Persona BLEACHED 2: Part 19

Chapter 19: Riddle me This 2
2023
Midnight in Karakura Town. At an apartment complex in the north end of town, a lone individual surveys the fruits of his labor. 
"Aw, shit yeah. This is the stuff." Shōta Kagami boasted. He ruffled through the bag he had, which was filled with women's underwear. Bearing long, unkempt hair and a beanie cap, he was every image of a prowler. He scoured his second bag, filled with numerous yen bills. "And enough dough to get through the month. Another job well done..."
"Such a waste of talent."
Kagami looked around. "Who the hell said that?! You've got some balls, breaking into a thief's apartment..."
A man in an azure mask and hood appeared from the shadows. "Shōta Kagami. How tragic that a man with your intellect should waste it commiting petty crimes and living in squalor."
"The hell's with the getup? This ain't a red-light district! And what do you mean by wasting? Just who the hell are you?"
"For now, you may call me Master. And I mean what I said. You are wasting the talents gifted to you by the universe. Choosing to indulge in such base proclivities. With your intelligence, you could do whatever you want."
"I ain't calling anyone 'master', especially a freak in fetish wear. And I am doing whatever I want. I get what I want, when I want it, and no one can find me because they're too stupid to."
"I found you."
"Yeah, so you did. You want to get to the point, you damn spook?"
"I'm gathering people like you to be my right hands. Talented individuals wasting their talents on mediocre pursuits. I can show you entirely new dimensions to this world. All for a greater purpose than stealing women's undergarments."
Kagami narrowed his eyes. "Are you on shrooms? Look, pal, I'm not interested in joining whatever freak show you're running. I'm perfectly fine with where I'm at."
"I can make you reconsider."
"Alright, buddy, I'm gonna give you five seconds before I bust a cap in your--"
The Master snapped his fingers, and a portal opened up beneath Kagami's feet. A few seconds later, another one opened up in the ceiling, and Kagami fell out, landing on the floor. "...what the fuck did you just do?"
"That is but a taste of the power I can offer you. I intend to flip the power structure of this country on its head. Those who join with me now will be rewarded handsomely once my plans bear fruit. What shall you do, Shōta Kagami? Follow your brother's path into imprisonment? Or take a step towards so much more?" 
The Master held out his hand. Kagami gawked at it for a moment. Then, he grasped it.
---
January 15, 2029
Kagami thought back on the moment he took the Master's hand. 
He'd gotten the power that was promised. He had risen from voyeuristic crimes to running his own show, flaunting his superior intellect before a national audience. And the girls? He could do whatever he pleased with them, and they couldn't complain. He held their futures in his hands. Servitude to the Master had granted him more than he had ever thought possible.
He had been untouchable.
Yet now, as he, the Sphinx of the Theban Six, sat waiting patiently, deep within the Palace of his own heart, he wondered if it was coming to an end. Nearly six years of construction were crashing down around him, his dark deeds laid bare for the world to see. Possibly at the hands of a teenager he had failed to kill.
Despite all this, he bore a mad grin on his face. It would only take eliminating the students coming for him to put him back in the Master's good graces.
He had gotten out of poor situations before. His problems were coming right to him. 
How could he not be grinning?
---
Natalia, Kibō, Barbara and Kenji appeared in front of the studio building. Neon signs adorned the place, one resembling Kagami in his Sphinx garb. A video board reading "Ten Questions Den" was also in plain view. 
"This place just radiates creepy. I feel dirty just looking at it." Barbara uttered.
"I could shield your eyes so the filth doesn't harm you at all." Kibō replied.
"The thought is appreciated, but I'll be alright. I can't fight as good if you're covering my eyes, right?"
"If you two are quite finished playing Lady and Knight, I believe we have a job to do?" Kenji chided.
"Right you are. Nats, how are you feeling?" Barbara asked.
