Persona BLEACHED 2: Part 22

Chapter 22: THE UNDEAD
February 12, 2029
I used to believe in a little thing called "justice".
That's what every cop tells you upfront, anyway. That they put the badge on and throw themselves in front of bullets out of a sense of duty and righteousness. Having spent ten years putting that badge on, I can tell you that for 80% of them, it's nice, glossy horseshit.
For them it's all about getting to walk around with a gun and telling people what to do. That hot, steamy power. That's what it's about.
For me, though, that glossy horseshit wasn't horseshit at all. For the first five years at least. I totally bought into the "criminals are assholes" motivation. I joined the force a few months after this real high-profile killing. 15-year old kid shot in an alleyway. Ends up dying in his sister's arms. How fucked up is that? I wanted to be the guy that took the SOB that did it off the streets. Animals like that don't deserve to breathe anything but the greasiest, piss-smelliest prison air there is.
Crooks don't deserve to walk around.
I thought my "brothers-in-arms" thought the same.
Then one day, I died.
Shot in the back by a shitbag yakuza trying to rob a corner store.
Docs couldn't do anything. So I died. And I stayed dead. For like 3 or 4 hours.
Then I wasn't. Guy in a mask and robe found me. Called himself "The Master". Used some magic fairy dust bullshit and brought me back. Told me it was proof that "his lord"'s power could breach even death. Said that even more power could come my way if I more or less sold my soul to him. Then he spilled some truth bombs.
My partner didn't come in to assist until the gang fuckwit was long gone. I died because they had been in cahoots for years, trading info and drugs for security. So much for "band of brothers", huh?
Everything I'd believed about my job came crashing down. Justice, order, goodwill...all a fuckin' lie. Doesn't matter what uniform a human puts on, you can't fix their inner urge to be selfish and power-hungry. So I took the Master's offer. If no one else in the department gives a shit, why should I?
That extra bit of power came with a price. Now I'm a card carrying Nosferatu. I'm always hungry, the sun hurts like a motherfucker, but I get to wipe away thugs like nothing. I'd say I got a good deal. Finally found the idiot that shot me a few months back. Him and his pal were delicious. So were the rest of 'em.
Good, bad, it don't matter.
All tastes the same to me.
---
"...why are you explaining this?" Kibō asked.
"Are you still trying to make us see your line of thinking? Make us think that it's alright for you to kill people and feed on their blood? Who would ever agree with that?" Barbara questioned.
"The cops and a lot of the public, for starters." Hirano retorted. "You'd be surprised how many of my fellow boys in blue don't see much of an issue with what's happening. Yakuza kill each other all the time. What's 24 less public leeches to worry about? I've made my peeps' jobs easier and the public feel safer, what's there to disagree with?"
"How about butchering people and using them as a food source? Rationalize it all you want, you're just a violent madman." Barbara replied.
"Violent lives warrant violent ends, honey. Most of the common folk would say these fuckwits got what was coming to 'em. Prison fixes people every once in a while. Not these snake-tattooed greed bags. They respond to just one thing. I'm just giving it to 'em."
Kibō shook his head. "This is pointless. Trying to reason with you is impossible. You'll only--"
"Only respond to one thing? Kehehehehe. See, Leader Boy? We're not so different after all."
"....."
"We can't come to an agreement, so we'll just kill each other. That's how this always works, right? I won't say no to some good ol' fashioned bloodshed. Y'all think you've got me hunted down? You've got it backwards. In a big way."
Hirano held out his arms, and allowed himself to fall back off the side of the roof. The floor beneath Kibō and Barbara began to shake violently, as bursts of dark energy erupted from where Hirano fell.
A giant, boney hand rose up and grabbed the side of the roof. The rest of the creature's body hoisted itself up. Hirano's lanky form had been replaced with that of a gargantuan skeleton, thirty feet in height, with the Death's Hand emblem carved into its skull. 
"CATCH ME IF YA CAN, KIDDIES! I'M GONNA GIVE YOUR LITTLE MATES THEIR DINNER INVITES...PERSONALLY!"
Hirano's massive form disappeared.
"Wh...where did he go?" Barbara nervously asked.
Kibō took to the communicator. "Amethyst, he vanished. Is he anywhere on the cameras?"
