Persona BLEACHED 2: Part 40

Chapter 40: And What Followed, Was Hell
April 5, 2029
"O, KERBEROS! O KERBEROS, THE GOD, THE QUEEN!"
At the entrance to the fourth circle, an older man in a lab coat and scrubs was shouting from a bed of rocks.
"My, such a subtle welcome." Kenji said.
"Anyone you know, Mirai?" Ryōma asked.
"Hmmm...he does look familiar, but I can't say for sure." Jin replied.
"O KERBEROS! O KERBEROS, THE GOD, THE QUEEN!" the doctor bellowed out once more.
"We heard you the first time! Jeez, what circle is this again?" Kitty griped.
"If my memory is correct, this would be the fourth. Home to those tainted by greed and avarice. For a doctor to be here must mean that he was the kind to put profits over patients." Kenji replied.
"'Profits over patients', huh. Sounds a lot like..." Kitty realized something. She started for the rocks, acrobatically leaping up the cliffside.
"Kitty-san, what's wrong?" Sakuya asked.
"O KERBEROS! O KERBEROS, THE GO--" The doctor's shouts were interrupted by Kitty hopping next to him. She peered at his I.D. tag.
"'Dr. Satoru...Sakaki'. Oh. Oh." Kitty took on an angry expression. She tripped him onto his back, perilously close to the edge of the platform. She put her foot down on his chest.
"W-what's your problem, girl?" he stuttered.
"I'm looking at it." Kitty retorted.
Jin teleported next to Kitty. "Who is he? Why the outburst?" He looked at the nametag. "Sakaki? So that's what it is. You're Miko Sakaki's father."
"And Shizuka's. Not that he ever acted like it." Kitty added.
"H-hang on, how do you know my children? Who are you people?"
"The ones that cared for your children when you wouldn't, you greedy old bastard." Jin replied. "I've wondered for years how a doctor could sit back and let his own children live in neglect, let alone allow one to die of cancer without so much as a phone call. Seeing you as you are now, I don't have to wonder why."
Kitty got in the doctor's face. "In case you actually care, Shizuka is far away from your witch of a wife. She's with people who love her and don't leave her in filth. And don't worry, the harpy that sent you here is getting her just desserts. And when it's her time, she'll be perched right next to you. You can shout for your murder god together after that."
Kitty's Persona manifested behind her, pointing a finger at the doctor while pink energy sparked. The doctor only chuckled. "Hahahaha...you think your threats can do any good? I'm already damned. What could you do that could harm me worse than what's already been done? Enjoy that pedestal you've perched yourselves on. Once Lady Kerberos finds you, you'll be the ones shouting." Kitty brought the finger in closer to his face. "Ahaha, don't shoot the messenger. I'm just welcoming you to even greater torments than you've already endured...ahahahahaha!"
Jin stopped Kitty from attacking. "This slime isn't worth it. He's already where he belongs. Just leave him."
Kitty did nothing for a moment, before withdrawing her Persona. She turned away, and leapt back down the rocks. Jin wordlessly teleported away, giving the doctor one more scornful look.
"O...O KERBEROS...THE GOD...THE QUEEN...!"
Leaving the mad doctor to his ranting, the group carried on through the valley.
"Excuse me, Mirai-sama?" Sakuya asked.
"Yes? What is it?" Jin replied.
"Don't you think it's rather odd...that with all of the millions of souls likely wandering through these realms, that we continue to run into people connected to us? Like that doctor, for instance?"
"Does seem oddly coincidental, doesn't it? Under normal circumstances, to see so many familiar faces would be unusual. But remember who it is that controls this place. Kerberos is nothing if not sadistic. She knows who her enemies are, and how best to torment them should they ever make their way here."
"The eternal queen of pushing buttons. Knows exactly who to dig up and place front and center in case she has guests." Kenji said.
"So that won't be the last connected soul we'll be encountering, in all likelihood..." Sakuya pondered.
"You'll be forced to get uncomfortable soon enough, if that's to be believed." Ryōma added.
"Nobody asked you." Sahir interjected.
"Like it or not, it's the nature of this place." Sakuya conceded. "If there's a demon that needs facing, it might as well be here."
They proceeded on the cliffside path. Sahir caught sight of something below. "What's the deal down there?"
Down below, there were dozens of humanoid Shadows. Each one was pushing along an enormous sack of gold coins, some pushing the sacks against each other to no avail.
"Are they...jousting? What are they doing?" Sakuya asked.
"WHY ARE YOU OVERSPENDING?!" one Shadow screamed.
"WHY ARE YOU SO CHEAP?!" another one yelled back.
