Persona BLEACHED 3: Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Wilted Flower 
January 7, 2030 
Morning on the first day of the new semester. Students from both the dorms and around the city were filing into the school building in bunches. 
With class not for another few minutes, some were taking their time getting to where they needed to be. 
"Alright, class is gonna be in a few. Get some rest and tell me how it all goes. Don't worry, I'll be up. And remember, keep believing in yourself. Good luck~!" Natalia hung up the phone. 
"That your pal Layla, Hoods?" Kat stepped out of the classroom. 
"Uh-huh. It's still the middle of the night back home, so she won't be starting school until later. It's gonna be her first day back after everything that went down during winter break. I hope it goes better for her. Maybe I put a scare into everyone and made them rethink how they treated her." 
"Fingers and toes crossed. Just let your pals know if there's any trouble. I can maybe pull off a weekend trip to Belgium..." 
"Hopefully it doesn't come to that. Professor's still not here, is she?" 
"Nope. She's usually here pretty early. No idea what the hold-up is. I'm sure she'll tell us when she gets here. C'mon." 
The girls entered the classroom, where the rest of the students already were. "No sign of Teach yet, huh?" Sahir asked. 
"What could be taking her so long? She's not one to be tardy." Carrie pondered. 
"Traffic build-up, maybe? Gotta be crazier with classes starting up again." Max theorized. 
"I'd think she was already here. I ran into Dr. Rose in the hallway earlier. Felt like her mind was elsewhere, though. Something was on her mind." Kibō said. 
"How very strange...she's not the overtly emotional sort, so it would take something serious to make her show visible concern." Sakuya surmised. 
"If there was something wrong, they'd let us know, right?" Barbara questioned. 
"....." Kenneth was deep in thought. 
The conversation ended with the sound of the door opening. "There she is. Good morning, Prof--uh..." Kat began. 
Rin, a serious look on her face, slowly closed the door. Without uttering a word, she took a roll of duct tape out of her bag, and covered the small window on the door with it. 
"W-what's wrong, Professor?" Natalia asked. 
Rin went over to the windows, and ensured that the blinds were closed. When that was done, she grabbed the chair behind her desk and placed it at the front of the room, facing the students. She sat down. The students all bore looks of concern. 
"What I'm about to discuss with you all does not leave this room. Outside of Ms. Hinotama, you do not repeat this to anyone. Understand?" Rin dictated. 
"Prof, you're scaring us. What's going on?" Kat asked. 
"My family's been violated." 
"Violated...? What's do you mean?" Kibō asked. 
Rin took out her phone, and began texting. Kat shortly after got an alert on her phone. What she'd gotten was a series of images. "What the..." Kat uttered. The others huddled around her. 
"What...is that the flower shop?" Barbara asked. 
Indeed, the image was of the Kubo flower shop, as well as the market next-door. A crowd of people was gathered in front. Other pictures showed much the same. 
"That was from yesterday. The last few days have had identical looks. Business at both shops has skyrocketed. Insanely so, for this time of year." Rin explained. 
Other images showed Araragi giving out tarot readings, Ranmaru basking in the company of several admiring women, and Tan handing out copy after copy of his mix tape. Another one showed Hana behind the counter, looking confused by it all. 
"What is with the crowds...even if there was a holiday, this would be ridiculous..." Sahir uttered. 
"This sudden surge in popularity...there's only one explanation for this." Sakuya surmised. 
"A Prison...but this makes no sense. It looks like all of them are reaping the benefits of it. If one of them is a Warden, would it be possible for multiple people to be exerting control like this?" Kenneth questioned. 
"Why is this happening now, though? All the other Wardens were turned months ago." Max questioned. 
"It's a message." Rin responded. 
"A message?" Natalia questioned. 
"Remember that conversation we had on New Years? About the stress my family's been under as of late? It was only a day later that these crowds started appearing. Are you seeing now why I've closed this room off?" 
"So you're saying...whoever's been making these Prisons heard that conversation?" Kat asked. 
"That's exactly what I'm saying. The mastermind of this whole debacle heard everything, and reacted by creating another Prison with my family as Wardens." 
"Why would they do that?" Natalia asked. 
"Any number of reasons. Maybe in their twisted mind they think they're being of some kind of help. Maybe it's a warning that they're watching and know where they can hurt me. A power move. Whatever the reason, it's a direct response to that conversation. And that's part of what frightens me. The more immediate concern for me now is my mother. I believe that she herself is the primary Warden." 
"How is Ms. Hana reacting to this? She looked uncharacteristically nervous in those photographs." Kenneth questioned. 
"Mom...she's overwhelmed. Flowers aren't something that can be quickly replenished. She's exhausted her phone trying to get emergency shipments in. She isn't used to being crowded out of her own store. But the people just keep coming. I haven't seen this level of stress from her since after Dad died. I'm just worried that she'll..." 
Rin's phone began to ring. "This had better not be a spam call, or someone's getting an earful..." She answered. "Hello? Yes, this is she...what? What do you mean she..." 
The students listened intently as Rin grew pale. "Yes, okay...I'll be there as soon as I can." She hung up. "That was the hospital in Karakura...apparently my mother showed up to work and was met with another large crowd, and proceeded to faint after being swarmed. They just rushed her to the hospital, and she was still unconscious as of that call..." 
The class reacted with shock and concern. "I...I have to go, NOW. I'll let Rose know so she can look over you all, but I have to be with my mother..." Rin packed up her things and hustled out the door. 
A short way down the hall, someone called out to her. "Professor, wait up!" 
"Stay right there, Kat. I won't have you get in trouble over this." 
"Screw that! I'm not letting you run off by yourself on this. I'm coming along whether you want me to or not. And I...I have something you need to hear. But that can wait. Your Ma needs you, and I'm your designated protégé and I'm telling you I'm coming with." 
"Kat..." Tears began welling up in Rin's eyes. "Thank you. Alright, let's hurry." 
--- 
"What the..." Kat uttered. 
The pair were in front of the hospital, and a crowd was there. "What's going on here?" Rin questioned. 
"Oh, you must be Rin-chan! This is where Ms. Hana is, and we all came to see if she was alright!" an older woman replied. 
"She fainted right in front of us, so we followed the ambulance here!" an older man added. 
"It's none of your concern. You people are the reason she fainted in the first place." Rin sternly replied. 
"We just wanted to give the poor dear some aid!" 
"She's such a wonderful lady and we feel so bad for her!" 
"Please, Rin-chan, won't you let us pay our respects in person?" 
Rin's anger grew with every question, and her fists clenched. "You vultures need to leave." 
"Don't be like that, lady! We're just concerned is all!" 
"What kind of daughter would hog her mother all to herself, anyhow? Sharing is caring, y'know!" 
The more the crowd talked, the hotter Rin burned. A fiery aura surrounded her, as her eyes turned yellow, and her voice distorted, all of which went unseen to all save for Kat. "Leave. Now." 
"Easy, Prof..." Kat tried to calm her. 
"Who told you that you're the only one who can worry about someone? What a wicked child you are!" 
The burning aura permeated the area, enough to where the crowd became affected. "What's with this heat...?!" 
"You people drive my mother into a panic, beg for me to let you in, then have the gall to chastise me for protecting her from you? You know how that makes me feel?" Rin growled. 
She took a step towards the intimidated crowd. "BEGONE." 
In a panic, the crowd dispersed. Rin ceased her aura once they were all gone. 
"Prof...that was wild." Kat uttered. 
"It's a joke. All of it. I'm not letting some mind-controlled mob tell me what kind of daughter I am. None of what they said is what they actually think. I'm the only one my mother needs now." Rin replied. 
Kat put a hand on her mentor's back. "Let's go see her, then." 
Rin rushed over to the room where her mother was. "209...209...209..." She made it to the room. "Mom!" 
Hana was sitting up in her bed. "Hello, blossom...quite a case of the Mondays, huh?" she weakly said. 
"She just regained consciousness." the doctor said. 
Rin quickly took to her mother's side. "I was so scared on the way here...how are you feeling?" 
"I'm alright, blossom...just a little panic attack, that's all..." 
"Mom, they said you fainted on sight. That's more than just a panic attack. Did any of those vultures hurt you?" 
"They're just being enthusiastic...they did crowd me a bit, but nothing too physical...were any of them out there?" 
"There was a crowd of them at the entrance. I told them to leave. They have no business harassing you here. Wait a second...why isn't Tan here?" 
"He must still be at the store...same with your cousins." 
"No way. That isn't like him. He would've raced here with you in the ambulance." Rin let out a sigh. "He really has been..." 
"Don't judge him, blossom...this is nothing major, really...mmmph, I'm sorry, just a little sleepy..." Hana put her head back down and fell asleep. 
"Mom! What's going on..." 
"Some tiredness is normal. We're monitoring her for any potential abnormalities. We don't think it was anything like a heart attack, but we have to err on the side of caution." the doctor explained. 
"Mom...whoever did this to you, I'll..." Rin clenched her fists. 
"Your frustration is understandable, Professor Kubo, but you shouldn't waste energy on some quest for revenge. Your mother needs you here. This has all the makings of a stress-related seizure. She needs you to be her rock." 
Rin rubbed her eyes. "I need a minute outside..." 
Kat waited out in the hallway. Rin walked out of the room, still emotional. "How is she?" Kat asked. 
Rin struggled to compose herself. "She passed out from panic...that mob keeps trying to crowd around her...and my brother didn't rush over here to be with her? It's too much...whoever's doing this is mocking our pain. What kind of sadist would..." She took her glasses off and tried clearing her eyes. "Why her? Why did it have to be my mother? All she wants is a little peace...why nearly kill her just to get to me..." 
