Persona BLEACHED 2: Part 3

Chapter 3: Chariot's Requiem
August 13, 2028
"..."
The sun was not to rise for a few hours. Kenji stared intently into the mirror. Voices echoed in his head, as he stared at his bruised face.
"Again, Kenneth. Again until it's perfect."
"*whip*"
"Why are you obsessed with that sword, Kenneth?"
"*whip*"
"Souls that ugly don't get fixed in one day."
"*whip*"
"...my soul is...ugly?" Kenji pondered. "What that woman said...why I wield the sword..." He shook his head. "Don't be absurd. To indulge in such frivolous matters would help no one. I must be strong...only the strong can rise from the chaff. And yet..."
A dark aura began emanating from Kenji. "No...no, you know this isn't right. You know...gh!" he strained in a distorted voice. "What's...happening..." The aura enveloped Kenji, and he vanished.
---
Several hours later, Kibō was groggily eating his breakfast. He looked over at the door to Kenji's room. "Even with a black eye he's out training. I really don't get that guy." A moment later, there was a knock at the door.
He opened the door to find Barbara standing there holding a laptop. "Good morning. Hope I didn't wake you." she said. "Uhhhhh." He looked at her, hair tied back and clearly wearing sleepwear and slippers. "Did you just run here after waking up?" he asked. "Oh, sorry. I only slept a couple hours. My head's been buzzing since yesterday. And I think you can help me with filling in the blanks." "Well I'm not sure if--" Barbara walked in. "Alright, then." Kibō muttered.
"So, The Grinch is already out, I'm guessing?" Barbara asked. "I guess, he was gone when I woke up. Whatever he does in his free time is on him." Kibō answered. "So what are you doing here?" "Well, ever since I spoke with the professor's friend yesterday, I've been really curious about what happened here eight years ago. So I've been doing some digging, and--" "You want to know about what my brother did." "Well, yeah. He was super involved in what happened, right?" "That doesn't mean he told me everything." "I didn't expect that he would. There's just a few things I'm not 100% sure of from the reports..."
"So from what I've gathered, your brother was one of the ringleaders of some kind of criminal conspiracy involving a bunch of academy students. Two of his cohorts were murdered under mysterious circumstances, with a number of other murders and assaults coming up around this time. One of those was a classmate of your brother's named--" "Tohru Kubo. The professor's brother." "Right. The thing is, all of these killings and assaults were attributed to a student the reports kept calling 'The Reaper'. And they also mentioned that during this time, right before your brother's allies were killed, they were targeted by a group calling themselves the Shinigami Order. Nobody ever identified who these people were, or who this Reaper was. It's all just so...bizarre. So I--"
"Why are you so concerned about all of this?" Kibō asked. "Well, it has a lot to do with our professor. It was her brother that died. A lot of her friends were targeted, directly and otherwise. And after what happened yesterday--" "Look. All I can tell you is that my brother mentioned something weird like that happening back then. I can't speak for the professor or her friends. And frankly, I don't think it's any of your business." "Look. It's all just so weird and bizarre. All I'm doing is--" "What you're DOING is snooping around other peoples' business. What do you think the professor would think about you prying into her personal life? You think she wants to relive that? Or that I want to give my brother's bullshit a second thought?" Kibō had become increasingly agitated.
"Hey, come on, I didn't mean anything by it. I just...want to know I can trust everyone..." Barbara said. "Kind of hard when you're snooping around, isn't it? Are you like this with everybody?" Kibō demanded. "Just...stop yelling..."
"Heeheeheeheehee...oh dear, Barbara. See what being a nosy busybody gets you?"
Barbara's eyes widened. The voice was like her own, but not. "Did you...hear that?" she asked. "Heard what? What are you--" A surge of power could be felt. Energy emanated from Kenji's room. Barbara got up. She approached Kenji's room, almost as if drawn to it. "Hey, what are you doing?" Kibō asked.
"That's right, Barbara. Come closer. Lord knows you can't help snooping..." the voice echoed out. She opened the door, and a wave of darkness erupted from the room. It covered the entire room, and by the time it had dissipated, Barbara and Kibō had vanished.