"I'm...I'm alright. I have every reason to be afraid, but I'm not. He's already hurt me once. I just have to keep thinking of who I'm fighting for. All the women he's abused...Carrie...they're what's keeping my legs moving." Natalia replied.
"If I may speak freely for a moment..." Kenji began. "I think I speak for all of us when I say that we're all proud of your newfound bravery and purpose, Natalia. We will do everything in our power to see your desire to fruition. Caroline is our dear friend, as well. All of us will sleep better knowing this wretch has been put in his place."
"Hehe. Thanks. That means a lot coming from you, Kenny. I know I've been a lot to handle up until now, but I'm gonna do my best for you all from now on. Starting with cancelling this guy for good."
The four approached the entrance. Kibō grabbed the door handle, but was met with a surge of electricity. "Yow!"
"You okay?" Barbara asked.
"Yeah. Thank goodness for gloves. Could've been far worse."
The intercom placed above the door turned on. "Ahem. Ahehehehem. Good afternoon, my ashen beasts. Apologies for the rather shocking welcome. You'll have to excuse my manners, I don't take kindly to breaking and entering." Kagami bellowed out. 
"The irony. The absolute, nervy irony." Kenji griped.
"This jerk...!" Natalia grumbled.
"Let us in, Kagami. Grow a spine and face us head-on. No more trying to stab a girl in her sleep." Kibō demanded.
"Oh, of course! I'm more than happy to let you all in. After all, you're the guests of honor for today's episode of 'The Ten Questions'! But I'll need to take some precautions first. I'll have to test your critical thinking skills. Surely students of Tokyo's finest center for higher learning, taught by the Imperial Goddess' chosen warrior herself, can handle a few questions?"
"'Imperial Goddess'? What's that supposed to mean?" Barbara asked.
"We're not seriously gonna play this creep's games, are we?" Natalia asked.
"I'm afraid we don't have much choice. The building's sealed off by a powerful electrical field. Even if you teleport us in, there's no guarantee we'd get past it without being shocked. This is his world. For the time being, we'll have to play by his rules." Kibō replied.
"Think of it this way. Our informant told us he thinks of himself as smarter than everyone else. I'm in the mood for cutting a hole into his ego." Kenji added.
"Alright, Kagami. We'll play along. Just remember that you're delaying your inevitable beating." Natalia said.
"Ahahahaha, touchy, aren't we? I love a girl with a bit of spine to her. Now then, let's start with an easy one, shall we?"
"What belongs to the Earth in the morning, the trees in the afternoon, and the heavens at night?"
"What kind of...abstract nonsense." Kenji muttered.
"It's not too different from the actual Sphinx riddle, I think. So then--" Barbara began.
"It's a butterfly." Natalia answered. "It crawls on the ground as a caterpillar, hangs from a tree as a cocoon, and takes to the sky as a butterfly."
"...tch. Knew that was too easy for you. Fine then. You may enter." Kagami uttered.
The students entered. They were greeted by a woman garbed in a skimpy bunny girl outfit. Natalia quickly recognized her as their informant. "Hiya! Welcome to the most happening show in town! So, like, I guess you're today's guests? I think? I dunno. Guess that's why Mr. Kagami's the boss and I'm just a secretary, ahahahahaha!" she said with a thick, valley girl accent.
"Ms. Yui?" Natalia asked, confused.
"Yep, that's my name! I think. Yeah, I'm sure it is! Hehehehe~."
"Remember, Nats. This isn't the real Yui. It's a product of Kagami's cognition. This is how he sees her." Kibō said.
"Scantily clad and too dull to remember her own name. What an upstanding individual our Sphinx is." Kenji quipped.
"So, like, the stage is thataway...I think." Yui pointed in a direction completely opposite of the neon sign directing people towards the stage.
"I think we got it, thanks." a frustrated Natalia said as the group walked away. 
"The more I see, the more I want to toss Kagami from a building. Is that bad?" Barbara asked.
"Not at all." Kibō replied.
