Persona BLEACHED 4: Chapter 26

Chapter 26: The Dragon's Den
November 11, 2031
Earth-013. 
Inside the passenger hold of a P.D.F. airship, Max sat with his eyes closed, arms crossed and foot tapping. It was silent save for the craft's mechanisms, but he still found it somewhat difficult to rest.
He opened one of his eyes. Across from him was the only other passenger in the ship. Cindy was looking out the window.
"C'mere, Maxie! I wanna show you something!" she called.
He got up and walked over. "Is it another pod of dolphins? Because that'd be the fifth time..."
"It's not more dolphins, and it's *six* times, by the way! Look down there."
Max looked out the window. Below was the ocean in every direction, uninterrupted save for a single landmass. A round island housing a city of limestone buildings, the tallest structure housing a waterfall. "Am I...am I looking at Atlantis? Is that what that is?"
"As close to it as you're gonna get. That's Lemuria."
"Lemuria...the home of the sea wizards, right? Where Candice's dad lives. What's it like down there?"
"Don't know. They're really secretive, even more now that the throne's sitting vacant. Candy says it's unlike anything you'd see in the world now."
"I can see that from here. Those buildings don't look metallic."
"No one's been able to get in to really give it a good look. There's a lot of places out there that cut themselves off from the rest of the world. Bunch of magical societies that don't mesh well with all the high tech we've got. Emmy's coven's a lot like that. No one really knows where they're at or how many of them there are."
"No one except Emily, that is."
"Well...her and my dad. Not that they'll ever let him back in."
"Oh, that's right. I guess his first wife must've told him. Why wouldn't they let him back?"
"You know how Emmy held him responsible for what happened to her mom? The whole coven feels the same way. He hasn't been back there since the day it happened. Which is even worse considering...that's where Emmy's mom's buried."
"Oh, jeez. He's never even been to her grave?"
"I know that sort of thing eats away at him. I think he's just afraid to be more open about it since he doesn't want to upset my mom. Even though they were friends, it wouldn't be a good look to be hung up on your first wife when you've been married now for over twenty years." Cindy shook her head. "Sorry, it's not my place to talk about it. We've got enough to worry about now."
"(You're telling me. Those Wolfpack thugs, that Harold guy is still out there somewhere. It feels like I'm learning about a new faction every single day. It's getting hard to keep track of. And then there's the reason we're here.)" Max thought. "(The other Rin Kubo.)"
A few more hours passed. "*Attention. We are now entering Tokyo airspace. Prepare for imminent departure.*" a voice said over the intercom.
"Ooh, ooh, we're here! Maxie, wake up!" Cindy nudged him.
"Nnngh, Sahir, you asshole, hands off my cookie..." Max grogged.
"Maxie, we're about to land! Come on!" She started shaking him.
"Ngh, ugh, what's happening...?"
"Take a look!"
Max looked out the window. The Tokyo greeting him was a far cry from the one he knew, looking as technologically advanced as New York--in some ways, even moreso. "Wow...it looks so different, but there's still a lot that screams 'this is Tokyo'."
"You're gonna be saying that a lot while we're here. Oh, before I forget..." Cindy dug into her bag. She pulled out a small red snack box. "It's 11-11. You know what day it is~."
"Shoot, haven't had Pocky in a while. Much appreciated." Max took one of the thin biscuits. "...were you waiting specifically until we made it to Japan for this?"
"Maaaaaybe."
The airship pulled up to a tall, azure pagoda. "*Now approaching Chiyoda ward. Prepare to disembark.*" spoke the intercom. 
"There's the P.D.F. building. Looks a lot fancier than ours, doesn't it?" Cindy asked.
"It definitely stands out." Max replied.
The ship landed in a designated spot across from the pagoda. The pair stepped out with their belongings, as armored agents began working on the aircraft. Unlike the azure-toned armor of the New York branch, these agents' armor was a dull silver.
Max looked up at the large structure. In front of the building, looking over the entrance were a pair of blue dragon statues.
"Way different from your Tokyo, isn't it?" Cindy asked.
"You could say that again. Might as well be another city entirely." Max replied.
"You kept me waiting. Or maybe I'm just used to Anna's travel speed." Jess walked up.
"Hiya, Jessie!" Cindy greeted.
"Where are the Wonder Twins at? Off bickering over trading cards?" Max asked.
"No. Today it's Lay's flavors." Jess rubbed her eyes. "It's telling that you already know their M.O. Anyway. How's the arm?"
"I'd say it's at about...90%. My range of movement's as good as it was before."
"Good. You'll need it. Let me get you to where you'll be staying."
"Not gonna give us the grand tour?"
"I'm a pilot, not a tour guide. I'll leave that to Dad when he's back from the mountains."
"The...mountains. Why's he in the mountains?"
"Training. By himself. It's his thing. He'll be back in the afternoon."
"I can show you around, Maxie. I haven't been here in a while, so I'm itching to see everything." Cindy said.
"When aren't you? Come on. You must need a shower after that ride here." Jess started walking.
"Very direct, isn't she? How exactly did she end up with Anna?" Max asked.
"One of the great many mysteries of the modern world, Maxie." Cindy replied.
"If you've got time to move your mouth, you've got time to move your legs. I'm not made of seconds." Jess ordered.
"Yes, ma'am." Max uttered.
As they started walking, Max took note of the dragon logo on the agents' uniforms, along with the numerous draconic statues near the building. "Your dad, uh...has a thing for dragons, I'm noticing."
"Heh." Jess uttered.
"Something funny?"
