Persona BLEACHED 4: Chapter 16

Chapter 16: The Maid and the Fireball
October 4, 2031
"So, Ibuki..." Kirumi began. It was early in the morning at the hair salon, as the women inside were preparing for the day ahead.
"What's up, Rumi?" Ibuki responded.
"Is everything okay at home? Did you and that Max boy break up?"
"What? Oh, no no no no, it's nothing like that!"
"Oh, I don't mean to offend. He would always stop by to see you, and I noticed that he hasn't been around in a couple weeks. Not to mention, you've seemed rather down in that time. It's a bit strange considering those legal developments you've been talking about."
"Me and Maxie are fine. Better than fine, really. He just...had to go home for a while. Family issues. He hasn't given a timetable for when he's coming back."
"I see. I was just curious. It's a shame, Uri's been asking about when he can hang out with Max again."
"Poor little guy. Least he's got his aunties to look after him."
"Oh, yes. Tell me, do you know what possessed Rose to change her appearance to the extent that she has?"
"I...couldn't tell ya."
The front door opened. "Excuse me, would it be too early for me to get a haircut?"
"Oh, hey Saku! I didn't know you'd be in town today. Come and take a seat. Never too early for a friend." Ibuki replied.
"Thank you." Sakuya sat down, taking the ribbon out of her hair.
"The usual length, right?"
"Ah...I'm shortening it. A little above the shoulders this time. I can maintain it a little longer."
"Oooh, gotcha. Gotta change it up every now and again, right? God, I love working with your hair. Always feels so silky. Hey, where's the striker at today?"
"Was still sleeping when I left. He's been studying like mad. I warned him against taking such intensive courses in his first year, but he wanted a challenge. 'I'm going to live a life-and-death struggle every single day so I can replicate what it feels like to be a surgeon!'"
"He *does* know that there's a difference between burning himself out with books and cutting someone open, right?"
"I told him not to strain himself, otherwise his medical career could flame out quicker than his football career did."
"He ought to know by now that Saku's usually not wrong about things."
"'Sahir-kun is always so enthusiastic about everything. I mean, it's what I love about him, but he needs to know when to pace himself. It's a noble path he's taking, but a doctor needs to have focus, along with a strong moral compass."
"Unfortunately for us, between Queen Bee and Dr. Deadbeat, that's 0-2 on both. Ace'll be alright. Just give him the look and he'll get it."
"What look?"
"You know. The look. The 'I know every single spot on the body that I can stab and kill you before you realize it' look."
"He's seen the look already. Hasn't worked so far."
"Then give him the...'What did you say about seals?' look."
"If he ever gets that look, not even surgery would save him."
"Right on that."
Ibuki finished the haircut. "Whatcha think?"
Sakuya, hair shortend as per request, looked in the mirror. "Perfection. Though I don't expect anything less." She got up and reached to grab her wallet.
"Oh, don't even worry about that. Just tell your Ma to take it out of this month's rent."
"Absolutely not. I don't want special treatment. Here."
"Whatever Saku says." Ibuki took the payment.
"Hinotama-san...are you alright?"
"Yeah, yeah. Course I'm alright."
"I can tell when you're lying."
"Are you Kitty Kat now?"
"My...old line of work required that I learn how to read facial expressions."
"They teach that in maid school?"
"The *other* line of work."
"I'm fine. It's just..." Ibuki sighed. "Thursday's Maxie's birthday. In a perfect world, I'd be putting a shindig together while we looked for our own place. But I've known since I was five that this world ain't perfect." She put her thumb and index finger together. "We were *this* close, Saku."
"I understand your frustration. You just need to take it one day at a time. Do something to take your mind off of it. I might have just the thing."
"What's that?"
"Mother just got promoted to team leader at the travel agency. Me and Sahir-kun were going to take her to dinner tonight to celebrate. You should come with us."
"Oh, Saku, I don't wanna crash your party."
"Nonsense. Mother asked me herself to ask you. She'd like to talk to you about something other than home utilities for once."
"Last time I went out to a fancy dinner I had to tackle a plastered nerd."
"We aren't taking her anywhere upscale. And she's been sober for two years. It's going to be fine. Come now, since when does Fireball Ibuki say no to a party?"
Ibuki chuckled, and put up a smirk. "Can't turn ya down when you put it like that. Alright, Saku, ya sweet-talked me into it. Send me the deets when ya get 'em, and I'll pretty myself up accordingly."
"Thank you, Hinotama-san. I promise, it'll be just what the doctor ordered. See you tonight." Sakuya hugged Ibuki. "Good day, everyone." She bowed, and left.
"What a polite young lady. Manners like that are hard to come by these days." Kirumi commented.
"She's a gem. Her Ma owns our house. Gave it to us after that last big fight I had. Hadn't lived in it for years at that point. Lot of bad memories for those two. But it's all ancient history now. They've done a lot for me." Ibuki replied.
"Well now you've got something to look forward to. One day at a time, right?"
"Yeah. One day at a time."
---
Later that night, Ibuki began putting herself together. Applying her makeup, straightening her hair, putting on large hoop earrings and knee-length black boots, along with a red dress and black leather jacket. 
She looked at herself in the mirror. She feigned a kiss. "You're gorgeous. You're amazing. You're gonna have a good time. You got this."
She grabbed her purse off the living room table. She quietly exited the house, taking care not to disturb Kaede and Kanae, who were both asleep on the couch. She got into her station wagon, and headed for Ikebukuro.
After parking in a garage, she made her way to the Sunshine City business and entertainment complex. "(I've only ever been in this joint once. 'City in a city' sounds about right.)" she thought.
She stopped to look at a large map of the complex. "Okay, place should be over this way...close enough to the World Import Mart...with its--" Ibuki stopped. "(Ah. There it is.)"