The students walked into the main studio. On-stage were a set of booths for contestants to stand behind. The audience was filled with more young women dressed in skimpy outfits. Giant, well-lit letters spelling "The Ten Questions" hung from the ceiling. "I suppose that's where our likeable host wants us to stand. Let's just get this over with." Kenji muttered.
The group got behind the booths. "And now, here for your viewing pleasure (and his), your dashing host, the envy of all mankind! Put your hands together for, Shōta Kagamiiiiii!" the announcer boomed, to rapturous applause.
Pyrotechnics erupted as Kagami appeared from beneath the stage. The applause only grew louder. 
"I'm going to need a serious shower after this." Barbara uttered.
"Welcome, one and all, to another stimulating episode of The Ten Questions!" Kagami boasted.
"Serious. Shower." Barbara repeated.
"And to our lucky contestants: I've been waiting for this. Welcome, Artisans, to the worst day of your lives!" Kagami exclaimed.
"Enough of your garbage, you perverted freak! We're here to take you off the air for good!" Natalia exlaimed.
"Temper, temper, Ms. Van Damme. We can't have contestants causing too much of a ruckus before we even start. Especially one I intend to have become my plaything once this is done."
"The hell did you say?!"
"Shall I explain? Let's meet my lovely assistant for today's show..." Kagami gestured. "Oh, assistant! I need my question cards!"
A figure emerged from the shadows: a girl in a purple maid outfit. "How may I be of service, Master Kagami?" The students were floored at the sight of her.
"Is that...Carrie?" Kibō asked.
"How disgusting..." Kenji growled.
"I'm going to be sick..." Barbara uttered.
Natalia's expression quickly turned from one of shock, to one of rage. "You...how dare you?!"
Kagami put his arm around "Carrie", and cackled. His voice distorted more as he spoke. "Don't you get it yet? I hold the fate of every girl I meet in the palm of my hand. Young and old, it doesn't matter. This is my world! I have the power here! I can do whatever, and whoever, the hell I want! So, my Belgian waffle, I would recommend shutting your damn mouth and doing what I tell you to." He began jabbing "Carrie"'s side with his cane, which only seemed to elate her. "Otherwise I'm making my way to that hospital and finishing your precious Carrie myself. Get the message?"
Natalia clenched her fists, and bit her lip. ".....you want me to play your little game? Fine. But when we win, and oh, will we win, nothing's gonna stop me from making you pay. I swore I'd break you, and I will. So quit dancing around, and get to questioning. I have a butt to whoop."
"Heh. Good answer." Kagami tossed "Carrie" aside. "Now everyone, get on your feet! It's time for Tokyo's most killer quiz show!"
"In the interest of fairness, I should let you all know the rules. In case you couldn't tell, you'll have to answer ten questions correctly. Do that, and you can walk out of here with your lives intact. Miss just one, and I'll eat you all alive. Can't leave the future to a stupider generation than the last one, can we?"
"Question Number 1: Which 70s mega band broke up in 1980 following the death of their drummer?" "Heh. Got 'em. Kids these days don't know jack about quality music--" Kagami thought.
"Led Zeppelin." Kibō immediately buzzed in.
"...correct." Kagami uttered.
"If my parents have taught me anything, it's appreciation for the classics. You'd think a group watching our every move would know something so basic..." Kibō said.
"Gr...Question Number 2: What comic book series featured the first appearances of Guardians of the Galaxy members Star-Lord and Rocket Raccoon?"
"Marvel Preview. If you want specifics, Star-Lord first appeared in issue four, with Rocket appearing three issues later." Barbara answered. "Maybe try asking about something my brother isn't a huge fan of."
"Tch...you're just getting lucky. Next question..." replied a frustrated Kagami.
Kagami had believed every successive question would be the one to trip them up.
"217 years." Kenji answered.
Surely a bunch of kids born in the 2010s couldn't know this much.
"Desperate Housewives". Barbara answered.
There was no possible way.
"The medulla oblangata." Kibō answered.