"No...I'm not seeing anything." Carrie scoured every camera angle, but there was no sign of Hirano. "Everyone, stay on the highest alert. He's transformed and vanished. Stay out of sight, and if he makes himself known, to not engage him by yourself."
The rest of the students kept themselves hidden throughout the immediate area. "How did we lose him? He's taller than this building and didn't even make a sound." Barbara pondered.
"He's not getting away that easily." Kibō asserted, before leaping over the side of the building onto the ground below.
"Wait up, Keeb! She just said not to--oh, no no no..." Barbara went after him.
Carrie continued looking through the cameras. "Did he just run off? No, he wouldn't waste a transformation just to flee. Where is he..."
"The Chariot."
"Chariot...? Who..."
"He of the black-and-red. Certain doom is mere seconds away."
Carrie frantically switched over to Kenji. "Kenneth...you need to get away right now! He's nearby!"
Kenji, hidden in an alley by the pachinko parlor, picked up. "What? Are you certain?" He looked around. "I don't see him anywhere. All there is..." He put a finger to his ear. "There's this incessant ringing in my ears..."
So focused was Kenji on this task that he hadn't noticed the massive, boney jaw closing in on him.
"Kenneth! He's on top of you! Run!"
Kenji looked upwards, quickly ducking away before the monster's jaw clamped down. 
"Somehow you're even more hideous than before...suppose I should make a hasty retreat. Can ill afford to toss my life away on an unwinnable fight..." Kenji sprinted away.
Hirano rose back up, then began to charge energy in his gaping maw. He launched a large fireball at Kenji, and it exploded.
"Kenneth?!" Carrie put her hands to her mouth. "Oh, God..."
Near where the fireball exploded, Kenji lay on the ground, unscathed. "How did that not...?" Lying next to him was Natalia.
"Just in the nick of time. You were about to be toast."
"I appreciate the assist. Now where did he go?"
Carrie looked through the cameras. "He's gone again...everyone, go to the source of the explosion. You won't stand a chance if he gets you alone. You need to regroup as soon as possible."
Kibō and Barbara ran over to Natalia and Kenji. "Are you guys alright?" Barbara asked.
"Considering I was just moments away from becoming breakfast for a pile of bones, yes, I'm alright." Kenji replied.
"Did you see the size of that thing?! We have to get the others, they won't stand a chance against him alone!" Natalia exclaimed.
"Amethyst, where are the others?" Kibō asked.
"Max and Sahir are behind the nightclub. But...I don't see Kitten anywhere." Carrie answered.
"Either she's out of the cameras' range or she's well-hidden. We can play it two ways. Sahir and Maxie being together might dissuade Hirano from going after them, but he might change his mind if he can't find Kitty...but I don't like the idea of leaving her alone, either." Barbara said.
"We're playing a guessing game with an enemy we can't see. He could be bearing down on us, for all we know." Kenji added.
"Let's get Sahir and Max. Better to bolster our numbers and then start looking for Kitty. Let's move quick. Just because we can't see her doesn't mean he can't." Kibō ordered.
Nearby, in the middle of an alley, was a single cardboard box. Crouched underneath the box was Kitty. "I cross the East Sea for a fresh start and an education, and here I am, sitting under a smelly cardboard box waiting for a giant skeleton vampire man to eat me." she thought.
She began to feel a ringing in her ears, and tried to cover them, to no avail.
"I'm gonna be ripped to pieces, aren't I? Part of me thinks I deserve it. Karma always wins out in the end. I stole, I lied, and now Stallord from Twilight Princessis gonna make me an early breakfast."
The source of the ringing grew closer.
"Lin...why would you work with these people? I know it's tough for you to say no to a payday, but why a murder cult? What if this guy kills me and eats me? Would you even care? I know how I'd feel if it was you about to be snacked on. I just want to talk to you one more time. I want to tell you off, then hug you, then tell you off again, then hug you again because you're my sister and I love you no matter what and and and---"
"RUN, KITTEN!" Carrie yelled out, snapping Kitty out of her trance.
Over her, Hirano's massive hand was raised up, about to come down and crush the box. Before that could happen, a bolt of lightning struck the skeletal fiend, staggering him.
"Get the hell away from my girlfriend, you murderous bastard." Max ordered.
"Oh, my dorky, beautiful savior..." Kitty sighed, got up and ran. With her safety assured, Max ran after.