"Greed is a bizarre two-way street. You can either possess untold wealth and hoard it away, or spend it frivolously and relentlessly. Either way is equally self-centered. And opposing, yet equal viewpoints always give way to resentment." Jin explained.
"All of this for a bag of worthless coins. What use is that much gold for the dead?" Kenji questioned.
"I know you kids aren't anything like this, but given your social standings, you'll have grown up never knowing poverty. Never let monetary gain dictate your actions. You see the end result for yourselves here. Possessions aren't everything." Jin dictated.
"Aren't you the man with a room full of plush toys?" Ryōma said with a wry grin.
"Guess I don't need to warn you about losing wealth, Tsutsugo. You've got plenty of experience on that subject." Jin bit back.
"OOOOOOOOOH!" Sahir exclaimed.
The former Elite looked annoyed, but said nothing.
The tension was broken by a faint tune. "Unless those meisers down there learned to sing...there's something else here." Ryōma said.
"It's coming from the top of the cliff...wait...I've heard this voice before..." Sakuya said.
"We've all heard it. Plenty of times. But this sounds a lot...sadder than I've heard before. How do we get up there?" Kitty asked. 
Kenji looked up at the slope. "Too steep for you to leap up it like you did earlier. Mr. Mirai, could you teleport up there?"
"It's certainly in my range. Want me to take you all up there?" Jin asked.
"It might be too much of a risk to take so many people up that high. I'd suggest taking one other person with you."
"I'll go. If that's who I'm thinking, I've lived with her for the last two-thirds of a year. I can talk her down. Just leave it to me." Kitty assured.
"We'll be back soon. No tricky business, Tsutsugo." Jin said, and he teleported away with Kitty.
"You really must think I'm a piece of garbage, don't you?" Ryōma shook his head.
"Remind us again whose uniform you're wearing?" Kenji replied.
Kitty and Jin arrived on top of the cliff. Immediately, Kitty caught sight of what was making the noise. "There she is."
"Keep steady. It's a long way down from here." Jin warned.
"Don't worry about a thing. Cats always land on their feet, y'know."
Jin groaned. "Yeah. Yeah, they do. Just be careful anyway."
Kitty carefully approached the lone figure, staring off into the distance while singing a mournful hymn. She waited until the song had ended. 
Kitty got next to Barbara, putting an arm around her shoulder.
"Lovely as always, beautiful. But why the sad tune? Something on your mind?" Kitty asked.
"...it's meaningless." Barbara uttered.
"Girl, you're on top of a cliff singing into the void. And I'm right here, asking you what's wrong. It ain't meaningless if I say that I care. So tell me."
"For so long...I hoarded knowledge of my father's awful behavior...I said nothing, then out of anger, revealed everything...then I watched as everyone around me labeled me a snitch...even Max started to resent me...now here's the result...singing of my pain, with no one around to hear it...the worst pain any performer can imagine..."
"Oh, Barbie..."
"It'll all end someday...every star is destined to fade and come crashing to the ground...no matter how bright it shines...why delay the inevitable...let me sing to an audience of none...it's what my selfishness deserves..."
Kitty put her head on Barbara's shoulder. "I'm right here, Barbie. You can sing to me as much as you want. A voice like that should never go unheard. And, actually...I've had this really cringey wish for a while now, but I've been afraid of bringing it up." Kitty turned red. "I, uh...wanted to sing with you."
"You...you what?"
"You know I've got the music in my veins. I don't like singing in front of a lot of people, but if it's just you...with you...I think it'd be fun. Obviously not here, it's gotta be somewhere way happier than this, but, y'know."
"Why...why would you..."
"Cuz I've got a friend for life in you, Barbie. When Sparky and me broke up, you wanted to make sure I was okay. That's when I knew you really cared about me. This, right here..." Kitty patted the area above Barbara's heart. "That's as good as I've ever seen. Keebie doesn't know how lucky he's got it. So can we please get out of here? So we can have a really sappy bestie karaoke binge?"
"B...bestie...?" Barbara's eyes slowly returned to their normal shade of light blue, and began to well up with tears. 
"You know it, girlfriend. Bring it in, come on..."
Barbara gleefully embraced Kitty.
Jin stood watching nearby. "Do you, um...you two need a moment?"
"If you wouldn't mind." Kitty asserted.
"Alright, I know how this song and dance goes..."
---
"What the hell is she doing?" Shūjo asked.
Kerberos lay still in the middle of the road. The lights of her mask's eyes had been shut off. Rin's quartet of friends observed from a distance.
"Nothing. Hasn't budged for hours." Jugo replied.
"What should we do?" Hiyoko asked.
"There's about a 90% chance this is a trap. Make us think she's turned herself off." Tenko said.
