they were simply one and the same."

Ren nodded in mild surprise and understanding. "Interesting test," he commented, now wondering himself. "What's your conclusion, then?"

Marie giggled again. "It's hard to say," she admitted. "After all, I can't exactly use an old sample as judgement now, can I?"

The Phantom Thief quickly put two and two together. His smile widened as Marie approached. "I hadn't thought you would be so thorough and scientific about this," he remarked. "Chaldea rubbed off on you?"

"You tend to learn quite a bit when you spend so much time around scientists and geniuses," the queen agreed. With that, she threw her arms around Ren and kissed him, as he returned it just as eagerly. As he expected, he could feel her tongue brushing against his lips and reciprocated in turn as he held her closer to him.

She felt soft against him, warm, and surprisingly light. As their tongues intermingled, he could feel her wrapping herself tighter around him and held her closer in return. A flame he hadn't felt since his time with Nero was broiling within him, one he had no desire to contain. He felt her hand slowly shift behind his head. Gently yet firmly bringing him closer to her, which he returned by closing his arms tighter around her as if to unite their heat and passion into a whole.

Lilim meanwhile smiled wryly at the sight. Floating towards them, her hands wrapped around the queen's slim waist and caught her by surprise just as the kiss broke. The Rider looked up at the persona with a grin. "My, so daring, monsieur Ren," she purred as she reached up to stroke Lilim's cheek in response.

"I aim to please," he replied with a wink. Marie grinned again as Lilim leaned down and their lips met once more. The Phantom Thief watched with some amusement and no small amount of lust as the tongues of the two women almost immediately began intermingling again, the queen's hand stretching up to bring the persona closer to her. Ren gazed down at the arch of her neck, illuminated by the gleam of moonlight, and leaned down to press his lips against her skin-

'Hey, got a ship here with decent enough lumber.' Joan's sharp voice immediately broke the mood and air between them. 'Gonna need some help hauling all this back though – there's way too much for one person job. That giant of yours will probably be good for it. You guys got the tools yet?'

'We managed to find tools,' Ren replied, quickly recovering his composure as Marie and Lilim both looked at him. 'We'll be there shortly. What's your location?'

'About half a kilometer south of the village,' the Lancer reported. 'I'll see if I can find some ropes or something to attach to the ship so you can pull it – assuming you can't just pick the damn thing up and carry it over yourself.' There was a brief pause. 'You can, can't you,' Joan stated flatly.

The Phantom Thief stopped to consider for a moment. '… You know, I actually haven't tried,' he confessed. 'If the lumber's in good enough condition, then it might be possible. Get those ropes just in case, but that's a good idea. Thanks Joan!'

'You can take your good ideas and shove them up your-' The rest of Joan's speech devolved into unintelligible, ill-tempered grumbling before the communication finally cut off.

Both Ren and Marie looked at each other for a moment before collapsing into laughter. Lilim giggled quietly before vanishing in a small burst of blue flames. "I guess we should probably get back to work, huh?" the former commented.

Marie chuckled. "Oui, that would perhaps be best," she agreed before letting go of him, albeit with some reluctance. "Joan can be rather temperamental at best, especially regarding you. I do wonder why she still finds you irritating despite the two of you sorting your differences."

"I can be a bit much to handle for a lot of people," Ren admitted as he opened the sliding door back to the storeroom. "She just needs time to get used to it. Probably." As he picked up the toolbox, he flashed a grin back at her. "Though it's pretty funny seeing her get flustered by every other thing I do, not gonna lie," he added.

The queen burst out in uncontainable giggles at the remark. "Y-you certainly speak truly,' she agreed between heaves of mirth. As she regained her composure, she brushed a few wrinkles out of her dress. "Well, then, it would be rude of us to have her wait." Reaching forward, she hugged Ren's arm and smiled up at him. "Shall we go?"

Ren grinned. "Let's," he agreed. Easily stepping out with her, they walked down the docks, arm in arm. With the moonlight shining above and the rustic, serene surroundings of the ruined village, it felt surprisingly romantic. He filed away the information in his mind. Maybe he should brainstorm other unorthodox date locations, just for fun.

"Hm, perhaps we might try something similar with Joan to help relieve tension," Marie quietly mused. "She would probably melt like ice cream on a stove, non?"

And just like that, any further thoughts of date locations were utterly obliterated.

"Spill it."

"Excuse me?"

"You have questions, so spill it."

