Persona BLEACHED 2: Part 16

Chapter 16: Hear, Fear, Here
January 7, 2029
"Keeeeeeb. Wakey wakeeeeey."
Kibō slowly emerged from his unconsciousness. His vision was blurred, so he couldn't make out who was speaking to him, nor did he recognize where he was. But he recognized their voice. 
"There's our good boy. Y'know, you don't look like such a tightwad when you're asleep. It's kinda endearing."
"Where am I...? What did you do to--" 
"Calm yo'self, oh fearless leader. Pfeh, 'fearless'. There's my favorite word. I mean, is anyone truly without fear? Don't we have jobs because we're afraid of going poor? Don't we overeat because we're afraid of starving? Don't we clean after ourselves because we're afraid of getting sick?"
Kibō tried moving, only to realize that he'd been bound to a chair.
"None of that, leader man. I've been prepping this speech for too long just to let you walk out halfway through. So get comfortable. I'm teaching y'all a lesson in fear that I had to learn the hard way."
---
Earlier that day...
"Lady, I'm tellin' ya. The hat don't need none of that corner store disinfectant you're always luggin' around." Jugo griped. "Besides, ain't hospitals sterilized?"
"I don't know if someone's coughed on this thing! The last thing my newborn niece needs is your cowboy germs!" Mimi retorted.
The entirety of Rin's inner circle, save for Tenko and Jin, were in a hospital waiting room. 
"Just humor her, Cotton Eye Joe. You know the consequences. How do you think I lost my eye?" Shūjo said.
"Oh, I know that's horseshit." Jugo replied.
"Yeah, you'd know all about horseshit, seeing how you sleep in it."
"Enough, you two. Today is a happy day. Couldn't you at least try getting along?" Hiyoko asked.
"Aw, he knows I'm joking. Ain't that right, Jugo?"
"Right. Me and him are thicker than cow dung after a good ol' dose of fiber." 
"Could you two not speak so much about fecal matter around the four-year old, please?" replied an annoyed Rose.
"Aw, she can't even hear us with those headphones on. Ain't like I'm talking about the bedroom dance, I'm talking about shit." Shūjo replied.
"When aren't you talkin' about shit?" Jugo asked. Mimi raised his arm up and sprayed his armpit. "Seriously, lady?!"
"I think she's more anxious than the actual parents. Let's try to get her mind somewhere else." Hiyoko said. "Mimi, I heard you're starting nursing school in a couple of weeks."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Now that Big Bro has more employees on-board, I can finally refocus on being a nurse." 
"Good. If anything, you certainly have the sense of hygiene for it. Though your sense of balance could still use some work."
"What do you mean? I'm perfectly balanced!" Mimi rose her arm, unintentionally knocking Jugo upside the head. Shūjo laughed, only for Jugo to take out a bottle of pepper spray.
"Still wanna use your other eye, yeah?" 
Shūjo stayed quiet.
Rin walked into the waiting room. "Oh, Senpai! How are they doing?" Mimi asked.
"Well, she hasn't reached the point of wanting to choke him, so that's a plus. It's just a matter of waiting now. I hope everything goes smooth. Last thing we need is an uninvited guest coming in." Rin answered.
"You've got your brats scattered around keeping watch, right? Between them and us, those masked freaks would be dumb to try anything." Shūjo replied.
"Even so, we can never be too careful. I can't shake what that Tao said. 'Nobody's off-limits'. Why not attack when we're most at-ease? He's already tasted blood once..." Rose said.
Inside one of the hospital rooms, Tenko was lying in bed, with Jin sitting next to her. "Is she out yet?" Tenko groaned.
"Did you feel her come out yet?"
"I dunno how this baby thing works, they can just teleport out for all I know."
Jin let out a sigh.
"Dude. We're seriously having a baby. It's really happening, isn't it."
"Yes."
"Wow. I know I've spent all this time moaning and groaning but...I'm really happy we're finally gonna see her."
"So am I. And let's be real..." Jin held up a giant bottle of sake. "You're itching to get into this."
"Oh...my sweet, sweet enabler. If this kid ever complains about me never doing anything for her, I'll tell her I held off on alcohol for nine months, just so she wouldn't come out deformed."
"If that isn't love, I don't know what is."
"Was...was that a smile just now?"
"Maybe."
"I haven't seen you smiling in so long."