Meanwhile, Rin was just waking up. She walked to the kitchen, where Rose was staring intently at her phone. "Morning, sunshine. Something happen?" Rin asked. "Rin. We have a problem." Rose uttered nervously. She showed Rin her phone screen. "I haven't had activity on this app in years. There's Shadow activity. It's coming from...the academy. And they're giving the source as one of your students."
Rin looked at the screen. "Palace Source: Kenneth Southgate."
"Current Occupants: Kenneth Southgate. Barbara O'Donnell. Kibō Ishimaru."
Rin's face turned pale. "Oh, shit." she muttered.
---
Kibō's eyes jolted open. He looked around the room. Everything was now shaded red and green. "Is this the room...? Why is it different now?" he wondered. He checked around the dormroom. No sign of Barbara. "Probably wandered off by herself. She really can't help herself..." he grumbled. He peered outside the door before walking out. 
As he walked through the similarly transformed halls, he took notice of what was different: portraits of shirtless, muscular men lined the walls. Busts of muscular chests were at the end of every hall. "I have SO many questions." he said. 
Eventually, he reached a door with a flashing lightbulb above it that read "Taping in Progress". Confused, Kibō slowly opened the door and walked inside. The room was pitch black. "Can't see a thing. Who tapes something in complete darkness? Unless it's one of those dumb ghost hunting shows..." he thought.
The lights suddenly sprung on. Appearing before Kibō was a newscaster's desk. Sitting behind it was what appeared to be Barbara, dressed in a reporter's garb. Her eyes glowed yellow. "Hello, hello, hello-lo, everyone~! And welcome to another exciting edition of 'Everyone Else's Business'! I'm your host, Barbie O!" Her voice was distorted. "I've got a special treat in store for you all today! I've decided to mix it up a bit. To help explain, here's my lovely guest for the evening, Barbie O!" Rising up from the floor, chained to a chair, was Barbara. Kibō was stunned. "For today's show, instead of me snooping into everyone else's dirty laundry, I've decided that fair is fair and that y'all should know about MY dirty laundry!"
"Who...who the heck are you?" Barbara asked. "NOW then, Barbie, let's get down to the nitty gritty! What's your cup size? How many guys have you pictured naked? How can you talk about people being real when your main career aspirations involve pretending to be someone else? Is it cuz you know you're nosy and that if you pretend you're someone else, people might LIKE you?" "Sh-shut up. That's not it at all." "Oh, sweets. There's no point in lying to me. And I thought you hated being fake? I mean, that's why daddy got banned from coaching, right?"
Barbara was speechless. "Wha...how do you..." "Keep your napkins close, everyone, cuz Barbie O is about to spill some TEA. Picture this. Daddy O'Donnell coaches the local high school football team for ten years. Mega successful, six seasons without a loss. The best kids all wanna come play for him. Peaches and gravy, right? Except it comes out that Daddy O's been giving his boys some nice freebies to come play for him. That's a big no-no. So Daddy O ends up persona non grata among the coaching ranks. Ten years of winning, poof, gone. And you wanna know who spilled the beans to the school board?"
"Why none other than his precocious little girl, Barbie O! So Daddy loses his job, and Barbie has to go live with Mommy cuz Daddy can't stand the sight of her. Hell, twin bro Maxie barely even talks to her for over a year. I mean, you've gotta feel bad. The man that raised you, cheating? If you can't trust your own pa, who can you trust? So now comes the cycle of fact-checking everyone around her, and everyone backing away, cuz who wants to be friends with a nosy snitch? Going to school in Japan felt like the only option, cuz everyone around town got sick of her shit!" Kibō looked floored. 
"Now then, Barbie..." Barbara's face was blank, almost on the verge of tears. "Answer me this: Was anything that just came out of my mouth a lie?" "...no." Barbara uttered, dejected. "Aww, it's alright. Feels great, being on the receiving end of the tea-spilling, doesn't it? You know how the old saying goes, 'karma's a bitch'. Welp, I've got another one for ya..." The second Barbara stood up, and brought out an axe from seemingly nowhere. "'Snitches get stitches.'"
"Hey, knock it off!" Kibō yelled out. "Huh?" Barbara snapped out of her trance. "Pfft, what're you objecting about? You really feel bad for Ms. Fly on the Wall here? Didn't she just barge into your room wanting you to spill the beans on your broski? Seriously, man. You're just another can of worms that needs to be opened. So butt out, and let me take her place."