"A thing. Sure. Let's call it a thing."
"(I don't think I've heard her laugh before this. It's...weirdly unsettling.)" Max thought.
Jess brought the two to a nearby hotel. "Here you go. All expenses are paid for. The reservation's under Dad's name. See you in a few." She turned and left.
"Can't even stay around for a--and she's gone." Max responded.
"That's our Jessica. Work first, then anything else. She's not a big fan of small talk." Cindy replied.
"So naturally she winds up with the queen of small talk. I wonder if their dates are just Anna talking at her while she sits stonefaced."
Cindy snickered. "I can totally see that."
"Actually, I just thought of something else. You don't see Dai all that often, do you? Why aren't you staying with him?"
"A good question with a very easy answer. He shares an apartment with Spence. And if you think they argue a lot when they're out and about..."
"Yeesh. Say no more."
"Plus I don't want you staying alone while we're here. I'm still your acting nurse, y'know."
"I said I'm feeling alright."
"You said you're feeling *90%* alright. Which means 10% of you still needs looking after. I swore I wasn't gonna break the Hippocratic Oath so long as you still needed healing!"
"Hippocratic--you're not even a licensed physician! Impersonating a doctor's still a federal crime here, right?"
---
Later in their hotel room, Cindy finished putting on her uniform. "Alrighty, I'm all official! Ready, Maxie?"
Max sat on his bed, staring at something. "Oh, yeah. Coming." 
He put the daruma doll on the stand next to him. "Wish me luck."
The pair left the room, and went down to the lobby, and were met with familiar bickering.
"You're out of your mind, man! Who even thinks of green tea flavored chips?" Spence griped while eating from a purple bag.
"And what's wrong with that?" Dai questioned, holding a green bag.
"It tastes like grass! I already hate vegetables, why would I put them with my junk food?!"
"Maybe so just a piece of said junk food won't be actively eating away at your innards? I'll take it over whatever slop you're filling yourself with. I mean really, crab legs and pork rinds? Just pick one!"
"I'll take tasty fat over grassy fat any day of the week!"
"How do you even know what grass tastes like?"
"And they're off. See why I'm not staying with them?" Cindy asked.
"It was already obvious. What an insane argument. Everyone knows that sour cream and onion is undefeated." Max replied.
"Please don't encourage them."
Spence took notice of the two. "Yo, dumbass. Your girlfriend's here."
"Hm?" Dai turned. "Oh, hey Cindy."
"Hiiiii~. Whatcha dooooiiing?" Cindy chimed.
"(What am I, the Invisible Man?)" Max thought.
"Sorry about that. I was just educating Spence on the importance of healthy eating." Dai said.
"Why does healthy crap have to taste like...uh...crap, anyway?" Spence questioned.
"So you're familiar with the taste of both grass *and* feces, huh? Quite the interesting palate, brother."
"I'm about to taste a piece right now!" Spence moved to bite Dai as the two started to grapple.
"Okay, boys, come on, not in public..." Cindy cautioned.
Jess appeared behind the boys and promptly bonked them both on the head. 
"Yow!"
"Yow!"
"Insufferable. Truly, insufferable." Jess griped. "Sorry that my brothers are simpletons. Let's move. I don't want to keep Dad waiting."
"He's back from the mountains, then? We're going to his office?" Max asked.
"He's not at the office. He's at the place you came to see."
"...! You mean...Naruki City."
"Uggh, can't believe we're really going in there. Even if Oni girl isn't in there, the place is still creepy as hell." Spence griped.
"You still want to go through with this, Jadefang? Even the boldest soldiers steer clear of that area. Nothing good ever happens in there." Jess warned.
"I didn't travel all this way to chicken out now. I need to see the source of Profe--of this Rin's hate for myself. And if the opportunity presents itself, I need to talk to her and get her to see that nothing good can come from this path she's taken." Max replied.
"Honorable intentions. But a bit of advice. Disassociate this girl with the Rin Kubo you know. She's an entirely different person. Just as you and Commander O'Donnell are not the same man. If you try applying your experience with your professor to this girl, it could backfire. We can't risk enraging someone like her." Dai cautioned.
"You're right. She's not my Professor. I have to remember that." "(Easier said than done.)"
---
When hearing the name 'Naruki City', Max pictured in his mind the Academy he'd spent almost two years attending. Bustling businesses and happy people. The Kubo clan's market with its musically-challenged owner, and the neighboring flower shop with its free-spirited matriarch.
It was the place Professor Kubo and Dr. Wolfe were happy to raise their daughter. And the place where Max himself was happy to stay with Ibuki and her family. It was a blissful, laid-back place.
Which made what Max was looking at now all the more difficult to process.
Before him was a large fence, manned by guards. Beyond that, there were ruins, though between the fence and the depleting daylight, he couldn't make out many details. Emanating from the fence was a sense of dread.
"Not at all what you were expecting, is it, Mr. Jadefang?" Dasuke arrived.
"Commander, on your back..." Max pointed out.
The older man was carrying a large claymore, sheathed, on his back. "Shadowpiercer. My blade of many a year. A warrior's weapon is his prized possession, sans the breath he breathes. In case our friend the Oni decides to make an appearance."
He approached the gate. "Beyond this barrier lies the despair of one-hundred and seventeen innocent people, their lives extinguished before their time. Some believe these streets to be haunted. For me, this is home to my greatest personal failure. I allowed myself to be deceived, and led away from where I was most needed." He clenched his fist. "I'm going to ask you one last time. Is this what you want?"
