Chapter Text
"Damn bitch, I'll sue!" It echoed through my mind, the more and more I thought about it, the more scared that man made me. How could one person have so much power... "-you even paying attention?" I snapped out of my daydream. "If you get in trouble again, I won't bail you out of it. This is what you get for pushing your nose into adult business." I looked out the window of the car, others piled the highways up and down. "I-I told you... I didn't do it..." I told him as I adjusted my glasses. The man sighed "Look kid, it doesn't matter now if you did or didn't, you're on probation, so if you try and be a hero again you'll be locked in juvie." He honks the horn "The light's green!" he shouted in annoyance. "You're taking the subway from now on, got it?" He grumbled, turning my way "Y-Yes sir..." I mumbled nervously. "I d-don't think it'll be t-too hard... to g-get used to my new school..." I noted, though slightly unsure. The man sighed once again. "Just Sojiro, ok kid?"
After labyrinths of traffic, Sojiro parked near his home and we headed back to the Café where I'd been sleeping, the cool spring weather making me shiver as Sojiro opened the door to Leblanc. "Get to bed girl, the last thing you want is to be late on your first day at a new school." I nodded and headed upstairs. The room I was staying in was thick with dust, nearly making a fog when you moved something. Just walking in would make your nose tingle with the musty smell. The storage room in Leblanc was surprisingly large however and may not actually be half bad to live in... once I cleaned out the dust. Sojiro said he didn't want me in his house, which I thought was fair, since he just saw me as a trouble-making felon. "I should clean a bit..." I muttered to myself as I grabbed the mop and broom from downstairs.
I found a lot of random things, but most odd was. "Adoption papers?" He definitely didn't like me enough for that, but it wasn't my business so I just shoved it away into some corner. I kept cleaning the room until mostly everything was cleared, or at least put away and tidy. I even found an old CRT which I set on a nearby table. Though the room was still thick with dust and an odd odor, I felt as it was good enough for the night. "Ugh... that took forever..." I took out my phone, hoping to relax with something before bed, it was just then that I saw a strange app on my it. "What the heck?" It was some creepy red eye, having no clue what it was, I decided to be safe and just delete it before going to bed.
~{Aria of the Soul}~
I woke up in an unfamiliar, dark room. "Wha-What?!" I panicked, wondering if Sojiro did something to me while I was asleep... I seemed to be in some sort of dark prison cell with my clothes changed. "H-Hello?! Anyone?!" Just as I call out, something bangs on the cell door, causing me to jump. "Quiet inmate!" A high-pitched voice yells from the bars. "Wh-Who are you..." Though I was frightened by the situation, as I looked closer at the source of the voice, I saw that it belonged to a very young girl, likely around ten or eleven. "Welcome to my Velvet Room..." A deep and commanding voice sounded from outside the cell. "This will mark the beginning of your rehabilitation..." I slowly walk towards the cell door. "R-Rehabilitation?"
~{Aria of the Soul}~ [END]
I woke up with a sudden jolt. "W-What was that dream..." I wondered to myself, before realizing that I was almost late. I jumped up and got dressed in my Shujin uniform. Tying the bow while I headed downstairs and nearly out the door. "Hey kid, come over here!" Sojiro shouted from his cooking pot, so I headed over. "Y-Yes sir- erm... Sojiro?" He walked over to the counter. "Eat up." He placed a plate of curry down. "O-Oh, thank you... you're very kind..." I said as I sat down. "Flip the sign to Open when you leave." I nodded and he went back to cooking.
After exiting Leblanc, I flipped the sign to open, ready to head for the train station. Heading down the street, I heard an old man listening to some political station, though I ignored him since I try to avoid politics. As I neared the station, I feel a sort of unique calmness walking between the trees and plants. I entered the station and got on the train. After waiting for my stop, I headed out.
I stepped out on the street, I suddenly felt a raindrop hit my head, so I stepped under a store umbrella as the downpour began, most students around me just trying to outrun the rain. There was a girl that same idea as me and judging by her uniform, she was a Shujin student the same as myself. As I looked at her, I heard a car pull up. "Hey girls." The driver said, a man sitting in a cheap looking car. "Would you like a ride?" The girl next to me wordlessly got into his car. "What about you, doll?" He asked me. I got an odd feeling of discomfort from him. "Erm... n-no, thank you..." so I declined.
The man drove off and I got ready to run to school through the rain when a boy near my age bumped into me, knocking me to the ground. "Goddamn Kamoshida!" I yelped as I fell to the ground onto my backside. "Ah shit, sorry!" The boy apologized. "You need a hand?" I looked up at him, some blonde boy with a punk t-shirt on. I took his hand and he helped me up. "That shithead... freakin' asshole!" He said, glaring at the car that drove off. "Th-That's... a little rude i-isn't it? H-He was just being nice... offering her a ride..." I knew I shouldn't be running my mouth, especially on probation, but this boy was being rude. "The hell you mean? He's the shitty bastard usin-!" His expression suddenly changes to one of confusion. "Wait, are you new? I don't recognize you." He asked quizically and looked at my blazer. "A third year?" He sounded even more confused. "I-I actually... just transferred..." I answered and his gaze softened slightly. "No wonder you don't know him."