"GRRRR...PICKED THE WRONG DAY TO PLAY HERO, ROMEO. JUST PISSING ME OFF AND MAKING ME HUNGRIER!" Hirano boomed.
"Hey, Mr. Ọkpụkpụ!" Sahir yelled out. Hirano glanced over, seeing Sahir standing atop the nightclub. "Gotta tell ya, I taste awful, but you're welcome to try for yourself!"
Hirano stomped over to where Sahir was, towering over him. "I RESPECT YOUR BRAVERY, KIDDO. SO ARE YOU SO DONE WITH BEING ALIVE THAT YOU'RE HANDING YOURSELF OVER NOW, OR ARE YOU REALLY THAT FUCKED IN THE HEAD?"
"Mmm, to be blunt for a second, it's probably closer to the second one. Seeing how you're showing up on cameras, you obviously don't follow every part of the bloodsucker's handbook. But I'm banking on you following another part..."
"I'VE HAD IT WITH YOUR BABBLING. YOU CAN FINISH YOUR LITTLE LECTURE IN HELL!" He raised his arm up, preparing to bring it down.
"Persona!" Amadioha was summoned forth, and called down a thunderous blast of lightning, striking Hirano in the ribcage, setting it ablaze.
"GRRRAAAAAAAAH! WHAT THE FUCK?! WHY THE FUCK DOES IT HURT SO FUCKING BAD?!"
"Luck's on my side! My power comes from the Sun itself! And your kind doesn't much like the Sun, does it?!" Sahir proclaimed.
Hirano stumbled and staggered into the street, leaning his massive body onto a building. "GOTTA HEAL UP...GOTTA GET OUT OF SIGHT...HOLY FUCK YOU'RE GONNA PAY FOR THAT!"
He began to disappear again, but was halted partway through. He looked down, witnessing hundreds of arms composed of water grabbing his legs. "THE HELL...?!"
"Oh, Officer, didn't anyone tell you it's rude to leave in the middle of a performance?" Barbara chided.
"He's immobilized! Now's your chance!" Carrie exclaimed.
Kitty, Sahir and Kenji all hit the trapped monster simultaneously with fire attacks centered on his ribcage, the effects intensified by a bolt of lightning from Max. Hirano's roars were deafening as he was quickly engulfed in flames. He buckled over to his knees.
Natalia teleported herself and Kibō onto the top of Hirano's skull, which was not on fire. Kibō drew his sword, and plunged it straight into the Death's Hand emblem on the skeleton's head. Hirano let out a blood-curtling wail.
"NOOoOOOOo...WaAAaaaay..." The skull began to crack and crumble to pieces. Natalia reappeared and teleported Kibō off, as the skeleton broke apart and scattered onto the ground.
Hirano, returned to human form, lay on the ground. His robes crumbled and faded away, his eyes returned to a normal shade, and his canines shortened. "Keeeeeh...undone by a bunch of trust fund brats. What a load." he groaned.
"It's over. If you didn't have fun with us, you really aren't going to enjoy what comes next." Kibō said.
"Yeah, yeah, what-the-fuck-ever. My mind's gonna be wiped and I'm going to prison for the rest of my days. Might even get executed. Or stabbed by another inmate. They love cops in there, especially ones that have a few yakuza notches on their belts. How 'bout we save a lot of people a lot of trouble and just kill me now?"
"No. Because we aren't like you."
"Kehehehehe...still sticking to that thought, eh Leader Boy? Fine. Keep on living in fantasy land. Just you wait. Once you get to my age, you'll see that the easy way's worth it. We're all just walking sacks of meat and blood. Power and control...you're nothing in this world without it. You'll see it my way one of these days. Especially you, kiddo. It's in your blood...kehe. Kehehehehe!" 
Kibō turned away. "Tie him up. Leave him to the police. The real police."
Barbara caught him as he walked away. "Hey, don't let him get to you. You're nothing like--"
"I'm fine. I just need to get some sleep."
"Keeb. You can't hide things from me."
"I really just need some sleep. I'll talk in the morning."
"It is the morning, Keeb." Max retorted.
Kibō shook his head. "Let's just go. I need that...creature out of my sight."
"....." Kitty looked on ponderously.