Underneath the mart's description was a note detailing that its upper three floors housed an aquarium.
"How did I know Saku would try to squeeze seal-viewing into this?" She laughed.
"I didn't squeeze in anything. I went an hour ago." Sakuya's voice responded.
She appeared before Ibuki wearing a coat, pants, and boots, all colored magenta. She wore dark purple gloves, and had on minimal makeup. "Good evening, Hinotama-san. Looking fabulous as always."
"I only have the one setting. And you're looking huggable, as always." Ibuki replied. "Nice haircut."
"Thank you. I'll need to give the artist her proper credit."
"She sounds like a genius. You should treat her to dinner sometime."
"I'll make sure to put it in my list of appointments. Come along. We're having Greek."
"Oooh, shish kebabs. You know how to spoil a girl."
Sakuya took Ibuki up to the restaurant, located on the second floor. Waiting there in a casual green polo shirt and jeans was Sahir. "Ladies--"
"Ace, if you've got something stupid to say, stow it." Ibuki interrupted.
"I was just gonna say you look pretty, sheesh!"
"Everyone here knows that's not *just* what you were going to say." Sakuya replied.
"They know how you are, kicker. No use hiding it." Arriving was a dark-haired woman, wearing a purple coat and boots not unlike that of Sakuya.
"Oh, come on, Ms. Lily, you didn't even hear what I said!" Sahir griped.
"Didn't need to. I know your M.O. You're as predictable as the sunrise."
"Agh! The wounds, they will never heal!" Sahir crouched down.
"Get up, Sahir-kun. People are watching." Sakuya demanded.
"Let them! Let them see this brazen act of character defamation in real time! I should sue you all for slander!"
Ibuki grabbed Sahir and hoisted him over her shoulder. "Gah! I--actually this is fine by me." he stated.
"Cop a look at the girls or the trunk and I'll split your lip." Ibuki replied. "Point me to the table, Saku."
"Right this way." Sakuya directed.
The four walked inside the restaurant, and over to their table. Ibuki put Sahir down. "Thank you for the chariot ride, milady~." he cheerily said.
"Has he been drinking, Saku? He's weirder than usual." Ibuki asked.
"Not in my house, he hasn't. Better not have." Lily replied.
"I ain't drinking from nothing but the cup of life, o touchy Fireball." Sahir uttered.
"Saku, slap him upside the head, he's starting to freak me out!" Ibuki demanded.
Sakuya sniffed his breath. "You smell of Kubo Produce. You bought from Hyōtan-san's 'secret product', didn't you?"
"Arrest me now, for I am guiltyyyyyy!" Sahir exclaimed.
Sakuya rapidly struck him in the neck using one finger. Everything briefly flashed black-and-white, then back to normal. Sahir looked around, confused.
"What was I doing just now?" he pondered.
"I'm not gonna ask how you did it or *what* you did, Saku. But thank you." Lily said.
"What's this stinging in my neck...?"
"Probably just a bee, ace. Nothing a bit of fiber can't solve." Ibuki replied.
Everyone sat down, Sahir scratching his neck in confusion.
"Alright, first of all, I believe some congrats are in order, Ms. Team Leader." Ibuki said.
"It's no biggie. I'm just gonna be answering a lot more emails from now on. And y'know, the pay bump is pretty nice. Don't think that means you're gonna magically stop needing to pay rent." Lily replied.
"I'd never think such a thing. No matter how much I wish it."
"Hey, I've still got landlords to deal with too, you know. On top of needing to put this one through school."
"I can easily find part-time work, Mother." Sakuya said.
"Nuh-uh. You did enough of that while I was away. You're not gonna need to put on a maid costume ever again."
"For work, anyway." Sahir winked. Sakuya pinched his side. "Yow!"
"Another bee." Sakuya responded.
"So how's the family? Heard you all were coming into a hefty chunk of change." Lily asked.
"Yep. Courtesy of a murdering deadbeat. All kinds of good things waiting in the wings." Ibuki replied.
"Might even include a real man." Sahir mumbled. Not quietly enough, as Ibuki put the heel of her boot down on his foot. "Jeeeeee--!"
"The only thing that's missing is Maxie. He'll be back. I dunno when, so I've gotta keep it together until he does. Been doing it for years. Ain't gonna be any trouble." 
"Still fighting for the happy ending, huh?" Lily asked.
"24/7."
"Keep that belief, and good things will come. You've fought through far worse." Sakuya advised.
"Like a fifty-something year old lady with scary abs." Lily added.
Somewhere near Akihabara, Kyoko Ishimaru sneezed.
Ibuki took her foot off of Sahir. "Ugh...did I say anything that wasn't true?" he griped.
"Y'know how I said that I'd split your lip if you tried to stare at my boobs? That offer goes for you smack-talking Maxie when he ain't here, too. FYI." Ibuki replied. "So whatcha got planned for after dinner, Ms. Lily?"
"Well I can tell from how you're looking that you're fixing for a night out on the town. Unfortunately, the new position means I've gotta head into the office earlier, so I'm heading home after this." Lily replied.
"Sorry to disappoint, but I'm hitting the hay after this, too. All this bookwork's got me sapped." Sahir added.
"That why you asked for DJ Tan Man's 'special' fruit stash?" Ibuki questioned.
"I dunno what you're talking about. All I grabbed was an orange."
"What color was it?"
"...purple."
"Yeah, thought so. Well that's a bummer. Well, Saku?"
"Well what?" Sakuya asked.
"It's barely dark out, and my night ain't ending after dinner. I'm gonna need some company."
"You want me to go partying with you? That's probably not a good idea."
"How come?"
"I'm...not exactly the life of the party. I wouldn't want to spoil your fun."
