Persona BLEACHED 3: Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Happily Never After
November 17, 2029
"Boy, this might be the one time I'm thrilled to be at a fancy-do. Probably cuz I'm not in some fake-as-hell getup." Kyoko said, garbed in a black-and-white wrestling half-shirt, pants and boots, the words "EMPRESS OF THUNDER" emblazoned on the back of her shirt.
"Didn't stop you any other time we went to a banquet." Kabu replied.
"Hey, I wore shit over it! I hated it, but I did it. I'm in my natural element. Surprised this thing still fits. It isn't too skimpy for a gal my age, is it?"
"Kyoko, trust me, I've seen you in less." Kabu replied with a smirk.
"Uggh, I'm right here! And so's Barb! Could you try to not be gross?" Kibō griped.
"Hon, I'm from the South. I've heard a lot worse." Barbara replied. "Don't think I've ever seen so many suits surrounded by spandex before, though."
"And I've never had so many people measuring up my biceps. 'You'll be at Raigo-jii's level in no time, squirt!'"
"You look super handsome in that jacket, by the by~!" Kyoko chimed.
"Excuse me, Kyoko-sama?" A girl approached the table, with wild dark hair styled into pigtails, a red wrestling uniform featuring a white flame pattern, a red fur coat, red gloves and a flame image painted onto her left cheek.
"Hiya, cutie! You've just gotta be Fireball Ibuki, right?" Kyoko replied.
"OMIGOSH! Thunderbolt Kyoko knows who I am! Oh, Miss Kyoko, I'm like, SUCH a huge fan! I had a big poster of you over my bed when I was growing up! I love a girl that can kick butt, and no one ever kicked butt like you!"
"Oh, stop, you're gonna make me blush. Actually no, don't stop, keep the praise coming."
"So that's Ibuki Hinotama, I'm assuming." Kibō said.
"The one who'll be in the exhibition later, right? Wow, she's barely older than us." Barbara replied.
"Her official bio says she's only 19. But her popularity's through the roof."
"Well I can see where the 'Fireball' part comes from, what with all that energy. Your mom's got a fangirl, Keeb."
Ibuki suddenly popped up next to Kibō, spooking him. "Wowie, that's Lightning God Raigo's jacket, isn't it? You're Kyoko-sama's son, right?"
"Um...yeah, that's me. I'm Kibō."
"I knew it! You've just got that energy on you. So, big guy...you doing anything after this little get-together is done~?"
"Um, I'm flattered, but...if you're asking me out, I'm already seeing someone."
"Howdy." Barbara waved.
"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry! I'm not trying to be a homewrecker or anything, that's a big no-no!" Ibuki waved.
"No no, you're fine, I won't argue about him being cute. I'm Barbara, by the way."
"Aren't you just so cute! How'd you meet up with Mr. Ahoge here? You like throwing people around, too?"
"Uh, not exactly." Barbara replied, as Kibō discreetly tried to push down the hair sticking out from the rest, to no success. "I'm nowhere near bulky enough for that. I do musical theater."
"Oooh, I knew I felt Disney Princess energy from you!"
"That's what everyone says, yeah."
"So like, you can sing and dance, right?"
"Uh-huh. Been doing it since I was little. It's my calling in life."
"Oh, I love a girl who knows what she's doing! I've got a little niece that can't stop singing and dancing, either. Drives my sister bonkers! But I really like girls who have that future vision. Here's my info, you should totally hit me up." Ibuki handed Barbara a card. "That's my little catchphrase, BTW. I'm kind of a fairy tale gal, myself."
The card bore the phrase "Let's all shoot for that happy ending!" "Y'all are going to the match after this, right? I hope you all have fun. Gotta put on a show for Kyoko-sama. Toodles~!" Ibuki walked away.
"I think you were on the money with the 'ball of energy' line." Kibō said.
"I think she's adorable. I'm totally gonna hit her up online." Barbara replied.
"Alright, ladies and germs, before we bring this night to a close and head on over to the arena, we've got one more surprise for you all." a man said on microphone. "A bit of nostalgia for your ears. If you were around in the 90s, you probably heard this lady somewhere around Tokyo. So here's our special guest for tonight's musical send-off, Ms. Miu Hanazaki!"
"Wait, what?!" Kibō and Barbara both exclaimed.
Hana appeared on-stage holding an electric guitar. "Hello, everyone! Just warning you in advance, I might be a bit rusty. But I think most everyone in this room can say the same thing." she giggled.
"Hey, uh...isn't that your teacher's mom?" Kabu asked.
"Yeah...it is." Kibō deadpanned.
Kyoko let out a whistle. "Hanaaaaa! Kick ass, girlfriend!"
Hana waved back. "By the way, don't tell anyone about this. My daughter thinks I'm in bed sleeping. But who goes to bed at 8 on a Saturday night? Anyway, hope you all enjoy~."
As 55-year old Miu "Hana" Kubo proceeded to shred the wires off of her guitar, her daughter's students could only watch in stunned silence. "So...the flower lady who lives in a mountain cabin is also a rock god. That's what I'm looking at." Kibō muttered.
"I swear it's one insane revelation after another with that family." Barbara replied.
---
A short while after the electric showing from the otherwise easygoing ikebana expert, the Ishimaru clan was in front of a lit-up stadium. "So we're in agreement...we're not telling Professor Kubo about that?" Kibō asked.
"There are things she's better off not knowing about." Barbara agreed. "But, wow...this really was a hot ticket, huh?" She noted the long line of people at the entrance.
"If Mom wasn't a guest of honor, there's no way we'd ever be getting in. And it's mostly young guys standing there."
"Hm? What's the commotion over there?" Kabu asked.
Near the entrance, two young men were in a physical altercation. "Give me your ticket!" one demanded.
"No way! It's mine! I need to see Ibuki!" the other retorted.
"I've spent way more on her merch than you! Give it to me!"
"Alright, break it up!" a security guard pulled one of the men away.
"Dramaaaaa. Boys and their celebrity crushes." Kyoko said.
"I know a thing or two about that. Except I ended up marrying mine." Kabu quipped.
Kyoko took a playful swipe at him. "Kiss-ass."