He looked away. "That was Kamoshida, the volleyball coach. Come on, I'll tell you on the way." I nervously got ready to follow him, he didn't seem all that bad, though he certainly had a... colorful vocabulary. "Girls like you should just stay away from that dickhe-" he suddenly stopped talking and looked up "What the hell?!" He nearly shouted. The school looked like it had been replaced by some ancient castle. "We didn't come the wrong way..." He said to himself "A-Are you sure...?" I asked. "W-We made a wrong turn... m-maybe?" I said nervously. "No, this is the same way I've always gone." He assured. "W-We could go in... and j-just ask maybe?" I suggested. "Better to do it then just skip, I guess..." The boy agreed.
We walked into the school and it looked like a fantasy king's décor, with multiple large and bright chandeliers, red padded chairs lining the floors near the walls. I bump into someone as we look at the large main hall. I turn around to apologize, but the person was tall and dressed in a knight outfit of some kind. "Ahh!" I shouted and fell backwards, the blonde boy turned around "Who are you? A student? Your costume is impressive..." The boy asked as another person in matching armor came up to us. "Take them away!" The man commanded loudly. "Hey, you guys are freaking me out..." The blonde boy stated as the armored people surround us. "Run!" The boy said as he started to take off, only to be slammed to the ground by the armored man's shield. I yelped in fear as he was struck, I was so completely stunned that I couldn't move, one of the armored men struck me on the head and I blacked out.
I awoke in some kind of dungeon jail cell. Bricks stacked in the corner with wooden beds and chains hanging from the ceiling. I huddle myself in the corner while I try and get my bearings. "Hey! Assholes! Let us out!" The boy from earlier yelled as he slammed on the bars. "H-Hey... c-calm down please..." I whispered quietly as he yelled. "H-He likely won't listen..." I muttered. He kicked the cell door. "Fuck! Dammit..." He turned to me. "Help me find a way out of here!" I turned away. "I-I... don't think there even is a way out..." I say with a nervous voice.
~{Tension}~
"Goddammit..." He cursed. "I-I'm sorry..." I say solemnly. "What's your name?" He asked while walking closer. "E-Emily..." I answer. "I'm Ryuji. Come on, we gotta get out-" He starts, but we both hear footsteps approach our cell. "Our Lord has sentenced you to death for trespassing!" Ryuji turned and whispered "Oh fuck this..." After the guard opened the door, Ryuji ran at him and shoved him down. "Come on Emily! We're getting out of here!" He yelled just as more guards entered the room and slammed him to the floor, holding him down. I yelp and ball up in the corner. "Let go of me assholes!" Ryuji shouts when suddenly, a man walked into the room. "You think you can disrupt the order of my castle?!" I thought I recognized the voice, but from where... "Kamoshida?!" Ryuji shouted. "Ah, Sakamoto... I've been hoping to get rid of you!" Kamoshida said proudly. "Guards, execute him." I gasp at his words. "Don't hurt him!" I shouted, surprising even myself with my sudden outburst. "D-Do you have no empathy?" I whimpered, causing him to take his focus off Ryuji.
~{Tension}~ [END]
~{Desire}~
"Well... aren't you fiesty." He said after looking at me. "I haven't seen you before, have I?" He ordered his guards to pull me to my feet and hold me against the wall. "No no no... I would've remembered you... a young, beautiful flower..." He said while rubbing my face. I turned away with disgust. "Hey! Let her go you piece of shit!" Ryuji shouted, making Kamoshida turn towards him. "And what are you gonna do about it, Sakamoto?" Kamoshida laughed and turned back to me. "I may be convinced to not kill the punk..." Kamoshida whispered into my ear while reaching towards my chest. "But you'll have to convince me!" Kamoshida whispers, making me tear up. "I said let her go, goddammit!" Ryuji shouted and the room went dark as the nearby torches were snuffed out by a sudden shockwave.
~{Desire}~ [END]
~{Awakening}~
As Ryuji stood, the room felt like it was charged with currents of electricity, as if some kind of static shock had infused the air. Suddenly, a circle of electricity appeared around Ryuji and a sort of skull mask formed on his face. His clothes morphed into a leather jacket with a metal spine on the back. "R-Ryuji? Are y-you ok?" I asked worried as he tore the mask off his face, ripping his skin off with it as blood dripped down his face. "I told you... leave her alone you asshole!" Ryuji shouted as an apparition appeared behind him, a skeletal pirate with a broadside cannon for a hand. "Let's get him, Captain Kidd!" He screamed in anger as the pirate shot a bolt of lightning from it's cannon arm at the guard near Kamoshida, instantly turning it to ash.