In another section of the village, the ruins of another house stood. Two of its four walls had collapsed from the march of time, allowing moonlight to illuminate the roof it once supported, now nothing more than rubble. In the distant corner was a small office, its shelves filled with tattered and rotten scrolls that disintegrated on the slightest touch.

In the office was a desk that sat by a window, one that had once been lovingly carved with great skill once, now weathered and battered by the elements. It had long been without an occupant, yet now Loki sat there as they sketched out the blueprints of a ship almost by instinct. A small lamp stood beside them, its gentle flame flickering as it gently glowed and illuminated the notebook as they worked.

Tamamo's ears twitched in irritation. "You are certainly cavalier about your attitude, Avenger," she growled. "Might I remind you you're still on a short leash? Or must I reinforce a few of my own?"

"You'll do no such thing," Loki replied flatly without bothering to look up as they worked. They paused as they considered the rigging. "I have my deal with Ren Amamiya and I have no intention of breaking it – especially since it only promises I only have to listen to him. You, that's at my convenience."

They tapped the pen against the desk in consideration, sketched out a few designs of the rigging with their accompanying knots, then turned the notebook toward Tamamo. "Which would be more accurate for a Japanese whaling ship?" they asked.

The Caster glared at the Avenger before looking critically back down at the notebook, her eyes narrowing in concentration as they darted between the sketches. Finally, she pointed. "This one," she answered. "I recall the ships I had sailed in using this particular design."

Loki nodded once as they took back the notebook, circled the indicated rigging, then continued working. "If anything, you're proving to be useful here, even if it's at the orders of our Master," they continued. "And I'm not utterly ungrateful. If you've questions, ask them. Whether I'll actually answer is at my own prerogative, of course."

The miko scowled. "And will you actually answer truthfully?" she asked, skepticism dripping from her voice.

The trickster god paused, glanced up at her, and gave a sardonic grin. "That depends on you now, doesn't it?" they retorted before turning back to their own work.

Tamamo's eye twitched slightly. "Then I might as well ask you what's your favorite food for all the good it'll do me," she snapped.

"Pancakes," Loki automatically replied before freezing. They took a very deep breath and let out an incredibly irritated sigh. "My host as it turns out has quite the sweet tooth," they muttered, their tone laced with forced calm. "That's wonderful to know."

They went back to their work, albeit with slightly worse temper than before. "For further information, it would be a whole honey-roasted boar with perhaps half a dozen or so tankards of mead to wash it all down," they added, then paused as they considered. "And maybe a dozen plates of pancakes would suffice as a desert," they admitted before resuming their sketches.

The Caster raised her eyebrows at the reaction. Certainly one she hadn't expected – especially the sheer amount that Loki could apparently eat - but it seemed to be her opening. "It seems your host has quite the history with our Master," she remarked. "Do you know anything about that, Loki?"

The trickster god scoffed. "What is there to know?" they asked. "They had met in the past, shared a complicated relationship and because of that, I'm here. In a more… fractured and different form than I'd like, but beggars can't be choosers, as they say."

Tamamo tapped her crossed arms impatiently. "That isn't all there is to him and you know that better than I do, Avenger," she snapped. "Are you not curious about your Master? Enough to perhaps search for more information about him? How he thinks, what he values, and more? Even if it's only for your own mischief, someone like you without a doubt would try to find out any blind spots of his."

Loki looked up and stared at the miko in surprise, meeting her eager, impatient gaze. Then a second later, they burst into raucous laughter that echoed through the quiet air, all thoughts of their project momentarily forgotten.

"Ah, you are not nearly as clever as you imagine yourself to be, Tamamo-no-Mae!" they cried manically. "Your attempts and projection are so transparent and obvious that they're both utterly hilarious and absolutely nauseating! It has been a very, very long time since I have felt such wretched amusement! Ren Amamiya, you indeed are fulfilling your end of the bargain and amusing me in your absence! This is a most wonderful comedy indeed!"

The Caster's patience was rapidly fraying under the trickster god's barely veiled insults and criticisms. "It would seem your vulgarity is almost as unmatched as both your madness and your stupidity," she snarled. Her fingers twitched as the temptation of summoning her talismans became almost overwhelming, only restraining herself at the last possible moment as Loki was needed for their hunt. "It seems getting any information from you was a fool's errand. I should have expected as such."