"Don't be crazy! It'll be a riot."
"I'd rather not."
"You should go, Saku." Lily advised.
"Mother, I'm not the partying sort."
"You're too young to be so wound-up. A night out with a friend ought to do you a lot of good."
"You invited me out for dinner, I'm gonna return the favor. Come on, if I could drag Maxie out of his shell, I can do the same for you. Please?" Ibuki asked.
Sakuya looked to Sahir. "That's the last girl I'd turn down for a party. Go and lighten up a little." he said.
Sakuya sighed. "Nothing insane, please."
"My girl!" Ibuki put an arm around her shoulder. "We're turning this town upside-down, Saku. I'm gonna make a sea lion outta you."
"(Who am I kidding. Insanity is guaranteed.)" Sakuya thought.
---
Dinner was finished a while after, and with the night still young, Ibuki and Sakuya got into the former's station wagon. "We're gonn have such a blast, Saku. You won't have a funner night for a while." Ibuki assured.
"I'll have to take your word for it." Sakuya deadpanned.
"C'mon, lighten up. We're two badass babes going out on a Saturday. Fun's practically a guarantee."
"You and I have very different definitions of the word 'fun'."
"We're gonna be on the same page by night's end. I can feel it in my boots."
"Are you sure that's not just sweat?"
The car exited the garage, and out onto the bustling Tokyo streets. "Do you have an actual plan for tonight, Hinotama-san?"
"The funnest things are the ones ya don't plan for, Saku. 'Sides, the more we ever plan for something, the more likely it is to go south." Ibuki replied. "'Your boyfriend would know about failed plans, wouldn't he?'" She mimicked Sahir's voice.
Sakuya snickered.
"Ya like that? Sounds just like him, right? Maxie ain't the only one who can do voices."
"You are a den of surprises, Hinotama-san."
"You ain't seen nothin'."
The girls shortly after arrived in Shinjuku, one of Tokyo's busiest wards. "Home sweet home." Ibuki commented.
After parking the car, the girls exited the garage. "If there's one thing I remember about this place, it's the unmatched nightclub scene. I'm gonna be teaching you some things tonight, Saku."
"Of that, I have no doubt." Sakuya uttered.
The girls walked the streets until they reached a particularly active district. "Wait a minute...I know where this is." Sakuya said.
"Figured you might. Nichō's a pretty well-known place, after all." Ibuki replied.
Ni-chōme, or simply Nichō, was known as a mecca of gay culture in Japan. It held the highest concentration of LGBTQ bars on the planet, housing over 300 within its limits. Most of the bars were small, housing less than 20 people at a time, and tended to specialize in a particular subculture--so much so that some bars charged customers extra for *not* being part of their specialty culture.
"Hinotama-san, I'm *really* not too sure about this now."
"C'mon, Saku. It's not as bad as you think it's gonna be. There's hundreds of bars around here, I'm sure there's at least one where you're gonna be comfortable."
"Hinotama-san, I appreciate you trying to make me comfortable. But I'm rarely public about who I am, and for good reason. I'm not ashamed of it. But there are people who view someone like me with contempt."
"So we find a place where you don't feel that way. One that's not crazy intense. I promise you, I'm not trying to scar you for life, Saku. I just want ya to lighten up a bit. It's not like I'm taking ya to some red-light district where I can toss you into an orgy."
"Hinotama-san!"
"Saku, come on, we're adults. You know the things I've done. You don't have to be afraid of anything with me. You can be open and honest with your pal Ibuki. K?"
Sakuya looked past Ibuki and saw two men walking across the street, shirtless and wearing nothing save for tight leather shorts with the rear ends cut out, along with sailor caps.
"Saku, you hearing me?" Ibuki asked.
Sakuya started blushing. "We have to get out of here. Now."
"Oh, don't be such a stick in the mud!" Ibuki put an arm around her shoulder. "Gotta be an adult sometime. There's nothing you need to hide from me, babe."
"I'm sure the two sailors over there would repeat that sentiment."
The girls walked down the street, past several neon-flashing clubs and bars. "Let's see..." Ibuki stopped to look around. "What's looking super appealing and PG-13..."
Sakuya looked away, towards one bar with a dark pink, blue and purple flag flying above it--the bisexual pride flag. She noticed someone ducking inside the bar after just starting to exit. 
"Ah...Hinotama-san." She pulled on Ibuki's jacket.
"Wassup? Find something?"
"Not some*thing*"."
She pointed to the bar. Ibuki saw someone poking their head out from the entrance. She could see the red hair. "Oh, you've got to be shitting me."
Slowly emerging from the bar was Rin. "Ah...hello, ladies. Hehe...fancy running into you here."
"Professor Kubo, what on Earth are you doing here?" Sakuya questioned.
"Gotta say, teacher lady, I didn't peg you for being this kinda girl. The Academy know you come here?" Ibuki asked.
"I-it's not as if I'm a regular here! I was just..." Rin responded.
"What's with all the dodgy behavior?" Out walked a dark-haired woman in red attire.
"Ah...what is this? Professor Kubo...are you carrying on an affair?" Sakuya demanded.
"What?! No, obviously not!" Rin exclaimed.
"Saku--" Ibuki began.
"Now this is disappointing. I had never considered you indulging in such horrid vices. Have you no shame?" Sakuya asked.
"Saku."
"You're a woman of repute with a devoted wife and a young child."
"Saku."
"I believed you to be far more respectful than this."
"Saku."
"Do you believe Dr. Wolfe to be inadequate? Did you not consider the sizeable consequences of your actions? I should tell Dr. Wolfe this myself--"
"SAKU!"
"What, Hinotama-san? Do you think this isn't worthy of a lecture?"
