Fenrir's Masquerade

by ShadeJak

A catastrophic accident cost her everything ten years ago, Mukuro Ikusaba has recklessly danced with Death having pursued a life as a mercenary as she grew older, until a sudden discharge sends her to Gekkoukan High in Iwatodai, a city plagued by a sinister "Dark Hour" every midnight, and the reason for her arrival may be more then she believed. A P3 Re-Tell starring Mukuro.

14. The Wolf's Pack

6/13 Dark Hour

Fleshy, otherworldly purple caverns materialized before Mukuro's eyes as she and the others found themselves on Tartarus' second block once more, a smell like blood hitting her nostrils once more and glowing purple light shone through gill-like formations on the walls and from stalagmites growing from the floor provided the only illumination.

"Whoa..." Mukuro heard Natsumi gasp in awe behind her. "You guys actually come in here regularly?!"

"Yeah, we've been exploring it for two months, now," Yukari replied. "...Trying to find any clues that may explain why it appears."

"...And with those big Shadows we defeated when we saved you and Fuuka, I imagine we'll be allowed to progress further in," Mitsuru explained. "...But I suspect we'll reach another blockade further up, we won't worry about it now, though. This is merely an evaluation night, both for our new equipment and for you, Kuzuryu."

An eager grin spread on Natsumi's face. "Oh, I can't wait," she chuckled. "Lead the way, Ikusaba!"

"Hang on," Mitsuru interjected. "Yamagishi, do you copy?"

"Y-Yes!" Fuuka's voice suddenly echoed in their heads. "I'm here!"

"Hm, it seems her Persona not only has superior range, but is strong enough it doesn't require equipment like mine did. This is fortunate," Mitsuru said with a smile. "...Yamagishi, are you picking up any Shadows?"

"Um, looks like there's one close by. Please be careful!" Fuuka replied.

"Think you can keep up after all this time, Mitsuru?" Akihiko's voice suddenly inquired.

"Believe me, I have no intention of falling behind," said Mitsuru. "...Alright, let's head on over and feel things out, Ikusaba."

Nodding, Mukuro led the way down the eerie corridor, the floor elevating upward slightly as the group advanced towards an open area ahead.

"Hang on! The Shadow's right ahead of you!" Fuuka's voice warned.

"Roger that, preparing to engage," Mukuro said, gesturing to the others to get against the left wall and peering over to see an amorphous, multi-limbed mass crawling about ahead, its glowing red eyes peering through the darkness, waiting for it to turn away before giving another gesture to proceed quick.

With a dash, Mukuro led the charge and swung her new combat machete at it from behind, the creature let out an unearthly howl as its body suddenly exploded in a thick cloud of red and black smoke, reforming into three entities: Two metallic cross-like beings with balancing scales for limbs and purple and blue halos on their backs with metallic masks with cross-like visors at their centers, and a large crimson blob with arms and a red mask with crown-like spikes on the top where its face should have been at the front that snarled a challenge.

"If I may," Mitsuru declared, bringing her Evoker to her head. "...Allow me to hit them where it hurts! Rise, Penthesilea!"

With a pull of the trigger, a tall, feminine figure materialized above her, clad in a black high-collared waistcoat with white sleeves and a cravat, yet with an armored blue cuirass with silver trim and chains for straps covering it. Its black stocking-clad legs ended in cuffed white boots with black tips, and in each hand it held a bladed weapon, one a dagger, the other a rapier. Its head and face completely hidden by an armored silver knight helmet with a gold crown atop it.

"Let me show you, I've not lost my touch in the least!" the redhead shouted as the Persona, Penthesilea, raised up its rapier, and brutal whirlwind of cold flew from it and engulfed the enemies.

The Shadows screeched out in pain, Mitsuru's icy attack seeming to harm them severely to the point of stunning them.

"The enemies are weakened! Ready a finishing move!" Fuuka's voice chimed in.

"Roger that! Everyone, attack!" Mukuro ordered, her combat machete ready as she charged forward, Mitsuru and Natsumi behind her blades drawn as well while Yukari readied an arrow.

SLASH!

SWIPE!SWIPE!SWIPE!

CHOP!

The Shadows never stood a chance, the cross-like ones dissolving into smoke as Yukari fired her arrow at the masklike face of the blob-like one, finishing it off as well.

"Heh, child's play!" Natsumi sneered proudly, running her katana blade between her gloved fingers.

"Don't get too cocky yet, those were mere weaklings," Mitsuru replied, lowering her rapier.

"I admit, they weren't much. Great job setting up the ambush, Mukuro!" Yukari said with a smile.

"Thank you," Mukuro replied with a faint smile of her own. "Fuuka, thank you for your support as well."

"Th-Thank you, so much!" Fuuka's voice replied bashfully.

"You were amazing, take the compliment, Fuuka!" Yukari said.

"O-Okay, if you say so," Fuuka answered. "...I'm still sensing some enemies nearby, so keep alert if you're going to engage them."

"Disappointing as those scrubs were, I say bring 'em on!" Natsumi declared with a dark smirk.

"Damn, she's... pretty fired up," Junpei's voice stated with a hint of worry.

"Like you're one to talk, Junpei," Yukari groaned.

"On that note, however, I think it best we assess you in the next Shadow we encounter, Kuzuryu," Mitsuru explained. "Ikusaba, intervene if necessary. Since the Shadows of this floor appear to be fairly weak this will be ideal practice."

"Seems we'll have our chance sooner then we thought," Mukuro replied, glancing off further ahead and seeing another amorphous mass of arms and red eyes crawling about.

"Then what're we waiting for? Let's go!" Natsumi protested, Mukuro proceeding to lead the way once more, advancing further into the eerie passage and closer to the enemy.

"Now!" the dark-haired girl ordered, the Shadow turning in alarm as the others joined her. The monster let out a burbling noise as it exploded apart into four black tarlike masses with gangly arms, each with a purple crowned mask serving as its face.

"Can you scan them, Fuuka?" said Mitsuru.

"Working on it! Stay on guard!" Fuuka's voice replied.

The Shadows wasted no time, each of them charging at the group before them with low, guttural snarls and lashing their arms at them. Mukuro kept lead, swinging her machete to counter one and driving it back. Another slunk back, radiant energy materializing above it.

"I see an opening!" Natsumi sneered as she rushed forward to cleave it in two.

"Kuzuryu!" Mukuro's eyes widened as time slowed down before her, recognizing the attack would likely be a kind that'd incapacitate the other girl.

"NIGI MITAMA!" Mukuro shouted, rushing forward and pushing Natsumi aside then firing her Evoker, the smiling blue raindrop-shaped Persona then rose up before her, the gathering light energy bursting and firing at them like arrows and hitting the Persona. Mukuro winced, but the attacks didn't seem to do much.

"Ikusaba what the fuck?! I had him!" Natsumi protested with an irate look.

"That was a Light-based spell, Kuzuryu!" Mitsuru stated sharply as Yukari summoned Io to heal Mukuro.

"That must be it, then!" Fuuka's voice said. "As I thought, their weakness is Dark element! Kuzuryu, go for it!"

A wide sneer spread on Natsumi's face, drawing out her Evoker. "With pleasure! ARACHNE!"

With a pull of the trigger, the sinister-looking Persona appeared before her, aiming its needle-sword at the enemy and unleashing a blast of smoking purple and crimson energy at them, two of them perishing while the remaining ones reeled in a dazed state.

Natsumi let out a sinister laugh as she raised her own blade and grinned in delight. "What a joke! Let's slaughter these worms!"

"Uhhh... right!" Yukari stammered, a little put off by the other girl's attitude as she took aim with her bow while the others charged in, striking their enemies with ferocity before moving back to allow Yukari the chance to finish the last one with another arrow. "...Phew."

"Not a bad recovery, right?" Natsumi asked.

"Correct, but next time do not break formation unless told," Mitsuru said, folding her arms.

"Screw you, I'll do what I want!" the blonde replied with a scowl. "...Besides, we took 'em out, didn't we?" she asked, only to flinch slightly at Mukuro's iron glare.

"Yes, but it still could have gone differently," Mukuro replied, coming over. Part of her wanted to smack the other girl, but thoughts of what happened with Junpei back on the monorail gave her restraint. "...While I do encourage everyone do what they think is best in terms of an offense, you're still new with this and we can't be reckless about it."

"Furthermore, your Persona's the opposite element of that Shadow's, while it's true it's weak to your Persona's element, the same often goes the other way around," Mitsuru explained. "...You could have gotten seriously hurt or knocked out if it hit you!"

Natsumi's grimace deepened for a moment till she was gritting her teeth. She didn't like being lectured, but she also couldn't think of a single thing to say in her defense that'd win her the argument either. Letting out an irritable, but defeated sigh, she looked at the two other girls as she folded her arms as well, hugging herself a little like a scolded child. "...Fine... I got it... I'll be careful," she said softly.

"I appreciate it," Mukuro said, suspecting this was probably the closest thing to an apology from Natsumi Kuzuryu but relieved nonetheless.

"Hey! Can you hear me?" Fuuka's voice suddenly asked. "...The stairs should be right ahead. I'm sensing something on the floor above! Something... strange..."

"Another floor guardian?" asked Mukuro.

"No, it's... it feels similar to the distortion I sensed earlier," replied Fuuka.

"Roger. Let's move carefully and assess the situation when we get upstairs, Ikusaba," said Mitsuru.

"Agreed. Let's go," said Mukuro, leading the group up the stone steps and them finding themselves suddenly on another floor, similar to the previous but with a very notable difference.

"Whaaa?! Why's it so dark?! Where'd everyone go?!" Yukari cried out in alarm.

"Stay calm, I'm right-" Mukuro paused, realizing Yukari's voice did not come from anywhere close but rather from the same disembodied echo similar to Fuuka when she contacted the group, prompting the young soldier's eyes to go wide with worry as what little illumination remained showed no sign of her teammates anywhere in the vicinity.

"Fuuka! What happened?" she asked frantically.

"It looks like all of you were sent to different locations on this floor!" Fuuka's voice responded, worried.

"You mean we got separated?!" Natsumi's voice shouted next. "Fuck! I can barely see my hand in here!"

"Quiet, Kuzuryu. Stay put and remain on alert, there's still danger lurking in this darkness," Mitsuru's voice replied. "We need to regroup as soon as possible! Yamagishi, can you guide us?"

"I'll do my best," Fuuka replied. A second passed, and she suddenly spoke again, but far more urgently. "OH NO! YUKARI-CHAN!"

---

Yukari screamed as loud as she could as a slithering noise drew closer in the darkened chamber she'd found herself in, its luminous red eyes gleaming as their owner's towering black sludgy shape crawled towards her with four spidery arms.

"Oh god..." Yukari trembled, backing away and meeting a purple-hued cavern wall behind her. Frantically, she reached for her Evoker, her body trembling harder from the knowledge she was alone with this thing rather then with her teammates.

The Shadow let out a guttural wail as it began to charge at her, its four limbs dragging it across the ground at a terrifying speed.

Swift footsteps echoed in the darkness.

SCHNICT!

A human shape landed next to her, a shortblade gripped in her hand as the creature let out a pained shriek.

"Mukuro!"

The young soldier rose, turning to face the wounded Shadow as its injury slowly closed up, its form quivering as it promptly exploded in a burst of black and luminous red smoke.