Kibō went silent. "Just another can of worms...that's right...all I am...is some kid related to a criminal. My last name is all I'm good for...heh. Hehehehehe...." "Kibō..." Barbara muttered. "One foot in the funny farm, huh? Ugggh, give me a sec, Barbie. Homeboy needs an attitude adjustment." The second Barbara approached Kibō with the axe. Kibō could only keep up the nervous laughter.
"Why are you here?"
Kibō broke from his laughter. The voice sounded like a distorted version of his own.
"She dragged you into this. Whatever happens is on her, not you. You could just run. It's what Kyohei would do. Leave the poor fools to their own fate. Why not just walk away, and never think of this again?"
Kibō snapped out of it long enough to move out of the way from a swing of the axe. He fell to the floor.
"Only a swift death awaits if you intervene. You have no reason to be here. It's just more responsibility foisted on you by others. Why don't you just flee?"
Kibō slowly rose to his feet. "I'm not Kyohei. I don't have to weasel my way out of trouble. I'm not running...because I don't want to."
"...very well. If that is your truest desire, then allow me to offer you this. Let us forge a contract."
Kibō's eyes turned yellow. He clutched his head and fell to one knee. "Hey! What's the big idea? You off your meds?" the second Barbara asked.
"I am thou, thou art I. You who would risk your life for the sake of others...I offer you my blade. Use it, and cut a path that is yours, and yours alone!"
Kibō erupted into a pillar of blue flames. "The hell?!" the second Barbara uttered. Kibō emerged from the fire. "Such a pain!" She swung the axe down, only for it to be blocked. Standing in front of Kibō was a ghostly figure, draped in vermilion hued armor, blocking the axe with a shimmering longsword. "Swat her away, Percival." Kibō said. The knight did as ordered, swinging its blade and sending the duplicate flying, crashing through the wall.
Barbara sat in awe. "Dude." she said, stunned. "Percival. Get her out of that thing." The knight swung its blade at the chains, breaking them. "You alright?" Kibō asked. "Y-yeah, but...what is that thing?!" "Well...far as I can tell, it's me. Like, part of me. I don't know. I'm just as confused as you are."
The duplicate crawled back up from the rubble. Kibō prepared for another round, but Barbara stopped him. "Let me handle this." she said. She approached her double. "I know what you're trying to do. You're what I think people see, when they see me. Right? I've just been drowning in my own guilt for years. Guilt for doing the right thing, for the horrible wrong of not wanting to be lied to. All I ever wanted was honesty but instead...I get left alone."
"How do I know that nobody's gonna stab me in the back someday? Even my own dad can't stand what I did. I want to trust people, but I don't want to be hurt anymore." "You should start with easing into it." Kibō interjected. "If you ask people to tell their life's story right off the bat, that'll just turn them away completely. Being friends with someone means getting to know them over time. It's alright to be curious, but not every talk has to be an interrogation." "Yeah. You're right. I want to get off on the right foot here. I can start by working on being a better friend." The duplicate gave a light smile, and nodded, before vanishing.
"I am thou, thou art I...for the quest that is thy life, I shall lend you my wisdom. Let it be thy guiding light, to discern the truth. Neither lies, nor deceit shall inhibit thy will..."
Barbara opened her eyes, which briefly flashed yellow. "Thank you...Nimue."
"Okay, now that that's over with..." Barbara began. "Where are we? What just happened?" She looked at Kibō. "Oh, sorry. After saying I was gonna cut down on the questions..." "Nah, honestly, I think it's justified now. That wave of darkness, the dorm looking so weird, that other you...and these spirits. All that weird stuff Kyohei mentioned...suddenly it's not so weird." Kibō answered.
"Kibō! Barbara! There you are!" The two turned to see Rin, armed with an ornate lance, and Rose standing there. "Oh, thank goodness. I was scared to death for you two." Rin said. "Professor?! And Ms. Rose? What are you doing here?" Barbara asked. "I got an alert on my phone about the activity in your dorm. We raced over as quickly as we could." Rose explained. "Whoa whoa whoa, time out. An alert on your phone about this place?" Kibō questioned. "Professor...what's going on here? What's with the lance? Just...who are you?" Barbara asked.
