A/N:

Well everyone this is it, the final chapter I have written for this story. I know it has been a long ride and you all probably wanted a little more. But honestly, I don't want this story to go on for so long that I get sick of the series. I don't have the motivation to write it right now, or anything for that matter, since I have a lot of things I want to do but not exactly sure how to do them. I wanted to end this with a bang...both metaphorically, and in one case quite literally, and it wasn't gonna be the kind of bang that a gun makes when it gets fire, it was gonna be the other kind of bang. Maybe if I feel like it, I'll post a special chapter for all you loyal readers, even though I promised those would be set during Christmas, there's nothing wrong with doing an Early Christmas special ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°).

Regardless, I had been an honor entertaining you lot with my writing, and I promise it won't be long. I'm just having a lot of personal issues with my writing right now. I can't seem to pick something and stick with it! I don't have the motivation to work on anything old right now, but I have been thinking of doing several stories, League of Legends, Overwatch, Gravity Rush and RWBY being among those lucky few. I've thought about continuing my Fairy Tail story as well but I just don't really feel like it right now. And if I don't feel a story, it'll come out like shit and that's not what I want right now. Who knows, I just hope you'll like what I write whenever it is you get to see it. I do have some pilot chapters finished, maybe I'll put up a poll asking all of you what story I should write and work on whatever it is the collective reader base decides. That's like playing Russian Roulette with Six bullets though. Only one man survived that game, and that was Chuck Norris himself.

Anyway...thank you so much for sticking around on this long and crazy ride. The Phantom Thieves will be on vacation for now, but you might get that special chapter If I'm up for it. So keep an eye out, you never know when I'll surprise you. I'll most likely keep it separate from the story, just in case someone decides to report it or something, you know how it is. This site really needs an MA rating.

See you all later!

Persona 5

Codename: Songbird

Chapter 51

The Twins, the Detective and the Gambler

Date: Sunday August 29th 20XX

Time: Morning

Location: Electric Town(Akihabara)

Weather: Rain

Objective: Live a Normal Life

xxx(Take Your Time)xxx

"Alright! Today we're going to be working on pitch! If you don't have the right pitch in music, then you're gonna come out, sounding like crap!" Kanami cried cheerfully, earning a frown from Takumi.

"I understand that, any reason why we have to do it in the damn rain?" Takumi asked, glaring at his sister.

He was holding his umbrella in his hand, using it mostly to keep the idol dry. Despite her wanting to stay out of the limelight, she was standing in full costume in Electric Town, having a lot of people snap pics of her, she wasn't even bothered by it. She smirked, giving him a wink.

"Because! Training in front of people is a great way for you to learn how shitty you are. If you have a source of judgment then you'll definitely want to better yourself."

"Seriously? You want me to make an ass out of myself in front of your fans? Where the hell is Rise? Why isn't she here trying to stop you?"

"Hehe...I planned this strategically so that she'd be recording her new album. Face it little brother, you're stuck with me until our time is up. It's only two hours, it's already 8:15. Ten AM will get here in no time!" she cried, holding her arm up in the air. The crowd started cheering loudly, mostly because they were entranced by her jiggling breasts.

"Dammit." the boy muttered dryly. Kanami rolled her eyes, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.

"Alright dear fans! As you know this is my little brother, a lot of nasty things have been said about him. But it's all lies! So you better not believe them. Since you all know me as a glamour cow, you'll come to recognize my brother as a glamour...kitten?"

"No...please don't give me a moniker, the whole glamour cow thing is your schtick, not mine. Besides you can't even eat cats." the boy said, crossing his arms. Kanami sighed, brushing some of her hair behind her ears.

"Fine, I'll get you a nickname soon enough. Anyway, today I'm going to be training my little brother how to sing! So you'll all be the judges, you'll get to see him rise to stardom!"

"But I don't want to be a singer." Takumi said, crying in pain from the jab in the ribs he got a second later. He just closed his eyes, gritting his teeth.

"I shouldn't have accepted this deal. Kanami is going to run me ragged."

Takumi was forced to sing for the crowd, various Kanamin's Kitchen songs that he was seriously regretting to sing. Everyone was either laughing at him, taking video or cheering him on. Some girls were singing along with him, and since they were also horrible singers, it made him sound better by comparison. After a grueling hour and a half of embarrassment, Kanami dragged the boy into My Own Maid, having bid farewell to the crowd. Of course, she had to sign a lot of pictures to get them not to follow them. Kanami sighed as she leaned back in her seat, arms crossed over her chest.

"That exercise was horrible."

"Oh really? You're only realizing this now? You know I can't sing for shit and you put me on the spot? Have you checked out the Twitter posts? How do you expect me to get good at singing if I keep being embarrassed?" the boy snapped, turning his phone to her. He wasn't logged into his account, but he could see a video of him singing was currently trending.

"Little brother, I told you about this back at the park didn't I? You have to be patient with this sort of thing."

"Patient? You want me to be patient? I'm soaking wet and the embarrassment of Akihabara." he snapped angrily. She sighed, closing her eyes for a few moments. She clapped her hands, giving the boy a smile.

"If you want to learn to sing in public, you have to start like this. When you gradually get better, you'll get a bigger crowd. They were all there because I was there, but if I wasn't there you would have been singing on your own. Do you feel any different now?"

"I feel like an ass for letting my big sister talk me into singing in public." he deadpanned. Clara walked up to them, a smile on her face as she set down their order.

"Here you are, I made sure not to spill it and I got the spelling right this time. Takumi-kun, are you going to be in any commercials this month? The director asked me to pass this on to you if you weren't." the girl said, handing him a folded piece of paper, which had some information on it.

"Huh...I wasn't looking to be in another commercial. But the last one wasn't so bad, are you gonna be in it?" he asked.

"Mhmm, I want to be a good idol for AKB48, and that means starting from the bottom. I can't sing that well yet, so right now I have to get my face out there and keep practicing with my voice. I saw that little concert outside, it wasn't that bad." she said cheerfully.

"It was a train wreck Clara, don't even tell me otherwise."

"Hmm...would you like some advice Clara? From an older idol to an up coming one?" Kanami asked grabbing her attention.

"Oh yes, I'm a huge fan Miss Kanamin! Any advice from you would be amazing!" the girl said, a glittering look in her eyes. The idol smiled, setting down her tea cup.

"Give it your all, practice your singing all the time. When you're alone, when your with friends, when your cooking. Make sure your pitch is on key, practice your breathing. Also don't overdo it, the last thing you want is to damage your vocal chords, sing from your stomach at first until you can sing from your throat. You'll be a better singer in no time."

"Thanks so much, I'll be sure to do everything you've told me! I'm about to clock out, I'm gonna go home and practice right away!"

"Uh Clara, it's only 9:54, you're shift doesn't end until Noon." Takumi said, having taken a bite from his omelet. The girl flushed.

"You're right, I'm such a klutz...if you need anything just ring the bell." she said with a bow, taking off toward the kitchen.

"She's really sweet, but she needs to work on her forgetfulness." Kanami said, finishing her tea.