Almost immediately, bright purple light shined from the eyes of carvings on the walls resembling human faces, the fungal growths' glowing brighter and providing more illumination and revealing Yukari and Mukuro now face to face with the transformed Shadow, which had taken the form of a purple stone-like humanoid with stubby legs, standing about eight feet tall, with miniature castles decorating its upper body with cannons protruding from them like it were a mobile island, its statue-like head rising at the center of a fortress-like formation on its summit wearing a purple mask with crownlike points at the top gazing upward.

Mukuro dashed forward to strike again, only to hear a ding as her blade may as well have indeed been hitting solid rock.

The Shadow wasted no time seeking to neutralize the girl that'd attacked it. Segments of its upper body suddenly began rotating 360 degrees at great speeds like a spinning roulette wheel emitting a blinding flash of light at Mukuro from the eyes of its mask.

Before the now-disoriented soldier's vision cleared, she heard explosions before she was suddenly struck repeatedly by blasts of energy that Yukari saw burst from its cannons, knocking the dark-haired girl down on her back.

Cursing in pain as her eyes slowly regained sight, Mukuro struggled to get back up, only for the creature to deny her the opportunity as another concussive force slammed into her and sent her flying into a nearby wall, the girl sliding down to the floor in a dazed state and the Shadow slowly turning its attention back to Yukari.

Yukari Takeba felt afraid, yet she also felt something else: Anger.

Anger at everyone having to protect her...

Anger at them getting hurt for it...

Anger from when she and Mitsuru had fallen so easily to the last Full Moon Shadows...

Anger at herself for freezing up against the first one on the rooftop...

"What am I even doing?!" she protested as the Shadow now loomed over her, its cannons suddenly cocking and reloading as it prepared another attack...

"Fuuka! Get everyone else here!" she shouted, swiftly drawing out an arrow and aiming for one of the cannons, the shaft embedding itself into the barrel and causing the Shadow to recoil as she weaved out of the way.

BOOM!

The cannon's backfire caused an eruption to burst from the Shadow, making it howl and stumble back.

"...While I hold this thing off!"

Yukari seized the opportunity to fire another into one of its other cannons, and another, and another.

BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!

The Shadow tumbled backwards, toppling over in a daze as Yukari sprinted over to Mukuro's side.

"I got you!" she said with a smile as she drew her Evoker with her free hand. "IO!"

Yukari's Persona materialized above the two girls, bathing them both in a refreshing light as Mukuro's bruises disappeared.

The young soldier couldn't help but smile a little. "Thank you, Yukari."

"Just call us even for the rooftop incident, now!" Yukari said with a smile of her own, suddenly feeling a rush of power fill her body.

"Oh! Is this... Yukari-chan! Load the cartridge in your Evoker! Quick!" Fuuka's voice ordered.

"Now's the time," Yukari said with a nod, noticing the cartridge from her uniform's pouch was now glowing a bright red. Removing it and sliding it into the bottom of her Evoker, Yukari raised it up to her head and pulled the trigger.

Io materialized behind her, a green light emerging from blow and engulfing the Persona and its user as the light formed a glowing cyclone that levitated the girl high off the ground. Drawing out another arrow, Yukari watched as the swirling green power condensed around it before letting it fly. The arrow soared forward at a blinding speed, going into the Shadow's head, then clear through it, embedding into the ground behind it as the Shadow let out an agonized shriek while its body crumbled and melted away into smoke and Yukari's feet landed back on the floor with a soft pat.

Wasting no time, Yukari ran to her friend's side to help her up. "Mukuro! Are you alright?" she asked frantically.

"I think so, yes," the other girl said, blushing as she accepted Yukari's hand and allowed herself to be pulled up before rubbing her eyes. "I'm sorry... I got careless."

"All that matters is you're okay!" Yukari said with a smile. "...And it's alright. I know you're this... super-trained soldier but we're not exactly fighting people here and we're still in some unknown territory. These Shadows are definitely getting a lot stronger the higher we get, and... I know you wanted to protect me but you gotta be careful too, you know? I don't want you getting hurt because of me, especially after back then on the roof."

"Let's just say we're even, now, alright?" Mukuro asked, brushing herself off, frowning at Yukari's concerned face. "...We should probably look for the others."

Yukari muttered a sound like she wanted to respond, but didn't know what she could say to her. "...Yeah," she mumbled softly as Mukuro walked past her, only to see the dark-haired girl pause.

"...Thank you, though. For saving me," she said. "That was... incredible what you did there."

Yukari's mood lightened as she smiled. "Heh, you're welcome. I wanted to save you and pay you back for then and it just sort of... happened."

"Takeba! Ikusaba!" The two turned at the sound of Mitsuru's voice as they saw her approach. "Good, it looks like you're both alright."

"We are," said Yukari. "Where's Kuzuryu?"

"She's not far. Fuuka's pinpointed her signal further ahead," Mitsuru explained. "We'd better hurry."

"Can you hear me? Kuzuryu's signal is down the corridor to your right!" Fuuka's voice suddenly spoke. "No Shadows have found her yet, so..."

The girl went silent a second before gasping.

"W-What?! There's a very strong signal heading straight for her!"

"Is it a Shadow?" Mukuro asked, weapon ready and prepared to start running.

"It is! It's much stronger then the others!" Fuuka replied anxiously.

"Like the Full Moon Shadows?" asked Yukari.

"No, it's something else, it's really strong so please, get going!"

"My god... could it be...?" Mitsuru mused to herself. "C'mon! Let's go!"

Immediately the three rushed down the dark corridor as fast as they could, finding Natsumi in a dimly lit area looking about frantically before her eyes met theirs.

"THERE you are!" the blonde cried out, looking noticeably terrified. "Took you long enough what the hell were you-"

She and the others froze at the sound of rattling chains echoing down a nearby corridor, a dim red light slowly brightening as the sound grew louder. Whatever it was seemed to be closing in on them.

"Another Shadow? Let's kick it's ass!" Natsumi sneered, taking out her Evoker.

"No! NOT this one!" Mitsuru snapped urgently. "Fuuka! Is there a teleporter or a stairway nearby?"

"Searching now," Fuuka responded. Mukuro stood ready in the direction of the approaching enemy, but she couldn't help but notice the fear on the redhead's face.

"Found it! To your left! Hurry!"

"It's dark, so grab hands!" Mukuro ordered. "We're gonna make a run for it, do NOT let go!"

Natsumi took Mukuro's hand, Yukari grabbing hers and Mitsuru taking the rear as Mukuro began running, fast enough to stay ahead of whatever was coming for them but staying at a pace the others could safely keep up.

The rattling of chains grew louder behind them, whatever pursued them knew where they were, and no doubt that they were trying to elude it, and it had no intention of letting them escape.

"God where is it?!" Natsumi cried out in a panic, not daring to look back.

"Fuuka!" Mitsuru shouted.

"Just ahead!" Fuuka's voice yelled as Mukuro noticed green light up ahead that illuminated one of the arch-like devices.

A loud, shrill howl echoed through the dark corridors as red light flickered behind them, sending a chill down even the hardened young soldier's spine. The chains' rattling grew closer and closer as the four girls frantically gathered on the platform. Mukuro had just enough time to turn and see a hovering figure in tattered robes, bound in chains and bathed in glowing crimson flames aim a long-barreled colt revolver at them.

The sound of a gunshot rang as they were bathed in light, and Mukuro found herself and the others standing at the teleporter arch of the lobby area of Tartarus.

"That was close," Mitsuru gasped, breathing out a sigh of relief.

"Thank God you're alright," Akihiko said as he, Junpei, and Fuuka rushed over. "Mitsuru, was it...?"

"It was," Mitsuru nodded. "It almost got us."

"What... the hell... was that?" Natsumi asked between breaths.

"Yeeaaaah, feel like explainin? You were freakin' out!" Junpei said.

"It's a very powerful Shadow that roams the other floors of Tartarus," Akihiko explained.

"We've fought several powerful Shadows each full moon, you don't think we could engage it?" Mukuro asked.

"No, this Shadow, we call it "the Reaper", is something else entirely," Mitsuru replied sternly. "It's possible the distortions that were occurring drew it there. You see it, you run. Find a teleporter or stairs and keep going until it's no longer pursuing. Is that understood?"

Mukuro nodded. "...Understood."

"Good," replied Mitsuru. "At any rate, though, you both did well in handling an unexpected situation," she said. "...As for you, Kuzuryu..."

"Yeah, yeah, don't be reckless, heard it," Natsumi sighed, hugging herself and turning a shade of red in the face.

"...I was going to say, that aside, you otherwise did well for your first time," Mitsuru replied. "Continue to do so and you'll always have a place on this team."

Natsumi blinked in surprised silence at the compliment, then smirked. "Well, then, guess I'll make sure that's the case, won't I?" she sneered.

"Yeah, that's the spirit! Go team!" Junpei cheered.

Fuuka, however, looked away, frowning. "I'm sorry. I should have been able to navigate better."

"Really, Fuuka?" Natsumi asked with an eyeroll. "For fuck's sake stop beating yourself up all the time! A little pride isn't gonna kill you, you know!"

"What I think Kuzuryu is saying in... less crude terms, Fuuka," Yukari said, giving a reassuring smile to the other girl, "...Is you did well, too. If it weren't for you..." she flinched at the memory of what had nearly happened.

"...We'd have likely been hunted down and taken out by the Reaper Shadow. I'm fully convinced you're the one we need for support, Yamagishi," said Mitsuru, finishing for her.

"Yeah, thanks a lot, Fuuka! That "Theurgy" also got me and Mukuro out of a bad situation, too," Yukari said with an affirming nod.

"What do you mean? That was all you, Yukari-chan!" said Fuuka.

"We saw it through Fuuka-chan's Persona! That special move was pretty damn cool!" Junpei grinned. "How'd ya do it, anyway, Yuka-tan?"

"How?" asked Yukari, "...I just... I dunno. I... focused really hard and thought to myself I have to do whatever it takes, then I felt something surging inside me."

"The chairman did say that cartridge would synchronize with our emotions," said Akihiko.

"So it seems," Mukuro said, glancing down at her own. "...I got careless, though."

"Mukuro, neither of us knew what we were dealing with there was capable of. If you hadn't gotten there when you did it might have... been me who was in peril again," Yukari frowned.

Mukuro let out a sharp sigh, managing a faint smile and appreciating the other girl's attempt to reassure her. "...Like we agreed, we're even, now. I won't let that happen again."

"Then I'll make sure to stay out of trouble so you won't!" Yukari giggled.

"There ya go, you two!" Junpei said with a nod. "What's important is everyone made it back okay!"

"Still, glad as I am that the cartridge worked, I admit I'm still not entirely sure how it works," Fuuka stated. "...From what I can tell, it's like Sanada-senpai said, that it reacted to Yukari-chan's strong emotions."

"So this weapon gives the user strength beyond their limits when their emotions are heightened?" asked Mitsuru.

"Uhhh... not sure I get it, buuuut... basically if we're really fired up, we can really pop off, right?" Junpei asked.

"I'd say so! Thanks to Yukari-chan, I think we do have a good idea how it works!" replied Fuuka. "From now on, we should be able to tell when someone can use theirs!"

"I-I just got lucky is all," Yukari said, shaking her head. "...I don't really know much more then anyone else."

"I'll do more research on how the synching with emotions works later. Everyone has different feelings when they're fighting, so the timing on when they can use this will probably be different, too," Fuuka explained.

"Heh, I can't wait!" Natsumi chuckled. "Wonder what mine'll be..."