"I don't have a reason not to be. You-know-who hasn't come to torture me in months. And I'm beginning a new chapter with the woman I've loved since grade school. What reason do I have to be upset?"
A doctor walked over. "Oh God. Here it comes." Tenko groaned.
---
A couple of hours later, Rin entered the waiting room. "Well?" Hiyoko asked.
"All in the clear. She's out. They're running some tests now. Tenko's giving that sake bottle the evil eye, and Jin's hand looks like it got the squeezing of a lifetime. Far as the little one goes, everything went smoothly." Rin answered.
"Welp, that's a relief. Now Nurse Germaphobe can calm down a tad." Jugo quipped.
"Excuse me, Sheriff Cool, but not everyone can be--hm?" Mimi began.
A spark of shadow energy emerged from the ground.
A short while later, Jin was pacing around the room. Tenko was fast asleep. "I don't get it. They should've brought her in by now. Haven't even seen a doctor in a while." Jin thought.
He walked to the infant care room close by, and came upon the set of doctors that had taken the baby. All were lying on the floor, asleep. And there was no baby in sight. He tried stirring the doctors awake, to no avail. A pale expression on his face, he returned to Tenko's room, where she was now awake. 
"Nnngh...Jin? What's going on? Where's the baby?"
".....I have to find Rin and the others."
Jin ran out the door. "Jin?! Where's my--nngh...why am I..." The lights flickered off and on, and Tenko fell back asleep.
Jin ran to the waiting area, to find everyone in the same state as the doctors: all fast asleep. He went to the room where Rin and the others were. The room was empty.
"What the hell is going on here?! Everyone's out cold, the others are gone, and my...my...gh!" He clutched his head. "Why...why does this...keep happening...grrrrrr!" A murderous red aura began emanating out of him. He heard a noise from the nearby hallway. A maddened look on his face, he walked to the source of the noise.
Down the hallway, brandishing a pair of hook swords, stood Tao. "Hey, Chuckles."
"You...this is all your doing. Commiting wanton murder wasn't enough for you, was it? You're such a soulless beast that you've resorted to kidnapping a newborn. Where is she? I'll decide how violently I'll dispose of you based on your answer." Jin growled.
"Touchy, aren't we? Don't worry, I've got her in a safe place. Safer than she would've been, anyway. Just hear me out for a minute. You'll agree it's for her own good."
"And why should I believe a word that comes out of your mouth? You cut down and tormented children, you murdered someone in their own home, and now you've kidnapped a minutes-old infant. You're a monster. The most lowly, disgusting creature I've ever encountered!"
"Yes, homeboy, yes! Now we're feeling it!" exclaimed the Reaper.
Jin brandished his chain, as more red aura came out. "Stab your chest, break your neck, crush your skull, smash your head...so many ways to kill you. All so easy. I'll tear your limbs into a million pieces, let the buzzards pluck your entrails as you watch with horror. I'll make you experience true pain, before I finally allow you to bathe in the eternal flames!"
".....this is exactly why this had to be done. What that woman has done to you--"
"Shut up! I'm going to tear that sick head from your shoulders...and I'll leave the rest of you to the birds!"
He launched his chain towards Tao, who blocked the strike using the hook swords. "This isn't what I wanted." Tao insisted.
"Tear him apart, Ongyo-ki!" The black-and-red ninja-like oni appeared. Tao parried several of its strikes.
"You know what'll cheer you up?" Tao held out their hand, and produced a single red balloon. Red aura began flaring up from them, as more crimson balloons began materializing around. 
"Parlor tricks. The desperation of a coward close to his own death. Kill him!" The Persona launched into another strike, but the balloons all quickly formed a shield in front of Tao. When Ongyo-ki struck it, the resulting force created by the balloons popping sent the Persona flying back.
"I'd ask you to calm down so we can talk, but I think you're far beyond that now. I want more than anything to fix what that woman has broken."
"Enough with your bullshit!" Ongyo-ki attacked again, but as soon as it was in front of Tao, it dissipated, and was immediately followed by a strike from Jin's chain. It was a direct hit to Tao's face, and sent their mask flying.
Upon seeing the face beneath, Jin could only look on with shock and confusion.
His guard dropped, an unseen force attacked him from behind, dropping him to the ground.
"...I'm sorry." Tao uttered.
---
"...no answer. Not from the Professor, or anyone." Kibō thought, standing outside the main entrance. "Maybe I should go inside to check. I don't think an aspiring assassin would just walk in through the front door."