"Yes. It is. To understand her and bring her out of this dark path...it's my duty." Max affirmed.
"Good answer. And what about you, Cindy? I'm sure your parents wouldn't object to you sitting this one out."
"A nurse never abandons her patient! I took the Hippocratic Oath to--" Cindy began.
"She means no." Max interrupted, leading to her puffing her cheeks.
"Very well then. Let's not--" Dasuke began.
"Hey, wait! What about us?" Spence asked.
"You're my children. You have no choice."
"Ugggh. That Oni's gonna eat us for breakfast..."
"She'll make it supper if you're already being defeatist." Jess replied.
"We're ready for anything, Father. No matter what this grass-eater gripes about." Dai insisted.
"I hope this demon chick eats you first..." Spence groaned.
"Alright. Nothing else for it. Open the gate." Dasuke ordered.
"Yes, sir. Be safe." the guard pressed a button, and the fence slowly opened. 
The commander took a breath. "Keep your wits about you. Whatever vengeful beings lie within, be they human or demon, will be watching. Stay vigilant. Let's move."
The group entered the sealed-off district.
The guard, meanwhile, took out a prayer tag. "Hope they're carrying plenty of these. Who knows if godly power could ever survive in that damned place..."
They began the walk into the deserted streets. Buildings all around were in varying stages of ruin. Lying beside them were a number of small memorials, some with fresh flowers laid down.
"....." Max observed as the walk continued.
"Each one, a soul. Each one, a heartbroken family. They're the only ones normally permitted to come into these grounds." Dasuke dictated.
"There are so many...why would they all willingly come back here instead of where their loved ones were buried?" Max asked.
"Because most of them weren't buried." Jess replied.
"The Insectoids feed on the energy every person carries. Meaning that...there weren't many bodies left *to* be buried." Dai elaborated.
Cindy shuddered.
"It's been five years since then. A lot of the families returned a few weeks ago to mark the date. Some of them expressed their opinions." Dasuke said.
On the walls, there was graffiti. Many an angry message directed at the P.D.F.
"SAY THEIR NAMES"
"HEROES AREN'T REAL"
"PIGS DONE FAILED"
"NEVER FORGET NARUKI"
"I don't get it...the Wolfpack were the ones that attacked this place. Why pin the blame on you all?" Max asked.
"The Wolfpack were the aggressors. But we swore an oath to protect the people of Tokyo. And in their time of greatest need, we were nowhere to be found. This kind of tragedy was never supposed to happen in such a fortified city. This was a failure of cataclysmic proportions." Dasuke replied.
"When you swear that you'll be there when shit goes down and you're off somewhere else, people tend to not trust you much after that." Spence added.
"And that's when they start to look to someone else to be their sword. The embodiment of their anger." Dai pointed out a single standing wall, the building behind it reduced to rubble.
On that wall, a large, demonic face was painted in black. "A human wearing a monster's face. To fight the monsters wearing human faces. That's what they believe." Dasuke stated.
"Is that what you believe, Commander? That you all are monsters?" Max asked.
"Mr. Jadefang...has our Max told you about our true nature? What me and my children really are?"
"What you really are?"
"I'll take that as a no. It isn't something we're to show unless the situation explicitly calls for it. Pray that moment doesn't come today."
"O...kay?" "(What's that all about? Are they another one of these million factions that exist is this world? Come to think of it, I haven't seen anyone else with those eyes. It's like I'm looking at a snake, or a...)"
In Max's mind, it clicked. "(Oh, no way in hell. Don't tell me *they're* real here, too?)"
"That's the face of a man who's come to a realization, Jadefang." Dai said.
"Dude really came here without a clue, didn't he?" Spence asked.
Max took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "I have been here all of two months. In that time, I've found out that aliens exist, witches and wizards exist, robots exist, and Atlantis exists."
"I wouldn't call it Atlantis--" Cindy began.
"IT'S BASICALLY ATLANTIS. Anyway. It's getting harder and harder for me to keep track of every not-totally-human faction that's out there, and it's making my head spin. So I need you all to do me a favor. I'm gonna name off every mystical creature I can think of, and I need you to tell me if they're real or not. So that the eventual run-in with one isn't as mind-blowing. Cool? Cool."
"Oh, this is gonna be an adventure." Jess grumbled.
"Fairies. Are fairies real?"
"Define 'fairy'." Dai replied.
"I'll take that as a yes. What about pegasi?"
"Pega-what now?" Spence questioned.
"Flying horses. And yes. Some of the European branches use them for aerial maneuvers." Jess answered.
"Of course they do. How about elves?" Max asked.
"We talking the forest-dwelling kind, or the Santa's slave labor kind?" Spence asked.
"The former is a yes, for the record." Dai elaborated.
"Alright. Now for the one I'm thinking you all know about very well." Max said.
"Make your guess, Mr. Jadefang. What, exactly, are we?" Dasuke asked.
"Okay, I'll put it out there. Are you--"
A sound echoed out against the surrounding ambiance. Everyone present was alerted. "What was that?" Max questioned.
"Sounded like a rock hitting pavement." Jess replied.
"Commander, nobody else is supposed to be here but us, right?" 
"...no. There shouldn't be anyone else." Dasuke affirmed.
"Crap crap crap! I knew this place was haunted! Let's get the hell out of here!" Spence urged.
"Spence, quit being such a baby! It could just be a random piece of rubble falling, for all we know!" Cindy chastised.
"Only one way to know for sure. Where'd the sound come from?" Max asked.
"Further down this road, into the market district. I have a sneaking suspicion that our 'ghost' has something they want us to see. Or perhaps...there's something here *they* need to see." Dasuke theorized.