"Oh, far from it," Loki replied as a mad grin spread across their features. "My amusement here comes from a large number of sources, not just you, Caster. After all, you're hardly the only one that bears an interest in my Master, and doubtless you won't be the last. I merely underestimated just how much attention he has garnered from everyone, mortal and Servant alike. He will likely find the fact most amusing."

Tamamo mastered her expressions as best she could, yet she could not help her tail from fluffing up in alarm as her ears perked up, alert. "You intend to report to our Master, then?" she asked quietly, already scrambling to find a method to explain herself when it came to it.

The trickster god chuckled – and to her surprise, they shook their head. "I don't believe that's part of our deal," Loki replied with a mad grin. "It only stated that I act as he commands to both the spirit and letter and I do not involve others in our little competition. If I, say, decide to share a bit of information, then what you do with it is your business, not mine nor his."

With that, they set their pen down and reclined against the window, the Avenger's auburn eyes now burning red in mad amusement as they stared up at the miko. "So, what precisely do you wish to know about our dear Master, Tamamo-no-Mae?" they drawled.

The Caster could feel sweat beading on the back of her neck. This wasn't how she expected this conversation to go in the slightest, but then Loki had proven themselves to be almost as unpredictable as Ren was. Perhaps it was to be expected of someone who shared such a close relationship with him in life, yet that fact brought her no comfort. Curse Ren Amamiya and curse those that closely associate with him!

Still, despite how Loki's smile sends cold chills down her back, she knew there wouldn't be a better opportunity than now to find out anything behind that inscrutable young man. "What can you tell me about him?" she asked, her tone stern and strict. "About his former experiences, about his powers, about how he acts… anything and everything. He carries himself like an ordinary young man, one that could be found anywhere, yet at the same time he's far too extraordinary in ways both subtle and garish. He's nothing less than a mass of walking contradictions that somehow don't intrude on the realm of hypocrisy. I almost believe he's madder than you are, Avenger."

Once more, the Avenger threw their head back in manic mirth. "That is perhaps the most apt description I have heard about him so far here!" they declared. "Ah, one thing you must know about Ren Amamiya, is that sanity is not a word for him – at least, not in the traditional sense. After all, what is a sane person in an insane world? Would that make them the insane one? If they can work to an astounding degree within the confines of such a world, would that make them sane or insane?"

"Stop speaking in riddles," Tamamo snapped. "Get to the point."

Loki's grin widened as they leaned forward. "My 'point'," they sarcastically emphasized. "Is that there is no easy way to sum him up. They are less a person and more so an experience, as I have also told Medea of Colchis. Kindness and cruelty, compassion and malevolence, logic and irrationality – they are all nothing more than tools and toys to him, yet they are all core parts of him he can't do without. Even his morality can shift at a whim as he wishes."

The Caster could feel the stress-induced headache pounding away at her skull as her ears twitched in irritation. "You speak as though they are some sort of unknowable god," she spat. "At the very least, what the hell does he want?"

The trickster god scoffed and waved their hand dramatically in utter dismissal. "Oh, they're not some unknowable god," they quickly denied with a knowing smirk. "Not in the slightest. They are something far, far greater than that. As for what he wants, he wants the most terrifying thing of all for himself and for everyone, for good and for ill: Freedom."

For some reason, Tamamo felt another cold chill down her back at that answer. "And what is this thing that's far greater than a god?" she demanded. Loki's grin widened further, their teeth gleaming like a wolf's fangs in the moonlight.

"Human."

Tamamo huffed as she stomped out of the hut. Her mood was incredibly sour, having gotten dubiously truthful yet utterly unhelpful information about Ren from the trickster god. She knew that getting anything resembling a decent answer would be a trying experience, but she had thought that maybe she could at least glean one or two details she could work with. Instead, they gave her the runaround and then simply dismissed her when her services were no longer needed.

"Well, an invigorating conversation," they had replied with their usual smirk. "But it seems I have my fill of what I want: Entertainment and information. Why don't you find our Master instead and try your luck there for answers? You may meet with the same fortune as you have with me." Their grin widened in amusement as the Caster's temper flared. It had been incredibly tempting to blast them to oblivion then and there. Instead, she took her leave, with no choice but to admit defeat.

'Master, it seems Avenger no longer requires my assistance in drafting the ship's blueprints,' she mentally reported to Ren, doing her best to restrain her temper. 'Are there any other preparations that require my attention?'