~{Awakening}~ [END]
A ring of keys dropped from the floating ashes, which I grabbed and ran out with. "C-Come on Ryuji!" I shouted as the pirate behind Ryuji disappeared and his clothes turned back to normal. "Yeah, right behind you dude!" He said as he ran out, letting me lock the door behind him. "How dare you peasants?!" Kamoshida yelled as we left him behind in the cell. We ran as quick as we could, passing more cells and rivers going between the walkways. After making some distance, me and Ryuji stopped for a breath. "Holy shit dude! Did you see that?! I was badass as hell!" Ryuji whispered excitedly. "What was that..." I whispered back. "I dunno dude! But it was totally sick, right?!" Ryuji beamed. "I-I guess it was... i-interesting..." I said slightly dejected.
We continued to walk through the dungeon, looking into cages hanging above the water. "A-Are those..." I gasp and cover my mouth. There were students from our school, beaten and tortured, some of them had still bleeding wounds. "Son of a bitch... that bastard's gonna pay!" Ryuji yells angrily. "Hey! You two! Help!" We hear a voice calling from one of the cells out of sight and go to check. As we cross the corner we see... "A cat?" Ryuji says surprised. "I'm not a cat! But I can help you two escape, just bust me out!" The strange creature said. "O-Okay, how do we get you out?" I replied. "Woah woah, how do you know he ain't one of them?!" Ryuji asked angrily. "W-Well he's locked up... j-just like we were... and plus... even if he's one of them... i-it's likely that he's cut any allegiance with them..." I explain. "Exactly! Now let me out!" The cat says. "Erm... whatever, fine, let him out!" Ryuji relented.
I use the key I picked up earlier to open the cell door. "H-Here you go..." I say as I unlocked and open the cell door, letting the cat out. "Ahh! Freedom!" He said as he left the cell. He jumped up, grabbing a statue of Kamoshida and activating a hidden lever, lowering a nearby bridge. "The name's Morgana. Come on, let's go!" He orders as we follow. We start running, but out of nowhere a guard slams open a door. "Ah shit!" Ryuji shouts as I hide behind a box nearby. "You amateurs!" Morgana shouts just as Ryuji's clothes change again. "Hey! It's back!" Ryuji says excited as he electrocutes the guard, letting Morgana finish it off with his own power. "I never would've thought that someone slow as you would have a Persona!" Morgana laughs. "What's that supposed to mean?!" Ryuji shouts as his clothes change back. "Huh... seems like you don't have full control of it yet." Morgana states.
I left my hiding spot. "H-Hey guys... d-don't you think we should... get out of here...?" I mumbled. The other two nodded and we ran down a torch-lit hallway back to the area me and Ryuji were in earlier. He lead us past the room, into a nearby hallway. "We're here!" Morgana says as he opens a door to yet another connected room. "Where are we supposed to get out from here?" Ryuji spouts angrily. "S-Some... kind of vent m-maybe?" I suggest quietly. "Exactly, red head!" Morgana chuckled teasingly. "Oh shit dude, you're right!" Ryuji shouted as he jumped up to a grate and hung on it for a second before it gave way and fell. "Ugh... Oww..." He grumbled as I ran to help him up. "A-Are you ok?" I asked worried. "No problem, let's just get out of here!" Ryuji said, jumping up to the newly created hole he made. I turned towards Morgana "Come on, I'll help you up..." I offered, but to my surprise, he refused. "No, this is where we part ways, I have something I still need to do!" I thought for a second, worried for his safety. "Just go! I know what I'm doing!" Morgana shouted, making me jump. "O-Ok... be safe little guy..." I said as I climbed out of the window that Ryuji made.
~{Suspicion}~
Me and Ryuji ran back to the block we originally saw Kamoshida at. "Did we make it?" He asked. "RETURNED TO THE REAL WORLD, WELCOME BACK!" He jumped, hearing the sound from my phone. "I-I guess... we did..." I managed to say between heavy breaths. "What the hell was that shit?! The castle a-and Kamoshida?" Ryuji shouted, I had no idea so I just shrugged in response. Though, that castle seemed to be the least of our worries now. "What's with that yelling?! Cutting classes, are we?" A police officer, just what we needed. "No! We were going to school and ended up at some weird castle!" Ryuji shouted, making me cringe slightly, I knew they would never believe that. "What? Hand over your bag, you better not be doing drugs..." The officer ordered threateningly. "Are you his friend?" The officer said after turning to me. I've had a rocky relationship with cops, so I had to be careful. "No! I-I'm his girlfriend!" I said as I grabbed onto his arm. "He was super sick last night, so this morning I went to help him out! W-We just ended up a little late is all!" I said, smiling cheerfully as I turned to look at him. "Isn't that right honey!"