Kat, without any hesitation, gave Rin a hug. "We'll fix this, Prof. We'll make this right. Just don't do anything that'd upset her. She needs you now more than ever. Leave the cleanup to us." 
"Kat..." 
"You want me to stay here, I'll stay here. You have anyone else you want to call?" 
"Tan needs to be here...but I know why he won't. But I need someone else here to comfort her..." 
"Call up a friend. You know who she talks with?" 
"I know she's gotten close with Ms. Kyoko. I don't have her number, though..." 
"Leave that to me, I'll just ask Keebie for it. And I'll stay here for as long as you need me. Just try to stay calm for your Ma." 
"Thank you, Kat. I'll try my hardest. Thanks for being here for me." 
"It's no problem. Let me get Thunderbolt's number for ya." Kat walked away and began dialing her phone. 
Rin looked into the room, where her mother lay asleep. "Mom...you always act like nothing is wrong. I know your hurt better than anyone...I'm sorry this is happening to you." she uttered.
Kat went downstairs to the lobby to wait. After a little while, she overheard a commotion outside. "Aw, don't tell me..." 
She went outside, and saw that the crowd had gathered once more. Blocking them from entering was a lone Naruki police officer--Jugo. 
"Move along, folks. Y'all have no business here." 
"The hell, that lady called the cops on us? Visiting people ain't a crime!" 
"Normal visits ain't. But things like stalking and harassment are. Last warning. I catch any of y'all chumming it up around here again, I'm takin' ya down to county. Now git." 
The crowd dispersed again. "Damn buzzards. Where do they get off..." 
"Officer!" Kat exited the hospital. 
"Nnh? You're one of the Boss' flock. Shouldn't you be in school?" 
"I'm here with the Professor. She really needs people with her right now. Like, actual friends and not a drooling mob." 
"Shoot...what a mess. You know what room Big Mama is in?" 
"Second floor, 209. She'll be happy to see you. Hopefully more friendly faces show up soon..." 
Rin sat outside of her mother's room, deep in thought. 
"Hey, Boss?" Jugo arrived. 
"Jugo, hey...it's good to see you." 
"Anytime, darlin'. How's she holding up?" 
"....." 
"That bad, huh?" 
"She was awake for a little after I got here, but she's been out ever since. They're doing a few more tests now, but they agree that it's likely due to an excess of stress. The store, the bickering, everything that happened with Dad and Tohru...it's all been building up and now this huge swarm of people comes in and it pushes her to the breaking point and now my brother isn't even here because the demon that did this to Mom warped his brain and I..." 
"Easy, Boss, just breathe. Don't drive yourself nuts over this." 
"I did this, Jugo! As soon as I mentioned how crazy things have gotten, this starts happening! This wasn't a random incident. This was a targeted response to everything I said. The last thing I ever wanted was to cause Mom any more stress, and now...I might as well have put her in that bed myself." 
Rin put a hand to her face, and was shaking. "Was it all a mistake, Jugo? This life, the Metaverse, telling more people about it...is this karma for tampering with people's hearts? It was supposed to be justice, right? Helping people? How does this help anyone?" 
"There's a right way and a wrong way, Boss. What we did stopped a lot of hurt in the end. The 'git behind this, I dunno what their angle is, but they're in the wrong. They might think this power trip game is helping in some way, but it's just making one person's misery everyone's misery. That troupe of yours are the ones doin' the helping. Don't take the heat for what a sociopath is doin'. They're the reason Big Mama's in that bed, not you." 
"It's hard not to feel that way. How can I even help Mom out now? That crowd...they called me a bad daughter because I wouldn't let them in. I know their minds are being warped, but..." 
"You rushed over here the minute you heard she was in trouble. Don't let the buzzards tell ya nuthin' about that. You bein' here is enough." 
"Oi, oi, officer! You gonna do anything about that cult with the candles outside?!" Storming over to the room was Kyoko. 
"Cult with the candles?" Rin questioned. 
"There were all these freaks outside holding up candles. Saying they were 'praying for Hana's soul'. I told 'em they should pray I wouldn't leave my sneakers in their assholes, but they weren't budging." 
"Aw, hell. They ain't takin' me seriously. Bad Cop it is." Jugo replied. "I gotta call in some backup. Keep your head up, Boss. Keep me posted." 
"Thank you, Jugo. Good luck." Rin replied. 
Jugo left, leaving Rin with Kyoko. "Rin, honey, how ya holding up?" 
"I'm a basket case, Mrs. Ishimaru. My mind's in a million spots. All I can really do is sit and wait and hope she'll be okay." 
"I'm so sorry. I ran over here as fast as I could. Are they not letting anyone see her?" 
"They're doing some more tests, just to see that nothing else is wrong. I'm worried about any lasting damage. Ohhh, why is this happening?" 
"Breathe, hon, it's gonna be alright. Your mom's too much of a badass to let something like this do her in. And I can keep ya company as long as you need." 
"You sure? Mr. Ishimaru won't have problems by himself?" 
"Ahh, Kabu can handle himself. But I called up that Ibuki girl to fill in for me in the meantime. I'll be your happy little servant until it's time to get your ma out of here." Kyoko winked. 
"Thank you...Mom would be happy to know you were here. My mind's just too scattered to deal with this on my own..." 
A nurse exited the room. "Excuse me, Professor Kubo?" 
"Yes, how is she?" Rin asked. 
"She's still resting right now. We'll have the results back soon, so in the meantime, you can take a seat in the waiting area right down the hall." 
"Okay...just please, please let me know when there's an update." 
"Of course." 
"C'mon, little apple. Let me get you a drink. Water, tea, coffee? Don't need you passing out, too." Kyoko urged. 
"Water is fine. Just need a second to breathe more than anything." Rin uttered. 
Down in the lobby, Kat was on the phone. "...yeah, still too soon to tell. Just passing the word along for Prof. She's...in a state right now. I've tried getting in touch with your wifey, but I guess she's in the middle of something. If you could just let her know...okay, thanks, Mr. Mirai. Appreciate it." 
She hung up, and sighed. Not a moment later, her phone lit up with a call. She picked up. "Hey, Care. Sorry, I've been calling Prof's mates and letting them know what's happening. Pheeeew. Her mom's been out for a little while now. Still waiting on some updates. Prof's not doing too well, but she's got Keebie's mom here for some company. Hopefully some of her crew can pop by...Yeah. I know what we've gotta do. All we need is the key phrase. If her mom is the main Warden, then we'd need a phrase important to her..." 
"College boy." 
"Huh...?" Kat turned to see Rin standing there. "Prof?" 
"When my parents met, my Dad was balancing college with building the market back up. Mom always called him 'College boy', even well into their marriage. If there was any one phrase that she would hold as important, it would be that." 
"Okay...you get that, Care? We'll give it a shot when you're out of school. I'll hold the fort here...Love you, too. Bye." Kat hung up. "What are you doing down here?" 
"I, uh...wanted to grab a few things from home. Chances are, I'm going to be here for a while. I absolutely don't want to leave, but..." 
"I can swing by your place for you. I've still got the spare key." 
"Oh, Kat, don't worry about that. How would you even get there? Between the wait for a train and then heading to the housing area..." 
"Your officer friend's still out there clearing the mob out. I can ask him for a ride. Just tell me what you're needing." 
"Kat, that really isn't necessary, I can do it myself..." 
"Where you need to be is here with your mom. Sit here, cool down, and let me get what you need. Focus on your mom, and focus on you." Kat patted Rin on the arm. "You're always helping us out with whatever we need. You can rely on me too. OK?" 
"....." Rin couldn't formulate a response. "I...could use a change of clothes. Maybe a couple snacks from the pantry, and a blanket. We just got done with laundry, so they should all be clean...and I have some framed family photos in my living room. There's one with everyone together. Mom, Dad, Tan, Tohru and me. For however long she's here, I want her to remember the good days...when everyone was here." 
"You got it. I'll go get Officer and--" 
Rin held Kat. She began to shed more tears. Kat reciprocated. "I know. I know. Just let it out. We'll get the SOB that did this. I swear it."
--- 
"I've always had a close bond with my mother. I'm the baby of the family, I'm the only girl...even when we were all together, I was always a mommy's girl. She taught me all the ins and outs of flower care, how to sing, a few company secrets on how to ace a pachinko machine...and how to be my own, unique person. You've seen it for yourself. She wears her individuality like a badge of honor. She's in her 50s and goes out and parties like she's a teenager. She thinks I don't know, but I do." 
"Our hardship brought us closer. Dad was gone, Tohru was gone, Tan was in jail...for a time, it was just me and her. She worked so hard to keep the store afloat. Stress seems to come from every angle with no relief. It's been that way ever since Dad passed. She always acts like she isn't phased by it, but I know what the truth is. Her heart is still broken. Just last week, she was playing for Dad and Tohru. She's as mournful now as she was when they passed. I've spent my post-school life trying to make sure she was happy and at-peace. She kept it together for me, and it's my turn to do the same for her. But..." 
Rin paused, now seated in the waiting room. Seated next to her, holding her hand, was Hiyoko. "I just don't know...losing Dad and Tohru crushed me. But if I lost Mom now, like this...knowing that she's suffering because of something I said...I don't think I could go on. I might just wither away right then and there..." 
"Please don't think that way, dear. Your mother is going to be alright. Both you and her have endured much worse than this. This is not your doing. It's an attempt by a villain to intimidate you, nothing more. A cowardly attempt, at that." Hiyoko replied. 
"How'd they even hear that, anyway?" asked an also-present Jin. 
"I don't know. The only reason I can come up with is that they have something bugged. My house, someone's phone...it could be anything." Rin answered. 