"Wow. People really are crazy about this girl. And this is just an exhibition." Kibō said.
"Hm..." Barbara pondered. "Let's get inside. I know we're guaranteed our seats but with this big a crowd, I'd like to be in there quick."
The group made their way to the VIP lounge, overlooking the arena, which was already near capacity. "Wowzer...I mean, I'm happy the younger crowd is into wrestling, but this is bonkers." Kyoko said.
"And listen to them chanting. It's all for that Ibuki girl. I knew she was popular, but, damn." Kabu added.
A short while later, entrances began, and Ibuki made her way to the ring, to the elation of the delirious crowd. The young wrestler cheerily waved as she walked. She hopped in the ring and grabbed a microphone. "Hiya, everyone! You all ready for a fun time?"
"I-BU-KI! I-BU-KI! I-BU-KI!" the crowd chanted.
"We love you, Ibuki!"
"Marry me!"
"You're the greatest, Ibuki!"
She giggled. "Y'all are the best! I wouldn't be here without you all! Now let's fight for that happy ending, K?!"
The crowd roared.
"This is insane. They're all in love with her. I've never seen anything like it." Kibō said.
"....." Barbara pondered something. "Ms. Kyoko? When did Ibuki start getting popular?"
"Um, let me think...she started making headlines about two months ago. Fanboy groups are all around Shinjuku. Guess being cutesy sells a lot more to young dudes. Her actual tape is pretty good, but I'm thinking they might be more into the act. Just my two cents." Kyoko replied.
"...Keeb? Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure thing." Kibō and Barbara went off to the side.
"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
"Yeah. A whole lot of guys our age going crazy over a cute wrestler girl."
"This isn't normal, Keeb. She started getting popular two months ago. All of these guys are obsessed with her, to the point where they're getting into fights. And it's all localized around one section of town. Sound familiar?"
"Hm...when you put it like that, it sounds nearly identical to the situation with Leon. Do you think she might have a Prison here?"
"It's too soon to know for sure, but it's too similar to what happened in Akihabara. These guys here are out of their minds. Like Leon's 'fans' were. I don't know...Ibuki seemed really nice when we talked with her."
"We know that looks can be deceiving. I think we should keep an eye out for the rest of the night. Then we can bring the others back here tomorrow. It might just be normal fan worship, but after last time we shouldn't take any chances."
"No, we shouldn't." Barbara sighed. "She was so nice at the gala...I hope she's not doing something bad..."
---
November 18, 2029 
Early morning in Shinjuku. What had been a capacity crowd the night before had long since emptied out. The only souls to be found were the nine exceptional youths from Naruki. Posters of Ibuki remained taped onto the windows, with pink heart stickers dotted around them. 
"Well I think we know who the popular girl around town is." Kat quipped. 
"I can already see the striking similarities to what happened in Akihabara. Did you dig up something from your research, Caroline?" Kenneth asked. 
"A few things. Just like before, the obsession is largely centered around a single part of town. People engaging in street fights, sudden personality shifts, the imminent threat of debt from spending everything on her merchandise. Male and female fans alike are ending their relationships over Ibuki. Men seeking her affection, women, and I quote, 'severing themselves from their awful halves'." Carrie replied. 
"It's a 19-year old girl! I know idol worship's a big thing, but come on." Max commented. 
"The crowd last night was pretty intense. But I'm still having a hard time believing that this girl could be a 'villain'." Kibō replied. 
"Question, Ishimaru-san. Did I ever give any indication that I was what you'd call a villain?" Sakuya asked. 
"That's not...ugh." 
"You weren't a villain, Saku. And I don't believe Ibuki is, either. Maybe she doesn't know that she's causing all of this." Barbara said. 
"You really don't want to believe that she could be a bad guy, huh?" Natalia asked. 
"....." 
"Well, at any rate, what's the game plan?" Sahir asked. 
"Same as last time. We split up and see what we can find out. If she's really running a Desire-stealing operation here, there's gotta be proof that she's up to no good. Let's ask around." Kat replied. 
Everyone went their separate ways. Kat followed after Barbara. "I know when you're holding something back, Barbie. Why are you so sure this chick's not being sneaky?" 
"...I found an interview she did. It's been stuck in my head since last night." Barbara pulled out her phone. "Have a listen." 
Kat pressed play. Ibuki was being interviewed by an offscreen reporter. "What I've come to love most about your recent boom, Hinotama-san, is your message of empowerment and positivity. It's something I think a lot of young people can take to heart." 
"Mmhmm, it's what I want people to get whenever they see me doing something. Everything can't stay dark and awful forever. It's what 'fight for your happy ending' is all about." 
"From what I've come to understand, it comes from your own personal experience, correct?" 
Ibuki fell silent. "That's right. I've had several bad experiences with men in the past. My father was...not a nice person. My upbringing was incredibly traumatic. Also, I recently exited a very negative and violent relationship. This man believed that he had the clout and reach to ensure that I never reported his behavior, and told me that I was worthless without him. Flash forward to today and I have the power to control my own destiny, while he rots away where he belongs. I want people to know that no matter what someone might say, you always have to power to take back control. There's always a light, no matter how far away it might seem. You can forge your own happy ending." 
Barbara paused the video. "Look at her eyes, KittyKat. You can tell that's legitimate sadness. She wants to be a good role model, I know it. Maybe she just doesn't have control, I just...I don't..." 
"You heard how she has an asshole dad, and it struck a nerve, didn't it?" 
"...when I came home the day my mom kicked him out, she had a black eye. Even then I could see how relieved and happy she was that she was finally free. I love Ibuki's message about having the power to say 'enough is enough'. People need to hear that. She can't just be another twisted person we have to deal with. What would that say to people living in that sort of toxic environment? 'Don't look for freedom, because you'll go crazy'? I can't accept that. I refuse to accept that." 
"Barbie..." 
"I'm sorry...I know that if she's up to something, we have to stop her. I'm just so terrified of the consequences..." 
"I get it. But think of it this way: if she's gone off the right track, then it's our job to put her back on it. If she has suffered as bad as she says, then that could be what's making her worldview twisted. This is as much about saving her as it is the people she might be controlling. But before ANY of that, we need to see for ourselves if she's doing this freely. You get what I mean?" 