"What the hell was that back there?!" Ryuji shouted as we were walking through the alleyway we used earlier to get to school. "I-I think it's called lying..." I muttered humorously. "Not that! The lie, how could you come up with that so quickly?!" He shouted surprised. "I-I..." I looked away shamefully. "D-Do you really want to know...?" I asked looking him in the eyes with a sad expression on my face. "Yeah... kinda." Ryuji answered. "Well... l-lets just say... I-I've had to get used to it... L-Lying to police... that is..." I said looking away from him. "And the boyfriend stuff?" He teased. "O-Oh, never..." I said quickly. "N-Not that y-you're unattractive or a-anything! J-Just... like... you know... n-not my... t-type..." I looked at the floor with embarrassment.
~{Suspicion}~ [END]
The two of us get to the front of the school and entered. The school was silent as a graveyard, giving both of us an anxious feeling. Ryuji turned to the right and I went to the left, nervously trying to think of an excuse for being late on my first day. I walked to the faculty room as I was ordered to on my first day and waited for my teacher Kawakami. "Oh god..." Speak of the Devil. "You're over 3 hours late..." She scolded. "I-I'm sorry..." I said softly making Kawakami look at me sympathetically. "Alright, follow me to class. The period just ended." I got up, ready to follow her. Walking through the hallways, I could feel everyone's eyes on me. Some gossiping, a few eyes are... a little lower... "Is that the transfer girl?" One girl said. "I heard she dressed cute to make people lower their guard." Another girl said. "Woah, really?" A nearby boy said. "M-Ms. Kawakami? A-Are people normally like this here..." I avert my eyes bashfully and turn to look at her. "Just ignore them." She said sternly.
"This is Emily Smith, she'll be joining our class today." Kawakami calmly explained. "H-Hello everyone... I-I'm glad to be joining you..." I said shyly, noticing many of the students whispering to eachother. Kawakami sighs. "You can have the seat in the corner, Emily." I nod and head to it, I walk between the seats, hearing whispering from both sides. "Lies..." I hear from a girl to my right, who turns out to be the girl who got into Kamoshida's car from earlier. I look down and sit in the empty seat behind her.
After class, I leave the room and I bump into Ryuji again. "Oh hey dude!" He raises his hand for a high five just as I heard Kawakami call for me. "I need you to go check some books out at the library, for class. It's on this floor, just down the hall." Kawakami told me. "Meet me on the roof..." Ryuji said to me and walked off. Kawakami sighed. "Please don't get involved with him, he's nothing but trouble." I turned away from her. "I-I don't think so... he helped me find my way here..." I said calmly. "It's just better that you don't." Kawakami said as she walked away. I decided to check the library as Kawakami told me before meeting Ryuji.
As I entered the library, I walked up to the girl at the main desk. "H-Hello... K-Kawakami sent me..." I said nervously. "Aren't you that transfer girl?" I was about to answer her, but she continued. "Maybe it's best if you stay out of the library... the people here will probably be frightened of criminals like you..." She said as she handed me the books. I headed towards the roof and checked the time on my phone. Just then, somebody ran into me and knocked me over. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" The boy said. I started to stand up. "N-No, I should be apologizing..." I checked my phone for damage. "If only one first impression... wasn't r-running headfirst into someone..." I said. "I'm glad you're alri-" He starts. "Mishima! Hurry up!" He's cut off by a teacher yelling for him, making him jump. "Y-Yes Mr. Kamoshida! I'm sorry. I have to go..." With that he ran off, leaving me thinking about what just happened.
I neared the top of the stairs and opened the door to the roof to greet Ryuji. "I keep thinking about the students he was abusin'!" He said angrily. "It was certainly disturbing..." I replied, trying to hide my own frustrations from him. "We gotta save them, Kamoshida can't get away with this!" He bellowed. "Yes... I agree... b-but how could we help?" I asked him. "We gotta get back there..." Ryuji said. "W-Well I knew that... I-I kinda meant after... that..." I said nervously. Ryuji had me follow him to the first floor, down to the school gates.
~{Break it Down}~
"So, it was your phone that said we got back here, it's probably the thing that will get us back in there!" Ryuji explained proudly. "It's gotta have some kinda search history!" He extended his hand. "I-I'll check myself..." I said nervously as I clicked on the app with the red eye. "DESTINATION MARKED, PALACE OF SUGURU KAMOSHIDA LOCATED" The app from my phone sounded loudly. "Hell yeah! Let's go in!" Ryuji exclaims. "Erm... If I can suggest... something?" I asked. "L-Last time we went in there... we... almost died..." I say in a serious tone as I look at him. "If we enter ill prepared... th-that could..." I shiver. "Well... y-you know... he ordered our executions..." Ryuji looks to contemplate my words. "Yeah... freakin' son of a bitch!" He punches the gate, making me jump. "Why does he get to do whatever the hell he wants, while we gotta fight for scraps?!" Ryuji says angrily. "L-Look on the bright side... if we're prepared... we'll be able to kick his butt easily!" I said trying to raise his spirits. "Yeah, that makes sense." Ryuji chuckled. "By the way, you don't gotta keep muttering and whispering around me, I don't give a shit what you say dude." He said as he grinned widely. "O-Oh... sorry..." I apologized, pushing up my glasses. "Don't worry about it!" Ryuji's stomach rumbles. "I was so pissed, I forgot I was hungry!" He laughed and scratched the back of his head. "We should get lunch before it ends, see ya later." He turns to walk off. "W-Wait..." I ask calmly. "I don't... have a-any friends here..." I muttered embarrassed as I looked at the ground. "You don't mind bein' labeled as the new troublemaker by hanging with me?" He says, not so much as a question, but as a statement. I nodded with a smile. "Then sure, come along." He says casually. "Th-Thanks Ryuji..." My slightly hunched posture still showing some nervousness. "Don't worry about it, my friends won't take shit while I'm around!" He puts his fist out and I flinch momentarily, after realizing what he meant, I fist bumped him. Ryuji looked confused at my reaction, but said nothing.