"Hrm..." 
"That's a mystery for another day. The utmost priority now is Ms. Hana's health. Along with undoing what's been done to the rest of the family." Hiyoko said. 
"Yeah...hey, thanks again for coming. Getting out of work must've been a hassle." Rin said. 
"Anytime, love. The middle of the work day isn't too busy, anyway. JoJo was sorry he couldn't make it, but he's out at sea and won't be coming back until late." Hiyoko replied. 
"I've got people to hold the fort. Tenko has some clients she couldn't cancel on, otherwise she'd be here. Mimi's gonna bring the baby later when she comes in for her shift. Not how we wanted to celebrate her first birthday, but we can't just leave you hanging." Jin added. 
"I absolutely appreciate it." Rin's phone lit up. "It's Rose...I need to take this, I'm sorry." 
She got up and walked out. "...I know that look, Jin. What's got you thinking?" Hiyoko asked. 
"I know she has bigger things to think about, but she has to have considered the other possibility. About how the culprit heard her talking about her troubles." Jin replied. 
"I'm sure she has, but it's not a possibility anyone would like to think about. And right now she has much more pressing matters to attend to." 
"Yeah. Not gonna think about any culprit until everything here is sorted." 
Outside, Rin took her call. "Rose..." 
"My love, how is she? Any significant updates?" Rose asked. 
"They're saying that...it's likely she suffered a seizure caused by an overload of stress. She woke up for a little this morning, but now it's been four hours since she fell asleep. They're keeping her monitored in case of another seizure, and to make sure there isn't any permanent damage." 
"I'm so sorry, Rin. If I could be there, I absolutely would." 
"I know you would. I know how much you love Mom, and she absolutely feels the same about you. You'll come as soon as you pick up Shizuka, won't you?" 
"I absolutely will. Nothing in this world could ever keep me from being by your side. Present work situation notwithstanding. And what about you? How are you holding up?" 
"....." 
"Foolish question. Is anyone else there with you?" 
"Kat's getting herself something to eat. Mrs. Ishimaru is bringing me lunch. Jin and Hiyoko just got here a little while ago. I have company." 
"Okay...good. Please stay strong, beloved. I will be there as soon as humanely possible." 
"Thank you. I love you, Rose." 
"And I, you. Send Ms. Hana all of my love." 
"I will. See you soon." 
The call ended. "....." Rose muttered, sitting outside on a bench. 
The whole class was gathered there. "How is she?" Barbara asked. 
"The best way I can describe it is 'what you would imagine heartbreak sounding like'." Rose replied. 
"This is terrible...what should we do when school's done? I want to be there for her, but..." Natalia said. 
"Things won't be completely okay until the Prison's dealt with. This isn't something we can wait on." Kibō said. 
"As much as we want to be there for the Professor, we have our own job to do. We'll meet up with Hinotama-san and Kat-chan near the market district." Sakuya stated. 
"Hopefully the phrase Teach gave us works. One thing's for sure, this one's gonna hurt..." Sahir uttered. 
"It's likely to be filled with the most painful of memories. But if we don't act now, the suffering will only permeate into something horrific. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Ms. Hana's life is in the balance." Kenneth dictated. 
"Focus only on the task ahead. I and the others will tend to Ms. Hana and Rin. You must end this quickly and decisively. Before more damage is done." Rose urged. 
--- 
A few hours passed. The class gathered close to where the Kubo-Hanazaki shops were, though no closer, as the crowds would not allow it. "Another familiar sight. Lining up in bunches to support their 'hero'." Max said. 
"Woof. Nice to see people enjoying their vegetables, but this is a bit much, methinks." Ibuki arrived. 
"Hey, how'd you hold up today? Not too crazy, I hope." Kibō asked. 
"I had to talk to people. About computers. Thank the gods your dad is so chill and understanding. Guess you'd have to be to be married to someone with as big a personality as Kyoko-sama." 
"I couldn't live if he wasn't. If he had Mom's intensity, I'd never go home. Ever." 
Kat soon arrived. "Well, the crowd isn't an encouraging sight." 
"Kitten, how's everything at the hospital?" Carrie asked. 
"I didn't want to leave, but Doc and the rest of Prof's entourage were making their way in. Her mom woke up a little before I left, but they weren't letting visitors in just yet. Must be killing Prof inside not being able to see her." 
"Yeesh, my heart's aching for the poor lady. Least her mates are there in the meantime." Sahir said. 
"But someone else should be there, shouldn't they?" Barbara questioned. 
At that moment, music was blaring out from the market. "Ladies, please, one at a time!" Tan could be overheard boasting. 
"Yeah. Someone should." Kat responded. 
"Kat-chan. I know that voice. I'd strongly advise against--" Sakuya warned. 
"Wait here. I've got words in my mouth that need expelling." Kat walked towards the market. 
"--acting rashly." 
"This can only end in tragedy." Kenneth uttered. 
"Ya got any more requests? This is like, the seventh CD you've bought..." Tan said, a crowd of admirers around him. 
"Yo, DJ Tan Man." Kat pushed through the crowd. 
"Hey, no cutsies!" one young woman complained. 
"Honey, you keep pissing me off, I'll show ya real cutsies." Kat reached for her dagger, hidden beneath her skirt. 
"Oi, KittyKat! Fancy meeting you here! I mean, you've got a first edition autographed copy of my mix tape. That's about as valuable as it gets!" Tan exclaimed. 
"I'm not here for your whinging singing, bozo. You mind telling me why you're taking in the scent of fangirls while you're mom's lying in a hospital bed?" 
"Ahh, Ma's a tough lady. She'll pull through just fine. Can't leave the shop unattended, can I?" 
"You know what, fair enough. Leaving your store with no one around would be a huge problem. But see, here's what I'm having a problem with. Your mother--the woman who birthed you into this miserable world--has been in and out of consciousness all day. Your sister, without a second thought, ran from her professorial duties so she could spend the day crying her eyes out by her side. And I--a girl whose only family connection is being your niece's babysitter--did the same thing and sat right next to her for the last seven-and-a-half hours. I did that, yet her first-born can't tear himself away from his fan legion for more than two seconds to see how she's doing? Did a little bit of attention really kill your priorities that much?" 
"Hey hey hey, you've got it all wrong! Ma is gonna spring back up any minute now. Don't need to stir things up over something that'll be fixed in a day, right?" 
"Boy, Warden's Disease hit you hard, didn't it? Do you even hear yourself?" Kat got right up to Tan. "I can acknowledge that this isn't really you talking. I know that this is someone warping your mind and the rest of this crowd for some insane reason. I also know that once we fix your brain, you're gonna feel like shit about all of this." She put a hand on his shoulder. "I acknowledge all of this as fact, and am still choosing to respond in the following way." 
Before he could react, Tan was overcome by a searing pain coming from his lower extremities. He fell to his knees, grasping at the spot that Kat had just hit with her knee. The crowd all tried attending to him. "Y'know, given your singing talents and criminal record, one would assume you'd be wearing a cup at all times. Catch ya on the flip side, Mr. DJ." Kat walked away. 
She returned to the group. "You know the mind bending isn't his fault, right?" Max asked. 
"Yeah...I don't care. You try having Prof cry on your shoulder and not want to do the same thing. No more BS. We gut through this in one go. For Prof and her mom." Kat opened the app. 
"Welcome. Please enter the keyword." 
"Hope this is it. 'College boy'." 
"Thank you. Beginning navigation." 
With the utterance of those words, the world began to shift.
--- 
Finally allowed into the hospital room, Rin set the family photo on the stand next to her mother's bed. Hana was still out of consciousness. Rin sat next to the bed, as close as she could. "....." 
The door opened, and Rose stepped in. "I'm here, Rin. I'm sorry I took so long." 
"You're here, and that's all that matters. Thank you for taking over the class for me." Rin replied. 
"Of course. That's what I'm here for. How is she?" 
"In and out all day. She'll wake up for a moment and then fall back asleep just a few minutes later. Was she even getting any rest before today?" 
"Given how busy the shop has been, it stands to reason that she'd be experiencing exhaustion. But this level of inactivity from one so lively...it's painful to watch, to say the least." 
"....." 
Rose put her hands on the chair. "Please, tell me what's on your mind. From how you sounded on the phone, I could feel your heart snapping in twain. Believe me when I say that I share your heartbreak. Ms. Hana has always been like a mother to me. So please, don't hold anything in." 
"...this was always going to happen. The years of tampering with others' hearts, exposing others to the world of shadows, my defiance of Tohru...I always thought it was for the greater good. But what purpose does this serve? Is it worth it when the ones I hold dear are put in danger because of an innocent conversation?" Rin grabbed her mother's hand. "I...I was only able to move past the dark times because Mom was there for me. If I lost her now, like this..." 
Rin began to shake. "Please, Mom. Please be okay...I need you, so badly. I'm sorry if I don't come around as often as you'd want. We can take a trip somewhere, just you and me. And I'm going to get on my hands and knees and beg you to retire. You deserve a peaceful life. I know you miss Dad...I do, too. I know you want to be with him, but...I can't let you go. My job, my life, my age, none of it matters. I want my mom here...with me..." 
"Rin..." 
Rin wiped her forehead. "I don't know why...this is happening, but...maybe I should just...take a break..." 
She promptly fainted. 
"Rin! What in the world..." Rose felt her head. "Oh, dear. So consumed by your mother's stresses, you've allowed your own to take hold. What to do..." 
A short while later, Rin had woken up, and had been seated in the waiting room, holding a pack of ice over her head. "I want you to relax...just some simple, easy peasy breathing exercises. In and out." Tenko instructed. "In...out...in...out..." 