Rin sighed. "This place...is a pocket room within humanity's consciousness." "Consciousness? You mean we're inside someone's brain?" Barbara asked. "Not exactly. This place was created by the distortion of someone's heart. It's a person's conflicted thoughts and emotions given form." Rose explained. "You two don't seem very surprised." Rin said. "Honestly, between the time stopping yesterday, those weird ghost things and that second me, I'm open to anything." Barbara said. "Ghosts? And a second you? Wait, did you two..." Rin pondered.
Rose looked intently at them. "They...they have. There's no mistaking it. They've forced their Shadows to submit and formed a Persona." she said. "Shadows? Persona? Sheesh, every answer we get just adds ten more questions..." Kibō griped. "Look, I know a lot of this doesn't make sense right now. I'll answer as much as I can for you later. But right now, we need to find Kenji." Rin said. "Kenji? What would he be doing here? I just thought he was off training somewhere." Kibō said. "This world is of Kenji's making. If he's still here, he's in serious danger. We have to move quickly." Rose said.
"Just follow close behind us. I'm sorry you got dragged here. Maybe it was fate that you became my students. Or maybe by being near me...no. It doesn't matter why. My duty is in keeping you all safe. And that's what I'll do. Swear it on my lance. Now let's get a move on." Rin dictated. She and Rose walked out the door. Barbara and Kibō gave each other confused looks. "Heck of a morning, huh?" Barbara said. "Tch. Can say that." Kibō added. They followed the two women.
The group walked into the school's main building. "The readings are strongest within the gymnasium. That should be where he is." Rose said. "Figures someone obsessed with training would be in there. Especially given..." Rin began. An assortment of stone sculptures of muscular men dotted the outside of the school. The halls were no different. "...the decorative choices." 
"There's no end to these creepy things..." said an unnerved Kibō. "This is supposed to be Kenji's world, right? I get that the guy's big on machismo but this is a little overboard." Barbara added. "I mean..." She gazed at the well-sculpted figures. "...not that I'm complaining too much." She began blushing. "Gimme a break. Guys that spend all that time flaunting their muscles could easily be testing their brains. Probably not all they're compensating for..." retorted Kibō, now puffing one of his cheeks.
The group reached the gymnasium. Numerous signs plastered the doors, bearing messages such as "Keep Out, Artist at Work" and "No Harpies Allowed". "Something tells me we won't be particularly welcome here." Rose stated. "Doesn't look like it. Okay, you two. Just keep behind us. There's no telling what's waiting in there. My advice? Don't provoke it." Rin said. "'It'?" Kibō asked. They walked inside.
The inside of the gymnasium was covered by a sea of muscular stone statues of varying sizes. "Totally not overcompensating." Kibō quipped. He looked over at Barbara. "Are you drooling?" he asked. She quickly wiped her mouth. "N-no..." she muttered. "Quit it, you two. We need to focus on finding--" Rin began, before catching sight of something.
Near the far end of the gymnasium was a large rectangular stone slab. Kenji's head poked out from it. "Uggh. What are you all doing here? And where is--" he began, only for another voice to call out. "Hey hey hey heyyyy, who are you jawing at, mister?" Poking out from behind the slab was another Kenji, eyes yellow and dressed in stereotypical artistic garb. He spoke with a lisp. "Oh, foo. I was wondering why it was feeling so shrill in here. So, what, did you mewling harpies not see the signs? Are you blind, stupid, or both? So very typical..." he chided.
"Look, I'm working on my magnum opus, so why don't you make like the little queen bees you are and buzz off?" "Please, don't. I can't stand another second of this fool's garbage." the real Kenji begged. "Garbage? Oh you break my heart, Kenny. Does it hurt that I'm saying what you're too afraid to? The Wicked Witch of West Liverpool is nowhere around here. You don't have to be someone you aren't. This stabby stab macho man nonsense isn't who we really are, you know that." "Shut up. You don't know what you're--" "'You don't know what you're talking about blahblahblah'. I know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. It's YOU that doesn't get it."