"Of course, of course! Gotta go *towards* the danger!" Spence griped.
The group moved further down the road, into an area filled with the remains of many a shop. "....." Max looked around.
"It's gotta feel weird, right? This is a place you knew back home." Cindy said.
"It's where I lived and went to school. My Professor--my Rin Kubo--lives just outside this part of town. Her family owns a market and a flower shop close by. And I was staying here with my girlfriend. To see it in this state, is..."
"I know I said to disassociate, but I know it can't be easy." Dai said.
"Commander. The clinic owned by Rin Kubo's family. Where is it?"
"Right over there." Dasuke pointed.
Max started towards it. 
"Are you nuts?! That demon girl's probably gonna jump out at any--" Spence objected.
"She will if you don't zip your yap." Jess chided.
Max approached the building, charred and with the inside caved in. He knelt down before a small memorial in front of the rubble. It was a framed photo of a couple wearing medical scrubs, along with a young man.
"Those, I believe, would be Dr. Hanatarō, Yumi, and Togemaru Kubo. The owners of the clinic and their son." Dasuke walked over.
"Her parents and older brother." Max stated.
Cindy appeared behind the commander. "Maxie...those flowers are..."
"Apple blossoms. And they're fresh." Max said. "She's been here."
"Yes, I do believe you're right." Dasuke concurred.
".....we shouldn't be here. This place...no human should ever step foot in here unless their family was lost on that day. To see the state of it all, to know what she must be feeling--"
A sudden dread came over Max. He felt as though he was being watched. He turned around. 
Someone was standing atop the ruins across the street. They turned and leapt away.
"That's...!" 
Max ran after them.
"Maxie, wait up!" Cindy called out, before noticing something out of the corner of her eye. "Wait..."
The Sorenos siblings had all disappeared from their previous spot.
"What in the world...they were just here! I swear, if this is some kind of joke..." Dasuke grumbled.
"Dai! Jess! Spence! Where are you guys?!" Cindy called out.
As they began looking, Max continued running after the shadowy figure. He saw them ducking into an alley. Cautiously, he followed. He made the turn, and no one was there. 
"(This has to be a trap. Or maybe...she wants me to see something.)"
He walked into the alley. There, sitting against a wall, was a memorial. Included amongst several flowers and candles was a photo of a young girl, with long brown hair dressed in a Gothic Lolita style. The miniature shrine bore the name 'Namiko'.
"Namiko Sakaki...her best friend." 
Max then noticed something beside the photo. Another memorial. The photo at its forefront was a familiar one to Max. The same one he'd seen earlier of a girl with dark red hair wearing Gothic clothes and makeup. The one he came here in search of.
"You're either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid to follow me here alone."
Max looked up. There was Rin, sans mask. "Rin Kubo."
"Why are you here? There's nothing but despair and rubble in this place."
"This memorial here...it's for you."
"I told you before. I'm a ghost."
"Who made this for you?"
"Miko's parents. They come here every year on her birthday and the anniversary of the attack. They probably made it because I don't have any family left to do it. Now answer my question. Why are you here?"
"I wanted to talk."
"I nearly killed you last month. But you want to talk. Why?"
"I want to understand you."
"You came all this way to...understand me."
"You probably know who I am. I'm not from this world. I might not go by the name 'O'Donnell' anymore, but I'm the counterpart of the man you want to kill. And...you remind me of someone I know."
"Now I understand. You called me 'Professor' before."
"Yes. The Ringo Kubo of my world was my high school professor."
"Is that why you want to 'understand' me? Because I remind you of someone else? Don't waste your breath. Max O'Donnell and Dasuke Sorenos left this city to die. Everything I loved perished, and now I have nothing but revenge to keep me alive. I'm nothing like this 'Professor' of yours."
"Yes. You're right. You and her are different people. But this is what I don't get. The P.D.F. let Naruki City down. I understand your anger towards them. But the people you're aligned with now...they're the ones responsible for destroying this town. Don't you realize that you're working for the man who actually took your family from you?"
"I know that."
"You...you do? Then why?"
"That despicable man is a means to an end. He wants his brother dead, and so do I. I have no use for either the P.D.F. or the Wolfpack. Once I've disposed of the former, I'll just get rid of those crooks for good."
"So you hate them both? Then..."
"The Wolfpack are the worst kind of scum imaginable. But the P.D.F.? They call themselves heroes, all while enforcing their standards on the rest of humanity. They hoist their authority on everyone, then label you a traitor if you disagree with them. Their fights are nothing but a sibling rivalry blown up to consume everything and everyone. And who are the ones that suffer for it? Look around and you'll know the answer. The ones who have the power will continue to destroy the world over their own squabbles, then ask the people they've hurt to trust them to fix everything."
Rin looked down. "You know who the real heroes of that day were? My family that helped their patients to escape, knowing that it meant they wouldn't make it out themselves. My best friend who pushed me away from the monster that killed her. Where's their praise? Why aren't they being remembered? The people responsible for this don't deserve to be held up and loved while my family goes forgotten." She held up her mask. "This was going to be part of my brother's Halloween costume. I found it next to the rubble covering his corpse. Burnt and destroyed like everything else here. Tell me, 'Other Max'...am I wrong to be angry?"
"No. You aren't. But tell me this. What will you do once your revenge has been fulfilled? How do you think you'll feel once it's all over? Do you even have a plan for when it's over?"
"Is there a code of conduct for how I'm supposed to feel about it? Why do you even care?"