Rin followed along. 
"Any better?" Tenko asked. 
"I don't know how to answer that." Rin uttered in response. 
"Yeah, stupid question. Just keep calm and don't move a muscle. Rosie's in there with your mama. That just happened cuz you were straining your brain. You need to keep it together, or things are just gonna spiral down." 
Rin let out a sigh. "This is such a horrible mess. The whole day's felt like a blur. I can barely even remember--oh no, Rina's birthday! Jin mentioned it earlier, but it didn't hit me until now..." 
"No no no no no, do not freak out over it. Big man and me are here for you. When everything is sorted and normal--because it will be--we can have a little get-together. This isn't something you should feel guilty over, understand?" 
"Yes, ma'am." 
"Feeling good enough for a little joke, at least. I'll go get you some ginger ale for your head. Stay strong, beautiful." Tenko left the room. 
"..." Rin looked exhausted. "I can't even muster the energy to argue...this has to be resolved soon, or else..." 
--- 
"Uhh, hmmm. This ain't what I was expecting." Kat stated. 
The inside of the Prison was shrouded in night. Street lights had been replaced with ceremonial lanterns, while the buildings around town more closely resembled temples. The group were in front of what were once the flower shop and market, though that space was now overtaken by a looming temple. 
"This was formed by Ms. Hana's thoughts and feelings, right? I was expecting something a little more...flowery." Barbara said. 
"The air here isn't as lively as I would've assumed. It feels...still. I'd go as far as to say...it feels mournful." Carrie commented. 
"And look at this. The way in's wide open." Sahir noted. "Isn't it usually locked until we get through the towers?" 
"Right. The towers. Got any reads on them, Care?" Kat asked. 
"Let me take a look." Carrie brought her display up. "Ah...hm. That's strange." 
"What's wrong?" Kibō asked. 
"There...aren't any Prison Towers. I'm getting no readings at all from that front. And as for the captured Desires, the energy signature is rather small compared to our previous ventures." 
"Guess that makes sense. This place only just popped up. Might not be fully developed yet." Max assumed. 
"That should make it easier, right?" Natalia asked. 
"Assume nothing. Something about this incident has left me puzzled..." Kenneth replied. 
Before he could elaborate, an announcement sounded out. "Attention. This is a priority announcement to all members of the Fellowship of Kaito. You are to meet at the Central Temple for daily prayer. Attendance is mandatory." echoed a woman's distorted voice. 
"'Fellowship of Kaito'?" Kenneth questioned. 
"...hm?" Carrie uttered. "Oh no. I'm getting incoming readings. Hide!" 
The group ducked into an alley adjacent to the large temple. Over a dozen Shadows soon manifested, garbed in pitch-black robes, and filed into the building. 
"Shady guys in robes. Never a good sign." Ibuki said. 
"Please don't remind me." Sakuya responded. 
"Someone give me a boost. I'll try to see what's up through the window." Kat ordered. 
"On it. Watch your boots..." Sahir picked Kat up, and she grabbed onto the ledge, before flipping up onto the roof. She moved over to the window, and took a look through the glass. She tried to listen in, but the window was soundproof. 
"Hmm..." She noted the wooden beams close to the window, and had an idea. She took out her dagger, and carved a small hole into the glass, using the blade to knock the carved-out glass outside. "Meow." She transformed into her cat form, and hopped though the hole, landing onto the beams inside. "Now, what kinda Manos fun do we have going on here?" she thought. 
Inside the temple was an assembly hall, with lit candles and an altar at the head of it. Hanging in front of the altar was a wooden wheel, with a phrase scrawled into it: "Fatum rotam". On either side of the altar were stone carvings of a bespectacled man. "I've seen pictures of that guy before around Prof's house...that's her dad. So the 'Cult of Kaito', huh..." Kat thought. 
The Shadows were standing in the pew, heads down and chanting. Soon enough, another figure manifested beneath the wheel. It was a woman with dark red hair, dressed in black garb calling to mind a fortune teller, with a shroud over her mouth. As with any Shadow Self, her eyes were a stark yellow. When she spoke, her voice was identical to the one that issued the earlier announcement. "Good day to you all. It is time to give our thanks. To the eternal wheel, and to the wonderful man who has brought us all here to his house of worship." 
"What's with this chick? All she's missing is the crystal ball. That voice, though...it's not Ms. Hana. No...but I've heard it before..." Kat thought. She went back to the prior week's events, and to the odd couple she encountered by the stores. "That's it! I think her name was...Araragi. She's Prof's cousin. But wait...what's she doing walking around in here? Any Shadows in this place should be locked in a Tower if they aren't the Warden. I entered Ms. Hana's name into the app...no one else should be in this place. Also...I don't see any Desires in here. I know there shouldn't be as many as usual, but still..." 
Araragi's Shadow resumed speaking. "For centuries, since the days of our humble ancestor Lady Kanehime, the clan Hanazaki has believed in two forces above all else. Nature that gifts us the most beauteous of plant life, and the unyielding, merciless turning of the wheel of fate. Our gracious benefactor, Her Grace, Lady Miu, is no different in her beliefs. For it was the divine wheel that led her and her beloved, the honorable Sir Kaito, to cross paths. They came from distant cities to find purpose in new horizons, and thus, they who never would have met otherwise became a union. And as the wheel gave, so too did it take away, when the divine creators called Sir Kaito home." 
"Were it not for this man, these hallowed halls would remain derelict. Such man gave unto Lady Miu the most precious of gifts: companionship, understanding, and the blessing of new life, threefold. Many would call his loss an unspeakable tragedy, yet our clan understands this to be fate's divine will. No action is made without purpose. And so we offer our thanks to Sir Kaito for the kindness he showed to Lady Miu, and to Lady Miu for keeping his spirit of generosity and goodwill alive through the years. Let us pray." 
The Shadows resumed chanting. "I think my brain's been fried from all that word vomit. All that junk about a wheel and whatnot. So Ms. Hana sees her stores as a kind of memorial to her husband. Something's weird about this, though. Wasn't she split from her family until recently? How many of them even met her husband? Why would Esmeralda be leading the prayer circle?" Kat thought. 
"It appears that a stray has intruded upon this sacred ground." 
Kat jarred out of her thoughts, to see Araragi staring up at her. "How the hell did she see me?! What is this lady's deal?!" 
"Whether it be man or beast, none may trespass upon this most hallowed of places. Seize it." the Shadow ordered. 
Kat scampered to the window and hopped through the hole. She turned back into human form, and leapt off of the roof back to where the rest of the group remained. "You see anything? What's happening in there?" Kibō asked. 
"I'll try explaining later, we've gotta run!" Kat urged. 
"Interlopers." Araragi appeared suddenly, flanked by the other Shadows. 
"Who the heck is this chick? That's not Teach's ma, is it?" Sahir questioned. 
"Nah, it ain't. It's one of Prof's cousins." Kat answered. 
"To disturb a sacred rite is a grave sin, indeed. Our temple has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to intruders. Before you meet your ends, just know that it was fate that decreed that you would be smitten this day." Araragi dictated. 
"You keep going on and on about fate this, wheel that. I dunno if you know this, but we've made a habit out of giving fate the finger." Kat retorted. 
"Blasphemy. Fate by its very definition is unassailable. Do not trample upon Her Grace's beliefs with such foolishness." 
"It's the truth. Ask our own divine oracle." Kenneth replied. 
"That's right! Care's power's gotten us out of danger a bunch of times!" Natalia added. 
"If it weren't for her warnings, some of us wouldn't be here right now." Kibō continued. 
"An oracle, you say?" Araragi questioned. 
"That is correct. Mine is the power of foresight. There have been many a time where a vision I received allowed my companions to evade harm or even death at the last moment. A defiance of what is to come were I not to act. Fate is not as unbreakable as you claim." Carrie responded. 
"....." Araragi was ponderous. 
"Got any more grandiose sermons for us?" Ibuki asked. 
"I see. So yours is the power to defy the path that fate has laid out for all of man. Such perverse actions are contrarian to Her Grace's teachings." Araragi turned to Kat. "Hold. I recognize this one. You are the one designated by Lady Ringo as her protégé. The Wild Card." 
"Nobody 'designated' me anything. I'm only here because this place is hurting Ms. Hana, and we're shutting the door on that." Kat replied. 
"Harming Her Grace? Preposterous. This is a shrine to her efforts in responding to the wheel's turning. For enduring all of life's hardships with a smile and acceptance of what has occurred. This place exists solely for her benefit." 
"Her current status as a hospital patient speaks to the opposite. Only three people are currently reaping the benefits of this Prison's existence. And one of them is you." Sakuya retorted. 
"You might think this is good now, but this whole deal is nothing but a torture session masked as a power trip. I know better than anyone how sick you're gonna feel when we're done with you." Ibuki added. 
"This argument is utterly meaningless. You are naught but rebels to destiny's intentions. And for that..." The Shadow began exerting its aura. "You shall be extinguished." 
The robed Shadows behind her dissolved into the ground, coalescing and forming into a mass that rose into the air. What formed from the miasma was a large crystal orb filled with a mist-like substance. 
"Come forth, scions of rebellion. You shall experience first-hand what becomes of those who resist Her Grace's desires."
The orb began to shake, and at that moment, a dense fog fell upon the immediate area. "The hell? I can't see shit!" Ibuki griped. 
"Fate is inescapable. Flee from it, reject it, and it will still punish you. It is all-consuming. Reject its reach all you dare. Your only destiny shall be to wander forever..." Araragi's voice echoed around. 
"Her voice is all around...I can't place where she's at..." Kibō said. 