"I would agree, but...would someone as chaotic as her really abandon the perfect opportunity to attack us? Our numbers have shrunk, we're weakened from the last fight with her...yet she puts herself to sleep?" Hiyoko pondered.
"And leaves herself wide open, at that. I would've capped her a long time ago if it wouldn't screw over everyone she's got captive." Jugo said.
"She knows we can't do anything without killing 'em. So why just sit tight?" Shūjo asked.
"Do you think...she knows her space is being invaded? And she's turned her attention to the others?" Tenko suggested.
"Wouldn't surprise me in the least." Jugo said.
"So all we can do is wait. Wait, and hope beyond hope that she doesn't wake up." Hiyoko said.
"I don't like this. Not one bit." Shūjo grumbled.
"Ain't nothin' to like." Jugo added.
---
"Um, Barbie?" Kitty asked. Barbara had her arms wrapped around Kitty's left arm.
"Yeeeeah~?" Barbara replied.
"Um, nothing. Nothing at all, really."
The students were seated near the exit to the cliffs. Sakuya, Sahir and Kenji were asleep.
"It's alright if you want to go to bed. It's been a crazy couple of days." Kitty assured.
"And leave my bestie alone in the waking world? No way~."
Kitty sighed. "I should've guessed how you would react. Barbie, you know me well enough to know that you can't lie to me. I can feel your arm shaking. You don't have to hide it. You're scared for the others, right?"
Barbara dropped the happy facade. She nodded.
"Yeah, me too. Every floor from here just gets worse and worse. Keebie and Sparky aren't out of the woods yet, not to mention Care Bear and Hood--oh, God, Hoodsie. Thinking about her being down here, especially away from Care...it's enough to give anyone nightmares."
"I want to believe they're all okay, but this place...it's the center of evil. I can't sleep knowing they're all still in danger..." Barbara uttered.
"I know, I know. This is impossible. But you've gotta get some rest. Can't save your boys if you pass out from exhaustion, right? If all else fails, just keep singing. I promise you they'll know it's gonna be okay. There's magic in that voice of yours. Keep it rested for your boys."
Barbara nodded. She put her head on Kitty's shoulder, took her glasses off and closed her eyes. "I love you, Kitty."
"Love you too, Barbie. Sleep tight."
Nearby, Ryōma stood watch. "I can take charge of the watch from here. Even ball players need a breather." Jin walked over.
"Tch. Don't you know when to quit talking, Mirai?"
"I haven't talked in a decade. Apologies if I'm overdoing it."
"Hm. Well, if you're volunteering..."
The calm was broken by a crimson burst of energy. "There ya are. Come a long way, haven't ya?" Kerberos appeared.
"You! How did you--" Jin began.
"'How did I find you'? This is my play place, Jinnie. I could feel ya the second ya stepped in here. And put the pieces away, blokes. I'm only here to chat."
By this point, the students had woken up.
"I see the younguns are A-OK. Some of 'em, anyway. Pity." Kerberos said.
"What do you want, freak?" Kitty demanded.
"How are y'all enjoying the place? Set it up all nice for you. How many old mates have you run into? Few faces you weren't expectin', maybe?"
"Get to the point or lose your head. Your choice." Ryōma demanded.
"Touchy, touchy. I'm just bein' a welcoming host. Lettin' ya know that it's only gonna get even worse from here. I'm holdin' off on wiping out your mates outside. Y'all have my full attention. I'll be waitin' at the very bottom. Try to live til then. I hate postponing my fun." Kerberos vanished.
"Loudmouthed witch!" Barbara piped up.
"She has the power to wipe us all out in an instant. We're all exhausted. Why not just take advantage?" Kenji questioned.
"You heard her. It's not fun for her. The suffering, the anguish, the prolonging...that's the entire point for her. It's why she's put people we know in place for us to see. She wants us to struggle and hurt. Only when we're at the moment we give in and break is when she'll finish the job. She wants a show." Jin surmised.
"Oh, we'll give her one. One she'll never forget." Kitty said.
"Right. Get some rest, everyone. Don't want to keep our gracious host waiting." Jin ordered.
---
"Blehh! It's even swampier here than that bog..." Sahir griped.
The group were on a swampy riverbank. Before them, was an ominous, lengthy river.
"A long river within the depths of the underworld...is this what I think it is?" Sakuya asked.
"This is exactly what you think it is. The pathway to the Depths of Hell is through this putrifying waterway. This...is the river Styx." Jin confirmed.
"So, um...did anyone bring their swimsuits?" Kitty asked.
"Sorry, I left mine on the moon." Kenji joked.
Jin looked around. "That won't be necessary."