"...your dad was good to you, wasn't he?"
"Hm? What are you getting at now?"
"I read up on you before coming here. Your dad was a doctor. Well-liked in the community. He even dressed as Santa for the kids. Was he that same good man when people weren't looking?"
"Watch what you're babbling about. I had the best father I could've asked for. There was nothing fake or malicious about him. He died so his patients could escape."
"'In their last moments, people show you who they really are.' Your father was a good man. Wish I knew what that was like."
"You're going to tell me all about your daddy issues now? Spare me."
"I won't. All I'll tell you is that I know what it's like to live off of hate. To despise someone so much that you'll ruin the world to see them dead. It's not going to make everything better, Rin. I felt nothing after my old man died. What you're doing is gonna leave a lot of misery in your wake, with nothing to show for it but a lot of emptiness. What would your family think of what you're doing?" 
Max pointed to the picture of Namiko. "What would *she* think?"
"....."
"GAAAAAH!" A scream suddenly echoed out.
"Wha--that sounded like Cindy!" Max said.
"Forgot that you didn't come here alone?" Rin asked.
"You...what have you done?"
"I haven't done anything. The one who insisted on following me, however..."
"Grr..." Max turned around. "Hang on, I'm coming!" He ran off.
"Fool." Rin looked down at the memorial. "...maybe it would be easier if I was haunted. What would you be telling me to do?"
Nearby, Cindy was running through the street, then ducked into an alley. She looked out, then started digging through her bag. Hugo came fluttering out of it. "Mmgh...good afternoon, Lady Cynthia..."
"Hugo, I need your help! We're in big trouble!"
Someone landed from the top of a building. It was Spence, wielding a pair of large, clawed gauntlets. He glared at Cindy.
"Oh no oh no oh no oh no oh no!" she exclaimed.
"Is that Sir Spencer? What's gotten into him?" Hugo questioned.
Electricity crackled around Spence, as he charged at the frightened girl. Cindy ducked away as he swung his fist into the wall, destroying it. She made a break for it.
"C'mon, back me up here!" she pleaded.
"I only just reactivated, my lady! I need a few minutes to--" Hugo responded.
"Guuuh, of all the times for an update download!"
Spence was quickly closing in behind her. He leapt at her, preparing to attack...
"SHEEEYA!" A large, silver fist swung into him, blasting him into the rubble.
"Maxie!" Cindy exclaimed.
Max landed in front of her, now in his armor. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, but..."
As the dust cleared out, Spence got up, cracking his neck as his serpentine eyes glowed.
"Hey, dipshit! What do you think you're doing?!" Max demanded.
Before he could answer, Spence twitched, closing and reopening his eyes. He looked around, confused. "Huh...where the hell am I? Why's it feel like I got trucked by a tank?!"
"What are you on about? You just tried to--"
"Maxie, look out!" Cindy warned.
Max quickly moved out of the way, as someone swung a sword at him. Dai rose back up and began to frantically swing. Max dodged a couple attacks before grabbing the blade with his hands.
"Dammit, what the hell's going on?! Grr..." Max felt a tinge of pain in his shoulder. "Urgh, there's that 10%..."
The struggle ended with small blasts of energy hitting Dai, knocking him away.
"Sorry, handsome! You'll thank me later!" Cindy was now in her armor, pointing her weapons.
Dai twitched, then shook his head. "Ugh...what just..."
"Can someone explain what the hell's going--" Max demanded.
"Get down!" Spence tackled him as a shot of energy was fired in their direction.
In the distance, Jess was hiding behind a broken wall, pointing a rifle.
Max got up and summoned his weapon in its gun form, firing at her. She ducked out of the way.
"Is everyone sipping the crazy juice around here?!" Max questioned.
"Maxie, we need to make some distance. Especially from them." Cindy told him.
"C'mon, the imp's not in control now, we're fine!" Spence objected.
"'Imp'?" Max questioned.
"Hahahahahahahahaha!"
The group looked up. Jess was on a roof overlooking them.
"What a dance! Truly, such splendid movements, o daring brutes!" she exclaimed.
"What's wrong with you? You're...laughing?" Max asked.
"Ah, and an unknowing brute, at that! If it as an answer thou desires from me, then one you shall get from these demons three! Now, for a contest. Am I here...or yonder?"
Jess twitched. "Ugh...that freak."
"Maxie, we need to go, now!" Cindy urged.
"But what's going on?" Max asked.
"This guy's one of the Four Blighted Generals. He can take over anyone with an ounce of magic in them. And he's...in one of them."
The twins looked at each other. "W-w-well it's not me!" Spence insisted.
"Brilliant objection, it's obviously not me! He's probably still hiding in Jess!" Dai retorted.
"The first to point fingers should be the first guess." Jess replied.
"How are we supposed to tell? Maybe he's not even hiding in any of them!" Max responded.
"Alright, quiz time! Who's the stronger one?" Cindy asked.
Both twins pointed at themselves.
"Who's the better looking one?" 
Again, they pointed at themselves.
"Who's your mom's favorite?"
Spence pointed at himself. Dai pointed towards Jess.
"Smack him, Maxie!"
Max backhanded Dai, knocking him out.
"Hmhmhmhmhm..." Spence chuckled.
"Dammit, were we wrong?" Max asked.
"Verily, you were correct! Nay, I believed it likeliest the mother hen wouldst prefer her firstborn and lone maiden. Alas, thou were but a fraction too slow."
Cindy blasted him into the rubble.
"O lack of speed! O sloth of woman!" 'Jess' taunted.