"I gotta admit sis...I find what you did admirable. There are a lot of stars and idols who wouldn't normally give advice to up and coming singers. But here you are giving Clara free advice...it's amazing." the boy said, making the girl flush.

"It's nothing little brother! I got a lot of advice from other idols when I was rising up, I even got advice from Rise. I was convinced she hated me, especially after her hiatus when she went to Inaba. I always saw her as a role model, even now I still do. So I have to make sure to give advice to the people that need it, just like people did for me."

"Hmm...I guess I'm included in that then...thanks Kanami, for being an awesome sister." the boy said.

"Dah...it's nothing. Gotta take care of the little ones after all...in other news...Erica told me what happened. With that package and all."

"Oh that...dad thinks that by sending me that he's gonna force me to work for him. I was supposed to be at Mashita Industries HQ on the 26th, but I was too busy at the beach. You know, being a teenager and all." he said.

"I know that...just don't let him talk you into anything. He talks big but he isn't gonna do shit. I mean come on, he's tried to get me to join his company for years. Become the idol to represent the family company, man fuck him." Kanami hissed angrily. Her phone started ringing loudly, causing her to grab it from beside her. She swiped her finger across the screen, holding it to her ear.

"Hey momma, why are you calling? We spoke last night?" the idol asked, grabbing a piece of bacon from Takumi's plate, much to his chagrin.

"Huh? Seriously? What a dick...just ignore him, hey...you wanna talk to Takumi? You haven't spoken to him in years now...I'm sure he'd love to hear your voice again...okay sure. Here, it's mom." Kanami said, handing the boy the phone.

"Hello? Hi Rika, it's been forever, how are you?"

"I'm doing great, just taking care of things here at home. You should come visit me, I live in Ichigaya, near the Fishing Pond. In fact, we can meet there next time Kanami comes to visit. I'd like to see how my step son is doing."

"Hehe...alright, hey maybe I can invite Erica too. I'm sure you'd be happy to meet her, seeing as you were both fucked over by the same man. Can you believe he tried getting me to work for him again? It's getting annoying. That's why I came here to Japan."

"Yes, he can be a real douche bag. Kanami told me what he did to your little sister Mitsuhide. It's unforgivable, getting a lawyer to remove their college accounts, that poor woman. I heard she had to do some shady deals just to keep her store." Rika said, earning a frown from the boy.

"Yup, but she's one hundred percent legit now. In fact, people are coming to the store a lot more now. She's also sponsored my Stride team, so she's getting a lot more recognition now. I mean, it's hard not to when your logo is plastered on live television." he admitted.

"Oh, don't let me forget, I'm a sponsor too so make sure your mom sows those patches on your jackets." Kanami said, earning a nod from the boy.

"Well, I have to get back to work. I only have a few minutes and thought I'd call Kanami. I'm sure she can fill you in later, put on for me would you?"

"Alright, see ya soon Rika, it was awesome talking to you..bye!" the boy said cheerfully, handing his sister her phone back. After a few more seconds, the idol hung up.

"Mom seemed happy, she likes fishing a lot so bringing Erica will definitely be good. In fact, that'll be our next practice day, our moms can fish and we can sing."

"Fuck."

"Aw, don't give me that...at least I'm not putting you in an idol outfit...hmm...I'm gonna have Marissa take your measurements. I think you'll look cute in a skirt."

"Double Fuck."

xxx(Take Your Time)xxx

Date: Monday August 29th 20XX

Location: Ueno Art Museum

Time: Daytime

Weather: Rain

Objective: Live a Normal Life

xxx

"This is certainly the best way to relax on a rainy day." Mitsuhide said, happily looking at the painting before them.

"You actually like this?" Caroline asked, pointing to the landscape painting in front of her. Justine stood to Mitsuhide's right, glancing at the painting with a scrutinizing eye. Takumi stood behind the three.

"Of course...this is an original Monet. Look at his use of color here, how he accents the beauty if this lake, high lights those lily-pads. Even the falling leaves add to the serenity of this scene."

"Your sister is boring Inmate! Why wouldn't we go do something fun for once?"

"Well, the amusement park is closed...what else could we have done? Besides, we agreed that you would learn more about human culture. So I figured today we could learn about art through the ages."

"I for one am quite intrigued by art, especially this Leonardo Da Vinci fellow. The Mona Lisa is quite an interesting painting, for years, people have tried to figure out the reason behind her smile." Mitsuhide said, walking over to where the replica of the Mona Lisa was on display.

"I agree with Mitsuhide...this painting does have a lot of charm to it. What is she smiling at? Is she smiling at the artist? Or is it because she's received some exciting news? I guess that's something that's left up to interpretation." Justine said, eyes narrowed as she glanced at the painting.

"Seriously sis? You're sister's boredom is rubbing off on Justine, it's annoying!"

"Well, what would you call fine art? If you don't mind me asking?" the young actor asked. The blonde girl smirked, taking a hold of his hand.

"Follow me, I'll show you what I consider fine art!"

The boy sighed, allowing himself to be lead by the younger girl. Justine and Mitsuhide trailed behind him, wondering where she was guiding them. They ended up going outside, having used their umbrellas during the short walk. It didn't take them long, but they managed to find a Comic Book and Manga shop, three blocks away from the Ueno Art Museum. The girl smiled proudly, hands on her hips.

"This is a place of true art. Not that boring stuff at the museum, this is what art should truly be!" she said.

"Hmm...so you have varying tastes in art. Justine likes more modern and medieval pieces, while Caroline likes comic style art. That is typical twin behavior, both of them expressing different likes and dislikes." Mitsuhide said, jotting that in her phone.

"What is she doing?"

"Oh...she's studying psychology, and she wanted to study the mind of twins. Since you're the only twins we know, she figured she could use you as a subject for her thesis. Just humor her." Takumi said, earning a nod from Justine who followed her sister into the comic book store.

It was pretty big, having shelves filled to the brim with both comics and manga. Takumi noticed the familiar Marvel and DC logos he had known back in America. He was pleasantly surprised, having not known there was a store in Tokyo that sold American comics. He walked over to the DC section, his eyes falling on Green Lantern: Blackest Night. He grabbed a hold of it, a smile on his face.

"You're smiling, have you read this comic before?" Justine asked curiously.

"Yup, I had an app on my phone that let me read comics online. I would have liked to have the physical ones for my collection though. This one is one of my favorites. I don't really like Green Lantern, but I gotta admit, this story was pretty dark."

"Can I see? I don't think I've read this one yet." Caroline said, taking the comic from his hand. She flipped to the first page, already reading some of the first panels.

"You're gonna love this one if you haven't read it. It's so good, I used to read this arc all the time. Here, you're gonna need all of those issues if you want to read the whole story. Matter of fact, there should be an omnibus somewhere around here...aha, here it is. Oh, there's Brightest Day too, you'll want that...and Injustice as well." the boy said, placing the hard cover books in the girl's arms.

"Wah...I only wanted one, not the whole damn series!" the girl cried.