~{Break it Down}~[END]
"Smith! Are you paying attention?!" The teacher yelled at me. "Don't be daydreaming during class time!" He says as he throws a stick of chalk towards my head, only just missing as I react barely in time to avoid it. "Hmph, kinds these days..." He muttered before continuing the lesson. "Who can tell me the name of the fictional character, the so called "gentleman thief and master of disguise?" A silence befalls the classroom, I notice an uncharacteristically devious smile on the teacher's face. "Smith?" He called on me. "Erm... i-if I recall..." I nervously adjust my glasses. "The character w-was named... Arsène Lupin, authored by Maurice Leblanc..." I nervously muttered under pressure from the entire class. "That's right!" He said, trying to suppress his surprise. I started hearing whispering all around the class. "How'd she know that? We weren't even studying it." "Isn't she that girl who assaulted someone?" "No way! How would a felon know something like that?" It seemed as if the whole class was whispering. "Quiet down!" The teacher yelled and the classroom quickly silenced after that.
I was walking to my final class, but for some reason I felt unusually lethargic, as if I was carrying a fifty pound weight in my bag. Suddenly I heard a call for a student over the school's intercom. "SHIHO SUZUI, YOU ARE NEEDED IN THE PE FACULTY OFFICE" I had a thought run through my head, it seemed like a strange time for a PE meeting. Ryuji gave me his number during lunch, so I decided to message him.
EMILY: Did you hear that announcement?
RYUJI: Yeah why?
EMILY: They mentioned the PE Faculty Office. What if Suzui's a girl on the volleyball team? If that's the case, it would likely be Kamoshida calling for her.
RYUJI: Oh shit! Nice one! I'll go try to listen in on their talk.
EMILY: Please be careful, you'll get in a lot of trouble if he catches you eavesdropping.
I waited for a response, but nothing popped up after that, so I just went to my final class hoping Ryuji ended up fine. Though I couldn't really focus, since all I could think about was if Ryuji got into trouble. About halfway through class, I felt another buzz.
RYUJI: I heard a little bit, so Suzui is Ann's closest friend ever since her first year.
EMILY: I apologize, I'm not familiar with anyone named Ann.
RYUJI: Takamaki? Remember the girl who got in Kamoshida's car?
EMILY: That was her? I'll admit, I've heard unsightly things, though I assume them to be false.
RYUJI: Exactly, all bullshit. But she can help us with info on Kamoshida!
EMILY: You really think she'll help? I think it's us against the world in this case.
RYUJI: Totally! I know her and she'll be willing to help!
EMILY: I hope you're correct, I believe in you.
"No phones Emily, turn it off." The teacher ordered. "S-Sorry... i-it was my dad..." I said nervously, though he seemed skeptical. "Oh my god!" I heard a scream from the right side of my classroom. "She's gonna jump!" My eyes widened, without thinking, I had already bolted to the other side of the classroom. "Stay in your seats!" The teacher ordered. "Shiho!" Ann screamed. I reached the window outside the classroom door and saw a girl jump from the roof. "Holy shit!" I heard to my right and it was Ryuji. He was about to run downstairs when he saw me. "We gotta see of she's alright!" I was in a panicked state, but ready to run downstairs.
We eventually got outside and saw the girl who jumped being carried away on a stretcher. "Oh my god! Shiho!" Ann called out to her, as paramedics carried her away. I could hardly even think, horrified at the sight in front of me. "Hey, did you see that?" Ryuji asked. I tried to calm down and look around me, but I couldn't see anything, so I shook my head to his question. "That guy ran off, I think he knows something..." Ryuji said angrily. "I tried asking him earlier about Kamoshida, but he stayed quiet. His name's Mishima, I don't care if he wouldn't talk anymore. We're gonna make him talk!" Ryuji said as he walked towards where Mishima ran off to.