Close by, there was a small wooden ferry. "'Melbourne Ferry Co.' I wonder who could've left this here." Ryōma said sarcastically.
"Enough room for a small party. Our host is nothing if not accommodating." Kenji added.
"I won't be looking at the Jungle Cruise the same way after this..." Barbara said.
"Take your seats, everyone. Time for the most unpleasant boat ride you'll likely ever embark on." Jin ordered.
The party boarded the ferry. Jin turned on the engine, and the boat departed down the Stygian river.
"Keep your eyes peeled. Given what we've seen so far, Kerberos will have placed one of your friends here, either along the banks of the river...or in the river itself." Jin dictated.
"Not at all a pleasant thought." Sakuya uttered.
"So what damned souls reside here, Mirai?" Ryōma asked.
"The fifth circle--the river--is home to Shadows whose hearts were filled with wrath. The muck-filled shores are where the outwardly angry assault each other for the rest of time. The water itself is where those who internalized their rage are confined. Never to express their anger, towards others, forced to float in utter silence." Jin explained.
Sahir shuddered. "Man, how do you make it sound so insanely creepy?!"
"Indeed. For someone who was rendered mute for so long, you're strangely poetic, Mr. Mirai." Kenji added.
"Credit your professor. She was our literary tutor for our entire school life. I've picked up a few of her habits. One-of-a-kind, she is." Jin replied.
"We've realized that by now. You all really hoist her up, huh?" Kitty asked.
"Of course. Let's just say I'm not used to bailing her out of trouble. When I first met Rin, I was in deep. Stuck in an awful job, being overworked. Too much for a high school kid. If Tenko and Rin didn't intervene, I might've died of exhaustion. I owe Rin Kubo my life. I named my daughter after her. Saving her life now is the least I could do."
After a few minutes, Barbara caught sight of something. "Over there. What's going on?"
A group of robed figures were waist-deep in the water, holding candles. One was facing away from the boat, and all of them were chanting.
"PRAISE BE! ALL GLORY TO THE ETERNAL ONE!" the main one yelled.
"KERBEROS, KERBEROS, GOD OF THE DAMNED!" the others chanted back.
"Oh, good. Cult freaks. Like we needed more of those." Kitty looked at Ryōma. "No offense."
"Some taken." he replied.
Jin observed the Shadows. He took notice of a woman with braided hair. "Hmm. That woman is...yes, that's it. That woman at the end there is Himiko Taiyo. She's Hiyoko's mother."
"Ms. Hiyoko's mom is down here? But she's such a sweet lady..." Barbara said.
"Trust me when I say her mother had nothing to do with that. Think the Sakakis, sans medical licenses." Jin replied.
"And how did she meet her end?" Kenji asked.
"You really want to know? It's not a pleasant story."
"It's really that bad?" Kitty asked.
"Well, when Kerberos was still Nobuhiro, she found Himiko and cut off her head. Then she put the head in a gift box and mailed it to Hiyoko."
The students were shocked.
"I warned you." Jin said.
Sakuya took notice of the main voice. "Wait..." She got up and went to the side facing the robed Shadows.
"What's wrong, Maggie?" Kitty asked.
"Shhhh." Sakuya listened.
"PRAISE BE! GLORY TO THE LORD OF ETERNAL FLAMES!"
An intense look crossed Sakuya's face. "Senpai. Bring him over here."
"Are you sure? Who is he?" Barbara asked.
"Just do it."
"Okay..."
Barbara used the water around the hooded man to lift him up, wrapping a watery hand around him and bringing him face-to-face with Sakuya. He was a bald man, with prayer beads around his neck.
Sakuya looked him squarely in the eyes. The man slowly recognized her.
"S...Sakutaro...?" he muttered.
"My name..." She manifested her Persona. "...is Sakuya."
She slashed at the man, sending him flying and crashing into the river. The other robed Shadows clamored around him.
"Hey, what was that about?" Sahir asked.
"My father." Sakuya answered bluntly.
"Your father? You don't have anything else to say to him?" Barbara asked.
"No." Sakuya returned to her seat.
"You sure about that? You'll never have this opportunity again." Ryōma asked.
"I have nothing to say. I am who I am. Let that be the last image he has of me. That's it." Sakuya replied.
Noting the finality in her voice, the others said nothing else.
The ferry continued its way down the river. The students kept the look out, but had yet to find anything. "Sheesh, this is depressing. People beating the tar out of each other on shore, other people just floating around. And they've gotta stay like that forever..." Sahir muttered.
"Let it be a lesson to never give in to anger. Otherwise you'll spend eternity floating in a dead river." Kenji replied.
As Kitty looked, something floated past the boat.