"I'm Dr. Wolfe." Rose deadpanned.
"Uh..." Sakuya took a closer look. "What?! Dr. Wolfe...that's you?!"
"That's her." Rin affirmed.
"What in the world happened to you? You look like a different person!"
"I've been punished for a multiversal breach. My power's been sealed for the time being. Hence, my appearance." Rose replied.
"I was taking her for a night out to get her mind off of it." Rin added.
"Ah..." Sakuya turned beet-red, practically shrinking where she stood. "I'm so sorry I chastised you, Professor Kubo. And that I failed to recognize you, Dr. Wolfe. I can't describe my embarrassment."
"No no, you're alright. I might've assumed the same thing."
"It's not my cup of tea. But I'll sooner believe in Tan trimming his beard correctly than Rin even considering cheating on me." Rose added.
"Sorry." uttered an embarrassed Sakuya.
"What are you ladies doing here, anyway?" Rin asked.
"Breaking Saku out of her shell. I've been itching for a night out, and she *needs* a bit of fun, so here we are." Ibuki explained.
"I've seen two posteriors already." Sakuya uttered.
"The two naval gentlemen with the fascinating shorts, yes?" Rose questioned.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Ibuki." Rin said.
"It's just two girls out for a night of fun, what's the harm?" Ibuki responded.
"Two girls with polar opposite sets of boundaries. What you might think is okay might not be okay for her. You did used to, ah...work here, after all."
"You can say I was a prostitute, Rin. We're both grown-ups here."
"And I'm not judging you for that. You did what you needed to survive. All I'm saying is that there's a difference between that sort of experience and what Sakuya has experienced. And no, her working in a maid café isn't in the same ballpark."
"Ain't it, though?"
"I'm not trying to kill your fun, Ibuki. Just try to respect her boundaries."
"I hear ya. It's the teacher and the mom in you. I can be squeaky clean. Pinky swear."
"Pardon me if I have my doubts on that." Rose chimed in. "Can we please go now? That woman in the leather armor has been eyeing me since I walked out."
"Noted. Have a good night, ladies. Stay responsible." Rin replied, and the two of them left.
"Catch ya on the flip side, apple jeans!" Ibuki waved. "Boy, Doc seems a lot grouchier these days, huh?"
"I can understand the feeling." Sakuya replied.
The girls continued down the street. Ibuki caught sight of one bar with a blue, pink and white flag perched outside. "Hey. That looks promising."
"I suppose...hm? What's that...?" Sakuya questioned.
In front of the entrance was an older man, wearing a blue robe and a fin-like headpiece. He was reading from a piece of paper.
"M'kay, even for this part of town, that's a little off." Ibuki replied. "Hey, what's with the geezer?" she asked a man passing by.
"Oh, him. That's Mr. High Fin." the man replied.
"Is that his legal name?" Sakuya asked.
"No one knows his actual name. He's kind of a legend around these parts. He'll pick a random bar to stand in front of and...do his thing. You can see from the headpiece where he gets the name. That, and...well, it's probably better if you see it for yourselves."
"Okay, now you've got me curious." Ibuki replied.
"Hinotama-san, don't..." Sakuya pleaded.
"Saku, it's gonna bug me for at least a week if we don't see what this loony's deal is. Come on."
"I can already feel my head pounding."
The girls walked up to the odd man. "What up, Yondu? You the town sheriff?" Ibuki asked.
"Well my knowledge with the facts is would this claim of this being the local law enforcement..." the man responded.
"I...beg your pardon?" Sakuya questioned.
"...of the documentation of the continuation of the evidence, by this peaceful, hyphen, malicious."
"Um...what?" Ibuki uttered.
"You just had to ask." Sakuya chided.
"Are you some kinda street performer, my dude?"
"Well the claimant's knowledge of the facts is with avoidance of the boxes and planes with this open, hyphen, area, hyphen, street, hyphen, way by the unity, hyphen, consciousness." the man rambled.
It was starting to sink in for a dumbfounded Ibuki, just what a mistake she'd made. "Okay, obviously too hard of a question. How about...what's your name?"
Awkward silence for a moment. And then...
"Well, my knowledge of my peaceful, hyphen, volition, is with avoidance of the seclusion with this participation of correct, hyphen, sentence, hyphen, structure, hyphen, communication, hyphen, passe, hyphen, syntax, hyphen, grammar."
The girls both blinked. "If you're keeping track, Hinotama-san, that was seven hyphens in that sentence alone." Sakuya said.
"Okay, dude, you're clearly from some other planet, so let me rephrase that. What do human beings call you?" Ibuki asked.
"....." The man went silent.
"....." The girls followed suit.
".....well my knowledge of the facts--"
"Is there any way you could give us an abridged answer?" Sakuya asked.
"For my knowledge of my peaceful, hyphen, volition is with this calling of the cooperation with the human, hyphen, beings of this night, hyphen, club, with the creation of a sanctuary with the purpose of the knowledge, hyphen, sharing, comma, mind, hyphen, body, hyphen, healing, and organic, hyphen, food, hyphen, growing with the free cost of the people with the public."
Ibuki rubbed her eyes, on the verge of laughter. "Okay, man. If you wanna play the part of the village, hyphen, idiot, be my guest. I think we're done here, Saku."
"To my knowledge of my peaceful, hyphen, volition, is with this calling of the cooperation--"
"Sir." Sakuya uttered.
"--with the human, hyphen, beings of this night, hyphen, club--"
"SIR."
"--with the creation of a sanctuary with the purpose of the knowledge, hyphen, sharing, hyphen, mind, hyphen, body and organic, hyphen, food, hyphen--"
"Dude, I'm gonna kick you SO HARD in the hyphens they'll become commas. Knock it off." Ibuki grew increasingly annoyed.