Carrie looked around, trying to find her bearings. "...hm?!" 
"The Sun. Danger comes from behind." 
"...! Sahir, move away! Behind you!" 
"Crap, why's it gotta be--AW JEEZ!" Sahir jumped forward, as an unseen force sliced the air behind him. "Man, that could've been nasty. What was that?" 
"The Faith. They must leap back." 
"In front of you, Ibuki! Get back!" Carrie called out. 
"What the what? Yikes!" Ibuki jumped back as a blast of energy hit where she had been standing. 
"The Magician. Assault from behind." 
"Kibō, something's approaching you from behind! Prepare yourself!" Carrie called again. 
"Hm?" A cloaked Shadow charged at Kibō from behind, leading him to flip it over and drive it into the ground, dissipating it. "Enemies in the fog...and no clue where their leader is. You have your radar up, Care?" 
"Let me look..." Carrie tried bringing up her map, but it fizzled out. "No good! The fog must be interfering with it. I can't tell where anyone is..." 
"So we're fighting blind, great." Kat uttered. 
"I'm so sorry, this has never happened before..." 
"Nonono, I'm not blaming you, dollface. Just means we have to get creative. You keep working your vision magic and keep us alive." 
"First thing is we've gotta get rid of this damn fog. Not getting anywhere like this." Ibuki asserted. 
"That means blowing up that gaudy-looking crystal ball. Can't be that hard to hit something that huge. Maybe we just shoot at the air and hope for the best?" Natalia considered. 
"Who knows where that thing has shifted. If we start firing off attacks in these kinds of conditions, we'll be just as liable to hit each other." Kenneth retorted. 
"There has to be some way to get through this...does anyone have a light source?" Sakuya asked. 
A light bulb went off in Sahir's head. "Oh, duh! I'm basically a portable torch!" In between his hands, he formed a fireball, lighting up the space around him. "Score +1 for Kicks FC--" He opened his eyes to see numerous Shadow priests directly in front of him. "OH HELL NAH!" 
The sounds of the footballer frantically attacking the enemies echoed out within the fog. "Not exactly covering yourself in glory, are you?" Kenneth sighed. 
"Alright, let me show you how a fireballer really gets things done." Ibuki called forth Mina, and the spirit called down a pillar of light around her, pushing the fog back and knocking away the nearby Shadows. Through the light, Ibuki caught sight of something reflective. "Heh. Got you." The Persona brought out an old-fashioned rifle, branded with a cross, and aimed it at the reflective shape. It fired out a burst of light, which crashed straight through the orb, shattering it to pieces. 
Slowly, the fog lifted. The Shadows hidden within melted away. Araragi stood in place, stunned. 
"Nice shooting, Tex." Kat quipped. 
"Easy peasy. Think I'm finally getting the hang of this." Ibuki replied. 
The Shadow fell to her knees. "You...you can't be serious. Fate can't be broken...things can't just be avoided..." 
"This devotion you have to fate...why is it so ingrained in you? I can't imagine believing that we have no real control over our lives. It seems to me, and I don't mean to be presumptuous, like a mechanism for avoiding pain. An easy explanation for why awful things happen." Carrie dictated. 
"...Her Grace...no. Aunt Miu bore a great deal of resentment towards my mother and my other aunt. She felt overlooked by their parents for her entire life, and that's why she left Kiyosu for Naruki. I...could understand that sentiment. Growing up alongside Ranmaru was insufferable. Compared to an ambitious perfectionist like him, I was an inadequate misfit. Our mothers sent us to learn from Aunt Miu as a test for when they eventually hand the reins over to one of us. It's a given that he will be given control. I can't stand the idea of taking orders from him. I refuse to believe that that is what I'm meant to do." Araragi explained. 
"Given the little I've seen of the guy...I can understand why." Kat replied. 
"Nothing has ever gone my way. The easy explanation has always been that things happen because they're supposed to. I don't want to accept that my own inadequacies are why I pale in comparison. Compared to him, or a widely beloved prodigy like Ringo, I'm merely a creepy outsider. I know it was unearned, but the extra attention...felt nice." 
"Nothing good ever comes from comparing yourself to others. You should only be worried about your own strengths. And I can understand wanting an easy explanation for why awful things happen. I lost my parents when I was very young, and I fail to see what grand purpose there was for it happening. Believing that events occur on a set path is a hollow thought that implies that we have no real autonomy as individuals. I refuse to believe in something so meaningless. You can't wait for things to transpire and then accept that it was meant to be when things don't go your way. Have a little more faith in yourself." Carrie lectured. 
"And don't think that being weird is a bad thing. Prof's always telling us to be our own selves. Long as you're not hurting anyone, be as weird as you want." Kat added. 
"But before we stray too far, we have to know. Where is Ms. Hana now?" 
"Aunt Miu is...where she always is. The main temple is located atop the mountain." Araragi answered. 
"It's likely where her cabin and the lake are in the real world." Kenneth responded. 
"Your intentions are to aid Aunt Miu, yes? I must warn you, the journey will be perilous. Ranmaru will not let you go without a battle. And neither will Sir Hyōtan. But if she is truly in as much danger as you say, then you must persevere. She has endured far too much in this life to be forced into further hardship." The Shadow removed her hood. "Promise that you will undo this nightmare. And I...will swear to live on my own merits. No one else's. I will leave you to your justice, disciples of our fair Lady Ringo." She dissipated into light. 
"Bizarre to the very end." Max commented. 
"Guess we're nowhere near done fighting. The other cousin's gonna be running around here somewhere." Barbara said. 
"Yeah. And so's DJ Tan Man. If anyone's gonna block us from getting to Ms. Hana, it's gonna be him." Kat added. 
"I don't get this. Everything about this place is different. No signs of Desires or Towers, more than one Shadow running the place, them wandering around and not being trapped behind a Prison Door. I get that this is a newer one, but what gives?" Sahir questioned. 
"My belief is that the mastermind has gained new power and is experimenting with their new capabilities. Almost like this is some sort of trial run." Kenneth theorized. 
"I don't much like the sound of that. The last thing we need is whoever's behind this throwing us a curveball every time a new Prison pops up. I was just getting used to how these things worked..." Natalia sighed. 
"Deffo. But at least now we know where we're going. Hope everyone's got their hiking shoes on." Kat said. 
The group continued on towards the base of the mountain. "No guards at all, no wind, nothing but still night air...I have a hard time believing that this was born from a free spirit like Ms. Hana. Just how much pain has she been internalizing?" Kenneth questioned. 
"I've got a question for you two." Ibuki directed at Kibō and Barbara. "That night we met at the gala, there was a lady providing the musical entertainment. A redhead going at the guitar like she puts 'The Artist Formerly Known As' in front of her name. MC called her Miu Hanazaki, Kyoko-sama yelled out 'Hana'. Doesn't take a neuroscientist to figure out that's who your Prof's mom is. Am I on the nose?" 
"Yeah...yeah, you're right. We never told the Professor about that." Kibō confirmed. 
"Didn't want to cause any trouble when her mom was only out having fun. She said herself that the Professor didn't know about it." Barbara added. 
"I'm not gonna judge a lady for rocking the house. I just remember how happy she looked up there. Wouldn't have guessed that deep down she was feeling like...well, this." Ibuki said. 
Amid the conversation, the lanterns lining the streets shut off. "Hey! Who turned on the dark?" Barbara questioned. 
When the lanterns turned back on, the lights shining on the ground took the form of rotating orchids. "FUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" 
"Gah! Where'd that creepy laugh come from?" Natalia questioned. 
"Why do I feel like things are about to get very annoying?" Kat groaned. 
Atop a nearby building, a figure appeared. "Hahahahahaha...fools who dare to tread upon my range..." 
He leapt off the building, landed dramatically before the group, extended a palm and struck a pose. His hair was tied back, he wore ornate robes bearing images of orchids, and held a sheathed katana on his side. Scarlet makeup adorned his yellow eyes. "Welcome to the stage of your doom!" Shadow Ranmaru exclaimed. 
The group stood in silence. 
"Oh. Dear. God." Kat finally uttered. 
"Hehehehe...what's this? So mesmerized by my grand entrance that your minds have failed you?" the Shadow questioned. 
"Mesmerized. Sure, let's go with that." Ibuki muttered. 
"So first we get a fortune teller, and now...whatever's going on here." Max stated. 
"So the walking corpse wasn't enough to stop you...how painfully unsurprising. You leave anything to that woman, and you are sure to be underwhelmed. Freaks like that shouldn't be handed any sort of power. That's to be left to those who have been bred to be in control. Those like me!" the Shadow boasted. 
"Yep, there it is. Called it." Kat muttered. 
"You forgot to mention 'those who have been bred to be insufferable'. Arrogance like that should never be rewarded." Sakuya asserted. 
"Hmph, and what would one such as you know? My bloodline began in service to royalty. One such as I needn't be reluctant to stake their claim to glory, nor shall I be made to suffer fools who use excuses to mask their own shortcomings. One such as the witch could never hope to further the family legacy, as I have!" Ranmaru boasted. 
"Is that what you think this is? Strengthening the family influence at the cost of everything else? Do you even care about what this is doing to Hanazaki-san?" 
"No empire was built without sacrifice. I care for little save the benefit of the clan. Protecting this sacred temple is paramount to creating a brighter future! If you truly have a problem with that, then we can duel this out..." 
Ranmaru let up a smirk. "...man to man." 
"You son of a--!" Sahir started forward, only to be blocked by the blade of Sakuya's wodao. "Saku?" 
"That protective instinct is very endearing, Sahir-kun." Sakuya gave a reassuring nod. "But I can handle this myself. You all need to get a move on and help Hanazaki-san, yes? Then you needn't waste time with this strutting peacock." 