There was a bit of mental static, then Ren's voice came through. 'Hey Tamamo,' he greeted cordially. His tone sounded strained, one that she was all too familiar with: It was when the young man had pushed himself too far yet again. 'I helped haul one of the ships next to the docks. We should have enough lumber and materials to make the ship. We're just waiting on Loki at this point, it seems like.'

The Caster blinked several times at the term 'we', then sighed to herself. Without a doubt Ren had used one of his personas to help haul the ship. 'It seems so,' she agreed. 'Where are you now?'

'Holing up in one of the intact houses close to the docks,' Ren answered. As soon as he did, the Caster immediately changed her course. 'Well, intact is a bit of a stretch – but it's one of the few that's not completely crumbling down and rotting. Marie and Joan insisted I go rest since they need me at top condition for the hunt, so here I am. It's not the most comfy here but hey, can't be any worse than a café attic.'

The levity in Ren's exhausted tone brought forth a new idea as she quickly found yet another opportunity. This was the Avenger's suggestion, true, but she couldn't deny the truth of it. 'I'm afraid I have no experience with such matter,' she admitted. 'Still, perhaps I can at least make it more accommodating,' she offered. 'It seems you worked hard enough tonight, and a ruined hovel would be a most unfit residence for the evening.'

There was a feeling of mild surprise that emanated from Ren, then he quickly responded. 'That'd be great,' he answered with a tone of relief and gratitude. 'It's kind of drafty here, and I'm a bit worried about setting a flame in the hearth in case something catches on fire. It's a bit late to set up a tent in the outskirts anyway.'

Tamamo nodded in acknowledgement despite her Master being nowhere nearby to see her. 'In that case, I am on my way,' she replied. 'I shall be there momentarily.'

'Sounds good,' Ren acknowledged before cutting off contact.

The Caster made her way down the dock, her raised slippers quietly clacking against the rotten boards as she pondered. A cool breeze floated by, not overtly uncomfortable but just cold enough to set one's teeth on edge. She could see why her Master might not enjoy this kind of weather. The salt spray was pleasant enough, with her witchcraft still filtering out the rot of fish or the more unpleasant smells of the sea, but it would certainly ruin her fur if she stayed here for too long.

She huffed a sigh. Why people spent their time so close to the sea was always beyond her. Better to stick to the land and enjoy the bounty it could yield. Ah, but the riches from distant lands were tempting too. So long as she wasn't the one to personally sail over and collect them, then she could tolerate it. But if she had to stay at a rustic village like this, then there had better be a good reason for it.

Shaking her head, she focused her thoughts. There would be no better way to garner information about her Master than this. All she needed to do was bide her time and not let impatience get the best of her again.

Eventually, she came across a house that was lit up from within, the quiet glow of a lit hearth flickering through the screen door. Without a doubt, that was where her Master currently was. Walking up to the door, she composed herself before knocking on the door. "Come in!" came Ren's voice from within.

"Pardon the intrusion," Tamamo murmured as she slid open the door, stepped in, and closed it behind her. The inside of the house didn't look too different from the ruins she had seen outside: The tatami mats were dilapidated and rotting while in the corner, what used to be furniture had long since fallen apart into scrap wood. There were holes in the walls, whistling as the wind flowed in. There didn't seem to be any sign of refuse or rotten fish around, nor did it seem overly ruinous, but otherwise this was rather substandard accommodation.

"Welcome," Ren greeted with a grin from his seat on a sleeping bag. "You're excused from taking off your shoes – this isn't the best place for it. No second cushion either unless you're willing to share my sleeping bag here. Sorry about that."

The Caster looked over at her Master. The Phantom Thief was grinning as he always did, though she could see his exhaustion with how he sagged his body and dullness of his eyes. He was poking a small fire in the hearth with a stick, trying to keep the flame going before feeding it another piece of scrap wood. The flames crackled and licked up against the mossy masonry of the hearth but otherwise were still well contained, their heat comfortably warming the house despite the wind.

"I see you have made yourself comfortable," Tamamo noted, masking her mild distaste.

Ren grinned. "Honestly, it wasn't much different than my time in juvenile hall," he remarked lightly. "If anything, it's actually warmer here. If I had a bit of time here, I could make this house really cozy." He patted the toolbox that sat beside the sleeping bag in emphasis.