Absurd.
"Hans Christian Andersen." Natalia answered.
Kagami tossed his cards in frustration. "Ridiculous. You brats have to be cheating!"
"We attend one of the most elite academies on the continent. Unlike you, our heads aren't completely filled with hot gas." Kenji quipped.
"I guess Death's Hand's information network isn't what we thought it was. You couldn't even come up with one question to fool us?" Kibō asked.
"Hey, you guys hear that? Must be the sound of all that hot air leaving after his ego got poked." Natalia said.
Kagami's hand began twitching. Dark energy began emerging from him as his eyes glowed. "You snooty little shits. I know trust fund pricks like you think you can walk into a place and run the show, but you're forgetting one thing. This is my world. I don't get beat at my own game. I'm never wrong!"
The shadows swarmed around him, and he took the form of a giant, indigo-colored sphinx. The Death's Hand emblem was emblazoned in white across his side.
"Stop being such a baby! We won fair and square!" Natalia yelled.
"Hahahahahahahaha! You're telling me to stop being a baby? You? Scaredy Cat Nat? The girl that almost jumped from a roof because some girls were calling her mean names?"
"Shut it. That's got nothing to do with--"
"You can keep pretending to be all fixed, but nothing can change the truth. The only friend you ever had, almost died trying to save you. How tragic, that such a high-class piece of ass should almost sacrifice herself for such a frumpy girl. Frumpy, worthless, unlovable, cowardly..."
"Sh...shut up..."
"Don't listen to this piece of garbage, Nats! You know he's wrong..." Barbara insisted.
"I...I am the reason she's hurt, aren't I..." Natalia uttered.
"Ignore his bullshit. He's an animal, nothing more." Kenji retorted.
"Aww, poor little Nat. It's okay, I can take care of you. You can be my own personal project. Just do what I say, and no one will ever hurt you again..."
Natalia didn't react. "Take care of me...? No one will ever hurt me...? That's what you're promising after everything you've done? I have had it...with people like you pushing me...and expecting me to just roll over and take it. I...I..."
She opened her eyes, and was now within a pitch black room, a single light shining down on her.
"Finally, you've woken up."
Natalia turned to the source of the voice, so similar to her own. A second light appeared. Seated before her was a monotone-colored girl, garbed in a dress splashed with blood, and a somber look on her face.
"So long I have suffered with you. Your heart has been incomplete, my true name and power hidden from you. You have had to bear this pain for your entire life. Ignorant fools who only see what you can do for them, and treat you like disposable garbage. Now this vile creature, barely a day after he tried taking everything from you, believes he can take care of you. What are you going to do about it?"
"Sit pat and let him do as he pleases? Or find the courage to stand on your own two feet, look the fiend dead in his eyes and assert your worth as a human? These people that have tormented you for so long are wrong. You are talented, caring, beautiful inside and out. Are you going to let this destructive beast and others like him tell you otherwise?"
"...no. No, Lili--no, Carietta. I'm done being told I'm not worth anything. I'm tired of feeling like I can't be useful. The first person who really believed in me is in pain because of this creep. And then he has the nerve to mock her in front of me?! I'm done being the punching bag. I swore I'd make him pay, and that's what I'm gonna do!"
Carietta rose up, and seemed to float over to Natalia, taking her by the hand.
"Your resolve is firm. You no longer have anything to fear. My strength is yours to bind your future with. I am thou, thou art I. If it so pleases you, let us give the fiend an invitation. A glorious ticket...to a dance of despair."
In the waking world, Natalia was consumed by blue flames, as the other students looked on with surprise. 
"What the hell...?" Kagami wondered. Suddenly, the letters hanging from the ceiling started to shake. They flew off violently, barreling into Kagami's giant body, knocking him off-balance. "Damn brat, what's going--ngh!" 
Natalia emerged from the flames, her true Persona floating behind her.
"What in the world?" Kenji wondered.
"Her Persona...changed?" Barbara asked.