Kibō walked inside, to the sight of everyone in the main lobby lying around, asleep. "What in the world...?!" He tried to wake a few people, but it proved futile. "All fast asleep...maybe this is why I haven't heard anything in a while. Could this be the work of a Persona? That would mean..." Alarmed by the implication, Kibō ran to the elevator.
When the elevator opened, there were two people asleep inside. Kibō ran in. "What floor was it...I think it was 6?" He pressed for floor 6, and waited. "How did they get past everyone? What in the world is happening up there? Surely the Professor could handle it..."
The door opened. The waiting area was much the same, with unconscious people strewn about everywhere. Rin and the others were nowhere in sight. Kibō looked around, but couldn't find them. Then, he caught sight of someone. Barbara was lying on the ground, asleep. "Barb! Hey, wake up! What happened here...?" No response.
The lights flickered. He looked into the hallway. Floating past the entryway was a single red balloon. He gently put Barbara down, and approached the hallway, a bead of sweat dripping down his face.
The sight before him made him stop in his tracks.
Near the end of the hallway was a single figure. She was garbed in casual black-and-white clothing, and wielding a pair of hook swords in her left hand. Everything about her alternated black-and-white: shirt, skirt, shoes, fingerless gloves, fingernails, the bands holding her braids together. She turned to face Kibō. Her left eye had a nearly-transparent white iris and pupil, while her right eye's were similarly black.
The lights continued to flicker. Her mouth curled into a smile, which slowly grew. As the lights flickered again, her form was briefly replaced with that of the masked figure that had been tormenting the group for months.
There was no doubt. This woman was Tao. In a friendly tone, she spoke.
"You've caught me at an awkward time, leader man." Mimi said.
Kibō was frozen in place. Fear? Shock? Some outside power? He couldn't say for sure.
"Aww, what's the matter? Didn't think I'd end up being such a looker beneath that stuffy mask? Or, maybe it's cuz you've seen my face before? You know who I am, somewhat. As I was always taught by my parents, I'll be proper and introduce myself. My name is Aimi Mirai, but everyone calls me Mimi. I'm 23 years old, and I live with my older brother Jin, my sister-in-law Tenko, and our pet shiba inu Fuba. For the past year, I've been helping my brother run his game store in the market district, while saving up enough money to start nursing school in a few weeks time. I'm a bit of a germaphobe, and something of a klutz."
"You're probably wondering why I would join a cult devoted to bringing down your dear professor, when my brother and sister-in-law both hold her in such high esteem. You may have noticed by now that my brother--the person who I love the most in the entire world--has a fair number of demons hanging over him. On his worst days, he's hardly even human. I hold two people responsible for my brother's current mental state. One of them is dead. You can guess who the other one is."
Kibō began to slowly back away. 
"Now in keeping with those same principles, I would ask you to introduce yourself, but I already know who you are. Kibō Ishimaru. Son of Kabu and Kyoko, younger brother of Kyohei. Your father followed the family path of being a politician, and met your mother at a downtown bar where her heavy metal band was performing. They absconded from the rest of the family after Kyohei was exposed for being the corrupt dickbag he is, and currently run an electronics store in Akihabara, where mom and dad can listen to their In Flames albums to their hearts' content. You, meanwhile, entered the Academy near the top of your class, and were placed in the international class run by your brother's hated enemy: our dear Professor Ringo Kubo. Am I on the mark?"
"How...how do you know all that?"
"The Master has his methods. But that's enough jabbering. We're taking this elsewhere." A menacing aura came from Mimi, and a shadowy figure appeared behind her. "I know I could never beat your prof in a fight. No one could. But the power I have means I don't have to get my hands dirty. I'll let you all do the work for me. So, Keeb. I've just got one question for you."
The shadow figure appeared behind Kibō. It bore the appearance of a red-and-white colored clown, holding a red balloon.
"You want a balloon?"
The balloon popped next to Kibō, and he passed out.
---
"I want you to know something, Keeb. I'm not a bad person. I work hard, I do my chores, I like talking to people, I get my nails done. Soon as I get what I want, I'm telling The Master and the others to take a hike. Those guys are real freaks. It just happens that our end goals are the same. I mean, a guy comes around and tells you that he'll give you the power to punish the person that wronged you? You're really gonna say no? Trust me, I get annoyed as all hell listening to his garbage. I'm really not a bad guy." Mimi dictated. Kibō was strapped to a chair, and was being held in a cell.