It was a pitch-black dorsal fin.
"Um...about the 'dead' part."
"What in...there's sharks in this river?" Sakuya questioned.
More fins could be seen. Some of the sharks lifted their heads out of the water, revealing dark bodies, and firey red eyes.
"There's sharks in the river. This Kerberos woman really is detached." Ryōma said.
"I mean, it isn't that ridiculous. Zambezi sharks are a thing. These big boys don't look that natural, though..." Sahir said.
"Probably meant to deter the Shadows on shore from getting in, and vice versa. Even dead, some things just generate fear in people." Jin said.
"Hey, over there!" Kitty pointed. "Looks like they're circling something."
Sure enough, three sharks were circling around a figure floating in the water.
"Strange...why would they be blocking off a Shadow? I'd imagine these things don't need to eat." Kenji pondered.
"Unless..." Barbara began. She got a closer look at what the sharks were circling.
Her eyes widened in horror.
"Stop the boat! STOP THE BOAT! IT'S MY BROTHER!" she shouted.
"Oh, shit! She's right, that's Sparky! Barbie, get him in here!" Kitty yelled.
Barbara quickly lifted Max up with her power, dropping him into the boat. The sharks turned to the ferry, their eyes flaring.
"Okay, yeah...not natural." Sahir said.
"What do they say about sharks? Punch them in the nose and they'll go away?" Sakuya asked.
"If those were normal fish, maybe. Judging by those hate-filled looks we're getting, we might be needing an even more direct approach." Kenji replied.
"Mirai, now might be a good time to turn this boat back on." Ryōma said.
"On it." Jin turned on the engine, and the boat steadily picked up speed. The Stygian sharks gave chase.
"Come on, come on..." Barbara pressed down on Max's chest, trying to get him to spit up.
"They're still coming. Perhaps they're starving after all." Ryōma said.
"Take the controls, Tsutsugo." Jin walked to the side of the boat.
"Wait, serio--okay then."
One of the sharks leapt at the ferry, and was promptly impaled on the nose by a chain. 
"Damn. And I usually like sharks." Jin said.
The shark fell back to the water. Its companions quickly turned their attention to its limp body, and began to consume it. The ferry managed to escape.
"No honor amongst apex predators, it seems." Kenji said.
"Max! Max! Wake up, please!" Barbara yelled out.
"Come on, you blockhead! You're too stubborn to die!" Kitty yelled.
Max began coughing up water. "Bleh...why..." he groaned.
"Max, oh thank every God there is, I thought I--" Barbara began.
"Throw me back...you need to throw me back..." Max uttered.
"Not in your dreams, buddy." Kitty replied.
"I've hurt you both so badly...I'm sorry I left with the old man, Barb...I should've been there for you and mom...and Kitty...I'm sorry for leading you on like I did...I'm a complete failure in every way...I should be helping the people I care about, not hurting them...just let the sharks have me...it's what I deserve..."
"Max, please don't say that. You thought you could fix the old man, or at least calm him down so he wouldn't hurt me or Mom. I'm not mad about that anymore. Everyone makes mistakes. You're too important to me to stay mad at." Barbara said.
"Sparky." Kitty looked Max in the eyes, before punching him. "I'm not angry about you breaking up with me. It happens, and you move on. I'm mad that you keep scaring this girl over here. You know how much it would destroy her if something happened to you? She doesn't deserve that. Part of being a hero of justice means looking out for the people close to you. She needs you here, alive. And as far as you and me are concerned...my offer still stands."
"Your offer...?"
"You're still my otaku buddy. I loved getting to watch anime and play games with you. I haven't forgotten about the otaku kingdom deal. I don't want you to keep beating yourself up, but you have to start using your head. And quit talking bad about yourself around the person that loves you more than anyone else."
"Start using my head...heh." Max's eyes returned to normal. "Guess I haven't really done a lot of that, huh."
"Max...are you alright now?" Barbara asked.
"Getting there. I'm sorry for scaring you. I've still got a lot to learn about thinking things through. Sorry again, Sis."
Barbara tearfully embraced her brother.
"You're still a blockhead." Kitty said.
"I know."
"But you mean well, at least. That's the most I can ask for."
"Guys, I hate to interrupt...but we're not out of the woods yet." Sahir spoke up.
Behind the boat, the sharks were fast approaching. And they weren't alone.
"There's more of them now? Bloody hell." Kenji uttered.
"I'd suggest you floor it." Ryōma insisted.
"This thing can only go so fast." Jin retorted.
"Not while I'm here. Hold on to your butts!" Kitty looked through her spell list, selecting 'Haste'. She hit the side of the boat, and it sped up rapidly.