"I admit I'd like to give it a go, myself," said Akihiko, "...But after all that, we should call it a day for now. We've got plenty of time for exploration and training until the next full moon."

"Still, there is something else I'm worried about," Fuuka mused. "...The changes in the floors. What if something like that happens again?"

"Yes, if something has changed in the tower, we need to be extra careful when exploring from now on," said Mitsuru."...In any case, we may have had some problems, but we also learned a lot, today. We got to test our new equipment, and are improving at a remarkable pace, as well as allow our new members to get experience in their respective roles."

"Well, next time I call dibs!" Junpei said with a grin. "Leave it all to Junpei Iori, soon-to-be MVP!"

Mukuro couldn't help but smile a little. "Be sure you can back that up. The further up we go, the more dangerous it's becoming. I did... learn that the hard way," she said sheepishly.

"Hey, don't sweat it, Mukuro," said Junpei. "Just means I'll work extra-hard to have your back! Besides, I had to sit this out, I gotta get my chance to see what I can do, now!"

"Save a spot for me, too," Natsumi stated, giving a frustrated sigh blowing back her blonde bangs. "...I do owe you one for that last incident."

"I'd like to get to fight alongside you again, too, Mukuro," Akihiko smirked. "So think you can reserve a slot for me on the team as well for next time?"

Mukuro blushed lightly, replying with a nod before the group turned and left for the evening.

---

6/15

"Right on schedule," Mukuro mused to herself as she closed her phone, Theodore having just called to confirm that the roadblock in Tartarus was now gone, meaning SEES could indeed proceed further. Sunday had been without incident but as she and the others were still recovering from the previous trip she'd spent the day exercising, and now that it was Monday, school had resumed.

"Something on your mind?" she'd asked Yukari as they reached the entrance together, the other girl had paused, looking deep in thought.

"Just thinking, guess it's true there have been fewer Apathy Syndrome cases after our full moon missions," said Yukari. "...But then again, that always changes when we get closer to the next full moon, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, it seems to be a pattern, doesn't it?" asked Mukuro. "...Is that it?"

"Not entirely," said Yukari, frowning. "What do you... think of Kirijo-senpai?"

"What do you mean?" Mukuro asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

"Well, obviously Kuzuryu had no issue with joining because that's... how she is, I guess, but you feel like maybe Fuuka was kind of... pressured in a bit?" asked Yukari. "I know it's nice to have more Persona-users in battle, and Fuuka's Persona is a huge help, but... I dunno. I sometimes wonder if Kirijo-senpai has this ulterior motive in all this she's not sharing."

Mukuro folded her arms and looked away. "It's not my place to really question orders, I just followed them."

"You're put in charge of operations in Tartarus, and you were for saving Fuuka, even when... when me and Kirijo-senpai had doubt about succeeding," said Yukari, looking away as well in embarrassment.

Mukuro's gaze fell down to the pavement. "You're right," she said. "When I'd go on a mission, though, I was more or less expected to do whatever I felt would get the job done within the rules of engagement and what briefing covered. As for Fuuka, it... it just didn't feel right leaving someone behind like that regardless of the risks. Not to mention Fuuka chose to join on her own."

Yukari nodded. "I guess so," she said softly. "I just hope Kirijo-senpai will tell us everything if she's got a reason..."

Yukari suddenly blushed as she noticed the clock tower. "...Oh, we should probably head inside. Don't wanna be late!'

---

"Keen eye, seeing things as they really are," Mukuro mused to herself after class, recalling Ms. Toriumi's lecture. It was a necessity in surviving a Fenrir mission, but it had seemed the teacher was talking more of something along the lines of her conversation with Yukari that morning. The teacher's remarks about it helping make good choices for one's future played in her head as well, Mukuro still couldn't think of what she'd want to do with the rest of her life and only had one more year of high school after this one to figure that out. Her superiors from Fenrir had all but demanded she do something different then what she'd been doing with them.

Something normal.

Her mind drew only a blank. Mitsuru and even Akihiko seemed like they already had their goals set, something she couldn't help but feel a little envy for, like how she sometimes envied Junpei's ability to go with the flow, or Yukari being able to just be a normal teenage girl when she wanted to in her freetime. Her sister would have excelled at this stuff if it'd been her instead...

"Hmmm," she muttered to herself, frowning as she tried to rid those thoughts from her head and try focus on when SEES should explore Tartarus again now that they could proceed further. Thoughts of Mitsuru's disapproval at her exam scores, however, had also come to mind, so she elected that she'd spend the evening studying, hopefully Bookworms had some study guides or something relevant, she thought as her mind had been made up where she'd go next.

Once the trip on the monorail had ended, Mukuro made her way to the strip mall, crowds chattering and enjoying snacks and no sign of the delinquent activity she and Akihiko had dealt with when they'd come by together. She couldn't help but smirk a little at how thick-headed those punks had been to try and start something again when they'd gone to the back alleys for information on Fuuka when she'd went missing. At least fighting was something she knew she excelled at.

Opening the door to the bookstore, its elderly owner looked over.

"Welcome, Miss Ikusaba!" Bunkichi said with a warm smile. Mukuro noticed quickly, however, that he was alone. Bunkichi, however, caught her curious expression right away. "Heh, looking for my wife? She headed out to Gekkoukan a little while ago, actually!"

"Funny, I just left there," Mukuro replied. "Maybe I should have waited around longer?"

"Nahh, it's all good!" the old man chuckled. "She won't be gone long! In the meantime, I take it you came by looking for something, so why not stick around and keep me company till she gets back?"

Mukuro smiled faintly. "I doubt I'd be... that interesting to talk to," she said softly.

"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself! Just 'cuz you're young doesn't mean you don't have anything worth hearin' about!" Bunkichi said with a smile on his wrinkled features.

Mukuro felt a light blush come to her pale face from embarrassment. "I-If you say so. I came to see if there were some study guides on second-year mathematics and composition."

"I think we might have a few," said Bunkichi. "You thirsty? I can grab ya a drink from the fridge, just need to find the cups..." The old man shook his head in frustration as he turned and looked about. "Honestly, can't find a darn thing around here without my wife!"

A few moments passed and Bunkichi had gotten the study guides and laid them out on the table for Mukuro to choose from, the teen finding the ones she wanted and paying for them.

"Heh, sorry for the wait, and no cups in my line'a sight," Bunkichi chuckled apologetically.

"I could pick up something from the vending machines outside," Mukuro offered.

"Nah, you don't need to trouble yourself, I'm sure my wife'll be back any minute!" the old man replied. A second later, Mukuro heard the door open behind her and Bunkichi's face lit up. "Oh! Dear! You're back just in-?"

Mukuro noted Bunkichi's smile quickly fade and turned, and it was clear why, as Mitsuko looked on the verge of tears as she shuffled in quietly.

"Dear? What's wrong?" her husband asked.

"Th-the tree," Mitsuko said softly, her voice trembling.

"Did something happen to it?" Mukuro asked. She'd not gone out back when she was at school, so she had not seen if something had changed, but if Mitsuko's demeanor was any indication, it wasn't good.

"Dear, calm down and take a deep breath," her husband said softly as he looked at Mitsuko with worry. "You oughta know better then to walk so far at your age. Here, drink this," he said, opening the mini-fridge and taking out a canned iced tea drink and spotting some paper cups under the desk, filling one for his wife, and one for Mukuro as well.

Mitsuko quietly accepted the drink, but remained silent as Mukuro watched her a moment with concern.

"Hm, judging by her reaction, it seems the rumors were true," Bunkichi sighed, frowning and lighting his pipe, placing it to his lips and a puff of smoke drifted from it.

"I don't recall hearing any rumors about it at school," Mukuro replied, taking a sip of her beverage. "I haven't... been back there recently, either. My apologies..."

"It's fine, you got a lot on your plate as a student with her future ahead of her to get ready for," Bunkichi said with a sad smile. "...But, turns out, my wife heard a rumor that the persimmon tree at the school is going to be... cut down. She nearly fainted when she'd heard it."

"You think they'd do that?" Mukuro asked. "You said that tree was planted in memory of your son because he was a teacher there, correct?"

"Yes, and he was," Mitsuko said softly. "It wasn't... confirmed but I... I heard more talk of it when I visited and I-I... simply couldn't stay another minute..."

"Well, then there's still hope yet, right?" Bunkichi asked. "...If all this worrying turns out to be for nothing, well that'd be a re-leaf!" he said, chuckling to himself, though Mukuro could see the worry behind his attempted smile that stopped her from reacting his pun after enduring so many already from the chairman.

Mitsuko did not appear to have her spirits lightened, either as she looked at Mukuro, crestfallen. "Mukuro-chan, if it's not too much trouble, could you tell us if you should happen to hear any more about it?"

The young soldier gave a small smile and nodded. "...I'll keep my ears open," she said, hearing a sound like glass shattering within her mind once more.

"I apologize for putting this on you and making it sound like something very important, but... if it's convenient for you," Mitsuko began, Mukuro shook her head.

"It's alright, I'll let you know right away," she replied. "It's... the least I can do for you," she said, holding up the study guides she'd purchased. Thanking them for the drink, Mukuro prepared for the trip back home with a night of studying ahead of her.

---

6/16

"Hey, Mukuro! Any plans today?" Junpei said with a grin as he came over to Mukuro's desk soon as class ended for the day.

"None in particular," Mukuro said with a hint of grogginess.

"Jeez, stay up or somethin'?" the boy asked, noticing. "I do that sometimes when I'm playing video games, I just totally lose track of time and it's almost midnight before I know it! Guess the Dark Hour would make a pretty good reminder for when I'm up too late, huh?" he joked. "What'd you do?"

"Studied," Mukuro replied with a yawn.

"Aw, man! That usually makes me tired!" Junpei groaned disapprovingly.

"And that's why your exam scores leave you open to heckling, Junpei," Yukari quipped as she walked by and went to greet her clubmates at the door. "Also, remember, Mitsuru said this morning be back at the dorms by nighttime."

"Hey, not my fault this stuff's boring!" Junpei protested but Yukari had already gone into the hall and out of earshot. "So, uh, Mukuro, why don't I treat ya to some ramen or somethin'? Make all that studying last night feel worth it! It's always good to have a reward at the end for better motivation!"

The mere mention of a ramen bowl made the young soldier's stomach and instinctive agreement to available free meals speak for her before words could come out, prompting a laugh from Junpei.

"Guess that settles it, huh? Let's head on over before the crowds, then!" he said, and soon the two were outside in the courtyard. Mukuro paused, though, when she noticed Junpei had done so a few feet behind her.

"Is something on your mind, Junpei?" she asked, coming over. Junpei looked around at the sparse remaining students a moment before answering.

"Just... this feelin' I get that everything's so peaceful at school, ya know?" he asked. "...The way everyone seems to be havin' fun all the time, but... they don't know what's going on. That doesn't make a difference or anything, but... it's like I feel this wall between us and them."

Mukuro opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out, leaving only a small frown behind. She could understand where he was coming from, she thought to herself. No one would believe even half the things she did while in Fenrir, and even fewer would believe she could have done them. A wall existed between her and what qualified as a normal teenager in high school long before she was fighting Shadows in Tartarus.

Junpei took notice, though, giving a playful grin. "Hey, don't worry about it! It's all okay, I don't really talk about any serious stuff with any of 'em!" he said with a slight laugh. "Sorry about the holdup, too! Why don't we get going, I can practically taste beef ramen bowls already!"