"You shot a man to death." Kibō replied.
"That dude? He was just another cockroach. Something else your Prof never really fixed. He poisoned a girl years ago. Nearly killed her. And do you know what kind of skeevy stuff I found in his drawers? I can show y--well, actually, no, you're way too young. Just know that it's stuff that would get you on a list. No one's gonna miss this guy."
"What do you even want with us? It's the Professor you want. Why hold us here?"
"You really haven't been paying attention, have you? I can't beat her one-on-one. No, the only way to get to a bleeding heart like her is through the people around her. You all need to understand what it's like to have a nightmare while you're awake." The outline of the clown briefly appeared behind Mimi. She exited the room, leaving Kibō alone. After she left, Kibō was released from his bonds. He tried to exit the room, but the door was locked.
"Locked behind bars, are we? Guess we're not so different after all."
Kibō looked behind him. The man emerging from the shadows looked familiar.
"K-Kyohei?"
"I'm flattered that you recognize me, seeing as how you never visit. How is my ambition-less younger sibling faring?"
"You shouldn't be here..."
"A sentiment I'm sure you've repeated to yourself countless times, you mediocre simpleton. Here you are, designated head of Rin Kubo's chosen younglings. Everything about that statement makes me want to wretch."
Kibō swung his fist at his brother, but went right through him. "Pitiful. Only one on the list of many, many examples of your ineptitude. Shall I begin reading them off?"
Mimi walked through the long hallway, similar sentiments being echoed through every cell door.
"Disgraceful, weak louse, and a poof to boot. Were the whippings and prayer baths simply not enough?" Kenji's mother griped to him.
"One leg injury and you leave for another land, abandoning opportunity and family alike?! You are a disgrace! A shame and blight on your entire clan!" Sahir's father lashed out at him.
"Stupid. Fat. Never gonna be worth anything. Couldn't even jump off a ledge. Not even she wants to take herself out." two girls taunted Natalia.
"You hid behind a door and allowed us to die. You indulge in the same gemstones we perished over, and partake in the violence we tried to keep you from. This is how you repay your parents' love and sacrifice?!" Carrie's mother lambasted.
"Face the facts, So. You're just the same as me. Sitting in a cell with a heart full of sin. I didn't do any of this. You've got nobody to blame but yourself." the Viper chastised Kitty.
"Ya never did fetch me that beer, boy. To think I tried to make a man outta you. Yer just a sissy, brainwashed by those damn women. Yer a fuckin' pussy." Max's father griped. His voice resumed in Barbara's cell.
"Just remember this, blondie. Soon as I can, I'm cappin' you and your whore mother. You ruin me, I ruin you. Eye for an eye."
Mimi continued walking. "Not so fun, is it? Having to hear all this stuff, nonstop. Just imagine dealing with this every single day. How much that can wear on your brain, tear at every last inch of your psyche. This is just a taste of what my brother has to live with, every single day for the last nine years. For every second you have to hear someone who's not there insulting you, remember who it was that inflicted that curse on him."
She opened one door at the very end of the hall. Like the other rooms, this one was completely barren. Chained to the wall by her hands and feet was Rin, looking heavily agitated.
"Don't bother trying to break loose, 'Senpai'. These rooms were built to suppress your energies. The only thing for you to do is stand there. Buckle up. I've been waiting for this." Mimi stated.
"That look on your face...does someone have a case of the grumps? Sour cuz you had a rat in the walls all this time? You must've known something like this would happen eventually, right?"
"Mimi. Where is the baby? Where is Shizuka?"
Mimi drew one of her hook swords, putting it to Rin's throat. "I don't remember giving you permission to speak." She rolled her eyes. "My niece and your runt are safe. They're away from you, so that's a given."
"Is that what this exercise in insanity is about?"
"'Insanity'. Let me teach you what insanity looks like." Mimi took out her phone. She began playing a video, taken from hospital security.
"Stab your chest, break your neck, crush your skull, smash your head...so many ways to kill you. All so easy. I'll tear your limbs into a million pieces, let the buzzards pluck your entrails as you watch with horror. I'll make you experience true pain, before I finally allow you to bathe in the eternal flames!"
"....." Rin said nothing.
Mimi shut off the footage. "Do you recognize the man in this video? Because I don't."
"....."