"Look, harpies." the Shadow began, "I'm feeling generous today, and Kenny is REALLY being a jerk, so I'll let you in on my dirty little secrets. You wanna know why I can't stand you all? Every 'grown' woman I've ever met's just used me as their personal whipping post. Especially Mummy Dearest. Oh how she would get SO upset from me just being who I am. 'Oh, Kenneth, you bloody poof. You'll never be a strong man in this world making those abhorrent statues or..." "Don't you dare...!" Kenji said angrily. "'...staring longingly at those other boys. The other ladies at the tea circles say such embarrassing things about how you look at their boys. Is that what you want to be, Kenneth? An embarrassment for me and your father? Clearly the whip isn't enough...'" "Kenji...is all of that true?" Kibō asked. Kenji stayed silent.
"I am an artist. All these years of being shut down at every opportunity just for being who I am. Having to parade around as some pinnacle of machismo because Mummy can't stand that her son could be this disgusting THING the other boys say I am!" Dark energy began emerging from the Shadow. "You'll keep training with the sword, Kenneth. You won't show your proclivities again, Kenneth. I'll make you a son I'm not horrified by, KENNETH."
Rin began walking towards the Shadow. "What the hell is she--" Kibō started. "Don't worry. She knows what she's doing." Rose assured. Rin took hold of her lance...and walked past the Shadow, much to its surprise. She stopped in front of the stone slab, then jabbed it with her lance, shattering it. Kenji fell to the ground. "What are you..." the Shadow uttered.
Rin knelt down. "Kenji. Everything he said was true, wasn't it?" Kenji took a deep breath, and nodded. "Ever since I was little...I could never do what I wanted. When I was a boy I saw a copy of The Thinker in Glasgow. I wanted to make something as incredible as that, but my parents..." He chuckled slightly. "They have always been so dead set on me being this emblem of manhood, that only a strong, capable man can make it far in the world. So they insisted on me training with the sword. A far more masculine trade than sculpting, in their eyes. No matter what, I had to exude manliness. You can imagine their thoughts when it came to light that I..." He paused to consider the wording. "That I wasn't interested in girls. My mother was incensed about it. Showered me in holy water, intensified the whipping sessions. Anything to keep the harpies at the tea sessions from chattering. I'm only here at the academy as a gloating point. So that dearest Mother has something to hoist over the chirping harpies. Like a sculptor flaunting their masterpiece."
"I...I am sorry, professor. I have treated you and the others poorly. All to keep up the whims of someone thousands of miles away. I know that mere words are not enough, but they are all I have. Perhaps my soul truly is beyond saving..." Rin put her hand on his shoulder. "Take it from someone that knows a thing about family treating you terribly, and about learning to accept who you are. Admirable strength doesn't come from dominating others, or flaunting achievements. It comes from living your own truth, regardless of what people think. Right now, admitting to your own faults...that's real strength. So I want you to be your real self, on your terms. Alright?" Kenji paused. "Yes, alright. I won't be my mother's sculpted piece while she's nowhere near here. I won't hide myself any longer."
The Shadow, looking pleased, vanished. Kenji started clutching his head.
"Finally, my dear boy. You are ready to accept your true self. If it is your desire, then let us forge a contract. I am thou, thou art I. This world has been entrenched in the powers of lust and conflict. Allow me to help you forge a breathtaking visage, steeped in love and hate..."
Kenji let go of his head. He stood up. "I thank you for your strength, Eligor. I will use it wisely."
"That was...wow. You didn't even have to attack him once." Barbara said. "Words can be just as powerful as weapons. If I don't need to use force, I won't. Simple as that." Rin said. "So...would anyone care to explain what any of this is?" Kenji asked. Suddenly, the ground began to shake, as the world began to crumble away. "NOW what?!" Kibō exclaimed. "That's your cue, Rose." Rin said. Rose pressed a button on her phone, and a portal opened. "Unless you all want to experience a crumbling pocket dimension firsthand, I'd suggest you all take the exit." she said. The group escaped through the portal, which promptly shut behind them.
As the world crumbled away, a figure appeared. It spoke in a heavily distorted voice. "So this realm has been opened once more...and that woman with the lance...yes. What a pleasant turn of events..." The figure vanished as the world collapsed.
---
The three students sat on the couch in Rin and Rose's living room, all bearing looks of astonishment. "Tea?" offered Rose. "I'm good." Kibō said. "I think we're getting plenty." Barbara added.