"I know you can do it. I just really wanna deck this idiot." Sahir replied. 
"Save the personal vendettas for a later time. More important matters require our intervention. I'll hold him here." 
"You heard the queen. Good luck, Mags." Kat issued, and the remainder of the group departed. 
"Why do you present yourself like that? Society at large will never accept someone like you, you know that?" the Shadow questioned. 
"I care little for what a broken world thinks of me. I am who I am. And who I am is secure with myself. I live as I want. Can a slave to the whims of others really say the same?" Sakuya retorted. 
"Sharp tongue for a dead woman." Ranmaru drew his sword. "Enough talking." 
"The first intelligent thing you've said. En guarde."
The Shadow lunged forward, beginning a maddened flurry of slashes, all of which Sakuya athletically dodged. "Keep jumping about all you want, it'll all crumble before my flawless technique!" he boasted. 
"Yes, swinging your compensatory stabbing device like a tween filming a social media video. Truly the most well thought out of fighting strategies." Sakuya replied sarcastically. 
"As opposed to what you're doing? This is no ballet recital! You have a blade in your hand, why won't you use it?" 
"Because I'm not a neanderthal flailing about hoping to hit something. If you grow flowers the way you conduct combat, it's a wonder you can grow anything at all. I'd sooner believe in them retreating back into their seeds." 
"Loudmouthed little wench--! DIE!" 
The Shadow slashed with intensity, but Sakuya leapt into the air. In his mad state, he failed to realize it when he inadvertently stuck his katana into the side of one of the buildings. Sakuya landed on top of the blade, balancing effortlessly. She moved her own blade next to Ranmaru's face, and with a single motion, cut the material tying his hair up, leading it to fall back against his head. 
"I used to be like you. Living according to the whims of another, and never for myself. First was my father, and then after he was sent to slog amongst the rest of the underworld vermin, it was a being I once saw as my king. Only now do I understand what it means to live as I am, for no one except for myself. Once upon a time, I would have shrunk at the sound of someone referring to me as a boy. Now all I see is a narrow mind in need of correction. The efforts I have to go through to feel like my ideal self are great, but I do it because it helps me to live how I want." 
She slowly raised her sword up. "I love who I am. My heart is free. But you, Ranmaru Hanazaki, are an empty, obedient slave to expectation. Molded into the perfect puppet. Just as I was. I'll not be talked down to and prodded by the likes of you. So please do us both a favor, and be silent." 
She quickly moved past him, and sheathed her sword. A single cut appeared on the Shadow's back, complete with faint images of petals appearing and disappearing in quick succession. He slouched over, and dropped his sword. 
"Tch...a free heart, you say? How annoying...can a life without structure and guidance really be fulfilling? Everything about my life was decided beforehand...my destiny was laid out for me. Watching the witch go about life doing whatever nonsense came to mind was infuriating. Yet I couldn't help being somewhat envious. Her mother allowed her to be free...just as Aunt Miu did her children. I was raised for the single purpose of taking control and leading. I could never imagine wasting time on frivolous desires. My life's purpose would never allow it..." 
"You are a grown man. Your life should be based on your own decisions, not those of others. Your desire is to oversee the family store, yes? Do you think customers will respond to arrogant cynicism with anything but scorn? If you should learn anything from Hanazaki-san, it's the benefits of a free spirit. People will respond to goodwill and cheer in a positive manner." Sakuya responded. "Do you want my advice? I think you and Araragi-san need to come to some sort of understanding. You both have traits that the other envies, and your endless bickering has only intensified Hanazaki-san's stress levels. A woman with her history doesn't need that extra pressure. Have some greater awareness of what your influence on people is. Be more flexible. And enough with the haughty attitude. Do we have an understanding?" 
"Tch..." 
"Do we have an understanding?" 
"Gh, alright! I'll try to find a happy medium with the wit--Araragi. Whatever keeps Aunt Miu content. Perhaps a reevaluation of my life is in order..." 
The Shadow disappeared. "Whether he actually changes for the better is anyone's guess. If only for Hanazaki-san's sake." Sakuya mused. "I had better catch up with the others. Hopefully danger hasn't found them just yet..." She followed after the rest of the group. 
The youths had made it to the base of the mountain. The path leading up was now a covered tunnel, and in the approximate spot of where the lake was in the real world, a tall pagoda could be seen poking out of the trees. "There's our destination. If Ms. Hana's gonna be anywhere..." Kibō said. 
"This sadness I've been feeling in here...it's been getting more intense the closer we've gotten to here." Natalia mused. 
"Yeah, I get what you mean. It sounds weird, but it feels like the air's just...filled with heartbreak." Ibuki wiped a tear away from her eye. "Yeesh, what the hell..." 
"I have an awful feeling...should we wait for Saku?" Carrie asked. 
"She wanted us to make haste. On the other hand, I'd feel more at-ease with everyone here...but there's no telling how long she'll be." Kenneth pondered. 
"No time at all, as it so happens." 
The group glanced over to a tree perched next to the tunnel. Sakuya stood on a branch, and hopped off next to the others. "Hello." 
"Damn, that was quick. The guy sucked that badly?" Max asked. 
"Hard to tell. I gave him no real openings. He won't be bothering anyone." 
"Uhhhh, you did leave him alive, right?" Kat asked. 
"Physically, yes. Whether his sense of self remains intact remains to be seen." 
Ibuki shuddered. "I can never tell if this girl is joking." 
"I'm still on the fence about whether or not she can." Kenneth responded. 
"So this is our way up, is it? Quite an eerie sensation emanating from it. Have to swallow any fear we have. Lives are in the balance, after all. Come now, no time to waste." Sakuya went into the tunnel first. 
"Sheesh, no hesitation at all. Meanwhile we were all sitting here frozen." Max stated. 
"No offense at all, dude, but your GF can be scary." Ibuki directed at Sahir. 
"Eh, it's not as bad as you think. Just bring up seals around her and she'll do a complete 180." he replied. 
The rest of the group entered the tunnel. Within its confines, the walls were decorated with woodblock artwork. The first to appear showed a red-haired girl walking away from a house, the case of a string instrument perched on her back. The word "Liberation" was printed on the bottom. 
"I assume this is Ms. Hana leaving her family for Naruki. My understanding is that she was denied the opportunity to inherit the family's original flower shop in favor of her sisters, and left out of long-simmering resentment." Kenneth explained. 
"And from there, she came to Naruki, and took up residence in the cabin on the mountain. She started doing gigs and playing around town, and that's when..." Barbara moved over to the adjacent painting. This one showed Hana seated on the ground, playing her shamisen, looking up at a young, bespectacled man standing next to her. "Fate" was printed underneath. 
Next to it was an image of Hana standing in the lake with Kaito. "Bliss" was printed on the bottom. To its right was a picture of Hana holding a baby, as two dark-haired boys, one of toddler age, were next to her. "Life's Joy" was the caption. 
"It all feels so happy...but..." Natalia muttered. 
"It didn't last." Kat stated. 
The adjacent picture, subtitled "Loss", showed an outstretched arm holding a gun. Hana cradled Kaito, who was lying on the ground. A young Rin was also seated, crouched in the fetal position. 
"The beginning of the end." Kibō uttered. 
"And it only worsened from there..." Carrie responded. 
The final painting, subtitled "Ruin", showed a set of images: the first was Tan, standing behind a set of metal bars; the second was of Tohru, lifelessly slumped against a wall; and the third was Rin, lying in a hospital bed, an arm filled with scars visible. Below those images, hands pressed over her face, was Hana. 
"Enough despair in these images for several lifetimes. It's a marvel that her heart hadn't formed a distortion of its own accord." Kenneth said. 
"So much sadness, but...there's hope, too. She still has the Professor and her brother, Dr. Rose and Shizuka, the family's coming back in the picture...it doesn't have to be just the bad times." Natalia replied. 
"Gotta get that through to her and fast. But I already know there's a certain DJ that won't let us do that without a brawl..." Kat surmised. 
The group exited the tunnel. The lake now had an island in the center, where the high-reaching pagoda was located. Tall statues of armored samurai were on opposite sides of the entrance. One held up a single apple, the other held a bouquet of flowers. 
"She's gotta be in there. Nothing else for it but to--" Sahir started ahead. 
"Hold up. You just know this is the moment things turn bad." Kat warned. 
On cue, the sound of an engine revving echoed behind them, accompanied by the sound of a horse whinging. At that moment, something came blazing out from the trees, going into the air and landing in front of the path to the pagoda. It was a man on a stylized motorcycle, garbed in a leather jacket and a helmet designed to resemble a skull. He hopped into the air and landed in a stylish pose. 
"Hey-ho, guys and gals! It's ya boy DJ Tan Man, comin' at ya fast and furious-like, yo!" Shadow Tan exclaimed. 
"Oh boy. The Black Rider makes his 'triumphant' return." Kat groaned. 
"'Black Rider'?" Ibuki questioned. 
"You don't want to know." Barbara replied. 
"Wassup, wassup, kiddies! Ya came up here to get all up in my ma's grill, yeah? What's the dizzle with that?" Tan asked. 
"Oh my GOD." Kat uttered. 
"The, uh, 'dizzle' is that your mother is in grave danger from this place. As are all the people under its control. And that needs to end." Carrie replied. 
"No way, no way, hombres! My album's about to go double-platinum, and our shop's never been bigger! Ma'll get over her head cold, and we'll be swimming in dough, yo!" 
"It's more than just a head cold. No amount of money should be worth your mother's health. You're the man of the household now, aren't you? That's where your priority should lie." Sakuya chided. 