"My brother...he's kind. Gentle. Wouldn't hurt anyone if he could help it. And he always looked out for me, especially after Dad died. Jin was my hero."
"That man in the footage...that creature...that isn't my brother. He hasn't been in almost a decade. Ever since that demon of a man stole his voice, and his peace of mind with it. He'll have his good days. Days where he acts the way he always has. But when he has his bad days...I can't even be sure that he's still human. Do you know what that's like, living in fear that the person you love most in this world will suddenly snap and hurt you? That the quiet, gentle soul that you've known your entire life could be overwritten by this monster that won't leave him alone?"
"...why did it have to be him?"
"I can't answer that, Mimi."
"It's all because that monster was trying to get your attention. It could've been anybody. You have no idea how much I can't stand it. Here you are: savior of mankind, the Sun Goddess' chosen, professor at 24, soon-to-be-married with a rescued four-year old. It's almost like everything bad that could happen to you just bounces off and sticks to someone else. Hiyoko gets sicker, JoJo loses an eye, my brother gets to experience a daily hell. Let's not even get started with the people who aren't here anymore. That's what makes me so angry. The aura of invincibility. Everyone else has to suffer your pain."
"I'm sorry, Mimi. What's happened to Jin is one of my biggest regrets. If I could've stopped it--"
"If, if, it's always if. All that power you have, and you still can't fix your own messes. I'm done screwing around. You need to experience it yourself." 
Aura flared around Mimi's hand, and she grabbed Rin's head. "Gh...what...what are you doing..."
"I'm giving you something you can't fight. The worst enemy anyone could have. The one that's right here." Mimi pointed at her head. She let go. "Have fun. I'll be back." Mimi stormed out.
Rin stood in complete silence for a moment. Then, a voice piped up next to her.
"Quite the mess you've gotten yourself into."
Rin turned to look. Sitting next to her was a young man garbed in the standard uniform of the Academy. He had dark hair and glasses.
"Tohru...?"
"Were you perhaps hoping for someone else?"
---
Mimi entered a room with three holding cells. There was a figure wearing a blue cloak, looking over a holding apparatus. Inside of it was the baby, who was crying.
"How is she?" Mimi asked.
"She's been crying incessantly, which is a good sign. Everything else seems normal. Just can't get her to stop." the masked woman answered.
"And the four-year old?"
"Still asleep in that cell. Something tells me she won't take the apostate's impending demise well."
"Yes, yes, damn the apostate and all that. How y'all can talk like that without laughing is beyond me..."
"Mimi...please..." a voice piped up.
Mimi looked to one of the cells.
"Please, just...let me see her. I need my baby. Whatever hatred you have for Rin-Rin, don't take it out on the rest of us." Tenko pleaded.
"I'm sorry, nii-sama. I can't do that. The moment I open that cell, you'll kill me."
"Mimi...I wouldn't do that. You're like my little sister. No matter what you've done, I still love you. Please, I haven't even gotten to hold her yet."
"....." Mimi picked up the crying infant.
"Are you sure about this?" the cloaked woman asked.
"She won't do anything that'll put the baby in danger. I'm not heartless." Mimi insisted.
Mimi opened the door to Tenko's cell. Tenko was sitting on the floor. "Here she is. Safe and sound." Mimi said.
Tenko took hold of the baby. "Hi, my little angel...it's okay. Mommy's here. It's okay." The baby settled down. "Don't worry. It'll be fine. Everything's gonna be fine..."
"I'm sorry to put you through this. You've always been good to me and Jin. If I had any other options I would've taken them." Mimi said. "You must think I'm evil for this."
"I don't think you're evil, Mimi. There's such a thing as someone doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. I know that Jin is haunted. We both know how haunted he is. You needed someone to blame. But Rin-Rin isn't it."
"Why do you fawn over that woman so much?"
"She's my best friend, Mimi."
"You worship the ground she walks on. You take everything she says as gospel. You're even naming your child after her..."
"She helped us all when we needed it most. I'm honoring our friendship properly. Little Rina has a good namesake."
"I can't get past it. It's always 'Rin-Rin' this, 'Rin-Rin' that. Meanwhile, my brother--your husband--is being attacked by his own mind. You know just as much as I do how bad he can get. If it wasn't for her...if she just wasn't around..."
Mimi heard a growling noise coming from the cell to her right. She peered in through the opening. Jin was standing in complete darkness, the only parts of him visible being his eyes, now scarlet in coloration. He said nothing, and continued growling.