"Male, hyphen, livery, by the correct, hyphen, sentence, hyphen, structure, hyphen, communication, hyphen, passe, hyphen, syntax, hyphen, grammar."
Ibuki had finally had her fill. "Okay jack, hyphen, ass, since you're not getting the hint, I'm gonna say it in a peaceful, hyphen, language that your species can under, hyphen, stand. If I hear one more hyphen out of that flapping, hyphen, jaw, I'm gonna shove that hyphen so far up your shit, hyphen, hole, that your grand, hyphen, kids are gonna feel it. Got that through your thick, hyphen, skull?"
"....."
"....."
".....well my knowledge of the peaceful, hyphen, volition--"
Ibuki picked the man up.
"--is with avoidance of the seclusion with this participation of correct, hyphen, syntax, hyphen--"
Ibuki tossed him into a dumpster, snatching the fin off of his head. She handed it to Sakuya. "A gift to remember a peaceful, hyphen, night."
"I'll wear it with pride." Sakuya deadpanned.
"Well with that out of the way..." Ibuki gestured towards the bar. "After you, milady."
"Suppose I'm out of excuses now." The girls entered the bar.
The two sat down at the counter. The bar itself was small, with only a handful of patrons inside. "Alright. Now relax. The night's gonna be great." Ibuki assured.
"I publicly accused the Professor of infidelity in front of our therapist. You just threw a man into the garbage." Sakuya reminded her.
"So it can only go up from here! Ya gotta think of the positives, Saku."
"Okay. I have a fascinating new piece of headwear. I'll be sure to wear it on my next date with Sahir-kun. Maybe I'll get extra credit on my next presentation for actually dressing up as a fish."
"I'm sensing a hint of sarcasm in your voice."
A bearded man with studs in his ears appeared from behind the counter. "Good evening, ladies! Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Cripes! Where'd you come from?!" Ibuki demanded.
"Is she old enough to hear about it in detail?"
"That's not what I meant!"
"Oh, I'm just teasing. There's no secrets here. Y'all look fabulous, by the by. It honestly took me a minute."
"Took you a minute to what? Wait...do you think I'm...? Oh, no no no, no I'm just here for her, I'm not--"
"Honey, I saw what you did to Mr. High Fin. You picked him up like a bag of groceries. It's no problem if you've still got a bit of bulk. Hey, what are those made of?"
"Dude! Who starts a conversation like that?! I'll have you know these are 150% real! What, you wanna see for yourself?"
"Don't you dare! Show some restraint!" Sakuya exclaimed.
"Alright, alright, I'm just busting your chops! Remind me not to run into you in a back alley." the bartender replied. "Any way I can get you to drop the dagger look?"
"Get me some of your best whiskey, and then we'll talk." Ibuki replied.
"How about you, sweets?"
"Just water, thank you. I'm still two years away from legal drinking age." Sakuya replied.
"Points for not lying about it. You'd be the first." 
---
"*glug* *glug*" A blushing Ibuki slammed the empty glass down on the table. "Ahh, that's the good shit!"
Two other women were at the table. "Happens when you get the fancy stuff with 'As Good As Sex' on the bottle." one of them said.
"I mean, I'm not the best one to judge."
"Didn't you say you were a prostitute?" the other woman asked.
"Yeah. Don't mean any of the johns were any good at it!" 
Everyone at the table started laughing.
Sakuya watched on from the bar. "Someone's a fan of Suntory, I see." the bartender commented.
"I wouldn't know it from a common lager." Sakuya replied.
"Yeah, I'm getting the sense you're not a big fan of the fun juice."
"My mother is a recovering alcoholic. So I'm not too keen on--"
"Wassup, everybodyyyyyy~?" Ibuki was now on top of the table, dancing provocatively.
"Shake that groove thing, honey!" The women whistled.
"Wooooo~!"
"--whatever it is that she's doing." Sakuya finished her thought.
The door to the bar opened. In walked a familiar, blue-robed man. "My knowledge...of my peaceful, hyphen volition..."
"I thought I sent you away, ya kook!" Ibuki griped.
"...is with my knowledge of the facts is would this claim of this being the location of my peaceful, hyphen, head, hyphen, adornment..."
"Blech, he smells like dead cat!" one of the women complained.
"Hinotama-san, just let him have the headpiece. Maybe he'll go away then." Sakuya suggested.
"Nuh-uh. I ain't giving this sack of hyphens squat but another boot." Ibuki replied.
Behind her, unseen by everyone present but Sakuya, an ephemeral figure appeared. It was a woman wearing a green hood, with blonde hair tied into braids, and a quiver on her back.
"(She's bringing out Artemis for this?! Is she actually going to--)" Sakuya thought.
The Persona materialized a large bow, and drew an arrow, aiming it towards the odd man.
"(Has she gone mad?! That cursed alcohol...I have to stop this! Mulan!)"
Behind Sakuya, a long-haired woman in a crimson, magnolia-patterned robe materialized. Before she could act...
Artemis fired a pair of arrows into the man's robe, pinning it to the ground. "My knowledge of the facts, of my peaceful, hyphen--"
The man stepped forward, and unaware of what had just occurred, his robe began to tear. The front section completely ripped, revealing the man's boxer shorts--decorated with a familiar symbol.
"He has hyphens on his boxers?!" Sakuya exclaimed.
"...something's wrong with you." Ibuki uttered.
"Well my knowledge of the--"
Sakuya tossed the fin at him. "Just take it and go away, please and thank you."
The man took the headpiece. Without any additional hyphens, he wordlessly left the bar.
"What an utterly bizarre man." Sakuya said.
"Honey, I've been bartending here for 13 years. He doesn't even crack the Top 10 of weirdos I've seen." the bartender replied.