"I think the proper way to put it is...it became whole." Kibō surmised.
Natalia walked before Kagami. "No more fear. No more bullying. I'm not gonna sit and take it anymore. You've destroyed everyone you've come across. You might've destroyed Carrie. Now it's your turn!"
"Shut the hell up!!!" Kagami swung his front paw down at Natalia. Before it could connect, it was stopped dead. No matter how much force he put out, it wouldn't budge. His hand turned around, seemingly of its own accord, and swung at his face with full force, scratching it.
The audience had long since fled in terror. Seeing the empty seats, Natalia began tearing them from their foundations, launching them at Kagami.
"Tch, hey, cut it o--gh! Annoying little--oof!" Kagami was left staggered by every strike.
"Oh, what's wrong? Do you not like being hurt or something? Just imagine how all the women you've hurt felt. My best friend is in an ICU right now because of you. You don't have the right to tell me to stop. I want you to think of every nasty, dirty, demeaning thing you forced a girl to do. Think of every life you've threatened up to this point, then tell me if you think I should stop." Natalia shot back.
"FUUUCK OFFFFF!" Kagami began to charge a beam of energy in his gaping maw.
"Nats, get out of there!" Kibō yelled.
"It's alright. He can't hurt me more than he already has." Natalia replied. Using her power, the ceiling above Kagami began to crumble. The pieces fell on top of the Sphinx, causing his mouth to shut right as he was about to fire. With nowhere to go, the energy quickly built up inside of Kagami, and combined with the falling debris, the pressure was too great. The huge body of the Sphinx exploded.
When the smoke cleared, Kagami, returned to human form with his garb in tatters, lay prone. The image of the lone hand, branded onto his chest, crumbled away and faded. "W-wait...wait! You can't take it away...I'm nothing without the power...!" he begged.
Kagami soon found the blades of Percival and Elegor pressed to his throat. "As many things as you're wrong about, let's add one thing to the list...even with the power, you were nothing. Now you can just be less than nothing." Kenji declared.
"Before you become a weeping mess, how about you let us in on some trade secrets. How did you people get these powers? What is it you really want? Who are the other elites?" Barbara demanded.
"Tch...like I'll tell you. I just have to hold out for a while...and then you'll never get what you want. Part of our deal with the Master was complete loyalty, down to our very memories. My powers vanishing means my deal is voided...and that my heart has begun to change. Once that's done...every memory relating to Death's Hand will disappear." Kagami replied.
"Disappear? Are you kidding me?" Kibō asked.
"Hehehe...you think you've won, crushing everything I've built up to this point. You won't get anything out of me...and your little friend is still lying in a hospital bed. The only regret I've got...is that I'll forget who you brats really are. I won't get the satisfaction of leaking your real names to whoever wants them. Whatever, I've done my job. You brats know to be afraid. Hehehehehehehehe..."
Natalia kicked Kagami across the face, knocking him out. "Whatever, creep. Have fun in prison. We'll see if you're still laughing in a little while."
The Palace began to shake, as Kagami was transported away. "Time to go home." Kibō said.
"Let's hurry up, then. I'm sure the news is gonna make a lot of ladies very happy tonight. There's one I wanna tell in person..." Natalia said, and the group teleported out of the crumbling world.
---
Later that night, Natalia sat next to Carrie, watching the news inside the hospital room.
"Breaking news for tonight: the mysterious vigilante group calling themselves the Ashen Artisans have struck again. After somehow illiciting an admission of guilt from Dr. Hachime Sakaki this past November, the group has now targeted game show host Shōta Kagami. After displaying a warning message across the street from Kagami's studio in Ikebukuro earlier this afternoon, the TV host has now turned himself in to the authorities."
"Kagami, host of GameTV's 'The Ten Questions', has admitted to years of harassing, pressuring and grooming female employees at his studio, as well as guests, many of whom have begun to come out with their stories of abuse at the hands of the now former show host."