"Oh ho no no no no no. One does not simply read one issue of this, you need to read the entire story! Don't even worry about it, think of it as a gift from me to you! Justine do you see anything that catches your interest?" the boy asked, as he continued to look for all of the Injustice comics.

"Um...not particularly. Perhaps I'll look at the manga section."

"Do you like super heroes? If so I can start you off with Boku no Hero Academia, I think you'll enjoy it." Mitsuhide said, taking a hold of her hand.

"I'm not sure...I suppose taking a look wouldn't necessarily hurt." she said softly, allowing herself to be pulled by the younger girl.

"When did she get into manga? She was catatonic the last time I saw her."

"Well, waking up to Lady Loveless seems to have changed her a bit. She's more open now, and isn't afraid to try new things. She's becoming a well rounded young woman, I've actually been planning something for her tenth birthday. But I haven't exactly gotten anything down...September 16th will be here before I know it." he said, watching his sister and Justine looking through some manga.

"Maybe you should get her something she really wants. She's into that psychology junk, why not get her some books or something?"

"She has plenty of books though...we bought some at the book fair in Jinbocho not that long ago. I know she wants me to treat her like an adult, but I also want her to enjoy her childhood. Being inside writing reports and theses all the time isn't good for her." he said, a worried tone in his voice.

"I don't know what to say Inmate. How about you spend some time with her, one on one? You've seen what she's capable of, but it's like you still don't know her. Perhaps you'll find something if you spend time with her." Caroline said, struggling a bit with the weight of all the books.

"That...isn't a bad idea. I guess taking her out wouldn't be such a bad thing, we're going to school soon. Maybe we can spend time there and learn more about her studying habits."

"Yes, now can you take a hold of these? My arms are tired!"

"Sorry." the boy said sheepishly, grabbing a hold of the books. He took them all to the counter, the cashier looking at him curiously.

"Didn't think someone like you would be into comics. You got some fine choices here."

"Well...comics aren't for everyone, luckily they are for me. Whenever I was at home or between movies, I would just read whatever I could find. Blackest Night is still my favorite arc of Green Lantern, followed of course by Injustice...not to mention there's some really good Suicide Squad comics out there. Everything in DC is good...well not everything." Takumi said.

"A DC boy then? I'm a Marvel man myself, but I do like to read some DC every so often. Everyone likes Batman after all...I've never found one person who hates Batman." the cashier said, scanning all of his books.

"Same here, you just can't hate him. He's just too badass, though his "Thou Shalt Not Kill" mentality is annoying at times. Especially with people like Scarecrow and Joker who keep killing people."

"Well, he's a human in the end...you can't expect him to kill. That's like say...the Phantom Thieves going out and killing someone rather than steal their heart. They've been changing people from behind the scenes, what if one day they just killed someone?" the cashier asked.

"They wouldn't do that."

"Exactly, though people are trying to correlate the Mental Shutdowns with the Phantom Thieves. I know for a fact they aren't responsible, but there's always that doubt. Hey, maybe someone will start writing Comics about the Thieves, that would be cool."

"Hehe, actually...I know this kid from Kosei Academy who's working on a Doujinshi based on the Phantom Thieves. I guess the fever is catching on. They're just everywhere now." Takumi said.

The cashier and Takumi continued their conversation, trading back several issues of comics they had read. They had even gotten into a bit of a debate on certain topics, but Mitsuhide had quickly put an end to it. After being told of a comic group that gathered there on Tuesday afternoons, the group of four left the comic shop, heading toward the nearby park.

"I gotta admit, this story is pretty good. You got me hooked Inmate, you pass today." Caroline said absentmindedly. Even though it was raining, it was still a very cool day. Thankfully the gazebo had been unoccupied and they had found some picnic tables to take a break at.

"Glad you like it, that's just the beginning though. Once you get to the middle part, tell me how you're liking it."

"I believe I learned something about art today. It's a topic that is quite subjective...what one person finds beautiful, a person could hate it." Justine said, earning a nod from Mitsuhide.

"It's all about cognition I'm afraid. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, just like you find Monet and Mona Lisa beautiful, Caroline finds comic style drawings beautiful. It's part of how you two perceive the world." the ravenette said.

"Gee sis, at this rate I'm gonna have to get you a freaking lab coat. You keep sounding more and more like a psychiatrist now." Takumi said, poking the flaking wood of the worn table.

"Hmm...perhaps that would make me look more like an adult. Tell me big brother, how long have you been thinking about Lavenza?"

"Huh? How do you know that name?" the boy exclaimed, eyes widened in shock.

"I told her...I am growing a bit concerned. You act quite different whenever her name is mentioned. It also feels odd talking about it, whenever me and Caroline are alone, we discuss possibilities of who she could be. We find ourselves thinking a lot about you."

"Don't make it sound like that sis, sheesh. Also don't take it the wrong way Inmate, we're not thinking pervy things like you probably are!"

"I wasn't thinking that at all. It's just...odd okay? I don't know what Lavenza is to me, but whenever I think about her, I get sad. My heart starts beating, and I get the urge to cry. It's as if...she's disappeared, and she's trying to call for help. I just can't figure out where she is." Takumi replied, crossing his arms.

"Maybe she's a figment of your imagination." Caroline said, holding back a giggle.

"Or perhaps it has to do with the previous meeting. I do not remember it, but it seems our master does. It isn't the first time we have met the Tower, or the Wild Card for that matter. Our master will not reveal the details, it would interfere with your rehabilitation. You must figure that out on your own." Justine said.

"Rehabilitation?" Mitsuhide asked curiously.

"Don't worry your pretty little head about it Mitsu. It's just something that me and my sister are responsible for doing. If you were a guest, we could explain, but you aren't. Speaking of, I think it's about time we head back. Our master will get mad if we spend too much time in the real world." Caroline said, gathering up her books, placing them in her bag.

"I had an interesting time today, perhaps we should get together again." Mitsuhide said, earning a nod from the twins.

"Definitely, text us later okay?"

"I'll make sure she does, see you later girls. Be safe going back." Takumi said, giving them a smile.

"You turned my friends into comic book addicts." Mitsuhide said, earning a chuckle from Takumi.

"Not really, Caroline always gave me that vibe. Justine is the more serious of the two, yet you managed to get her to buy some manga. You should feel proud of yourself. Those two want to learn about the human world, and literature and art is a good way to start."

"I figured...we should head back home, it's almost one in the afternoon and the rain hasn't let up."

"Okay, let's start heading home then. Wanna stop by the candy store and bring something back for mom and Ayumi?"

"Sure, just as long as you buy me some gummy worms." she replied, earning a chuckle from the boy.

"Of course, but we're sharing."

xxx(Take Your Time)xxx

Date: Monday August 29th 20XX

Location: Public Procescutors Office

Time: Afternoon

Weather: Rain

Objective: Life a Normal Life

xxx

"How'd you do it?"

"Excuse me?" Takumi asked, tilting his head in confusion. Konan exhaled a cloud of smoke, glaring at the boy as she pulled her pipe away from her lips.