"Yeah...we have to find her. Last night she mentioned a gym she goes to regularly. That'd be my best bet." 
After some walking, the girls found themselves in front of a gym. "This the place? Alright, now we've just gotta--" Kat began. At that moment, they overheard a noise coming from the adjacent alley. 
"You hear that? Let's check it out." 
In the alleyway, a man in a suit was backed up against the wall. "P-please, Ms. Hinotama, I'm sorry I got you the wrong coffee--" 
"You're 'sorry'? I give you a specific order and you mess it up that badly? Need I remind you about what happened to the last assistant that made me unhappy?" Ibuki got closer to the man, before pinning him to the wall with her foot. 
"N-no, I-I-I promise I'll do better..." 
"Why the scared face? Most people would pay big money for me to put my foot on them. Are you that afraid of a bruised rib? I can tell you from experience that it's something you can get used to after a while. Come on, don't tell me this doesn't turn you on. All you pigs see me the same way..." 
"That's enough!" Barbara left her cover. 
"What the--you're the girl from last night. Barbara, right? What are you doing here?" 
"I wanted to see for myself that I was crazy. All those people going crazy over you...you really are doing something to them, aren't you?" 
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just giving a lesson about how not to treat a lady. Heaven knows nowhere near enough of these pigs have learned it." 
"What about the people who genuinely look up to you? The ones who see you as a survivor?" 
"I AM a survivor. I put up with hell from men for my entire life, and now I'm returning the favor. Let them see me as someone to be revered instead of just a peace of meat to be ogled. You of all people should get where I'm coming from. You're a beautiful girl with talent. Boys look at you and don't see you. They're just undressing you with their eyes. Pigs like that don't deserve the free will they have." 
"I'm sorry about everything that happened to you. But you have to know that not every man is out to objectify you. If you want to take your anger out on someone, this isn't the way to do it." 
"It's easy for you to say. You lucked into a nice boy. You haven't seen the kind of dirtbag I lived with my whole life." 
"I HAVE. My father was as much of an abusive creep as yours. But I know that I can't blame every man for how he acted. Just like you shouldn't." 
"Heh. You're a naive one. This isn't me repeating what the men in my life did to me. This is me refusing to be the victim anymore. If you only knew where I came from and what I had to live through, you wouldn't be blaming me for fighting back." Ibuki walked next to Barbara. "You really are a sweet girl, Barb. I didn't lie about wanting to be your friend. Think about what your old man put you through and tell me again that I'm completely in the wrong. See ya." She walked away, her terrified assistant nervously following after. 
Kat stuck her head out from outside the alley. "You want me to call it in?" 
"...get everyone here. I've seen everything I needed to." Barbara uttered back. 
A short while after, the rest of the group assembled near the gym. "So, what'd you find out?" Kibō asked. 
"It's all her. All of it. She suffered horrible abuse and now she's taking it out on every man she can find." Barbara replied. 
"So it really is just like Leon. Someone who got hurt going way too far to get their revenge." Sahir surmised. 
"I sympathize with her anger towards her father. But the way she's gone about 'correcting' it is all wrong. None of these men ever hurt her directly." Sakuya added. 
"At this point in her head, it might not matter. Every man she met was awful to her, so she thinks they all deserve punishment. Just more pain caused by adults being shitty." Max said. 
"So if we're all in agreement, it's time for the final test of it. I'm just gonna pull up the app..." Kat did so. 
"Welcome. Please enter the keyword." 
"...Happy Ending." Barbara answered. 
"Thank you. Beginning navigation." 
As before, the surroundings began to shift.
--- 
"Holy...wha..." Sahir muttered. 
The sky surrounding the city had darkened, and the buildings and businesses took on a Gothic aesthetic. In addition to multiple images in worship of "Lady Ibuki", all of the businesses were of a more risqué variety. 
"This is, ah...quite the difference." Carrie uttered. 
"So much for the adorable wrestler act." Kenneth added. 
"Did we just walk into some kind of red-light district? Should we even be in here?!" Natalia questioned. 
Kat put her hands over Sakuya's eyes. "Protect the children. Shield their innocence!" 
"H-hey, stop that!" Sakuya griped. 
"If anyone here qualifies as being a child, it's you, KittyKat..." Max said. "But I get the feeling the, um, iconography is gonna go over a few people's heads." 
"Grr..." Kibō growled. 
"'No pigs allowed', 'Pigs Obey'...it really is deep-seated hatred, isn't it..." Barbara wondered. 
"She was nice enough to me at the banquet. Even tried picking me up." Kibō said. 
"She called you 'one of the nice ones'. So deep down, she has to know that not every man is out to hurt her. So...her cognition really is warped." 
"I'm sorry, Barbie. But now it's on us to fix it. Let's head over to...that big scary castle." Kat pointed to a castle a short distance away, located where the stadium was in the real world. "Just, uh...avert your eyes. And don't ask what things are. Keebie. Did you read that book I gave you?" 
"I'm not answering that." Kibō replied. 
"The answer is no, he hasn't." Kenneth answered. 
"For shame, Keebie. That was a gift from the heart." Kat feigned crying. 
"You have one of those?" Max joked, only to be firmly grabbed by the collar, by an otherwise even-faced Carrie. 
"Let's proceed. We can discuss literature at a later date." she said as Max griped. 
"At least your ex and your main squeeze are getting along, eh, KittyKat?" Sahir joked. 
"I'd recommend not using 'squeeze' in this, ahem, environment." Kenneth commented. 
"Y'all need to get your heads out of the gutter..." Barbara sighed. 
"I'm pretty sure this is what they call the gutter, Senpai." Sakuya replied.
The team proceeded through the city streets, making sure to avoid the gaze of patrolling Shadows, which appeared similar to the ones in the Akihabara Prison, only now their faces were obscured by black masks resembling pigs. After a few minutes of sneaking, they reached the entrance to the castle, which was blocked off by a massive gate. 
"Blocked, huh. Guess it was a bit much to think it'd be that easy." Natalia said. 