I heard a slam as I walked around the corner. "You DO know! And I'm sick of waiting for answers!" Ryuji shouted angrily at a student. "Ryuji?!" I shouted in surprise and ran up to him. "Wh-What are you doing to him?" I asked nervously. "Getting some answers!" He responded in a rage. "L-Let me talk to him..." I move Ryuji away. "Fine..." He grumbled "W-We won't tell anyone you talked... he won't be able to hurt you anymore... I p-promise..." I said sympathetically. "H-He's... in the PE faculty office... follow me..." Mishima said, but it seemed like Ryuji wasn't waiting and ran off immediately. "Oh no..." I said as me and Mishima started to chase after him.
~{Tension}~
"It's just ahead, to the right!" Mishima told me as we both ran towards the faculty office. "DON'T PLAY DUMB WITH ME!" We heard Ryuji shout as we heard a loud clanging sound the room. We opened the door and saw Ryuji facing Kamoshida. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!" Ryuji said. "He ordered me to call Suzui here... I can only imagine what he did to her!" Mishima said. Kamoshida stood, towering over everyone in the room. "You're going on and on about things you have no proof of... You're just making these claims because you can't be a regular on the team!" Kamoshida taunted. "Even if it is exactly as you imagine, hypothetically speaking... what can you do?" He mocked. "We just got a call from the hospital, Suzui's in a coma. How could someone like that make a statement?" He said in a cocky tone. "There's likely no chance of her getting better, I hear... What a poor girl." Kamoshida continued. "You goddamn!" Ryuji gritted his teeth and raised his fist. "This again? Do we have to have another case of "self-defense?" Kamoshida taunted. "Shut your mouth, son of a bitch!" Ryuji said defiantly as he punched Kamoshida right in the face. I gasped "Ryuji!" I shouted in fear. "Oh... you just made a big mistake..." Kamoshida said angrily. "All three of you will be expelled, I'm reporting you all at the next board meeting!" Kamoshida said sternly. "Who would listen to scum like you? Especially you Mishima, you act like you're a victim, but you're the one who leaked her criminal record, it's all over the internet." He said angrily. Ryuji turned to him. "Mishima...?" He asked as Mishima fell to his knees. "He ordered me to... I didn't have a choice..." He said teary eyed. "Now get out of my sight. You're expelled!" Kamoshida said as he started laughing loudly. "I can't believe this asshole's getting away with this!" Ryuji shouted angrily. "He won't..." I replied. "Oh yeah! We have that!" He replied with a cocky grin.
~{Tension}~[END]
I set my bag on a table in the courtyard. "We gotta beat the shit out of that asshole in his castle! Someone almost died, we gotta do something!" Ryuji shouted as he punched a vending machine. "Q-Quiet... p-people will hear!" I whispered loudly to him. "It sounds like you could use some help..." A muffled voice sounded from out of sight. I looked around, just to see a black cat jump out of my bag on the table nearby. "Seems like I can help!" The cat... talked? "What?!" I yelped. "D-Did I... just hear that?" I asked confusedly. "I did too..." Ryuji replied. "Are we going nuts, dude?" He asked. "No, I could talk in the Metaverse after all." The cat said. "Is that..." I thought as I inspected the cat further. "M-Morgana?" I asked shocked. "Of course it is, who else has the skills to track you down and hide in your bag without notice?!" Morgana said cockily. "So that's why it was heavier..." I thought as I questioned Morgana. "H-How do we... get back there? We need to talk to him. B-But he won't talk to us here..." I told him. "Then we need to steal his heart!" Morgana answers. "Uhh what?" Ryuji asked.
"So, if I understand correctly... If we go into his palace and steal the treasure from it, the real world one... will change into a good person?" I confirmed with Morgana after his lengthy explanation. "Close." He replied. "When the palace's treasure is stolen, the owner of it will have a change of heart. Which will, in a way, make them lose their distorted desires." Morgana explains. "Ok... got it..." I smile. "One more time?" Ryuji asks, causing Morgana to grumble in frustration. "I heard you two are being expelled." Me and Ryuji turned around quickly to a voice behind us. "What do you want Ann?" Ryuji asked. "I heard you two were planning payback on Kamoshida. I want in." She said seriously. "N-No..." I replied. "What?! But I can't just stand around and do noth-" Ann started explaining. "She said no, ok?! We don't need your help!" Ryuji shouted. "R-Ryuji?!" I yelped and turned to Ann, but she was already gone. "That was harsh..." Morgana replied. "I know we were both thinking it, we can't bring her there! She'd get hurt! I don't wanna involve more people than we have to." Ryuji said sternly.