"How did you get Ichiya to turn himself in and confess?" she asked, earning a sigh from the boy.

"I didn't do anything, I gave the information to my friend, he got it to the Thieves, they took care of it. I didn't even know that he turned himself in until just now...so how do you expect me to know about it?" he asked.

"That's total shit...how can you not know how it's done? We had no information on this guy, just a name and a picture. We didn't have a location, or whereabouts yet you take that one name and find him. There's something you aren't telling me."

"Nope, I know nothing...I gave the name to my friend, he handed it off. And speaking of not telling, what about our end of the bargain? I wanna know what's going on around here." Takumi said, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair. He was glad the office door was open, but that didn't meant someone wasn't listening in. He hoped that wasn't the case.

"Fine...a deal is a deal. Sae Nijima is steaming mad, seems like the Phantom Thieves taking care of Medjed drove her over the top. But what really pissed her off, was the fact that Shimizu had done all of that disgusting crap and no one knew about it. Apparently, she found an extensive pornographic film in her mailbox the night before his confession. When she was going to make an arrest, the man confessed via conference, which was broadcast all around Japan...even Akechi was a bit mad at this turnabout."

"Hmm...interesting...and what exactly did he say?"

"Nothing much...he kept saying something about Mental Shutdowns. He said that there had to be a trigger, and that the Phantom Thieves might know about it. He also said something along the lines of, "It's only a matter of time before they kill" or something like that. Kinda pisses me off when I think about it." Konan said, exhaling another cloud of smoke.

"Why? Aren't you a detective? Shouldn't you be happy that the Phantom Thieves are being investigated?" Takumi asked.

"Not really...you see, there's something that I don't really get. If our justice system is in fact so just, then why do people get away with stuff like this? I mean look at Ryoutaro Shimizu...he was doing this for years. People said something, they were eliminated...Koichi Kabugari was one of us, he used his skills against us. Protect and serve my ass."

"So what you're saying is, that the Phantom Thieves are the necessary Justice? That's something interesting, especially coming from you." he said. The pinkette looked at him, clearing her pipe before refilling it with more tobacco.

"Don't get me wrong, they're criminals through and through. Forcing people to have a change of heart isn't any different from brainwashing someone. While I would be sad the day they get arrested, I will not be disappointed. I want to know what makes them tick, and I guess the only way to do that is to arrest them. You should tell them to be careful."

"Right...I'm sure they already know that, but I'll pass the information on. Anyway, did you make any headway in your murder case?" he asked, earning a sigh from the woman.

"Nope...too many variables and unexplained oddities. You made a lot of progress, no one had seen the gun until you pointed it out. Some of the detectives were annoyed that you did a better job than they did."

"Well, they should pay attention to detail. That's something I learned through acting." he replied.

"Yeah, I figured that was the case...regardless, this man was cut open. I was looking at some other cases, turns out three more victims were found just like him. All of them had connections to politicians, all of them unnamed. Also, one thing that I noticed is that the disemboweling looks rather...clean. It reminds me of Seppuku."

"The suicide technique used by Samurai? Don't tell me...you think a Ninja did this?"

"Of course not! Do you actually think Ninja are still living in this day and age? I wouldn't doubt it. But here in Tokyo? I doubt it. I'm just saying, the slice is too uniform. It's as if it's been practiced over and over again, this person knows what their doing. One thing that was found at every single scene, was a rusted nail."

"A rusted...wait, I remember seeing that nail now. It was near his face, actually, the man had a cut on his cheek. It looked like the nail had been responsible for that, as if they tried to finish them off with the nail, but ended up missing instead." Takumi said.

"That's what I thought as well. It made no sense, if they wanted to finish him off, why not shoot him with his own gun?" Konan asked curiously.

"Probably because the victim was holding it. Still, that thing you said about politicians makes sense...if the Yakuza is helping out politicians, then it could be possible that their trying to get into the government. Maybe this person is just trying to prevent that from happening."

"But why? What motive would they have? There's a reason behind those actions Takumi. Whoever it is...they have a reason for all of this, a personal one. Especially if it involves disemboweling people." Konan said, earning a nod from the boy. She shook her head, glancing toward the window.

"Anyway, I just wanted to let you know about Ichiya turning himself in, and share my thoughts with you. You are my assistant after all, if I find out anything, I'll let you know."

"Oh...okay then. Are you sure there isn't anything else you wanna discuss?" he asked.

"Nope, not at all...man, I'm starving, mind taking a girl out to lunch?"

"Ugh...fine...sure. I haven't had anything myself, so I guess I wouldn't mind." he said, standing up from his seat. The detective smiled, grabbing a hold of her purse.

"Come on, I'll let you drive the squad car."

"What...no, isn't that illegal?"

"Not if you have an licensed adult in the car it isn't. Come on, all growing boys want to mess with a police car. You'll get to brag to all of your friends now!" Konan said excitedly. He sighed, deciding to just go along with her antics. It was still hard to believe the serious woman from before had been replaced with the joyous person before him.

xxx(Take Your Time)

Date: Monday August 20th 20XX

Location: Jinbocho

Time: Evening

Weather: Torrential Rain (Hot Night)

Objective: Live a Normal Life

xxx

"Ugh...I cannot believe this shit! I had this all planned out, and now my friends are all gone. Ichiya is such a dumb ass!" Izumi cried angrily. Takumi had his hands on his lap, glancing around the room.

Izumi had apparently planned out a Blackjack game with her friends, but since Ichiya had turned himself in, everything had changed. So Takumi had been forced to return to her home with her. He had been pleasantly surprised with the size of her apartment. It had white walls, decorated with various expensive looking paintings. The living room had a large screen television, with a black entertainment system, filled with movies. There was a large suede couch, complete with a recliner and cup-holders, surrounding a coffee table in the center of the living room, with a fuzzy zebra print rug. She had some potted plants around the house, including a large bamboo plant near the window, along with a stained glass lamp resting a small table. The kitchen was also fully remodeled, with tile floors, black appliances, including a stove with a ceramic top, oak cupboards and an island in the center of the kitchen, with a utensil rack hanging from the ceiling. Overall, it was a cozy looking place, and a bit too big for one teenage girl to live in.

"What's up with you? You look like a goddamn pretty boy with your hands on your lap. Jesus, relax would you?" the girl snapped, she was sitting across from him, legs crossed as she was drinking out of a glass. She was wearing nothing but a white sundress, and a pair of white heels, her hair being up in its usual style. He sighed, relaxing a bit.

"Sorry, I just...don't know how to act when your drinking."

"Eh? Just act normal idiot...still, Ichiya turning himself in was unexpected. Bacchus and Kuromi are probably somewhere else in Tokyo, fucking each others brains out. No way in hell they'd wanna come down here, heard he had to close down the Casino."

"That's normal, when a close friend turns himself in, you have to move fast. You don't know if he spilled the beans...I'm sorry, I'm sure you had an interesting game set up for us tonight." the boy said apologetically.