"Let's see...if things are the same here, then there should be a couple of Prison Keeps around here with treasures acting like keys. If we take those, that should open up the gate." Kat said. 
Their attention was drawn away by the sound of a speaker system turning on. 
"Hello, hello, is this thing on?" a distorted woman's voice asked. 
"That voice...Ibuki?" Barbara asked. 
"Gooood morning, Shinjuku! Are we ready for another beautiful day of lavishing your queen with praise? I know I am! All you have to do is hand over your Desires, and make your queen the happiest girl in the world. So will you be the good little piggies who listen to and appreciate their queen? Or the ungrateful, bad pigs who don't love her for who she is? If it's the latter, then don't worry. I can just punish the disgusting slop out of you. Such hateful behavior is unwelcome in my kingdom. So remember. Love me, worship me, and keep fighting for that happy ending! Toodle-oo~!" 
The announcement ended. "Well. I think that erases any lingering doubt about what we're dealing with." Kenneth said. 
"So...is this what she really meant by 'happy ending'?" Max asked. 
"Uggh..." Kat groaned. "Seriously, Sparky, we were all thinking it, but you just came out and said it." 
"I don't get it." Kibō said. 
"CUZ YOU DIDN'T READ MY BOOK!" Kat griped. 
"Can we please take this seriously for one second?" Barbara pleaded. "If you read between the lines, you can tell there's pain behind those words. We have to hurry and save her from herself, instead of standing around making middle school jokes." 
"I'm sorry, Barbie, you're right. Comedy hour's done. Let's go find us a Keep." 
A few blocks away from the castle, a tower surrounded by a large wall stood. "Yeah, this seems spooky enough. Weird that there's no guards. Ah well, don't look a gift horse in the--" Max tried walking into the Keep, but was immediately forced back by an unseen force. "Yow! The hell was that?" 
Kat tried the same, but no force field appeared. "Hunh." 
"Look at this." Carrie pointed to a sign next to the entrance. 
"Access to Lady Ibuki's private clubs are forbidden to all pigs unless they offer their Desires as payment." 
"So we've gotta stand out here and twiddle our thumbs for a bit, that right?" Max groaned. 
"Sorry, boys. We'll try not to take long." Kat replied. The girls walked through the entrance, though Sakuya hesitated to try. 
"....." she mumbled. 
"Saku? Come on, just go through." Natalia urged. 
"Will it...let me?" 
"If Her Majesty is a little more open-minded." Kat replied. 
Cautiously, Sakuya walked forward. The force field didn't activate. She let out a sigh. "Thank goodness. I didn't need an ego blow today." 
Inside the Keep, as before, there were numerous cells housing delirious Shadows, all singing Ibuki's praises. 
"Lady Ibuki...so sexy..." 
"Please step on me, Lady Ibuki..." 
"I'm a lowly pig...oink oink..." 
"So I think this goes without saying, but the cutesy act must really be just that." Kat said. 
"Her wounds must truly run deep if this is how she perceives the world." Carrie added. 
"....." Barbara said nothing. 
"You've been on-edge this whole time, Barb. What's gotten into you?" Natalia asked. 
"I just...know where she's coming from. I can't judge her reaction when I've gone through the same thing. I know this is wrong, I know she has to be stopped...I just want to know how it got this bad..." 
"Senpai..." Sakuya uttered. 
"Halt! Who goes there?!" Numerous Shadow guards manifested. "You dare to trespass upon Lady Ibuki's private quarters? Do you not see the wisdom she is imparting on the brainless hordes?" 
"Wisdom? Brainwashing people into being submissive isn't--" Barbara protested. 
"Barbara. Objecting here is futile. Allow me." Carrie held her back. 
"Are you sure? Don't strain yourself too much if it hurts." Natalia cautioned. 
"I'll be alright. I need the exercise." 
"Teach 'em who the real queen is around here." Kat urged. 
Carrie stood before the horde. "'Real' queen?! Blasphemy! We will not tolerate such insolent--" the lead Shadow boomed. 
The chastising immediately ceased upon the realization that the kindly heiress had put her fist through the demon's chest. "Offensive wretches. This is a teachable moment. Observe." 
The other girls watched and flinched as Carrie proceeded to decimate the horde with her bare hands. "Child's play. Shall we move on--" 
"Behind you." a voice only she could hear uttered. 
A large Shadow tried swinging its weapon down on Carrie, only for her Persona, a woman clad in golden armor, to block the attack. It cast its own energy attack, destroying the Shadow. 
"As I was saying, shall we move on?" 
"Kat-san, is your nose bleeding?" Sakuya asked. 
"What? Don't be ridiculous. The air's just a little thin." Kat covered her nose with her sleeve. 
The girls climbed the tower, reaching the cage on top. A ball of light appeared, and Kat took it. "Right. That's one down." 
"What is it?" Carrie asked. 
The object in Kat's hand was a poster bearing Ibuki's image, not unlike the ones plastered on the stadium's windows. "Certainly represents the power she holds. Her image is well-known enough to be on a poster in a prominent location." Sakuya said. 
"Maybe it's also about reminding herself of where she is versus where she was. That she has the power now." Natalia added. 
"Well, let's get out of here. Hopefully the boys haven't run off on us." Barbara said.
Outside the Keep, Kenneth was studying the walls. "Is this real cobblestone? I must admit, it looks rather jarring compared to the rest of the city." 
"Why's that, cuz there's no 'XXX' written on it?" Max asked. 
"Keeb's gonna want to visit a shop before we leave." Sahir joked. 
"Hell no." Kibō retorted. 
"Nah, man, I can see it now. 'What's this long, purple thing? Is it like a bat?'" Max said. 
"'Wait, they come in sizes?'" Sahir added on. 
"'What's with the spikes on these costumes? Wasn't Halloween a few weeks ago?'" 
"You two suck." Kibō griped. 
"Well, it's the right place for that." Max quipped. 
Kibō pulled his hood down over his face. "Walked right into that one." Kenneth said. 
The girls exited the Keep. "...are you bums corrupting poor Keebie?" Kat asked. 
"Nooooo." Max replied unconvincingly. 
"Good, cuz if anyone's gonna twist his brain, it's gonna be me. Now hop to it. Care's already found the second Core." 