The miko was skeptical before remembering how he sewed that backpack for Morgana back in the Roman singularity. Ren Amamiya was a man of many talents indeed – part of what made him so vexing. "I do not doubt that," she genuinely replied as she slipped out several talismans from her sleeve. "But for now, allow me to improve this house by my own methods. Marie and Joan have said you needed proper rest, did they not? And you won't be able to rest well in such ramshackle conditions."

The Phantom Thief raised his eyebrows as he looked around. "Well, honestly? It's not too bad as it is," he remarked. "It's comfy enough to get some sleep at least."

Tamamo pasted on a smile and bowed in acknowledgement. "True enough," she agreed. "You are quite adaptable in almost any circumstance." Inwardly, she rolled her eyes in exasperation at her Master. While she understood temporary abodes weren't often meant to be high-class and elaborate, she would still find this hovel distasteful in her standards. At least her Master wouldn't decline her work.

"Where are the others?" she asked casually, putting aside her annoyance as she tossed out her talismans. Each one stuck to a wall and rippled out as they glowed. The holes in the walls were rapidly sealed as the mortar grew back and closed and the shoji paper of the doors mended themselves, sealing the heat in the house once more.

Taking out two more talismans, she tossed one at the scrap pieces of wood nearby while throwing another down on the tatami flooring. The scrap wood was cleaned of any rot and swiftly reassembled itself, easily becoming simple furniture: A dresser, a table, and shelves for storage. The tatami mats were scoured and regenerated, leaving them as clean and pristine as if they had just been laid down.

For the final touch, the Caster pulled out one last talisman, knelt, and thrust it into the hearth. Within a moment, the flames within were absorbed into the paper like how water would be absorbed by a sponge. With a flick of her wrist, she flipped it over and a much calmer, focused flame appeared above the talisman. Releasing it, the paper hovered over the charcoal as it kept silently emitting the flame. "Now you no longer need to attend to the fire," she noted with satisfaction.

Ren stared in amazement as everything was completed and grinned up at the miko, who had taken off her slippers and stepped on the now clean tatami. "That was amazing, Tamamo," he earnestly commented. "And you even showed we've an even better chance of pulling off the plan than I thought."

"Oh?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean, Master?"

The Phantom Thief nodded to the reconstructed furniture. "You were able to restore not only the wood but the original shape of it too," he elaborated. "And with what you did with the walls, you're also able to modify the materials as well, like the walls." He nodded to the wall behind him for emphasis. "I had a good feeling you could do all of that, but seeing is believing – and what I saw was fantastic."

The Caster blinked a few times as her irritation grew yet again. Had she just been unknowingly tested about her capabilities? No, it was more Ren had found confirmation and worked from there. She had merely sought his comfort to render him more pliable, only to unwittingly play into his hands yet again – something even he didn't realize until they were done. And yet, the gratitude and praise he had shown was also genuine as well. This was truly frustrating.

Nevertheless, she simply bowed forward. "I'm merely happy you are satisfied with my work, Master," she murmured, graciously accepting the compliment. "If you like, though, perhaps I could make your rest and recovery even more fruitful?"

Ren glanced over casually as he leaned back. "Got something in mind?" he asked.

Tamamo's smile widened. "If it pleases you, would you perhaps like a massage?" she suggested. "I have done so once for Ritsuka and she found it rather enjoyable. I am quite confident in my skills, and believe it shall certainly help you recover faster in preparation for the hunt."

The Phantom Thief raised an eyebrow, his sharp grey eyes boring into the Caster… then he grinned and shrugged. "Sounds good to me," he accepted as he stood up. "Hauling an entire ship is pretty tough."

Somehow that news didn't surprise Tamamo in the slightest. "You hauled an entire ship?" she echoed in disbelief. "Were Marie or Joan unavailable to assist?"

"Oh no, they were," Ren corrected while he took off his jacket. "But Joan had suggested I try to pick up the entire thing with Hecatoncheires and bring it over. It was a bit tricky – I thought the entire thing would fall apart when I tried – but I managed to do it. And the ship didn't break, so she did find good lumber. All in all, I say it's a pretty good night."

The miko had to take a second to comprehend what her Master just told her. He had used one of his Personas – his own magecraft – to haul an entire ship back to the village? While she wouldn't precisely consider it a Caster level feat, it certainly wasn't something that most normal magi could easily do, not without some preparation at least. It would certainly explain his exhaustion, which only exasperated her even more.