~{King, Queen, and Slaves}~
"Here goes nothing..." I tap my phone, making us enter the Metaverse. "Ok, let's do some reconnaissance first. Just enough to be able guess where the treasure might be." Morgana says. "U-Um... can I ask s-something?" I started politely. "W-When will I get the... power you two have? I want to help." I ask Morgana. "I can't say. You'll need to summon the spirit of your rebellion, and only you would know what that is." He answers. "I-I don't know... any ideas?" I asked him. "The only help I can give is to just think about how you go against society." Morgana said. I thought about what could work as we walked through the palace. On and on I kept thinking... "The spirit of my rebellion? What could that even mean?" My train of thought was broken when we happened upon a room that was oddly distorted, it looked as if it had been put behind a wall of water or funhouse mirror of some kind. "A safe room!" Morgana said happily. "There are rooms in palaces that the owners don't really think about, like janitor's closets or tech rooms or something. These rooms allow us to plan or rest without any problems!" Morgana explains. "Hell yeah, I was just thinking about sitting down, my legs are tired." Ryuji commented.
~{King, Queen, and Slaves}~[END]
We walked through the main hall once again, but this time it felt different. I had a chill, a feeling like I was being watched. We headed through a doorway, when suddenly. "Stop in the name of Kamoshida!" ~{Desire}~ A shadow jumped from out of nowhere, ambushing us. It morphed into a set of some kind of horse, ram combination and slammed into Morgana and Ryuji, knocking them flat. After pinning them to the floor, we see the one this is all for. "Well, well... How easily the mighty fall!" The shadow Kamoshida said, him entering the room with some girl in a purple cheetah print bikini and blonde twin tails. "Argh! Get off me, you son of a bitch!" Ryuji shouted, trying to get the shadow holding him down off of him. "Execute them! And bring that one to my chambers when you're done. I have plans for her." Kamoshida said pointing at me as he left the room. "N-No! Please! Don't hurt them!" I beg for Ryuji and Morgana's lives. The shadows ignore me and raise their swords. "No!" I shout as the swords come down.
~{Desire}~[END]
~{Awakening}~
"You're just going to let others control you?" I hear a feminine voice say as a humid feeling permeated the room... a watery fog surrounded me and it felt like time had slowed. "Walked on for so long... a desire for independence... for the right... to live your own life..." It felt as if I was getting brain surgery without anesthetic, like someone took thousands of red hot fire pokers to my head. A debilitating pain seared my skull as I saw Ryuji and Morgana dead on the floor. "This is not the end. You can still be your own person... You can still save them. I am thou... Thou art I..." The pain ceased, and my mind felt clear, just as a mask appeared on my face. I gripped the edge... pulling as I felt my skin stretch and peel until it tore...
~{Awakening}~[END]
~{Will Power}~
As my own warm blood soaked my face, I spoke up. "I summon you... Juliet!" I yelled and my Persona finally awakened, a powerful shockwave blew the shadows across the room. Juliet's power coursed through me. I tore blood from my own heart. Covering Ryuji and Morgana with a red mist, binding the fatal wounds on both of them. Hearing them gasp with life, hearing the deep breathing of two that were dead not long ago filling the hall. "H-Holy shit?!" Ryuji shouted. "Wh-What happened..." Morgana started. "You're not dead yet! So help me fight before that changes!" I shout with adrenaline coursing through me. Ryuji and Morgana jump up and run to my side. "Took you long enough, newbie." Morgana teases. The two shadows I blew away earlier ran towards us. "Ryuji, shock the one on the left! Morgana, aim your wind at the right one's legs, then focus attention on the closest one!" Morgana and Ryuji nod and listen, Ryuji shocking his target, finds out it's weakness to his lightning as it disappears into ash. Morgana knocks the other off it's feet with his wind ability. "Come on everyone! Let's take it down!" I shouted and we all focus our attacks to finish it off.
~{Will Power}~[END]
~{King, Queen, and Slaves}~
"Holy shit dude?! What did you do?" Ryuji asks, shocked at my abilities, but as well as the fact that he was now covered in blood. "She resurrected us from the dead..." Morgana said. "Duude..." Ryuji replied. "I-I..." I froze at their questions. "I don't know what I did..." I looked at the floor, just now noticing that my outfit changed. "W-Woah... what am I wearing?" I checked myself over as much as I could. "It's some kind of... dress." Ryuji said. "I think she figured that part out." Morgana replied with a chuckle. "I'm more surprised at those orders, you were like an army commander!" Morgana complimented. I blush in embarrassment. "I-I don't know... it just... happened..." I mutter. "Theeeere's our Emily!" Ryuji comments sarcastically.
~{King, Queen, and Slaves}~[END]
~{Have a Short Rest}~
Back at the safe room, I look in the mirror and I'm surprised at what I see. "A... masquerade dress?" A light blue, form fitting, frilled masquerade dress with white embroideries, matching heels as well as a matching mask with a royal design. An odd contrast to her light orange hair and blue eyes. "So. This is your..." Ryuji stifled a giggle. "...rebellious spirit, eh?" Ryuji asked sarcastically. "Th-This is so embarrassing..." I said with a flushed face. "I think you look great Emily!" Morgana compliments. "Th-Thanks... I guess..." I responded.