"Yeah, sorry that I got someone close to you arrested...I guess this is the downside of being a Phantom Thief, disappointing your close friends."

"Why would you apologize for that? You had no control over what Ichiya did...who cares. Yeah, I'm pissed off the game was a bust but we can play something else. Maybe if your game, some strip poker?" she asked, her cheeks flushed as she licked her lips.

"I have a girlfriend."

"Who said anything about touching? Are you scared of seeing a woman naked?"

"Izumi, you're sixteen...I really think drinking isn't a good idea for you." the boy said with a flush. She shook her head, finishing the last of her drink.

"I'm just fucking with you man, you actually think I would get naked for you? Ha! You would have to get me on a good day to even think about showing you my tits. Anyway, we might not be able to play Blackjack with a group, but I can at least show you how to play the game." the girl said, reaching into her purse for a deck of cards. She set her glass down, shuffling the cards.

"I'm not betting any money."

"Aw...and I was gonna break out the chips...fine. I'll get some of your money some other time. Do you know the rules of Blackjack?"

"It's easy, you have to reach 21 or a number close to it without going over. If you go over 21 you lose, if the house goes over 21, you win your bets. The dealer draws to 17, if your cards tie with the dealer, it's called a push. Aces equal eleven, and it's a Blackjack if you get 21 with two cards. Does that cover everything?"

"Wow...I'm impressed...did you read up on this before coming here?" Izumi asked curiously.

"My little sister explained the game to me. Apparently she and my mom play a lot whenever they're bored. She doesn't go easy on her." Takumi said, rubbing his neck. Izumi shrugged, dealing the cards. She drew one, while she gave two to Takumi. Her card was an Ace of Spade, which she was going to play as eleven.

"Now then, this is where the fun begins. I'm not gonna say anything, it'll be up to you to make the call." she said. He nodded, glancing at his cards.

"A king and a nine...that's nineteen...if I draw one more, I could bust. I'll just stay this one."

"I'm gonna stay." he said.

"Alright, cross your fingers then. You sure you don't wanna bet? I have money in my purse. It's starting to get a little lonely, maybe you could give it a new friend?"

"Just deal your cards." the boy said, crossing his arms in annoyance. She rolled her eyes, drawing her own cards. She drew a two of hearts, followed by a ten of spades, instantly losing the hand.

"Well, looks like you won this round...let's go again." she said, gathering the used cards. She drew a ten of hearts, giving Takumi a Queen and an Ace, making her go wide eyed.

"Goddamn it, okay...let's go again."

"Are we gonna gloss over the fact that I just won without lifting a finger?"

"Fuck off."

They continued back and forth, with Takumi winning and losing some hands. Izumi seemed annoyed that he was winning more than he was losing, despite not knowing how to gamble properly. After fifteen minutes, she called it quits, having gone to the kitchen for a bottle of wine and a pair of glasses. She sighed as she sat back down, taking her heels off.

"What a fuckin bust man...I wonder why Ichiya just turned himself in? I mean, he didn't have a reason behind it." she said, screwing the bottle opener into the cork.

"Maybe he felt guilty?"

"Pfft, guilty? This is the man that's been selling drugs to kids for ages. The man who pretty much said to my face he'd love to show me what he could do. I doubt a man who offered a sixteen year old girl a night of hot action would be guilty enough to turn his ass in. Nah, I feel like he was forced to turn himself in. Who, I dunno." she said. She growled a bit, struggling to pull the cork from the bottle. Takumi took a hold of it, giving the cork a twist as he pulled, a loud pop filling the room.

"Thanks...it's a huge pain in the ass to open those."

"How...do you get alcohol when your underaged?"

"Who else? Ichiya was the one who bought that all for me. His family owns a vineyard somewhere up north. So he usually bought stuff for his bar that didn't exist, always gave me a case whenever he didn't have any money on him. This one is a 1934 Chateau Haut Brion."

"Wow...that's a perfect French accent." the boy said, watching as she poured the crimson liquid into the glasses, handing one to him.

"I spent two years in France, so I'm fluent in French. It was hard getting over there, but I convinced the government that was a very short Japanese woman. You'd be surprised what a fake ID and a lot of money could get you."

"Yeah...I suppose." Takumi said, taking a sip from his glass. He cringed a bit at the taste. He really didn't like wine, but he wasn't going to disrespect his host. Izumi let out a giggle, twirling some hair around her finger.

"Tastes like shit doesn't it? You'll get used to it...I used to think all wine tasted the same, but it takes time."

"I'm just...not a wine guy you know? My sister and her friend have a lot of wine, along with coolers and booze. When they wanna party they break out the wine and I'm just sitting there with my glass of grape juice." he replied.

"Hey, this is grape juice, technically. Apparently this was crafted 84 years ago in some vineyard in the French Alps. Hell if I know, but it doesn't taste that bad...anyway, I guess you came all the way here. So I'll tell you another piece of my story." she said.

"Oh? I'm looking forward to this part." he said. She hummed to herself, eyes narrowed as she pulled the glass away from her lips.

"Hmm...I told you about my early childhood...I doubt you want to know about my struggles on the streets. I know, I'll tell you about France, since I was talking about it earlier. I'll tell you, if you have the chance to visit Paris, do it. It's the most beautiful city in the world."

"I've always wanted to go there...what's it like?"

"Well...aside from all of the boutiques and cafes...not that different from Tokyo. It's bustling, people are on the move and everything is just nice. The food is delicious, the flowers are brilliant, even the sun seems different. The Eiffel Tower is stunning up close, and seeing Paris from the observation deck is even more alluring." she said.

"What made you wanna go there?"

"Well...that has to do with those Veterans I was speaking about. You see, a lot of people weren't able to go home. Some were just lost, others just didn't feel like going back home. So most of them just decided to explore the world, others just fell on hard times. There was this one man, who ended up passing away a few years ago. He was a Vet from World War II. He said he had a daughter in Paris that he wanted to meet, but he was too old to go there...so I always joked about going to Paris and searching for her. He always told me not to bother, that she probably didn't know who he was...but...well it was his last wish. He died shortly after that. So I got myself a fake ID and went to Paris."

"How did you even get that fake ID?" he asked, earning a giggle from the girl.

"Like I said, money can get you anything you want. Wasn't long after that, that I was on a plane bound for Paris. I spent some time in Germany, just exploring. Afterwards, I arrived in Paris and well...I was thirteen years old with thousands of yen in my pocket. The first thing I did was go to the bank and exchange my money and then I went on a shopping spree." Izumi said, taking a sip of her wine. Takumi did the same, feeling a bit buzzed from it.

"So, what happened when you realized you were broke and had nowhere to stay?" he asked curiously.

"I gambled of course...I may not have any money, but the little I had, I was able to double it. It wasn't long before I was sitting on a lofty sum. With it, I was able to hire a French tutor to learn the language."

"How am I not surprised?" Takumi said, earning a shrug from the girl. She set her glass down, stretching her arms above her head, leaning back in her couch.