Outwardly, however, her eyes widened in awe. "That is indeed a good night," she agreed as Ren finally had taken off his shirt and laid back on his sleeping back, face down. "A most impressive feat, Master. Not many are capable of achieving such a feat with as much ease as you."

While she spoke, she straddled Ren's lower back and placed her soft hands on his back. He was surprisingly cool to the touch, though not alarmingly so. It was most likely from the temperatures outside cooling his body. He was rather lean underneath his shirt, but not weak in any sense. As she started gently kneading at his torso, she could feel the muscles underneath like coils of iron underneath the skin. It would seem he was quite strong to boot too.

"S-something on your mind, Tamamo?" Ren grunted, looking over his shoulder at the Caster.

The Caster blinked out of her reverie, then gave a placating smile. "Ah, no," she denied as she continued to work, his muscles yielding under her gentle yet firm touch. "I was wondering about your build – it reminded me of shinobi. Well, that was my thought anyway - I never had the opportunity to work with one in my lifetime."

The Phantom Thief raised an eyebrow and grinned at the comparison. "A shinobi, huh?" he mused as he let out a strained breath as she worked on a particularly tender spot. "Can't even argue against that. There's definitely similarities between being a Phantom Thief and a shinobi, come to think of it – though I've a feeling shinobi would disapprove of my methods."

"Perhaps," she admitted. "But I do believe your methods add more flair – far more tasteful than a shinobi's pragmatism." Leaning over, she pushed against the muscles connected to his shoulder blades, working out the knots as best she could. "How is the pressure?" she murmured.

"Just right," Ren replied with a grunt. "Y-You're definitely good at this, Tamamo."

The Caster smiled – the first genuine one since she entered the building. "One of my many talents," she quietly boasted. "During my lifetime, I had learned and trained in many disciplines: Art, music, dance, calligraphy, conversation, and more. It was rather a rigorous education, but enjoyable." As she spoke, her fingers carefully traced down his back as her thumbs rotated around the muscles flanking his spine.

Ren hissed slightly as she struck a particularly sore point before chuckling. "Looks l-like it," he grunted out. "For me… I learned a lot in school, but even more outside of it. Talking to certain people, getting them to teach me the skills they specialized in, from speech to aiming, even tactics at times. I'd say I learned more out of school than in it."

Though she kept her expression neutral but intrigued, her ears had perked up. As much as she hated to admit it, the Avenger was correct – the best way to get information about her Master was simply to experience him. She simply needed to keep going. "Oh?" she inquired as she began kneading on his lower back. There was less tension there than she expected – perhaps it had to do with his athleticism? "May I ask you to elaborate, Master?"

The Phantom Thief smiled in reminiscence. "There was a former senator that I met in front of the train station," he murmured. "He was constantly making speeches there, almost every night. While not a lot of people listened to him, he always managed to attract people, and even I thought his words were rather magnetic, so we struck up a conversation and made a deal – I'd help him as his assistant while he would give me pointers about speech."

"That seems a rather paltry price for such knowledge," she remarked. "Especially given your mastery and usage of it." As she spoke, she reached over and began working on Ren's arm, feeling out his muscles. Despite their thinness, his limbs were surprisingly powerful. While she had been disbelieving of Ren fending off two hundred false Roman soldiers by himself at first, she steadily had accepted that was indeed what had happened – and he hadn't solely used his persona to do it.

Ren chuckled. "I thought so too," he agreed. "What he taught me was worth its weight in gold. It helped that he was a good guy too – though that wasn't always the case before, from what he told me."

The Caster froze momentarily, unable to decide if she was frustrated, shocked, guilty, or some other emotion entirely. Was this yet another test from him? "What do you mean?" she asked, doing her best to keep her tone neutral yet curious as she continued working down his arm, approaching his hand.

"When he was younger, he apparently wasn't the greatest person," he elaborated. If he had some hidden intention in the story or was trying to rile her up, she couldn't tell either in his voice or expressions. "Calling his constituents idiots publicly, working for his own gain, embezzlement – though that one wasn't his fault. All that culminated in getting knocked off his high horse and becoming a better person.

Ren smiled fondly. "If me and my friends had met him back then, he'd probably would've been the type of guy we always fundamentally opposed," he finished. "Glad he isn't now."

Tamamo gulped slightly as she began working on his hands. The small, delicate bones rolled in her grip as she worked to loosen the muscles. "Many would take such defeats with wrath and set on more destructive goals with vengeance," she murmured. "Very few men would learn empathy or kindness as a result." And very few women would as well, she thought bitterly to herself as she moved to his other arm.