"Great, more rocks for Kenny to gawk at." Max replied. 
"And maybe they'll add some wood for Keeb." Sahir joked. 
"I will throw you both." Kibō threatened. 
"Vulgar. Bloody vulgar." Kenneth grumbled. 
--- 
Deep inside the castle, a Shadow guard was being grilled by the resident monarch, Ibuki. "Intruders?! What do you mean?! Wasn't it your job to keep an eye out?!" Ibuki's Shadow possessed red skin, black facepaint resembling a mask, wild, orange hair, a black corset, black fishnets and knee-high black boots. A black crown adorned her head, and she possessed the trademark yellow eyes of a Shadow. She was also carrying a whip. 
"M-my apologies, Your Majesty. They snuck past security and invaded the Keep..." 
"Idiots! You have ONE JOB. ONE. And you let some random crooks from who-knows-where waltz in?" Ibuki threateningly approached the guard. "Do you want me to punish you?" 
"N-no, Your Majesty..." 
Ibuki giggled. "Are you sure? Pigs love it when I punish them. It's a privilege few men can say they've lived through. Now if you don't want to experience that loving sensation, I suggest you GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND FIND THOSE CROOKS!" 
"Yes, ma'am, right away!" The guard dispersed. 
"Tch...intruders, hm? Here to take my Desires? That won't be happening. I won't be forced to return to being a weak punching bag. I am the Queen. I'll never be the victim again..." 
--- 
The team arrived at the second Keep. "I'd imagine it's gonna be the same drill as last time. Boys, y'all can stay here and...perform a seance, or something." Kat said. 
"Okie dokie. We'll summon up a succubus to teach Keeb the meaning of love." Max joked. 
"I'm just going to tune you out for the foreseeable future." Kibō replied. 
The girls entered the Keep. "Cue the guards appearing and spouting fanatical crap in 3...2..." Kat said. 
The Shadow guards appeared. "You! You have angered our Queen! Now come and accept your punishment!" 
"Hmm, nah. Ladies? Feel like cracking some skulls, or...whatever these things have?" 
"With pleasure." Barbara replied. 
The next couple of minutes were comprised entirely of the Shadows suffering degrading defeats, and dissipating. "Clearly your Queen doesn't pay you enough." Kat said. 
"She doesn't...pay us at all--" one Shadow uttered before dispersing. 
"And now for the second portion of our exercise." 
"Kenny's favorite act in the world." Natalia giggled. 
The girls traversed the winding stairway up the tower, listening in on the mindless mumbling of the imprisoned Shadows. 
"Queen Ibuki is the strongest..." 
"Worship her...praise her...love her..." 
"Please, punish me, Your Majesty..." 
Sakuya could see that Barbara was clearly affected by everything, and gently patted her back. "Please keep it together, Senpai. I know this is hard because of your shared pain. I understand that pain better than most. But you're in a position now to save her. Just like you all saved me. You can stop this before it reaches the point of no return." 
"Thanks, Saku...I'm okay. I just have to keep reminding myself that she's not the real monster in this...and that we can stop it all before she becomes one." Barbara replied. 
"Keep your head up, beautiful. I hurt when you hurt." Kat said. 
"Don't think of it as us punishing a guilty person. Think of it as...bringing them hope." Carrie added. 
"We've helped a lot of people doing this. We've even helped each other a ton. We're gonna make this okay. And then you and Ibuki can be friends for real." Natalia added. 
"Guys...thank you. It's gonna be okay. All of this...we're gonna make it okay. We'll save everyone in here. Ibuki included." Barbara proclaimed. 
The girls reached the top, and Kat grabbed the Core. "What's that?" Natalia asked. 
"It looks like...a framed photograph. It's Ibuki holding a little girl." Carrie replied. 
"Didn't you say that Hinotama-san mentioned having a niece? Perhaps this is her." Sakuya surmised. 
"What's it doing here, though?" Kat questioned. 
"...Ibuki wants to be an inspiration to people. That you can get out of a bad spot and still succeed. Who would you most want to be a role model for, if not your own family?" Barbara replied. 
"That would make sense. I'd imagine she wouldn't want her niece to see her in such a vulnerable state as this. All the more reason to bring her back to her senses." Carrie said. 
"Right. The way to the castle should be open now. Let's grab the boys. Getting close to meeting the Queen now." Kat said. 
The girls reunited with the boys, and returned to the front of the castle. "Good. The gate's open now. Let's move." Kat ordered. 
The team entered the castle, and made their way down a long hallway. "This is giving me the creeps...I'm getting serious Hell Castle vibes." Sahir said. 
"Hopefully it's not Kirby-chan waiting for us at the end." Kat replied. 
"Uggh, that's the last thing we need." Max griped. 
They reached a large door at the end of the hall. "This would most likely be the throne room. And if this matches up with Leon's Prison, then we won't be able to proceed just yet." Kenneth surmised. 
"Yeah. There's gonna be a force field that'll show us the Warden's trauma the moment we touch it. So...any volunteers?" Kat asked. 
"Not me, that hurt like hell the last time." Sahir replied. 
"I'll do it." Barbara stated. 
"No way. I'll handle it." Kibō refused. 
"I want to see it for myself. I need to know what caused all of this. I'm tougher than I look. Let me do it." 
"...alright, Barbie. Do your thing. If it gets too bad, you can let go." Kat replied. 
Barbara nodded, and approached the door. "Okay...let's do it." She put her hand out, and the cell door appeared. Everything flashed white. 
"Yeesh, here we go again." Max said. 
"Quiet. I think I hear something." Sakuya replied. 
"...dumb little skank. You wanna be a tough girl, huh? You're forgetting just who makes the rules around here." a gravelly male voice uttered. Just then, a smacking sound echoed out. "You'd better get your shit together before I get back. I'm gonna need pleasure time when I'm done. Now be a good little whore and clean yourself up." 
"Gk...you bastard...!" Ibuki's voice uttered. 
Barbara let go. "Owww..." 
"Are you okay, Senpai?" Sakuya asked. 
"Ugh...you weren't joking...that really did hurt..." 