"You shouldn't, my life is unbelievable but it is true. It was hard the first year, I had to lie my way out of most of each scenario I found myself in. I had to leave Paris for awhile too, since the police were looking for me, illegal gambling as a minor and all that shit. I did stay in Barcelona, so I learned a bit of Spanish while I was there. When I returned, I set out on a mission, to find that man's daughter...I spent those two years searching...but I never found her."

"I'm...sorry to hear that Izumi."

"I'm sorry too...I failed the old man...I went all the way to Paris, looked all over the place and in the end I didn't find his daughter. I couldn't waste more time in Paris, so on my fifteenth birthday, I came back to Japan. The first thing I did was buy myself this place...with the money I had left, I made sure the kids I grew up with were doing fine. I was able to easily double and triple my money, so I'm living quite comfortably now. But if it wasn't for that man telling me about his daughter living in Paris, I wouldn't have had all of those Euros to gamble away while I was in France."

"You at least share your winnings with people that need it. You aren't like other people who just spend all their money on themselves...but if that's the case, why swindle people?" He asked.

"Because people are cruel and disgusting. You see people walking by the homeless every day, all they ask for is a spare coin, and they just walk by you. Kids are starving out on the streets, unable to live their lives in peace, because they're cold and hungry, and they can't even spare a thousand yen for a bottle of water and some bread. So I dress up like a bum so I can take advantage of the rich, and give it to the poor. I'm sorry your sister was caught in it, but she looked like a hoity toity high class girl." Izumi said firmly.

"Hoity toity...hell, I think Ayumi would slap you if she heard that from you."

"Probably...still, her striding up to me and calling me out for my shit. It's impressive, she's lucky I didn't slap her. Then again, I thought she was your girlfriend at the time. You two aren't related right? Have you kissed her?"

"What? No! Why the fuck would you ask me that?" he cried, eyes widening in shock.

"Sorry, that was the wine speaking...I've seen a lot of anime where that shit happens. I've wondered around Tokyo and spent time in the Nerd capital of the world, so forgive me for asking. Still, if you can't get a girlfriend, you at least have someone available."

"I think I'm gonna go home, you've clearly had too much wine...you fuckin cheeks are red." Takumi said, standing up from his seat.

"Aw come on...stay and drink with me, just a little more. We're almost done with this bottle."

"Yeah no...I have a girlfriend, and if I keep drinking this is gonna end up somewhere else. So, what's our next lesson?"

"Horse Races, I'm gonna teach you all about which horse to bet on and when. I think that's an appropriate thing." she said.

"Huh? Horse racing? But isn't that illegal here?"

"Everything is illegal here dumb ass. We're gonna be tuning into a television program and betting among friends. I'll make sure Bacchus and Kuromi are through fucking before we meet up. You know where I live now so just stop by any time you want. Bring your girl if you want, I could use some new friends." She said.

"I'd rather not, I think Ann will slap you the moment she lays eyes on you." he said.

"Probably...well, go on...before the trains shut down for the night." Izumi said, grabbing a hold of the bottle. She stood up, taking a gulp from it as she lead the boy to the door.

"Seriously, you need to watch your alcohol intake."

"Yeah yeah, see ya later." she slurred, giving the boy a kiss on the cheek before closing the door in his face. He sighed, wiping his cheek with his shirt sleeve as he walked down the stairs.

"France huh? I guess she did have that vibe earlier...I wouldn't have thought she'd go to France to fulfill someone's dying wish though. She isn't as scummy as I thought she was. But she seriously needs to watch her drinking habits." he thought. He walked out of the apartment complex, bumping into someone as he did. He knelt down to pick up the woman's purse, holding it out to her.

"Sorry about that ma'am, I wasn't paying attention."

"It's no problem." she replied, hastily grabbing her purse. The boy turned to face her, seeing a familiar looking outfit.

"Miss Kawakami?"

"Ugh...dammit, why did you have to recognize me?" the woman asked, whirling around to face the boy, an annoyed look on her face.

"Well, I'd recognized that tired voice anywhere. It's like you don't even want to do this, yet here you are. Why are you even doing this?"

"I don't have to tell you that...what are you doing in Jinbocho? You...you smell like alcohol...have you been drinking?" she asked curiously, causing the boy to stiffen.

"Hmm...how about we make a deal? We didn't see each other tonight, I don't say anything about you, you don't say anything about me...deal?"

"Fair enough...have a good night Mister Mashita." she said, giving him a boy.

"Wait...one more thing." he said, reaching into his pocket. She faced him again, a curious look on her face. The boy hastily wrote a check for the woman, placing two million yen in the amount, before signing his name at the bottom.

"Your name is Sadayo right?"

"Yes? It's improper to call a woman by her name, especially a teacher."

"Yes well...I've told you to call me by name, even in school. Here, you look like you need a little money. I have no idea why you're working as a maid, and while I want to know why, it isn't my place. I saw you coming out of Ren's house a couple nights in a row. I figured you were his maid, or at least helping him out with stuff. I don't really care what relationship you have with him, but seriously...think about quitting this job will you? Last time you got robbed, and...well no offense but you look like crap." he said, placing the check in her hands.

"Thanks, you have such a way with words" she replied, glancing at the check, eyes widening a bit.

"Wait...are you insane?" she cried, looking up at the boy, only to see he had taken off. She stared at the check again, resisting the urge to scream at her student, even though he was no longer present. She folded the check, placing it in her bra.

"That idiot, I can't believe he seriously gave me that...bless his heart, I finally have enough to quit this awful job." she said happily. From the nearby street corner, Takumi smiled.

"Helping people out one check at a time...well, I guess money really does make the world turn. Stealing from the rich to give to the poor...Izumi may as well be a Phantom Thief."

xxx(Take Your Time)xxx

Date: Tuesday August 21st 20XX

Location: Ginza

Time: Morning

Weather: Partly Cloudy (Heatwave)

Objective: Live a Normal Life

xxx

"Sweetheart, must we really be out here? It's 92 degrees and I'm all sweaty. My sweat is sweating." Takumi complained, having let go of Ann's hand, wiping it against his pant leg before taking a hold of it again.

"Yes, they're having a sale here and I want to get some stuff. Besides, you wanted to spend more time with me right? You get to see how a fashion model well...fashions!" Ann replied, giving him a smile.

"Yeah, but why do I have to carry your stuff?" he asked, showing her the bags she had already purchased. Among them, was a gothic style maid dress, that he never thought the blonde would consider wearing.

"Because you are my boyfriend, and I'll make out with you later if you carry them for me."

"Will you show me your boobs?"

"Haha...nice try." she said, stopping in front of a store. The boy sighed, watching the blonde intently as she looked through the glass. There was a dress on sale, a cute red and white sundress with frills around the bust, and no straps. It had a black ribbon like belt around the waist, and was cut at an angle. It also had red glittering sequins around the bust, making it glimmer in the small beams of sun that passed through the glass.

"I'm gonna go inside and buy this...it's on sale and I am not missing it. Hmm...oh I know, we're near some of the Cafes, you can go on and wait in one of you want." Ann said happily, earning a sigh from the boy.