"Very few would," Ren agreed, grunting a bit as she kneaded out the knots in his biceps. "But those that do, I have nothing but the greatest respect for. It's not an easy path, but everyone has the choice to walk down it. I'm really happy he did – and I even learned a lot from him in the process. In return, all I did was give him the small push he needed." In the end, Yoshida had managed to solve his own problems without the need for the Phantom Thieves' interference.

Smiling in reminiscence, he wondered if he kept up that habit of publicly giving speeches, no matter how busy he got.

The Caster drew a shaky breath. How much did Ren know? How much did he suspect? What was he trying to tell her? Was his meaning as obvious as he was making it? "May… I ask the point of this story, Master?" she whispered, trying to keep the trepidation out of her voice as she moved up to grasp his shoulders and work out the considerable amount of stress there.

Ren finally glanced up, his sharp grey eyes meeting her muddled golden ones, before closing them and smiling in relaxation. "No point from me," he replied simply. "Just rambling about an old friend of mine. But if you think there was a point to it, then it's probably worth considering."

The miko felt a small resurgence of her rage, followed by bitterness and guilt. What could this Master know? All she had been through, all the betrayals, all the bloodshed. Ren was gentle and humble, yet utterly sharp and arrogant. The meaning to her story and what he implied… his neck was right there, within her reach. Her hands moved up from the base of his neck, fingers gently wrapping around it. It would be child's play to… to…

Her thumbs instead kneaded out the muscles in the back of his neck before finally sliding back down. No. It wasn't over yet. She still had one more method to glean her Master's secrets, to fully comprehend him. The time for subtlety was quickly passing. If this method wouldn't work, then nothing would.

As Tamamo came up with her plan, Ren opened one eye again and almost smirked. Then he closed his eye and enjoyed the touch of the miko. This was truly bliss.

Outside the reconstructed house, the moon shone brightly over the abandoned village in the dead of night. The waves washed up against the docks, their rhythm barely varying and undisturbed. A gentle sea breeze whistled throughout the collapsed houses and piles of debris, carrying with them the stink of rot and mixing with the scent of salt. It was rank enough to deter even the most desperate of scavengers, leaving the location alone.

Within, Ren breathed gently as he curled up in slumber. Lulled by the lateness of the evening and the quiet warmth of the hearth, weariness had finally overtaken the Phantom Thief. It had been eventful enough of an evening that it didn't take all that much. In the end, he slept with no more concern than if he had been sleeping back at Chaldea.

Tamamo watched silently as her Master slept. She had been keeping her peace and simply attending to him until he had fallen into a peaceful slumber, then waited patiently to make sure he was deep asleep and that they wouldn't be interrupted. It was rare for someone as attentive as Ren to have his guard down, and if she fumbled now, she would never get the chance again. But now, her patience was about to pay off.

Approaching her Master, she silently drew a new talisman from her sleeve. This one was a special one: It would allow her to peer into someone's dreams and even enter them should she so wish. She found it mildly distasteful to utilize: It was a gross violation of someone's privacy and if she was discovered, any trust she had gained would undoubtedly be shattered. Thus, she had to be incredibly careful about its usage if she didn't wish for her work to be undone.

The miko glanced back down at Ren, then huffed. Well, Ren had invaded the mindscapes of people without permission, had he not? Then unless he was a hypocrite, he didn't have a right to complain when someone did it to him in turn.

She sat down near the sleeping Ren and held up the paper charm, pointing it at his head. Closing her eyes, she murmured the incantation. There was a sensation of her consciousness being pulled from her body as it entered his dreams. Surrendering herself to it, she flowed easily into his mind until finally, the sensation subsided. Slowly, she opened her eyes and braced herself for whatever she might see.

Nothing.

Tamamo blinked several times as she looked around her. All around her stretched an infinite black void. She was standing on something but couldn't see what except more void. Raising her hands, she could see herself clear as day. In fact, she even seemed to be glowing slightly, a sharp contrast compared to the darkness that surrounded her. She gulped nervously. Did she perform the ritual incorrectly? Was she intercepted by something – or someone? Or was her Master a far greater monster than even she had imagined?

"Welcome, Servant Tamamo-no-Mae. Your appearance here was surprising, but not unexpected."