"Who are you?!" Max demanded.
"Ah, but it is a courtesy to introduce oneself first, is it not? But it is not needed. Thou art the one Lord Jonathan finds himself so preoccupied with, is that not so? Mine inability to overshadow thine body is proof of your outwordly nature. In that case, allow me to state mine identity."
Jess collapsed, as someone else floated just above the ground in her place. It was a slender man in archaic, black garb, with the Wolfpack symbol on his back. His skin was pitch black, his eyes were golden, and his ears were pointed. His hair was white, long and tied into a single braid.
"Verily, I am Noir, elite of Lord Jonathan's guard! Now, let us begin this dance of destruction, o knight from the outer realms! Hahahahaha!"
"I already hate this guy." Max uttered.
Noir phased inside of Jess, who reopened her eyes and got back up. "Ahahahaha...such a boon, this. Their bodies contain such monstrous strength as to be inhuman."
"Cindy, where's the Commander?" Max asked.
"I lost track of him when I went looking for everyone. I hope he doesn't show up, if this guy got his hands on him..." Cindy replied.
Elsewhere in the district, Dasuke was standing with his eyes closed. "Something is amiss...they've lost consciousness, and yet..."
He opened his eyes upon hearing a noise. "So. You have me where you want me, Oni of Naruki."
Rin was behind him, her blade in hand. "Unsheath your weapon. I've been waiting for this."
"Yes, I imagine you have been. You're set on this path, and I won't stall an inevitability. Answer me one thing first. Is it you that's subdued my children?"
"I haven't touched a hair on their heads. That would be Noir."
"So that blasted elf accompanied you."
"Not my choice. But all the more reason for you to stay put. If he were to possess you, it would be very problematic for the others, wouldn't it?"
"Correct you are. But why caution me? Wouldn't such a thing work in your favor?"
"Your life is mine to take. I won't let that annoying imp worm his way into it. This is between you and me. Now draw."
"Heh. You know, Ms. Kubo, I'm quite adept at detecting a lie."
"I said." Rin took a stance, blade pointed squarely at the commander. "Draw."
"Very well then." Dasuke drew his sword, then took his stance, effortlessly moving the heavy weapon. "Come then. Experience what a true blade of darkness can do."
Back near the market district, Noir continued to stare down Max and Cindy. "I wonder, o foreign knight. Dost thou not realize what manner of creature thou hast aligned thyself with?" the elf asked.
"I'm starting to get a good idea. How about you quit with the ghost act and fight me head-on?" Max responded.
"A reasonable request, but alas, mine constitution is horrifically unsuited for base brutality. Thus my need for a more formidable marionette."
Noir hopped down in front of the pair. Electricity began to spark around Jess' body. "Behold! The manner of monstrosity that lies beneath this unassuming maiden! Thine flesh shall soon be rended from thy bones!"
Max looked on as his growing suspicions were confirmed before his very eyes. Jess began to grow in size, her skin being replaced with yellow scales. Her form became reptilian, hands and feet replaced with clawed limbs, and wings sprouted out from her back.
What loomed over the pair was an eighteen-foot tall dragon.
"I left my world and wound up in Lord of the Rings 2099. Wizards, sea people, elves, and now *dragons*. I shouldn't even be surprised anymore." Max responded.
"You can wrap your head around it later!" Cindy exclaimed.
"Right. How do we tackle this?"
"I'll take the boys far away from here. He won't have anyone else to jump into. Be really careful, Maxie. Those forms are no joke--"
The dragon raised her head into the air, charging electricity in her mouth.
"Oh, boy. Grab the Wonder Twins and get out of here! I'll handle this!" Max ordered.
"Yeah, on it!" Cindy ran to pick up the boys.
The dragon prepared to fire.
"Not today, buddy! Ultraman!"
Max's Persona appeared partially, from the torso up, delivering a hard uppercut to the dragon, causing her blast of electricity to fire upward.
Cindy got Dai to his feet. "C'mon, handsome, we've gotta move!"
"Ugh...did I get smacked by a car door?" he grogged.
"Just the door?" Spence got up, clutching his head. "Huh? Why's Jess fighting...Ultraman?!"
"You really got your head bashed in. Noir's in control of Jess! We've gotta get you two away before he starts playing musical dragons!" Cindy replied.
"I agree on that, but is he going to be alright by himself?" Dai asked.
"Of course he's gonna be alright. He's still got a job to see through. Until then, he's gonna keep fighting."
Noir reeled from the hit, before turning back to Max. "O violence! O lack of chivalry! Is this how the knights of thine realm treat a maiden?"
"You're no maiden, Legolas. And I'm no knight. I'm just a guy who hates bullies." Max replied.
"A simplistic brute who knows not of honor. Struggle away all you like, blackguard, for even if this body craters, mine options are without...limit..."
Noir noticed that the boys had disappeared. "Eh?! When did they..."
"Guess your eyes weren't where they needed to be. Now your only fallback option is your 'unsuitable constitution'. What's the problem? Scared now that you might lose? The fool doth think he is wise."
"Grrr...insolent mockery..."
"Hey, my sister's a theater girl. I've forgotten more Shakespeare than most people'll hear in their lifetime."
"Thy knowledge belies thy brutish tendencies. I am a being far beyond the understanding of neither pretentious human nor winged beasts that think themselves something more. Mine domination over all is proof of such fact!"
"You speak an infinite deal of nothing."
The dragon extended her wings. "To the fires of eternity with you!"