"Hey! Junpei! Heading out?" a young male voice suddenly called, its owner, a shorter boy with messy brown hair who Mukuro recognized from her class named Kenji Tomochika. Almost immediately the other boy took notice of her. "Oh, Ikusaba-san, sorry I didn't see you right away!"

Before either Junpei or Mukuro could speak, however, Kenji looked back and forth between them and a wide, smug grin spread on his face as he playfully elbowed Junpei "Ohhh, I see! So that's how it is, huh?" he teased. "...And to think, with the transfer student who came to school on the first day with Takeba! Well, then again you and Takeba are pretty tight, too, right?"

Junpei's eyes went wide. "Uhhheheh... what gave you that idea? I mean... uh... well, we got assigned to the same dorm, so..."

"Hey, not that I care, they're both kinda young for my tastes anyway!" Kenji said with a laugh and holding his hands up before promptly reaching into his pocket and taking his phone out.

"Uh, dude, whaddya need your phone for?" Junpei asked.

"My sis keeps buggin' me for photos but all I have are guys, and the woman of my dreams still, alas, turns me down when I ask for one of her," Kenji lamented. "...So, Ikusaba-san, how about a picture of us, real quick! She's bound to change her mind then if I got one with me and even one girl! Being friends with Takeba-san you'll be doing me a huge solid!"

Mukuro's eyes went wide and a dumbfounded expression quickly overtook her face as Kenji suddenly moved next to her with his phone in front and the camera's shutter clicked.

---

"Wh... what... happened...?" Kenji Tomochika murmured as he regained consciousness on the clinic bed.

"Ikusaba-san and Iori-san say you took quite a spill, landed flat on your face," Mr. Edogawa stated as he stood in the boy's clearing vision, Junpei staring down at him in concern and Mukuro also in eyesight with her arms folded and glaring daggers at him.

"Yes, you tripped and fell. Be more careful next time," she said with a hint of dangerous sharpness in her tone that Kenji could not recall the cause of as he sat up, noticing there was an icepack on his head and tissues in his nose which also stung noticeably as though it were suddenly struck by something at great force, which, he figured must've happened when he tripped and fell on the pavement when he was attempting to take a photo of them.

"I apologize for my clumsiness," he muttered, nursing his injuries.

"So, if you're coming to, I gotta ask if you're tryin' to get girls' pictures, are you the one who's been peepin' on them in PE class?" Junpei asked angrily. "I say this as a friend, that's not okay, man!"

"Who's peepin? PE class?" Kenji asked, confused by the accusation.

"Pictures of Mukuro here from PE class goin' around!" Junpei snapped, irritated.

"Wha? I don't know anything about that!" the other boy replied.

"Oh, right... you're into older women," Junpei groaned. "...Word of advice, though? The one you're chasin' ain't gonna be impressed by you makin' girls take photos with you."

"Give it time, man!" Kenji replied with a cocky grin despite his bruised face. "Soon as this heals up I'll be back to winning Emiri-san over! Or maybe she'll take pity on me and I can let her tend to me..."

Mukuro cocked a brow at the other boy. Even if Junpei was... Junpei, she really had to wonder how he could have the patience for someone like this. "...On the topic of the photos," she said with a cold gaze. "Maybe you'd have an idea who took them?"

"Me? Why would I?" asked Kenji. "...Though I'd think the photography club would be your first list of suspects, wouldn't they? I mean, they'd be able to print off copies real fast and have better-quality cameras for it. Maybe Koizumi-san can help figure that out?"

"Hey! She might! She's probably still there maybe there's someone in the club that'll fit what we know!" Junpei said with a proud grin already on the way to the door and Mukuro soon following.

"Hey, wait a sec!" Kenji cried out, causing him and Mukuro to pause. "...Did my camera get that picture of us at least? I kinda don't remember."

"No, it didn't," Mukuro replied bluntly with an irritated glare as she and Junpei left without another word and she followed him down the hallways to where the Photography Club held their meetings, and were soon greeted by a sour smell in the darkened, red-lit classroom.

The club room was empty of its members, save a lone girl with short dark red hair working on some prints who turned around at the sound of the door opening. "Whoa, hey! Do boys ever knock first?!"

"Sorry," said Junpei as he stepped in, followed by Mukuro. "Uhhh... where is everyone?"

"Oh, they're out right now," the girl said. "Something you need? I'm... a little busy here, actually."

"You're club president, right? Koizumi-san?" Junpei asked.

"Yeah, Mahiru Koizumi, that's me!" the girl, Koizumi said with a polite bow. "What can I do for you?"

"There's a photo going around, of me in PE class," Mukuro said, stepping forward. "You know anything about that?"

Koizumi crinkled her nose in disgust. "You mean, like an... inappropriate one?" she asked.

"In a sense that gives off a stalker vibe," Junpei replied.

"What, you were looking at it, too? What's wrong with you?" Koizumi asked, glaring a bit.

"No! I mean it was shown to me, and I told Mukuro here, and-" Junpei started.

"Mukuro... Ikusaba, right?" the girl asked, looking over at her and her eyes going wide with fear. "Wait, the transfer student, the one in the... eh... Paranormal Studies club... run by... Kuzuryu?"

"Yes, why?" Mukuro asked. The other girl just shook her head, an anxious look crossing her face as she looked away a moment.

"...Doesn't matter, um... has she... um... said anything about... me?" Koizumi asked nervously, her hands up against her chest as she looked at her again.

"No, just... that she didn't want me in this club, for whatever reason," the young soldier replied. It seemed there was some bad blood going on between Natsumi and this girl, but it was hardly relevant to what they'd come here for so she didn't dwell on it. It seemed the other girl didn't want to, either.

"Um, as for a photo, no, I've not seen any pictures of you. I mean, yeah all the film gets developed in here, so it must've been done without me around to see it," Koizumi said, her discomfort turning into anger as she balled a fist. "...This club's supposed to be for people who love the art of photography, like me. If someone in this club is using it to be a Peeping Tom, they're gonna pay dearly! Thank you for letting me know, though. I'll question everyone, and make they all show me their data, too... I'm deeply sorry for the trouble this has caused if it turns out one of them was behind it."

"I appreciate it, Koizumi-san," said Junpei, sighing in disappointment that it didn't seem like she had any definite suspects, but relieved she was willing to believe them.

"Yes, thank you," Mukuro said as they turned to leave.

"...Um, Ikusaba-san?" Koizumi suddenly called her name.

"Hm?" Mukuro looked back at the girl, who was now downcast again.

"...Nevermind, it's between me and her. I hope the rest of your day goes better, Ikusaba-san. I'm sorry it couldn't be under better circumstances," Koizumi replied softly before resuming her work on the prints.

Mukuro blinked in curiosity, wondering even more now what had caused whatever animosity existed between her and Natsumi. True, Natsumi had an aggressively alpha personality, but her ire seemed solely directed at this girl, who seemed nice enough and had been willing to help however she could.

"Well, we still haven't gotten anywhere with findin' the culprit!" Junpei groaned, interrupting her thoughts as they walked down the halls back to the entrance. "Junpei Iori, Ace Detective, is stumped! Guess we gotta go a more direct way, huh?"

"Like get physical?" asked Mukuro. With word still of her confrontation with Akihiko's fans and all, she wanted to try and avoid violence... the earlier encounter the back of her fist had with Kenji Tomochika being a single and justifiable exception in her mind that he thankfully didn't seem to recall, but she didn't want to press her luck.

"Nothing like that, no!" Junpei said, putting his hands up anxiously. "I mean, ask some of my guy friends again, sorta trace it down the rabbit hole, you know? Gotta lead back to someone, right?"

"You sure you'd be up for that?" Mukuro asked, folding her arms, then raising up her hand to brush back her hair. It may have been flattering to some girls to get that kind of attention, yet at the same time it still made her feel like her personal space had been intruded on in some way, like someone sneaking into her room and going through her things behind her back, or being watched through a camera when she thought she was alone.

"Sure I am! You can count on me!" Junpei said with a proud grin, back in good spirits. "Besides, Mitsuru-senpai kinda roped you on to Student Council, right? Have ol' Junpei Iori, Ace Detective on the case and you keep your hands clean in the mission to defend your social life!"

Mukuro smiled, a light blush on her face as she watched Junpei get fired up on her behalf. It was a nice feeling, she thought, as she then heard the faint shattering sound within her mind at the sense of Junpei's concern for her well-being.

"Don't worry, I won't spread the rumor around even more," he said. "In the meantime, let's go grab some beef bowls before we head back and see what Mitsuru-senpai wanted us back at the dorm for."

"I am still hungry, yes," said Mukuro.

"Well, let's get going! I can taste 'em already!" Junpei said with a laugh as the two then made their way to the station.

---

Upon arriving back at the dorm after the visit to Hagekure Ramen, Junpei and Mukuro saw that everyone else from the team other then Akihiko were already present and gathered in the lounge area.

"Welcome back. With you two here, we finally have all the second-years present," Mitsuru stated, looking around at the group.

"So, what exactly are we all here for, anyway?" asked Junpei.

"Yeah, with how long we waited for them to get back, this better be important!" Natsumi said, folding her arms impatiently and casting a glance at him and Mukuro.

"Actually, Kuzuryu, this matter concerns you as well. I wanted to give both you and Yamagishi a tour of the dorm," Mitsuru explained. "...But then I realized I never really took the time to properly show any of you everything when you each moved in."

Natsumi cocked a brow, an unimpressed frown on her face. "...That's it? I mean, I think most of the features here are pretty self-explanatory, aren't they?" she asked.

"Even still, it's something I should have done, and I want to apologize for my negligence," said Mitsuru. "I'd like to take the opportunity to make it up to you all."

"Yamagishi and I have been here a few days already, I dunno about her but I've got a pretty good lay of the place!" Natsumi said with a laugh. "...Not to mention the rest of you have been here longer, so what's the point?"

"Well, it wouldn't hurt to do it anyway, just in case," Yukari offered. "...Besides, you never know when a certain someone might screw around blind and break something in here!"

"Oh, come on, Yuka-tan!" Junpei protested. "I'm getting by just fine! In fact it's like Kuzuryu said, I've been here long enough, heck I know the place so well, now, I could give you a tour, myself!"

"You'll make a great assistant, then," Mitsuru chuckled. "Everyone, just humor me a bit, won't you? With the sudden increase of members, I'd like to expand our access to facilities."

"Like we getting new stuff or somethin'?" Junpei asked, eyes going wide. "Tell me we're getting a hot tub, or maybe even a casino or at least some arcades in here!"

"You're so stupid," Yukari sighed, facepalming.

"I am curious of what you're wanting to show us," Mukuro offered, stepping forward.

"I'll admit... I haven't really gone looking around or really been anywhere aside from the washrooms and the lounge outside my room," Fuuka said softly.

"Well, you'll just need to wait and see," Mitsuru said with a smile as she brushed back her long hair. "Let's go..."

Leading the group to the kitchen, Mitsuru let her hand drift across its layout in demonstration. "...The communal kitchen."

"Oh, wow! It looks so clean, now! I didn't even realize it was this big!" Yukari said in awe.