I rubbed my head, feeling a slight aching. "We need to discuss Emily's abilities." Morgana says seriously. "You brought us back from the dead, that's nothing I've ever seen from a Persona before." Morgana explained. "R-Really? A-Am I... somehow unique?" I asked. "I'm unsure if it's just how your spirit is, or if it's some power unique to you, but we should keep a close eye on your Persona though." He said. "I feel... light headed..." I explained. "You said it was blood you used, right?" He asked and I nodded in response. "It may be that you use your own body's blood to heal others." Morgana thought. "If so, we need to be careful how we use it." He said curiously. "You know Emily? Bein' dead was... weird... it felt like my I didn't exist..." Ryuji said seriously, but shook it off quickly. "I'll find a way to thank you!" He said happily. "W-We should leave... I... don't think we're ready..." I rub my eyes and the others agree.
~{Have a Short Rest}~[END]
We exited the Metaverse just as the sun started to go down, ending up at the school's gate once again. "Hey Morgana? Where are you gonna stay?" Ryuji asked. "With her." Morgana answered immediately. "D-Don't I get a say in this?" I asked nervously. "Well he can't stay at my place, my mom's allergic. Sorry dude." Ryuji said. "I-I live in a café... but I-I guess... I'll just have to try..." I start thinking of excuses for Sojiro. "See you tomorrow, we'll prepare and then get that asshole!" Ryuji said excitedly. "Y-Yes... w-we will..." I said as we went our separate ways.
As we rode the subway home, I kept thinking about that man. "Damn bitch! I'll sue!" Rolling around in my head, again and again... "-ly... Emily!" I snap out of my daydream, noticing I'm at my stop. "S-Sorry..." I step off and head to Leblanc, noticing that it had started raining again.
~{Beneath the Mask -rain, instrumental-}~
"It's been..." I start as I release a long yawn. "...a long day..." I say as I reached the front door. "Ok... stay in the bag and k-keep quiet... c-come out when I tell you..." Morgana nodded and slipped back into my bag. RING RING "Oh, you're back." Sojiro said. "I heard you were four hours late to school today... and here I thought you left on time!" He said angrily. I got my best sad face ready, for the lie I'd been thinking out in my head. "Th-There was th-this..." I sniffled. "S-Some pervert on the subway..." I lowered my head. Sojiro sighed. "I... I'm... sorry to hear that." He pulled his wallet out and grabbed eight thousand yen. "Take it, use it to buy something for self defense." He said as handed it to me. "I... c-can't take your mo-" His gaze softened. "Just take it." He shoved it into my hands and steeled himself. "You want more, get a job." He finishes and leaves the shop.
"Y-You're good." I tell Morgana and he pops out. "Freedom! Fresh air!" He says as he gets out of my bag. "Wow, you weren't lying, you do live in a cafe." He said as I headed upstairs. "Hey, wait for me!" He runs up after me as I kick my shoes off and lie on the bed. "Hey, you know, I'm not gonna live here as a freeloader!" Morgana started. "You let me live here and I help you with any palace infiltration! Pretty sweet deal, huh?!" He said. "Can I... g-get changed?" I asked him, making his eyes go wide. "Uhh... su-sure... I'll... erm... look at the wall..." Morgana said flustered. I kept an eye on him, making sure he didn't try to sneak any peaks. "I think I can actually feel you checking. I won't peak, a gentleman has his honor after all!" He stated proudly.
I got changed into a soft t-shirt and some shorts. After quickly going to the bathroom, I checked my phone and sat on my new bed... well "new" was kinda pushing it. "Hey can you text Ryuji something for me?" Morgana began. "Ask him if he knows anywhere you can get guns that look real." I would've questioned, but I just did what he asked, he hadn't led us astray so far.
EMILY: Hello, could I ask a favor of you?
RYUJI: What's up?
EMILY: Do you know a place that sells gun that aren't real, but look real?
RYUJI: Yeah actually, why?
EMILY: No idea, Morgana told me to ask.
RYUJI: No problem, I'll show you tomorrow, k?
EMILY: Thank you!
RYUJI: No problem.
"Tomorrow, it begins!" Morgana said excited. "Hey, what's tha-" I only now heard the footsteps. "I knew I heard meowing. What did you bring it here for?!" Sojiro came back and heard Morgana. "I-I..." I panicked. "I-I'm sorry... I just... he d-doesn't have a home... I found him in a box..." I said. "Nowhere, huh..." Sojiro said softly. "This is a business no pets allowed!" He looks angry, but I can see a sadness behind his eyes. "R-Really...? I-I couldn't just leave him in the rain..." I said, looking up at him with pathetic, sad eyes. "Don't let it downstairs, if I see it, I'm throwing it out. And I'm not taking care of it, that's all on you." Sojiro said and left downstairs, finally exiting the shop.
~{Beneath the Mask -rain, instrumental-}~[END]
I turn off the lights and get ready for bed, grabbing my stuffed bear and closing my eyes.