"I think we're losing them. We should be in the--" Barbara began.
Several sharks appeared ahead of the ferry, swimming in place. Behind them, was the shore.
"Crap crap CRAP. Slow it down!" Jin ordered.
"I'm tryiiiiing!" Kitty groaned.
The ferry's pace slowed.
It was too late.
The boat crashed into the sharks, its wooden pieces scattering.
---
Kitty woke up on the beach. She got to her feet, and looked around. The ferry, what was left of it, layed on the shore. She ran over to it, leaping onto the bow. No one else was on board.
She called out their names. No one in sight. No response.
"No...no...I was saving everyone...why did...why did it end up like this...?" She fell to her knees.
"Ohhh, don't look so rubbish, kitten." A pair of crimson-gloved hands appeared on Kitty's shoulders. "They were crampin' your mojo, anyhow. Gals like us don't need mates. Better off havin' a ripper by our lonesome."
"You..."
Kerberos silenced Kitty. "Shhhhhh. None of that, sweetie." She wiped the tears from the girl's face. "Ain't you just as cute as a button."
"What did you do to the others?"
"Me? I didn't do jack. They all got flung somewhere else. Probably moved on to find your other mates. Left you all by your lonesome. How sad."
"Th-that's not true. They wouldn't just leave me like that..."
"Haven't you said that before? You've had mates leave you already. Lots of times. You should be used to it. Maybe that's the universe's clue that you're meant to be away from other people."
"Shut up. Like I'll buy a word that comes out of your flapping jaw."
"Why hold yourself back with these drongos? It'd be so much more fun to just do whatever fancies you. Take whatever ya want, do whatever your little heart desires...with who your little heart desires."
"What are you babbling about?"
Kerberos grabbed Kitty's hands. "C'mon, sweets. I've got somethin' to show ya." She pulled Kitty along with her, as the girl struggled to break away.
"This is why I love you guys. Try so hard to change the rules, but never going so far as to break 'em apart completely. Why change the mind of just one shitbag? It's the human race, sweets. There'll always be another shitbag to take their place. After a while it starts to sink in how pointless it all is. You fix something in the here and now, but how's that gonna fix things in a couple hundred years? You live as long as I have, you start to realize that none of this junk actually matters in the long run. Better to just have fun and do whatever."
"That's what you call this? Being a demon psycho killer is what you call having fun doing whatever?"
"Billions and billions of you things running about, what difference does it make if I cut up a few hundred every now and again? Y'all are plenty good at doin' it yourselves. That's what I'm trying to tell ya, kitten. When there's no point at all, what good are consequences? Ya gotta take what you want, otherwise you're just moping about for 80-odd years on this mudball."
"Where are you even taking me?"
"I'm offerin' a gift."
The pair arrived in a bleak, desolate field. Only one other person was present. He was lying on the ground, unmoving.
"Keebie...?" Kitty uttered.
"Go on. No one's around. You've slaved away pluckin' your mates out of trouble, you deserve a reward. Screw Blondie. Take what's yours."
"Take...what's..." 
"Your mates left you to rot. Such a great 'thank you' for savin' their shitters. That blonde bimbo has everything you want. Why not even the score?"
Kerberos patted her on the back, forcing her forward. "Take what you want. Go on. Do it."
Kitty stepped near Kibō. "What I want...is..."
"Yeeeeh?"
"What I want...is..."
Kitty's Persona appeared, charging energy. "I want you to get lost."
Kerberos looked annoyed for a second, before sighing. "Eh, figured as much. Rinnie's fan club never breaks as easy as ya want em to. Whatever. Catch ya on the flippety flip." Kerberos vanished.
Kitty got down to her knees, over the unconscious Kibō. "Oh, Keebie...I'm so happy you're okay..."
".....you'd be bummed to know I'm not Barbie. I'm sorry. I lost her and the others back near the river. You would've wanted her to find you. Maybe sing you a little tune to ease your pain. She's your angel. I know that. You're stupidly lucky, Keebie. A girlfriend entranced by you. Loving, supportive parents. A totally unbreakable spirit. It's no wonder your mom is obsessed with you. You're what every girl wants in a guy."
"What you and Barbie have is special. A blind man could see that. I could never say anything that would jeopardize that. I care too much about her to hurt her like that. And I...ugh." Kitty shook her head. "I shouldn't say it. I have no right to say it. I've sabotaged every positive relationship I've ever had. But...I can't ignore how I feel. I just can't."
"I want you to--no, I need you to wake up. I couldn't forgive myself if I let you go down here. I wanna keep on teasing you. It's the only way I can get my feelings across. What I'm trying to blurt out is...is..."