"You're welcome," Natsumi said with a smirk, stepping past her and over to Mitsuru's side. "...I'll take this one, senpai: Now that you have me here to cook meals for you, I took the liberty to sort everything out to how I want it. If you feel like making anything yourself, by all means use any kitchenware you want provided you clean up... but anything I stocked on the shelves in the fridge or pantry labeled "Do not touch"... well... you get the idea! Those are my ingredients for whatever I'm making," the blonde explained, a dangerous smile spreading on her face. "...If I notice a shortage that affects what I'm making, I will find the culprit and I promise there'll be hell to pay! Got it?"

"Uhhhh, got it!" Junpei stammered nervously.

"You cook, Kuzuryu?" Fuuka asked meekly but also with interest.

"As I told Takeba, here, as the biggest active yakuza clan Oyabun's daughter, I need to meet the expectations of an ideal Japanese wife for whoever he weds me off to, so it was something I was taught growing up!" Natsumi replied with a proud smirk.

"I see," Fuuka replied softly, frowning and looking away.

"Aside from Akihiko, she was the one who has the most cooking experience, and as Akihiko tends to just prepare certain meals for himself once in a while, and we've not had someone who cooked with frequency since he..." Mitsuru went silent a moment. "...Anyway, under those circumstances, I assigned Kuzuryu to the task."

"I'd like to practice sometime, too" Fuuka replied.

Natsumi winced. Noticeably. "...Yamagishi, the last time you served anyone something you made, they..." Noticing the looks, particularly Fuuka's worried one, the blonde sighed. Normally Natsumi saw no reason to filter herself, but after what Fuuka had gone through it felt a bit much to put her down so hard, now. "...I mean... look, just... test it in that cooking club you're in before you make it in here, okay?" She muttered something else under her breath but Fuuka didn't seem to notice and was in better spirits as she bowed with a smile at her.

"Then it's a deal!" Fuuka said. "So, um, is that everything regarding the kitchen, then?"

"Yes, I think that about covers everything," Mitsuru replied.

"Suits me fine, I usually only come in to get hot water," said Junpei.

"My cooking skills are..." Mukuro tried to think of the best way to put it. "...More suited for a camping environment then an actual kitchen."

"You know, with a kitchen this big, I bet a couple of people can work in here," Yukari remarked. "...Maybe I can work on my own skills."

"Moving right along," Mitsuru said, leading them out of the kitchen and glancing at the lounge area. "...I suppose the lounge needs no further explanation."

"I was wonderin' when that DVD player on top of the TV showed up, though," said Junpei.

"Oh, that's mine, actually!" Fuuka said with a smile "I brought it over from home. I know it's an older model but it works with that TV. When I'm in my room I can just watch movies on my laptop, so I thought it'd be more useful down here."

"True, the sofas here are pretty comfy, so it's a good place to sit and watch stuff," Yukari remarked. "Plus there's some movies I'd wanted to watch, but... not alone."

"Aw, what's this, is Yuka-tan scared of horror movies?" Junpei teased. "Quite a shocker to see your soft side, hard to imagine you're even the same person. Then again, you sure wigged out about the whole ghost story rumor!"

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Yukari asked with a dangerous glare.

Fuuka looked worried from Yukari's gaze. Natsumi just snickered to herself as she watched Junpei recoil. Mukuro, meanwhile, turned her attention over to Mitsuru. "...Where do you want to show us, next? We should probably go back to the tour."

"Yes, that's probably a good idea," Mitsuru sighed, rolling her eyes at the arguing Junpei and Yukari. "Alright, everyone, let's continue. Aside from having our meals at the big table over there, we also do study sessions as exams draw near. That should wrap everything up with the first floor, so we can move on up to the second and third where the dorm rooms are."

"They're good places to read if you want somewhere less distracting but still want to get some air," said Yukari.

"Plus they got vending machines, and the chairs are so soft, too!" Junpei said, he and Yukari's argument having come to an abrupt end.

"Yeah, I've seen 'em," Natsumi replied.

"Maybe I'll try reading up there, sometime!" said Fuuka.

"I guess that leaves one more place, the rooftop," Mitsuru said as she led the group up the stairs and outside.

"Yes, I sometimes come up there to train at high altitude," said Mukuro.

"I noticed, you and Akihiko both," replied Mitsuru, causing the young soldier to feel a deep blush threatening to overtake her pale face and feel relieved he wasn't at the dorm right now to see it.

"...Anyways, the chairman has permitted using these garden planters if we want to grow some things of our own," Mitsuru explained as she led the others to where the planters sat.

"Ugh, I can already hear him, now. "Eat your veggies, peas"!" Yukari sighed.

"Sounds about right, and probably said with a terrible smirk plastered on his face," Junpei lamented.

"...More or less, after saying "Lettuce not put these to waste"," Mitsuru replied in disgust before quickly regaining her professional demeanor. "...But that's beside the point. Anyway, if any of you want to grow anything up here, give it a try."

"Have you ever done anything like this, Mukuro?" Fuuka asked.

"We did, actually," the young soldier replied. "Back with... before I came here, yes, we had gardens to grow our own vegetables. I'm not an expert on it, we just followed whatever tasks we were given to maintain them."

"Maybe I can help with that, then!" Fuuka beamed excitedly.

"If you feel up to it, then by all means," Mitsuru said with a small smile. "That concludes the tour, so why don't we head back downstairs?"

"I admit being shown around does give me a little more motivation to use these places!" Yukari nodded as the group made their way back to the lounge.

"It was good to get a full understanding of the place," Mukuro replied.

"Well, as long as we all remain considerate, I believe the dorm will continue to be a comfortable living experience for us all," said Mitsuru.

"All things considered, it is an improvement from the one I was staying at!" replied Natsumi.

"Well, I plan on makin' the most of it!" Junpei said with a big grin. "Me livin' under the same roof with so many pretty girls, maybe my rep at school's got hope after all!"

"Just don't wet yourself if my big bro happens to invite himself over one of these days, Iori-kun!" Natsumi replied. "...Knowing him, he'll want to visit at some point so he can check up on me."

"Eheheh... is... he... that scary?" Junpei stammered as he looked at the petite blonde anxiously, getting a silent, devious grin from her in response.

"Even though I'm a little nervous since I've never done this before, but I'll try my best to enjoy myself here with you all!" Fuuka said with a smile.

"Well, at any rate, late as it may be to say it, welcome to the dorm!" said Mitsuru as the front door opened, Akihiko stepping in.

"Oh, hey! Got that tour you were planning started, Mitsuru?" he asked.

"Just finishing up, actually. Good of you to arrive in time for its conclusion," Mitsuru replied with a hint of disapproval in her tone.

"I got held up. Decided to check up on..." He gave a quick glance at the others. "Sorry I was late, just taking care of some business was all."

"I see," said Mitsuru, nodding before looking at the others. "...Anyway, the tour's concluded, you're free to do as you all wish, now."

"Well, sorry to just come and go but I just got back from a big meal, was thinkin' of doing a little training!" Akihiko said.

"Would you... like company?" Mukuro asked, approaching and brushing back her hair.

"Of course! Always more fun when you got someone to do it with!" Akihiko said with a smirk that made Mukuro blush a little before she heard Natsumi chortle behind her.

"What? I didn't say anything. I'm gonna go read upstairs," the blonde said before making her way to the stairs in an abrupt fashion.

"Maybe I'll go check out the books I saw on the shelves up there, too!" Fuuka said, following her with interest.

"Go onnnn! The night's young!" Junpei said with a knowing smirk that made Mukuro blush more and Yukari elbow him in the side. "Ow! What'd I do?!"

Yukari muttered an insult under her breath as she headed for the dining area.

"Figuring maybe we can go check out Tartarus again tomorrow night if you're up for it, so... maybe how's a jog around the area sound, get the blood going?" Akihiko offered, Mukuro could feel that already happening as she looked up at his face.

"...I am," Mukuro replied with a faint smile, before blushing again. "...I mean, I am to both. Let me go change, first," she said softly, realizing she was still in her school clothes and heading upstairs as well, in a slightly hasty pace of her own.

---

6/17 Dark Hour

"Enemy spotted! Powerful enemy ahead!" Fuuka's warning echoed through the group's ears. Mukuro paused as she'd reached the top of the stairs, followed closely behind by Junpei, Natsumi, and Akihiko.

"Looks like a pretty nasty one. I can't wait!" Akihiko said with a smirk. Up ahead in a large chamber of the fleshy purple caverns that made up this part of Tartarus, a hovering entity in armor that resembled a bulky knight in silver armor with a massive greatsword in its right hand and a billowing purple cloak and crown-shaped mask was seated on what appeared to be an armored unicorn-like steed, but as Mukuro peered closer she could see it was empty, with long drapelike flags running down its sides.

Though its glowing eyes seemed to be fixed on the group, it did not move, nor attack, as if daring them to come forward and challenge it.

"Once you're past it, there's a barrier further ahead!" Fuuka's voice said.

"They must be near the end of this particular block, then," Mitsuru's voice said.

"So we just gotta wreck this guy and we've practically cleared it!" Junpei said, grinning and brandishing his greatsword.

"Heh, this plated piss-ant doesn't know what he's in for!" Natsumi sneered as she got her own katana blade ready.

"Everyone's ready, then?" Mukuro asked, looking back at her teammates.

"Damn right I am!" Akihiko said, beating his gloved fists together. "The Shadows on the way were just the warm-up!"

"Let's turn 'em into scrap!" Junpei cheered.

Natsumi chuckled darkly. "...Let's make 'em bleed!"

Mukuro gave a small smile. "Understood. Let's go!"

The group charged forward, fanning out as the knight-like Shadow raised its greatsword in response, accepting their challenge, and the fight was on.

"Fuuka! Analyze and find its weakness!" Mukuro ordered, her combat machete drawn and ready.

"I'll get right on it! Give me a moment!" Fuuka's voice replied.

"Keep it busy till then!" the young solder stated, using her free hand to draw out her Evoker and summoning Tam Lin, who promptly swiped at it with his spear, the Shadow defending with its own blade.

"POLYDEUCEUS!" Akihiko shouted, his muscular, long-haired humanoid Persona rising behind him and delivering a brutal punching attack with its remaining fist causing it to falter but not seeming to harm it much.

"See how you like THIS! ARACHNE!" Natsumi shouted, using her Evoker to call forth her slender, dark-clad Persona as it lunged forward to slash with its needle-shaped blade as it glided by.

"Double-whammy time! HERMES!" Junpei declared, summoning his own Persona to do the same from the opposite side.

The Shadow, however, did not seem particularly dissuaded by their attacks as it pushed back Tam Lin and raised its blade, a beam of light shooting up into the high ceiling before suddenly splitting apart.

"Scatter!" Mukuro shouted as she and the others quickly took cover as arrow-shaped jets of light suddenly rained down from above. "Fuuka! Do you have a reading yet?"

"I do! It doesn't seem to have a real weakness, and it's protected against Light and Dark element!" Fuuka's voice replied.

"Well that's fucking peachy!" Natsumi grumbled.

"What do we do, then?" Junpei asked.

The Shadow let out an inhuman bellow as it suddenly glowed a bright red before swooping at them, Mukuro and the others barely dodging out of the way in time as it passed over before it pointed its blade at them, a sickly light suddenly emitting from it and Mukuro felt a sense of fatigue overcome her.

"Dammit! It's done something to all of us!" Akihiko grunted.

"Shit! I can barely stand!" Natsumi yelled.

"Let me try this one!" Mukuro shouted. "NIGI MITAMA!"

The raindrop-shaped Persona appeared, bathing them in light as the fatigue went away.