---
Daybreak comes. A crowd has gathered in south Naruki. Jugo was at the head of the crowd, looking upward. "Well, ain't this a sight..."
Hirano was hanging upside down from a light pole, tied up by a rope. Tied onto the rope was a piece of cardboard with the Ashen Artisans logo spraypainted onto it. Hirano's skin was burnt.
"Yeah. I did it. All of it. I killed 24 people in cold blood. Now could you please get me down? All the blood's rushing to my head and I haven't seen the sun in five years and it burns like a motherfucker so please please get me the fuck down!" the shamed officer griped.
---
Kibō slept in late. He groggily got up and looked at his phone. 11:53 a.m. "Ngh...wonderful."
He noticed several notifications. "Four messages from...Kitty? What could she be wanting..." 
Are you awake? - K 😼
Sent four times, one hour apart, the last one sent a few minutes ago. He messaged her back.
He sat in the main room to have his breakfast. He turned on the TV. The news was talking about Hirano's confession. It was already being called the biggest scandal in the history of the Naruki Police Department. "You've got doctors stealing from patients, you've got entertainers molesting people, now you've got a cop admitting to being a serial killer! Who are we supposed to trust in this town?!" one interviewed bystander commented.
In the background, a young man could be seen holding up a sign bearing the Ashen Artisans logo on it. "Fight the power! You see this, assholes? They're coming for you! Your time is over!" he could be heard proclaiming.
Kibō watched for a little longer before shutting it off. He sighed. Then, a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" he asked.
"It's Jake from StateFarm. Open up." Kitty replied.
He complied and opened the door. "Woof. You look like crap." she said.
"I just got out of bed."
"Yeah, I can tell." She walked past him and plopped onto the couch.
"Couldn't you at least not put your shoes on the couch? Last night you were hiding near garbage."
"Oh, right. Manners." She pulled her boots off. "Don't you worry that pointy little hair of yours, I showered after getting in this morning so my tootsies smell like peaches--"
"What do you want?"
Kitty sighed. "Straight to the point, huh Keebster?"
"Did Barbara send you to check on me? I told her, I'm fine."
"Barbie's got nothing to do with why I'm here. She's worried, yeah, but she figured you just needed some space. I'm here because I want to be."
"You should've taken her advice. I said I'm--"
"Nope." Kitty sat up, and patted the other couch cushion. "Sit."
Kibō grumbled, before relenting and taking a seat next to Kitty.
"I know you're not okay. My BS alarm goes off every time you say otherwise. It's about what Officer Alucard said, isn't it?"
".....yes."
"Want me to explain in detail why you're nothing like he is? Besides the fact you don't smell like week-old kimchi."
"You don't have to. I know I'm nothing like that lunatic." Kibō put his head down. "Yet."
"Is that what you're afraid of? That you'll turn psycho at a moment's notice?"
"He told me it's in my blood to seek power and control. And...he wasn't wrong about that. My entire family history is filled with ruthless political minds, that would do anything to get ahead. My own brother was like that. Now he's sitting in a prison cell."
"That's his problem. Not yours. You aren't like that."
"But what if it becomes that way? I'm scared to death of getting to where I start using you all for my own ends. It's why I was so hesitant about taking the 'leader' banner. What if I go down that same, destructive road? If it really is in my blood to seek power and control..." He sighed. "I really shouldn't be the leader."
"Baloney."
"You're more qualified than me. Smart, charismatic, quick-witted...everyone likes you. Even Kenji, though he'll never admit it."
"Well that's a good tidbit to hang onto." Kitty winked. "But nah, that wouldn't be a good idea. I'm way less qualified than you are. For starters, I actually have done really bad stuff. I've stolen, and I've lied. You remember who my sister is, right?"
"The Viper, I think it was?"
"Righto. Seoul's resident Snake Queen. Be grateful your big bro wasn't a big influence on you like my big sis was. I wanted to be just like her, in all the worst ways. But you know what? I got out of it. I'm trying to right the ship. Lin...hasn't done that. The opposite, actually."
Kitty patted Kibō on the back. "You're my buddy, Keebster. I know you won't make the same mistakes your bro did. And if you do? Well, that's what we're here for. To set you straight."
Kibō put on a smirk. "I'm sorry."