Sakuya got up and grabbed Ibuki by the arm. "A word, Hinotama-san."
"Uh-oh, party pooper time." Ibuki chuckled.
Sakuya pulled her aside. "Are you absolutely insane? Using your abilities for a juvenile joke?"
"Pfft, I dunno what you're talking about. I thought it was hilarious!" Ibuki replied.
"You're drunk. You're one more shot of whiskey away from stripping off your clothes. And you pointed your bow at a man."
"Buuut I didn't hit him. All I did was show off his hyphens."
"Control yourself. You should be conducting yourself with more dignity than that."
"I'm 21 years old and I wanna party! You're the one that invited me to dinner, Saku."
"A decision I'm beginning to regret."
"What's it gonna take for you to stop being such a stick in the mud? Name your poison, I'll fork over the cash."
"I'm pretty sure that would be illegal."
"Whaddya want from me, Saku? Quit having fun?"
"You can have fun without degrading yourself."
"Pffft. I've been called gutter trash more times than I can count, how much lower can I go? What the hell's the issue? I could be sitting around my house, moping and crying my eyes out about how the shitbag that knocked my sister up killed my parents over a goddamn car wreck, or how I was *this* close to getting the happy ending before Maxie got swiped away. I've been doing that every single night for the last week. So excuse me for wanting one night to forget about all of that. And now I've gone and reminded myself. BARKEEP!".
"You're hurting, I understand, really, but you can't--"
"No you can't, Saku. You've got your mom and your boyfriend around."
"....."
"You can head home if you want, Saku. The only friend I need is Suntory. I'll go make my own fun." Ibuki stormed out.
"Hinotama-san, wait! ....."
"Trouble in paradise, huh? Give her some time to cool off." the bartender advised.
Sakuya sat back down at the bar, rubbing her head.
"I'm gonna guess she's got her baggage."
"That would be an understatement. I'd invited her out to dinner as a way to get her mind off of everything that's been going on. As you can see, she can be very...emotional."
"I think Mr. High Fin would agree with that."
"She's gone through so much difficulty in her life. Our therapist describes her as someone who craves the kind of love and attentiveness she never received while she grew up. Oh, why am I describing this to a total stranger..."
"Sweets, I used to have a pair of girls like hers. Most people who pass through this part of town want some kind of love and acceptance. I call myself the local shoulder to cry on. Well I don't, my mom does, but she's also 83 and spends her days with a cat named Mr. Nappers and...anyways. You were saying?"
"I want her to be happy. I just don't want her making a public fool out of herself in the process. She's a beautiful person, inside and out, and she deserves to be respected. Maybe I'm just biased. Alcohol made my mother a mess. But what's really getting to her is her loneliness, it feels like."
"Does she have any family?"
"She lives with her sister and her niece. I think what she really yearns for at the moment is..." Sakuya had a realization.
"She needs a friend, right?"
"So foolish...I shouldn't have let her walk away. We've looked out for each other since we first met." Sakuya got up. "I have to go find her. Thank you for lending an ear." She bowed.
"Anytime, sweets. Oh, uh..."
"What is it? Oh...payment for the drinks." Sakuya took out her wallet.
She exited the bar. She took out her phone and called Ibuki. "Her phone must be off. Where could she have gone?"
"Well, my knowledge of my peaceful, hyphen, syntax, hyphen, volition, hyphen--"
Sakuya noticed the odd man next to her, still in his underwear. "You're not helping." She plucked the fin off of his head.
"My peaceful, syntax, hyphen--"
"You're not even ordering your hyphens properly! I'm taking this as collateral for annoying me."
She started walking around the street. "Excuse me, my friend is missing. Have you seen a woman in a leather jacket walking around? Probably inebriated?"
"Missy, you know how little that narrows it down?" a passerby in a leather jacket replied.
"Ah...right. Apologies."
She kept looking. "Over 300 clubs and bars in this district alone...it would take me all night to search through them all. And I don't have nearly enough money to get into them. How do I...hm." She had an idea.
She ducked into an alley. She closed her eyes, and her Metaverse costume materialized. "Alright. Time to trespass."
She first went into the bar that Rin and Rose had come out of, unbeknownst to anyone inside. She took care not to run into anyone--an easy task for someone trained in subterfuge.
"(No sign of her...at least these places are all small enough that I can tell right away. On to the next one...)" she thought.
Before she walked out, she looked up above the bar. There was a photo perched there. When Sakuya took a close look, she recognized it instantly.
It was Kat, sticking her tongue out. Carrie was in the background, her hand to her face. Next to the photo was a notice. "'If you see this girl, she is not kidding.'"
"(The least surprising surprise I'll ever encounter.)" Sakuya thought. Shaking it off, she left the bar. "(Where could you have gone...?)"
She walked to the bar next door. "(Suppose the only way is to check them all one at a time. Now what is--)"
Inside of this bar were several people wearing fursuits, their heads covered by large masks, like those of a mascot.
"(Oh no. Oh *no*.) 
Sakuya looked up. The sign at the entrance read "'¥1,500 entry fee, bisexual furries only.'"
"(She...wouldn't be in here, would she?)"
Her query had an obvious answer. To her utter confusion, Ibuki was seated at a table with two people in costume. There was a pink wolf mask over her head. "Wow...you weren't kidding. This is actually kinda freeing!"
"That's what we're saying! You get to pretend you're someone else for a while. And they're actually insulated!" replied an orange fox.
"(Why is this my Saturday night?)" Sakuya questioned in her mind.
"Like, I always wondered why people would just go around dressed as sparkly baseball mascots, but now I totally get it!" Ibuki lifted up her mask to take a shot of whiskey. She looked away and caught sight of Sakuya. "Nyeh, sorry fellas. Girl's gotta keep up the party while the night's still going. I'm heading out."