"But what we heard just now...sounds like your classic case of domestic violence. That man sounded like a real piece of shit." Max said. 
"Just from that sequence alone, I can tell she must've experienced terrible pain at his hands. Pain none of us could even fathom." Kenneth said. 
"So now what do we do? Find wherever that took place in the real world and go from there?" Kibō asked. 
"Ibuki gave me her apartment number with the card...that could be where it happened." Barbara replied. 
"Let's head on back. Still plenty of time left in the day. Once we confront her trauma, we should be able to get in." Kat said. 
The group began to head for the exit. "Hey, Sparky." Kat stopped. 
"Yeah? What's up?" Max asked. 
"The male voice in that vision...it feels like I've heard it before. I could just be imagining it. But something didn't feel right." 
"That sailor mouth, the nails-on-a-chalkboard voice...it's too similar for my liking, too. I hope we're wrong, but if Ibuki had to deal with him, then it'd go a long way to explain all of...this." 
"Only one way to know for sure. I've got a bad feeling." 
--- 
After exiting the Prison, the team made their way to an apartment complex on the east side of Shinjuku. "This was the name of the complex on the card." Barbara said. 
"If this is really where all that awful stuff took place, then we're about to get a front-row seat to something horrible. Sure you can handle it, Sis?" Max asked. 
"I have to. I need to see it for myself. I have to understand what's driven Ibuki this far. Image triggers or no, I have to do this. KittyKat, fire up the app. Key phrase: Happy Ending!" 
"Thank you. Beginning navigation." 
The surroundings shifted. The group found themselves inside of an apartment, the entire room colored a stark red. The room itself was much wider than a standard apartment. At the opposite end was a lanky man, wearing a black hood, standing over something. "How many times do I have to bash it into you? What I want, I get. I want a good time now, I get the good time now. The fuck do you think you are, telling me no?" 
"I don't...want to..." Ibuki's voice echoed out. 
"You forgetting who fills up your cash flow? Lets you send it away so poor old sis and her little brat can eat better? You really think you're in any position to tell me off, you stupid bitch?!" The lanky man took a swing. 
"Ah...! I'll...I'll make you pay...I'll call the--" 
"Call the who? The cops?" The man cackled. "Bitch, you forgetting I've got a badge too? Who are the top brass gonna believe? A long-time vet with a spotless record? Or some whore off the street? Dumb little skank. You wanna be a tough girl, huh? You're forgetting just who makes the rules around here." The man made a smacking motion, and a sound echoed. "You'd better get your shit together before I get back. I'm gonna need pleasure time when I'm done. Now be a good little whore and clean yourself up." 
"Gk...you bastard...!" 
"This piece of shit...who does he think he is?!" Sahir exclaimed. 
"Poor Ibuki...she had to live with a complete monster..." Natalia uttered. 
"A monster...something's wrong here. That guy..." Kat replied. 
The man turned to the group. When they saw his face, eyes covered by shadow as they were, they were flabbergasted. The thin, messy hair was exactly the same as a face they'd come to know. 
"Iruka...Hirano?!" Sakuya realized. 
"Officer Nosferatu?!" Kat exclaimed. 
"You have GOT to be shitting me!" Max added. 
"That murderous monstrosity...he's Ibuki's abuser?" Kenneth asked. 
"Unbelievable...if she had to live with such a demon..." Carrie uttered. 
"Bastard...you're worse than my old man...why couldn't you just stay dead on that gurney? You...my father...every man I've ever met was just inhuman garbage!" Ibuki's voice echoed. 
"Haaaaaa. You're right on the money there, bitch. I ain't human. Just an ugly monster destined for a bubbling pool in Hell. But as long as I'm here, I'm gonna get whatever the fuck I want." 'Hirano' replied. 
The room began to expand even further. 'Hirano' became surrounded by dark energy, and transformed into the same kind of four-armed, black monstrosity that was inside Leon's Trauma Room, though this one was carrying a pair of swords. 
"All you are is a cheap skank I use for kicks. The more you piss me off, the more I'm gonna take it out on your dumbass family. You think I'm a bastard now? You ain't seen the worst I've done to people. But you keep being a little prick, and you're gonna SEE my worst!" the creature exclaimed. 
"Nat. Give him a shower." Barbara said. 
"Okay!" Natalia brought out her power, and rain clouds formed above the monster, drenching it in water. 
Barbara's eyes flared, and the creature ceased all movement. She moved her arm, and the waterlogged monster mirrored it. She hoisted both arms up, then motioned as if she was hitting her chest. The monster did the same, and plunged its blades into itself, destroying it. 
"Good quick-thinking, Barbie." Kat said. 
"Inconceivable. To think that our old foe was the one responsible for her pain..." Kenneth commented. 
"It sounded like he saw her as simply property to entertain himself with. It's no wonder her cognition has become as warped as it is." Carrie added. 
"First Kagami and his antics, now Hirano...these cretins really are cut from the same cloth. To think that I was partnered with such deplorable animals..." Sakuya said. 
"You didn't know how awful they really were, Saku. I just...isn't he in his mid-30s? Taking advantage of a younger girl like that...it makes me want to vomit." Natalia said. 
"So he's the real villain in this. Not Ibuki." Kibō said. 
"I agree 100%, but...we still have a job to do. Ibuki's taking some bad actions herself, and she has to be stopped. She ain't nearly as horrible as Officer Nosferatu, but if we leave her be, she could really cause some serious harm." Kat replied. 
"You're right. All that's left is to send a warning. I'll write it this time. I have to get what I'm feeling across. I'm not gonna let that monster destroy her anymore than he already has." Barbara asserted. 
"Then that's what we're gonna do. I'll give you the night to come up with how to get it where she'll see it. Let's head out and rest up for the day. After school tomorrow...it's go time."
--- 
November 19, 2029 
At the gym in Shinjuku, a crowd had gathered, all mumbling amongst themselves. Ibuki arrived on the scene. "Hey, um, what's happening? Anyone wanna tell me? Helloooo?" 
"I-Ibuki-san, you have to see this!" a gym employee urged. 