Mimi shed a tear. "Do you hear this? That isn't the sound of a alpha wolf. It's the sound of our gentle teddy bear. That's the ultimate reward for being involved with Rin Kubo. Trapped in the prison of his own mind. Those kids need to understand that nothing good comes from being near her. My priority is Jin, and you, and little Rina. I won't let that woman's mistakes destroy anyone else."
"What are you going to do, Mimi? You're going to kill Rin-Rin? Then what? You think everyone's gonna drop to their knees and thank you for it? You know how they'll react. They'll hunt you down, and most of them won't be in a forgiving mood. You don't have to do this. I think deep down, you know this isn't right. You know that what's wrong with Jin isn't her fault...it's ours."
"....."
"We couldn't keep him safe. And try as we might, we can't get rid of the visions. I promised him when we were little, that I'd never let anything happen to him. Guess I've made a royal mess of that."
Mimi was finding it harder to hide her tears. 
"You don't want this. You might think you do, but I know you'll never follow through. You're too much of a klutz. Answer me this: was that really you that killed Kyōshinja?"
".....I couldn't do it. I gave someone my voice modifier, and told them to make a scene. In case it got caught on camera. I could never step into such a filthy apartment and dirty my hands like that. Whenever they ask me to kill someone, I get my friend over there to fill in." She pointed to the hooded woman.
"I knew it. And here you are, telling me you're gonna kill Rin-Rin. Even after all of that, is it really what you want?"
"....."
"Look at you...going to all these lengths to look like a badass, when in the end, you wouldn't hurt a fly. You and Jin are exactly the same. You'll point your sword at Rin-Rin, but you won't follow through."
"...Nii-sama. I'm going to talk to her. Whether I kill her, she kills me, or everyone walks away depends entirely on her. If I'm gonna die, remember this: all of this was for you all."
Mimi began walking away. "Aren't you going to close it?" the masked woman asked.
"Let her be. The others can go as they please. This is between me and Rin Kubo." She walked away.
"W-wait! You're going to just leave me with--" The woman was suddenly impaled by several blades of light.
Tenko stepped out of her cell, baby in one hand, sword in the other. "Oh, it's good to be back." she quipped.
---
Rin looked straight ahead. Staring back at her, a ghost. One she thought she had buried years ago.
"I'm curious." Tohru began. "Why did your mind conjure me up as your tormentor?"
"....."
"Father would have been traumatic. Ishimaru's lineup of lackeys could have given you an earful. And you may never have had a peaceful night's sleep if poor, departed Miko had appeared to ridicule you. Yet here I am. He who belittled you at every opportunity. Who drove you to despair, who nearly consigned you to the darkest depths that a human could think of. Here I am to torment you yet again."
"Is it fear? Do you worry that the day might come where I overcome death once more, and destroy this peaceful existence you've carved out for yourself? Mother...Hyōtan...Rose...even little, innocent Shizuka. All of it could be wiped away *snap* like that. Could you ever find the courage to strike me down, and have me die in your arms for a third time?"
"Or perhaps...is it regret? Regret that no matter what you did, we could never exist alongside one another? Father's death was a freak incident. Miko's, a tragic case of fate. I, on the other hand? I died on my own terms. I ended my own life, for the express purpose of achieving heights men can only dream of. This, finally, would prove that I was beyond you. I had myself killed because I despised you more than anything. From the day you were born, it was fated that one of our paths would be halted by the hands of the other. I had managed to beat even death itself for this purpose. And yet still, it wasn't enough. So while you could go on, forge a career, form your own family...I was left to rot."
Tohru drew a katana, black as pitch, and pointed the blade towards Rin's face. "Does it tear you up inside? Knowing that I died with hatred in my heart, while you continued living? Why was it always you? Every time I started something, you would start it not long after that, and you would always best me at it. Why could you never accept me being the best at something?"
Rin's gaze hadn't shifted. A tear fell from one of her eyes. "You have it all wrong, Tohru. I never wanted to prove I was better than you. I did the things you did because you're my big brother. Every kid looks up to their older siblings. It was never about belittling you, or making you feel inadequate. I wanted to walk the same path as you. The guilt that I feel...is that I could never make you see that until it was too late. That is, and always will be, my biggest regret."