"So, let me get this straight..." Barbara began. "So, that Shinigami Order...that was you two and your friends using that...weird pocket dimension to punish a bunch of bullies?" She looked at Kibō. "No offense." "None taken." "'Punish' might not be the word. I would say we were...correcting their behavior." Rin answered. "It was a matter of defeating their Shadow selves--those copies you encountered--and forcing them to admit their wrongs publically, rather than out and out punishing them." Rose added. "See, I get that, but when I was looking up some reports from that time, it said two of the people you went after, well...died almost immediately." Barbara responded.
"That wasn't our doing." Rose retorted. "I assume in your research the name 'The Reaper' came up a few times?" "Yeah, it did. Said he was a serial killer, but they never released his identity." "All you need to know is that he was a sleazy, hateful little worm obsessed with me and willing to do anything--hurt anyone--to get my attention. Even killing a friend's mother, and kidnapping another to do...unspeakable things to him." Rin said, showing signs of visible anger. "So what happened to this Reaper?" Kenji asked. "Dead. Killed in the conflict eight years ago. Tried coming back yesterday and, well...you see that piece of avant-garde street art outside? That's what's left of him." The students looked unnerved, and decided against pressing the issue.
"So, this resurrection you mentioned...I can hardly believe it. Your brother caused his own demise just to gain power from that world we were in? It sounds insane." Kenji said. "It was insane. But you saw for yourselves. That world makes the impossible real. A voice called out from it, and Tohru answered. And what followed was--" "Pure, unfettered hell courtesy of a detestable, dishonorable cretin." Rose interrupted. "Rose." "I'm not apologizing. He tried to kill us--kill you. I don't care that he was your brother. You should know better than anyone what a demon he was." "Demon or not, he was still family. I would be lying if I said I didn't still have love for my brother. Even after everything." Rin responded. "Hm. Even after everything. Nice sentiment." Kibō muttered to himself.
A while later, the three started heading back home. "Hey, if you three could, please don't tell the others about what you saw. I know after the time stoppage they'll have questions, but if I can avoid exposing them to that world I will. I don't want them to go leaping headfirst into danger." Rin asked. "No problem. Honestly I'm not in any hurry to go back there." Kibō said as he walked out. "You have my silence, professor. Oh, and...do you know where I might find Ms. Tenko at this hour?" Kenji asked. "Tenko? Hmm, I suppose she's probably on her lunch break at work right now. Heaven knows what 'delicacies' her hormone-brain has come up with." "I...see. Well, I wanted to swing by if it didn't trouble her. I...wanted to apologize to her for yesterday." "Well, if you can just wait a sec and let me give her a call I can ask her if she's free." "I would appreciate it."
"Now where did I put my phone..." Rin went back inside, and saw Barbara standing in the hall, staring at a closed door. "Hey, professor...you don't have another roommate, do you?" she asked. The door had a simple sign on it, a border featuring white morning glories surrounding the name "Miko". Rin quickly moved in-between Barbara and the door, grabbing the handle. "There's nothing in there. Nobody's lived in there for..." Rin trailed off. Barbara, knowing the consequences for prying when she shouldn't, assented. "Alright. No problems. I'll see you tomorrow, professor." She bid Rose goodbye, and left.
Rose looked over to Rin. She had her hand on the door, slightly above the sign. She bore a sorrowful expression. "Are you--" "I'm fine, Rose. It's nothing." "Rin. I know when you're not being truthful. If you need to let it out, then--" "Let it out? Don't be ridiculous. Even if I had the urge to cry, no tears would fall. Consequences of overuse. I said I'm fine." Her hand clenched into a fist and began to shake. "I'm sorry. I'll leave you be. Do what you need to." Rose conceded, and she walked away.
Rin said nothing. She slowly turned the doorknob. The room was dark. Rin walked over and flicked on a desk lamp. Everything in the room was well-organized. Almost as though nobody had touched it in years. Rin sat on the bed. It was all the same as she'd left it. She looked over at the framed picture nestled between the pillows. She picked it up.
The girl in the picture had long, curled brown hair. She was smiling. And she was wearing red-shaded glasses, nearly identical to what Rin was wearing.
A single tear fell onto the picture. Rin took off her glasses, and wiped her eyes. 
"Guess I...still have some left over..."
Her thoughts turned to nearly four years prior...to the smile in that portrait...and to the pain that took it away.