"Thanks babe, I appreciate it. I could go for a coffee actually." he said, giving the girl a firm kiss on the lips. She hugged him briefly before walking into the store. The boy turned around, hastily walking away from the store, sticking to the shadows as much as possible.

"Ryuu Ga Waga Teki Wo Kurau!"

"Ugh...goddamn it Futaba, I fuckin told you not to change my text tone." the boy muttered in annoyance, as he drew his phone from his pocket, glancing at the screen. It was a text from Ryuji, which he quickly answered.

Ryuji: "Dude, you're in Ginza with Ann right now yeah?

Ryuji: "I heard from one of my friends that there's a contest going on in a cafe. The goth one...if you manage to eat an entire bucket of ice cream, you get your name on a plaque.

Ryuji: "Think about it...it's a plaque, you'll be immortalized forever."

Takumi: "Ryuji, bro...I'm not one to give a shit about plaques...plus an entire bucket of ice cream? 0.0

Ryuji: "Well if anything, Ann can help you. You know how much she loves that shit, it'll all go to her boobs. It's a win win for both of you! .

Takumi: "Fuck yourself, I hope you are forced to eat Fat Bastard's Crusty Asshole!"

He shoved his phone in his pocket, as he continued his walk. He stopped at the crosswalk, glancing around the area for a few moments. The cafe his friend had been referring too was the Vampire Cafe. It was a very popular cafe for those who liked the occult. He had been there with Ann a few times, but it was always odd being there. She liked the ambiance, and he was honestly there for the food. Still, a gold plated name placard was a pretty cool thing. He looked at his watch for a moment before shifting his walk, heading toward the building the popular cafe was located in. Once there, he headed into the cafe, seeing the sign advertising the challenge.

"Eat Four pints of ice cream in an hour and you get your name gold plated and added to the wall. Looks like there have been some winners in the past too." he thought, glancing at the wall that had four names on it. He narrowed his eyes when he saw one that stuck out, the name Rei Shirozaki was not only gold plated, but it also had another small tag on it.

"Four Consecutive Wins...gee, someone likes their ice cream." he muttered dryly. A young woman made her way over to him, she had very pale skin, and long blonde hair tied into high ponytails with red ribbons. She was wearing a black gown with red accents to it, and dark make up around her eyes. She gave him a smile, licking her vampire fangs with her tongue.

"Welcome to the Vampire Cafe...table for one I presume?" she asked.

"Actually, I wanted to partake in that challenge you have going on right now." he said. She quirked a dainty brow, giggling a bit as she turned around.

"Follow me then, you best be hungry, or else you won't be able to beat the reigning champion." she said. The boy shrugged, walking after the blonde girl into the occult themed cafe. There were several other customers there, mostly goths hanging around one table.

There sat a young woman, who in his opinion was quite beautiful. Her long black hair fell down her back like a curtain, reaching down past her waist, and kept completely straight. She had pale colored skin, and small brows. She was wearing dark eye shadow, her brilliant green eyes focused on the ice cream in front of her. She was wearing a simple black dress, with puffed out sleeves and a low cut collar, showing a bit of her cleavage. It reached down to her knees, long frilly black stockings covering her legs. She was wearing a pair of ankle high felt boots, with white fur around the top. She was wearing a pair of black gloves on her hands, her left hand holding a silver spoon. It seemed as if she had only gotten to eat part of the ice cream, not having made much of a dent into it.

The crowd parted as soon as the blonde girl came back, placing a tub of ice cream across from the current challenger. She looked at it oddly for a second before Takumi sat down across from her, cracking his neck a bit as he leaned into his seat. The waitress handed him the spoon, a smile on her face.

"You have an hour to eat as much ice cream as you can. You eat more than the reigning champion here, you win your name on a plaque. If you lose well...you'll become my play thing for a few days."

"What does that entail? I have a girlfriend." he said, earning a giggle from the girl.

"I'll let your imagination decide that...though I do requite sustenance, a pint of blood will do." she said, licking the side of his neck, going as far as biting him. He shuddered a bit, grabbing a hold of the spoon, digging into the ice cream.

"You aren't going to win, you know." the girl across from him said. Her accented voice piqued his interest a bit, as he pulled the spoon out of his mouth.

"Are you German?" he asked.

"Ja, sprichst du Deutsch?"

"Nicht wirklich. Mein Deutsch ist nicht so gut, um ehrlich zu sein."

"You're German...it's not so bad." she replied, digging her spoon in her ice cream.

"I was on set in Germany once, so I have some knowledge of the language. Not exactly fluent in it though." he replied, taking another bite from his ice cream. He didn't really like Mint Chocolate Chip, but the girl before him didn't seem to mind it.

"Oh, an actor are you? I don't seem to know you."

"Yeah, I was in a couple movies back in the day. I'm Takumi Mashita, you must be Rei Shirozaki correct?"

"Ja, that is my name. I am Japanese, but I was adopted young by a German couple, so I was raised there. I have recently come to my homeland for College, and to learn more about its history."

"That's pretty cool, I spent some time overseas too, America. It's a nice country, though I'm sure you probably don't like it much."

"Why? Because of what happened during the War? The same thing could be said about Japan. It's all in the past, why bring it up in this generation?" Rei asked curiously, earning a shrug from the boy.

"I suppose you are right. We should focus on our ice cream though." he said, earning a nod from the girl.

They continued munching on the sweet treat, each hoping to out eat the other. It was hard at times, especially due to the brain freeze they would get when they hurried. 45 minutes in, the boy had finally touched bottom, only having a bit of ice cream left on the tub. Rei had slowed down a bit, having a little over half the tub in. She grabbed a hold of it, drinking some of the melted cream.

"It seems it's getting real...letting the ice cream melt is a good tactic, you have 14 minutes left. I'd hurry up if I were you." the waitress, who he had learned went by the name Mina, reminded them. Takumi grabbed his spoon and started swirling it around the tub, hoping to melt the reminder of the ice cream, or at least get it soft enough to drink. The two contestants focused on the task at hand, ignoring the brain freeze they got. Finally, with five minutes left to spare, the two of them set their tubs down, completely empty.

"It's a tie...Good Game." Takumi said, holding his sticky hand out to the girl.

"Ja, you did great too. You have ice cream all over your face." she said, shaking his hand, earning a chuckle from the boy.

"So do you...we don't exactly look like the most attractive people right now huh?" he asked. Grabbing several napkins, the two wiped up as much as the ice cream as they could.

"Well...I'll go speak to the manger. If you'd like to head to the wash rooms, feel free too. Beware, there might be some bats hanging out in there." Mina said, giving the two a wink as she walked off with the empty tubs. Takumi headed toward the men's room, keen on washing his face and hands.

It didn't take long for him to finish up, having arrived back at the waiting area of the restaurant. Rei had walked out as well, looking in a mirror as she applied some dark violet lipstick on her lips. Now that she was in the light, he noticed her black hair had noticeable dark violet streaks running through them, and her make up, was actually violet instead of black like he had first thought.