"Lessee if we can try hitting it harder! HERMES!" Junpei summoned his winged Persona once more, and a red light engulfed the party.

Mukuro felt a boost of power like an adrenaline shot, yet she also felt another surge within her after Nigi Mitama had done its work, her gaze tracing down to the cartridge on her uniform that now glowed brightly.

Not one, but two Personas suddenly entered her mind as she watched the Shadow glide about, taunting them from afar well above the ground.

"Mukuro! I'm getting a reading from you! Is that... your Theurgy?" Fuuka's voice asked.

Mukuro nodded, taking the cartridge and placing it in her Evoker as she approached the Shadow, staring it down defiantly as it prepared to charge, its greatsword ready to impale her as she pulled the trigger.

In a flash of light, the two Personas that she saw appeared before her; Jack Frost, and Jack-O-Lantern. The Shadow froze in its tracks in confusion as the two impish spirits made chittering noises as a stage microphone of all things appeared before them and they began dancing about in an almost comical fashion before winding back for a high-five...

BOOM!

A shockwave emitted from them, glowing a vibrant blue as it suddenly struck the Shadow and sent it toppling backward in a daze, its form twitching and emitting a low groan. Whatever had just happened, it'd been effective against it.

"Nice! It's been knocked down!" Akihiko shouted.

"Hey, Kuzuryu! Wanna maybe do what we did last time at the same time?" Junpei asked, Evoker ready.

"Know what? I'm game!" Natsumi chuckled, a malicious grin spreading on her face as she drew her own Evoker.

Both went off in unison, and Hermes and Arachne appeared on either side of the fallen Shadow and glided swiftly forward, striking the Shadow at the same time in an X-formation. The Shadow bellowed and thrashed, Mukuro and Akihiko exchanging a glance and a nod.

"Everyone! Attack!" Mukuro ordered as she and Akihiko dashed forward, Junpei and Natsumi close behind as they charged in, finishing their foe off in a flurry of ferocious attacks.

"We did it!" Akihiko declared with an approving nod. "Our trips in here are definitely paying off!"

"Damn right we did it!" Natsumi sneered as she watched their foe dissolve away into black smoke. "I can safely say it's not like before!"

"Pretty sweet Theurgy you showed there, Mukuro!" said Junpei. "So all's we got left is to reach that barrier floor, right?"

"Correct! It should be just ahead!" Fuuka's voice replied.

"Then let's go," said Mukuro, her thoughts already on something else she wondered may be waiting for them if it were anything like the previous ones as she led the group up the tall, purple-lit stone steps ahead.

At their summit awaited a cavern, still bearing the otherworldly purple light that shimmered through the crevices and alcoves in the walls, yet a different, green light was emitting behind a swath of fleshy, tentacle-like vines that slowly parted as the group approached, revealing a corridor opening up to a bridge suspended high in a tower illuminated by sickly green light from the windows outside. Several columns stretched upward to a ceiling far above as red blood-like substance poured from either side like thin waterfalls. Several gears surrounded a fixture attached to a platform further up where more stairs and a glowing green doorway awaited, that was otherwise far too high up that it was inaccessible from where they stood.

"Guess it's the end of the line, and just when it was getting fun!" Natsumi fumed as she looked up at the platform way above.

"We've gone as far as we could and managed to clear this block, I'd say we did pretty damn well this time!" Akihiko replied, before noticing Mukuro's attention had turned towards a metal briefcase left on an old wooden table sitting on one corner of the bridge they were on, opposite of where another teleporter was.

Mukuro gave no answer as she pressed the lock on the briefcase and opened it. Inside, another document, similar to the others she'd seen so far and picked it up to read it over.

"Hey, what's that?" Junpei asked, coming over and peering over her shoulder.

"..."A new institution will launch on the island... The amount of money being poured into it is unheard of. I have been told to be part of it. I'm worried... I have a bad feeling about this project..."," Mukuro read. "...That's all it says."

"Institution... the island?" Akihiko brought his hand to his chin in thought.

"Well that's not vague at all," Natsumi remarked. "What's this about a project? Who even wrote that?"

"It doesn't say," replied Mukuro, folding it up and putting it in her new uniform's pocket.

"It's like a mystery wrapped in enigma, or somethin' like that," Junpei said, frowning.

"I've been finding these every time we reach a barrier," said Mukuro. "There may be more further up," she mused, looking at the unreachable platform above. Much as she wanted to get up there and find out, it seemed that would have to come another evening.

"Another full moon's just a few weeks away, if these big Shadows that always show up have a connection with these barriers then all we gotta do is beat the next one that shows up and the path ahead'll open up!" said Akihiko.

"It seems like it," Mukuro replied.

"Ikusaba, are you and the others finished exploring?" Mitsuru's voice asked.

"We are. We've reached the barrier, we're on our way back, now," Mukuro answered, leading the others to the waiting teleporter on the other side of the bridge. It seemed, she thought to herself, that Junpei's observation was on the mark. The further up this strange tower they went, the more questions she had with answers once more appearing to be beyond her reach.

---

6/18

No sooner had Mukuro taken her seat with the beginning of class a few minutes away, did her ears catch the sound of two boys talking about the Kirijo Group being on the news.

Mitsuru-senpai's family business? she wondered.

"...They were talking about their involvement in a lot of things around here," one of the boys said. "Even this school's owned by them!"

"I know, right?" the other boy said. "But gotta wonder why a company that big would bother to build a school!"

Mukuro rested her chin in her palm in thought. The Kirijo Group owned this school, Tartarus emerged where the school was when the Dark Hour came, Tartarus had pieces of some document that were found at each barrier, and Yukari's father died in an explosion on this island ten years ago in a laboratory run by the Kirijo Group according to her...

The class bell rang as Ms. Toriumi entered and began setting up, other students rushing in shortly after.

---

As class ended, Mukuro noticed a text from Natsumi. It didn't appear to be club-related but was too vague to discern what she wanted as she read it.

[Meet me in the hall and walk with me.]

Deciding to see what the other girl wanted, Mukuro gathered her things and stepped out into the hallway, where she found Natsumi leaning against the neighboring wall with her arms folded and looking at her.

"Oh, good. Didn't need to message you again," she said. "...Walk with me."

Mukuro sighed, it seemed the other girl still felt in a place to give orders in some way, likely just how she was raised. Mukuro was no stranger to following them, and decided to humor her for now as she followed her down the hall.

"I guess you're wondering why I called you, well, I think our adventures have given me plenty to put in the club's files, wouldn't you say?" the blonde asked with a smirk.

"I think Mitsuru-senpai would object," Mukuro replied.

"Who gives a fuck what she says, I'll do what I want! I don't need that quack school nurse doing his long-winded lectures in the club room, too!" Natsumi snapped.

A brief silence passed between the two girls before Natsumi sighed, folding her arms tightly. "I guess there's something else to why I needed to talk. I suppose I didn't... apologizefortheothernight," she grumbled under her breath.

Mukuro blinked, speechless. Was Natsumi Kuzuryu actually doing a real apology?

The other girl fumed, scowling. "I'll admit if it wasn't for you I'd have... looked like an idiot rookie. My big bro would have had this in the bag right off the bat!"

"I think you made up for it last night. You were more cooperative and worked with everyone in the fight with that last Shadow," Mukuro said.

"I guess that's true," Natsumi replied, though a frown was still present on her face. "Still... I felt so good about myself when I first got this power, then there was my first real trip in. I can't let that define me! Pisses me the fuck off I can't get it out of my head even after last night!"

Mukuro opened her mouth to speak, but Natsumi's brow furrowed and her green eyes took on a glare.

"Don't say anything to downplay it. My family follows one simple rule: You make the cut or you don't. The Kuzuryu clan doesn't tolerate weakness and I won't be a goddamn weak link, not with my family or this team!" the blond said coldly. "...I may be yakuza by blood, but that also means I always keep my word."

Natsumi's words made her think of Fenrir and its expectations of its soldiers. Making the cut was essential, given what they did, and how they did it. Mukuro, however, recalled her motivations being she had nothing else to lose and nothing left to live for, yet here she was with no scars from her time there to show for it. Natsumi, meanwhile, seemed intent on proving herself to... everyone, it seemed.

A sound like shattering glass echoed within her mind at these thoughts.

"...Anyways, let's at least figure out how to make our club's quota, huh?" Natsumi asked, scoffing. "There's this rumor floating around of where at the stroke of midnight, people are suddenly found dead, and the rumor's about this being linked to some "revenge" website!"

"A website?" Mukuro asked. "Maybe it was Shadow attacks that ended up being fatal..."

"Who knows! I don't know a link or anything, or real proof it exists, but I overheard some of the girls in class who think they're caused by the same thing talk about if maybe someone did it to Fuuka's bullies after the time she disappeared," Natsumi explained. "But again, who knows, maybe it's like the ghost story and people needed some kinda coincidence! Imagine if it were true, though. Of course, if I wanted someone gone I could just-"

"Do what, call your dad's goons on them?!" an angry female voice snapped, causing Natsumi and Mukuro to turn and see a girl with long wavy dark hair and a spiteful glare in her eyes. "I heard your clubmate here went to the photography club room with Junpei to accuse them of spreading lewd photos! Are you ever gonna let it rest already?!"

Natsumi cocked a brow of of minimal interest. "...I have no idea what you're talking about, Sato."

"Don't play dumb! Ikusaba here's in your club! Are you going after Mahiru's reputation and trying to get the club shut down or something?!" the other girl snapped.

"Mukuro, the fuck's she talking about? I told you not to go there!" Natsumi uttered with an irate glare.

Mukuro sighed, wondering if this had anything to do with whatever was going on between Natsumi and that girl Koizumi who was in charge of the Photography club, and now here she had somehow wound up in the middle of it. "...Junpei told me the boys were sharing a photo of me taken without my permission in gym class. He and I asked around and came to the conclusion someone in the photography club would have a way to distribute it so we asked Koizumi-san if she knew anyone she could think of that might have done it," she explained. "...We weren't attacking her or anything, she's just as upset about it and wants to investigate it, too."

The other girl, Sato, paused, a confused look on her face.

"Looks to me like you jumped to some pretty serious conclusions!" Natsumi sneered, a cruel smile spread on her face at her.

"Well can you blame me after middle school? You were always jealous of her photography skills so why wouldn't I think you'd want to cause trouble?!" the other girl protested.

"You wanna give me a reason to?" Natsumi asked, her smile growing more dangerous.

"Do it, and you'll regret it! Mahiru's got enough to deal with now thanks to this going around even if you're not involved!" Sato snapped angrily.

"Can we please stop, we're getting stares," Mukuro said, suddenly and sharply, causing the other two to pause and look at her, and the other remaining students in the halls now looking at them. The last thing she wanted was to have to use force to keep this from escalating and risk hurting either of them. "...Sato, was it? I didn't mean any harm, and she didn't put me up to this. This really is about a photo, you can ask Junpei he's the one who told me about it. He can vouch for me."

"I see..." Sato looked down at the floor, blushing in embarrassment. "I'm... sorry for the trouble. If this happened to you, well, Mahiru's my friend and I'm sure she'll take care of this. I don't want anything happening to the photography club because of some pervert... but maybe Kuzuryu here will tell you about middle school sometime if you're already close."

As the other girl left, Natsumi rolled her eyes in disgust. "Jeez, take your meds, bitch," she muttered.

"What was that abou-" Mukuro began.