"Aww, but we were just about to start karaoke!"
"You're killing me here, Tails. But I've gotta jet." Ibuki put the mask down. "Don't worry, I didn't sweat into it."
She (somewhat erratically) made for the door, brushing past Sakuya. "Hinotama-san, wait--"
Before Sakuya could follow, three more people in furry costume entered, blocking her path. "Hey, hey, hey, did someone say karaoke night?"
"(And here come the flashbacks to that Akihabara convention. It took forever to clean the fur out of my maid costume. I need to get out of here.)" Sakuya maneuvered between the costumed patrons, and exited.
She looked around. No Ibuki in sight. "(Drat. Now where did she go? Couldn't have been far...)"
She walked down the street, listening for Ibuki's voice. Minutes into her walk...
"C'mon, piggies! You've been real nasty, haven't ya? Gimme a squeal, why don't ya?"
"(...oh, no.)"
Ibuki's voice was coming...from a bar labeled "BDSM".
Sakuya looked in. To her horror, Ibuki had one foot on top of a man in leather bondage gear. "Did I stutter?! Give your queen an oink!"
"Oiiiink!" the man responded.
"That's a good piggie!"
"(You're killing me, Hinotama-san. You're starting to sound an uncomfortable amount like your Shadow Self.)" thought a mortified Sakuya.
"Me next, me next!" another man in bondage gear demanded.
"Take me next, Queen Fireball!" a woman added.
"Get in line! Your queen demands proper worship!" Ibuki chugged down another shot of whiskey.
"(What would Max-kun think if he saw you? I can't watch you erode your dignity any further. I'll save you from yourself.)" Sakuya thought.
"Now lift me up! On the count of three!" Ibuki demanded.
"Yes, Queen Fireball!" Everyone in the bar gathered around her.
"(What in the...?)" Sakuya thought.
The patrons picked up Ibuki, hoisting her up by her boots. With the added momentum, she leapt over Sakuya, and made a break out the door.
"(Damn! She's not so inebriated that she can't come up with an escape plan...)"
Sakuya gave chase as the bar patrons begged for their "queen" to return.
"(She's heading for that bar...what's it going to take to calm her down?)"
She ran in. "(A biker bar...how many kinds of niches does this one street fulfill?)"
The bar patrons, male and female alike, were whistling and cheering. "Yeah, this make y'all wanna rev up your engines?" Ibuki was crouched down, with her arms folded. Her rear end was sticking up in a provocative manner, pointing towards the entrance...where Sakuya was standing.
"(You're going to murder me, Hinotama-san! She has to be doing this on purpose!)" Sakuya thought, her embarrassment growing by the second.
"Yeah, that's right. Some people think me being sexy and proud of it is some kinda threat. My booty's got some things to say about that!" Ibuki wiggled her rear as the bikers got more excited.
"(Okay. Now you've left me no choice.)"
With everyone's attention elsewhere, Sakuya went to the back corner of the bar.
Ibuki hopped onto the counter. "So. Any of you fine fellas or gals wanna get little old me a drinkie?"
"I think you've had enough."
Everyone turned to see Sakuya, back in her normal clothes, standing in the corner.
"The hell? When did she walk in?" one of the bikers asked.
"Hmph. Looks like the party pooper decided to show up." Ibuki said.
"Hey, girlie! You trying to kill the fun in here or some--"
Sakuya walked past the complaining biker, who promptly fainted.
"W-w-what the hell was that?!" another biker questioned.
Sakuya turned her head. "Leave. Or else a nap is in your immediate future."
Her dagger gaze was all they needed to see, as they all scrambled to get out of the bar.
Sakuya turned her attention to Ibuki. "Are you quite finished?"
"Well thanks for killing my vibe, Saku. Y'know, the chasing me around thing isn't doing much for your Fun Police image." Ibuki grogged.
"You need to stop this, Hinotama-san. You're acting like--"
"'Hinotama-san' this, 'Hinotama-san' that, GOD! You act like I'm a complete stranger! Everyone else gets 'chan' or 'kun', but not trashy me, huh? Am I that gross to you, Saku?"
"That's not even remotely true. But what you're doing right now is foolish and degrading."
"I'm having fun! You should try it once in a while! You're wound-up tighter than a knot!"
"How is publicly embarrassing yourself fun? What would Max-kun think if he knew you were making a fool out of yourself, just because he's not here?"
"Well there's the problem. He ain't here, there ain't no way for him to know." Ibuki grabbed a glass of whiskey sitting on the counter and chugged it down. "I love him to death, Saku. I was one step away from happily ever after. Is it *me* that's the problem? Am I just meant to be unhappy when I'm supposed to be happy?"
"Of course not. You have every right to live a happy life. But please, think about how you're acting. You're so much better than public humiliation. Think about what you've done to get to this point. Every hurdle you've had to overcome. You remember the last time you stepped into a ring? How you defeated someone who everyone believed to be invincible, because you had no choice? And how you eventually managed to show forgiveness to the one that hurt us all?"
"You mean 'the mistake'? As your boytoy would put it? The one I'm never gonna hear the end of?"
"You're in pain. I understand. But I also understand what overdoing it looks like. When I first found Mother after all of that time...it was the happiest I've ever felt. Then I found her in her house, passed out and surrounded by bottles. The emotion was overwhelming for her then. Much like how you're feeling right now. Seeing you this distraught...I know what you're feeling."
"Then let me have my release. All I need is some fun and a bit of my best friend, Mr. Whiskey."
"Your 'best friend', hm? Curious."
"What is?"
"Pardon me if I've been reading it wrong, but...I was under the assumption that *I* was your best friend."