Noir flew at Max, sharp teeth baring, and attempted to bite down on him. Max held the jaws from closing. He could feel his shoulder starting to flare up once more. "Ngh...come on, I know you're in there somewhere...you can't be happy to let this...freak run around with your body...guuuuh..." He began to struggle. His grip on her jaw loosened. "Come on...fight back..."
"What do you...think I'm doing?" the dragon responded.
"...! Jess? Keep fighting it! Don't let him win!"
Jess' eyes started to twitch. "Grr...! Treacherous wench! Thou darest?!" Noir growled.
"Ngh...you're gonna have to knock this maniac out of me, Jadefang...weaken his grip just enough that I can boot him out..." Jess instructed.
"Sure about this? I don't want to, urf...really hurt you by accident..." Max asked.
"Don't underestimate me...I can guarantee that I've taken worse than whatever you can dish out...ngh, do it before he takes control back..."
"...sorry in advance."
Above the dragon's body, a giant silver-and-red boot came down, landing with a huge thud. It dissipated, revealing a now-human Jess underneath. 
"Hey...you okay?" Max asked.
Jess suddenly jolted up. "DAMMIT!"
"Gah!"
"Did you have to put that much weight into it? A simple punch would've done the job!"
"Should've told me that instead of saying you could take my worst! Oh, whatever. Where's the elf?"
Nearby, Noir was crouched against some rubble, looking agitated. "What fiend! What chaotic dastard! How darest thou try to crush me?! Dost thou know who you deal with--"
Max got in front of him and put his weapon against the elf's forehead. "An idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."
"Grr...'tis not the day the curtain falls upon me. Vengeance shall have to wait for another time. Fare thee well, o outworld knight!"
Noir dissipated into shadow particles, vanishing into the night.
"Pft. Knew it wouldn't be that easy." Max turned back.
By this point, Cindy had returned with the boys. "Hey, are you okay?!" she asked Jess.
"Aside from being stepped on by a 40-foot tall alien, peachy." Jess uttered.
"I wasn't expecting to get my ass whooped like that today..." Spence griped.
"You've spent the last two days complaining that the Oni girl was going to cut us to pieces. Don't go pretending it isn't true." Dai pointed out.
"I did? I, uh...forgot. I've got a ton of blanks in my head..."
"And how's that different from normal?" Cindy asked.
"So. The cat's out of the bag. Or the lizard, I guess." Max said.
"Yeah, so..." Spence scratched his head.
"You don't see all that surprised." Dai said.
"Nothing in this place shocks me anymore. So, is your dad...?" Max asked.
"He is. There's not a whole lot of us left, and the few that there are mostly live out in the mountains. Dad was never fond of hiding out and ignoring the world's problems. So out into the world he went, and there he found mom. You can figure out the rest." Jess explained.
"And I thought the old man was a riddle. Guess we should go find the commander now, huh? Where could he..."
The sound of a teleport echoed. Cindy turned to look. "Guys..."
Rin was staring at them.
"Holy--!" Spence armed himself.
"Wait!" Max ordered.
"Are you done having fun yet?" Rin asked.
"What are you talking about?"
"Take a look around."
The group took notice of all the damage caused by the battle.
"This place was already in ruins. So does that mean that it's okay to destroy what's left of it? That you all can come in here and do whatever you please without consequence?"
"That's not what we--" Cindy objected.
"This is why I hate you people. P.D.F., Wolfpack, it doesn't matter. You can level how many cities you want in the name of whatever cause you're fighting for on a given day. You can always go back to your ivory tower and forget about everything. It's towns like Naruki that get to suffer for it, that have to rebuild on their own because the world forgets about them. Everyone knows who you are. Nobody but me remembers the people here. We were just another battlefield in an endless line of them. And I have had enough of that."
"So your answer to that is to go trash someone else's home? Get real, lady! And we didn't have anything to do with what happened here--" Spence objected.
"Stop." Max told him.
"But--"
"Let me." Max approached Rin. "I'm not gonna sit here and lecture you on why you're wrong. Because I don't think you are. You have every right to be angry. I'm sorry that no one helped you when you needed it. It's become obvious to me that something needs changing in the P.D.F. There has to be more transparency, more willingness to listen. I know it's too little, too late for you, but I'm sorry that this happened. I get where you're coming from, really."
"I don't need your pity or your 'understanding'. Simple words can't undo what was lost here. What could you ever know of my pain?" Rin demanded.
"I know of anger. I know of bitterness. And I know of powerlessness. That feeling that you can't change anything because the obstacles are too big. You're angry because you don't want people to forget what happened. For you to lose your entire life and have the world move on as if it never happened...I can't begin to imagine how that feels. The ones truly responsible should be punished for their wrongdoings."
As Max continued speaking, he began to see Kat, echoing his words. The words she spoke to him almost two years ago.
"You're angry. You're lashing out. Nobody came to help you, so you're taking it out on them. You're gonna *make* them listen to you now. I get why this is happening. But here's what's different between you and me. You needed revenge. I needed love. And some insane, dysfunctional people gave it to me. They stood by me, and they listened, even when I was being awful. All the bitterness I had is gone. But you haven't gotten your payback. You've kept your rage bottled up. Someone just needs to listen to you, for once."
Rin's sword arm began to shake. She looked down, then turned away. "I want you out of here. You've done enough damage for one day. Leave, and I won't give chase."
Max could hear a shift in her voice. He turned to the others. "Let's go find the commander and get out."
"You're seriously gonna let her go?!" Spence questioned.
"It appears she has no intention of fighting us. In our condition, I wouldn't turn this down." Dai replied.