"None of your business," Natsumi said, cutting her off. "...Let's just get to club and get the rumors I told you about recorded, alright? Also... I'm not cooking tonight so you're on your own this time."

Mukuro chose not to press further and followed the blonde to their destination.

---

6/19

Despite what'd happened yesterday, Mukuro had finished the day less troubled when she'd tried the new Seafood Full Platter for dinner while she studied. With any luck, the next time exams came up she'd score a lot better then last time.

"Oh! G-Good morning, Mukuro!" she heard Fuuka's voice behind her and turned to see the other girl approach. "Um... how are you doing today?"

"I'm fine. You?" the young soldier asked, wondering what Fuuka wanted that'd make the normally shy girl approach.

"Umm... could you maybe meet me in the halls after class? I..." The smaller girl looked away anxiously. "I need your help with something I've been working on. Do you think you can do that for me?"

Mukuro tilted her head in curiosity, wondering what it may have been, and she didn't have any plans after school, anyway, nor did she feel she had any reason to worry over it. "I could, yes."

"Oh, thank you so much!" Fuuka said with a bow. "I'll see you then!"

Mukuro watched Fuuka rush ahead to the doors in excitement, even more curious now what she had in store for her.

---

Hours later, Mukuro emerged into the hall to find Fuuka waiting for her as expected and approached her.

"Thank you again for this. Um, so I talked Ando-san into letting me make something," Fuuka began, before looking away anxiously once more. "...After saying she never saw me... but I guess she just wanted me to try my best on my own!"

Mukuro blinked. "You tried cooking something?"

Fuuka smiled. "Yes! I decided to try making it during lunchtime! I was hoping maybe you could... taste test it for me? I don't have a lot of confidence in my cooking so I figured getting someone else to try it could give me an unbiased opinion!"

It can't be worse then some of the MRE's I've eaten, Mukuro thought to herself. She wasn't exactly picky, though. Ten years with Fenrir made normal meals and even instant things practically look like a luxury to her even if she tried to eat healthy.

She couldn't help but wonder if that had been why Fuuka had chosen her...

"Um... I... I understand if you can't. You may not be very hungry right now," Fuuka uttered apologetically.

Mukuro had gone on solo missions in Fenrir, many of which included taking cover from gunfire and explosions. She'd also fought and survived fights with Shadows in the Dark Hour. Her teammate's cooking wasn't going to scare her off and she didn't want to hurt Fuuka's feelings nor wound her own pride by being intimidated by food.

"I'll give it a try," she said, offering a small smile with an affirming nod.

Fuuka gave a beaming smile. "Oh! Thanks so much! Okay, please come with me and I'll get it."

Following the other girl into the cooking club room, Mukuro watched as Fuuka took a bento box out of the fridge and led her out back to a bench where they sat down.

"Well, go on! Dig in!" Fuuka said with an eager smile.

Mukuro was speechless as she opened the box, finding what could best be described as a chaotic mess, with an odor that made young soldier's usual impassive expression quickly subdued by a crinkling of her nose and a squinting of her eyes.

"Oh, the smell's very quick to the senses, isn't it?" Fuuka asked.

"It... brings back memories," Mukuro said.

Fuuka smiled in delight. "Oh, good memories?"

Mukuro would hardly consider memories of the gas chamber exercise during Fenrir's basic training as good ones.

"I used vinegar as a base of relieving fatigue, and then I added a lot of citrus!" Fuuka explained with no shortage of enthusiasm. "...But then I realized those were pretty light flavors, so I added some sriracha sauce as well! Give it a try!"

Srira-what? Mukuro raised a brow at the other girl, who watched her expectantly. She didn't know what that was, but she couldn't back down now. She recalled what she said earlier, she'd eaten a number of things out of necessity, she could do this, despite the alarms her mind was giving her right now as she used her chopsticks to grab the first helping.

Once the ordeal had ended, Mukuro quietly sat back, taking slow, deep breaths as she set the empty bento box aside.

"Okay, I want your honest, unbiased opinion, alright?" Fuuka asked, attempting to put on a brave face. "H-How was it?"

"It... was..." Mukuro's stomach turned violently as she suddenly heaved forward, suppressing a gag and barely stopping what just went down from coming back up. Fuuka, however, seemed to get the message and spare her of attempting to speak again.

"I see," she said, frowning as she looked down at the empty box. "Um... Mukuro? You're looking really flushed..."

"Umm... Fuuka, I'll be alright, I've lived on worse in the wilderness, I juUU-!" Mukuro felt it coming, all her willpower bypassed with a ferocity she herself had on her missions as a mercenary unit as she practically flung herself to a nearby trash bin and held on tight to the rims and retched as her stomach's contents spilled from her mouth like a technicolor waterfall in a manner not unlike when she'd tried Edogawa's medicine.

"Oh no! What have I done?!" Fuuka cried out as she rushed to her side, one hand clasping her chest and the other in front of her mouth as she looked in horror as her friend continued gagging and coughing before vomiting again. "Mukuro! I'm so sorry! Let me go get some water, I'll be right back I promise!"

Mukuro could only faintly hear Fuuka's retreating footsteps as she felt another helping of stomach contents make their rapid ascent.

---

"I'm sorry I made you test my cooking," Fuuka said softly as she walked with Mukuro to the station. "I guess, since you're so... um... experienced, I thought I could get an honest opinion from you..."

Mukuro gave no answer as she continued to try and quell her upset stomach and wash away the burning feeling and bitter taste of stomach acid with the large water bottle Fuuka had brought her.

"Still, thank you for... um, humoring me," the other girl said. "I still want to keep trying, though. Maybe one day I'll do well enough people won't make fun of me for it anymore, but I guess I better focus on making it edible first, right?"

"May be a good idea," said Mukuro, taking another swig from her water bottle and finally feeling the illness subside.

"Would it be alright if you can help me with what I make, though?" Fuuka asked, looking up at her with eager eyes.

Mukuro paused a moment. Between the bullying Fuuka endured before she'd come into the team, and if she was facing it for her cooking now, and memories of her own childhood before the accident, Mukuro's mind was made up that she'd try and give Fuuka one less thing to worry about. "...I'll do my best," she said.

Fuuka smiled, relieved. "Thank you! So will I!"

Reality suddenly seemed to slow down and darken around Mukuro as she suddenly heard a sound of shattered glass, and Theodore's voice speaking within her mind once more...

I am thou, thou art I...

Thou hast established a new bond...

Thou shalt havest our blessings when thou choosest

to create a Persona of the Priestess Arcana.

Reality slowly reverted back to normal for the young soldier.

"Well, we should probably get back to the dorm!" said Fuuka. "You're probably... pretty hungry now after that, so I'll buy you a pre-made bento at the shop, alright?"

Mukuro blushed, or it may have been she was still looking flushed by lingering sickness. "You don't need to..."

"No, it's the least I can do!" Fuuka said. "...As thanks for agreeing to keep helping me! No arguments!"

The young soldier couldn't help but smile at Fuuka's determination. Between this and all she'd been through, and her part in SEES' Tartarus missions, this girl had an incredible drive to her, for certain.

---

6/20

Mukuro had made her way back to the dorm immediately after school had let out, having received a text from Mitsuru to do so as the chairman was expected to come over. Coming around the corner to the entrance, however, she saw Yukari, Fuuka, and Natsumi outside, gathered around a fluffy shiba-inu dog with a white and gray coat. The dog sat in front of Fuuka, who'd crouched in front of it while Yukari and Natsumi stood nearby and watched as Fuuka offered out her hand.

"Koro-chan, shake!" she said gently. The dog barked excitedly, placing his paw in Fuuka's palm and wagging its tail.

"Aww, he did it! What a smart dog!" Yukari giggled before noticing Mukuro. "Oh! Welcome back, Mukuro!"

"What's going on?" Mukuro asked, walking over.

"They're playing with some stray! Honestly, who'd... who'd want to do that?!" Natsumi muttered dismissively, trying to look away but casting a brief glance back at the dog, who took notice right away as it looked up at her and wagged its tail again, causing her to abruptly look away red-faced. "...I mean, sure, maaaaybe he's... a little cute, but STILL!"

"Aw, don't try and hide it, Kuzuryu!" Fuuka giggled, before looking over at Mukuro, looked at the dog with uncertainty. "Don't worry, he's very friendly! His name's Koromaru. I see him on the steps at the old shrine further north of here a lot when I go to pray there."

Thoughts of guard dogs she'd had to bypass or... subdue, entered Mukuro's mind as the dog, Koromaru, trotted over, tail up and wagging as he sat down in front of her, panting, looking up at her with big, soft crimson eyes. There was no aggression at all from this dog, despite her own hesitation as it let out a friendly bark.

"Um... hi," Mukuro said softly, slowly and cautiously kneeling and holding out her hand. There was no denying it, seeing this dog up close, one with no hostility towards her, he was very very... cute.

Koromaru let out a jovial woof, delighted to make a new friend and placed his paw in her hand a few times, his ears drooping slightly as he leaned forward, inviting Mukuro to pet him. After a pause, she did. She smiled, his fur was so soft, if a little dusty. In another time, another place, Mukuro could remember wanting a dog as a child as Koromaru happily licked her hand in gratitude.

"Oh, this dog still goes on walks around the neighborhood all by himself?" a passing middle-aged woman asked as she stopped and looked down at them.

"What do you mean?" asked Yukari.

"Well, he used to belong to the priest of the Naganaki Shrine," the woman said. "Every afternoon, the two of them would go this way for a walk... until the priest passed away."

"He... passed away?" asked Fuuka.

"Oh, you've not heard the story?" the woman asked, surprised, as Koromaru came over to Fuuka's side and looked over at her. "...I think it was about six months ago when it happened. The priest was hit by a car while walking Koromaru... he didn't survive. Ever since then, his dog has continued to go on walks around this time, always stopping to sit by the site of the accident."

"No one bothered to take him in?" asked Mukuro.

"People have tried, but he doesn't let them. In fact, just the other day, my son..." The woman paused and looked at her phone. "Oh, he'll be home soon, actually. I should get going."

"Awww, you're such a loyal doggy!" Yukari cooed as she sat down in front of Koromaru and gave him an affectionate scratch behind the ears. "Good boy!"

The dog woofed, content before looking up at Natsumi, who blushed again.

"W-What? I don't... h-have any treats, alright?" she protested, quickly looking away again as Fuuka suddenly gasped.

"What's wrong?" Mukuro asked, joining Yukari in petting Koromaru, who appreciated the increased attention.

"Ohhh, um, nothing. Sorry. The chairman's coming over tonight, right?" asked Fuuka. "We should probably go get ready."

"Right, and I have dinner to make us!" Natsumi said, heading inside in a hurry and giving Koromaru a last, quick look before quickly closing the door behind her.

"Kinda curious what she'll make," said Yukari. "But guess we better go on in, now." She smiled down at the dog and pet him on the head one more time. "Seeya later, Koro-chan!"

Koromaru barked happily, looking over at Mukuro next, the girl couldn't help but smile as she pet him. "Hope you come by again," she said. Koromaru woofed in response before trotting off down the sidewalk and disappearing around the corner as Mukuro and the others then headed inside as well.

---

"Good you're all here!" Ikutsuki said with a cheerful smile as he entered the command room where all the others were now seated. "How's everyone's day been?"

"Well, you missed out on a phenomenal dinner!" Junpei said, licking the tip of his finger in a Chef's Kiss gesture.