Ibuki paused. "Wait, really? You...really think so?"
"Of course. I've had this all wrong. You never needed a stern scolding." Sakuya stepped forward, and hugged a stunned Ibuki. "Please forgive my attitude...Ibuki-chan."
"...Saku...no one's called me that since my Grammy died. I..." The tears began to fall. Ibuki latched onto Sakuya. "I'm sorry, Saku...I don't know what I'm gonna do...I don't wanna be miserable anymore, but..."
"It's alright...I'll help you get through this. Let me take you home. We can have a proper day out tomorrow. Post-hangover, of course."
A few moments passed. "...Ibuki-chan. You can let go now."
"Saku."
"Yes?"
"Carry me."
"Absolutely not."
"How's come?"
"You have an MMA fighter's physique. I have a gymnast's. You would crush me in seconds."
"I wanna keep hugging my Sakuuuuu."
"You can hug me without crushing my spine. Come on, get down from there."
Ibuki plopped down from the counter, still slumping around Sakuya's shoulder. "Sakuuuuu."
"Yes?"
"I wanna go to a strip club."
"That is absolutely not going to happen."
"Why noooootuh?"
"Because I can't guarantee that you won't try to join the dancers."
"Let me be freeeee. These ain't supposed to stay hidden."
"Dignity, Ibuki-chan, dignity. Listen to me."
"Nyeeeh..."
"LISTEN to me, okay? You're a goddess. An absolutely stunning specimen of a woman."
"I aaaaam..."
"But, you are a *one-man* goddess. Your love should be reserved for Max-kun and Max-kun only."
"I wanna give him a cuddle, ugh...I need cuddles or I'm gonna explode..."
"Is that what all this was about? You have all this love to give and you needed an outlet for it?"
"Pffft, Sakuuuu...outlets are for phones, dummy..."
"Right. How stupid of me." "(I'll take that as a yes.)"
The two made it to the garage. "Give me your keys." Sakuya demanded.
"I can drive, I'm not that plastered." replied a plastered Ibuki.
Sakuya took the keys out of Ibuki's jacket pocket. "Hey, those are miiiine!"
"Back seat, Ibuki-chan. Sleep it off."
Sakuya opened the back, and Ibuki slumped in, lying down. Sakuya got in the driver's seat. "You won't remember a thing come tomorrow. Hopefully."
She started the car, and made for the residential area outside Naruki. 
"...Saku?"
"Yes?"
"I'm more than just pretty, right?"
"You mean do I think you're beautiful, or...?"
"I'm more than a pretty face, right?"
"Of course you are."
"That's all people ever see. You saw it tonight. I'm like a fantasy. Or a toy. Nobody ever cares who I am. Just *what*."
"That's not true. Who cares what a bunch of inebriated strangers think? We know the real you. And we love her dearly. You're the strongest person I know, Ibuki-chan. And I don't mean physical strength."
"You're stronger than me, Saku. You wouldn't be cracking like this."
"Then the onus is on me to keep you from falling apart. It's what a friend does."
"*Best* friends." There was a giddiness to Ibuki's voice. "Heee...Saku's my best friend...heeeheee..."
Sakuya sighed pleasantly.
They soon arrived at the Hinotama house. Sakuya helped Ibuki out of the car, and pulled her inside. "And I somehow end up carrying you anyway."
Sakuya dragged a snoring Ibuki onto her bed. "Good night, Ibuki-chan. We'll see in the morning just how much you remember."
She notified her mother that she would be staying overnight. She took a change of clothes from Ibuki's closet, then went to lie down on the couch. "...I never thought I'd spend another night in this place. It isn't my den of horrors anymore, but...it's still eerie to be here."
With the day's events fresh in her mind, Sakuya drifted off to sleep.
---
October 5, 2031
"Saku...hey, Saku!"
Sakuya's slumber came to a sudden halt. Ibuki was shaking her awake.
"Ibuki-chan...what's wrong?" Sakuya stirred awake.
Ibuki had an ice pack held over her head. Kaede was walking around in a panic. "Did you hear anything last night?" Ibuki asked.
"Ah, no...I can't say that I did. What's going on?"
"Kanae-chan's gone!"
It took a moment for it to register. "What...? What do you mean she's *gone*?"
"She wasn't in her room when we checked. We've checked the house top to bottom five times over. There's no sign of her."
Ibuki tried to calm down a frantic Kaede. "It's alright. We'll find her. Maybe she went over to the Professor's house to play with Shizuka-chan." Ibuki signed.
"At this time of the morning?! She never wakes up until we wake her up! Oh my God, they took my baby..." Kaede responded. "It's Genshumura, it has to be! He has people all over the city, he must've gotten one of them to steal her!"
"I can't see it. His heart got changed. He's not in a spot to give out orders. I'm gonna call--"
A knock at the door. Sakuya opened it. Rin was standing there, looking like she'd just rolled out of bed. "Is Shizuka here?"
"Professor? No, she's not. Has she gone missing, too?" Sakuya asked.
"We can't find her anywhere! I thought she might've--wait. What do you mean 'too'? Kanae-chan isn't here, either?"
"No. We thought she might've gone to your place." Ibuki replied.
"Oh, no...that's just what I was afraid of..." Rin's phone rang. "Hello? Tenko, I'm sorry, but I'm in panic mode right now, I can't...wait, slow down...maybe she's just playing ninja again...oh God..."
After a few minutes, Rin hung up. Her hands were visibly shaking.
"Professor?" Sakuya questioned.
"Rina's gone...Hiyoko called Tenko, and...Aura's missing, too. No no no no, this can't be happening..."
Sakuya looked back to Ibuki. An alarming situation was getting worse by the second.
"What is happening...?" Sakuya pondered, knowing that there was no easy answer.