The Shadow got out of his pose. "Thinkin' I ain't keepin' Ma and Rinnie in my mind, are ya? Yer right, I'm the big man. The big man that couldn't keep Pops and Toh alive and left Rinnie alone cuz I pulled a stupid. My whole life's been one screw job after another. But now I got somethin' that'll make us all big-time! Ma'll never have to work again and she won't have to worry 'bout nuthin!" 
"Your intentions may be good, but this is absolutely not the right way to--" Kenneth began. 
"'Not the right way to do it', yeah? Can't tell ya about all the times I've heard that shit! Toh and Rinnie were the ones that always did good at things...I was just the black sheep screwin' everything up! I'm done with that junk! I'm gonna help Ma out, one way or another!" 
"Dude, this doesn't have to end in a fight. And even if it does, it's ten of us against one of you. You've got no chance!" Sahir exclaimed. 
"Just me, huh? Heh." 
"Oh. Oh it ain't just you, is it?" Ibuki uttered. 
The Shadow lifted his helmet, and let out a whistle. "Yo, Applerider! Time for your grand entrance, yo!" 
A light gleamed in the sky, and a figure flew down with wings constructed from flame, which dissipated upon landing. They were in white armor with red accents, red segmented eyes like those of a bug, a belt buckle resembling the sun, and an emblem of an apple scrawled on the back. "Intruders trying to get to Mom...welcome to the worst mistake of your lives." 
"Professor?!" several of the students exclaimed in shock. 
"Why's she here trying to fight us for?! She's the one that sent us here in the first place!" Max questioned. 
"Wait...I think I know what this is. This is Hanazaki-san's cognition of the Professor. Her spiritual presence isn't as overwhelming as the real one's." Sakuya replied. 
"Well, there's that at least. But even a fake Prof isn't gonna be an easy out." Kat said. 
Suddenly, a burst of shadow energy sparked next to Shadow Tan. "What was that...?" Barbara asked. 
"Hehehe..." The Shadow snickered. 
The energy continued sparking, and soon, a figure formed within it. A being composed entirely of shadow, with glaring red eyes and pitch-black wings. The shadows gave way and fizzled out, and took on an unassuming form: a young man in glasses, with dark hair and a blazer bearing the emblem of Naruki Ascension Academy. His eyes were the Shadows' signature yellow. 
"And here he is, the Dean of Mean himself!" Shadow Tan introduced. 
"Tch. Imbecile." 'Tohru' chided. He stared down the group. "Long time no see." 
"You!" Sahir exclaimed. 
"That's...! Why is he here?!" Natalia demanded. 
"I'm...hopelessly confused. I'm gonna guess that's the other brother?" Ibuki asked. 
"Yes...and no. Long story short, he's a part of Tohru Kubo that he left to possess our Professor many years ago. It took the guise of a Persona named 'Karas', and after being expunged, it wandered the suicide forest for a decade, feeding on the despair and pain of those who entered it." Kenneth explained. 
"So flattered that you remembered all of that." 'Tohru' stated. "Hello again, Natalia. You look well. Love what you've done with your hair." 
"Gk...! Why are you here?! We destroyed you!" Natalia questioned. 
"Not all of me. Haven't I proved in the past that all I need is a tiny speck to revive myself?" 
"So annoying." 'Rin' uttered. 
"But as for why I'm here, I couldn't care less about what trouble my family's gotten into now. The idiot in the armor said I'd have the opportunity to kill you all. With that in mind, I can tolerate dealing with the likes of the buffoon and the attention hog for a little while." 
"Idiot in the armor?" Carrie asked. 
"Is he talking about the mastermind? Did they bring you here?" Kibō questioned. 
"I can tell you all about it...but it'll likely be drowned out by the sounds of your dying screams. You won't be leaving this place in anything but a pine box." 'Tohru' answered. Shadows engulfed him again, and he emerged in pitch-black samurai armor, brandishing a pair of equally dark katanas. 
"Anyone who tries to interfere with Mom is going to be eliminated. No matter who they are." 'Rin' called forth a large lance. 
"The Kubo Kids Reunion Tour, exclusively for your eyes and ears, kiddies!" Shadow Tan summoned a large scythe in one hand and a shotgun in the other. 
"Damn, this is gonna be rough...to get to mama bear, we've gotta go through her cubs first. Game faces, people!" Kat urged.
The group scattered and began to engage the ersatz Kubo siblings in battle. Kibō quickly found himself locking blades with 'Tohru'. "This stench of utter mediocrity...this can only be the mark of an Ishimaru." the false Persona said. 
"The real you said pretty much the same thing. I care even less now than I did then." Kibō replied. 
"I proved myself Kyohei's better time and again. The plans he thought so flawless were all my own design. I am the superior man." 
"If that's really true, shouldn't you be alive?" 
"Death has only made me stronger. Nothing you can say or do will ever match the gifts that I have been given--" 
The fake's burgeoning monologue was interrupted by the forceful impact of an uprooted tree, which slammed into him from the side. A bewildered Kibō looked over to the source. 
"Oopsie. Did I do that?" Natalia rhetorically asked. 
Promptly, one of the black katanas pierced through the downed bark, slicing it in half as the wood exploded into fractured splinters. "Irritating little sheep. I should've devoured you when I had the chance." 'Tohru' said. 
"Sounds like a 'you' problem, buddy." 
"I'm going to kill you now." 
The fake's movement was stopped as he was grabbed from behind. "The stupidest thing you could've said." Kibō chided. 
"Is this familiar at all to you?" Carrie held the Shadow in a headlock. 
"Crack my neck all you want. You can't kill what's already dead." 'Tohru' replied. 
"How poetic. Shall we test that?" 
Numerous, shadowy blades materialized in the air, all of them pointing directly at Carrie. "I can probably survive this. Can you?" the Shadow taunted. 
The swords came down, but were stopped short, instead impacting a large shield with a cross on its surface. "Guess we'll never know, will we?" Kibō's eyes glowed. 
"Annoying...so annoying." The Shadow exerted his aura, forcing Carrie to release her grip. Even more shadow blades materialized above his head. "I should've guessed that this would only be an exercise in frustration. This is what I get for sticking my neck out for 'the family'. I refuse to lower myself to such a level any further. Die now, please." 
The blades aimed for the students...and then, suddenly, they turned straight towards 'Tohru'. They flew into the Shadow's chest, leading him to stagger and crumple to his knees. He let out a groan. 
Natalia approached, her scythe floating in the air next to her. She maneuvered it to where the blade was pressed beneath his neck. 
"Karas, Tohru...whatever your name is. I wanted to thank you for our first meeting. I never realized how much I wanted to live until I was staring death in the eyes. Now...I understand what living really means. It's a shame that your original self threw that sort of life away. Not just for you, but all the people whose lives were affected by it. Like your mother. It isn't just your father that she mourns for. All the horrible things you've done, and she's the one paying for it. How does that not bother you?" Natalia questioned. 
"Tch..." the entity scoffed. 
"What did I expect from a bloodthirsty monster? The real one probably wouldn't care all that much either. That's right, you're just another Shadow. So let me end this off by rephrasing your own words. I'm Natalia Van Damme. I'm DEATH. Just letting you know, so when Kerberos asks you, you can let her know who sent you." 
The scythe moved upward, cleaving through the Shadow's neck, separating head from body. Both dissolved into shadow particles in short order. 
Natalia let out a sigh. "Pleeeease let that be the last of him!" 
"My brother always did say he was worse than a cockroach." Kibō added. 
Kat, meanwhile, was locking weapons with 'Rin'. "I'm stronger than you, faster than you, and you're basically using a toothpick to hold off a divine weapon. What hope do you have?" the fake inquired. 
"I've got personality, honey. And I'm the real me. There's no way you're the real Prof, cuz she'd have better spacial awareness." Kat replied. 
"And what's that supposed to mean?" 
Behind the fake, a plume of water emerged from the lake, surrounding her and holding her in a bubble. "It means not standing next to a lake while having fire powers, genius." Kat chided. "Thanks for the assist, dollface." 
Barbara cheerily waved. "You're welcome~. Wanna clean this up, little bro?" 
"I'm not--oh, forget it." Max called down a bolt of lightning, striking the bubble and causing an explosion. The cognitive Rin vanished without a trace. 
His 'siblings' defeated, Shadow Tan was left stunned. "Boy, that bravado sure went down in a hurry, huh Mr. DJ?" Ibuki questioned. 
"We still gonna do this, or...?" Sahir asked. 
"Up to you. Humiliation is still on the table." Kenneth stated. 
"Those weapons indicate you're prepared for a fight. Would you like to make the first maneuver?" Sakuya asked. 
'Make the first maneuver' he did. Just not in the way anyone expected. 
He immediately dropped his weapons, got on his knees and started begging. "Oh God, don't get near me, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't kill meeeeee!" 
"For real?" Sahir groaned. 
"This guy's seriously your Prof's brother?" Ibuki questioned. 
"Genetics are a bizarre thing." Kenneth answered. 
The rest of the group gathered. "Boy, ain't this a manly sight." Kat uttered. 
"Oh, zip it! I'm done with the 'manly' crap...no one buys it, anyway. Toh and Rinnie were the only ones that ever mattered, and if they can't pull it off, what chance do I got? I'm never gonna amount to a damn thing. Nothing I do's ever gonna help Ma out..." the Shadow conceded. 
"You know what'll help out? You actually being there for Prof and your Ma when they need it. This stupid place is hurting them a hell of a lot more than it's helping. So what if you're not the big macho man on campus? Your old man would want you to be by your Ma's side more than anything else. THAT is what being the man of the house means. Not having an ego party while your mom's in a hospital bed and your sister's the definition of a basket case. You're a grown-ass man, DJ, so ACT LIKE IT!" Kat chastised. 