"Must be weird, seeing a German girl dressed like this."

"Not really, people are free to dress how they want. The hair though, it's pretty long...you been growing it for awhile?" he asked.

"Extensions mostly, I only have them in while my natural hair grows in. My natural hair color is blonde, if you wanted to know."

"Seriously? Not many Japanese girls with blonde hair, I barely see them anymore...well, I guess my girlfriend counts. She is part American and half Finnish though." he said, rubbing his arm.

"I didn't want to stand out, so I dyed my hair like this. I used to be a preppy girl back home, but I never truly fit in. Even here in Japan, I don't really fit in, that's why I dress all in black. I don't want to be seen, and if I am, I'd rather I'd be seen like this than as a normal person."

"Being normal is overrated sweetheart, I'd rather be a rebel than be a boring normal ass Japanese kid." he said with a shrug.

"A rebel huh? Like the Phantom Thieves that are all the rage here?" she asked curiously. He blinked a few times, giving her a smile.

"Not really...the Phantom Thieves change hearts...they rebel against the norm...against the people who love ruining the lives of others. I can respect that...but I doubt I'd be able to do that myself."

"Why not? If you had the power, wouldn't you want to change the hearts of your enemies?" Rei asked.

"A change of heart doesn't solve every problem in the world. The Phantom Thieves aren't omnipotent. You can't rely on them to solve your problems, who knows? Maybe everything we've seen so far is just a show, maybe they can't change hearts. But it isn't the solution to everything...too many people with poisonous hearts. Too many people they can't help...too many people that will still suffer, despite them being there as a beacon of hope." he said, leaning against the wall. Rei looked at him oddly, giving him a shrug.

"One has to sacrifice a lot in life. I suppose I understand that aspect, my real parents sacrificed me in order to live normal lives. But I was adopted by loving parents who couldn't bear their own children. For me to be here, I had to sacrifice getting into a good German school...I even had to sacrifice my image in a vain attempt to fit in."

"Why sacrifice so much though? Are you truly happy?" he asked. Rei turned to face him, brow quirked as her lips were tugged into a smile.

"Honestly, this is the most fun I've had in my life. I'm 19 years old, living alone for the first time. I can finally listen to Metal without getting swore at by my father. I've always loved the occult, but I had to hide it, behind the image of a normal girl. No one is normal in this world, we all have that one quirk that sets us apart from each other. Being Goth is just mine, and I happen to be among friends."

"So...you didn't go Goth to rebel against the man...but instead, because you liked the culture. Why call it a sacrifice then?"

"I didn't sacrifice anything to become who I am now...well, the thing I sacrificed was pretty bad. I sacrificed a normal life in Germany, to come here to Japan. My parents, they don't know I dress like this...they'd be pretty pissed if they did." she replied.

"I bet they would."

"Hello you two...I've spoken with my manager and well...since you two tied, there can't be a reward for you two. So you have to have a tie breaker in order to see who gets to win. Think you have enough room for another dessert?" Mina asked.

"Honestly, I don't think I can..."

"I forfeit." Rei said, cutting Takumi off. His eyes widened in shock, as he turned to face her. Mina smirked, crossing her arms in front of herself.

"The four time undefeated champion is forfeiting? Any reason why?"

"Why not? My name is already on the wall, with platinum notches marking my win streak. Maybe it's time to let someone else take that honor. Just don't let me down Takumi, I expect you to win in my stead next time." she said, giving the boy a smile.

"I am thou, thou art I, thou hast acquired a new vow...

It shall become the wings of rebellion that breaketh

thy chains of captivity...

With the Rebirth of the Death Persona, I have obtained the winds of

blessing that shall lead to freedom and new power..."

xxx(New Confidant Acquired: The Death)xxx

"Don't worry, I'm not gonna let you down Miss Shirozaki. I promise." he said with a smile.

"Let's exchange contact information, I'll make sure to keep you updated when this place holds more contests like this. Who knows...it might do me good to finally have a friend here in Japan. A true friend, not an acquaintance."

"I feel strangely hurt by that comment." Mina said, frowning a bit.

"You're my landlady Mina, and you barely have time to actually hang out with me." Rei said firmly.

"Well you're in school during the day, and I am a denizen of the night! How exactly am I going to hang out with you when the sun burns my skin? You aren't even old enough to drink yet!"

"The blood of the covenant is denser than the water of the womb." Takumi said ominously, earning a sigh from Mina.

"No...stick to the light, you don't belong in the darkness. Though, I think I can change your mind. Come on, one bite won't do you any harm...just a quick pinch, I think you'll like it." Mina said, licking her blood red lips as she flashed her sharp fangs to the boy.

"Uh...Takumi, what's going on here?" the voice of Ann said, causing the boy to jump.

"H-hey babe...w-what are you doing here?" he asked, turning to face the annoyed looking model.

"Oh...so that's how it is...you're into vampires now...and here I was buying French maid outfits because I thought you liked those. I guess I was wrong, have fun with your vampire girlfriend."

"No wait...you know I love you! Come back here! Nice going Mina, now I'm gonna have to reconcile with her. And I was so close to seeing her boobs." he said, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Hehe...sorry slugger, I didn't mean to be a cock blocker...if you truly wish to become a denizen of the night, you'll know where to find me." she said. Takumi sighed, grabbing his bags, chasing after his girlfriend. Often times, the boy wondered how it was that he got himself into these odd situations.

xxx(Confidant Ranks)xxx

Ren Amamiya 0 The Fool(Rank Max)

Morgana I The Magician(Rank 9)

Makoto Nijima II The Priestess(Rank 8)

Haru Okumura III The Empress(Rank 5)

Yusuke Kitagawa IV The Emperor(Rank 8)

Konan Makidou V The Hierophant(Rank 2)

Ann Takamaki VI The Lovers(Rank Max)

Ryuji Sakamoto VII The Chariot(Rank 9)

Yukiko Amagi VIII The Justice(Rank 1)

Futaba Sakura IX The Hermit(Rank 6)

Izumi Akazawa X The Wheel of Fortune(Rank 3)

Billerica Isoshima XI The Strength(Rank 6)

Nicholas McFay XII The Hanged Man(Rank 1)

Rei Shirozaki XIII The Death(Rank 1)

Kanami Mashita XIV The Temperance(Rank 3)

Kotone Otonashi XV The Devil (Rank 6)

Marry Yasuhiro XVI The Tower(Rank 2)

Ayumi Isoshima XVII The Star(Rank 6)

Mitsuhide Isoshima XVIII The Moon(Rank 8)

Rise Kujikawa XIX The Sun(Rank 6)

Igor XX The Judgment(Rank 5)

Justine & Caroline XXI The Aeon(Rank 7)

Aoi Aobara XXII The Adjustment (Rank 1)

A/N: Fucking Finally, this shit has everyone in it. As a reminder, ranks don't mean anything anymore. Everyone will get to spend equal amounts of time with Takumi. But when I do the final events for each Confidant, I will mark them as Maxed Out, but from Chapter 53 onward, the number ranks will be removed.