Yui appeared on-screen. "It's like a dream come true, honestly, knowing that he can't hurt anyone else. He's ruined so many lives, and railroaded so many careers. It's a blessing to know that he's finally going to be held accountable. It's all thanks to the Ashen Artisans. Someone finally decided enough was enough. The fact that the admission came from his own mouth makes this all the more satisfying."
The newscaster reappeared. "Now the abuse allegations are not the only crime Kagami has been tied to, as he has also confessed to orchestrating the bombing that occured at Naruki Ascension Academy two days ago, that injured two students, one critically. Authorities have confirmed that they have obtained DNA evidence tying Kagami to the crime, though his motives remain unclear..."
"You did it...you really did it." Carrie uttered.
"We really did, Care. He's gonna pay for everything." Natalia answered.
"All thanks to our resident seamstress. She got the information, answered a fair share of questions, even single-handedly hammered Kagami. You would've been proud, Caroline." Kenji said, standing in the corner.
"I feel like I can finally start living the right way. I wasn't scared at all. I found my strength, and my courage. No more shivering behind your back. I'm gonna be the best me I can be." Natalia proclaimed.
"You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that. A shame that I'm not in any position to properly express my joy." Carrie said.
"I already promised I'd help you get there. You're gonna be out of here in no time. There were these really cute clothing stores in Ikebukuro I wanted to take you to. There's the dance, and the Spain trip...all the things I should be doing with my BFF. I don't want that pervert thinking he beat you. You're the strongest person I know, Care. We'll get through this together, and then we can do all the fun things we're supposed to do."
Carrie let out a sigh. "I don't deserve a friend like you, Natalia..."
"I used to think the same thing about you."
"How about you two meet somewhere in the middle? Agree that perhaps you two were meant to be there for one another. You each draw strength and purpose from wanting to help each other. It's a special bond you two share. I'm honestly rather envious." Kenji said.
"I suppose that is a good way of looking at it..." Carrie uttered.
"It is! Y'know, Kenny, you can be pretty insightful when you're not being snarky." Natalia added.
"Hmph. Perhaps it's an effect of being away from Katherine for an entire day. She brings out the worst in me." Kenji replied. "On that note, I'll leave you two be. We're going to give the Professor our report, as little useful information as we got from Kagami. Surely our enemies won't be pleased about losing one of their top generals. We'll be back in the morning. Have a restful night, miladies." Kenji left.
Natalia hopped onto the side bed. "You want to watch anything else? Maybe a movie or something?"
"I'm alright. I think I just want to rest for the night. Surely after today you need some shut-eye too, yes?"
"Hehe. You would be right about that...hey, Care? Can I ask you something before turning in?"
"Go on."
"Well, we're all gonna be heading home for the summer. I was wondering if, I dunno...maybe you'd want to spend a week with me in Brugge?"
"You want me to visit your home?"
"Yeah, absolutely! I've told my parents all about you, and they really want to meet you. My mom's a native French speaker, and my dad speaks it really good too, so language won't be an issue. You can see the shop, and I can show you around town...I just really want to spend more time with you. I can't imagine spending the whole summer without seeing you."
Carrie had a light smile. "I...I would like that very much. In return, however, you must come and visit me in Monte Carlo. It's one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I want to share it with my best friend. And...my aunt and uncle have been asking for you, too. My aunt in particular is very much a fashionista. She would love nothing more than to poke the brain of an up-and-coming seamstress."
"A...a fashionista from Monaco wants to meet me? Me? I...I dunno what to say. Except yes, absolutely! We have a bunch of details to sort out, but I'm so happy we won't be away from each other for too long. I'm already so excited..."
"I feel the same...Kenneth was right. We truly were meant to be friends. I have no regrets about what brought us here. Not even my current state. If it means we can continue sharing our lives, then I'm happy to endure the pain."
Natalia got up, walked over, and took Carrie's free hand. "Here's to the start of something beautiful." Natalia said cheerily.