"Hey, a smile! Really don't see that enough. You know you can talk to me about anything. I'll probably be snarky about it, but I'll lend an ear. I know I joke around but I do care about you a lot."
"Thanks, Kitty. Really helps knowing you have my back. I'm still getting used to having to rely on everyone."
She patted him on the knee. "Now go throw something on. We're having lunch to celebrate. Unless you don't mind people seeing you in your jammies?"
"I'd rather avoid that. Give me a moment."
"Promise I won't peek."
---
A short while later, the students were seated at a table outside of a café in Akihabara. "Ah...oh, God, these cakes are like heaven baked into a little square." Sahir expressed as he scarfed down the desserts.
"Perhaps they'd he more heavenly if you actually chewed..." Kenji uttered. "Sakuya, dear, could you remind him about his manners, please?"
"Sorry, Kenji-san. But it's not really proper for a maid to dictate orders to the Master." Sakuya, in her maid uniform, replied.
"Fair enough, I suppose."
Sahir put his hands together in a heart shape. Sakuya giggled as Kenji shook his head.
"Do you need any more tea, Carrie-san?" Sakuya asked.
"Ah, yes, dear. Thank you. Sorry this isn't exactly the tea date I'd promised." Carrie replied.
"No need to apologize. That will come in due time. I'm happy that you're out in the world again. I'll be right back~."
"Thought I heard some hooligans nearby." Shinji appeared.
"Sensei! Lunch break, I'm assuming?" Carrie asked.
"Yeah. Had to come by and see my star pupil. Did she do good, or did she do good?"
"She was superb, Sarada-san. I'm not exaggerating when I say we couldn't have done it without her." Kibō replied.
"That's putting it lightly. She got us all the info we needed to catch the SOB. I don't know how many times she bailed us out of danger going after him." Max added.
"You taught her well, Sarada-san." Barbara said.
"Oh, please. I gave her the basics and she ran with it. You did a stand-up job, kid. You did your old man proud."
"Thank you, Sensei. That means a lot, truly."
"Just one other thing...could you, uh...maybe put a good word in with Higashikata for me? I might've, kinda, sorta accidentally sold him a busted Samsung once upon a time."
"Wait, you sold THAT guy a messed up phone? How are you still breathing?" Kitty asked.
"Believe me, I had to give him a million assurances on top of fixing the blasted thing! Thank the gods Kagetora-chan was there to cool him off, otherwise I might've been given my last rites then and there." Shinji scratched his head. "Anywho, I'll leave you kids to your meal. Don't be strangers, now..."
"Oh, wait, Mr. Shinji!" Natalia exclaimed.
"Hm? What's up?"
"Just hold on a second. It should be coming at any moment."
"Hm? What's going on, Natalia?" Carrie asked.
Sakuya came back holding a cake, placing it in front of Carrie. "A very happy birthday to you, Carrie-san~!"
"You didn't think I'd forget, did you?" Natalia asked, giggling.
"Boy, that's one way to start your birthday off..." Shinji joked.
"Oh...oh, dear...sorry, you just caught me off guard, is all..." Carrie uttered, blushing.
"Well, look at this old granny over here." Sahir joked.
"So says the second-oldest..." Kitty uttered.
"Now before we dig into that cake, I do have something in my bag..." Natalia said.
"Natalia, you didn't have to go out of your way for me..."
"Now what kind of best friend would I be if I didn't give you something today, of all days?"
She pulled out a purple hoodie, decorated with a pattern resembling computer wiring. "Take it as the replacement for the one that got burned up. Just updated to fit your new path in life~!"
"Ohhhh..." Carrie gave a smile and embraced Natalia.
"I was gonna try for a surprise beach trip, but health wise I still don't know if you're okay for it. Plus we're all pretty beat from last night..."
"It doesn't matter. I'm happy just being here with the most wonderful friends I could ask for." Carrie giggled. "You know for years I never wanted to celebrate my birthday. Every passing year was just more time where I grew up and my parents weren't around to see it. But now...now I feel like there's reason to be happy. I have this new family I can grow and be joyful with." 
She tried waving away her tears. "Don't cry, Care. It's a happy moment." Barbara said.
"They're happy tears, love. Come, then. I don't want to keep you from dessert."
The happy students, joined by the curious store owner, had their way with the desserts. For the first time in what felt like ages, everything was alright in the world.