"Hmph. So aware that I'm not really here, yet she gives the speech anyway. As far as regrets go, you may have a challenger coming in the form of Ms. Mirai. Take this lesson to heart, dear sister. The worst enemies you will ever have, are the ones you had a hand in making. The ones where you know, somewhere in your past, you made a mistake, and now you get to face the consequences."
The door to the cell opened. Mimi stepped in.
"Ah. Speak of the devil. Your angel of death has arrived." Tohru said.
"You. We need to talk." Mimi asserted.
"If you want to talk...then turn off what you've done to everyone. Your problem is with me. Spare them the punishment." Rin replied.
"Hmph. Fine." The ephemeral clown flickered in and out once more.
Inside the holding cells, the sounds of horrific taunting ceased, and were replaced by complete silence. Rin herself turned to look to her side. Tohru had disappeared.
"Had a change of heart?" Rin asked.
Mimi wordlessly walked over to Rin, then proceeded to bunch her in the stomach.
"Sorry. Needed to get one in." Mimi replied.
"I'll allow it. Part of me thinks I deserve it. The other part doesn't think it's enough."
"Hmph. You're gonna tell me you agree with me?"
"I used to believe everything you think of me. That I'm the root cause of everything terrible that's happened to the people I care about. That my being born was what set my brother on his path of darkness. That by saving her life, I doomed Miko to an even more horrible death. And that I did something to lure in a lunatic, and made him want to do something horrible to your brother purely to get my attention. The old me would've agreed with you."
"But I've come to realize something. Wallowing in my own guilt only makes things worse for me and the people around me. If I keep obsessing over the past, then there's no way for me to make things right in the present. I've realized just how good of a life I really have. But I know there are still things I need to make right. Chief among them, your brother's mental state."
Mimi drew one of her hook swords, placing the blade close to Rin's head. "...he's been that way for over nine years. Nothing's changed. He'll have a period where things are just fine, and then the visions start back up. I'm starting to think he'll be the way he is forever. If not before...then definitely after seeing my face under that mask. I might've broken him beyond repair...I really am careless beyond belief."
"I never could be helpful to anyone. I couldn't make Dad give up his smoking habit, I was always too clumsy to help my Mom out around the house, and when my brother needs me the most, there's nothing I can do. All I could do was sit on my butt and wonder why I couldn't help. Even after I was given a Persona, all I can do with it is make people afraid. Give them the same kind of fear that Jin feels every single day. But you...you have so much power, and the brains to use it. You can do anything. So if even you can't bring back the Jin I remember...who can?"
Behind the tears, Mimi smirked. "Would you look at that...you've got me bawling and spilling my guts, and you didn't have to lift a finger. Nii-sama was right...I don't wear the 'badass' look well at all." She drew her other sword, and proceeded to destroy the chains holding Rin.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Do what you want. Get your troops together and get out. Probably won't be long til The Master finds out I messed up. I'll probably get the axe. If you or one of the others doesn't do me in first. I'm not gonna beg for forgiveness. I'll take my uselessness to the grave. The fact that nii-sama didn't kill me for stealing her kid away...I don't know what you've infected her with. Just...just go." Mimi said somberly.
Rin said nothing, and grabbed Mimi by the hand, walking her out of the room. "H-hey! Come on, stop with the selfless hero bullcrap! Why can't you just leave me alone?!" Mimi complained, hitting Rin's arm to try to make her let go.
"No." Rin simply replied.
She walked into the room where Tenko had been held. There, everyone, free from visions, had gathered. "Hey, sexy." Tenko said.
Shizuka ran up to Rin and hugged her.
"Professor! Oh, thank goodness. We knew you'd come through for us. Those visions...they weren't fun." Barbara said.
"No, they weren't. What did you do with Tao? I'm assuming your defeating her is what freed us..." Kibō added.
Mimi, staring downward, emerged from behind Rin, to the group's shock.
"The fuck is she doing here?!" Shūjo questioned.
Jugo drew one of his guns, pointing it at Mimi. "Lady, if you've got any last words, ya'd best spit 'em out."
"Put it away, Pecos Pete. She's not gonna hurt anyone else. Right, Mimi?" Tenko asked.
"Have you gone mad? This is the same woman that's incapacitated and tortured us not once, but twice. You're telling us not to toss her into that cell and throw away the key?" Kenji protested.