The crowd parted to allow her through, revealing a number of her posters scattered on the ground, with a stylized letter 'A' spray-painted onto each. "What the hell...?" Ibuki picked one up, and on the back of it, a message was written in ashen gray ink. 
"'To Ibuki Hinotama, the 'great' fireball with a heart full of sin. You claim to be an advocate for victims of abuse, yet you willingly perpetrate such acts in the name of revenge, against those who never once wronged you. We have found these acts to be unacceptable, and thus, we will be taking back the Desires you've pilfered.'" 
Ibuki's hands began to shake. "Ibuki-san...?" an employee uttered. 
"The Ashen Artisans...think I'm the bad guy?! They think that I'm the same as...him?!" Ibuki quickly composed herself, and turned back to the crowd. "Ahahaha! It's all just some misunderstanding! They...they obviously have me confused with someone else! Ahehe...he..." 
Within the Prison, her Shadow stirred. "Steal back the Desires...? Take me down...like they did to Iruka? No...I'm nothing like that demon calling himself a man! I am the Queen! Idol to little girls throughout the city! I refuse...I refuse to become a weak punching bag ever again! Hypocritical thieves...I'll make sure to give you my best punishment!" 
Back in the real world, the team observed from a distance. "I can almost see a blood vessel popping in her head. She's totally rattled." Sahir said. 
"That should manifest the Desires. All that's left to do now is confront the Warden." Sakuya said. 
"It's almost over. We're coming, Ibuki." Barbara uttered to herself. 
Entering the key phrase, the students entered the Prison. 
Eventually, they made their way to the throne room in the castle. "All the Desires should be in here. Given how these things tend to go, so should homegirl. Be ready for anything." Kat said. 
The giant door opened, and the team stepped into the throne room. Above their heads, was an enormous pink gemstone. "Just as before. The stolen Desires have taken a single, unified shape." Kenneth said. 
Suddenly, the torches throughout the chamber lit up, catching the group's attention. Once the torches nearest to the throne lit up, someone descended from the ceiling, landing in front of the throne. "Hello there, so-called 'heroes'. It's rather rude to enter the Queen's chambers uninvited, don't you think?" Shadow Ibuki said. 
"Hoo BOY, that outfit!" Sahir exclaimed. 
"Keebie, shield yourself, your knightly instincts could be threatened!" Kat said. 
"Grr..." Kibō growled. 
"Who allowed these pigs to enter my throne room?! If you choose to kneel now, I'll lessen the humiliation you're about to suffer through." the Shadow chided. 
"Ibuki, please. This has to stop. All you're doing is hurting people. Nobody you've put under your control had anything to do with hurting you. We know what the man that abused you was like--" Barbara began. 
"Of course you do, you're the ones who locked him away. You're supposed to help people like me, yet here you are trying to bring me down." 
"We are trying to help you, stupid! No one blames you for being so jaded after what happened, but hurting other people the same way doesn't make it better." Kat retorted. 
"You don't have to be the villain in this. I saw what was done to you. I understand why you're so angry..." Barbara said. 
"You 'understand' me?" Ibuki began to laugh. "Preppy little punks. Where do you get off, thinking you know how I feel? Sitting in your cozy, expensive houses, getting the best education and never having to worry about things like money or food. Meanwhile, in the real world, people have to struggle night and day so they can make sure they have a roof over their heads, and food to eat. The shit that I had to put up with...all the abuse I had to absorb...pampered runts like you could never understand my pain! Now you're sitting there, equating me with the monster who kept me down, and telling me to let go of all this power? Never! I'm not letting a bunch of entitled brats take everything away from me! I won't be someone's 'pet' ever again!" 
"No one's trying to take everything from you. All we want is for you to stop blaming everyone for what you experienced, and release your hold on them." Sakuya replied. 
"You idolize my mom, don't you? My mom got to where she was by being the baddest woman in the room. She did it all on her own. You don't need to keep controlling people to make your way up." Kibō added. 
"You want adoration. You want respect. You want people to see you for who you are. But this can't be it, Ibuki. You can't let what the demon did to you ruin you like this. You might think that we don't understand, but we do. Every one of us here experienced something traumatic. Our lives haven't been as easy as you think. That's why we're doing this. Nobody else should experience what we have. We can't let the awful past lord over our future. All that does is create more monsters." Barbara dictated. 
"Is that what you think I am? A monster? I'm not letting what that man did to me hold me back. This is me taking what I deserve. I'll never let it go. If you want my Desires...then I'm going to have to give you my best punishment!" Ibuki rebuked. 
Ibuki sat down on her throne, and the entire room began to shake. The floor beneath began to rise up. Once the shifting was complete, the true form of Ibuki's "punishment" was laid bare: a gargantuan, black pig-like monster, with huge tusks. Atop the beast, Ibuki remained seated on her throne, holding it back with two long leashes wrapped around the tusks. 
"See what happens when a good little piggie listens to their orders? Now listen to your Queen, and crush these interlopers!" 
"Jeez...looks like it's gonna be a fight after all. Sorry, Barbie. We're gonna have to do this the hard way." Kat said. 
"Please just listen to me for one second, Ibuki! This doesn't have to end in violence! I just wanted to help!" Barbara pleaded. 
"Shut your prissy little mouth! Privileged brats like you always talk about 'helping' the people beneath you, but it's all to make yourself look better! I don't need anyone's help, you hear me?! The last time I took help from someone, they made me their slave! Never again!" Ibuki rebuked. 
"So instead, you'll just crush me, right? Is that gonna make you feel better? Will it make you feel more powerful?" 
"What?" 
"You said the other day that you wanted to be my friend. I don't think that was a lie. And being friends means lifting each other up when things are bad. So if tossing me aside here's gonna make things better for you, then go ahead." 
"Wait, Barbie...what're you saying?!" Kat questioned. 
"You're gonna let her just crush us?" Sahir asked. 
"Wait a minute..." Max thought back to the prior year. His own Shadow confronting Barbara over her meddling causing their father to be exposed. "You're doing the same thing that you did back then...you're that sure she won't do it." 
".....why?" Ibuki uttered. 
"You've suffered enough, Ibuki. I'm not raising my hand against you. Guys...drop it." Barbara urged. 