"Not that I have a problem with flattery, in fact, I enjoy it, but that was just my fried noodles recipe I do for festivals, it's like my most pleb-level dish!" Natsumi replied with a shrug.

"Still, it was delicious!" Fuuka offered.

"I'll admit, you're quite talented, it's like having another of..." Mitsuru paused as she exchanged a glance with Akihiko and chose not to finish, instead turning her attention to the chairman. "...So what was this meeting about, Chairman?"

"Hm, well first let me log away to come by for one of Miss Kuzuryu's homecooked meals thanks to my piqued curiosity, but to get to the point, I gathered you all here because I wanted to let you know how my research has been processing!" the chairman explained. "It concerns the Shadows that have been appearing during the full moons... now, I want you to listen closely, as it might be hard to follow. Shadows can be divided into twelve categories, according to their characteristics."

"Characteristics?" asked Mukuro. The mention of numbers made her recall the mask-like features the Shadows in Tartarus had each seemed to bear a Roman numeral on them.

"Yes," Ikutsuki replied. "This we've known for a while. We can think of it like their class or order. I have been able to classify the special Shadows we've seen so far and, well, it's simply fascinating!"

Junpei raised a brow at the chairman's enthusiasm. "...Uh, why are you so excited about it?" he asked cautiously.

"Well, because of what it could mean, of course!" Ikutsuki said with a merry chuckle. "If I may sit down, first..."

Once he seated himself in the armchair at the end of the table, Ikutsuki resumed his lecture. "...As I was saying, I first must explain that those four Shadows, they belonged to categories I-IV in the Roman numeral system, in order of their appearance!"

Mukuro nodded. "They do. I remember each one had a Roman numeral on their foreheads. The one that attacked the dorm I recall had an I, the one on the monorail was II, then the last two we faced were III and IV."

"Correct, Ikusaba!" said Ikutsuki. "...While they may have been larger and looked different from the other more common ones, the classification scheme still applies!"

"Okay, and why's that something to be excited about?" asked Junpei.

"Ohhh, I get it!" Fuuka chimed in. "...Because that means there are twelve in all, which means there's eight left we haven't seen yet!"

"That's exactly right, Yamagishi-kun! You're quite sharp!" the chairman replied with an approving nod, Junpei, however, still felt uneasy.

"Okay, cool, eight left... but what is it they're after, though?" he asked.

"That's a good question, and that's what we haven't figured out yet: their motive," Ikutsuki explained. "...They never kill their prey; they feed on their minds, creating more "Lost". Now this can be considered as natural predation, but is it really? Is there actually an underlying intent behind their behavior?"

"The monorail, that wasn't the work of mindless predators," said Mukuro. "They set a trap for us and tried to kill us, and cause an explosion that'd take out the trains in the process that could look like an accident."

"The reason for the trains having switched places in what felt like an instant," Natsumi replied.

"...And then there was when they were luring people into Tartarus to be preyed upon," Mitsuru said. "Their actions do have meaning behind them.

"Correct, and we must determine what that meaning is, the purpose of the Shadows as a whole is what we need to consider," said Ikutsuki.

"This is interesting, but no matter what their intent is, we still have to beat the rest of 'em!" said Akihiko.

"Agreed, that's about all we can do at this point," replied Mitsuru.

"Eight more, huh? Lucky us," Yukari mused.

"According to the data, each of these special Shadows has been stronger then the last," said Fuuka. "That means we better start training harder!"

"We'll manage. We got plenty of time till the next full moon." Akihiko asked with a smirk.

"I'm wondering, though, why does Tartarus even exist in the first place?" asked Yukari.

Mitsuru sighed quietly, looking away. Yukari took notice, but the older girl said nothing.

"I'm kinda curious, too. I mean I did watch it sprout out from where the school was when I first got my Persona and those last two big Shadows appeared," said Natsumi.

"That, is also a mystery to us," said Ikutsuki. "People like myself can't safely enter, after all, so the answers behind it may lie with you seeking out any clues that may be inside."

"When we beat these Shadows that appear on the full moon, inaccessible parts further up become open," said Mukuro, thinking of the incomplete and vague documents she'd found.

"Then once it passes, we'll be able to go further up, and find more clues then," said Mitsuru, though still looking off to the side.

"Another full moon isn't too far off. Perhaps then we will get closer to knowing for certain if the Shadows are acting independently, or together towards some unknown goal," Ikutsuki mused. "It's already a question of if a group of Shadows target a single human's mind to ravage it with purpose, or if each individual one simply devours them for the sake of its survival."

"Well, by my estimate, there are still quite a few full moons left in this year alone," Fuuka said. "And based on that estimate I'm certain we're all in for a long and difficult fight... but I think together, we can handle it!" she stated with a smile.

"Bring 'em on, I say!" Natsumi smirked. "Let's make each one learn the hard way they walked right into a bloodbath!"

"If we put enough effort in, we'll win. If we don't, we lose. Pretty simple stuff," said Akihiko. "We should revisit Tartarus and train some more to build up our strength while there's time left."

"Well, good to see a lot of optimism!" said the chairman with a warm smile. "At this rate, I think I have a lot to look forward to thanks to you all!"

As the meeting disbanded, Mukuro decided to head to her room for the evening, switching on her TV.

"A body was discovered behind Port Island station last night, cause of death unknown but time believed to be around midnight," a newscaster narrated. "The victim appears to be a student from the nearby highschool. Police are currently searching for any evidence relating to the incident..."

A thought crossed Mukuro's mind as she recalled something the chairman had said, how Shadows didn't kill their victims during the Dark Hour...

---

6/20 Dark Hour

As if suddenly and abruptly waking up from a dream he could not remember, a young man's eyes shot open as he fell to his knees in the back alleys behind Port Island Station.

"Wha... did I...?" the teen gasped as he looked around. Everything was so dark, save for an eerie green light that shown down from the moon above, which looked unusually close. Even more unnerving was the upright black coffins that stood where his friends had been a second ago, a dull red light glowing from them.

"W-What the heck is this?!" he cried out, his voice echoing in the dead silence around him.

"...Good evening," a polite, male voice stated behind him, causing him to turn and see a young man standing over him. Even in the unnatural green light that provided the only illumination, he could see this man was anything but normal, either. He wore faded jeans with a white belt and red sash with pointed leather boots, but no top, revealing his ghostly pale complexion and skeletally thin build, his lanky arms adorned with with numerous serpent, barbed wire, and dragon tattoos and his long, stringy white hair held with a thin band. Despite appearing to be around 20 or so, he looked more like a walking corpse then a human being as he stared down at him, his gleaming yellow eyes framed by sunken dark circles belying his gentle smile.

"Who... what are you?!" the young man cried out, backing away from the ethereal entity.

"Myself? Soon it will not matter," the pale man stated in a serene tone, his smile unwavering as his hand rested on a large revolver slid into the ring of his belt. "...Are you surprised by what you see around you? It may be difficult for one such as you to fathom, but truth be told, we visit this world every night!"

At that moment, two others emerged from the dark alley behind him. One a younger-looking man who appeared to be at the end of his teens wearing a blue and green striped bomber jacket with a high collar and buckled sleeves, and black cargo pants and sneakers. His short dark hair was parted to the side and his cold gaze was framed by tinted glasses and he held a metal briefcase in his left hand. The other was a teenage girl with long flowing red hair, her sidelocks braided in ribbons and wearing a dress fashioned like a bridal gown with long wide-ended sleeves and a white bonnet with a decorative dagger hairpin, with white stockings and high-heeled boots with studded bangles, regarding him with an unreadable, indifferent stare.

"What are you saying?! Who exactly are you people?! What do you want with me?!" the now frightened young man pleaded.

The girl simply cocked her head her brow furrowing slightly at him but she otherwise seemed barely interested. The young man with the briefcase scoffed in disgust.

"Didn't your mommy teach ya any manners? You haven't introduced yourself!" he said, speaking in a rough, Kansai accent as he cracked open his briefcase and slid out a piece of paper, holding it out to the scared boy and smirking dangerously at him. "...Name, address, age, et cetera... this is you, right?"

The boy's eyes went wide with horror as he took the paper and read it, everything matched his own information. "What the...?! Where did you get all this?!"

"Ain't it obvious? Someone's got a grudge against ya, and they asked us to get revenge!" the young man with the briefcase stated, seizing the paper from him.

"Revenge?! What kinda bullshit is this?! Who put you up to this?!" the boy protested indignantly.

"Can't tell ya. We're professionals," the young man with the briefcase replied dismissively.

"P-Professionals?" the teen stammered, before the memory of a rumor he'd heard clicked in his mind. "Oh sh-shit... those rumors online..." He could feel his body tremble all over as panic grew within him. "...You're saying... th-they're all true?!"

The pale man, the group's apparent leader, removed his revolver from his belt. "...So, shall we get this over with, now?"

The boy backed away, holding his hands in front of him defensively and tears beginning to form in his eyes. "Wait...! Please! I haven't done anything! W-Why me?! What did I do?!"

The pale man's smile grew more sinister. "That... is not our concern," he said, his tone still eerily gentle yet precise as he spoke. "...Your notion of right and wrong is irrelevant, my client's wishes are all that matter. People hear what they choose to hear..." He slowly raised his revolver and pointed it right at the terrified young man. "...and believe what they want to believe!"

"Please! No! Stay away!" the boy cried out, turning to run.

"You squeal so magnificently! Such raw emotion!" the pale man declared with a cruel glee in his voice as his revolver took aim at the fleeing young man and he pulled the trigger.

Blood spurt from a gaping wound that appeared in the boy's back as he promptly collapsed onto the pavement, twitching and choking as he let out a weak gasp.

"...He's not dead," the girl in white said softly as she stared at the fallen boy.

"Tch! Doesn't matter," the young man with the briefcase stated. "We held up our end of the bargain, and tomorrow morning this'll just seem like some random crime."

The pale man approached his injured target and crouched over him, resting his arms on his knees as he smiled down at him. "...Your fate is sealed, but will you perish shivering in the street like an animal aware its time has come... or will they find you first and ease your suffering for you?"

"...P...Please...!" the young man wept, his hand reaching feebly towards him and coughing up blood as the pale man sneered at him and stood up, holstering his weapon and paying the boy no further mind as he looked towards his two companions.

"...Well, if there's nothing else, I'm feeling rather tired."

Together they turned and disappeared back into the dark alley, leaving the dying young man alone to his fate.

---

A/N: Apologies for the long wait, everyone! IRL work has been very busy and exhausting lately, but luckily I was able to finish this chapter up during some time off. I also moved our diabolical trio's debut to a little earlier to lessen the padding.

0 - The Fool - SEES: Rank 3

I - The Magician - Junpei Iori: Rank 6

II - The Priestess - Fuuka Yamagishi: Rank 1

IV - The Emperor - Kiyotaka Ishimaru: Rank 2

V - The Hierophant - Bookstore Owners: Rank 4

VI - The Lovers - Yukari Takeba: Rank 3

VII - The Chariot - Aoi Asahina: Rank 3

IX - The Hermit - "MARY": Rank 3

XII - The Hanged Man - Seiko Kimura: Rank 3

XIII - Death - Pharos: Rank 1

XIV - Temperance - Sonia Nevermind: Rank 1

XVI - The Tower - Natsumi Kuzuryu: Rank 4

Mukuro's Personas: Omoikane, Jack Frost, Jack O Lantern, Inugami, Nigi Mitama, Zouchouten, Gurulu, Tam Lin