At the grand voice, she whirled around, talismans immediately in hand as her mirror conjured into being, orbiting around her like a resplendent moon. In front of her floated a ghost – no, a demon. Dressed in a red coat with a top hat and a black suit, with long, vicious claws and razor-sharp stilettos. The figure didn't have a face, but instead wore a flared out metallic mask, with the flames creating the semblance of a cruel, infernal grin.

Tamamo's eyes widened. "I did not expect my Master's guardian to be here so quickly," she remarked, forcing a lightness to her tone. Despite that, she still held her talismans at the ready while her mirror ominously hovered nearby by her will. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"

Arsene chuckled in amusement. "I believe that is our question," he replied as the flames that comprised his grin grew. "While uninvited guests aren't an unknown occurrence, this is the first time someone has deigned to enter in this manner. My mind of my other self is not a location one can easily wander in or intrude upon, after all - not without purpose. Of course, we have already surmised your intentions."

The miko's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You have?" she inquired.

The persona nodded slightly. "You sought information about my other self," he stated. "And tried various methods to achieve it – by inquiry or by plying him with comfort. You had found yourself outwitted or the responses to be less fruitful than you had hoped, and so you decided to peer into his dreams and mind. A logical, if intrusive, method of sating one's own curiosity. One that would have worked for many others, but not here."

The Caster gulped as she racked her brain for a solution. "It seems so," she murmured. "I shall be more careful in the future then. Though I don't suppose there will be a 'future' at this point?" There was no way around it: She had been caught trying to snoop around her Master's mind, and his mental defenses proved far more formidable than she expected. If she made the wrong move, she would be unsurprised if her own mind was torn to shreds in retaliation. All she could do was play for time until an opening showed.

"That would depend on you, Tamamo-no-Mae," the Pillager of Twilight replied.

That answer caught her off guard. "And what would you mean by that?" the miko asked in return, her grip on the talismans tightening.

"You have two options," Arsene elaborated. "The first is that you simply excuse yourself and leave immediately. My other self nor you shall speak about this, and you shall take this meeting as a stern warning not to attempt this again unless you have good reason to."

Tamamo's eyes widened in surprise. That would be utterly ideal and what she currently wanted. And though she was suspicious, Ren didn't seem the kind of person to outright blackmail people. She could easily simply leave and that would be that.

That said, it was clear that there had been an enormous breach of trust. Navigating that breach would be risky as he could take precautions, not just for himself but for others. It could certainly make her stay in Chaldea far less pleasant, should he so wish.

Shoving aside her nervousness, she asked, "And what is the second option?"

The Pillager's grin widened. "Your second option is that you get what you came here for," he answered. "If you are so curious about my other self's mind, then we cordially invite you in for a guided tour." With a sweeping gesture, he indicated off to his side a glowing cell door made of blue light that hadn't been there before, emanating a crimson light within that she couldn't see past. "He awaits within, where your questions shall be answered – though perhaps you will be left with yet more questions in the end."

The Caster shot a glare at the persona's cheeky last line. Of course, Ren's guardian would have as much of a mouth. "And how do I know this isn't a trap?" she blurted out. "I'm more than aware one's mental landscapes can easily be shaped into a powerful snare if one knows how to go about it – and it's clear my master does so."

Arsene laughed heartily. "This, from the one who sought to invade my other self's mindscape!" he boomed, amused. "You cannot. Though I am a gentleman of my word and our wills are one and the same, I will grant you no surety. Thus, the choice is yours: Will you step forward to claim what you came here for, braving whatever dangers lay within or without? Or will you leave empty-handed, safe but unsatisfied, with the answers you seek possibly beyond your reach forever?"

Tamamo bristled at the taunt, her ears twitching in irritation. She glared up at the persona, her golden eyes meeting the unending fires of Arsene's. She straightened up, her talismans and mirror vanishing as she did so, and turned to the door. For a moment, she considered taking the offer to simply leave, but the temptation she felt was great – too great. If it wasn't the trap, then she might find out once and for all why Ren Amamiya was such a vexing young man.

Her mind resolved, she walked toward the doors, which seemed to glow brighter with every step she made. As she reached out toward them, the bars suddenly flashed, completely blinding her – and just as quickly, it was gone. Slowly, she opened her eyes – and they narrowed as she found herself at the end of a short, darkened hallway, with an opening on the other side. Frowning, she kept moving until she emerged – and found a smirking Ren Amamiya waiting for her.

"Welcome, Tamamo," he declared. "To the Thieves' Den."