"But...!" Natalia uttered. 
"Follow her lead. She knows what she's doing." Max replied. 
Somewhat reluctantly, everyone obliged, and refrained from attacking. 
"Why...? Damn you, why?! Stop taking pity on me! I don't need it, or help, or any of that gooey shit! I'll crush you, you hear me?!" Ibuki barked. 
"Tell me something. Your little niece that you adore so much...you want to be her hero, right? Do heroes attack the people trying to help them? Does an idol make people love them by twisting their hearts? Would the aunt she undoubtedly loves teach her that needless violence is how you respond to hardship?" Barbara asked. 
"...!" The Shadow was taken aback. "You...why would you...shut up! Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP! I'm not doing anything wrong! The world...the world is so fucked and unfair! I wouldn't be this way if it wasn't! That bastard Hirano...he plucked me off the street and treated me like dirt! The same thing my father did! Every man I've ever been close to has treated me like a sack of meat! I never had any say in how my life would go! Now that I do...I can't lose it! Why would I ever go back to being miserable, weak-willed garbage?!" 
"Why...why would I..." Tears began streaming down the Shadow's face. "Kanae-chan...her and my sister could finally have the life we all deserve. If I admit to what I've done...if I give up my fame...what happens then? I won't let my family starve on the street...not when the good life is finally in reach!" 
"Come clean. Be honest about everything that happened. Your family will understand. There will be people who understand. And we'll do everything in our power to make sure you land on your feet. I won't let the people you love sink into a difficult life because selfish men drove you to this point. It's not because of pity. It's what a friend is supposed to do." Barbara replied. 
"I...Barbara, you mean it? You'll help me help my family?" 
"Mmhmm. But you have to let us. Please, release everyone's Desires. These people can't go on like this." 
"....." The pig creature dissolved, and the Shadow descended to the ground. "You're right...I've wanted respect and security so badly that I've made other people miserable. I grew up idolizing Kyoko-sama and women like her, because they were so strong. I wanted that for myself...but you can't get anywhere in this world without status. I was so bitter and angry about everything, and I just created a bigger mess." She removed her crown. "I'll make this right...and then I'll make a comeback. I'll be someone Kanae-chan can be proud of. I'll keep fighting for my happy ending..." Shadow Ibuki vanished. 
Kat patted Barbara on the shoulder. "You aced it, beautiful. When you pour your little heart out, good things happen." 
"I'll say, I was not looking forward to dealing with Dark Beast Ganon at all." Max added. 
The castle began to shake. "Guess we should head out. We'll just leave the rest to Ibuki." Barbara said, and the group exited the Prison. 
--- 
November 20, 2029 
A press conference chamber in Shinjuku, late afternoon. Seated at a desk, surrounded by cameras, was Ibuki. "Good afternoon, everyone. I know this is a bit sudden, but there are things that I need to address. Yesterday, word started to spread that I was being accused of abusive behavior by a certain party." 
"I'm here today to confess that those allegations are actually true. During my recent career, I have treated a number of my male assistants with scorn and abuse, to where one even wound up being hospitalized. I haven't been shy about being an abuse survivor myself, having been physically and emotionally hurt by both my father, as well as a man who was recently convicted of multiple homicides and placed on death row. I allowed my hatred towards these men to cloud my judgement, and vented my frustrations on the men around me. As horrific as my situation was, there was no reason for me to react the way that I did." 
"I wanted to be a positive role model for young girls--my own niece in particular. I wanted to prove that you could escape from an awful world and make something better for yourself. But all I ended up proving was that abuse is a horrible cycle. From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to everyone I've hurt with my actions. Starting from today, I'll be stepping away from the ring for good. I never deserved to be mentioned in the same breath as the women I looked up to. I'm just some common street trash..." 
"No! I won't allow it!" Barbara suddenly entered the room and marched right up to the table. 
"Wha--how'd she get in here?!" one reporter questioned. 
"Barbara? What are you--" Ibuki uttered. 
"You can't just quit now. You want to put your head down and admit that you're powerless? That's exactly what the bloodsucking garbage who hurt you would want! If you give up now, that tells everyone suffering like you did that there's no way they'll ever be happy. You want to be your niece's hero, right? Then stand up and keep going. You fight for the happy ending. Don't let the monsters keep winning." Barbara urged. 
"Barb...I..." 
"Alright, girly, move along!" Security began to urge Barbara out. 
"You know where to find me. You know that I'm right. Never quit." Barbara said before being escorted out. 
"....." 
Kat was waiting outside when Barbara was ushered out. "You get it out of your system?" Kat asked. 
"Sorry. I just couldn't let her fold. I couldn't let it end like that." Barbara replied. 
"Leave it to the theater girl to bring the drama." 
"Um...Barbara?" Ibuki walked out of the building. 
"Hey. Sorry to interrupt your moment." Barbara said. 
"Nothing for you to be sorry for. You're right. I can't give up on my dream. I'm just scared, is all. I don't know what's gonna happen to me or my family now that the cash won't be coming in as much. And I don't have school to fall back on, either. I've really made a big mess of this..." 
"We'll help you out however we can. I'm sure we can find something for you to do until you're ready to climb back in the ring. We'll just use our network of connections around town. My friends and I know some folks." Barbara assured. 
"I'd really be down for that. Wouldn't be the first or second time the Ashen Artisans helped me out, right?" 
Barbara and Kat were alerted. "I, uh...we..." 
"Come on, Barb. You tell me off next to the gym, then the next day the place is littered with you guys' logo? Don't worry, your secret's safe with me. I owe you way too much." 
"We would, uh...appreciate that." Kat replied. 
"I'd love to meet the rest of your troupe. Maybe thank you guys properly for everything you've already done. I know you have school, so maybe this weekend? If, you know...you still want to be friends." 
"Of course! We'll get everyone together and make a day of it. You'll never meet a better group of people." Barbara cheerily replied. 
Ibuki suddenly embraced Barbara. "Thanks a ton. For...everything. Sorry you had to clean up my mess." 
"It's what friends are for. Hopefully we get to see more of each other from now on." Barbara replied. 
"Totally not foreboding or anything, Barbie." Kat thought.