Kitty held Kibō. "I love you. I hate that I do, but I do. I need you to wake up. Please, Keebie. For Barbie's sake, not mine. You need to wake up..."
Kibō's eyes twitched. He opened them, and they were normal. "Kitty...?"
Kitty's face lit up, and she embraced the confused Kibō. "Kitty, are you...feeling alright?"
"No talking. Just let me hug you."
"Okay, but...where are we?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Then let me explain." Jin appeared from the shadows.
"You...!" Kibō readied himself.
"Calm down, Keebie! He's alright now. Promise." Kitty assured.
"I've been looking everywhere for you. Everyone else is gathered at a camp nearby. I'll take you there now." Jin said.
"A camp? Who would have a camp set up down here?" Kitty asked.
"I think it'd be better to show you." 
Jin took the two to a nearby ruin. The others were standing around. "I'm back. With some extra guests."
Barbara turned and sprinted to Kibō upon seeing him. Kitty gave a light smile.
"Okay, enough with the sap. Someone wants a word." Ryōma said.
"He's here too?" Kibō asked.
"Long story." Kitty replied.
"To see you all here is both reassuring and horrifying. This realm is not for the likes of you." said a voice from the shadows.
"That voice...are you kidding me?" Kitty pondered.
A large, hooded figure emerged from the shadows. He bore gray hair, and glowing, robotic eyes. Accompanying him was another hooded man with a goatee and cybernetic eyes, and a woman with silver hair and black-and-white eyes.
"Master Pittacus..." Ryōma bowed.
"On your feet, Ryōma. That name and any status I had died with my body. I am simply Kostas Dimitrios now."
"Ditto for us. My name is Tony Blackshear." the man once called Haimon added.
"And I am Sara Sigurdsdóttir." the former Ismene added.
Other figures in hooded robes emerged from the shadows. "The place where you now stand is the sixth circle of the underworld, home to those guilty of heresy against the ruling deity. The Odysseans, Death's Hand...all those who refuse to bow to Kerberos' insanity have been banished here. This is all that remains of our hubris." Dimitrios dictated.
"So you all have reclaimed your former identities." Jin said.
"Correct. Unfortunately, the sins of our created selves were enough to condemn us to this realm. An unending life has given way to an eternity under Shei--Kerberos' thumb." Dimitrios explained.
"I'm...I'm sorry. I thought from how you were talking that we were giving you all mercy. I didn't think we'd be sending you somewhere worse." Barbara said.
"Don't put the blame on yourselves. It's our own fault for attacking you to begin with." Sara retorted.
"'Sides, us out here don't got it so bad. The ones in the tombs, though..." Blackshear added.
"Tombs?" Sakuya asked.
Dimitrios gestured to the path of ruins beyond them. Openings to all of the tombs were closed, but lights could be seen coming from them. "Ones such as us and those we empowered escaped from this morbid fate. Others not so lucky are now trapped within the catacombs below us. The pathways have been completely engulfed in flame. For ones who have already suffered physical death, it translates to never-ending, burning agony."
"Jeez, that's awful. So that's where all the people she killed ended up?" Kitty asked.
"Dimitrios. You knew her before all of this, from the old universe. Was she always this sadistic?" Ryōma asked.
"Surely someone as wicked and hateful as her must have always been such, even if it was deep down." Kenji surmised.
"Dr. Miyatsuko told us that she was a nurse in the old world. What was she like?" Kibō asked.
"Nothing like the raging demon she is now, I'll tell you that much." Blackshear replied.
"Nothing about her demeanor back then would've hinted at what she would turn into." Sara added.
"Her name is...was...Sheila Chambers. A nurse from Melbourne assigned to Odyssea's medical ward. For all intents, she was a normal 25-year old woman. Amicable, light-hearted, took good care of the compound's children. She babysat Rose whenever Kaya was unable to. Even after the Reawakening, she helped maintain Odyssea and became its most beloved defender. To a lot of young Odysseans, Kerberos was a hero to be idolized." Dimitrios explained.
"That lady was a hero?" Sahir expressed with disbelief.
"I find that tough to believe myself. So what happened to turn Superman into the Joker?" Max asked.
"Six-hundred years ago, she defied orders to avoid traveling to the Metaverse of Earth. There, she witnessed the true darkness within humanity's cognition. She discovered this place, and all the sins and sinners that populate it. And this is my personal belief, but I assume that the shock of it all triggered her subconscious memories to return. All of that put together drove her to the depths of madness. She hated Miyatsuko for what he did. And before long, that hate extended to every living thing that sprouted from the ether." Dimitrios explained.
"What makes you believe that she regained her memory?" Barbara asked.