Cindy looked towards Rin. She put her hands together. "I don't think you're a bad person. I'm sorry we're trespassing. I hope you can find some peace."
Rin neither spoke nor turned. Her mind was clearly some distance away.
"Let's go, Cind." Max urged.
"Okay..." she complied, and the group turned and began walking away.
Rin looked up. In her line of sight was the silhouette of a girl in Gothic clothing.
She looked back down. "Stop...looking at me like that."
---
"That was far more than what I was expecting. How that dastardly imp was able to get in is beyond me. He has always been a tricky sort." Dasuke said, now with Max in front of the P.D.F. building.
"....." Max looked pensive.
"...alright. You've got that look. No doubt you've come to know about my...shall we say, unique origins."
"No...well, yes. Jess transformed while that Noir guy possessed her. But that's not what's bugging me. I think...I finally understand the core of why your Rin is angry."
"Well that should have been clear. It's because of the loss of her family, is it not?"
"That's definitely a major part of it. But I think there's more than that. It's that she feels that they're being forgotten. 'Never Forget Naruki'. It's not just a phrase to her. She feels like the wrong people are being praised for their actions that day."
"Hmm...I think you may have a point. The news reports of that day paint it as a battle between the Defense Force and the Wolfpack. The personal stories of that chaos have fallen through the cracks. History is written by the ones still present, after all."
"I think there should be more reminders. Listen to the survivors, get the real story of what happened. Build a memorial with every single name. All one-hundred and seventeen. All of those memories are lying under abandoned rubble in a gated-off no-man's-land. Their loved ones shouldn't need to pass through security to pay their respects. Let them know that they aren't just a statistic. Their sacrifice has to mean something."
"You know what, Mr. Jadefang? I think you're absolutely correct. Allowing our citizens to believe we've abandoned them and forgotten their deeds is doing them a grave disservice. There is much that we need to do to amend our errors. I'll go over it come the morning. As for you, take the rest of your time here to relax. You've strained yourself enough."
"Thank you, sir. At this rate my arm's gonna fall off on its own. A bit more time to see the city would do me some good."
"See for yourself how it compares to your own. If you need me, I'll be in my quarters or off training. Give my well wishes to Cindy, also."
"Will do, sir."
Max made for the hotel. As he entered, Dai was walking out. "Oh, hey there. Done meeting with Father?"
"Yeah. He's gonna work on some kind of memorial for the people of Naruki. Something that's long overdue. Maybe this can finally give some peace to everyone that needs it."
"Our oni included, yes?"
"In an ideal world, definitely."
"Have to say, that was quite the speech you gave her. It looked like she was actually considering standing down. Crazy to think you came up with all that on the spot."
"You're flattering me. Truth is, those weren't all my words. When I was at my lowest point, someone special brought me back from the brink. She was one of the only ones that believed I could change, even though I'd hurt her more than most. She's the craziest, coolest girl I know. And I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her."
"Well I definitely know a thing about crazy girls. There's one in your hotel room asking for her patient."
"Agh, I'll go and calm her nerves. Me agitating my shoulder isn't gonna help matters."
"No, I can't imagine it will. I'll leave you to it. Oh, and no hard feelings about punching me in the face."
Dai departed. "Why did I hear sarcasm in that last part?" Max questioned.
---
November 12, 2031
Morning by the Naruki district. The gates opened, letting Max into the ruined town. 
He came carrying a vase filled with pink flowers. He walked over to where the market district once was, and found the site containing the memorial for Rin. He put the vase down next to it.
"I know it isn't much. I hope you don't mind the pink. The other you loves every shade of red. It's just me assuming."
He heard someone approaching. "Ah..."
He looked to see that it was a middle-aged couple, both with brown hair. The man carried a bouquet, the woman a candle. "Oh, hello there...who might you be?" the man asked.
"Oh, uh, sorry if I'm intruding. I'm new in town and I...wanted to pay my respects." Max replied.
"What a respectful young man. The girl in that picture was best friends with our Namiko." the woman said.
"I see...would that be..."
"That's the girl you see right here. Her and Ringo were inseparable since they were sleeping in cribs. The night of the attack, they were getting their Halloween costumes together. It was just supposed to be a simple meet-up. It turned into the worst night of our lives." the father said.
The two laid the flowers and candle by memorials, lighting the latter. "You can see from the pictures, those two were a pair of fashion queens. They always coordinated their outfits. They did everything together." The mother dried her tears. "Even to the very end..."
"I'm sorry. It must be impossibly difficult. I hope I'm not imposing..." Max said.
"Don't apologize. We're glad someone came along to pay poor Ringo respects. Her entire family died on that day. We maintain this space as much as we do Namiko. But the truth is...they never found her." the father replied.
"There's always that tiny hope that she somehow made it out. But if she did...the memory of what happened to her family...to our Namiko...having to see all of it..." the mother said.
"The weight of all that would be unbearable. More than a girl her age should shoulder. Maybe her being with the ones she loved would be more comforting, in a way. As much as we would love to have her back."
"....." Max didn't know what to say.
"Well, thank you for paying respects. I think she would have appreciated it. She loved her Gothic aesthetic, but she had a soft spot for pink. She'd think those flowers were beautiful."
"Lucky guess, I suppose. I'll let you folks have your moment. My condolences, truly."
"Thank you, young man. Safe tidings." the mother replied.
Max left the couple to their prayers, and began walking to the entrance. As he did, he felt as though he was being watched. He turned to look around, but he was all alone. He resumed his walk.
"(Until we meet again. Friend or foe...that's on you.)"