"....." Tan took his helmet off. "She's in there. Go and end this nightmare for everyone. I'm gonna make things better for her the right way. I'll run the shop the way Pops would've wanted. Him and Auntie Rei didn't slave away and build it back up just for me to take shortcuts! I'm done being the local screw-up...I'll be the big bro Rinnie deserves. I'm sorry, Pops..." He disappeared. 
Once he vanished, the door to the temple slowly lifted up. 
Ibuki groaned. "And I thought my family was a can of worms. How messed up can one bunch be?" 
"....." Kat stood ponderously. 
"Something wrong, Kitten?" Carrie asked. 
"You guys hear that?" Kat questioned. 
The group silently listened, and took notice of a low sound. "That's...a shamisen." Sakuya stated. 
"It's coming from inside the temple...it's just like the tune from New Years." Kenneth affirmed. 
Kat began walking towards the door. "Everyone wait here." 
"Wait, seriously? What if there's another fight?" Sahir asked. 
"There won't be. But I'm doing this alone. She's in the state she's in because she felt overwhelmed. All of us charging in there at once isn't gonna help. I promised Prof that I'd fix this. So, fixing's what I'm gonna do." Kat continued walking. 
She entered the temple, lit up by lanterns, themselves decorated with floral imagery. Despite having several rows of seats, it was largely empty. Save for the back. 
The wielder of the shamisen finished her song. She wore a simple black gown, wore a headband constructed from white roses,, and had the yellow eyes of the Shadows. It was Hana. Once her playing stopped, it was met by the sound of clapping. 
"Amazing as always, Hana. You haven't lost a beat after all these years." said the bespectacled, dark-haired man. 
"You don't have to cheer me up, Kaito. I know I'm not as good as I used to be. Lack of practice and...losing my main source of inspiration." Shadow Hana replied. 
"Don't talk like that. I'm not used to seeing you frowning." 
"You know what's happened. You and Tohru..." 
"It's okay. I'm here now. You can keep playing for as long as you want." 
"Yes. You're right. Oh, Kaito...I missed you so much. It's not fair...you've been gone for as long as I had you. Everything went so wrong after you left...Hyōtan went to prison, Ringo's depression nearly took her, and Tohru...his hate cost him everything. And all of it was my fault." 
"Hana..." 
"I only barely kept the store going...the one you and Reiko put so much into. I couldn't keep the family together...yours never liked me from the beginning, and I kept my own at arms' length because of my anger. I told myself that it was fated to happen...but it was lies. Nothing but cruel, hateful luck..." Hana clutched her instrument. "Was I so wrong, Kaito? I just wanted a chance to prove that I could be as good as my sisters when it came to running the store. But they wouldn't give it to me...and then I met you. Was losing you my punishment for turning away from my family for so long...?" 
"Ms. Hana?" Kat approached. 
"Hm? There's someone else here?" 'Kaito' asked. 
"You're...you're one of Ringo's students. Why are you here?" Hana asked. 
"Your daughter asked me to come here. She wanted me to save you from this place." Kat answered. 
"I don't need to be saved...I...my family's right here! Kaito...my children..." 
"Ms. Hana...you know this is wrong. The ones that were here are gone now. Your niece and nephew...your sons and your daughter. It's just you. And you know this isn't really your husband. He's gone." 
"No..." Hana clutched her head. 
"I can't even begin to understand what you're feeling. You're right, it isn't fair. None of what's happened to you is fair. But this Prison...it's only going to make things worse if things stay like this. For you and a lot of people. I know how much it hurts, but...you need to let go." 
"No...no! I can't...you don't know what it's like! Pretending that everything is fine when my heart's never healed...it's agony! I can't let go...I can't lose everything again..." the Shadow tearfully refused. 
"Hana...you have to listen to her. This isn't right. You know that it's not." 'Kaito' said. 
"Kaito...?" 
"I'm not here, Hana. Tohru isn't here. That isn't fair, but...it's the truth. Things can never be the way they were, but you aren't alone. You still have Tan and Rin...Rin has her own family now. My family's come around, and yours has too. Enjoying everyone you have now doesn't mean that you've forgotten about the ones who aren't here." 
"Professor's been running herself ragged worrying about you. She wants you to be healthy and happy more than anything. But this place has to go first. And it won't go...until you accept reality. As painful as it is." Kat dictated. 
Shadow Hana was weeping, trying in vain to wipe the tears away. "My sweet apple blossom...I'd never forgive myself if she was hurt from my pain...I..." She looked up. "I love you, Kaito. I never once considered dating again because you were the only one I was meant for. I'll never forget you for as long as I live...but...but I...I have to keep living...for Hyōtan, and Ringo, and everyone..." 
'Kaito' smiled knowingly. "I get it. The day will come when we can be together for real, for all eternity. I hope you'll have some good memories to tell me about when that happens." 
Hana removed her flower crown. "I'll love you forever, college boy...goodbye..." 
The cognition began to fade. "So long, crazy girl..." He waved as he vanished. 
"I'm sorry. I know it couldn't have been easy." Kat said. 
"It's alright...I needed this to happen. I have to go...my blossom needs me." With a smile, Hana began to vanish. "Thank you. I knew you were her star pupil..." 
Kat closed her eyes, opening them reassuringly. "That solves that, I hope." She turned to leave. "'Star pupil', huh..." 
--- 
Now nighttime at the hospital, Rin maintained her spot seated at her mother's bedside. A hand patted her shoulder. "Hey, we're gonna head out. Need to put the baby to bed." Tenko said. 
"Okay...tell her again I'm sorry this happened on her birthday." Rin replied. 
"Don't even worry about it. You'll have a lifetime to spoil her. I'll be back first thing in the morning." Tenko gave Rin a hug. "Love you. Good luck." 
"Love you too. Thank you." 
Rin was left alone with her mother. The door to the room opened once more. "Another check-up, doctor--" 
Kat leaned against the doorway. "Heya." 
"Kat, ah...you're back. So did you...?" 
"Why don't you ask her?" 
Rin turned around. 
Hana slowly came to. "Ah...my head..." 
Rin was stunned. "M...Mom...?" 
Hana turned, and let up a light smile. "Hi, blossom. I hope I didn't scare you." 
Rin began to tear up. "Oh, Mom...Mom...!" She gently embraced her mother. 
"Well, you're feeling affectionate, all of a sudden..." 
"I love you, Mom...I'm sorry this happened, really..." 
"You're the most important thing in the world to me, blossom...I could never blame you for something like this. I'm the one to blame for this..." 
"Don't even go there! This is because of a psychopath and no one else! I..." 
"Sorry to interrupt, but..." Kat made way for someone else to enter. "You have more visitors." 
"Hey...uh...am I banned?" Tan bore a look of shame. 
Rin walked over to him. She punched him in the stomach. "Oof!" 
"That's for being an idiot!" Rin then embraced her brother. "Stupid, so stupid! Now go and hug our mom, you big dummy!" 
"Um..." 
"Hello, big man. What's with the long face?" Hana asked. 
"Ma, I..." 
"Come here...I have time for one hug. Be gentle, won't you?" 
Sobbing like a toddler, Tan embraced Hana. Rin took the moment to go outside with Kat. "You...you really did it." Rin uttered. 
"KittyKat says she's gonna do a thing, KittyKat's gonna do the thing. What was I gonna do, nothing?" Kat questioned. 
"I just...this means the world to me. My family is my everything. It was about to come crashing down, but then...you really saved the day. When I could only sit here and go crazy." Rin looked downward. "I swore I'd help you out with anything, and you turn around and help me in the best possible way. I can never repay you for this." 
"Prof, you're gonna make me blush...I'm happy to do it, really..." 
Rin locked Kat in a hug. "Thank you. From the very bottom of my heart, thank you. If you ever need anything, and I mean anything, I'll be happy to help. Not just as your teacher, or your mentor, but...as a friend. Shizuka couldn't have asked for a better hero. Thank you, Kat." 
"Ah..." Kat turned red. 
A familiar feeling stirred inside of her. Rose's voice spoke from within. 
"I am thou, thou art I. Thy vow has been reborn as a blood oath. It shall become as a dagger, to cut the path to thine own future. Thou has reached a true understanding of Judgement, granting thee new power..." 
As before, Kat's dagger was impaled into a blue floor. Light emerged from its eyes. What formed from that light was a towering figure, dressed in black, a white mask with long horns on each end, a large black halo floating over its head, and six bat-like wings. 
"I am Satanael. You who slayed a god to defend the morals you believe in...I shall become your dagger." 
Kat snapped back into reality. "So...what's the plan gonna be from here?" 
"Hopefully Mom can be discharged sooner than later. But right now...I'm going to take a cue from you and take some time off. I can arrange for Rose or someone else to preside over class in the meantime, but I'm in desperate need of some relaxation. Maybe me and Mom can take a trip somewhere..." Rin had a thought. "Actually, I just remembered...didn't you want to talk about something earlier?" 
"Ah...that can wait. Your mind's already in a million places right now. We can talk when everything's settled down." 
"Okay then. You know where to find me when you want. Now if you'll excuse me..." 
"Go be with your mommy. I'm hitching a ride back with the clan Mirai. See you when I see you." 
"You got it. Thank you again. Have a safe trip home." 
Rin went back to the room. Kat silently thought back to something that was said in the Prison. 
"The idiot in the armor said I'd have the opportunity to kill you all." 
"Rest easy, Prof. Feels like the ride's gonna get bumpy..."