Mimi walked up to the cell holding Jin. "I'm not asking you all to forgive me. I'm not gonna apologize for trying to protect my brother. But I know I shouldn't have involved you all in this. I'll let you do whatever you want to me. Just...let me say my piece to him."
She peered into the opening. All she could hear was the growling. "Hey, Big Bro. I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now. Or, maybe I'm exactly who you want to see. And tear to shreds."
"Part of me wants to open this door up and let you rip me apart. It's what I deserve for...well, everything. I wanted more than anything to clean this up, but like always, I just ended up making a bigger mess. I hate seeing what's happened to you. And I hate knowing that I might've made it worse. I'm...I'm so sorry. I miss you. The real you. What happened to the Jin that took me to every single arcade tournament he went to as his 'good luck charm'? The Jin whose solution to everything that made me sad was giving me a fitting plushie? This wild animal I'm looking at...I don't want to believe this is what you are now."
Mimi opened the door. "Aw, hell!" Shūjo piped up.
"If he jumps out..." Hiyoko added.
"Jin...if you want to kill me...if that's gonna make you feel okay...then go right ahead." Mimi uttered.
"Gr...you fool...you don't understand anything..." Jin replied.
"Huh?"
"Do you think I enjoy being a prisoner of my own mind? I can't help the way I am now. I've tried everything to manage it. Medication, therapy...no matter what, he always comes back. The hood, the shroud, that God-awful laugh...it's forever imprinted into my mind. To see you in that disguise, betraying us...you hurt me, Mimi. I have a hard enough time keeping myself together as it is. Seeing you in that hood...it was more than I could bear. I'm trying to be the Jin you remember. But doing what you did...that doesn't help. You're one of the most important people to me. I need you to be there to help me live with this."
Tears began welling up in Mimi's eyes. "I'm such an idiot..." She turned away to wipe away her tears.
"Hey, big guy...if it's alright, I've got someone here who wants to meet her daddy." Tenko said.
"Let me see..." Jin uttered. Tenko walked over, and handed baby Rina over to him. "Hm...well, hello there. She doesn't seem very afraid of me."
"Of course not, silly. She knows you're more of a teddy bear than a grizzly. I bet she's just happy to have her family here." Tenko turned to Mimi. "Her whole family."
"Oh, come on, no. I practically snatched her from the womb. I shouldn't be allowed near her..." Mimi protested.
"I'll hear none of it." Jin said. He handed the baby to his sister.
"...hey. Don't worry. I'm not gonna run off with you again." Mimi sighed. "Sorry. Really. I'll make up for it. I'll settle for being the one that'll spoil you when your parents get on your nerves."
"Hey. That's a bit far off, don't you think?" Jin asked.
"I hate to interrupt this nice little moment, but..." Jugo began. "What are we gonna do with her, Boss?"
"Mimi. You've been in the belly of the beast. I need you to tell us everything you know about these people. How they operate, what their end goal is, anything you can think of." Rin said.
"Well, I never was in their inner circle. I was closer to a hired hand than anything. But I do have some dirt. Let's get out of this dump first. It reeks." Mimi answered.
---
"The apostate and her minions still live."
The room resembled a throne room, lit by torches. The deep-voiced man sitting down was turned away from who he was speaking to.
"Did you expect anything less from that clean freak? Should've figured she would flip eventually. There goes our prime source of intel. And a perfectly good holding facility." the Viper said.
"She allowed her emotions to overwhelm her judgement. Her closeness to those swine was her greatest asset, as well as a detriment. Such is why I kept her away from our most precious information."
Shadow energy gathered beside the Viper. Appearing from the shadows was a man in a green hooded cloak, with the arms and legs torn off, revealing blue material underneath. He wore green gloves and boots, a dark belt with runes strewn across it, and a white, opera-type mask with two eye slits, but no mouth.
"I have returned, Master." he said.
"Ah, Creon. Just who I wanted to speak with. The time is drawing nigh. Our attempts at intimidating the goddess' slave have yet to bear fruit. It would seem a more direct approach is in order. Is your team prepared?" the Master asked.
"The Theban Six are awaiting your command." Creon replied.
"Excellent. You will not have to wait for long. Until then, go about your daily lives as normal. You will remain on standby as well, Viper."
"Aye-aye." Viper replied.
Viper and Creon both disappeared. "Yes, yes...the time is drawing ever closer. Once that wench is exterminated...the path to our rebirth will be clear. Hehehehehehehe..." the Master cackled.