"When she came back to the moon, she didn't call us by the names we'd taken on. She called us by our real names. We were confused back then, but something nagged at us from then on. Like something wasn't right." Blackshear replied.
"Dimitrios' memory started to come back in pieces over the centuries. For myself and Tony, we only got our memories back once we reached this place. Only now is the true horror of our time in this universe starting to sink in." Sara added.
"You all are headed for the lower floors, correct? The final three circles of Hell are home to souls far worse than the ones you've faced so far. Those guilty of mortal sins, whose vile crimes come not from simple desire, but from defects of the soul. Your friends are being held there as we speak. And at the very bottom, Rose and Ringo Kubo are imprisoned. Beyond that, is Kerberos herself. Are you prepared?" Dimitrios asked.
"We've come this far already. There's nothing we can't deal with now that we're together." Kitty replied.
"Care and Nat are still missing. We can't just leave them to fend for themselves." Barbara added.
"Ditto for Ms. Rose and Teach. It's about time we bailed them out of trouble for a change." Sahir added.
"Undaunted even in the face of pure despair. Your professor's influence is palpable. And, Jin Mirai?" Dimitrios asked.
"Yeah?"
"The final circle is a cold abyss, home to souls found guilty of treason. Kerberos will have placed your friends in that realm, guarded by those farthest from the sun's light. Up until now, how many familiar faces have you encountered?"
"More than you'd expect, given the high volume of Shadows dwelling here. All according to Kerberos' design, of course."
"Then it must have crossed your mind that one lost soul in particular will be at the very bottom, guarding the ones he resents the most. Do you believe the students are prepared to face him?"
"I do. We don't have any other choice. We stopped him before, we'll do it again. He doesn't frighten me anymore."
"I hope for your sake that it's justified. Follow the path beyond the tombs, and you will reach the seventh circle. Be on your guard. It is home to those whose lives were defined by violence, either towards others or themselves. It may not be so accommodating."
"Will you come with us?" Sakuya asked.
"We cannot. Leaving this circle would be welcoming further damnation. All we can do now is sit and lament...and hope that we never see any of you again." Dimitrios looked over at Ryōma. "That goes double for you."
"Hm. I'm not that twisted a soul." Ryōma insisted.
"Were you to die right now, you would be toiling away here with the rest of us. Once this is done, you must follow an honest, righteous path. Repair your broken life. Restore your lost reputation. Be a father to your son. You followed my every word to the letter these last five years. So this is your last order from me: don't waste the life you've been given."
"I...I will do as you ask." Ryōma put his clenched hand to his chest. "You have my word."
"Good. Then best be on your way. As a colleague of mine once said, 'destiny waits for no man'. That destiny lies beyond here. Leave us old souls to our rest."
The group began to depart. "Oh, there is one more thing you should be made aware of." Dimitrios spoke up.
"What is it?" Jin asked.
"Another soul passed by here not too long ago. A soul from another afterlife."
"Another...? You mean like, an angel?" Barbara asked.
"Nothing so grandiose. Unlike Hell, spirits from the realm of Paradise can pass through the circles without issue, much like you all. I believe this spirit is looking for Ringo Kubo, as well. Should you run into them, they may be able to provide assistance."
"Why would a heaven-bound spirit come all the way here to help out? Unless...hmmm...I wonder." Jin pondered.
The group departed. "Good luck to you all." Dimitrios bid them.
---
"*pant**pant**pant*"
A dark, decaying forest, its trees devoid of leaves. Natalia was running through the gray landscape. Not far behind her, two horned demons gave chase.
When she got far enough ahead, she hid behind a tree, crouching down and shivering. The demons looked around for her, crawling on all fours.
Natalia began to breathe heavily. Then, out of nowhere, something floated onto her head.
"A swallowtail butterfly...?"
The demons got closer. They bore their fangs. They smelled blood. As they neared the tree...a huge creature dropped from it. A giant, hairy tarantula. It attacked and devoured one of the demons, as the other one fled. 
Natalia peered around the tree. "GAAAAH!" she screamed once she saw the spider.
"Calm your buzzer, girlie! He's friendlier than he looks."
A person walked over to the tarantula, and patted it on the head. "That's a good boy, Ditko-san. You can get tiny now." The spider shrunk down to a normal size, before disappearing into light.
"Hey, you alright? Those uglies didn't get their claws on you, did they?"
"Who...who are you?" Natalia asked.
Before her was a young, bespectacled woman with her brown hair in braids. She wore an outfit befitting that of an explorer, black in coloration. On her shoulder sat a giant hornet.
"A friend. You can call me Miko. And this cutie on my shoulder is Suzy. Guess you could call me your guardian angel."